초록 ▼

A hot runner molding manifold has a first half having flow grooves, a cover piece having flow grooves complementary to the flow grooves of the first half, and a second half securable to the first half and having a cavity for receiving the cover piece. The flow grooves of the first half and the cover

A hot runner molding manifold has a first half having flow grooves, a cover piece having flow grooves complementary to the flow grooves of the first half, and a second half securable to the first half and having a cavity for receiving the cover piece. The flow grooves of the first half and the cover piece form flow channels for distributing molten material from an inlet port to outlet ports. The cover piece is engaged with the first half, for example by welding, to reduce leakage of molten material out of the flow channels. Heater grooves in the first half, second half or both the first and second halves receive one or more heating elements for heating the flow channels.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A molding manifold comprising: (a) one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports; (b) a first half having one or more flow grooves; (c) a cover piece having one or more flow grooves complementary to the flow grooves of the first half, the cover piece covering the

The invention claimed is: 1. A molding manifold comprising: (a) one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports; (b) a first half having one or more flow grooves; (c) a cover piece having one or more flow grooves complementary to the flow grooves of the first half, the cover piece covering the one or more flow grooves of the first half, the flow grooves of the first half and cover piece together forming flow channels for distributing molten material from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports, the cover piece engaged with the first half to reduce or eliminate leakage of molten material out of the flow channels; (d) a second half having a cavity for receiving the cover piece, the second half securable to the first half; and, (e) one or more heater grooves in the first half, second half or both the first half and second half for receiving one or more heating elements for heating the flow channels. 2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the flow channels are hermetically sealed at an interface between the first half and the cover piece. 3. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the cover piece is engaged to the first half by welding, bolts, clamps, pressure from the second half, an adhesive, or a combination thereof. 4. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the cover piece is welded to the first half at an interface between the cover piece and the first half. 5. The manifold of claim 4, wherein the cover piece and the first half have beveled edges at the interface. 6. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the cover piece has a shape and dimensions that just covers the one or more flow grooves of the first half. 7. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the first half and the second half have complementary size and shape. 8. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the second half is securable to the first half by welding, bolts, clamps or a combination thereof. 9. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a size and shape complementary to the cover piece. 10. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the one or more inlet ports is in the cover piece and the one or more outlet ports is in the first half. 11. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the one or more outlet ports and the one or more inlet ports are perpendicular to the flow channels. 12. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the first and second halves have complementary heater grooves that together form one or more heater channels for housing the one or more heating elements. 13. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the molten material comprises a plastic or a metal. 14. A process for fabricating a molding manifold comprising: (a) machining a first half to include a plurality of outlet ports and to include flow grooves for flow channels in fluid communication with the outlet ports; (b) machining a cover piece to include an inlet port and to include flow grooves in fluid communication with the inlet port, the flow grooves of the cover piece complementary to the flow grooves of the first half; (c) machining a second half to include a cavity for receiving the cover piece; (d) machining heater grooves into the first half, the second half or both the first and second halves; (e) engaging the cover piece on the first half so that the flow grooves of the first half and the flow grooves of the cover piece match up to form sealed flow channels for molten material; (f) placing one or more heater elements in the heater channels; (g) placing the second half on the first half so that the cover piece fits within the cavity; and, (h) securing the second half to the first half.