US3214818A

US3214818A - Ian elrick ewen

Info

Publication number: US3214818A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

NOV. 2, 1965 w 3,214,818

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS OF PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 13, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor! IAN ELRICK EWEN W BY W A Horneyj NOV. 2, 1965 w 3,214,818

APPARATUS FUR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS OF PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 13, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvemur IAN ELRICK EWLiN A tlor'myf Nov. 2, 1965 w 3,214,818

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS OF PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 13, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor AN ELRICK EWEN WA By W A Home? I. E. EWEN 3,214,818 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS OF PAPER MAKING MACHINES Nov. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 13. 1965 Inventor'- IAN ELRICK EWEN Attorneys United States Patent 3,214,818 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS OF PAPER MAKING MACHINES Ian Elrick Ewen, Granton, Edinburgh, Scotland, assignor to The United Wire Works Limited, Edinburgh, Scotland, a British company Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 308,831 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 14, 1962, 35,049/ 62 5 Claims. (CI. 26-51) This invention relates to the manufacture of woven cloth for the endless belts of paper making machines. Such belts are used on the wet end of a Fourdrinier paper making machine to convey and dewater paper pulp to form a mat or sheet of fibers. The cloth may, for example, be woven with Phosphor bronze warps and brass or Phosphor bronze wefts, or with wefts of synthetic resinous material, the belt being formed by joining together the ends of the cloth with the warps running lengthwise of the belt.

Due to the woven constructions, the warps form knuckles on the underside and topside of the woven belt, and, in operation, the underside warp knuckles are subjected to severe abrasive wear as the belt travels over suction boxes which are fitted to the paper making machine to dewater the paper pulp.

Under certain conditions, the warp knuckles wear grooves in the surface of the tops of the suction boxes, and these grooves are a replica of the longitudinal pattern of the underside warp knuckles.

A grooved suction box top may result in. a very serious shortening of the life of the belt and create faults in the paper made.

In operation, there is a tendency for the belt to move to one side or the other of the paper making machine under the action of guide rolls. When a suction box top is grooved, the belt hangs on the box and resists the normal lateral movement of the belt. Increasing lateral force is built up by the automatic guide rolls causing severe lateral thrust on the warp knuckles in the grooves and severe wear on the sides of the knuckles. If the belt is released from the grooves either due to suflicicnt lateral pressure or to the presence of a discontinuity in the pattern of the underside warp knuckles, the belt slides over the top of the grooves which rasps the warp knuckles, causing further wear.

A grooved suction box top also causes serious trouble when a new belt is fitted. Differences in warp pattern in relation to the grooves cause severe local wear and drastically reduces the life of the belt.

This problem in the operation of paper machine belts has been known for many years by paper machine belt manufacturers, paper machine builders and paper makers, and while various methods of overcoming the difficulty have been proposed and practised, no complete solution has been discovered.

An attempt to solve the problem has hitherto been made by weaving the cloth for the belt with a slowly oscillating reed in the loom with a view to imparting a longitudinal sinusoidal curve pattern to the underside warp knuckles. Some success has been achieved with this method, but it suffers from the disadvantage that, when attempts are made to impart sufficient amplitude to 3,214,818 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 the pattern with a view to ensuring non-grooving operation on the paper machine, difliculties are experienced due to variation in the mesh or weft count arising from the displacement of the reed which causes friction against the warps in the weaving process. Also, excessive reed displacement can give rise to the formation of furrows in the woven cloth which cannot be tolerated for the manufacture of paper.

An object of the present invention is to provide woven cloth which, when formed into a belt and used in a paper making machine as aforesaid, does not form such grooves in the tops of the suction boxes or does not react undesirably to grooves previously formed therein.

According to the present invention we provide a meth- 0d of treating woven cloth for endless belts for paper making machines comprising tensioning a length of the cloth, clamping said length of cloth transversely throughout its width at each end and midway between its ends, applying a force transversely in the plane of the cloth to the intermediate clamped portion so as to displace the warps of the length of cloth to a substantially chevronshaped formation, moving the clamped ends further apart so as to stretch the warps while they are clamped in said formation, and effecting said tensioning, clamping, displacing and stretching upon successive lengths of the cloth.

