U.S. patent number 3,607,624 [Application Number 04/852,282] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-21 for self-cleaning deckle rail for papermaking machines.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company Inc.. Invention is credited to Stanley J. Cwicklo, Walter R. Moody, Thomas S. O'Day.
United States Patent |
3,607,624 |
Moody , et al. |
September 21, 1971 |
SELF-CLEANING DECKLE RAIL FOR PAPERMAKING MACHINES
Abstract
A water-distribution tube is placed superjacent the deckle rail
on a papermaking machine. The tube is provided with an aperture
opening on its upper surface and directing notches which are formed
on the upper surface of the tube and disposed transverse to the
length of the tube. Water discharged from the aperture is directed
by the notches downwardly along opposite sides of the tube and on
the corresponding sides of the deckle rail. In this manner the rail
is continuously washed and coated with water thereby eliminating
corrosion loading.
Inventors: |
Moody; Walter R. (NeKoosa,
WI), O'Day; Thomas S. (Wisconsin Rapids, WI), Cwicklo;
Stanley J. (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) |
Assignee: |
Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company
Inc. (Port Edwards, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
25312928 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/852,282 |
Filed: |
August 22, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
162/272; 239/568;
162/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D21F
1/32 (20130101); D21F 1/56 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D21F
1/32 (20060101); D21f 001/56 (); D21f 001/58 () |
Field of
Search: |
;162/272,334,199,353
;239/568,567 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bashore; S. Leon
Assistant Examiner: Scavone; Thomas G.
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. In a forming section of a papermaking machine of the type having
a deckle rail assembly including a pair of horizontally elongated
rail members disposed on edge respectively along opposite side edge
portions of a fourdrinier screen, the improvement of
water distribution means having an elongated weeper tube
superjacent a corresponding rail member, said weeper tube having
aperture means opening at an upper surface thereof,
said weeper tube having transversely disposed directing notches
formed in the upper surface thereof for directing water discharged
from said aperture means downwardly on opposite sides of said tube
and on correspondingly opposite sides of the rail member,
whereby the rail member is continuously washed and coated by water,
to eliminate corrosion loading.
2. In a forming section of a papermaking machine, as defined in
claim 1, said aperture means comprising a plurality of
longitudinally spaced, upwardly opening weeper apertures formed
along an upper portion of said weeper tube.
3. In a papermaking machine, a deckle rail assembly including a
horizontally elongated rail member disposed on edge along a side
edge portion of a fourdrinier screen of the papermaking machine and
means for supporting the rail member, wherein the improvement
comprises:
water distribution means for directing a flow of water downwardly
along opposite side surfaces of the rail member and including an
elongated hollow weeper tube disposed along an upper edge of said
rail and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, upwardly
opening weeper apertures formed along an upper portion thereof,
said weeper apertures having a port portion extending into said
hollow tube and having directing notches cut into an upper surface
of said tube and extending transversely thereof in opposite
directions for directing water seeping from said ports downwardly
along diametrically opposite sides of said tube; and
means for supplying water to said distribution means, whereby said
rail member is continuously washed and coated by water, thereby
eliminating corrosion loading.
4. In a forming section of a papermaking machine as defined in
claim 1, said water distribution means comprising an adjustable
shutoff valve for controlling water supply to said weeper tube
whereby water supply to said distribution means may be selectively
regulated.
5. In a forming section of papermaking machine as defined in claim
1, a plurality of longitudinally spaced spray heads spaced
outwardly of said weeper tube and its corresponding rail member and
directed inwardly for projecting fanlike showers and forming a
water barrier.
6. In a forming section of a papermaking machine as defined in
claim 2, said plurality of longitudinally spaced outlet apertures
having progressively smaller cross-sectional areas with ones of
said apertures disposed nearer an inlet end of said weeper tube
having larger cross-sectional areas than those disposed nearer a
closed end of said weeper tube.
7. In a forming section of a papermaking machine as defined in
claim 1,
means for supporting the rail member and having an upstanding post
member secured to a frame of the papermaking machine and an arm
member attached to said post and extending toward, and partially
overlying, the rail member;
an attachment flange underlying a portion of said arm, secured to,
and extending at right angles from the rail member;
adjustable attachment means interconnecting said arm and said
attachment flange and being configured to permit horizontal
adjustment of the rail transversely of the adjoining fourdrinier
screen and vertical adjustment toward and away from a horizontal
run of the screen.
