Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of materials processing in which the material flows along an axially extending passageway with successive upstream and downstream sections wherein the cross-section (as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction) of the inlet to the downstream section has first and second end regions between which the length (as viewed in said cross-section) of the channel extends and this cross-section increases progressively in depth from the first end region to the second end region thereof, and said first and second end regions are respectively of lesser and greater depth than the adjacent end region of the outlet of the upstream section, whereby a pressure differential is established in said sections so as to create therein a flow of material having a velocity component transverse to the flow direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of materials processing in which the material flows along an axially extending passageway with successive upstream and downstream sections wherein the cross-section (as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction) of the inlet to the downstream section has first and second end regions between which the length (as viewed in said cross-section) of the channel extends and this cross-section increases progressively in depth from the first end region to the second end region thereof, and said first and second end regions are respectively of lesser and greater depth than the adjacent end region of the outlet of the upstream section, whereby a pressure differential is established in said sections so as to create therein a flow of material having a velocity component transverse to the flow direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axially extending passageway is an extrusion die.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pressure differential is continuous thereby establishing a continuous change of velocity component without any disruption of the flow in said section transverse to the axial flow direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the outlet of upstream section increases progressively in depth from a first end to a second end region thereof and the inlet to the downstream section has the same cross-section as that of the outlet to upstream section but displaced through 180°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cross-sections of said upstream and downstream sections are constant over at least a part of their axial lengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said cross-section is trapezoid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upstream and downstream sections are generally annular with one boundary in the form of one turn of a spiral as viewed in the plane transverse to flow direction so as to give said progressive increase in depth within said inlet and outlet ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said cross-section varies along the axial length of the section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is a molten plastics material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material includes a fibrous filler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
Material processing apparatus having an axially extending flow passageway with successive upstream and downstream sections wherein the cross-section (as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction) of the inlet to the downstream section has first and second end regions between which the length (as viewed in said cross-section) of the channel extends and this cross-section increases progressively in depth from the first end region thereof to the second end region thereof, and said first and second end regions are respectively of lesser and greater depth than the adjacent end regions of the outlet of the upstream section whereby, in use of the apparatus, there is established in the downstream section a pressure differential transverse to the axial flow direction so as to create a material with a velocity component transverse to the flow direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
Material processing apparatus having an axially extending flow passageway with successive upstream and downstream sections wherein the cross-section (as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction) of the inlet to the downstream section has first and second end regions between which the length (as viewed in said cross-section) of the channel extends and this cross-section increases progressively in depth from the first end region thereof to the second end region thereof, and said first and second end regions are respectively of lesser and greater depth than the adjacent end regions of the outlet of the upstream section whereby, in use of the apparatus, there is established in the downstream section a pressure differential transverse to the axial flow direction so as to create a material with a velocity component transverse to the flow direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cross-sections of the upstream and downstream sections are shaped to establish a continuous change of pressure differential transverse to the flow direction in said one downstream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 which is an extrusion die.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the outlet of the upstream section has a cross-section increasing in depth from a first end region to a second region thereof and the inlet of the downstream section has an identical cross-section but displaced through 180° relative to that of the outlet of the upstream section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cross-section of each of said upstream and downstream sections is constant over at least a part of the axial length of the respective section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein each said cross-section is trapezoid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein each said section is generally annular with one boundary in the form of one turn of a spiral.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cross-section of each said upstream and downstream sections varies along their axial lengths.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprising an outlet section shaped such that, in use of the apparatus, there is substantially no velocity differential transverse to the axial flow direction in the outlet section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 comprising in succession in the flow direction an inlet section, a said upstream section, a said downstream section, the cross-sections of said upstream and downstream sections being such that the pressure differential established in the latter is a reversal of that in the former, and an outlet section.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said upstream and downstream sections have cross-sections in the form of identical trapezoids with that of the upstream section being at 180° relative to that of the downstream section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flow passageway is defined by a cylindrical bore, and the upstream section has located therein with clearance a former with a boundary in the form of one turn of a spiral as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction there being a transition region between the ends of the spiral.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flow passageway is defined by a cylindrical bore, and said downstream section of said flow passageway has located therein with clearance a former with a boundary in the form of one turn of a spiral as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction there being a transition region between the ends of the spiral.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said upstream section has located therein with clearance a former with a boundary in the form of one turn of a spiral as viewed in the plane transverse to the flow direction there being a transition region between the ends of the spiral, the former of the upstream section being displaced by 180° relative to that of the downstream section.