Spinnerets, breaker plates and die bodies having contoured surfaces with no flat surfaces between adjacent holes
Inventors
Guo, Jianxin • Chen, Gaoyuan • Zhou, JianGuo • Collier, John • Vliet, JR., Joseph Richard • Cook, Glenn R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12188155-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A spinneret for extruding fibers includes a plate having a proximal surface and a distal surface. The spinneret includes a plurality of holes formed in the plate that extend between the proximal surface and the distal surface of the plate. The holes are spaced from one another, and each hole has a distal end that extends along a central axis. The spinneret has a plurality of contoured entrance zones formed in the proximal surface of the plate, whereby each contoured entrance zone is associated with one of the holes. Each contoured entrance zone extends distally from the proximal surface of the plate to a proximal end of the hole associated therewith. Each contoured entrance zone has substantially no planar or flat surfaces normal to the direction of the central axis of the distal end of the hole associated therewith.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a spinneret for extruding fibers. A plate has a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a plurality of holes extend between the proximal surface and the distal surface of the plate. Each hole has a proximal end and a distal end with a central axis extending therebetween, and the distal end of each hole is configured to dispense filaments therefrom.
In the spinneret, each hole has a corresponding contoured entrance zone formed in the proximal surface of the plate. Each contoured entrance zone surrounds the corresponding hole and tapers distally from the proximal surface to the proximal end of the hole. The contoured entrance zones include contoured surfaces that extend from the proximal surface of the plate to the proximal end of the hole.
The proximal surface defines a wetted area and a remaining non-wetted portion that surrounds the wetted area. The remaining non-wetted portion defines a sealed area, where the sealed area has an area greater than an area of the wetted area. The contoured entrance zones further have substantially no planar or flat surfaces normal to the central axis of the corresponding hole.
Claims Coverage
The input explicitly provides one independent claim, focused on a spinneret plate with contoured entrance zones, substantially no planar or flat surfaces normal to the hole central axis, and a sealed area larger than the wetted area. Dependent claims add structural constraints and placement features.
Contoured entrance zones on proximal surface
A spinneret plate with a proximal surface and distal surface includes a plurality of holes extending between the proximal surface and the distal surface, where each hole has a central axis and a distal end configured to dispense filaments, and where a plurality of contoured entrance zones are formed in the proximal surface such that each contoured entrance zone is associated only with a corresponding one of the holes and surrounds the corresponding hole.
Tapered, non-planar entrance geometry relative to hole axis
Each contoured entrance zone tapers distally from the proximal surface to the proximal end of the corresponding hole and includes contoured surfaces extending from the proximal surface to the proximal end of the hole, wherein each contoured entrance zone has substantially no planar or flat surfaces normal to the central axis of the corresponding hole.
Sealed area larger than wetted area defined by non-wetted proximal portion
A remaining non-wetted portion of the proximal surface surrounding the wetted area defines a sealed area, and the sealed area has an area greater than an area of the wetted area.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a spinneret plate in which each hole has an individually associated proximal contoured entrance zone with distally tapering, contoured surfaces and substantially no planar or flat surfaces normal to the hole central axis, together with a sealed area defined by a larger non-wetted proximal region surrounding the wetted area.
Stated Advantages
Improved flow uniformity and reduced dead-area fraction.
Reduced dead areas compared with prior art.
Improved heat transfer via reduced free volume and thin-layer flow pathways.
Documented Applications
Extruding suture fibers using a spinneret configured for dispensing filaments from the distal ends of through holes.
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