DE29521904U1 - Cooling and calibration device for elongated objects - Google Patents

Description

CA. Greiner & Sons

Company m.b.H.

Greiner Street

A-4550 Kremsmünster

Cooling and calibration device for elongated objects 25

The invention relates to a cooling and calibrating device for cooling and optionally calibrating elongated, extruded plastic objects, as described in the preamble of claim 1.

Methods for cooling and calibrating elongated, in particular continuously extruded, plastic objects are already known, according to US-A-5 008 051 and EP-Bl-O 35 487 778, in which the extruded objects or profiles are cooled as they pass through a continuous cooling chamber. In such a continuous cooling chamber, the extruded profile is usually sprayed on all sides with coolant, in particular coolant liquid, such as water.

sprayed using spray nozzles so that it has sufficient rigidity until the end of the run. In addition, a uniform negative pressure is built up in the interior of the continuous cooling chamber so that the profile walls do not sink or collapse when they cool down. Due to the surface tension of the water, the water or cooling liquid adheres to the surface of the profile to be cooled when sprayed on, whereby the subsequently sprayed water or cooling liquid runs over the existing cooling water film and not the entire sprayed amount of coolant comes into contact with the surface of the profile to be cooled and therefore very large amounts of water must be sprayed onto the profile in a unit of time in order to achieve a minimum cooling of the profile during the run through the continuous cooling chamber. The disadvantage of using spray nozzles is that they can easily become clogged by foreign bodies or contaminants carried in the cooling liquid, meaning that there is no or only minimal cooling in these areas, resulting in an uneven cooling process of the object to be cooled.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a cooling and calibration device for cooling extruded objects, in which the energy expenditure for cooling the object can be kept low.

This object of the invention is achieved by the cooling and calibration device according to the characterizing part of claim 1. The advantage here is that the amount of coolant for cooling the objects can be reduced considerably, since due to the better flushing of the object, a larger proportion of the amount of water supplied comes into direct contact with the surface of the object to be cooled and thus the amount of heat to be dissipated can be dissipated with a smaller total amount of water per unit of time or in relation to the running meter of a manufactured object. Since due to the smaller amount of coolant, it has to absorb a larger amount of heat from the object to be cooled, it is heated to a higher temperature, which leads to an improvement in the efficiency of the connected system parts, such as processing or cooling units, which also allows savings to be achieved. Furthermore, it is surprisingly achieved at the same time that the additional energy expenditure for overcoming the resistance in the spray nozzle arrangements, as used in the previously known processes and devices, is avoided. This also has the advantage that less primary coolant, in particular fresh water, is required, since the amount of coolant circulated and thus also the amount of loss arising during its circulation is lower. Due to the overlap of the profile contour of the object passing through in a plane arranged transversely to the direction of extrusion in relation to the

Through-flow channels arranged in the base plate, an intensive flow around the object by the coolant in its immediate vicinity is achieved. Furthermore, this can create the relative speed between the coolant flowing past more quickly and the object also moving in the direction of extrusion, whereby a high proportion of coolant exchange is achieved in the area of the surface of the object, thus increasing the cooling effect and thus the cooling speed of the object as it passes through the cooling and calibration device. Furthermore, the vacuum required to maintain the required quality of the object can be used at the same time for transport or for improved wetting and for increased flushing of the surface of the object. The coolant is passed on within the interior between the individual immediately adjacent areas through inlet and/or outlet openings or slots, which serve to connect the individual areas. Furthermore, the interior of the cooling device can be divided into more or fewer areas by arranging a different number of walls or panels. A multiplication of the number of apertures with the same housing length leads to an extension of the flow path of the coolant, whereby an increased coolant exchange on the surface of the object can be achieved with the same housing length.

A further advantageous embodiment is described in claim 2. The advantage of such a solution is that an even more directed coolant flow within the cooling chamber or the housing can be achieved only by arranging an additional longitudinal web to divide the individual areas into continuous cooling chambers. A further advantage of this solution is that the opposite longitudinal areas of an object or a profile are cooled more and more strongly in successive areas and somewhat less strongly in an area immediately adjacent to them, so that the stresses that build up during the faster cooling can balance out again in the adjacent area, in which a smaller reduction in the temperature of the object or less heat removal takes place.

The design variants according to claims 3 and 4 also ensure that the profile contour contained in the support panels can easily adapt to tolerance fluctuations or vibrations in the passing object or window profile, whereby damage to the surface of the object is sufficiently avoided. Furthermore, the support panels can self-align with the profile contour in relation to the object.

The further development according to claim 5 largely avoids leakage losses,

This results in a saving in operating costs that would otherwise be incurred to cover power losses.

The embodiment according to claim 6 has the advantage that a simpler build-up of the vacuum can be achieved throughout the cooling and calibration device and over the respective area.

According to another embodiment variant according to claim 7, approximately constant flow conditions or turbulences are also improved in the first and last areas in the extrusion direction.

A further development according to claim 8 is also advantageous, since this achieves a more energy-efficient extraction of the air required to create the vacuum and the coolant required for cooling. Due to the arrangement, a uniform discharge speed is achieved, whereby the vacuum build-up is constant.

The design according to claim 9 enables a sensitive and independent control of the vacuum in the individual areas to be achieved, whereby the differences in the negative pressure in the individual immediately adjacent areas can be set more freely.

A further development according to claim 10 is also advantageous, as it allows pumping effects to be avoided, which otherwise lead to an irregular vacuum build-up within the individual areas or sections. In this way, both the air and the coolant can be removed from the cooling and calibration device in a simple manner through separate suction lines using a single suction device or vacuum pump.

Through the further development according to claim 11, a good flow of coolant and thus also a good cooling adapted to the other areas is achieved even in those areas in which the longitudinal web faces the object or the window profile.

According to an advantageous development according to claim 12, it is achieved that, due to the constant solidification of the object while it passes through the cooling and calibration device, the arrangement of further support panels or walls can be dispensed with, whereby a cost reduction can be achieved by reducing the number of panels.

The design according to claim 13 makes it possible to establish continuous laminar flows over the entire length of the cooling and calibration device, which enable intensive cooling of the surface areas over the various longitudinal areas of the object.

A further development according to claim 14 is also advantageous, since the arrangement of the flow channels parallel to the extrusion direction results in a targeted and directed flow of the coolant from one area to the area immediately following it. Furthermore, this can prevent flow losses or dead spaces in the flowing coolant.

A design according to claim 15 is also possible, since this achieves an unhindered flow or passage of the coolant between the individual areas and flow losses can be minimized.

A further advantageous embodiment is described in claim 16, since the passage of the coolant takes place without high friction losses, whereby a uniform coolant throughput can be achieved.

A design according to claim 17 is also possible, since a high coolant throughput can be achieved under favorable flow conditions.

Advantageous further developments are described in claims 18 and 19, since the coolant is set in a corresponding circular movement during or after passing from one area to the immediately following area and thus a frequent exchange of coolant takes place on the surface of the object, whereby an improvement in the cooling effect can be achieved. This circular movement causes additional turbulence and mixing of the coolant.

A design according to claim 20 is also possible, since due to the offset a directed flow can be achieved in relation to the object passing through, whereby in addition a certain cross-flow can be achieved in the individual areas in relation to the object.

According to an advantageous further development, as described in claim 21, a flow-optimized passage of the coolant from one area to the area immediately following it is achieved, whereby a high level of heat dissipation can also be achieved on the underside of the object.

However, a design according to claim 22 is also advantageous, as this allows a directed
Passage of the coolant in relation to the profile contour is achieved, whereby each profile section
a certain amount of coolant can be assigned for the corresponding cooling.

The invention is explained below with reference to the different embodiments shown in the drawings.
Design variants explained in more detail.

