Apparatus and method for extruding curved profiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12370591-B2
Application number	US-202017427379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2019
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for extruding a material. The apparatus includes an extrusion die arranged to receive material to be extruded from a first direction and from a second direction. The extrusion die includes an orifice from which material is extruded in a third direction. The first, second and third directions are not all in the same plane. None of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for extruding a material as a three-dimensional curved profile, the apparatus comprising:
an extrusion die arranged to receive the material to be extruded from a first direction and from a second direction, the extrusion die comprising a non-circular orifice from which material is extruded in a third direction,
wherein the extrusion die does not include a valve,
wherein the first, second and third directions are not all in a same plane and wherein none of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions, such that the material is extruded from the orifice as the three-dimensional curved profile having curvature in two orthogonal directions,
wherein the curvature of the extruded material is in all three dimensions,
wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal,
wherein providing the material from the first direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in one of the two orthogonal directions,
wherein providing the material from the second direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in another one of the two orthogonal directions,

a plurality of compression elements, wherein, for each direction from which the extrusion die is arranged to receive material to be extruded, one of the plurality of compression elements is arranged to apply a force in that direction to the material to be extruded; and
a controller configured to provide directions for controlling a movement of the plurality of compression elements, wherein the controller is configured to:
direct the plurality of compression elements to move simultaneously; and
direct at least two of the plurality of the compression elements to move at different speeds.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third directions are substantially orthogonal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the extrusion die is arranged to receive material to be extruded from a fourth direction, wherein the fourth direction is substantially opposed to the first direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the extrusion die is arranged to receive material to be extruded from a fifth direction, wherein the fifth direction is substantially opposed to the second direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to vary a speed of at least one of the plurality of compression elements as the material is extruded.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising a plurality of chambers, wherein, for each direction from which the extrusion die is arranged to receive material to be extruded, a portion of the material to be extruded is housed in one of the plurality of chambers.

7. A method of extruding a material as a three-dimensional curved profile, the method comprising:
providing the material to be extruded to an extrusion die from a first direction, wherein the extrusion die does not include a valve;
providing the material to be extruded to the extrusion die from a second direction, wherein, for each direction from which material to be extruded is provided to the extrusion die, providing the material to be extruded to the extrusion die from that direction comprises applying, to the material to be extruded, a force in that direction from a compression element of a plurality of compression elements; and
extruding the material in a third direction from a non-circular orifice in the extrusion die,
wherein the first, second and third directions are not all in a same plane and wherein none of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions, such that the material is extruded from the orifice as the three-dimensional curved profile having curvature in two orthogonal directions,
wherein the curvature of the extruded material is in all three dimensions,
wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal,
wherein providing the material from the first direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in one of the two orthogonal directions,
wherein providing the material from the second direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in the other one of the two orthogonal directions,
wherein the method further comprises controlling a movement of the plurality of compression elements, and
wherein controlling the movement of the plurality of compression elements comprises:
directing the plurality of compression elements to move simultaneously; and
directing at least two of the plurality of the compression elements to move at different speeds.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first, second and third directions are substantially orthogonal.

9. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
providing material to be extruded to the extrusion die from a fourth direction, wherein the fourth direction is substantially opposed to the first direction.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: providing material to be extruded to the extrusion die from a fifth direction, wherein the fifth direction is substantially opposed to the second direction.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein controlling the movement of at least one of the plurality of compression elements comprises varying a speed of at least one of the plurality of compression elements as the material is extruded.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein for each direction from which material to be extruded is provided to the extrusion die, providing the material to be extruded to the extrusion die from that direction comprises housing a portion of the material to be extruded in one of a plurality of chambers.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to carry a method of extruding a material as a three-dimensional curved profile, the method comprising:
providing the material to be extruded to an extrusion die from a first direction, wherein the extrusion die does not include a valve;
providing the material to be extruded to the extrusion die from a second direction, wherein, for each direction from which material to be extruded is provided to the extrusion die, providing the material to be extruded to the extrusion die from that direction comprises applying, to the material to be extruded, a force in that direction from a compression element of a plurality of compression elements; and
extruding the material in a third direction from a non-circular orifice in the extrusion die,
wherein the first, second and third directions are not all in a same plane and wherein none of the first, second and third directions is parallel to any other of those directions, such that the material is extruded from the orifice as the three-dimensional curved profile having curvature in two orthogonal directions,
wherein the curvature of the extruded material is in all three dimensions,
wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal,
wherein providing the material from the first direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in one of the two orthogonal directions,
wherein providing the material from the second direction contributes to the curvature of the extruded material in the other one of the two orthogonal directions,
wherein the method further comprises controlling a movement of the plurality of compression elements, and
wherein the controlling the movement of the plurality of compression elements comprises:
directing the plurality of compressio

Assignees

• Imperial College Innovations Ltd

Inventors

• Yu Junquan
• Zhou Wenbin
• Shao Zhutao
• Lin Jianguo
• Dean Trevor

Classifications

• B21C25/08

  Dies or mandrels with section variable during extruding, e.g. for making tapered work; Controlling variation · CPC title

• B29C48/297

  at several locations, e.g. using several hoppers or using a separate additive feeding · CPC title

• B29C48/30

  Extrusion nozzles or dies (extrusion characterised by the shape or cross-section of the extruded article B29C48/03) · CPC title

• B29C48/2552

  provided in the feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zone, e.g. screw, barrel, gear-pump or ram · CPC title

• B29C48/92

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title