Double tapered die mount

Abstract

The double tapered die mount defines a channel to support the die shoulder. No contact occurs between the die and die housing. The die shoulder is machined to be in generally congruent relationship with the channel shape of the die mount of the invention. In the prior art, the die shoulder is perpendicular to both the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface of the die mount. In the preferred embodiment, the die shoulder is tapered from the inner radial surface toward the die edge to define an inner die taper. The die shoulder also tapers from the outer radial surface to the die edge to define an outer die taper. The side walls of the channel defined by the die mount of the invention taper inwardly to be congruent with tapered surfaces of the die shoulder. The inner channel wall, i.e., the channel wall closer to the axis of rotation of the die, contacts the inner die taper. The outer channel wall, i.e., the channel wall farther from the axis of rotation of the die, contacts the outer die taper. The inner channel wall and the outer channel wall taper toward each other in the direction toward the base of the channel. The edge of the die shoulder does not contact the bottom of the die mount channel, and therefore, a gap exists between the bottom of the die mount channel and the die edge. Both radial forces and torque forces resulting from operation of the pelletizer are taken up by the mated tapered surfaces.