Further, according to the present invention we provide apparatus for treating woven cloth for endless belts for paper making machines comprising means for tensioning a length of the cloth, three equi-spaced clamps for clamping the length of cloth transversely throughout its width at its ends and midway between its ends, means for applying a force transversely to the middle clamp so as to move it transversely and relative to the end clamps, while the cloth is tensioned and clamped and so as to displace the warps of the length of cloth to substantially chevron-shaped formation in the plane of the cloth relative to the warps outside the clamped length, means for moving the end clamps further apart while they are clamped in said formation so as to stretch the warps, and means for advancing the cloth through the clamps, so that successive lengths of the cloth may be treated.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show diagrammatically successive stages of the method according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of apparatus according to the invention, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary end and plan views, respectively, corresponding to FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows diagrammatically in plan view woven cloth according to the invention.

In one example of the invention woven cloth 1, FIG. 7, for forming into endless belts for paper making machines has the warps 2 so arranged that each forms throughout its length a series of substantially chevron-shaped formations laterally directed in the plane of the cloth. The warps may alternatively be said to follow parallel angular zig-zag paths.

A method of producing such cloth will now be described, by way of example, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The cloth is woven with straight warps, that is to say straight in planes perpendicular to the plane of the cloth. A length of cloth 3, FIG. 1, is clamped at one end by a clamp 4 and is tensioned in the direction of the warps. The tensioned length of cloth 3 is then clamped at its other end by a clamp 5, and is further clamped midway between its ends by a clamp 6, the clamping in each case being effected throughout the width of the cloth 3. A force is then applied transversely of the cloth to the intermediate clamp 6 so as to displace the warps 7 of that length of cloth transversely to substantially chevron-shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the warps 7 are then stretched by moving the clamps 4, further away from each other, as shown in FIG. 3. The middle clamp 6 is then released, the cloth tensioned once more by moving the

clamps

4 and 5 still further apart, and, after rcleasing the

clamps

4 and 5, the process is repeated on contiguous uniform lengths as the cloth is fed through the clamping zones.

Apparatus suitable for carrying out the above mentioned method will now be described, by way example, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

The apparatus consists generally of a framework 8 mounting three parallel clamps 9, and 11,

rolls

12, 13 and 14 for feeding woven cloth through the machine, means for driving said rolls and means for actuating the clamps 9 to 11.

The three clamps 9 to 11, each having

upper jaws

9A, 10A, 11A and lower jaws 9B, 10B, 11B, are arranged one behind the other equi-spaced in a horizontal plane and the cloth 15 extends lengthwise horizontally from the roll of cloth 12 at the front of the apparatus, between the jaws of the clamps 9 to 11, over the guide roll 13 and down to the coiling roll 14 at the rear of the apparatus, the roll 14 being driven through gearing 16 by an electric motor 17.

The front and rear clamps 9, 11 are spaced apart a distance equal to each length of the cloth to be treated, the clamping surfaces being narrow and extending across the full width of the Cloth at right angles to the warps thereof. The front and rear clamps 9, 11 are each mounted within a rectangular frame formed by lower beams 18, upper beams 19 and upright columns 20. The upper jaws 9A, 11A are provided on the beams 19 and the lower jaws 9B, 11B are provided on beams 21 which are movable and are carried by hydraulic rams 22 fixed to the beams 18 which are mounted on the framework 8 by pivots 23 so that the clamps 9, 11 can be pivoted away from each other within predetermined limits. This pivoting movement is effected by hydraulic rams 24 acting on vertical slides 25 connected to the clamps by inclined pivoted levers 26, FIG. 4. Each slide 25 is guided at each end by grooved rollers 27 mounted on a plate 28 fixed to the framework 8. The middle clamp 10 and its supporting structure is slidable transversely of the direction of cloth feed within predetermined limits under control of a hydraulic ram 29. The upper ends of the frames are urged towards each other by tension spring devices 30 which are pivotally attached to the beams 19 and include screw-threaded rods 31 and nuts 32 for adjusting the tension of the springs.

The said supporting structure consists of a rectangular frame formed by a lower beam 33, an upper beam 34 and upright columns 35. The upper jaw 10A of the clamp 10 is carried by the beam 34 and the lower jaw 10B is carried by a beam 36 mounted on hydraulic rams 37 fixed to the beam 33, and the frame is slidable transversely by means of rollers 38 and 39, the beam 33 bearing on the rollers 38, and the beam 34 hearing on the rollers 39.

In operation, the sequence of events is as follows;

(1) Clamp the cloth 15 with the front clamp 9 by expanding its rams 22.

(2) Tension the cloth 15 by driving the coiling roll 14 momentarily through the motor 17 and gearing 16.

(3) Clamp the cloth 15 with the rear clamp 11 by expanding its rams 22.

(4) Clamp the cloth 15 with the middle clamp 10, by expanding its rams 37.

(5) Move the middle clamp 10 transversely to displace the warps extending between the front and rear clamps 9, 11 to chevron-shaped formation by expanding the ram 29.

