Patent Application
20170268172
This invention concerns a fabric support element for use in a papermaking machine, and in particular a support mechanism for adjustably supporting a dewatering blade in a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof.
In the manufacture of paper and board products, a highly aqueous stock consisting of about 98-99.8% water and from 0.2-2% papermaking fibers and other solids is ejected at high speed from a headbox slice onto a moving forming fabric. Adjacent the head box slice, the forming fabric passes in sliding contact over a plurality of static fabric support elements known as blades which serve to support the forming fabric, and to define a reference surface over which the forming fabric moves. Depending on the surface profile chosen for the fabric support elements, they may act as a doctoring device and assist in draining water from and generating turbulence in the stock on the forming fabric. The fabric support surfaces usually include a lead blade located more or less underneath the point at which the stock jet impinges the forming fabric, followed downstream by at least two additional blades, each of which may be flat, or profiled to act as foils (e.g. as disclosed by Wrist in U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,465) or as agitators (e.g. as disclosed by Johnson, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,998), although stock agitation is not typically initiated at this very early point in a forming section. The fabric contact elements, which are typically ceramic, are normally mounted onto a vertically adjustable supporting structure using either a dovetail or a T-bar support
U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,286 to Van Essen et al. discloses an apparatus by which a paper maker can alter the number of fabric support elements in contact with the forming fabric in the area immediately after the stock impinges onto the forming fabric adjacent to the head box slice so as either to enhance, to maintain, or to diminish stock activity and thereby optimize agitation in accordance with papermaking conditions to provide a product of acceptable quality. Here, a contact element with a given profile can be vertically adjusted to be out of contact with the forming fabric and a support element with a different profile vertically adjusted to be in contact with the forming fabric.
A number patents show vertically adjustable support element mounting devices for use in papermaking machines. Typical structures are shown by: Bartelmuss et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,689; Bubik et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,010 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,347; and Jaakkola U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,320.
These prior art arrangements rely on various methods of pneumatic retraction by a second actuator (tube 12b) or no positive retraction at all. All of these prior art devices also provide a linear movement using a linear guide mechanism wherein the support structure of the doctoring blade is constrained by a static bearing surface.
The current designs on the market rely on mating surfaces, which slide to control the movement of the doctoring element. This method inherently has excessive friction, which can increase if paper fibers from the slurry enter into these arrangements resulting in less controllability and loading sensitivity. Further, a complex system is required to provide for positive extension and retraction of the doctoring blade.
It would be desirable to provide a blade support device which allows for positive extension and retraction of a doctoring element or a blade on a blade support which allows for simple operation and has lower friction than the known prior art arrangements. It would also be desirable to provide a pneumatically actuated doctoring device which is more cost effective than the prior known arrangements.
A pneumatically actuated doctoring device for paper machine de-watering/paper forming is provided. The device includes a base member that is adapted to be supported on a papermaking machine structure, and a blade support with a fabric contact element, which can be a doctoring element or blade. A single pneumatic air tube having first and second attachments on opposing sides of the pneumatic air tube is also provided. The first attachment engages the base member and the second attachment engages the blade support. The pneumatic air tube is configured for connection to a pressurized air source and a vacuum source to extend or retract the blade support relative to the base member. A linkage arrangement is connected between the blade support and the base member. The linkage arrangement includes at least first and second links that are located between the base member and the support member. The links each have a pivotal connection to the base member and provide for a fixed orientation of the blade support relative to the base member as the pneumatic air tube extends the blade support or retracts the blade support which is guided by the linkage arrangement.
In a preferred embodiment the linkage arrangement forms a four-bar linkage arrangement with each of the first and second links also having a pivotal connection to the blade support. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other linkage arrangements can be used. One particular benefit of a four-bar linkage arrangement is that this provides for constrained motion of the blade support relative to the base member in which the orientation of the blade support remains constant even as the blade moves along an arc-shaped path based on the guidance provided by the linkage arrangement.
