Importance

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Abstract

A combination of a die lubricant source, a feedtube, and a nozzle assembly, as well as a method of using the combination to cool and/or lubricate a die. The die lubricant source supplies a plurality of bursts of a metered amount of a die lubricant to a feedtube bore. The nozzle assembly includes a removable barrel having a barrel bore therethrough and a removable atomizing spray tip having a spray tip bore therethrough. A posterior end of the barrel bore communicates with the feedtube bore and an anterior end of the barrel bore communicates with the spray tip bore. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the barrel bore divided by the cross-sectional area of the spray tip bore is not less than 2.5, and the cross-sectional area of the barrel bore is preferably not greater than the cross-sectional area of the feedtube bore. The nozzle assembly atomizes and delivers the plurality of bursts of the metered amount of the die lubricant so that substantially none of the die lubricant drips from the nozzle assembly following each one of the bursts of the metered amount of the die lubricant. The method includes using the spray nozzle so that a steam barrier, created by contact of a previous lubricant burst with the die, is allowed to dissipate before creating a successive burst of the metered amount of the die lubricant.

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First Claim