Patent US5383347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5383347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Continuous extrusion of complex articles
Assignee: Suraltech Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-21
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Granted: 1995-01-24
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Expires: 2013-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for continuously extruding shaped articles includes providing a frictional extrusion source for extruding a feed material, a chamber for holding frictionally extruded material received from the extrusion source, a plurality of die chambers, each of the die chambers receiving extruded material from the holding chamber, means for directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber for selectively filling each die chamber with extruded feed material and means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material. The directing means is responsive to the monitoring means so that extruded material can be directed from a filled die to chamber to an empty die chamber for subsequent filling, thereby permitting continuous extrusion.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfredo V. Riviere
- 👤 Navtej S. Saluja
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:57
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21K; B21K1/00; B21K1/28; B21K1/38; B21C; B21C23/00; B21C23/005; B21C23/02; B21C23/04; B21C23/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: a frictional extrusion source; at least one chamber for holding frictionally extruded material received from the extrusion source; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each said die chamber receiving extruded material from the holding chamber; means for directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers for selectively filling each said die chamber with extruded feed material; and means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the directing means responsive to the monitoring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: a frictional extrusion source; at least one chamber for holding frictionally extruded material received from the extrusion source; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each said die chamber receiving extruded material from the holding chamber; means for directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers for selectively filling each said die chamber with extruded feed material; and means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the directing means responsive to the monitoring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each side die chamber comprises an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the location of the inlet port to each said die chamber is selected to minimize the path length of said means for directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with the respective passageway of said plurality of passageways; a plurality of outlet conduits, each outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber of said plurality of passageways; sealing means disposed in each said outlet conduit; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the respective outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with the respective passageway of said plurality of passageways; a plurality of outlet conduits, each outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber of said plurality of passageways; sealing means disposed in each said outlet conduit; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the respective outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers comprises a plurality of inlet ports, each of said plurality of inlet ports in communication with the respective outlet conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
279 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with the respective passageway of said plurality of passageways; a plurality of branched outlet conduits, each branched outlet conduit of said plurality of branched outlet conduits having a central passageway having a proximate end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and a plurality of branched passageways, each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageway having a first end in communication with a distal end of the central passageway and each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber; sealing means disposed in each said branched passageway; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with the second end of the respective branched passageway of the respective branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
279 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with the respective passageway of said plurality of passageways; a plurality of branched outlet conduits, each branched outlet conduit of said plurality of branched outlet conduits having a central passageway having a proximate end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and a plurality of branched passageways, each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageway having a first end in communication with a distal end of the central passageway and each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber; sealing means disposed in each said branched passageway; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with the second end of the respective branched passageway of the respective branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of unbranched outlet conduits, each unbranched outlet conduit of said plurality of unbranched outlet conduits having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and a second end terminating at the inlet port of the respective die chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
250 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a passageway, the passageway including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a chamber for holding the frictionally extruded material, the holding chamber in communication with the passageway; a branched outlet conduit, the branched outlet conduit having a central passageway having a proximate end in communication with an exit end of the holding chamber and having a plurality of branched passageways, each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways having a first end in communication with a distal end of the central passageway and each of branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber; sealing means disposed in each said branched passageway; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with the second end of the respective branched passageway of the branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring fig of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
250 words
A frictional extrusion apparatus for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising; a frictional extrusion source defining a passageway, the passageway including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; a chamber for holding the frictionally extruded material, the holding chamber in communication with the passageway; a branched outlet conduit, the branched outlet conduit having a central passageway having a proximate end in communication with an exit end of the holding chamber and having a plurality of branched passageways, each branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways having a first end in communication with a distal end of the central passageway and each of branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber; sealing means disposed in each said branched passageway; means defining a plurality of die chambers, each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with the second end of the respective branched passageway of the branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; means for monitoring fig of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, the monitoring means capable of generating an output signal; and means responsive to the output signal of the monitoring means for moving each said sealing means from a first open position to a second closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, wherein each said holding chamber is in communication with the respective passageway by way of a first conduit connecting the aperture of the passageway with an entry end of the respective holding chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, further comprising: means for regulating a rate of a feed material introduction into each said passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 6 or 8, wherein each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers comprises a plurality of inlet ports, at least one of said plurality of inlet ports in communication with the respective branched passageway of the respective branched outlet conduit and at least one of said plurality of inlet ports in communication with a respective unbranched outlet conduit, the outlet conduit having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and a second end terminating at the inlet port of the respective die chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 or 8, wherein each said branching passageway of said branched outlet conduit branches at an angle θ in the range of 1 to 75 degrees.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said frictional extrusion source includes a first moving surface and a second non-moving surface in facing relationship, the first and second surfaces defining between them a passageway, the passageway including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of a frictionally extruded feed material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said frictional extrusion source includes a first moving surface and a second non-moving surface in facing relationship, the first and second surfaces defining between them a passageway, the passageway capable of translational movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the moving surface from a first position of a plurality of positions in communication with a first holding chamber to a second position of a plurality of positions in communication with a second of a plurality of holding chambers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: means for ejecting a shaped article from the filled die chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: heating means for heating the holding chamber(s) and outlet passageway(s).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said sealing means is heated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: heating means located in the vicinity of an interface formed at a contact point of two extrusion fronts formed by the extrusion of said feed material through each said inlet port.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said monitoring means is selected from the group consisting of monitors using ultrasonic, pressure, electromagnetic, laser ultrasonic and inductive techniques.