Patents Assigned to American Maplan Corporation
  • Patent number: 9776354
    Abstract: A method for using the quantity of heat output from an extrudate during a cooling operation in an extrusion process, wherein a fluid, in particular air, is guided along the extrudate and/or through the die counter to an extrusion direction, at least some of the heat from the extrudate and/or the die is transmitted to the fluid, the heated fluid is supplied from a first sub region of a process chain, comprising at least one die, a calibrating and cooling device and a take-off apparatus, via a connecting region, preferably consisting of at least one connecting pipe, to a second sub region of the process chain, comprising at least one suction apparatus. In the connecting region, an extraneous fluid can be added to the heated fluid in order to reduce the actual temperature of the heated fluid at least below a predetermined maximum value before said fluid is supplied to the second sub region of the process chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Peter Jessen Jürgensen
  • Patent number: 8936460
    Abstract: An extrusion head for an extrusion apparatus can include a spider for supporting a central mandrel. A high volume reservoir can be mounted to the spider on a downstream side of the spider. The central mandrel can extend longitudinally into the high volume reservoir. The high volume reservoir can have an axially straight annular conduit with a length L and an outer diameter OD. The annular conduit can have an L to OD ratio of about 1:1. A set of dies can be mounted downstream of the high volume reservoir, whereby the high volume reservoir reduces pressure and promotes homogenization of molten polymer flowing therethrough, before reaching the set of dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Wallen, James W. Nixon, Bradley M. Eisenbarth
  • Patent number: 8758003
    Abstract: The extrusion head including a conduit with a central mandrel extending within the conduit for supporting an inner die portion of a set of dies that has inner and outer die portions. An upstream spider and a downstream spider are included, and each have webs supporting the central mandrel at axially spaced apart positions. The webs of the upstream and downstream spiders can have web portions that are axially offset from each other to promote mixing of polymer flowing through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Wallen, James W. Nixon, Bradley M. Eisenbarth
  • Patent number: 8333580
    Abstract: A spider for an extrusion apparatus located upstream from a die, through which a profile is extruded. The spider can have an outer housing with a central flow passage therethrough. An inner hub can be positioned within the central passage for supporting an inner portion of the die. At least one spider leg can be secured to the outer housing and the inner hub, and support the inner hub within the central passage. The at least one spider leg can recess radially rearwardly outwardly in the downstream direction such that molten polymer flowing through the central passage flows around the at least one spider leg, separating and rejoining together earlier in inner radial regions close to the inner hub than in outer radial regions close to the outer housing for reducing spider lines on inside surfaces of extruded profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventor: John Michael Wallen
  • Publication number: 20120119409
    Abstract: A spider for an extrusion apparatus located upstream from a die, through which a profile is extruded. The spider can have an outer housing with a central flow passage therethrough. An inner hub can be positioned within the central passage for supporting an inner portion of the die. At least one spider leg can be secured to the outer housing and the inner hub, and support the inner hub within the central passage. The at least one spider leg can recess radially rearwardly outwardly in the downstream direction such that molten polymer flowing through the central passage flows around the at least one spider leg, separating and rejoining together earlier in inner radial regions close to the inner hub than in outer radial regions close to the outer housing for reducing spider lines on inside surfaces of extruded profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventor: John Michael Wallen
  • Patent number: 8096799
    Abstract: A spider for an extrusion apparatus located upstream from a die, through which a profile is extruded. The spider can have an outer housing with a central flow passage therethrough. An inner hub can be positioned within the central passage for supporting an inner portion of the die. At least one spider leg can be secured to the outer housing and the inner hub, and support the inner hub within the central passage. The at least one spider leg can recess radially rearwardly outwardly in the downstream direction such that molten polymer flowing through the central passage flows around the at least one spider leg, separating and rejoining together earlier in inner radial regions close to the inner hub than in outer radial regions close to the outer housing for reducing spider lines on inside surfaces of extruded profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventor: John Michael Wallen
  • Publication number: 20110095450
    Abstract: An extrusion head for an extrusion apparatus can include a spider for supporting a central mandrel. A high volume reservoir can be mounted to the spider on a downstream side of the spider. The central mandrel can extend longitudinally into the high volume reservoir. The high volume reservoir can have an axially straight annular conduit with a length L and an outer diameter OD. The annular conduit can have an L to OD ratio of about 1:1. A set of dies can be mounted downstream of the high volume reservoir, whereby the high volume reservoir reduces pressure and promotes homogenization of molten polymer flowing therethrough, before reaching the set of dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Wallen, James W. Nixon, Bradley M. Eisenbarth
  • Publication number: 20110095449
    Abstract: The extrusion head including a conduit with a central mandrel extending within the conduit for supporting an inner die portion of a set of dies that has inner and outer die portions. An upstream spider and a downstream spider are included, and each have webs supporting the central mandrel at axially spaced apart positions. The webs of the upstream and downstream spiders can have web portions that are axially offset from each other to promote mixing of polymer flowing through the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Wallen, James W. Nixon, Bradley M. Eisenbarth
  • Patent number: 7758331
    Abstract: Supporting device for a plastic profile (2), in particular for a plastic pipe, in a calibration device which has a supporting region (1), in which it supports the plastic profile (2), wherein the contour (3) in the supporting region (1) is adapted to the contour of the plastic profile (2). According to the invention, provision is made in that the contour (3) in the supporting region (1), in particular the radius (4), can be changed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for changing a supporting region of a supporting device, in which the position of one or more series-arranged supporting devices with continuously changeable supporting region are changed as a function of a predetermined theoretical diameter such that the predetermined diameter is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Reinhard Witt, Ralf Mickley, Norbert Kreth
