Patent ID: 6655415
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B21C,Y10T

Abstract:
An extrudate product in the form of a continuous, seamless, copper tube having a mass of about 500 kilograms, the extrudate product being made by a method of producing copper tubing, comprising:a) providing a continuous extrusion apparatus including: 1) a die top; 2) an exit aperture provided in the die top for receiving a rod of copper feedstock, the exit aperture having a cross-sectional area in excess of substantially twice a radial cross-sectional area of a respective groove in a rotatable wheel, and the respective exit aperture smoothly leading to a passage of minimum length to connect to an annular extrusion die; and 3) the respective exit apertures smoothly leading to the passage of minimum length combining two flows of an extrudate, in use, at a pressure only slightly lower than the pressure obtaining in an extrusion material in a respective groove immediately adjacent the respective exit apertures, so that, in use, a resultant extrusion temperature at the annular extrusion die is approximately 750Â° C.; b) feeding continuous rods of copper feedstock to each of the circumferential grooves; c) rotating the rotatable wheel; and d) extruding the feedstock through the exit apertures and passages and then from the annular extrusion die to form the continuous, seamless, cooper tube having a mass of about 500 kilograms and having an extrusion temperature of approximately 750Â° C.