Claims
- 1. An apparatus for removing water from a web formed of fibers comprising:a first forming fabric which is permeable to air; a second forming fabric which is permeable to air; a web of fibers containing between about ten and about forty percent fibers dry weight and about ninety to about sixty percent water, the web being positioned and held between the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric; a first box rigidly mounted with respect to the first forming fabric and connected to a source of pressurized air; a plurality of baffles extending between the box and the first forming fabric and defining an area of the first forming fabric, the plurality of baffles extending into the first box so as to seal the source of pressurized air to the area of the first forming fabric, the baffles being substantially devoid of surfaces on which pressure in the first box acts in a way to force the baffles towards or against the first forming fabric; a seal formed between the plurality of baffles and the first box so that air supplied to the first box is substantially constrained to flow through the first forming fabric, the web of fibers and the second forming fabric; a means for urging each of the baffles towards the first forming fabric; and a means for drawing a vacuum positioned adjacent to the second forming fabric, the vacuum means engaging the second forming fabric over an area which at least encompasses substantially all of an area opposite the area of the first forming fabric which is sealed to the source of pressurized air; wherein the vacuum means comprises a vacuum box with a plurality of cross machine direction forming fabric supports, at least two of said cross machine direction forming fabric supports defining a pocket into which the first forming fabric and second forming fabric and web are urged by at least one of said plurality of baffles overlying the first forming fabric, the pocket defining a seal, and wherein the pocket is filled with a resilient material and underlain by a rigid support.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of baffles comprises:a first cross machine direction baffle; a second cross machine direction baffle; and two machine direction baffles which define a second rectangular box with the first cross machine direction baffle and the second cross machine direction baffle, the second box opening to the first forming fabric on one side and the first box on the second side.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a resilient sealing member is positioned in a groove formed in one of said machine direction baffles to seal pressurized air within the plurality of baffles.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the groove has portions which accommodate the resilient sealing member when the machine direction baffles move upwardly.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the two cross machine direction baffles are joined to each other by structural beams which balance loads which the supply of pressurized air exerts on said cross machine direction baffles.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of baffles has a ceramic shoe which engages the first forming fabric.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for urging the plurality of baffles towards the first forming fabric includes an inflatable air tube.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cross machine direction baffles have flanges extending parallel to the first forming fabric and further include first means acting on the flanges for urging the cross machine direction baffles towards the first forming fabric and further including second means acting on the flanges for urging the cross machine direction baffles away from the first forming fabric.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for urging the plurality of baffles away from the first forming fabric.
- 10. An apparatus for removing water from a web formed of fibers and held between opposed forming fabrics, the apparatus comprising:a first forming fabric which is permeable to air; a second forming fabric which is permeable to air; a first box fixed with respect to the first forming fabric and connected to a source of pressurized air; a plurality of baffles extending between the box and the first forming fabric and defining a first area of the first forming fabric, the plurality of baffles extending into the first box to seal the source of pressurized air to the first area of the first forming fabric; a seal formed between the plurality of baffles and the first box so that air supplied to the first box is substantially constrained to flow through the first forming fabric, the web of fibers and the second forming fabric, wherein the plurality of baffles are positioned in the first box and sealed to the first box by the seals so that air pressure in the first box does not act on the baffles to urge the baffles towards or away from the forming fabric; an actuator extending between each baffle of the plurality of baffles and the first box to move the baffles towards and away from the first forming fabric; and a structure positioned adjacent to a second area defined on the second forming fabric, the structure drawing a vacuum on the second forming fabric over the second area which at least encompasses substantially all of an area opposite the first area of the first forming fabric which is sealed to the source of pressurized air, wherein the structure positioned adjacent to the second area on the second forming fabric is a vacuum box with a plurality of cross machine direction forming fabric supports, at least two of said cross machine direction forming fabric supports defining a pocket into which the first forming fabric and second forming fabric are urged by at least one of said plurality of baffles overlying the first forming fabric, the pocket defining a seal, and wherein the pocket is filled with a resilient material and underlain by a rigid support.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of baffles comprises:a first cross machine direction baffle; a second cross machine direction baffle; and two machine direction baffles which defining a second rectangular box with the first cross machine direction baffle and the second cross machine baffle, the second box opening to the first forming fabric on one side and to the first box on the second side.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a resilient sealing member is positioned in a groove formed in one of said machine direction baffles to seal pressurized air within the plurality of baffles.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the groove has portions which accommodate the resilient sealing member when the machine direction baffles move upwardly.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said plurality of baffles has a ceramic shoe which engages the first forming fabric.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the two cross machine direction baffles are joined to each other by structural beams which balance loads which the supply of pressurized air exerts on said cross machine direction baffles.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the actuator which moves the plurality of baffles towards and away from the first forming fabric includes an inflatable air tube.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cross machine direction baffles have flanges extending parallel to the first forming fabric and further include first air tubes acting on the flanges for urging the cross machine direction baffles towards the first forming fabric and further including second air tubes acting on the flanges for urging the cross machine direction baffles away from the first forming fabric.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/962,110 filed on Oct. 31, 1997, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/962110 |
Oct 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/670151 |
|
US |