Extrusion flow valve. (Equipment).

The patent-pending Multiflow valve is said to oiler outstanding productivity and cost savings benefits to manufacturers that require the extrusion of complex multilayer tubing. The Multiflow valve allows extruders to manufacture either three-layer or up to five-layer tubing products with the use of fewer extruders. In the three-layer configuration, the proprietary valve is designed for use with all ABA crossheads or inline dies. Using this technology, rubber or plastic material is fed from the "A" extruder and divided inside the manifold in order to form both the inner and outer layers of the final product. A manufacturer is able to make a three-layer product by using only two extruders, which is said to save substantially on required outlays for capital equipment. This proprietary flow design valve offers the ability to change layer-wall thickness without shutting down the extruder. This compares with other common methods of varying tube wall thicknesses that require disassembling the crosshead and swapping internal flow pieces designed for each specific wall type. The valve is said to eliminate dead areas in the manifold that would lead to degradation of the material and contamination of the tubing. A wide range of wall thicknesses is possible. The Multiflow valve is designed to allow for the production of either BA or AB tubing. (Guill Tool & Engineering, 10 Pike St., West Warwick, RI 02893)

Circle 32 an card