Vacuum extrusion apparatus and method

摘要

An extruder projects through a bulkhead adapted to form part of a vacuum chamber, and a die is mounted on the end of the extruder within the bulkhead. The extruder projects through a gland seal which is formed in a sleeve surrounding the extruder. The seal includes a plurality of seal rings surrounding the extruder and packed in the sleeve and held in place in a preferred from by a yieldable retainer. A shaper is positioned downstream of the die and is clamped to the upstream end of the die. The shaper is mounted on tracks on a girder extending from the bulkhead clear of its periphery. The apparatus permits congruent axial movement of the extruder, die and shaper with respect to the bulkhead.