Patent Publication Number: US-8985485-B2

Title: Quasi melt blow down system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of Provisional U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 61/542,497, filed, Oct. 3, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Nonwoven fabrics are engineered fabrics that provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellence, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardant protection, easy cleaning, cushioning, filtering, use as a bacterial barrier and sterility. In combination with other materials the materials can provide a spectrum of products with diverse properties, and can be used alone or as components of apparel, home furnishings, health care, engineering, industrial and consumer goods. 
     Nonwoven fabrics are typically manufactured by combining small fibers in the form of a sheet or web (similar to paper on a paper machine), and then binding the fibers either mechanically (as in the case of felt, by interlocking them with serrated needles such that the inter-fiber friction results in a stronger fabric), with an adhesive, or thermally by applying a binder in the form of powder, paste, or polymer melt and melting the binder onto the web by increasing temperature. 
     Spunlaid nonwoven fabrics are made in one continuous process. In this process, polymer granules are melted and the molten polymer is extruded through spinnerets. The continuous filaments are cooled and deposited on to a conveyor to form a uniform web. Residual heat can cause filaments to adhere to one another, but is not regarded as the principal method of bonding. 
     Meltblown nonwoven fabrics are made by extruding low viscosity polymers into a high velocity airstream upon leaving a spinneret which scatters the melt, solidifies it and breaks it up into a fibrous web. Current spunlaid and meltblown systems have a prohibitively high cost, consume large amounts of energy and experience maintenance problems due to nozzles clogging during operation. These system also have lower production rates because they are limited by the volumetric output of grams per hole per minute (throughput rate). Accordingly, a need exists for a low cost, easily maintained system for forming nonwoven fabrics. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a melt blown system including a die assembly, a first channel in the die assembly for carrying a first fluid, a first cavity fluidically coupled to the first channel that is configured to collect the first fluid, a first orifice for carrying a second fluid through the die assembly which is fluidically coupled to a second orifice in the die assembly by at least one channel, a plurality of first nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the first orifice, a plurality of second nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the second orifices, and a plurality of third nozzles in the die assembly that are fluidically coupled to the first cavity. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of adding fine fiber layers to a web or an existing substrate by discharging a first fluid from a plurality of first nozzles that are each fluidically coupled to a cavity containing the first fluid, discharging a second fluid from a plurality of second nozzles that are, each coupled to a first orifice containing the second fluid, discharging the second fluid from a plurality of third nozzles that are each fluidically coupled to a second orifice which is fluidically coupled to the first orifice. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps, and processes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an embodiment of a quasi melt blow down system; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates the quasi melt blow down system of  FIG. 1A  incorporated into a uniform fiber deposition system; 
         FIG. 1C  is an expanded view of the die assembly of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIGS. 2A-2H  illustrates the plates used in a die assembly of the quasi melt blow down system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is front view of a die assembly adapter of the quasi melt blow down system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 3B  is an end view along line II-II of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  is sectional view along line III-III of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view along line IV-IV of  FIG. 4B  of showing an intermediate adapter coupleable with the adapter of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front view of the intermediate adapter of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a top plan view along line V-V of the intermediate adapter of  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 5  is front view of the second end plate; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a first end plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated. 
       FIG. 1A  is a quasi melt blow down system  10  useable for dispensing fluids, and particularly metallocene based thermo-plastic polymers, onto a substrate movable in a first direction F relative thereto. The metallocene based thermo-plastic polymers can include, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon 6 and some polyesters. The system  10  extrudes fine fibers (e.g., less than 5 microns in size) and at volumes greater than about 0.2 to 0.8 grams per slit per minute. In an embodiment, the fluids are used to add fine fibers layers to a substrate, for example, a non-woven. 
       FIG. 1B  shows the quasi melt blow down system  10  dispensing first and second fluids on top of a previously melt blown or spunlaid fabric as a separate nonwoven layer. The melt blow down system  10  is incorporated into a uniform fiber deposition system  11  such as, but not limited to, a LPT/UFD™—Fiberized Spray Applicator manufactured by Illinois Tool Works of Glenview, Ill. The first and second fluids are delivered to, and dispensed from, the die assemblies  100  as discussed herein. 
