How a Diverter Valve Switches Between Two Extruded Materials
A specialized valve that manages the flow of two different melted materials into a mold, allowing for precise switching and flushing during industrial manufacturing.
Original patent title: “USRE45965E1 - Diverter valve”
A specialized valve that manages the flow of two different melted materials into a mold, allowing for precise switching and flushing during industrial manufacturing. Granted to PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES LLC in 2016 with 23 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a mechanical valve used in manufacturing processes like co-extrusion, where one material is coated over another. The valve body contains a piston that slides between two positions to redirect the flow of two separate materials from their respective inlets to specific outlets. It includes integrated flushing channels that allow material to flow through the system even when the main path is closed, which prevents the materials from hardening or stagnating inside the valve. By using a series of through-channels and cross-over channels, the valve ensures that the materials are routed correctly to the mold depending on the piston's position.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover valves that do not utilize a sliding piston mechanism for flow redirection.
- Does not cover systems that lack the specific flushing channel configuration described for preventing material stagnation.
- Does not cover general-purpose fluid valves that are not designed for high-viscosity extruded materials.
- Does not cover non-mechanical or electronic flow control systems.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific geometric arrangement of the through-channels and cross-over channels within the piston, which allows the valve to simultaneously route materials and maintain flushing flow in both operating positions without needing additional external valves.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Industrial plastic co-extrusion machinery
Multi-layer cable insulation manufacturing equipment
Specialized polymer processing lines
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In high-speed manufacturing, such as creating multi-layered plastic tubing or cable coatings, stopping the machine to clear out old material is costly. This valve design allows for continuous operation by managing the flow paths and flushing out material, which improves efficiency and product consistency in industrial extrusion lines.
Filed
February 20, 2015
Granted
April 5, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology is utilized by manufacturers of industrial extrusion equipment. Companies specializing in polymer processing and co-extrusion systems often implement these types of diverter valves to maintain continuous production cycles.
Market impact
This patent provides a specific mechanical solution for a common bottleneck in extrusion manufacturing. It enables more reliable production of multi-material products by reducing downtime associated with material switching and cleaning.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a mechanical valve used in manufacturing processes like co-extrusion, where one material is coated over another. The valve body contains a piston that slides between two positions to redirect the flow of two separate materials from their respective inlets to specific outlets. It includes integrated flushing channels that allow material to flow through the system even when the main path is closed, which prevents the materials from hardening or stagnating inside the valve. By using a series of through-channels and cross-over channels, the valve ensures that the materials are routed correctly to the mold depending on the piston's position.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific geometric arrangement of the through-channels and cross-over channels within the piston, which allows the valve to simultaneously route materials and maintain flushing flow in both operating positions without needing additional external valves.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover valves that do not utilize a sliding piston mechanism for flow redirection.
- Does not cover systems that lack the specific flushing channel configuration described for preventing material stagnation.
- Does not cover general-purpose fluid valves that are not designed for high-viscosity extruded materials.
- Does not cover non-mechanical or electronic flow control systems.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $56K
Midpoint $35K · 8.7 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Gritzner, M. L., & Hanson, D. R. (2016). How a Diverter Valve Switches Between Two Extruded Materials (U.S. Patent No. RE45,965). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE45965/hero-camera-eis
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Diverter Valve Switches Between Two Extruded Materials cover?
A specialized valve that manages the flow of two different melted materials into a mold, allowing for precise switching and flushing during industrial manufacturing.
Who owns patent US RE45965?
PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES LLC owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 5, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
In high-speed manufacturing, such as creating multi-layered plastic tubing or cable coatings, stopping the machine to clear out old material is costly. This valve design allows for continuous operation by managing the flow paths and flushing out material, which improves efficiency and product consistency in industrial extrusion lines.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover valves that do not utilize a sliding piston mechanism for flow redirection.
Patent monitoring