Abstract: In the manufacture of heat exchangers, fins are produced in a fin press and shear from a sheet of stamped metal and are sheared from the sheet in rapid succession and placed on a fin stacker. The fin stacker includes vertical rods aligned for receiving the fins. The fin stacker is placed adjacent the fin press and shear in a docking bay that is adjustable for proper alignment of the stacker with the press. The rods are electrically connected with the control system but insulated from the stacker or ground, so that if a fin becomes jammed between the rods and the fin press and shear, a ground circuit is completed and the control system shuts down the fin press and shear. The control system also shuts down if the stacker becomes displaced, releasing a proximity switch located in the docking bay.

Abstract: A novel die holder member for use in co-extrusion cross-head die apparatus for applying two coating materials in inner and outer layers to an electrical wire, or the like. A body member has a through, axial bore in which a tip and die members, with respective tip and die holders, are positioned. A pair of radial bores, with which sources of two flowable coating materials communicate, extend from the exterior of the body member to the axial bore. The first coating material flows forwardly of the apparatus through a first flow passage, the second coating material flows rearwardly through a second flow passage, and the two materials flow forwardly, in superposed relation, through a third flow passage from a confluence of the first and second passages to an orifice in the die member where they are deposited in uniform, inner and outer layers, on the wire. The die holder member of the invention has frustoconical external and internal surfaces with a first, annular groove extending to and 360.degree.

Abstract: A die member forming a component of cross-head die apparatus is configured to facilitate removal of the die member from the axial bore of the body of the apparatus following assembly of a die member at room temperature with a body at elevated temperature. The external, frustoconical surface of prior art die members is provided with recessed portions which do not contact the opposing surface of the axial bore in the body. Also, the angle of taper of the conical plane of the mating die member and body bore surfaces is increased to 7.degree. from the prior art standard of 5.degree..

Abstract: A core tube for mounting in the axial bore of the body of cross-head die apparatus through which a filamentary member is drawn as a layer of flowable coating material is applied thereto. The coating material is injected through a radial bore having an axis intersecting an annular groove extending 360 degrees around the core tube. The annular groove communicates with a flow passage leading to the die orifice both through an annular space surrounding the forward end of the groove and through three axial grooves, two of which are of the same size and the other larger. The larger groove is positioned 180 degrees from the axis of the radial bore in the die body and 100 degrees from each of the small grooves.

Abstract: A cross-head die for applying one or more layers of coating materials to a single, longitudinally fed, filamentary member, or to a plurality of such members in spaced, side-by-side relation. Tip and die members of relatively flat, wafer-like configuration are placed in a cylindrical cavity of the body member of the apparatus with central openings in each of the tip and die members coaxially arranged and a protrusion surrounding the opening in the tip extending into the opening in the die. Flowable coating material is injected through a radial opening in the body member and flows in both directions about an annular passageway formed by cooperatively arranged grooves in the peripheries of the tip and die members. The coating material flows from the annular passageway to the die aperture through opposing, spaced, angularly arranged surfaces on the tip and die members.

Abstract: A core tube or tip holder for positioning in the axial bore of the body of cross-head die apparatus through which a wire, or the like, is drawn as a layer of flowable coating material is applied thereto. The coating material is injected through a radial bore in the body which communicates with the axial bore at a position aligned with a first annular groove in the external surface of the core tube. The first annular groove extends between opposite ends partially around the core tube. A second annular groove extends fully around the core tube. The second annular groove is positioned between the first groove and the front end of the core tube. The first and second annular grooves communicate with one another via a pair of axial grooves extending between the second annular groove and the opposite ends of the first groove. The first annular groove and axial grooves are bounded on all sides by external surface portions which lie in a uniformly tapering, conical plane.

Abstract: A novel die member for positioning in a uniformly tapering, frustoconical portion of a through bore in a body member of co-extrusion, cross-head coating apparatus. The die member has an external surface with a first, frustoconical portion dimensioned for mating engagement with the body member bore extending from the front end of the die member and tapering outwardly to terminate in a plane parallel to and intermediate of the planes of the front and rear ends of the member. A second, cylindrical, external surface portion, of smaller diameter than the adjacent, larger end of the first surface portion, extends to the rear end of the die member. An annular groove of substantially semi-circular cross section extends into and 360.degree. about the second surface portion rearwardly adjacent the first surface portion.

Abstract: A cross-head die for applying one or more layers of coating materials to a single, longitudinally fed, filamentary member, or to a plurality of such members in spaced, side-by-side relation. Tip and die members of relatively flat, wafer-like configuration are placed in a cylindrical cavity of the body member of the apparatus with central openings in each of the tip and die members coaxially arranged and a protrusion surrounding the opening in the tip extending into the opening in the die. Flowable coating material is injected through a radial opening in the body member and flows in both directions about an annular passageway formed by cooperatively arranged grooves in the peripheries of the tip and die members. The coating material flows from the annular passageway to the die aperture through opposing, spaced, angularly arranged surfaces on the tip and die members.