     The system includes generally one or more die assemblies  100 , an exemplary one of which is shown having at least two parallel plates  180  and  182  coupled to a manifold  200 , having associated therewith a fluid metering device  210  for supplying a first fluid to the one or more die assemblies  100  through corresponding first fluid supply conduits  230 . The system also has the capacity to supply a second fluid, such as heated air, to the die assemblies as discussed more fully in the referenced in Bolyard, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,986, which is commonly assigned with the present application and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     According to one aspect, as shown schematically in  FIG. 1A , a first fluid is dispensed from a first slit  152  of the die assembly  100  to form a first fluid flow F 1  at a first velocity, and a second fluid is dispensed from two second slits  154  to form separate second fluid flows F 2  at a second velocity along substantially opposing flanking sides of the first fluid flow F 1 . The first fluid flow F 1  is allocated between the second fluid flows. F 2  thus forming an array of first and second fluid flows. The second velocity of the second fluid flows F 2  are generally greater than the first velocity of the first fluid flow F 1 , so that the second fluid flows F 2  draw the first fluid flow F 1  downward, such that the drawn first fluid flow F 1  is attenuated to form a first fluid filament. In the exemplary embodiment, the second fluid flows F 2  are directed convergently toward the first fluid flow F 1 , but more generally the second fluid flows F 2  are directed non-convergently relative to the first fluid flow F 1  in parallel or divergently as disclosed more fully in Kwok, U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,298, which is commonly assigned with the present application and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     More generally, the first fluid is dispensed from a plurality of first slits  152  to form a plurality of first fluid flows F 1 , and the second fluid is dispensed from a plurality of second slits  154  to form a plurality of second fluid flows F 2 . The plurality of first fluid flows and the plurality of second fluid flows are arranged in a series. In convergently directed second fluid flow configurations, the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  and the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  are arranged in a series so that each of the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  is flanked on substantially opposing sides by corresponding convergently directed second fluid flows F 2  as shown in  FIG. 1A , i.e. F 2  F 1  F 2  F 2  F 1  F 2 . In non-convergently directed second fluid flow configurations, the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  and the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  are arranged in an alternating series so that each of the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  is flanked on substantially opposing sides by one of the second fluid flows F 2 , i.e. F 2  F 1  F 2  F 1  F 2 , as disclosed more fully in the aforementioned patent to Kwok. The second velocity of each of the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  is generally greater than the first velocity of each of the plurality of first fluid flows F 1 , such that the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  draw each of the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  downward, wherein the drawn plurality of first fluid flows F 1  are attenuated to form a plurality of first fluid filaments. The plurality of first fluid flows F 1  are generally alternatively directed divergently, or in parallel, or convergently. 
     According to another aspect, the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  are dispensed from the plurality of first slits  152  at approximately the same first fluid mass flow rate, and the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  are dispensed from the plurality of second slits  154  at approximately the same second fluid mass flow rate. The mass flow rates of the plurality of first fluid flows F 1 , however, are not necessarily the same as the mass flow rates of the plurality of second fluid flows F 2 . Dispensing the plurality of first fluid flows F 1  at approximately equal first fluid mass flow rates provides improved first fluid flow control and uniform dispensing of the first fluid flows F 1  from the die assembly  100 , and dispensing the plurality of second fluid flows F 2  at approximately equal second fluid mass flow rates ensures more uniform and symmetric control of the first fluid flows F 1  with the corresponding second fluid flows F 2  as discussed further herein. In one embodiment, the plurality of first slits  152  has approximately equal first fluid flow F 1  paths to provide approximately equal first fluid mass flow rates, and the plurality of second slits  154  have approximately equal second fluid flow F 2  paths to provide approximately equal second fluid mass flow rates. 
     In convergently directed second fluid flow configurations, the two second fluid flows F 2  are convergently directed toward a common first fluid flow F 1  generally having approximately equal second fluid mass flow rates. Although the two second fluid mass flow rates associated with a first fluid flow F 1  are not necessarily equal to the two second fluid mass flow rates associated with another first fluid flow F 1 . In some applications, moreover, the two second fluid flows F 2  are convergently directed toward a common first fluid flow F 1  that may have unequal second fluid mass flow rates to affect a particular control over the first fluid flow F 1  Also, in some applications the mass flows rates of some of the first fluid flows F 1  are not approximately equal to the mass flow rates of other first fluid flows F 1 , for example first fluid flows F 1  dispensed along lateral edge portions of the substrate may have a different mass flow rates than other first fluid flows F 1  dispensed onto intermediate portions of the substrate to affect edge definition. Thus, while it is generally desirable to have approximately equal mass fluid flow rates amongst first and second fluid flows F 1  and F 2 , there are applications where it is desirable to vary the mass flow rates of some of the first fluid flows F 1  relative to other first fluid flows F 1 , and similarly to vary the mass flow rates of some of the second fluid flows F 2  relative to other second fluid flows F 2 . 