Show it:

Fig. 1 an extrusion system with a cooling and calibration device according to the invention in side view and simplified, schematic representation;

Fig. 2 a schematic sketch of a cooling and calibration device in simplified, diagrammatic
Depiction;
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Fig. 3 the cooling and calibration device in side view, sectioned, according to the lines &Pgr;&Igr;-&Igr;&Pgr; in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 1 to 3 in plan view, sectioned, along the lines IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 1 to 4 in front view, sectioned, along the lines V-V in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows a variant embodiment of the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 1 to 5 in front view, corresponding to the section lines VI-VI in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 shows a variant for the design of the inlet and outlet opening in a support panel for connecting two directly adjacent areas in side view, sectioned, according to the lines VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of a cooling and calibration device in a simplified,
graphic representation;

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the cooling and calibration device in side view, sectioned along the lines IX-IX in Fig. 10 and in a highly simplified, schematic representation;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the cooling and calibration device in section, along the lines X-X in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 8 to 10 in front view, sectioned, along the lines XI-XI in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 8 to 11 in front view, sectioned, along the lines XII-XII in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 shows a further embodiment of the cooling and calibration device in side view, sectioned along the lines Θ-Θ in Fig. 14 and simplified, schematic representation;

Fig. 14 the cooling and calibration device according to Fig. 13 in plan view, sectioned, according to the lines XIV-XIV in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 13 and 14 in front view, sectioned, along the lines XV-XV in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 13 to 15 in front view, sectioned, along the lines XVI-XVI in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 another design of the flow channels of the cooling and calibration device

according to Fig. 13 to 16 in front view, sectioned; 25

Fig. 18 shows a further variant for the formation of the inlet and outlet openings in a support panel for connecting directly adjacent areas, in front view, sectioned;

Fig. 19 shows a further embodiment of the cooling and calibration device in side view, sectioned along the lines XIX-XIX in Fig. 20 and simplified, schematic representation;

Fig. 20 the cooling and calibration device according to Fig. 13 in plan view, sectioned, according to the lines XX-XX in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 19 and 20 in front view,

cut according to lines XXI-XXI in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 the cooling and calibration device according to Figs. 19 to 21 in front view, sectioned, according to the lines XXII-XXII in Fig. 19.

Fig. 1 shows an extrusion system 1 which comprises an extruder 2, an extrusion tool 3 and a cooling and calibration device 5 arranged downstream of this in the direction of extrusion - arrow 4. A schematic and simplified caterpillar take-off 6 is arranged downstream of this cooling and calibration device 5 as a further part of the extrusion system 1, with which an object 7, for example a window profile 8, can be produced. For this purpose, the plastic 9 filled in granulate form is plasticized in the extruder 2 and discharged via a conveyor screw 10 in the direction of an extrusion tool 3. To support the take-off movement and the forming process of the object 7, the object is taken off with the caterpillar take-off 6 after it has been cooled by the cooling and calibration device 5 to such an extent that it is sufficiently solidified to transmit a feed movement.

The cooling and calibrating device 5 comprises two inlet calibers 11 arranged one behind the other in the extrusion direction and a cooling chamber 12 arranged downstream of these. In the present embodiment, the inlet calibers 11 are designed as dry calibers and give the object 7 the exact desired external shape.

The cooling chamber 12 is divided into several areas 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 arranged one behind the other in the direction of extrusion - arrow 4. The cooling chamber 12 is formed by an air- and liquid-tight housing 19 through which a cooling liquid, in particular water 20, flows. For this purpose, for example, a tank 22 is arranged below a mounting surface 21 of the extraction system 1, from which the cooling liquid, e.g. the water 20, can be sucked out by means of a coolant pump 23 and pressed through the housing 19, so that the returning cooling liquid or the water 20 flows back into the tank 22 via a return line 24. A corresponding water cooler with heat exchangers designed according to the state of the art can be arranged in the line to the return line 24 or in the intake line to the coolant pump 23. It is of course also possible to continually supply new water to the coolant pump 23 and to discharge the used and heated cooling water back into a body of water via the return line 24. Since the devices and arrangements required for this are sufficiently known from the prior art, they will not be described in more detail below in connection with the present invention.

In order to prevent a wall or several walls or partial surfaces of the object 7, in particular the window profile 8, from sinking or sagging during the manufacturing process of the object 7, i.e. during cooling, the object 7 is exposed to a vacuum as it passes through the cooling and calibration device 5 in the housing 19.

This vacuum is created, for example, with a vacuum pump 25, which is connected to the individual areas 13 to 18 via a suction line 26 and connecting piece 27. Each of the connecting pieces 27 can be connected to a T-piece or a connecting pipe 28, onto which a pressure gauge 29 can be attached as required or permanently to monitor and adjust the vacuum in each of the areas 13 to 18. Appropriate throttle valves 30 can also be provided for adjustment. However, instead of this, it is also possible to determine the continuous increase in the vacuum in the individual areas 13 to 18, i.e. in the extrusion direction according to arrow 4, by specifying the dimensions of through holes and connecting channels between the individual areas 13 to 18 with a central suction connection for the vacuum pump 25.

For the sake of clarity, it should be pointed out in this context that the coolant pump 23 as well as the vacuum pump 25 and the associated line parts are only shown schematically and disproportionately in size in order to better explain the arrangement and mode of operation of the cooling and calibration device 5.

A possible embodiment of a cooling and calibration device 5 is shown in Figs. 2 to 5.

The function and structure of the cooling and calibration device 5 can best be seen from the schematic diagram in Fig. 2, which is drawn in the form of a phantom drawing, in which side walls 31, 32 and a support panel 34 receiving a profile contour 33 are shown in a simplified manner and a cover plate 35 has been removed. The support panels 34, 36, 37, 38, 39 receiving the profile contour 33, arranged one behind the other in the extrusion direction - arrow 4, in conjunction with the end walls 40, 41, form the successive regions 13 to 18.

Each of these areas 13 to 18 is divided by a longitudinal web 44 arranged between a bottom side 42 of the window profile 8 and a base plate 43 into a chamber 45 and a rinsing chamber 46 on both sides of the object 7 or the window profile 8. A height 47 of this longitudinal web 44 is slightly smaller than a distance 48 between the bottom side 42 of the window profile 8 and the base plate 43 of the housing 19. The resulting gap has a thickness of between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably 2 mm, which allows a certain flow

t'V"·

connection is formed between the chamber 45 and the rinsing chamber 46. This is sufficient to cool the object 7 on the surface facing the longitudinal web 44 by the coolant passing transversely through the longitudinal web 44 and flowing in the longitudinal direction of the same.

An outer wall 50 of the housing 19 is arranged at a distance below the base plate 43 via crosspieces 49. Channels 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and connecting channels 56 and 57 are formed between the crosspieces 49. The connecting channel 57 is connected to the tank 22 via a connecting line 58 and via the coolant pump 23, while the connecting channel 56 is also connected to the tank 22 via a drain line 59. As can be seen, the crossbars 49 are offset in the longitudinal direction of the housing 19, i.e. in the extrusion direction - arrow 4, relative to the support panels 34 and 36 to 39, and the crossbars 49 are each located between two support panels 34, 36 or 37 that are immediately adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction - arrow 4. While these crossbars 49 and the channels can also extend over an entire width 60 of the housing 19, it is also possible for them to extend only between a side wall 31, 32 of the housing 19 and the longitudinal web 44, which in this case then runs through to the outer wall 50. In order to enable a continuous flow of the coolant or water 20 through the housing 19 in the longitudinal direction - arrow 4 - as indicated by arrow, the connecting channel 57 is connected to the chamber 45 of the area 13 via an inlet opening 62. In the area of the support panel 34 arranged downstream in the conveying direction in the rinsing chamber 46 opposite the object 7, an outlet opening 63 is arranged, which opens into the channel 55, passes through this channel below the support panel 34 and then enters the chamber 45 of the area 14 via the further inlet opening 62. As can best be seen from the top view in Fig. 4, the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 are arranged in the corner areas which are spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction and diagonally opposite one another. In order to enable a continuous flow of the liquid or water 20 from the coolant pump 23 to the tank 22, the coolant or water 20 must flow over an upper side 64 of the object 7 in order to reach the rinsing chamber 46 in the area 13 from the chamber 45, since the passage of the liquid beneath the object 7 or the window profile 8 is largely prevented by the longitudinal web 44.

