Garniture with insert overlaying groove of garniture section

Abstract

The garniture includes at least one first garniture section with a first upper surface, a first groove being defined within the first upper surface, and at least one first insert overlaying the first groove, a second upper surface of the at least first insert defining a second groove, a width of the second groove narrowing from a first end to a second end of the second groove, a first upper portion of the first upper surface and a second upper portion of the second upper surface being flush with each other.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A garniture, comprising:
 at least one first garniture section with a first upper surface, a first groove being defined within the first upper surface; and   at least one first insert overlaying the first groove, a second upper surface of the at least first insert defining a second groove, a width of the second groove narrowing from a first end to a second end of the second groove, a first upper portion of the first upper surface and a second upper portion of the second upper surface being flush with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper portion of the first upper surface and the second upper portion of the second upper surface are flat surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove has a first vertical cross-sectional profile with two or more flat sides. 
     
     
         4 . The garniture of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines at least one cooling hole that that runs substantially parallel to the first groove. 
     
     
         5 . The garniture of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines at least one cooling hole that runs parallel to the first groove, an upper portion of the at least one cooling hole being at a first elevation that is above a lower portion of the first groove at a second elevation within the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         6 . The garniture of  claim 3 , wherein each one of the two or more flat sides is at an obtuse angle relative to a directly adjacent one of the two or more flat sides. 
     
     
         7 . The garniture of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines a first cooling hole and a second cooling hole that each run parallel to the first groove on respective sides of the first groove. 
     
     
         8 . The garniture of  claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the first cooling hole and the second cooling hole is at a first elevation that is above a lower portion of the first groove that is at a second elevation within the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         9 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines at least one cooling hole that runs parallel to the first groove, an upper portion of the at least one cooling hole being at a first elevation that is above a lower portion of the first groove at a second elevation within the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         10 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove is defined by one or more first mating surfaces, and a lower end of the at least one insert includes one or more second mating surfaces, each of the one or more first mating surfaces being connected to and flush with a respective one of the one or more second mating surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The garniture of  claim 10 , wherein no gaps exist between the one or more first mating surfaces and each respective one of the one or more second mating surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The garniture of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more first mating surfaces are flat surfaces that span across a first longitudinal length of the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         13 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first groove is defined by one or more first mating surfaces, and a lower end of the at least one insert includes one or more second mating surfaces, and   the one or more first mating surfaces includes,
 a lower surface, the lower surface existing in a first plane that is parallel with the first upper portion of the first upper surface, and 
 a first surface and a second surface each extending from the lower surface to the first upper portion of the first upper surface, the first surface and the second surface each existing in respective planes that are at obtuse angles relative to the lower surface and the first upper portion of the first upper surface. 
   
     
     
         14 . The garniture of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines at least one cooling hole that that runs parallel to the first groove. 
     
     
         15 . The garniture of  claim 14 , wherein an upper portion of the at least one cooling hole is at a first elevation that is above the lower surface that is at a second elevation within the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         16 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first garniture section includes:
 a first garniture section; and   a second garniture section, the at least one first insert overlaying both the first garniture section and the second garniture section.   
     
     
         17 . The garniture of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a third garniture section, a third groove being defined within a third upper surface of the third garniture section; and   a fourth garniture section, a fourth groove being defined within a fourth upper surface of the fourth garniture section,   wherein the first garniture section, the second garniture section, the third garniture section and the fourth garniture section are contiguously connected so that the second groove is in communication with the third groove and the fourth groove.   
     
     
         18 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the second groove has a first vertical cross-sectional profile that is arcuate-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first garniture section defines at least one cooling hole that runs substantially parallel to the first groove. 
     
     
         20 . The garniture of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first insert has a first longitudinal length that is a same length as a second longitudinal length of the at least one first garniture section. 
     
     
         21 . The garniture of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one first insert is one continuous insert that does not include seams along the first longitudinal length. 
     
     
         22 . The garniture of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one first garniture section includes a first garniture section and a second garniture section, the at least one first insert overlaying both the first garniture section and the second garniture section. 
     
     
         23 . A finishing section of a rod forming apparatus, comprising:
 the garniture of  claim 1 ;   finishing stations; and   a lower belt,   wherein the finishing stations are on the garniture, the lower belt being configured to travel through the second groove and between the garniture and the finishing stations.