       FIG. 1A  shows a first fluid flow F 1  vacillating under the effect of the flanking second fluid flows F 2 . The first fluid flow F 1  vacillation is characterized generally by an amplitude parameter and a frequency parameter, which are controllable, substantially periodically or chaotically, depending upon the application requirements. The vacillation is controllable, for example, by varying a spacing between the first fluid flow F 1  and one or more of the second fluid flows F 2 , by varying the amount of one or more of the second fluid flows F 2 , or by varying a velocity of one or more of the second fluid flows F 2  relative to the velocity of the first fluid flow F 1 . The amplitude and frequency parameters of the first fluid flow F 1  are thus controllable with anyone or more of the above variables as discussed the aforementioned patent to Kwok. 
     The vacillation of the first fluid flow F 1  is also controllable by varying a relative angle between one or more of the second fluid flows F 2  and the first fluid flow F 1 . This method of controlling the vacillation of the first fluid flow F 1  is applicable where the second fluid flows F 2  are convergent or non-convergent relative to the first fluid flow F 1 . Convergently directed second fluid flow configurations permit control of first fluid flow F 1  vacillation with relatively decreased second fluid mass flow rates in comparison to parallel and divergent second fluid flow configurations, thereby reducing heated air requirements. Generally, the first fluid flow F 1  is relatively symmetric when the angles between the second fluid flows F 2  on opposing sides of the first fluid flow F 1  are approximately equal. Alternatively, the vacillation of the first fluid flow F 1  may be skewed laterally in one direction or the other when the flanking second fluid flows F 2  have unequal angles relative to the first fluid flow F 1  or by otherwise changing other variables discussed herein. According to another aspect, as shown in  FIG. 1A , a first fluid flow filament FF from any one of several die assemblies  100  and  240  coupled to the main manifold is vacillated substantially periodically non-parallel to a direction F of substrate S movement. 
     The corresponding die assembly  100  generally includes a plurality of fluid flow filaments FF arranged in a series with the illustrated filament non-parallel to the direction F of substrate S movement. Still more generally, a plurality of similar die assemblies  240  are coupled to the main manifold  200  in series, and/or in two or more parallel series which may be offset or staggered, and/or non-parallel to the direction F of substrate S movement. In the exemplary application, the plurality of die assemblies  240  and the fluid flow filaments are vacillated in the directions L transversely to the direction F of the substrate S movement. 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates an expanded view of the die assembly  100 . Each of the plates ( 102 ,  104 ,  118 ,  120 ,  123 ,  124 ,  126 ,  130 ,  132 ,  148 ,  150 ,  158 ,  160 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168 , and  170 ) in the die assembly  100  are compressed between two end plates  180  and  182  and are secured in place by the securing units  184  with a fastener  190 . When compressed together, the different openings in each plate align with corresponding openings in adjacent plates to form cavities and channels which direct the second fluid and first fluid through the die assembly  100 . 
     Referring to FIGS.  1 B and  2 A- 2 H, the second fluid exits the second fluid inlet  400  and is split into two separate streams. The first stream travels through the channel formed from the second fluid inlet cavities  106  in each of the plates, and the second stream travels through the third restrictor cavity  122 . The first stream travels the length of the die assembly  100 , through the fluid inlet cavities  106 , until the first stream reaches the end plate  180  where it is redirected back towards the second end plate  182  through the fluid return cavity  162  in the plates  166 ,  164 ,  158  and  160 . When the first stream reaches plates  150  and  148 , via the fluid return cavity  162 , the first stream is directed through the second plurality of second slits  154  in the plate  148 . 
     A second stream of the second fluid travels through the third restrictor cavity  122  in plates  118 ,  120 ,  123 ,  124  and  126  until the second stream is dispersed by the first plurality of second slits  154  in the plate  148 . The first fluid exits the first fluid inlet  402  and passes through the channel created by the openings  116  until the first fluid reaches the accumulator cavity  128  in plates  123 ,  124  and  126 . The first fluid accumulates in the accumulator cavity  128  such that a constant amount of the first fluid flows through the second orifices  136  in plate  130  and the third orifices  138  in the plate  132 . The first fluid is the dispersed through the plurality of first slits  152  in the plate  148 . The first and second fluids supplied to the die assembly  100 , or body member, are distributed to the first and second slits  154  as discussed below. 
