System and method for rapidly heating and cooling a mold

摘要

A portable mold-temperature control unit includes a local heating system, a first fluid duct, a second fluid duct, and a fluid exchange system. The local heating system includes a local heater for heating fluid that is used to rapidly heat a mold. The first fluid duct carries hot fluid heated by the local heating system. The second fluid duct carries cool fluid that is used to rapidly cool a mold. The fluid exchange system includes an outlet that permits fluid to flow from the first and second fluid ducts to the mold during heating and cooling, respectively. The fluid exchange system also includes an inlet that receives the fluid as it returns from the mold. In one embodiment, the heating system reheats the fluid returning from the mold and reuses it to heat the mold again. In a more particular embodiment, the heating system includes a steam generator that generates steam used to heat the mold. In another embodiment, the portable mold-temperature control system includes a local cooling system that cools the fluid used to cool the mold. In a more particular embodiment, the local cooling system cools fluid returning from the mold and reuses it to cool the mold. A method for using the portable mold-temperature control unit is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A portable mold-temperature control unit comprising:
a support structure; a transport mechanism coupled to said support structure; a heating system coupled to said support structure for heating fluid used to heat a mold; a cooling system coupled to said support structure; a first fluid duct coupled to said support structure for facilitating the flow of hot fluid heated by said heating system; a second fluid duct coupled to said support structure for facilitating the flow of cool fluid used to cool said mold, said cool fluid cooled by said cooling system; and a fluid exchange system coupled to said support structure and operative to supply hot fluid from said first fluid duct to said mold and cool fluid from said second fluid duct to said mold, said fluid exchange system being further operative to receive said fluid from said mold; and wherein said heating system includes a steam generator operative to generate steam used to heat said mold; and said first duct facilitates the flow of steam generated by said steam generator.