Extrusion system

Abstract

An extrusion system including a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening. A primary container defines a channel for holding a first billet to be extruded. The primary container is movable into a position in which the channel of the primary container is aligned with the die along the axis. At least one supplementary container defines a channel for holding a supplementary billet to be extruded. The supplementary container is movable into a position in which the channel of the supplementary container is aligned with the die along the axis. A ram is movable along the axis for axially pushing the first and supplementary billets toward the die for passing material of the billets through the at least one extrusion opening of the die.

1 . An extrusion system, comprising:
 a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening;   a primary container defining a channel for holding a first billet to be extruded, being aligned with the die along the axis;   a supplementary container defining a channel for holding a supplementary billet to be extruded, the supplementary container movable into a position in which the supplementary container is positioned in end to end relationship with the primary container with the channel of the supplementary container being aligned with the die along the axis; and   a ram movable along the axis for axially pushing the first and supplementary billets toward the die for passing material of the billets through the at least one extrusion opening of the die.   
     
     
         2 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the die is larger than a diameter of the channels of the first and supplementary billets such that all of the material of the first and supplementary billets may be extruded through the die. 
     
     
         3 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the die is rotatable about the axis, and wherein the primary and supplementary containers and the ram are not rotatable about the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary and supplementary containers are configured to rotate the billets about the axis, and wherein the die is not rotatable about the axis. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary container is also moveable out of alignment with the die while the channel of the supplementary container is positioned in axial alignment with the die. 
     
     
         7 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the primary and supplementary containers are moveable into and out of axial alignment with the die with a shuttle. 
     
     
         8 . A method for extruding a component, comprising:
 providing a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening;   positioning a primary container adjacent to the die, with a channel of the primary container axially aligned with the die, and wherein the channel contains a first billet;   axially pushing the first billet into the die with a ram such that material of the first billet is extruded through the at least one extrusion opening of the die;   positioning a supplementary container in end to end relationship with the primary container such that a channel of the supplementary container is axially aligned with the die, and wherein the channel of the supplemental container contains a supplementary billet; and   axially pushing the supplementary billet into the die with a ram such that material of the supplementary billet is extruded through the at least one extrusion opening of the die.   
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , further including rotating the die about the axis during the axial pushing of the first and supplementary billets with the ram. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , further including rotating the first and supplementary billets during the axial pushing of the first and supplementary billets with the ram. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , further including moving the supplementary container into axial alignment and engagement with the primary container after axially pushing the first billet into the die with the ram and before axially pushing the supplementary billet into the die with the ram. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , further including moving the primary container out of axial alignment with the die and moving the channel of the supplementary container into axial alignment with the die after pushing the first billet into the die with the ram and before axially pushing the supplementary billet into the die with the ram. 
     
     
         13 . An extrusion system, comprising:
 a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening;   a primary container defining a channel along the axis and holding a first billet;   at least one supplementary billet axially aligned with and positioned in end to end relationship with the first billet;   at least a pair of pushers movable along the axis, each of the pushers in engagement with at least one of the billets and configured to axially push the at least one of the billets toward the die for passing material of the billets through the at least one extrusion opening of the die to extrude the material of the at least one billet; and   each of the pushers disconnectable from the billets respectively from one another such that the pushers can continuously push the billets toward the die after one or more of the pushers has been disconnected from the billets.   
     
     
         14 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein each of the pushers disconnectably engages a radial outer surface of at least one of the billets. 
     
     
         15 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein each of the pushers has a top component and a bottom component positioned on circumferentially opposite sides of the at least one billet, wherein each of the top and bottom components has an inner surface that disconnectably engages the radial outer surface of the at least one of the billets, and wherein the inner surfaces of each of the top and bottom components has a semi-circular shape such that the top and bottom components may be pulled away from the at least one of the billets in opposite directions from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The extrusion system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the pushers include at least one ram that is configured to move axially against at least one of the billets, and wherein the pushers further include at least one outer pusher that is configured to move axially against at least one of the billets at a location radially outside of the ram. 
     
     
         17 . A method for extruding a component, comprising:
 providing a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening;   positioning a primary container defining a channel holding a first billet adjacent to the die with the channel of the primary container positioned along the axis;   axially pushing the first billet with a first pusher against the die such that material of the first billet is extruded through the die;   positioning at least one supplementary billet in axial alignment, and in end-to-end relationship with the first billet; and   disconnecting the first pusher from the first billet and axially pushing the supplementary billet with a supplementary pusher such that the first and supplementary billets are axially pushed toward the die with the supplementary pusher such that material of the first and supplementary billets may be extruded through the die with the first pusher disconnected from the first billet.   
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further including radially engaging the first and at least one supplementary billets with the first and supplementary pushers. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein each of the pushers has a top component and a bottom component positioned on circumferentially opposite sides of at least one of the billets, wherein each of the top and bottom components has an inner surface that disconnectably engages a radial outer surface of the at least one of the billets, and wherein the inner surfaces of each of the top and bottom components has a semi-circular shape such that the top and bottom components may be pulled away from the at least one of the billets in opposite directions from one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the pushers is a ram that is configured to move axially against at least one of the billets, and wherein at least one of the pushers is an outer pusher that is configured to move axially against the at least one billet at a location radially outside of the ram.