Thus, as is schematically indicated by wavy arrows 61, the liquid or water 20 entering through the inlet opening 62 flows over the top 64 of the profile from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46 and over the outlet opening 63 to the channel 55, from where it enters the chamber 45 again through the inlet opening 62, but now already in the area 14. In the same way, but in the opposite direction, the liquid then flows around the

area 14, as well as the other areas 15 to 18, the coolant or the water 20 enters the window profile 8 and flows over the top 64 into the rinsing chamber 46 to the outlet opening 63, which is now again in the corner area between the side wall 31 and the next support panel 36 in the extrusion direction arrow 4. Each of these support panels 34, 36 to 39 is, as shown in Fig.

5, provided with an opening 65 corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the window profile 8 or the object 7, which is usually designed as a profile contour 33 and whose external dimensions are determined taking into account the shrinkage when the object 7 cools down while it passes through the cooling and calibration device 5 in the extrusion direction - arrow 4. Because these areas 13 to 18 are essentially hermetically sealed off from one another by the support panels 34, 36 to 39, an essentially hermetically sealed closure is also achieved in the area of the passage of the object 7, since any air gap between the surface of the object 7 and the opening 65 or the peripheral surface of the profile contour 33 is sealed by a water film that is present on the surface of the object 7 after it has been flushed with the coolant, as is the case with a water ring vacuum pump, for example.

If the coolant or water 20 were to be pumped through the housing 19 or the cooling and calibration device 5 using only the coolant pump 23, the cooling effect would be relatively small, since the object 7 or the window profile 8 would only be pulled through by a quantity of liquid or coolant that is essentially stationary or moving forward at a low speed.

In order to enable an intensive exchange of the coolant, i.e. a liquid, e.g. water 20, on the surface of the object 7 or the window profile 8 in the individual areas 13 to 18, the coolant or the water 20 is pumped via the coolant pump 23 only into the connection channel 57 and from there into the areas 13 to 18, so that the coolant fills, for example, the interior of the housing 19 over the height 47 at the start of the extrusion process. If the object 7, i.e. the window profile 8, has then been approached and extends, as can be seen from the illustrations in Figs. 2 to 6, through the individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 and the end walls 40, 41, a vacuum is built up in the areas 13 to 18 via the connection nozzles 27. Using the manometer 29 and throttle valves 30, the vacuum in the individual areas 13 to 18 can be set so that the vacuum increases slightly from area 13 to area 18, i.e. in the extrusion direction according to arrow 4. For this purpose, it is necessary to arrange an inlet opening 66 in the front wall 41 in the area of the cover plate 35 in order to enable appropriate air circulation and thus ensure the vacuum build-up. If, as shown in this embodiment, each area 13 to 18 is provided with its own connection piece 27,

, the vacuum is formed in the individual areas 13 to 18 by sucking air through suction openings 67, whereby a separate inlet opening 66 can then also be arranged in each area 13 to 18.

The suction openings 67 for building up the vacuum in the areas 13 to 18 are arranged in the supporting panels 34 and 36 to 39 in the area of the cover plate 35 or close to it and open into the connecting pieces 27, which are connected to the suction line 26. This is intended to prevent coolant, in particular water 20, from being drawn into the connecting pieces 27 via these suction openings 67 and thus being conveyed to the vacuum pump 25. With this arrangement, it is necessary to assign each area 13 to 18 its own inflow opening 66. If, for example, only one suction opening 67 is arranged in the front wall 40, the areas 13 to 18 are in flow connection with one another through inflow openings 66 arranged in the supporting panels 34, 36 to 39, whereby the vacuum can also be built up.

The vacuum in the areas 13 to 18 has the effect, as can best be seen from the schematic drawing in Fig. 2, that the coolant flowing in through the inlet opening 62, in particular the water 20, is raised above the top 64 of the object 7, as shown with a wavy line, and a water column with a coolant level 68 is formed. This build-up of the water column up to the coolant level 68 takes place in the chamber 45, i.e. in the chamber into which the inlet opening 62 opens, since overflow of the water from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46 is prevented by the longitudinal web 44 and then through the object 7. A gap remaining between the longitudinal web 44 and the object 7 in the vertical direction is filled by the liquid flowing from one area 13, 14 or 14, 15 into the other. The height of the water level above the upper side 64 of the object 7 or the window profile 8 now depends on the vacuum prevailing in the areas 13 to 18.

However, a surprising effect occurs in that by lifting the coolant or water 20 in the chamber 45 of the region 14 arranged downstream in the direction of extrusion - arrow 4 - a suction is exerted on the coolant in the rinsing chamber 46 of the region 13, which causes the coolant to flow quickly and swirl through the rinsing chamber 46. The coolant or water 20 flows from that part of the water column in the chamber 45 of the region 13 which protrudes above the object 7, as indicated schematically by arrows 69, into the rinsing chamber 46. The coolant or liquid or water 20 flows around the top 64 and the

-IV

Side walls 70 of the object 7. Since this overflow of the coolant or water 20 takes place in the manner of a waterfall or under strongly changing pressure conditions, the coolant overflows in a film-like manner and therefore comes into close contact with and flushes the object 7 or the window profile 8. This results in better heat transfer from the window profile 8 to the coolant or water 20 and a higher amount of heat energy can be extracted with the same amount of coolant. For example, comparative tests have shown that, with approximately the same temperatures of the coolant or water 20 at the inlet opening 62 and the outlet opening 63 in previously known systems, a water quantity of approx. 500 l/min must be applied to the window profile 8 via spray nozzles, while using the device or the method according to the invention, only 20% of this water quantity, i.e. approx. 90 to 130 l/min, are required to enable the same cooling effect or the removal of the same amount of heat.

The build-up of the individual water columns in the various chambers 45 of the areas 13 to 18 and the overflow of the coolant or water 20 occurs because the negative pressure increases from one area 13, 14, 15, etc. to the following area 14, 15, 16, etc., for example, in the area 14 following area 13 in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - it is 0.005 bar higher.

This creates a pressure gradient which causes the coolant or water 20 to be sucked in, for example from the lower water column in the rinsing chamber 46 of the area 13 as indicated schematically by the arrows 69 - into the area 14 with a higher vacuum. This sucking in or sucking out of the coolant or water 20 flowing over the window profile 8 in the area 14 takes place via the outlet opening 63 and the inlet opening 62. The coolant is then also passed on from the area 14 to the other areas 15 to 18 in the same way.

A preferred variant has proven to be to supply the coolant, in particular the water 20, via the connecting line 58 at a pressure of 1 bar and to reduce the pressure in the area 13 to 0.940 bar. In principle, the same negative pressure then prevails in the area 13. The different height of the coolant columns in the area 13, in order to enable the overflow of the coolant or the water 20 - according to the arrows 69 - from the coolant level 68 in the chamber 45 in the direction of the flushing chamber 46, is caused by the fact that in the adjoining area 14 the pressure is reduced to 0.935 bar, i.e. there is a higher vacuum than in the area 13. Depending on a diameter 71 of the outlet opening 63, the coolant is now supplied via the channel 55 - as can be clearly seen in Fig. 3 - and the inlet opening 62 to the

-14-

In area 14, a suction is built up in the area surrounding this outlet opening 63, which sucks the coolant out of area 13 and therefore sucks in the overflowing coolant or water 20. Depending on whether the difference in the vacuum between areas 13 to 18 is larger or smaller, the difference between the water levels in the chambers 45 and rinsing chambers 46 is also larger or smaller. However, other liquids with a high heat absorption capacity can also be used as coolants. If the diameter 71 of the outlet opening 63 is larger, the suction built up in the area of the base plate 43 of the rinsing chamber 46 of area 13 and thus the amount of coolant sucked out is larger than if the diameter 71 of the bore is smaller. Due to these dependencies, the pressure gradient in the area 13 between the inlet opening 62 and the outlet opening 63 and, accordingly, in all other successive areas 14 to 18 can also be determined via the diameter 71 of the bore for the outlet opening 63 or the cross-sectional dimensions of the slots or the like forming the outlet opening 63 in such a way that a sufficient flow rate of coolant or a correspondingly strong turbulence of the coolant or water 20 is achieved as it flows past the surface areas of the window profile 8 or object 7.