8. In a forming section of a papermaking machine as defined in
claim 1 a rail member underlying each said weeper tube and
comprising:
a rigid, horizontally elongated, strip-form body portion disposed
on edge;
a flexible strip extending longitudinally along a lower
longitudinal edge portion of said body and projecting downwardly
therefrom toward the adjoining fourdrinier screen; and
clamp means securely attaching said flexible strip to said rigid
body portion.
9. For use in a papermaking machine, a deckle rail comprising water
distribution means having a weeper tube disposed superjacent the
deckle rail and including aperture means opening at an upper
surface thereof and directing notches on an upper surface of said
tube and disposed transversely of said tube length to direct water
seeped from said aperture means downwardly on opposite sides of
said tube and on correspondingly opposite sides of said deckle
rail.
10. A deckle rail assembly according to claim 9, wherein said
directing notches each have a generally elliptical shape with a
major axis of the ellipse disposed transversely of said tube and
extending partially around a circumference thereof, thereby to
direct fluid downwardly along diametrically opposite sides of said
tube.
11. A deckle rail assembly according to claim 9, wherein
said weeper tube has an inlet end, an opposite closed end and said
aperture means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced
weeper apertures opening at the upper surface of said weeper tube
and having one of said directing notches associated with each of
said weeper apertures,
said weeper apertures having progressively smaller cross-sectional
areas with said apertures disposed near said inlet end having
larger cross-sectional areas than those disposed near said closed
end of said tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to papermaking machines,
and more particularly refers to a self-cleaning deckle rail
assembly for a forming section of the machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Forming sections of papermaking machines of the type having a head
box depositing a slurry onto a fourdrinier generally include a pair
of deckle rails or strips disposed at opposite side edges of the
fourdrinier for confining and forming the slurry; the deckle rails
generally extend from the head box along the fourdrinier for
several feet. Due to spray from the rapidly advancing slurry, the
deckle rails tend to become corrosion loaded.
A buildup of corrosion on the deckle rails may result in sludge
spots in the finished paper product. Heretofore, deckle rail
assemblies have not included effective means for automatically
cleaning the rails to prevent corrosion loading. Thus, it has been
necessary to remove the rails from the machine and chip off
corrosion and fibrous material. Such procedures are troublesome and
time consuming and require wasteful downtime of the entire
machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a pair of
self-cleaning deckle rail assemblies at a forming section of a
papermaking machine having a head box depositing a slurry of water
or other suitable fluids and fibrous material onto a rapidly moving
fourdrinier screen extending from the head box. The pair of deckle
rail assemblies are disposed at opposite side edges of the
fourdrinier and extend for several feet longitudinally along the
fourdrinier from the head box, thereby to confine and form the
slurry. Each deckle rail assembly comprises a horizontally
elongated rail member having a longitudinal edge portion extending
longitudinally along and slightly spaced from the fourdrinier.
In accordance with this invention fluid distribution means are
disposed along the rail member and diffuse a plurality of small,
longitudinally spaced streams of fluid downwardly along opposite
side surfaces of the rail member.
In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid distribution means comprises
an elongated hollow weeper tube longitudinally disposed along an
upper edge portion of the rail member and having a plurality of
longitudinally spaced, outlet apertures opening upwardly to form a
film of liquid extending over the top of the tube.
In order to direct water seeping from the outlet apertures
downwardly along the opposite sides of the rail, each aperture has
a discharge portion characterized by a notch which may be somewhat
elliptical having a major axis thereof extending transversely of,
and partially circumferentially around, the distribution tube.
The rail member has a strip form body portion carrying the hollow
distribution tube and a flexible strip supported along a lower
longitudinal edge of the body portion and extending downwardly
toward the fourdrinier. A lowermost longitudinal edge of the
flexible strip is spaced above the fourdrinier, thereby forming a
small gap between the flexible strip and the fourdrinier. Means
forming an adjustable fan shower directs fanlike sprays of water
onto the fourdrinier along a line defined by an intersection line
of a plane containing the flexible strips with the fourdrinier
screen.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a self-cleaning deckle rail assembly for use with a forming
section of a papermaking machine.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a self-cleaning deckle rail assembly comprising an
elongated rail member disposed on edge at a side edge portion of a
fourdrinier and having fluid distribution means directing fluid
downwardly along opposite side surfaces of the rail, thereby
continuously washing the rail for preventing corrosion loading.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will be readily apparent from the following description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be
effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel
concepts of the disclosure or our contribution to the art, and in
which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a forming section of a papermaking
machine and illustrates a top plan view of a pair of deckle rail
assemblies constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view illustrating one of the deckle
rail assemblies of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial top plan view of a fluid
distribution tube for the deckle rail assemblies and illustrates
details of one configuration of fluid outlet apertures formed in
the fluid distribution tube; and
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the deckle rail assembly
taken substantially along line IV--IV of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, a forming section of a papermaking
machine includes a head box 10 for depositing a slurry of fibrous
materials suspended in water or other suitable fluids onto a
fourdrinier 11. A pair of self-cleaning deckle assemblies generally
indicated at 13, 13 is constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention. The fourdrinier 11 generally
includes a rapidly moving screen belt 14 trained around suitably
arranged idlers as at 16 to form a horizontally disposed
fourdrinier table extending from a lip portion of the head box 10.
