Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-03-20
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
C285S184000, C285S121300, C285S039000, C285S330000, C165S090000, C034S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203072
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to rotary joints supplying steam to rotating heat transfer drums using stationary syphons for condensate removal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rotating heat transfer drums such as of the type used in paper, corrugated paper and cardboard manufacture usually employ steam to heat the drum and a rotary joint located at the end of a hollow drum journal is used to introduce the steam into the drum interior. As the steam condenses within the drum, the condensate is removed through a rotary joint, usually the same joint which introduced the steam, and it is common for rotary joints to include both steam inlet ports and condensate exit ports.
Syphon systems for removing condensate from rotating heat transfer drums are either of the “rotating” type where the conduit pickup occurs at a shoe contacting the drum interior and wherein the syphon structure within the drum rotates with the drum, or the syphon system may be of the “stationary” type wherein the condensate pickup apparatus extends into the drum interior, but does not rotate with the drum, and includes a condensate pickup port disposed adjacent the drum shell interior.
Whether a heat transfer drum employs a rotating syphon system or a stationary syphon system depends on various factors including cost, size of the drum, rate of drum rotation, material to be heated and other factors. Both types are well known in the dryer drum art.
The installation of a rotating syphon system usually requires that considerable installation work occurs within the drum interior. This is not a problem with large size dryer drums which have access openings located in the drum ends. However, with smaller sizes of drums, it is usually necessary to employ a stationary syphon system whereby the syphon structure may be inserted through the hollow drum journal, and once inserted, the syphon pipe portion of the syphon system is moved to an operating location within the drum adjacent the drum shell inner surface for removing condensate therefrom. Samples of such stationary syphon systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,542,287; 2,732,228; 3,265,411; 4,590,688 and 5,533,569.
It has long been recognized that the puddle of condensate which accumulates in the lower region of the dryer drum creates problems. This condensate accumulation “tumbles” within the drum as it rotates requiring excessive power, and deleteriously affects the heat transfer from the steam within the drum to the drum shell. In rapidly rotating larger drums, this condensate forms a film throughout the drum periphery, and can be effectively removed by a rotating syphon system wherein the condensate film is removed and maintained of minimum thickness. With a stationary syphon system, condensate is only removed at the lower region of the drum, and the condensate accumulation in the lower region of the drum will exist unless the drum rate of rotation is high enough to cause the condensate to “film” about the drum periphery.
Because of the “insulation” effect that condensate accumulation has on heat transfer from the steam to the drum, it is particularly important when manufacturing corrugated fluted paper and cardboard to be able to accurately maintain the temperature of the drum very closely as to accurately control the humidity content of the paper being dried by the drum. Heretofore, stationary syphon systems often fail to maintain the desired distance between the syphon pipe intake and the drum shell interior surface as to minimize the condensate accumulation and provide optimum uniform heat transfer characteristics and control to the drum. Prior stationary syphon systems required that the spacing of the syphon pipe inlet from the drum interior surface be determined by regulating the length of the syphon pipe, and due to manufacturing tolerances in drum manufacture, and because of variations in rotary joint installations, it is very common that a greater spacing exists between the syphon pipe pickup entrance and the drum shell than is desired, resulting in an excessive accumulation of condensate and uneven heating of the drum shell.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a rotary joint for a rotating heat transfer drum using a stationary syphon system wherein the syphon system can be very accurately adjusted relative to the drum periphery after installation of the rotary joint.
Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary joint for a rotating heat transfer drum having a stationary syphon system wherein accurate radial positioning of the syphon system relative to the axis of drum rotation is readily achieved exteriorly of the rotary joint.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rotary joint for a rotating heat transfer drum having a stationary syphon system including a horizontal syphon tube and a vertically disposed syphon pipe wherein the pipe is pivotally mounted upon the inner end of the tube, which is located within the drum, and the pipe is firmly mechanically oriented to the support tube when in the operative position, and locked in the operative position.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a rotary joint for a rotating heat transfer drum having a stationary syphon system wherein a substantially vertically oriented syphon pipe is pivotally mounted upon the inner end of a horizontal syphon tube and a threaded interconnection exists between the pipe and tube when the pipe is in the operative condensate removing position, and the threaded interconnection is achieved after the syphon system has been inserted into the drum interior.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A rotary joint in accord with the invention is mounted upon a stationary support located adjacent the drum journal. A steam inlet defined in the rotary joint introduces steam into the drum journal through a rotary seal arrangement.
A syphon tube support is mounted upon the outer end of the rotary joint body and serves as the support for a horizontally disposed syphon tube which extends through the rotary joint body and the hollow drum journal, and includes a syphon pipe mounted upon its innermost end within the drum.
The syphon tube support is mounted upon the rotary joint body in such a manner as to permit the syphon tube support to be vertically positioned relative to the rotary joint body which, in turn, vertically positions the syphon tube and syphon pipe associated therewith. This vertical adjustment of the syphon tube support is achieved through a threaded screw arrangement, and as the syphon tube is supported at axially spaced locations on the tube support, and is thereby cantilever mounted at its outer end, the vertical adjustment of the syphon tube support results in an equal vertical adjustment of the location of the syphon tube relative to the rotary joint body, and the axis of drum rotation. The syphon tube support includes a port in communication with the syphon tube whereby the condensate may be removed therefrom.
The syphon pipe is pivotally mounted upon the inner end of the syphon tube whereby the syphon pipe may be pivoted to an installation position locating the pipe relatively parallel to the length of the syphon tube. In such an orientation, the syphon pipe, and syphon tube, can be readily inserted through the hollow drum journal. Once the syphon pipe is within the interior of the drum, and is not supported by the drum journal, the syphon pipe will pivot downwardly under gravitational force. This syphon pipe movement will locate the condensate entrance or intake of the syphon pipe relatively close to the interior of the drum periphery or shell, but gravitational force will not usually fully pivot the syphon pipe to its operative position.
The inner end of the syphon tube includes a threaded sleeve adapted to be received within a threaded bore defined in the upper end of the syphon pipe once the syphon pipe is in its operative position. To this end, a torque transfer tool is inserted through the outer end of the syphon tube to engage torque transfer means defined on the thre
Baker Jennifer J.
Berghuis Raymond R.
Henry Timothy N. L.
Kozlowski Edmund
Medsker James A.
Arola Dave W.
The Johnson Corporation
Young & Basile P.C.
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