Of course, the movement of the coolant or the flow through the housing and the chambers 45 or flushing chambers 46 is built up by the increase in the vacuum in the chamber itself, due to the different distances to the suction opening 67, so that basically a suction is exerted on the coolant or the cooling liquid, e.g. the water 20, in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - which supports the forward movement of the coolant through the housing 19.

If the same diameters of the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 are determined in advance, the amount of coolant or water 20 flowing through the areas 13 to 18 can be changed by the pressure difference between the individual areas 13, 14 or 14, 15, etc., so that, for example, the amount of coolant flowing through can be easily adapted to the amount of heat to be dissipated based on the cross-sectional area and the amount of material for the running meter of the object 7 to be produced. This makes it possible, for example, to use the cooling and calibration device 5 for the production of objects 7 with different cross-sectional shapes or cross-sectional dimensions, wall thicknesses or the like only after replacing the individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 and the end walls 40, 41, without losing the advantages according to the invention.

Of course, for universal adaptation of the cooling and calibration device 5 it is also possible to provide several outlet or inlet openings 63, 62 in each area 13 to 18

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or, as already explained above, to design them as slots which can be opened or closed as required for larger or smaller flow rates of coolant or water 20.

For this purpose, as is schematically indicated in Fig. 5, for example, several inlet openings 62 can be arranged in the area 13 or in the other areas 14 to 18, whereby the same or similar arrangements can also be made for the outlet openings 63 - as is also only shown in area 13. In this case, it is advantageous if the inlet or outlet openings 62, 63 are provided with an internal thread 72 so that they can be closed or opened as required by means of plugs 73 or other corresponding closure elements, such as stoppers or the like. This means that the flow rate and also the flow rate of the coolant or water 20 can be easily adapted to different running meter quantities of the object 7 to be cooled, both with reference to different cross-sectional thicknesses or cross-sectional areas of the object 7, and also in adaptation to different extrusion speeds, i.e. throughput speeds of the object 7 in the extrusion direction - arrow 4.

As already explained above, the turbulence of the coolant or water 20 in the area of the water column rising up to the coolant level 68 in each area 13 to 18 in the chambers 45 is changed by the inflow speed or the type of inflow of the coolant into the respective downstream area 14 to 18. In particular, a constant mixing of the coolant in this water column or an internal circulation is very useful, since this means that the quantities of coolant on the outer surface of the object 7 or window profile 8 are constantly exchanged and thus a better heat transfer can be achieved.

In order to control or accelerate this mixing of the coolant in the water column, it is now possible to arrange the outlet openings or inlet openings 63,62 in the area of the base plate 43 in the support panels 34, 36 to 39 instead of arranging them, as is shown for example with the support panels 38 and 39 and the associated views in Fig. 6 and 7. This makes it possible to swirl the water 20 or coolant flowing in from the upstream into the downstream area 13, 14 or 14, 15 or 15, 16 etc. in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - or flowing in under differential pressure through the water column in the chamber 45. Of course, it is also possible here, as already explained with reference to Fig. 5, for several inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 to be arranged.

AW/00360-2

• ····« «41

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Thus, as indicated by dot-dash lines, the inlet openings 62 and, of course, the outlet openings 63 can be designed in the form of slots 74. These can, for example, also run obliquely to the base plate 43 and inclined to the side walls 31, 32.

However, as shown, for example, in the outlet opening 63 in the area of the support panel 39 and in the section in Fig. 7, a slot 75 can also penetrate the support panel 39 in an ascending or descending manner in the extrusion direction - arrow 4. A height difference 76 between the inlet opening 62 and the outlet opening 63 can be used to direct the inflowing coolant or water 20 accordingly and thus to achieve a targeted swirling of the coolant in the water column in the chamber 45. In addition, it is also possible, for example, for an outlet height 77 to be reduced to a level 78 compared to the passage height of the slot, so that a nozzle effect is created in this area, which supports the swirling of the coolant or water 20 in the water column.

As is further shown in Fig. 6, the fastening of the longitudinal web 44 can be carried out via fastening means 79, for example hexagon socket screws, so that when the cooling and calibration device 5 is used for differently dimensioned objects 7, for example window profiles 8, pipes, door profiles, trim strips and the like, the distance 48 between the base plate 43 and the underside 42 of the object 7 can be easily adjusted.

As can also be seen from the illustration in Fig. 6, if the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 are arranged in the area of the support panels 34, 36 to 39, the channels 51 to 55 and the connection channels 56 to 57 can be omitted.

The individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 and the end walls 40,41 can be held or attached in the housing 19 using any method known from the state of the art, such as e.g. by gluing, sealing compounds, retaining strips, retaining lugs, slots, sealing profiles, grooves, etc. 30

Fig. 8 to 12 show another variant of a cooling and calibration device.

Since the basic structure of the cooling and calibration device 5 in Figs. 8 to 12 essentially corresponds to that in Figs. 1 to 7, the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 7 are used as far as possible for the same parts in the description of this embodiment.

A94/00360-2

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The housing 19, through which the object 7 or the window profile 8 is passed, consists of a base plate 43 and side walls 31, 32 and the cover plate 35, which is lifted off in Fig. 8 for better clarity and is not shown. The housing 19 is in turn closed by end walls 40, 41 - Fig. 9 and 10.

Profile contours 33 or openings 65 adapted to the outer circumference of the object 7 are arranged both in the end walls 40, 41 and in the support panels 81 arranged between them in the interior of the housing 19 at a distance 80 from the end walls 40, 41 or one below the other, through which the object 7 or the window profile 8 is guided in terms of height and side. The external dimensions of the object 7 or the openings can become smaller from the end wall 41 over the support panel 81 in the direction of the end wall 40, i.e. in the extrusion direction, according to arrow 4, in order to take into account the shrinkage that occurs during cooling. In order to dissipate heat energy from the object 7 or the window profile 8 as it passes through the housing 19, the housing 19 is partially filled with coolant, in particular water 20, at the start of the extrusion process. As already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7, this is kept in a tank 22 and introduced into the interior of the housing 19 via a coolant pump 23 and a connecting line 58 and returned to the tank 22 via a drain line 59. To cool the coolant or water 20 or another cooling liquid, such as oil or the like, intercoolers 82 can also be provided in order to cool the coolant or water 20 back to a desired starting temperature.

Furthermore, a vacuum pump 25 is arranged to evacuate an interior space 83 of the housing 19, the suction line 84 of which can be connected, for example, to several pressure gauges 29 and throttle valves 30.

In contrast to the embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 7, in the embodiment now described, a longitudinal web 85 is provided which extends from the cover plate 35 into the area of an upper side 64 of the object 7 or the window profile 8. 30

A height 47 of the longitudinal web 85 is slightly, for example between 0.5 and 5 mm, smaller than a distance 48 between the inner side of the cover plate 35 facing the object 7 and the upper side 64 of the object 7.

Since the object 7 or the window profile 8 runs at a greater distance or the inner surface of the base plate 43 facing it, the two long sides in the area of the opposite side walls 31, 32 are between the respective support panels.

• · « · ft ·

the 81 are connected to each other, whereas in the area above the object 7 or the profile they are separated from each other by the longitudinal web 85.

In the variant now described, the individual, separate areas 86 to 89 between the longitudinal web 85 and the right-hand side wall 31 in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - are formed by partition walls 90 to 92, which each hermetically seal the free space between the support panels 81 and the cover plate 35 between the side wall 31 and the longitudinal web 85. By arranging further partition walls 93, 94, further areas 95 to 97 can be created between the longitudinal web 85 and the left-hand side wall 31 in the extrusion direction - arrow 4, whereby these areas 86 to 89 and 95 to 97 are offset from one another in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - so that they overlap one another in the longitudinal direction. This is achieved in that between the partition walls 90, 91 and 91, 92 a support panel 81 is arranged on which no partition wall is placed, wherein then on this support panel 81 on the opposite side of the longitudinal web 85 one of the partition walls 93 or 94 is arranged, between which again a support panel 81 is arranged on which no partition wall is placed.

