Patent ID: 8142183

Claim:
A hot runner ( 100 ), comprising: a first plate ( 102 ) having a first-plate alloy; a second plate ( 104 ) having a second-plate alloy, the second plate ( 104 ) being coupled with the first plate ( 102 ), and the second plate ( 104 ) and the first plate ( 102 ) defining a manifold pocket ( 213 ); a manifold ( 224 ) being supportively received in the manifold pocket ( 213 ), and the manifold ( 224 ) having a drop ( 225 ); a nozzle assembly ( 400 ) being supportively received by the second plate ( 104 ), the nozzle assembly ( 400 ) connecting with the drop ( 225 ) of the manifold ( 224 ); and a nozzle-support structure ( 101 ), including: a first load-bearing insert ( 207 ) contacting the second plate ( 104 ), the first load-bearing insert ( 207 ) contacting the nozzle assembly ( 400 ), the first load-bearing insert ( 207 ) having a first insert material being stronger than the second-plate alloy of the second plate ( 104 ), the first insert material being strong enough to withstand a first high-point load ( 150 ) to be transmitted from the nozzle assembly ( 400 ) to the second plate ( 104 ) via the first load-bearing insert ( 207 ), and the second-plate alloy of the second plate ( 104 ) withstands transmission of the first high-point load ( 150 ) once the first load-bearing insert ( 207 ) distributes the first high-point load ( 150 ) to the second plate ( 104 ).