Patent ID: 8282870

Claim:
A hot runner ( 600 ) being configured for filling a mold ( 308 ) with a molding material, the hot runner ( 600 ) comprising: a plurality of hot runner nozzles ( 302 ) each having a respective melt channel ( 304 ), each melt channel ( 304 ) connected with a manifold ( 306 ), each melt channel ( 304 ) is for delivering a molten molding material to the mold ( 308 ) being connected each hot runner nozzle ( 302 ); a plurality of valve stems ( 104 ) each being positioned, at least in part, along the melt channel ( 304 ) of respective hot runner nozzles ( 302 ), each valve stem ( 104 ) being configured to be moved, at least partially, along the melt channel ( 304 ) of the hot runner nozzle ( 302 ); a plate ( 110 ) including a plurality of actuation assemblies ( 102 ), the plate ( 110 ) being configured to actuate movement of the valve stems ( 104 ), each actuation assembly coupling respective valve stems ( 104 ) to the plate ( 110 ); a plate actuator ( 310 ) being connected with the plate ( 110 ), each actuation assembly ( 102 ) being offset from respective hot runner nozzles ( 302 ), the actuation assemblies ( 102 ) being configured to move responsive to becoming actuated to do so; and a plurality of safety connectors ( 100 ; 200 ; 300 ), each including: a shear member ( 106 ) releasably interlocking the valve stem ( 104 ) with the actuation assembly ( 102 ), once the shear member ( 106 ) has interlocked the valve stem ( 104 ) with the actuation assembly ( 102 ), the valve stem ( 104 ) becomes movable in response to movement of the actuation assembly ( 102 ), and the shear member ( 106 ) being configured to shear destructively, and responsive to a predetermined undesired force acting on the shear member ( 106 ), the shear member ( 106 ) shears and the valve stem ( 104 ) becomes released from the actuation assembly ( 102 ).