The slurry of fibrous material is deposited in a thin sheet as at
15 extending substantially across an entire width of the
fourdrinier 11. In order to confine and form the sheet 15, the pair
of deckle rail assemblies 13, 13 extend from the head box
longitudinally of the fourdrinier and slightly overlap opposite
side edge portions of the fourdrinier screen 14.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, each
deckle rail assembly 13 comprises support means 17, a rail member
18 and water distribution means 19 for diffusing water downwardly
along opposite side surfaces of the rail member.
The rail member 18 has a horizontally elongated, strip-form body
portion 21 characterized by an outwardly projecting lip portion 22
extending longitudinally along an upper edge portion. A pair of
longitudinally spaced attachment flanges 23, 23 are welded or
otherwise secured to the lip portion 22 and extend outwardly of the
body portion at right angles thereto. A pair of the support means
17 are disposed on either side of the forming section, and each
support means generally comprises an upstanding post member 24
adjustably supporting an arm 26 extending from the post toward the
fourdrinier screen 14. The arm 26 has a cylindrical body portion 27
and a flattened terminal end portion 28 characterized by a
longitudinally elongated slot 29. The cylindrical portion 27 of the
arm 26 is carried in a sleeve clamp 31 supported at an upper
terminal end portion of the upstanding post 24. The sleeve clamp 31
is releasable to permit removal of the arm 26 and adjustment
thereof toward and away from the fourdrinier screen 14.
The attachment flanges 23 of the rail members 18 underlie the
flattened portions 28 of the support arms 26 and have apertures as
at 32 aligned with the slots 29. The rail members 18 are suspended
beneath the support arms 26 by adjustable attachment means as at 30
permitting both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the rails
relative to the fourdrinier screen 14.
Each adjustable attachment means 30 comprises a bolt 33 passing
upwardly through the apertures 32 of the flanges 23 and the slots
29 of the support arm 26. A first nut 34 is threaded over the bolt
33 and clamps the attachment flange 23 between a head 36 of the
bolt and the nut. A pair of nut and washer assemblies 37 and 38 are
threaded onto the bolt 33 and disposed on either side of the
flattened portion 28 of the attachment arm 26, thereby to clamp the
support arm 26 and suspend the rail assemblies 18 beneath the
support arm and above the fourdrinier screen 14.
The bolt 33 is movable longitudinally of the support arms 26 within
the slot 29, thereby permitting horizontal adjustment of the rail
members transversely of the fourdrinier screen 14. Also, by
threadingly adjusting the pair of nut and washer assemblies 37 and
38 axially along the bolt 33, the rail assemblies 18 may be
vertically adjusted relative to the horizontal run of the
fourdrinier screen 14.
In order to provide a flexible deckle rail portion disposed
adjacent the fourdrinier screen 14, an elongated strip 41 composed
of flexible rubberlike material is clamped to an outer side surface
42 of the rail body 21 along a lower longitudinal edge portion as
at 43. A rigid strip 44 overlies the flexible deckle strip 41, and
a plurality of longitudinally spaced fastening means, such as
screws as at 46, pass through appropriately formed apertures 47 and
48 formed respectively in the rigid strip 44 and the flexible strip
41 and engage threaded apertures as at 49 in the body portion 21,
thereby to clamp the flexible strip 41 to the rail body.
Each of the deckle rail assemblies 18 is vertically adjusted so
that a lower longitudinal edge 51 of the flexible deckle strip 41
is slightly spaced above an upper surface 52 of the fourdrinier
screen 14, thereby to provide a small gap 53 between the
fourdrinier screen and the flexible strip, for example a vertical
extent in the order of approximately one-quarter inch.
