Patent GB-1528052-A (GB)
Title: Controlling pressure in extrusion dies
IPC: C10J3/30
Filed: 1975-10-27
Abstract: 1528052 Fluid-pressure servomotors GENERAL ELECTRIC CO 27 Oct 1975 [18 Nov 1974] 44147/75 Heading G3P [Also in Division B4-5] Powdered coal is compacted into a rod, of solid or tubular section, by extrusion by a screw 12 from the outlet of a die 17, the rod which has a constant internal cross-section being preferably cut into briquettes 37 by a guillotine 36, and the density of the rod is controlled e.g. to maintain a constant range of density, by manually or automatically actuated means varying the length of the passage along which the coal is delivered between the end of the screw and the outlet, the passage being lengthened to increase the density, and vice versa. The control may be effected by axial displacement of the screw, or by relative axial telescoping displacement between the die 17 and the barrel 16 surrounding the screw, which is described with respect to a displaceable die 17 and stationary barrel 16. The displacement of the die may be effected electro-mechanically or, as described, by two or more double acting hydraulic cylinders 21, 21', which displace the die towards or away from the barrel upon admitting and exhausting hydraulic fluid from a pump 39, Fig. 2 via solenoid valves 46, 44, and 47, 48. For automatic operation, frictional drag of the coal in the passage alters the pressure of the hydraulic medium on the sides 24 of the pistons 22, 22' of the cylinders which is sensed and converted by a transducer 40 into a voltage signal fed into a recorder 41, and into a meter relay 42 having switches which are operable at adjustable high and low set points of the pressure, to respectively actuate the valves 44, 46 or 47, 48. To avoid "hunting" of the control the die is displaced stepwise, by the valves 44, 46, 47 and 48 being actuated from the meter relay 42 for a preselected time set by a timer 43. Alternatively, Fig. 3 (not shown), the displacement of the die may be similarly controlled from the load on the extruder screw, by sensing the power consumption of the screw by means of a meter relay. In this embodiment, a transducer and recorder may also be employed to record the pressure developed on the sides 24 of the pistons to provide, by comparison with the power consumption of the screw, an indication of possible blockage in the extruder barrel. The pump 39 may be operated continuously, or may be automatically actuated, and a pressure relief valve 39' is provided. For manual control, one or more manually operated switches may be provided to control displacement of the die under the high and low sensed pressures, and each of the solenoids 44, 46, and 47, 48 is manually operable, the density of the coal being usually determined by observation of its surface through a transparent glass or plastics screen 33 downstream of the die outlet. In the production of a tubular rod, the screw is provided with an extension defining the tubular interior. The screw is driven through a variable speed control 13. The barrel part 16 may be mounted to the remainder 14 thereof, for replacement when worn. Heating or cooling jackets 28, 29, 31, are provided for circulation of heat-transfer fluid. The briquettes may be discharged from the extruder directly into a gasifier, and the coal particles may include binder and agents for overcoming swelling.