(6) Stretch the displaced warps by pivoting the front and rear clamps 9, 11 further apart by expanding the rams 24.

(7) Release the centre clamp 10.

(8) Tension the cloth by moving the front and rear clamps 9, l1 slightly still further apart.

(9) Release the clamps 9 and 11.

(10) Drive the coiling roll 14 to feed the next length of cloth to be treated between the clamps, and repeat the sequence until the full length of cloth required has been treated.

Suitable approximate dimensions given, by way of example, are as follows:

WarpPhosphor bronze, 0.0096" diameter.

Weft-0.0010 diameter, per inch.

Pitch (distance between the apices of each two successive chevron-shaped formations)--35".

Amplitude (distance apex of each chevron-shaped formation is transversely displaced from the straight)- 3432"- Gradient (displacement per unit length) Cloth woven with warps and/or wefts made of a copper berillium alloy requires heat treatment, and a heating unit for this purpose may be incorporated in the apparatus, for example, an electrical infra red heater.

The cloth may be treated in accordance with the invention after being made up into an endless belt.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating successive lengths of woven cloth for endless belts for paper making machines comprising a cloth-uncoiling roll at the front of the apparatus and a cloth-coiling roll at the rear of the apparatus, three equi-spaced clamps intermediate said rolls for clamping a length of cloth transversely throughout its width at its ends and midway between its ends, means for engaging the end clamp nearest the uncoiling roll with the length of cloth, means for driving said coiling roll momentarily after engagement of said end clamp and prior to engagement of the remaining clamps with the cloth to tension the length thereof, means for engaging the other end and middle clamps with the length of cloth, means for applying a force transversely to the middle clamp so as to move it transversely and relative to the end clamps, while the cloth is tensioned and clamped and so as to displace the warps of the length of cloth to substantially chevron-shaped formation in the plane of the cloth relative to the warps outside the clamped length, and means for moving the end clamps further apart while they are clamped in said formation so as to stretch the warps.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each said clamp is carried by a frame, rollers mounting the frame carrying the middle clamp, and said means for applying a force transversely to the middle clamp comprises a hydraulic ram.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which tension spring devices interconnect adjacent ends of the frames carrying the end clamps, and mountings pivotally mounting said frames at their other ends so as to permit movement of said frames apart to effect said stretching.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said means for engaging the end clamps with the length of cloth comprises hydraulic rams for operating said end clamps and mounted on said frames carrying the end clamps.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said means for moving said end clamps apart comprises a slide, hydraulic rams for moving the slide, and levers interconnecting said slide and said frames carrying the end clamps.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Helm 2651.3 Bittner 26-51.3 Voland et a1. 26-513 Seidman 139-384 Lindsay 139384 6 2,928,160 3/60 Mayer 2872 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,495 11/01 Switzerland.

5 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUCCESSIVE LENGTHS OF WOVEN CLOTH FOR ENDLESS BELTS FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES COMPRISING A CLOTH-UNCOILING ROLL AT THE FRONT OF THE APPARATUS AND A CLOTH-COILING ROLL AT THE REAR OF THE APPARATUS, THREE EQUI-SPACED CLAMPS INTERMEDIATE SAID ROLLS FOR CLAMPING A LENGTH OF CLOTH TRANSVERSELY THROUGHOUT ITS WIDTH AT ITS ENDS AND MIDWAY BETWEEN ITS ENDS, MEANS FOR ENGAING THE END CLAMP NEAREST THE UNCOILING ROLL WITH THE LENGTH OF CLOTH, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID COILING ROLL MOMENTARILY AFTER ENGAGEMENT OF SAID END CLAMP AND PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT OF THE REMAINING CLAMPS WITH THE CLOTH TO TENSION THE LENGTH THEREOF, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE OTHER END AND MIDDLE CLAMPS WITH THE LENGTH OF CLOTH, MEANS FOR APPLYING A FORCE TRANSVERSELY TO THE MIDDLE CLAMP SO AS TO MOVE IT TRANSVERSELY AND RELATIVE TO THE END CLAMPS, WHILE THE CLOTH IS TENSIONED AND CLAMPED AND SO AS TO DISPLACE THE WARPS OF THE LENGTH OF CLOTH TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHEVRON-SHAPED FORMATION IN THE PLANE OF THE CLOTH RELATIVE TO THE WARPS OUTSIDE THE CLAMPED LENGTH, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE END CLAMPS FURTHER APART WHILE THEY ARE CLAMPED IN SAID FORMATION SO AS TO STRETCH THE WARPS.