       FIGS. 2A-2H  show each of the plurality of plates in the die assembly  100 .  FIG. 2A  shows two plates  102  and  104  which together form a fluid inlet cavity  106 , a first restrictor cavity  108 , and a second restrictor cavity  110  when plates  102  and  104  are pressed together. The second fluid is provided into the fluid inlet cavity  106  under a uniform pressure and is transferred to the first restrictor cavity  108  and second restrictor cavity  110  by channels  112  and  114 . The first fluid is transferred through plates  102  and  104  by a channel created by the opening  116  in the plates  102  and  104 . 
       FIG. 2B  shows two plates  118  and  120  with plate  118  being adjacent to plate  104 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in the two plates  118  and  120 . The second fluid also passes from the first restrictor cavity  108  and second restrictor cavity  110  in the plates  102  and  104  through a third restrictor cavity  122  in the lower portion of each plate  118  and  120 . The first fluid continues through the channel created by the opening  116  in each plate  118  and  120 . The plates  118  and  120  are aligned such that the center of the opening  106  is aligned in each plate of the plurality of plates. 
       FIG. 2C  shows three plates  123 ,  124  and  126  with plate  123  being adjacent to plate  120 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  123 ,  124  and  126  from the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  118  and  120 . The second fluid also passes through the third restrictor cavity  122  in the lower portion of each plate  123 ,  124  and  126  from the third restrictor cavity in plates  118  and  120 . The first fluid enters an accumulator cavity  128  from the channel created by the openings  116  in plates  123 ,  124  and  126 . 
     The accumulator cavity  128  is substantially parabolic in shape with the apex of the parabolic shape being closest to the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  123 ,  124  and  126 . The portion of the accumulator cavity  128  closest to the third restrictor cavity  122  has a width approximately equal to the width of the third restrictor cavity  122 . 
       FIG. 2D  shows two plates  130  and  132  with plate  132  being adjacent to the plate  126 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  130  and  132 . The second fluid also passes from third restrictor cavity  122  in plates  123 ,  124  and  126  into a plurality of first orifices  134  in plate  130 . The plurality of first orifices  134  acts as a fluid filter for trapping any larger debris in the second fluid. The first fluid passes from the accumulator cavity  128  through a plurality of second orifices  136  positioned above the plurality of first orifices  134  in plate  130 . Each of the plurality of second orifices  136  is positioned above each of the plurality of first orifices  134  and are aligned with a space between each of the plurality of first orifices  134 . 
     The plurality of second orifices  136  in plate  130  are aligned with a plurality of third orifices  138  in plate  132  and the plurality of first orifices  134  in plate  130  are aligned with a plurality of first slots  140  in plate  132 . The plurality of third orifices  138  each includes an upper portion  142  and a lower portion  144 . The upper portion  142  is substantially oval shaped and is positioned above the plurality of first slots  140  and are aligned with a space between each of the plurality of first slots  140 . Each of the upper portions  142  align with a corresponding second orifice  136  in plate  130 . The lower portions  144  have a width smaller than the width of the upper portion  142  and extend from one end of the upper portion  142  into the space between each of the plurality of slots  140 . 
     Each of the plurality of first slots  140  aligns with a corresponding first orifice  134  in plate  130  such that second fluid flows through each first orifice  134  and into a corresponding first slot  140 . Each of the first slots  140  includes one open end and one closed end with the open end having a width larger than the width of the closed end. The first fluid also passes from the accumulator cavity  128  in plates  126  and  128  through a channel created by the openings  146  in plates  130  and  132 . 
       FIG. 2E  illustrates plates  148  and  150  with plate  148  being adjacent to plate  132 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  148  and  150  from the first fluid cavity  106  in plates  130  and  132 . The second fluid also passes from the each of the plurality of first slots  140  in plate  132  into a first plurality of second slits  154  in the lower portion of plate  148 . The first fluid passes through each of the plurality of second orifices  138  in plate  132  and into the plurality of first slits  152  in the lower portion of plate  148 . The lower portion  144  of each orifice  138  is aligned with the upper portion of a corresponding slit  152  such that fluid enters each of the slits  152  from a top portion of each slit  152  from the lower portion  144  of each orifice  138 . Each of the plurality of first slits  152  is alternated with each of the plurality of second slits  154  such that any one of the plurality of first slits  152  is adjacent to a corresponding second slit  154 . Plate  150  includes a plurality of slits  156  which are arranged such that each of the slits  156  are aligned with a second plurality of the second slits  154  on plate  148 , where the second plurality of second slits  154  are different than the first plurality of second slits  154 . 
