Inventors:
Granville J. Hahn - Big Spring TX
Allen C. Bailey - Big Spring TX
Richard D. Antrim - Midland TX
Assignee:
Permian Research Corporation - Big Spring TX
International Classification:
B29C 4700, B29C 4736, B29C 4792
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a rotary extruder, including using a pressure transducer (38, 40, 42) communicating with the annular space (50) between the barrel (12) and rotor (14) to monitor the hydraulic pressure of the melted polymer, using a microprocessor-based controller (62) to compare the measured pressure with a predetermined set point, and thereafter selectively controlling the speed of a feed drive motor (56) or melt drive motor (60) to maintain the melt pressure within a desired range while holding the extruder rotor speed constant.