Because the space between the base plate 43 and an underside of the object 7 is not closed between the individual support panels 81 or the front wall 41 and the nearest support panel 81 and the front wall 40 and the nearest support panel 81, this space serves as a flow channel which connects the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 to one another. This enables a direct connection between the area 86 and the area 95 or between the partition walls 90 and 93 arranged directly following one another in the extrusion direction - arrow 4. This also enables a connection of the area 95 with the area 87 between the partition walls 93 and 91, of the area 87 with the area 96 between the partition walls 91 and 94, of the area with the area 88 and between the partition walls 94 and 92 of the area 88 with the area 97 and between the partition wall 92 and the front wall 40 of the area 97 with the area 89.

As is shown schematically in the diagram in Fig. 8, in which the cover plate 35 has again been removed for better clarity and which is shown in the form of a phantom drawing, the coolant or the water 20 is raised to a height 98 by the vacuum in the area 95, which is slightly higher than the vacuum in the area 86, or a liquid column of coolant is built up, the coolant level 99 of which lies above a front edge 100 of the support panel 81, which supports the partition wall 90 between the longitudinal web 85 and the side wall 31.

-■19-*·

Because the vacuum, as will be explained in more detail below, is higher in area 87 than in area 95, a similar effect occurs as was already explained in the previously described embodiment using Fig. 2 to 5, in which the coolant flows down from a chamber 101 arranged in area 95 into a rinsing chamber 102 in the manner of a waterfall, since below the object 7, due to the cross connection between area 87 and area 95, a suction acts on the coolant in the rinsing chamber due to the higher vacuum in area 87. Therefore, the water flowing out of the coolant column 103 from the chamber 101 is sucked into the chamber 104 after rinsing around the object 7 and sucking through below the object 7 to build up another coolant column 103 with the coolant level 99. This chamber 104 is delimited by the partition wall 90 and the support panel 81 facing it, as well as the support panel 81 arranged downstream in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 -, the side wall 31 and the longitudinal web 85. This transport path of the water 20 for cooling the object 7 is additionally illustrated by the arrows 105 and 106. The water then flows or falls from the chamber 104, according to the arrow 105 due to the suction of coolant into the next area, into the rinsing chamber 107, in which there is a coolant column of lower height and is sucked into the subsequent chamber 108 of the area 96 to build up the coolant column 103.

In order to graphically represent the different pressure conditions in the various areas 86 to 89, 95 to 97, the coolant or water 20 was shown in Fig. 8 and a dotted line was used to visually show the area in which a suction effect exists in area 87 due to the higher vacuum in area 96. This therefore supports the falling or flowing of the coolant from the height of the coolant level 99 according to the arrows 105 into the area of the coolant level of the lower coolant column, whereby due to the constantly changing suction in the area of the dotted line part of area 87 due to the suction effect exerted by the coolant column 103 in the area of the base plate 43, the coolant flowing from the coolant level 99 is strongly swirled and therefore a good cooling of the object 7 is achieved.

The further transport of the coolant or water 20 through the areas 88, 97 and 89 then takes place accordingly.

The build-up of the different vacuum, which can be 0.002 to 0.1 bar higher per area in the direction of extrusion - arrow 4 - can now be carried out, for example, in such a way that the individual areas above the coolant level 99 are connected via flow openings 109, so that, as schematically indicated by thin arrows 110, in the entire housing

a vacuum is built up throughout by sucking the air out of the interior of the housing through the suction line 84 using the vacuum pump 25, whereby the pressure drop from the area 89 to the area 97 and then to the area 88, 96, 87, 95 and 86 can be determined by the dimensions of the flow openings 109, in particular their cross-sectional area. The inlet opening 66 is again arranged in the front wall 41 for building up the vacuum. This makes it possible to easily control the pressure drop or the gradation of the vacuum in the individual areas by means of central suction and the corresponding design of the flow openings 109.

Of course, it is also possible, as is also schematically indicated in Fig. 9, to assign a connecting pipe 111 to each individual area and to close the flow openings 109 or not to provide them at all. In this case, the vacuum can be adjusted using a pressure gauge 29 and a throttle valve 30, which can be arranged over the entire operating period or only during the start of the extrusion process, with each individual area being assigned its own inflow opening 66.

The individual support panels 81, the partition walls 90 to 94 and the end walls 40, 41 in the housing 19 can be held or attached in any way known in the art, such as by gluing, sealing compounds, retaining strips, retaining lugs, slots, sealing profiles, grooves, etc.

Fig. 13 to 16 show another possible embodiment of the cooling and calibration device 5. Since the basic structure essentially corresponds to the embodiments already described above, in the description, identical parts are provided with identical reference numerals wherever possible.

The housing 19, through which the object 7 or the window profile 8 is passed, consists of the cover plate 35, the base plate 43, the end walls 40, 41 and the side walls 31, 32, which thus enclose the interior space 83. 30

The interior 83 of the housing 19 is in turn divided in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - in its longitudinal extension by the support panels 34, 36 to 39 into the areas 13 to 18. The support panels 34, 36 to 39 are in the extrusion direction - arrow 4

- arranged at different distances 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 from each other or from the end walls 40, 41. The distances 112 to 117 increase in the extrusion direction

- arrow 4 - seen from the front wall 41 in the direction of the front wall 40. As a result, the material flowing from the extrusion tool 3 through the inlet caliber 11 and into the

The object 7 entering the cooling and calibration device 5 in its initially doughy state is better guided over a shorter distance through the openings 65 arranged in the support panels 34, 36 to 39, which form the profile contour 33. If the object 7 has already cooled down somewhat and thus solidified more when it passes through the cooling and calibration device 5, the distance 112 to 117 between the areas 13 to 18 can be steadily increased. Such an arrangement of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 is of course also possible in the previously described variants.

In this embodiment, the individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 are inserted into recesses 118, 119 in the side walls 31, 32. These recesses 118, 119 are arranged in a plane that is vertical to the base plate 43 and at right angles to the extrusion direction - arrow 4. This makes it easy to quickly convert the cooling and calibration device 5 to different profile shapes of the object 7, since the profile contour 33 arranged in the support panels 34, 36 to 39 can be easily exchanged. The individual areas 13 to 18 can be sealed against one another, for example, by means of sealing strips, sealing compounds or sealing elements that are arranged on the peripheral edges of the support panels 34, 36 to 39. This creates a tight seal between the support panels 34, 36 to 39 and the base plate 43, the cover plate 35 and the side walls 31, 32.

Each of the areas 13 to 18 is divided in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - by the longitudinal web 44 arranged between the underside 42 of the object 7 and the base plate 43 into the chamber 45 and the rinsing chamber 46 on both sides of the object 7. The height 47 of the longitudinal web 44 is in turn slightly smaller than the distance 48 between the underside 42 of the window profile 8 and the base plate 43 of the housing 19. The resulting gap between an upper side 120 of the longitudinal web 44 and the underside 42 of the object 7 has a thickness 121 between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably 2 mm, whereby a certain flow connection is formed between the chamber 45 and the rinsing chamber 46. This is sufficient to also cool the underside 42 of the object 7 facing the longitudinal web 44 accordingly, as is schematically indicated by an arrow 122.