It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide a
series of longitudinally spaced spray heads as at 54 directing a
series of fan showers impinging the fourdrinier screen 14 along a
longitudinal line defined by intersection of a plane containing the
flexible strip 41, thereby to form and confine the sheet 15 carried
on the horizontal surface 52 of the screen. The spray heads 54 are
disposed along a hollow manifold tube 56 having an inlet end as at
57 disposed near the head box 10 and an opposite closed or plug end
58 terminating adjacent a terminal end as at 59 of the rail body
21. The manifold tube 56 is spaced outwardly of the rail body 21
and supported within apertures as at 61 formed in a series of
longitudinally spaced support flanges 62 extending outwardly at
right angles of the rail body 21 and secured thereto by welding as
at 63 or other suitable securement means.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the
water distribution means 19 include an axially elongated hollow
weeper tube 65 having a cylindrical wall 74 defining an axial
throughbore 66, an outwardly turned inlet end portion 67 and an
opposite end portion as at 68 closed by a plug 69. The water
distribution or weeper tube 65 is carried on an upper longitudinal
edge 71 of the rail body 21 with the plug end 68 disposed adjacent
the terminal end 59 of the rail and is secured thereto by welding
as at 72, or other suitable securement means. In order to provide
fluid outlet means for distributing water or other suitable fluid
downwardly along opposite sides of the rail members 18 the tube 65
has a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening weeper
outlet apertures as at 73 formed through an upper portion of the
cylindrical wall 74.
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, each outlet aperture 73 comprises a
circular port 76 extending upwardly through the cylindrical wall 74
and a directing mouth portion or notch 77. The directing portions
or notches 77 each have a substantially elliptical shape with a
major axis of the ellipse disposed transversely of the tube 65 and
extending partially around a circumference thereof, thereby to
direct fluid such as water seeping from the port 76 downwardly
along diametrically opposite sides of the weeper tube 65, and thus,
downwardly along the outer side surface 42 and an inner side
surface 78 of the rail 18. If desired, the longitudinally spaced
series of outlet ports 76 may be formed with progressively smaller
diameters, with larger diameters being provided for ports disposed
toward the inlet end 67 of the tube 65, thereby providing a more
even flow throughout the length of the water distribution tube.
Also, if desired, the outlet ports 76 may be grouped into groups
having equal diameter ports with the groups disposed near the inlet
end 67 having larger ports than those toward the opposite end. The
effect of the weeper tube is to establish an elongated source of
liquid corresponding in length to the deckle rail so that the
surface of the deckle rail can be, in effect, constantly coated
with a corrosion resistant surface.
In order to supply water or other suitable fluids to both the water
distribution means 19 and the fan shower spray heads 54, the
present invention provides a water supply system generally
indicated at 78 and comprising a source of water under pressure
(not shown), a main supply pipe 79 leading from the water supply
and terminating at a T connection 81. A cross pipe 82 and a nipple
83 respectively connect the main supply line 79, via the T
connection 81, with the pair of deckle rail assemblies 13, 13
disposed on opposite sides of the fourdrinier 11.
At each of the opposite sides of the fourdrinier 11 the water
supply is again divided by a T connection as at 84, thereby
providing a pair of branch lines 86 and 87 respectively supplying
water to the spray heads 54 and the water weeper tubes 65. The
branch line 86 has an adjustable shutoff valve 88 controlling the
water supply to the spray heads 54, while the branch line 87 has an
adjustable shutoff valve 89 controlling the water supply to the
weeper tube 65. Flexible tubing as at 91 and 92 respectively
communicate the adjustable shutoff valves 88 and 89 with the spray
heads 54 and the weeper tube 65.
In order to facilitate removal of the deckle rail assemblies 13, 13
quick connect couples as at 93 and 94 respectively connect the
flexible tubes 91 and 92 to the manifold tube inlet 57 and the
weeper tube inlet 67.
In operation, the adjustable shutoff valves 89 controlling water
supply to the weeper tube 65 is adjusted so that water seeps from
the longitudinally spaced weeper apertures 73 and flows downwardly
along the opposite side surfaces 42 and 78 of the deckle rail
assembly 18, thereby continuously washing the opposite side
surfaces of the deckle rail to prevent buildup or accumulation of
fibrous material and corrosion loading, and in effect, constantly
coating the deckle rail with a corrosion resistant surface.
Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those
versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody
within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such
modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of
our contribution to the art.
* * * * *