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said monitoring means determines interior die chamber pressure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said monitoring means determine gas pressure escaping from vents provided in a surface of each said die chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said monitoring means is located within each said die chamber at a distance furthest from a preselected inlet port.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monitoring means is located within each said die chamber at a position having a local smallest cross-sectional area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, wherein the location of the inlet port to each said die chamber is selected to minimize the path length of a preselected outlet conduit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2, 4, 6 or 8, wherein the location of the inlet port of each said die chamber is selected to minimize initial extrusion pressure.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim. 1, 4, 6 or 8, further comprising: means for ejecting a shaped article from the filled die chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, further comprising: heating means for heating the holding chamber(s) and outlet conduit(s).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein heating means comprise an externally located furnace surrounding the holding chamber(s) and outlet conduit(s).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein heating means comprise resistive current heating internally located within the holding chamber(s) and outlet conduit(s).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, wherein said sealing means is heated.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said heated sealing means is heated using resistive current heating.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, wherein a cross-sectional geometry of the inlet port of each said die chamber conforms substantially to the geometry of a region of said die chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 4, 6 or 8, wherein said holding chamber contains mixing blades therein.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 6 or 8, wherein communication of the die chamber inlet ports to the respective outlet conduit is accomplished using application of transverse pressure.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2, 4, 6 or 8, further comprising: heating means located in the vicinity of an interface formed at a contact point of two extrusion fronts formed by the extrusion of said feed material through each said inlet port.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: introducing a feed material into a frictional extrusion source; receiving the extruded feed material in at least one chamber for holding frictionally extruded material; providing means defining a plurality of die chambers for receiving extruded material from the holding chamber; directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers for selectively filling each said die chamber with extruded feed material; and monitoring falling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling a first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, extruded material is directed from the holding chamber to a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: introducing a feed material into a frictional extrusion source; receiving the extruded feed material in at least one chamber for holding frictionally extruded material; providing means defining a plurality of die chambers for receiving extruded material from the holding chamber; directing extruded material from the holding chamber to each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers for selectively filling each said die chamber with extruded feed material; and monitoring falling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling a first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, extruded material is directed from the holding chamber to a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 36, wherein each of said die chambers comprises an inlet port defined by a surface of said die chamber.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
250 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: providing a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; extruding a feed material into a first chamber of a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material; directing the feed material through a first outlet conduit of a plurality of outlet conduits into a means defining a first die chamber of a plurality of die chambers, each outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the outlet conduit of the respective holding chamber for receiving extruded feed material; monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling of the first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, the first outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits is sealed and a subsequent outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits is opened and whereby a feed material is extruded into a subsequent holding chamber of said plurality of holding chambers for filling a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
250 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: providing a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; extruding a feed material into a first chamber of a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material; directing the feed material through a first outlet conduit of a plurality of outlet conduits into a means defining a first die chamber of a plurality of die chambers, each outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits having a first end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber and each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the outlet conduit of the respective holding chamber for receiving extruded feed material; monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling of the first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, the first outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits is sealed and a subsequent outlet conduit of said plurality of outlet conduits is opened and whereby a feed material is extruded into a subsequent holding chamber of said plurality of holding chambers for filling a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
323 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: providing a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; extruding a feed material into a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with a respective passageway by way of a first conduit connecting an aperture defined in an interior surface of the respective passageway with an entry end of the respective holding chamber; directing the feed material through a first branched outlet of a plurality of branched outlet conduits into a means defining a first die chamber of a plurality of die chambers, each of said branched outlet conduits having a central passageway having a proximal end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber, each said branched outlet conduit having a plurality of branched passageways, each said branched passageway having a first end joined at a distal end of the central passageway and each of said branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber and each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the respective branched passageway of each branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling of the first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, the first branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways is sealed and a subsequent branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways is opened and whereby a feed material is directed into a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
323 words
A method for continuous extrusion of shaped articles, comprising: providing a frictional extrusion source defining a plurality of passageways, each passageway of said plurality of passageways including an entry point for introduction of a feed material and an exit point for release of frictionally extruded feed material; extruding a feed material into a plurality of chambers for holding the frictionally extruded material, each holding chamber of said plurality of chambers in communication with a respective passageway by way of a first conduit connecting an aperture defined in an interior surface of the respective passageway with an entry end of the respective holding chamber; directing the feed material through a first branched outlet of a plurality of branched outlet conduits into a means defining a first die chamber of a plurality of die chambers, each of said branched outlet conduits having a central passageway having a proximal end in communication with an exit end of the respective holding chamber, each said branched outlet conduit having a plurality of branched passageways, each said branched passageway having a first end joined at a distal end of the central passageway and each of said branched passageways terminating at a second end distal to the respective holding chamber and each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers containing an inlet port defined by a surface of the die chamber, each said inlet port in communication with a second end of the respective branched passageway of each branched outlet conduit for receiving extruded feed material; monitoring filling of each die chamber of said plurality of die chambers with extruded feed material, whereby upon filling of the first die chamber of said plurality of die chambers, the first branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways is sealed and a subsequent branched passageway of said plurality of branched passageways is opened and whereby a feed material is directed into a subsequent die chamber of said plurality of die chambers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 36, 38 or 39, wherein said monitoring is accomplished using a sensing technique selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic, pressure, electromagnetic, laser ultrasonic, and inductive techniques.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37, 38 or 39, wherein said monitoring occurs at points within the die chamber at a preselected distance from the inlet port.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 36, 38 or 39, wherein said monitoring occurs at points within the die chamber having a local smallest cross-sectional area.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 36, 38 or 39, said feed material is extruded at an elevated temperature.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 40, wherein said temperature is substantially 0.8 T m .
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 38 or 39, wherein communication of the die chamber inlet ports to the respective outlet conduit is accomplished using application of transverse pressure.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 37, 38 or 39, further comprising the step of: heating at a contact point of two extrusion fronts formed by the extrusion through the plurality of inlet ports by selectively heating the die chamber in the vicinity of the contact point.
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