A further advantage of this arrangement is that, with the same height 47 of the longitudinal web 44, the profile contour 33 formed in the support panels with its lowest surface, i.e. the one closest to the base plate 43, always has approximately the same distance 48 from the base plate 43. By varying the thickness 121 of the gap, the desired cooling effect can be easily controlled. The profile contour 33 can thus be aligned precisely in terms of height in relation to the surface of the base plate 43. The side walls 31, 32, the base

plate 43, the cover plate 35 and the longitudinal webs 44 remain unchanged and only the support panels 34, 36 to 39 need to be replaced. It is of course also possible to hold the two end walls 40, 41 in recesses 118, 119. The height of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 or the end walls 40, 41 is fixed on the one hand by the base plate 43 and on the other hand by the cover plate 35. In order to compensate for any manufacturing inaccuracies of the profile contour in relation to the direction running transversely to the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - the recesses 118, 119 are worked deeper into the two side walls 31, 32 than the width of the support panels would require. Due to the resulting play on both sides, a certain self-centering of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 or the end walls 40, 41 through or on the object 7 is possible.

The coolant or water 20 is stored in the tank 22 and is fed to the area 13 by the coolant pump 23 via the connecting line 58 and rises there in the chamber 45 over the top 64 of the object 7 until the schematically indicated coolant level 68 is reached. The coolant or water 20 fed by the coolant pump 23 flows from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46, as is schematically indicated by the arrow 69.

The individual areas 13 to 18 are in turn connected to one another by flow channels 123, 124, 125, 126, 127 arranged alternately on both sides of the longitudinal web 44, which connect the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 to one another, and are arranged in the base plate 43. The flow channels 123 to 127 have, as can best be seen from Fig. 13, an arc-shaped, concave longitudinal course in order to set the coolant or water 20 in a corresponding circular movement when it passes from the rinsing chamber 46 into the chamber 45, as is indicated schematically by an arrow 128 in area 18. This ensures turbulence on the surface of the object 7 to be cooled and thus a massive exchange of coolant, which improves the cooling effect.

Furthermore, it is crucial that the individual flow channels 123 to 127 are arranged close to the longitudinal web 44, as can best be seen from Fig. 15 and 16, in order to ensure the previously described frequent exchange of coolant on the surface of the object. This exchange of coolant is also increased or improved by the higher flow speed of the coolant when flowing through the flow channels 123 to 127 between the individual areas 13 to 18 in relation to the speed of movement of the extruded object 7. This effect is further enhanced by the previously described circular movement of the coolant - arrow 128 - since this is in the opposite direction.

-' 23 -'

Direction to the extrusion direction - arrow 4 -, due to the formation of the flow channels 123 to 127.

Another possible design of the flow channel is shown in Fig. 13 in dash-dotted lines in the area of the flow channel 127. This has an approximately rectangular cross-section when viewed in the longitudinal direction, which is formed with a rounded transition area at the transition between the base and the front wall.

In the area 15 of the cooling and calibration device 5, a gate formation 129 is shown in dashed lines, which adjoins the flow channel 124 and is intended to increase the turbulence of the coolant or water 20 as it passes from the rinsing chamber 46 into the chamber 45. The shape of this gate formation can be designed as required and can of course be arranged in every chamber.

If the coolant or water 20 were to be pumped through the housing 19 of the cooling and calibration device 5 using only the coolant pump 23, the cooling effect would be relatively small, since the object 7 would only be pulled through a quantity of liquid or coolant that was essentially stationary or moving forward at a low speed.

In order to increase this flow movement and at the same time prevent the mold walls of the object 7 from sinking, a vacuum is built up in the interior 83 of the housing 19, which increases steadily from the area 13 towards the area 18. The vacuum is still relatively low in the area 13, since the object 7 entering the cooling and calibration device 5 does not yet have a high degree of dimensional stability, and increases steadily up to the area 18, since here cooling has already taken place due to the coolant or water 20 and solidification of the profile is ensured.

In order to be able to build up a corresponding vacuum, the inflow opening 66 is again arranged in the front wall 41. The individual areas 13 to 18 are in flow connection via the flow openings 109 arranged in the support panels 34, 36 to 39 in the area of the cover plate 35. In area 18 of the cooling and calibration device 5, the drain line 59 is arranged in the side wall 31, which opens into a suction device, such as a cyclone 130. The cyclone 130, with the vacuum pump 25 arranged upstream of it in the drain line 59, builds up the desired vacuum in the interior 83 and also sucks out the coolant or water 20. In the cyclone 130, the coolant or water 20 is separated from the air and fed back to the tank by means of a coolant pump 131.

- 74 - *

22. Appropriate cooling devices for the coolant or water 20 can, of course, be optionally provided in the individual lines.

However, it is also possible, as indicated in Fig. 15, to arrange the connection piece 27 in the side wall 31 in the area of the cover plate 35 in addition to the connection line 58, in order to ensure separate extraction of air and coolant or water 20. Of course, several connection lines 58 or connection pieces 27 can also be provided for extraction. These do not have to be arranged in one of the side walls 31, 32, but can also be arranged in the cover plate 35 or base plate 43. 10

The alternating transfer of the coolant or water 20 from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46 and from there through the flow channel 123 into the chamber 45 of the area 14 can best be seen in Figs. 15 and 16. In the area 14, the coolant or water 20 rises in the chamber 45 until it reaches the coolant level 68 and then flows over the top 64 of the object 7 into the rinsing chamber 46. There, a further coolant level 132 is formed, located at a height below the top 64, as indicated by a thin line.

Fig. 17 shows a further possible embodiment for the design of the flow channels 123-127. The flow channel 123 shown in Fig. 17 consists of two individual channels 133, 134 arranged next to one another, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the cooling and calibration device 5. In order to achieve a corresponding turbulence or alignment of the coolant flow, the flow channels 123-127 or the individual channels 133 and 134 can have any cross-sectional design in their longitudinal or transverse extension to the extrusion direction - arrow 4.

Fig. 18 shows another possible arrangement of inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 in the support panels 34, 36 to 39. The individual inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 are arranged in the form of a large number of passages 135 close to the surface of the object in the longitudinal direction in the individual support panels, again alternately on both sides of the longitudinal web 44. This in turn ensures that the coolant or water flows from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46 of each individual area 13 to 18, which in turn achieves a good cooling effect. Furthermore, the arrangement of the passages 135 close to the surface in the area of the object 7 results in a laminar flow. This in turn ensures good cooling along the object 7.

Fig. 19 to 22 show another possible design variant of the cooling and calibration

·

device 5 is shown. Since the basic structure essentially corresponds to the previously described embodiments according to Figs. 13 to 16, in the description, as far as possible, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

The housing 19, through which the object 7 or the window profile 8 is passed, consists of the cover plate 35, the base plate 43, the end walls 40, 41 and the side walls 31, 32, which thus enclose the interior space 83.

The interior 83 of the housing 19 is in turn divided in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - in its longitudinal extension by the support panels 34, 36 to 39 into the areas 13 to 18. The support panels 34, 36 to 39 are in the extrusion direction - arrow 4

- arranged at different distances 112, 113, 114, 115,116, 117 from each other or from the end walls 40,41. The distances 112 to 117 increase in the extrusion direction

- Arrow 4 - seen from the front wall 41 in the direction of the front wall 40. As a result, the object 7, which runs from the extrusion tool 3 through the inlet caliber 11 and enters the cooling and calibration device 5, is better guided in its initially doughy state over a shorter distance through the openings 65 arranged in the support panels 34, 36 to 39, which form the profile contour 33. However, it is of course also possible to choose the individual distances 112 to 117 as desired in order to achieve the desired cooling on the one hand and the necessary support of the object 7 on the other. If the object 7 has already cooled down somewhat and thus solidified more when it passes through the cooling and calibration device 5, the distance 112 to 117 of the areas 13 to 18 can be steadily increased. Such an arrangement of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 is of course also possible in the previously described design variants.

In this embodiment, the individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 are also inserted into recesses 118, 119 in the side walls 31, 32.