In a preferred arrangement, the pivotal connections each include a pin that extends through the openings in the base member and the blade support. Optionally, the openings through which the pins extend may each include a bushing to provide for reduced friction.
Preferably, the distance between the pivotal connections of the first and second links on the base member is equal to a distance between the pivotal connections of the first and second links on the blade support such that the blade support orientation remains vertical as it moves between the extended and retracted positions.
Preferably, the pressurized air source and the vacuum source are connected to the single pneumatic air tube by a valve arrangement.
Optionally, at least one flexible cover is connected between the base member and the support member that encloses the linkage arrangement. This prevents the paper slurry from entering into the linkage arrangements.
In one preferred arrangement, the first and second attachments on the single pneumatic air tube have a T-shape and are integrally formed on opposing surfaces of the single pneumatic air tube. The base member and the blade support each include a corresponding T-shaped receptacle for a positive fit connection to the single pneumatic air tube.
In another aspect, a forming section of a papermaking machine is provided. This can be any type of forming section and can include twin wire formers, gap formers, as well as hybrid type formers. The forming section includes at least two rolls as well as a forming fabric that is supported on the at least two rolls. A t least one pneumatically actuated moveable doctoring device as discussed above is provided with one or more of the linkage arrangements as described above connected between the blade support and the base member which guides the blade support as it is extended or retracted into or out of contact with the forming fabric by the pneumatic air tube. Preferably a plurality of the pneumatically actuated moveable doctoring devices can be provided spaced apart from one another in a machine direction of the forming section. Each of the doctoring devices extends across a width of the forming fabric in the cross direction. Depending upon the particular characteristics of the paper being formed in the forming section of the papermaking machine, various ones of the pneumatically actuated moveable doctoring devices can be extended into contact with the forming fabric or be retracted out of contact with the forming fabric.
The linear motion of the doctoring element in the direction of the loading and minimizing friction of the doctoring element movement are critical components of the devices controllability. Providing for positive retraction of the doctoring element from the forming fabric is also beneficial to prevent the unintended loading of the doctoring element caused by diverted water forces. This arrangement has two critical advantages over the current state of art. First, the pneumatic air tube used for loading and unloading the doctoring element against the paper machine fabric has two attachment features on opposing sides of the tube, which act as attachment points. These attachment features allow for the single pneumatic air tube to couple together the base member of the counter blade and movable blade support with the doctoring element of the counter blade. The capability to couple the base and the doctoring element with the single air tube allows for the single pneumatic air tube to provide positive retraction when a vacuum is applied. Second, the doctoring element is connected to the counter blade base with a linkage arrangement which provides a very low friction method of controlling the movement of the doctoring element. The low friction is achieved through the linkage arrangement utilizing pin-bushing arrangements. As the doctoring element is loaded into the forming fabric, the four-bar linkage keeps the elements square to the fabric path, providing linear loading.
In another aspect, a pneumatically actuated moveable doctoring device for a paper machine forming section is provided having a base member adapted to be supported by a papermaking machine structure and a blade support with a fabric contact element. A pneumatic air tube having first and second attachments on opposing sides of the pneumatic air tube is provided, with the first attachment engaging the base member and the second attachment engaging the blade support. The pneumatic air tube is configured for connection to a pressurized air source and a vacuum source to extend or retract the blade support relative to the base member. The first and second attachments on the pneumatic air tube have an enlarged end section with a smaller base and are integrally formed on opposing surfaces of the single pneumatic air tube, and the base member and the blade support each include a corresponding undercut receptacle for a positive fit connection to the pneumatic air tube. A linkage arrangement is connected between the blade support and the base member. The linkage arrangement includes at least first and second links located between the base member and the blade support, with the links each having a pivotal connection to the base member and provide for a fixed orientation of the blade support relative to the base member as the pneumatic air tube extends the blade support or retracts the blade support guided by the linkage arrangement.