  • Patent number: 7588708
    Abstract: An mandrel for extrusion of hollow bodies, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, compact, and foamed pipes, includes an inner collar and an outer collar, and webs radially joining the inner collar and outer collar. The webs can be arranged twisted and/or offset in radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Reinhard Witt
  • Patent number: 7329116
    Abstract: An mandrel for extrusion of hollow bodies, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, compact, and foamed pipes, includes an inner collar, an outer collar, and a middle collar, each of the collars being radially joined by webs to the particular adjoining collar. Each interior web and exterior web, relative to the middle collar, can form a web pair, the webs of the web pair being arranged to overlap at least partially in the radial direction in a particular embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohman, Stefan Wickenkamp
  • Patent number: 7122141
    Abstract: In a co-extrusion system, a primary extruder is connected to a primary flow director to direct the solid melt from the primary extruder to the co-extrusion assembly. A secondary extruder is connected to a secondary flow director to direct the melt from the secondary extruder to the co-extrusion assembly. A co-extrusion assembly produces simultaneous co-extruded melts without any significant pressure change in the melt. Dies shape the co-extruded melts to a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Gröeblacher, James W. Nixon
  • Patent number: 7077639
    Abstract: An mandrel for extrusion of hollow bodies, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, compact, and foamed pipes, includes an inner collar and an outer collar, and webs radially joining the inner collar and outer collar. The webs can be arranged twisted and/or offset in radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Reinhard Witt
  • Publication number: 20050206031
    Abstract: An extrusion die includes an inner die portion having a male form. The male form has a male complex shape with peaks and a valley. An outer die portion is included having a female form. The female form has a female complex shape with peaks and a valley which corresponds to the male complex shape of the male form. The female complex shape surrounds and is separated from the male complex shape by a gap. Flowable material is capable of being extruded through the gap between the male and female complex shapes to form a hollow profile. An adjustment mechanism is included having an outer member which surrounds the outer die portion. At least eight adjustment screws are threaded through the outer member and engage the outer die portion at equidistant angular locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Groeblacher, James Nixon
  • Patent number: 6946094
    Abstract: There is provided a plastic extrusion sizing tube having a cylinder with a split along its length to allow for radial expansion and reduction of the sizing tube. The cylinder has holes to allow an extrusion within the cylinder to be drawn to the cylinder by a vacuum outside the cylinder. The cylinder also has extensions on opposite sides of the split with an adjustment screw connecting the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the adjustment screw is turned in respective directions. A set screw can be connected to one of the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the set screw is turned in respective directions. The diameter of the cylinder can be locked in a desired position when the adjustment screw and the set screw are turned in the same direction. The adjustment screw and the set screw can be located in a flange at one end of the cylinder. The holes in the cylinder can be slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney L. Shober
  • Patent number: 6793474
    Abstract: In a co-extrusion system, a primary extruder is connected to a primary flow director to direct the solid melt from the primary extruder to the co-extrusion assembly. A secondary extruder is connected to a secondary flow director to direct the melt from the secondary extruder to the co-extrusion assembly. A co-extrusion assembly produces simultaneous co-extruded melts without any significant pressure change in the melt. Dies shape the co-extruded melts to a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Gröeblacher, James W. Nixon
  • Patent number: 6769899
    Abstract: An adjustable extrusion die shapes a melt into a non-circular cross-sectional profile form. The wall thickness of the profile is adjustable by moving two adjustment plates orthogonal to each other and transverse to the flow of the melt. Movement of each adjustment plate is restricted to prevent rotation relative to a melt-shaping bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Groeblacher, James W. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20040119195
    Abstract: An mandrel for extrusion of hollow bodies, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, compact, and foamed pipes, includes an inner collar, an outer collar, and a middle collar, each of the collars being radially joined by webs to the particular adjoining collar. Each interior web and exterior web, relative to the middle collar, can form a web pair, the webs of the web pair being arranged to overlap at least partially in the radial direction in a particular embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Stefan Wickenkamp
  • Publication number: 20040041300
    Abstract: There is provided a plastic extrusion sizing tube having a cylinder with a split along its length to allow for radial expansion and reduction of the sizing tube. The cylinder has holes to allow an extrusion within the cylinder to be drawn to the cylinder by a vacuum outside the cylinder. The cylinder also has extensions on opposite sides of the split with an adjustment screw connecting the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the adjustment screw is turned in respective directions. A set screw can be connected to one of the extensions. The diameter of the cylinder can be expanded or reduced when the set screw is turned in respective directions. The diameter of the cylinder can be locked in a desired position when the adjustment screw and the set screw are turned in the same direction. The adjustment screw and the set screw can be located in a flange at one end of the cylinder. The holes in the cylinder can be slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney L. Shober
  • Publication number: 20030222375
    Abstract: An mandrel for extrusion of hollow bodies, such as, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard, compact, and foamed pipes, includes an inner collar and an outer collar, and webs radially joining the inner collar and outer collar. The webs can be arranged twisted and/or offset in radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: American Maplan Corporation
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Reinhard Witt