Paper making and fiber liberation – Apparatus – Running or indefinite length product forming and/or treating...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-09-04
Hastings, Karen M. (Department: 1731)
Paper making and fiber liberation
Apparatus
Running or indefinite length product forming and/or treating...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06284103
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to paper-making machines, and, more particularly, to suction rolls in such machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
A paper-making machine typically includes a plurality of rolls which carry a plurality of endless belts such that the fiber web is carried in a running direction from the wet end of the machine to the opposite end where a finished roll is produced. The paper-making machine may include one or more suction rolls placed at various longitudinal positions within the machine to draw moisture from a belt (such as a felt) and/or the fiber web. Each suction roll is typically constructed from a metallic shell with a plurality of holes extending radially therethrough. A vacuum pressure is drawn on the interior of the suction roll shell. Water is drawn through the radially extending holes and transported from the interior of the suction roll shell through appropriate fluid conduits or piping.
The shell of a suction roll is typically constructed of metal and the radially extending holes are formed using curling, laser cutting, etc. These machining processes physically remove the metal and may cause the formation of additional burrs, etc. which require additional machining operations to produce a shell surface with a smooth finish. Although effective, conventional suction roll shells are thus relatively time consuming and expensive to manufacture.
What is needed in the art is a suction roll shell and corresponding method of manufacturing which is less expensive to manufacture and produces a high quality shell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a suction roll shell which is formed by wrapping carbon fiber tape around a mandrel with radially outwardly extending pins. The shell is formed easily, inexpensively and with minimal additional machining required.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method of manufacturing a suction roll shell for use in a paper-making machine. A mandrel with a length and a cross-sectional area corresponding to the shell has a plurality of generally radially extending holes. A plurality of pins are placed in the holes, with each pin extending radially outward from the shell a distance greater than a desired thickness of the shell. At least one elongate fiber is wound around the mandrel to form the shell with the desired thickness. The pins are removed from the mandrel and the shell.
The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a paper-making machine for making a fiber web including a belt and a plurality of rolls. At least one of the rolls comprises a suction roll, with each suction roll having a shell with an inside surface and an outside surface. The shell has a plurality of holes therein extending from the inside surface to the outside surface. Each hole has an inlet at the outside surface and an outlet at the inside surface. Each hole has an inlet with a cross-sectional area which is substantially different than said corresponding outlet.
An advantage of the present invention is that the holes in the shell are formed without physically removing previously existing material during the manufacturing process.
Yet another advantage is that the strength characteristics of the shell may be more easily controlled by adjusting the number of layers of elongate fibers and/or wrap angles of the fibers from one layer to another.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2346785 (1944-04-01), Proulx
patent: 3097995 (1963-07-01), Beachler
patent: 3418205 (1968-12-01), Post
patent: 3447451 (1969-06-01), Meskanen
patent: 629633 (1949-09-01), None
patent: 644594 (1950-10-01), None
Eng James A.
Graf Edwin X.
Hunnicutt Peter T.
Hastings Karen M.
Taylor & Aust P.C.
Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America Inc.
LandOfFree
Suction roll shell in a paper-making machine and method of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Suction roll shell in a paper-making machine and method of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Suction roll shell in a paper-making machine and method of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2481728