       FIG. 2F  shows plates  158  and  160  with plate  158  being adjacent to plate  150 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  158  and  160  from first inlet cavity  106  in plates  148  and  150 . The second fluid also passes through the fluid return cavity  162  from plate  160  to plate  158  such that the second fluid flows through the slits  156 . Each of the slits  156  is aligned with a second plurality of second slits  154  in plate  148 . Because of this arrangement, the second fluid is provided to different slits from different directions, as will described herein. When combined, the second fluid and first fluid pass through slits  152  and  154  at a rate of approximately 2-3 grams per slit per minute consuming approximately 8.0 cubic feet per minute of air for every two inches of fluid passed. 
       FIG. 2G  shows plates  164  and  166  with plate  164  being adjacent to plate  160 . The second fluid passes through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  164  and  166  from the first fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  158  and  160 . The second fluid also passes from plate  166  to plate  164  through the fluid return cavity  162 . 
       FIG. 2H  shows plates  168  and  170  with plate  168  being adjacent to plate  166 . The second fluid passes from the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plate  166  through the fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  168  and  170 . The fluid inlet cavity  106  in plates  168  and  170  are connected to a first return restrictor channel  172  and second return restrictor cavity  174  by channels  176  and  178  respectively. The second fluid is collected in the first and second return restrictor channels  172  and  174  and is then passed through the fluid return cavity  162  in plates  166 ,  164 ,  160  and  158  until the second fluid is dispersed by the second plurality of second slits  154  in plate  148 , as previously discussed. The first end plate  180  is positioned adjacent to plate  170 . 
     The plurality of plates are affixed together by the first end plate  180  and a second end plate  182 , as shown in  FIG. 1A . Securing units  184  (four shown, see,  FIG. 7 ) engage openings  186  positioned near the corners of the end plates  180  and  182  and in each of the plurality of plates. The securing units  184  can be a rivet, screw, pin or any other device capable of securing the plurality of plates and end plates  180  and  182  together. 
       FIG. 1A  also shows the die assembly  100  retained between the first and second end plates  180  and  182  and coupled to an adapter assembly  300 . The illustrated adapter assembly  300  includes an adapter  310  and an intermediate adapter  320 .  FIGS. 3A-4C  show various views of the adapter  310  having a first interface  312  for mounting either the die assembly  100  compressably retained between the end plates  180  and  182  directly or alternatively for mounting the intermediate adapter  320  as shown in the exemplary embodiment. The mounting interface  312  of the adapter  310  includes a second fluid outlet  314  coupled to a corresponding second fluid inlet  315 , and a first fluid outlet  316  coupled to a corresponding first fluid inlet  317 . The intermediate adapter  320  has a first mounting surface  322  with first and second fluid inlets  324  and  326  coupled to corresponding first and second fluid outlets  325  and  327  on a second mounting interface  321 . The first mounting surface  322  of the intermediate adapter  320  is mountable on the first mounting interface  312  of the adapter  310  to couple the first and second fluid inlets  324  and  326  of the intermediate adapter  320  to the first and second fluid outlets  314  and  316  of the adapter  310 . 
     According to another aspect, as shown in  FIGS. 3B ,  4 A and  4 C, the first fluid outlet  314  of the adapter  310  is located centrally thereon for coupling with a centrally located second fluid inlet  324  of the intermediate adapter  320 . The second fluid outlet  316  of the adapter  310  is located radially relative to the first fluid outlet  314  for coupling with a recessed annular first fluid inlet  328  coupled to the second fluid inlet  326  and disposed about the first fluid inlet  324  on the first interface  322  of the intermediate adapter  320 . Accordingly, the intermediate adapter  320  is rotationally adjustable relative to the adapter  310  to adjustably orient the die assembly  100  to permit alignment of the die assembly parallel or non-parallel to the direction F of substrate movement. And, according to a related aspect, the adapter  310  also has a recessed annular first fluid inlet disposed about the first fluid inlet  315  and coupled to the second fluid outlet  316 , such that the adapter  310  is rotationally adjustable relative to a nozzle module  240  or other adapter for coupling the die assembly  100  to a second fluid supply as discussed further herein. 