Abstract: A cross-head die for applying one or more layers of coating materials to a single, longitudinally fed, filamentary member, or to a plurality of such members in spaced, side-by-side relation. Tip and die members of relatively flat, wafer-like configuration are placed in a cylindrical cavity of the body member of the apparatus with central openings in each of the tip and die members coaxially arranged and a protrusion surrounding the opening in the tip extending into the opening in the die. Flowable coating material is injected through a radial opening in the body member and flows in both directions about an annular passageway formed by cooperatively arranged grooves in the peripheries of the tip and die members. The coating material flows from the annular passageway to the die aperture through opposing, spaced, angularly arranged surfaces on the tip and die members.

Abstract: Cross-head die apparatus and method for applying visually distinguishable coating layers simultaneously to two filament members such as electrical wires. The apparatus includes a body having a pair of generally axial bores and a pair of radial bores respectively communicating between sources of first and second flowable coating materials and the axial bores. A flow guide to direct the coating materials through the axial bores to form uniform layers on wires moved axially through the bores. The two axial bores mutually communicate through an internal conduit, coaxial with the two radial bores, in the body. The two coating materials are supplied at different pressures, causing a portion of the first material to migrate through the internal conduit from one axial bore to the other, whereby the first material forms the entire coating layer on one wire and appears, together with the second material, as a longitudinal stripe in the coating layer on the other wire.

Abstract: Co-extrusion cross-head die apparatus for applying two coating materials in inner and outer layers to an electrical wire, or the like. A body member has a through, axial bore in which a tip and die members, with respective tip and die holders, are positioned. A pair of radial bores, with which sources of two flowable coating materials communicate, extend from the exterior of the body member to the axial bore. The first coating material flows forwardly of the apparatus through a first flow passage, the second coating material flows rearwardly through a second flow passage, and the two materials flow forwardly, in superposed relation, through a third flow passage from a confluence of the first and second passages to an orifice in the die member where they are deposited in uniform, inner and outer layers, on the wire.

Abstract: A cross-head die for applying a coating layer to a filamentary member, e.g., plastic insulation to an electrical wire, includes a die body with an axial bore in which a tip holder is removably positioned with tapered surfaces of the holder in engagement with like-tapered surfaces of the bore. The holder is maintained in position by a lock nut on a threaded portion of the holder extending out of the die body. In order to assist in removal of the tip holder, an auxiliary nut, engageable with the threads on the tip holder, is provided. The threads on the collar and lock nut are right-hand, while those on the tip holder and auxiliary nut are left-hand, or vice versa. In order to remove the tip holder, the lock nut is backed off a few turns and the auxiliary nut is threaded on the tip holder until it engages the lock nut. As torque is applied to the auxiliary nut an axial force is exerted on the tip holder, pulling it free of the body bore and permitting its easy removal after both nuts are removed.

Abstract: A tip holder for assembly in a through axial bore of a cross-head die body to hold a die tip in a predetermined position and to control flow of a molten coating material about the die tip and filamentary member which is moved axially through the die for coating purposes. An annular groove is formed about the surface of the tip holder adjacent a radial bore in the body through which the molten material is introduced. In a first embodiment, the annular groove communicates through a plurality of axial grooves in the tip holder with an annular cavity through which the material flows to the die orifice through which the filamentary member and coating material exit the die body. In a second embodiment, the material flows from the annular groove over an annular lip at the forward end of the tip holder.

Abstract: A cross-head die assembly for applying a coating material, such as plastic insulation, to a continuous filament, such as an electrical wire, includes the usual body with axial bore, through which the filament is moved, and radial bore, through which the coating material is introduced. The assembly further includes a die member, a tip holder and a tip, all positioned and releasably held in assembled relation within the body axial bore. The tip holder includes an annular groove communicating with the body radial bore for flow of molten material through the radial bore and about the annular groove. A flow passage, preferably a plurality of axial grooves in the tip holder, provide flow of the molten material from the annular groove to the die member orifice.

Abstract: There is provided cross-head type die apparatus for applying a substantially concentric insulating layer to a conductor passing therethrough. Die assembly elements of novel structural combination are disposed within the substantially cylindrical cross-head such that they are in axial alignment with each other and the cross-head. In particular, a die insert or die tip has a front portion which tapers inwardly to substantially a point and includes an outlet orifice to guide the conductor along a passline towards a die orifice. A flow guide has a respective internal surface which tapers rearwardly to form a die orifice on its front surface. Cooperatively tapered surfaces securely fit the flow guide and the die tip within the cross-head axial bore such that a space is formed between the internally tapered surface of the flow guide and the front portion of the die tip. The die orifice and the outlet orifice of the die tip are axially aligned due to their respectively tapered fits within the cross-head.