The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description will be better understood when reviewed in conjunction with the attached drawings which show a preferred arrangement. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “upper” and “lower” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from the parts referenced in the drawings. These terms and terms of similar import are for ease of description when referring to the drawings and should not be considered limiting. “Machine Direction” refers to a direction in which a papermaking fabric travels in a papermaking machine. “Cross Direction” refers to a direction generally perpendicular to the Machine Direction. A reference to a list of items that are cited as “at least one of a, b, or c” (where a, b, and c represent the items being listed) means any single one of the items a, b, or c, or combinations thereof.
For elements of the invention that are identical or have identical actions, identical reference symbols are used. The illustrated embodiments represent merely examples for how the device according to the invention could be equipped. They do not represent a conclusive limitation of the invention.
Referring now to
A blade support 58 having a fabric contact element or doctoring element 56, formed for example from ceramic inserts is provided. The blade support 58 preferably includes a positive fit connection to the fabric contact element 56, which can be in the form of an undercut recess, such as a dove tail, to provide for positive engagement of the fabric contact element 56 to the blade support 58. Preferably, a single pneumatic air tube 52 having first and second attachments 53a, 53b on opposing side of the pneumatic air tube 52 is provided, with the first attachment 53a engaging with the base member 50 and the second attachment 53b engaging with the blade support 58. The pneumatic air tube 52 has an inflatable chamber that van be pressurized or depressurized. In one preferred arrangement, the first and second attachments 53a, 53b, on the single pneumatic air tube 52 have an enlarged end section with a smaller base, preferably a T-shape, and are integrally formed on opposing surfaces of the single pneumatic air tube 52. The single pneumatic air tube 52 can be molded from rubber or a suitable elastomer with the integrally formed first and second attachments 53a, 53b. Alternatively, the first and second attachments can be other shapes, such as a dovetail which is adapted to engage in an undercut recess with a corresponding shape in the base member 60 and the blade support 58. Alternatively, other connectors such as mechanical fasteners or an adhesive can be used to form the first and second attachments.
The pneumatic air tube 52 is configured for connection to a pressurized air source 74, shown in
Still with reference to
As shown in
The pivotal connections 68a, 68b, 69a, 69b preferably each include a pin 65 that extends through openings in the base member 60 and the blade support 58. The openings may include a bushing therein (an exemplary one of which is indicated in broken lines at 67 in
As shown in
Those skilled in the art will recognize that various other linkage arrangements can be provided other than a four-bar mechanism to achieve a similar travel path while maintaining a generally fixed orientation of the blade support 58 relative to the base member 60 in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
The pneumatically actuated moveable doctoring devices 50 can be individually moved into or out of contact with the forming fabric 225 by extending the blade support 58 relative to the base member 60 by pressurizing the pneumatic air tube 52 or retracting the blade support 58 out of contact from the forming fabric 104 by depressurizing and/or applying a vacuum to the pneumatic air tube 52 in the particular doctoring device 50 depending upon the particular properties being achieved by the specific placement of the doctoring elements or blades 56, acting as counter blades in the embodiment of
The present invention provides the advantage of a single pneumatic air tube 52 that can be used for both loading and unloading the doctoring element 56 of a particular doctoring device 50 based on the two attachments providing on opposing sides of the tube 52. Further, the linkage arrangements 61 of each of the doctoring devices 50 allows for a low friction moveable arrangement that maintains the orientation of the blade support 58 along with its doctoring element or blade element 56 as it is moved into contact with the forming fabric 225 while avoiding the issues associated with a sliding support of the prior art. The low friction linkage arrangements 61 along with the single pneumatic tube 52 for each of the doctoring devices 50 thus provide a simple system with lower cost that provides for both positive extension and retraction.
While a single pneumatic air tube 52 is preferred, it is within the scope of the present invention to have two pneumatic air tubes arranged side-by-side with both having positive attachments to the base member 60 and the blade support 58, and this still being considered functionally as a single pneumatic air tube as described herein.
Having thus described the present invention in detail, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiment and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein.
The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/309,519, filed Mar. 17, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62309519 | Mar 2016 | US |
