Abstract: Heat is extracted from compressed gas used in a blow-molding process by expansion cooling the exhausted gas and/or passing the exhausted gas through a vortex tube, which supplies cold gas at an exit thereof. The cold gas is then routed through cooling channels in the mold. This obviates the need for recirculating or externally chilling a coolant and saves energy.

Abstract: Heat is extracted from compressed gas used in a blow-molding process by expansion cooling the exhausted gas and/or passing the exhausted gas through a vortex tube, which supplies cold gas at an exit thereof. The cold gas is then routed through cooling channels in the mold. This obviates the need for recirculating or externally chilling a coolant and saves energy.

Abstract: A valve assembly has a valve housing and a valve core body movable therewithin for providing a smooth and continuous outflow of liquid from a container, which may be unvented and rigid, through a liquid-out passageway, and provides an air-back passageway for drawing external air into the container. In a preferred embodiment, the core is rotatable within the housing by one-handed actuation. The air-back passageway is preferably a channel provided on the surface of the core body, and the liquid-out passageway is preferably provided between openings in the core body.