       FIGS. 3B and 3C  show the first interface of one of the adapter  310  or intermediate adapter  320  having first and second sealing member recesses  318  and  319  disposed about the first and second fluid outlets  314  and  316  on the first interface  312  of the adapter  310 . A corresponding resilient sealing member like a rubber O-ring, not shown but known in the art, is seatable in each recess for forming a fluid seal between the adapter  310  and the intermediate adapter  320 . 
     The exemplary recesses are enlarged relative to the first and second fluid outlets  314  and  316  to accommodate misalignment between the adapter  310  and the intermediate adapter  320  and additionally to prevent contact between the second fluid and the sealing member, which may result in premature seal deterioration. Also, some of the recesses are oval shaped to more efficiently utilize the limited surface area of the mounting interface  312 . The second fluid inlet  317 , and other interfaces, generally have a similar sealing member recess for forming a fluid seal with corresponding mounting members not shown. 
       FIG. 1A  also shows a metal sealing member, or gasket,  330  that can be positioned between the adapter  310  and the intermediate adapter  320  for use in combination with the resilient sealing member discussed above or as an alternative thereto. The metal sealing member  330  includes, generally, first and second fluid coupling ports, which may be enlarged to accommodate the resilient sealing members discussed above, and holes for passing bolt members there through during coupling of the adapter  310  and intermediate adapter  320 . 
     As discussed herein, the die assembly  100  compressably retained between the first and second end plates  180  and  182  can be coupled either directly to the adapter  310  or to the intermediate adapter  320 , to permit mounting the die assembly  100  in a parallel or vertical orientation or in orientations shifted 90 degrees.  FIG. 1A  shows the die assembly  100  and end plates  180  and  182  mounted on the second mounting interface  321  of the intermediate adapter  320 .  FIG. 5  shows the second die retaining end plate  182  having a second fluid inlet  400  and a first fluid inlet  402  for coupling the first and second fluid inlet cavities  106  and  116  of the die assembly  100  to the first and second fluid outlets  325  and  327  of the intermediate adapter  320 . 
       FIG. 1A  also shows a fastener  190  for fastening the die assembly  100  retained between the end plates  180  and  182  to the mounting surface of the adapter  320 . The fastener  190  includes an enlarged head portion  192  with a torque applying engagement surface, a narrowed shaft portion  194 , and a threaded end portion  196 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the first end plate  180  having an opening  188  for freely passing the threaded end portion  196  of the fastener  190  therethrough, and a seat for receiving a sealing member, not shown, which forms a fluid seal with the enlarged head portion  192  of the fastener  190  advanced fully through the die assembly  100 . The threaded end portion  196  of the fastener  190  is also freely passable through the first fluid inlet  106  of the die assembly  100 , through the second fluid inlet  400  in the second end plate  182 , and into threaded engagement with a portion  329  of the first fluid outlet  327  of the intermediate adapter  320 . Accordingly, the fastener  190  is disposed through and into the first fluid outlet  327  of the adapter  320 , or adapter  310  which is configured similarly, to fasten the die assembly  100  compressably retained between the first and second end plates  180  and  182 , so that the narrowed shaft portion  194  of the fastener  190  permits the first fluid flow therethrough without obstruction. 
     The second fluid inlet  400  in the second end plate  182  is threaded to engage the threaded end portion  196  of the fastener, thus preventing separation thereof during assembly of the die assembly  100  and the end plates  180  and  182 . As such, the fastener  190  extends through an upper portion of the die assembly  100  and the end plates  180  and  182  to facilitate mounting thereof onto the mounting interface of the adapter  310  or  320 . This upward location of the fastener  190  allows gravitational orientation of the die assembly relative to the adapter when mounting to substantially vertically oriented mounting interfaces. The adapter mounting interface and the second end plate  182  may also have complementary members for positively locating the second end plate  182  on the mounting interface. 
     To this end, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the die assembly  100  is coupled to a fluid metering device  210  for supplying the second fluid to the die assembly. The die assembly is fluidically coupled to the main manifold  200  having a second fluid supply conduit  230  that is fluidically coupled between the fluid metering device  210  and the die assembly  100  to supply second fluid thereto. The exemplary embodiment shows, more generally, accommodations for mounting a plurality of die assemblies  100  fluidically coupled to the main manifold  200 , so that the main manifold has a plurality of second fluid supply conduits  230  fluidically coupled between the fluid metering device  210  and a corresponding one of the plurality of die assemblies  100  to supply second fluid thereto. The second fluid supply conduits  230  are fluidically coupled to a plurality of corresponding fluid outlet ports  232  disposed on a first end portion  202  of the main manifold  200 . 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.