Patent ID: 7329118

Claim:
An expansion nozzle for conducting melt from a floating manifold to a mold assembly, the expansion nozzle comprising a bushing having a bushing flange for affixing to a manifold, a spigot projecting from the bushing flange and a passage therethrough joining a nozzle inlet and an outlet, a head having a seating surface and a bore through the head and open at the seating surface, the spigot of the bushing being slidably received within the bore of the head, the outlet of the spigot being in fluid communication with the bore through the head, means for retaining the head with the bushing, the bushing movable axially relative to the head over a range from abutting contact of opposing surfaces of the head and bushing flange to a limit of axial separation of the opposing surfaces, axial separation of the opposing surfaces of the head and bushing flange being maintained throughout an operating temperature range, and biasing means for maintaining sealing contact of the seating surface of the head with a mating surface of the mold assembly, melt admitted from the manifold to the passage being conducted through the expansion nozzle to the mold assembly.