Each of the areas 13 to 18 is divided in the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - by the longitudinal web 44 arranged between the underside 42 of the object 7 and the base plate 43 into the chamber 45 and the rinsing chamber 46 on both sides of the object 7. The height 47 of the longitudinal web 44 is in turn slightly smaller than the distance 48 between the underside 42 of the window profile 8 and the base plate 43 of the housing 19. The resulting gap between the top 120 of the longitudinal web 44 and the underside 42 of the object 7 has a thickness 121 of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably 2 mm, whereby a certain flow connection is formed between the chamber 45 and the rinsing chamber 46. This is sufficient to also correspondingly irrigate the underside 42 of the object 7 facing the longitudinal web 44.

to cool down sufficiently, as indicated schematically by the arrow 122.

A further advantage of this arrangement is that, with the same height 47 of the longitudinal web 44, the profile contour 33 formed in the support panels with its lowest surface, i.e. the one closest to the base plate 43, always has approximately the same distance 48 from the base plate 43. By varying the thickness 121 of the gap, the desired cooling effect can be easily controlled. The profile contour 33 can thus be aligned precisely in terms of height in relation to the surface of the base plate 43. The side walls 31, 32, the base plate 43, the cover plate 35 and the longitudinal webs 44 remain unchanged and only the support panels 34, 36 to 39 have to be replaced. It is of course also possible to hold the two end walls 40, 41 in recesses 118, 119 as well. The height-related fixation of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 or the end walls 40, 41 is carried out on the one hand by the base plate 43 and on the other hand by the cover plate 35. In order to be able to compensate for possible manufacturing inaccuracies of the profile contour in relation to the direction running transversely to the extrusion direction - arrow 4 -, the recesses 118, 119 are worked deeper into the two side walls 31, 32 than the width of the support panels would require. The resulting play on both sides enables a certain self-centering of the support panels 34, 36 to 39 or the end walls 40, 41 through or on the object 7.

The coolant or water 20 is stored in the tank 22 and is supplied to the area 13 by the coolant pump 23 via the connecting line 58 and rises there, supported by the negative pressure in the housing 19 in the chamber 45 over the top 64 of the object 7, up to a height of the schematically indicated coolant level 68. The coolant or water 20 fed by the coolant pump 23 flows from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46, as is schematically indicated by the arrow 69.

The individual areas 13 to 18 are in flow communication with one another through the flow channels 123, 124, 125, 126, 127 arranged alternately on both sides of the longitudinal web 44, which connect the inlet and outlet openings 62, 63 to one another, and are arranged recessed in the base plate 43. The flow channels 123 to 127 have, as can best be seen from Fig. 19, an arcuate, concave longitudinal course in order to set the coolant or water 20 in a corresponding circular movement when it passes from the rinsing chamber 46 into the chamber 45, as is schematically indicated by the arrow 128 in area 18. This creates turbulence on the surface of the object 7 to be cooled and thus ensures a massive exchange of coolant, and above all a good heat transfer, which improves the cooling effect.

Furthermore, the cooling effect is further improved the closer the individual flow channels 123 to 127 are arranged to the longitudinal web 44, as can best be seen from Fig. 21 and 22, in order to further increase the previously described frequent exchange of coolant on the surface of the object 7. The side wall of the flow channels 123 to 127 facing the longitudinal web 44 can thus be aligned with the side wall of the longitudinal web 44 or arranged at a smaller distance of, for example, 1 mm to 20 mm. This exchange of coolant is also increased or improved by the higher flow speed of the coolant when flowing through the flow channels 123 to 127 between the individual areas 13 to 18 in relation to the speed of travel of the extruded object 7. This effect is further enhanced by the previously described circular movement of the coolant - arrow 128 - as this runs in the opposite direction to the extrusion direction - arrow 4 - due to the formation of the flow channels 123 to 127.

Furthermore, it is also possible to design the flow channels in the manner described in Fig. 13 and shown in dash-dotted lines.

In order to increase this flow of the coolant or water 20 and at the same time to prevent the mold walls of the object 7 from sinking, a vacuum is built up in the interior 83 of the housing 19, which increases steadily from area 13 towards area 18. The vacuum is still relatively low in area 13, since the object 7 entering the cooling and calibration device 5 does not yet have a high degree of dimensional stability, and increases steadily up to area 18, since cooling has already taken place here due to the coolant or water 20 and solidification of the profile is ensured.

In order to be able to build up a corresponding vacuum, the inflow opening 66 is again arranged in the front wall 41. The individual areas 13 to 18 are in flow connection via the flow openings 109 arranged in the support panels 34, 36 to 39.

In this embodiment, the flow openings 109 have an approximately rectangular cross-section with a width 136 and a height 137 when viewed in the extrusion direction arrow 4 - and are designed as longitudinal slots. The flow openings 109 are arranged in the upper area of the individual support panels 34 or 36 to 39 and approximately centrally between the side walls 31 and 32 and between the opening 65 and the cover plate 35. However, it is of course also possible to arrange the flow openings 109 laterally relative to the opening 65 and in a direction parallel to the base plate 43, but perpendicular to the extrusion direction, or to arrange them alternately with one another, as shown in Fig. 21 by

• · ♦♦♦ * * «

is indicated by dash-dotted lines. An upper edge 138 of the individual through-flow openings 109 is arranged at a distance 139 from the cover plate 35. Thus, the size of the individual through-flow openings 109 can be used on the one hand to regulate the vacuum to be built up in the individual areas 13 to 18 and on the other hand to achieve a self-regulating effect of the coolant level 68 by choosing the distance 139, as is shown schematically in detail in Fig. 19 using areas 15 and 16.

In normal operation, the flow openings 109 serve to build up the vacuum in the individual areas 13 to 18 and are passed through by air. If, as is schematically indicated in area 15, a blockage of the coolant or water 20 occurs, the coolant level 68 rises to the area of the flow opening 109 and partially closes it, which leads to a reduction in its cross-section. Due to this reduction in cross-section, the vacuum to be built up in the following areas 16 to 18 increases even further, which leads to an increased suction of the coolant or water 20 in the flow channels 125 to 127 and in this way the coolant level 68 drops back to its normal level. Due to this drop, the full cross-section of the flow opening 109 is now again available to the air flowing through, whereby the desired vacuum or the vacuum build-up in the individual areas 13 to 18 again assumes the preselected or desired operating state. Furthermore, in the area of the flow opening 109 of the support panel 37, an arrow 140 schematically indicates that the coolant or water 20 also flows through the flow opening 109 into the following area 16 due to the higher coolant level 68 in area 15. This overflow is also further promoted by the increasing vacuum in the following areas 17 and 18.

In the area 18 of the cooling and calibration device 5, the drain line 59 is arranged in the side wall 31, which leads into a suction device, such as the cyclone 130. The cyclone 130, with the vacuum pump 25 arranged upstream of it in the drain line 59, builds up the desired vacuum in the interior 83 and also sucks out the coolant or water 20. In the cyclone 130, the coolant or water 20 is separated from the air and returned to the tank 22 by means of the coolant pump 131. Corresponding cooling devices for the coolant or water 20 can of course be optionally provided in the individual lines.

However, it is also possible to arrange the connection piece 27 in the side wall 31 in the area of the cover plate 35 in addition to the connection line 58 in order to ensure separate extraction of air and coolant or water 20.

♦'··«* »ti

Of course, several connecting lines 58 or connecting nozzles 27 can also be provided for extraction. These do not have to be arranged in one of the side walls 31, 32, but can also be arranged in the cover plate 35 or base plate 43.

The alternating transfer of the coolant or water 20 from the chamber 45 into the rinsing chamber 46 and from there through the flow channel 123 into the chamber 45 of the area 14 can best be seen in Fig. 21 and 22. Due to the ever-increasing vacuum in the successive areas 13 to 18 and the special design of the flow channels 123 to 127, the coolant or water 20 swirls or flows like a spring in the direction of the cover plate 35, as shown schematically by arrows 69 in Fig. 22, and thus flows from the chamber 45 over the top 64 into the rinsing chamber 46 on the other side of the object 7. There, a further coolant level 132 is formed at a height below the upper side 64 and the coolant enters the respective inlet opening 62 of the individual flow channels 123 to 127 and this process of the source-like rise of the coolant is repeated accordingly in the subsequent areas 14 to 18.

