Support beam in a paper machine

Details Support beam in a paper machine Support beam in a paper machine

1998-03-24

2001-03-06

Edwards, Laura (Department: 1734)

Coating apparatus

Solid member or material acting on coating after application

C118S118000, C118S123000, C118S126000, C118S413000, C162S281000, C015S256500, C101S157000, C101S169000, C101S367000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06197112

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support beam for at least one extended working unit, notably of a paper machine or coater.
2. Description of the Related Art
A support beam for at least one extended working unit is generally known and employed customarily in conjunction with so-called paper machines or coaters. The German Patent Document No. DE 296 00 016, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, e.g., shows a support beam for a long applicator. The applicator rests on the support beam and is designed for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling material web, notably of paper, cardboard or textile material. The applicator can also be designed for final metering of a coating medium applied previously onto the material web. In the so-called direct application, the liquid or pasty coating medium is applied directly onto the surface of the traveling material web, which during application is carried on a revolving countersurface, e.g., an endless belt or a backing roll. In the indirect application of the medium, in contrast, the liquid or pasty coating medium is first applied onto a substrate surface, e.g., the surface of a backing roll configured as an applicator roll. From there, the coating medium is transferred from the applicator roll to the material web in a nip through which the material web passes.
Also known, from German Patent Document No. DE 41 41 133, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, is a support beam which together with a scraper blade forms a so-called scraper. The scraper is also intended for use in a machine for the manufacture or processing of fiber material webs, for example, paper webs. The scraper blade coacts directly with the shell surface of a rotating roll in order to keep the shell surface clean or to lift the paper web off of the shell surface.
In the known designs of the type described above, the support beam is manufactured as a single-piece component and has the shape of a long, hollow element. According to German Patent Document No. DE 41 41 133, e.g., the support beam is a long, hollow element which has a substantially polygonal cross section and is made of a fiber composite material. Instead of making the support beam of fiber composite material, there are also known designs wherein the support beam includes a different material (e.g., steel) and has a round cross-sectional shape.
A difficulty with these known designs, however, is that the support beam is manufactured as a single-piece component and, therefore, can only be configured for a specific load and adapted to particular conditions of use. A modification or reconfiguration of the single-piece support beam for adaptation to different operating conditions, e.g., a wider or narrower paper machine or coater, is normally beyond realization. Instead, the support beam always must be processed as a whole, which requires large and expensive machinery and is associated with high manufacturing costs. For example, employing a support beam in a wide or narrow paper machine or coater requires a dimensioning of the beam cross section in accordance with the loading that is applicable with the machine, for which purpose the cross section of the support beam is changed. Particularly in the manufacture of support beams from fiber composite material, however, a new tool must be made available and used for that purpose. This increases the manufacturing costs further. Special problems are involved particularly when a support beam assumes different temperatures on its front and back, perhaps from the process, e.g., developing heat which radiates from one direction. As a result, one side is heated to a higher temperature, expands, and thereby causes the entire beam to bend.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a support beam which allows easy and effective adaptation to different working conditions and loads and/or will not bend in the event of temperature differences.
The inventional support beam for at least one long working unit, notably of a paper machine or coater, includes several bundled, long profile elements which in their entirety form the support beam. The profile elements can be bundled such that they are in close point, line and/or surface contact on their outer peripheries along their longitudinal expanse. Possible, e.g., is an arrangement in which the profile elements are assembled such that they form in their entirety a support beam with a hollow cross section.
Understood as a working unit in the purport of the invention is any concept-specific apparatus, for example, suction boxes, headbox/slice nozzles, framing or framing parts, metering devices, open-jet applicators, applicators with an applicator chamber, leveling devices, scraper bars or finish metering apparatuses with one or several doctor elements and the like. The working unit is mounted with suitable fasteners on the support beam, the exact joining of working unit and support beam being discussed in more detail hereinafter.
Evolving from the bundled profile elements, as compared to known structures, is the great advantage that now a modular support beam concept is realizable. With this modular support beam concept, nearly any cross-sectional shapes and sizes for various support element types can be manufactured using individual standardized and easily reproducible components. This allows a high flexibility in the configuration of the support beam and allows easy and effective adaptation of the support beams to different operating conditions and loads. Beyond that, a very economical production is possible on account of the high degree of standardization achievable and the choice, in case of varying demands, of standard profile elements manufactured and stocked in great length and quantities.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the support beam includes at least two bundled, long profile elements. The bundling of three profile elements particularly results in a stable triangular shape in the support beam cross section. Basically, the inventional bundling of several profile elements to an assembly achieves a stabilization of the entire support beam profile and further reduces support beam flexure, as compared to known structures.
In another embodiment of the invention, the profile elements have a tubular cross-sectional shape. Using hollow elements instead of solid elements results in an especially lightweight support beam structure which possesses a very sound rigidity, even with relatively slight wall thicknesses of the profile elements. Also possible, in case of specific operating conditions and loads, is the use of solid cross-sectional shapes.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the profile elements are either made of identical materials or different materials, which are combined within a component. As a result, support beam areas subject to high loads can be specifically reinforced with specific materials in order to counteract flexure. Thus, the solution according to the invention improves the bending and torsional resistance of the support beam. Such material combinations are normally not possible with the known technologies, since the known support beams of the type described above can be manufactured as single-piece components and the entire component is made of like material. The advantage of the present invention over known designs is that the designer is no longer limited in the selection of material.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the profile elements are manufactured of at least one fiber composite material, since this material may display a neutral behavior in view of temperature and longitudinal expansion. A plastic reinforced with carbon fibers (CFK), e.g., has proved itself as fiber composite material. Here, the profile elements can be configured as single-piece components with the use of known manufacturing methods, such as filament winding or laying of prepreg matting, possibly with the application of heat and pressure. A suitable selection

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