The individual support panels 34, 36 to 39 and the end walls 40, 41 in the housing 19 can be held or attached in any way known from the state of the art, such as e.g. by gluing, sealing compounds, retaining strips, retaining lugs, slots, sealing profiles, grooves, etc.

In order to better illustrate the level difference between the higher coolant level 68, 99 and the lower coolant level 132 in the figures already described, the coolant level 132 was also indicated schematically by thin lines in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11 and 12.

In practice, it has been shown that after the start of the manufacturing process for the object 7 and the stabilization of the individual operating parameters, both the vacuum and the other conditions in the cooling and calibration device 5 hardly change any more, so that a value once set is then perfectly maintained even over a longer period of operation.

The advantage of this swirling and flushing of the object 7 with the coolant and the frequent and intensive contact of a constantly different part of the coolant with the surface of the object 7 leads to a better heat transfer between the object 7 and the coolant, so that the same amount of heat can be dissipated from the object 7 with a smaller amount of coolant, as for example with

Use of spray nozzles, with which the coolant is sprayed onto the window profile 8 running through the cooling and calibration device 5 or the object 7. A disadvantage of the spray nozzles used to date can therefore be avoided. This is mainly that impurities or lime carried in the coolant easily block or clog them, so that in order to achieve appropriate cooling it is necessary to clean them frequently or even replace them. In any case, this requires dismantling the cooling and calibration device 5 and increased costs due to the loss of production.

Due to the longitudinal flow that is created through the individual flow channels 123 to 127 in conjunction with the constantly increasing negative pressure in the individual areas 13 to 18, all longitudinal profiles or longitudinal grooves of the profiles, such as holders for glass strips or coupling profiles or similar, are advantageously flowed through at the same speed, which is higher than the speed of movement of the profile relative to the housing 19. This results in a significant improvement in the cooling effect compared to the usual spray cooling processes, for example, since when spraying, only the liquid collects in such recesses or grooves and no liquid exchange takes place on the surface of the plastic profile, except in the area of the individual panels.

Furthermore, it must be taken into account that, especially when the longitudinal web 44 has a small thickness 141 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the profile or a small cross-sectional area, especially compared to the profile to be cooled, and when the flow channels 123 to 127 are arranged directly adjacent to the longitudinal web 44, a constant exchange of liquid takes place over an even larger surface of the profile to be cooled due to the swirling of the coolant on the surface of the profile and a higher specific cooling effect can thus be achieved.

It is preferred, for example, if the thickness 141 of the longitudinal web 44 is less than 10 mm, preferably equal to or less than 5 mm.

In conjunction with the different negative pressures in the individual areas 13 to 18, in conjunction with the flow channels 123 to 128, a surge or turbine jet-like coolant flow occurs in the area of the profile to be cooled, which reinforces the previously mentioned advantages.

As a result, a lower drive power is required due to the reduced flow rate of coolant for the coolant pumps 23 in question and the total energy

• »·* » * it * · t _aa

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energy balance when manufacturing such items 7 is advantageously better than with conventional cooling and calibration devices

The supply and removal of coolant is only indicated schematically. It is of course possible to use any device known from the state of the art and either a closed or open coolant circuit.

Finally, it should be noted that, for better understanding, individual parts of the cooling and calibration device 5 are shown in a highly simplified and schematic manner, and are disproportionate or distorted in terms of dimensions.

Individual design details of the individual embodiments, as well as combinations of individual designs of the different design variants, can also form independent, inventive solutions.

Above all, the individual embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5; 6; 7; 8 to 12; 13 to 16; 17; 18; 19 to 20 can form the subject of independent, inventive solutions. The relevant inventive tasks and solutions can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

Claims (22)

«&diams;* &diams; · Claims for protection 1. Cooling and calibration device for an extrusion system, which can be arranged downstream of an extruder or an extrusion tool in the extrusion direction, with a housing, through the interior of which an extruded object made of plastic, in particular a window profile, can be passed from an inlet area to an outlet area and the interior is divided by support panels into several areas arranged one behind the other, and end walls of the housing and the support panels have an opening adapted to a profile contour of the extruded object and with inlet and outlet openings or slots for a coolant for connecting the areas, which are arranged at least below a coolant level of the coolant, and with a suction opening which is connected via a suction line to a suction inlet of a suction device, characterized in that the inlet and outlet openings (62, 63) of immediately adjacent areas (13 to 18) each have at least one in a base plate (43) arranged flow channel (123 to 127) and the flow channel (123 to 127) is recessed in the base plate (43) on the surface facing the interior (83) and that the opening (65) of the profile contour (33) projects beyond at least one of the flow channels (123 to 127) or a vertical side wall thereof in a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction. 2. Cooling and calibrating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the area (13 to 18; 86 to 89, 95 to 97) is divided into a chamber (45; 101) and a rinsing chamber (46; 102) by a longitudinal web (44; 85) arranged between the end walls (40, 41) or the support panels (34, 36 to 39; 81) and the base plate (43) or a cover plate (35) and a bottom or top side (42, 64) of the object (7). 3. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support panels (34, 36 to 39; 81) or partition walls (90 to 94) are held in recesses (118, 119) of the side walls (31, 32). 4. Cooling and calibrating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance between the mutually facing end faces of the recesses (118, 119) transversely to the extrusion direction is greater than the width of the support panels (34, 36 to 39; 81) or partition walls (90 to 94). 5. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjacent regions (13 to 18; 86 to 89.95 to 97) are essentially liquid- and air-tight. 6. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (83) is connected to the ambient air via an inflow opening (66). 7. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply of the coolant into the interior (83) of the housing (19) takes place via a connecting line (58) in the area adjacent to the inlet area (13). 8. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the last region in the extrusion direction (18; 89) is connected to the suction device via a drain line (59), which is preferably arranged below the coolant level (68; 99, 132). 9. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the last region (18; 89) in the extrusion direction is connected to the suction device via a connecting piece (27) and a suction line (26) connected thereto, which is preferably arranged above the coolant level (68; 99,132) 10. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the last region (18, 89) in the extrusion direction is connected to the suction device via the outlet line (59) for the coolant, which is preferably arranged below the coolant level (68; 99,132), as well as the further suction line (26) for the air, which is preferably arranged above the coolant level (68; 99,132), which is guided separately therefrom 11. Cooling and calibrating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thickness (121) of a gap between a surface of the longitudinal web (44, 85) facing the object (7) to be guided through and a bottom side (42) or top side (64) of the object (7) facing this is between 0.5 mm and 5.0 mm, preferably 2.0 mm. 12. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that distances (112 to 117) between the support panels (34, * &diams;* *&diams; 36 to 39; 81) or end walls (40,41) and support panels (34, 39) increase in the direction of extrusion. 13. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet and/or outlet openings (62, 63) and/or slots (74, 75) are arranged at a short distance from the opening (65) of the profile contour (33), preferably distributed over the surface areas facing the rinsing chamber (46). 14. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) run parallel to the extrusion direction. 15. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) each extend at least to the middle between the support panels (34, 36 to 39) or end walls (40, 41) arranged one behind the other in the extrusion direction, each delimiting an area. 16. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in plan view. 17. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) have a rectangular or concave cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the extrusion direction. 18. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) have an arcuate, concave longitudinal course in a plane parallel to the extrusion direction and perpendicular to the base plate (43). 19. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) have a rectangular cross-section, in particular with rounded portions, in a plane parallel to the extrusion direction and perpendicular to the base plate (43). 20. Cooling and calibrating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective one area (13 to 18) with the in extruded t a f _S a* The flow channels (123 to 127) connecting the upstream and downstream regions (13 to 18) in the extrusion direction are arranged offset from one another transversely to the extrusion direction. 21. Cooling and calibrating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow channels (123 to 127) between a region (13 to 18) and an upstream and downstream region (13 to 18) overlap one another in the extrusion direction. 22. Cooling and calibration device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that several individual channels (133, 134) for connecting two immediately adjacent areas (13 to 18) are arranged in a transverse plane running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.