US3547776A - Cantilever wet press for a papermaking machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1970 4 CURTIS 3,547,776

Original Filed Sept. 15, 1966 2 eeeeeeeeeeee t l D. R. CURTIS 3,547,776

CANTILEVER WET PRESS FOR, A PAPERMAKING MACHINE Dec. 15; 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1966 United States Patent 3,547,776 CANTILEVER WET PRESS FOR A PAPERMAKING MACHINE Donald R. Curtis, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis. Continuation of application Ser. No. 578,623, Sept. 13, 1966. This application June 5, 1969, Ser. No. 834,207 Int. Cl. D21f 3/04 U.S. Cl. 162-274 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-supporting Wet press for a papermaking machine having a top press roll and top press roll frame separate from a bottom press roll and bottom press roll cantilever frame for easy removal of an endless felt looped around the cantilever frame and between the top and bottom press rolls. The cantilever frame has a pair of parallel horizontal press beams spaced apart and supported by a pair of cantilever beams each having a portion projecting traversely and horizontally away from the press beams in one direction, and removable support blocks beneath the one of the press beams spaced remotely from the projecting portion of the cantilever beams. This structure permits removal and replacement of the endless felt loop after merely raising the top roll press and removing the support blocks.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 578,623 filed Sept. 13, 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to improvements in water removing portions of papermaking machinery. More specifically, this invention relates to cantilevered, self-supporting wet press having a top press roll frame separate from the cantilever frame, and having pivotally mounted felt rolls, each to facilitate easy removal and replacement of the endless felt loop.

In a Fourdrinier papermaking machine, the wet web after being formed on the moving wire by the headbox slice, is conveyed for a given distance wherein a portion of the excess water is drained off by gravity, by suction, and by light pressing. Thereafter, the wet webis conveyed through a wet press section wherein a series of wet presses remove additional water before the web passes to the dryer section. In each wet press the wet web, while supported by an endless felt loop, is passed through a pair of press rolls. The press rolls squeeze a portion of the water out of the web which is picked up by the felt and carried away.

As the endless felt in each wet press becomes worn and fouled, it must be replaced. In present day machine, this can be very cumbersome and time consuming task, since it is necessary to physically lift any inside press rolls and felt rolls out of the bearing housing in order to slip the endless loop over the roll.

This invention is predicated upon my conception and development of a new and improved wet press which is a cantilevered, self-supporting system. By providing a top press roll frame separate from the cantilever frame, and providing pivotally mounted inside felt rolls, the endless loop can be easily and quickly slipped over the entire structure.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved wet press for use in papermaking machinery which will permit quick and easy replacement of the endless felt therein.

It is another primary object of this invention to provide a cantilevered, self-supporting wet press for a papermaking machine having a top press roll frame separate from the cantilever frame and having pivotally mounted inside felt rolls.

3,547,776 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 It is still another primary object of this invention to provide a cantilevered, self-supporting wet press for a papermaking machine having pivotally supported rolls to facilitate removal and replacement of the endless felt loop.

These and other objects and advantages are fulfilled by this invention as will become apparent from a full understanding of the following detailed description, especially when considered in conjunction with the attached drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wet press incorporating one embodiment of this invention, showing the press in an operating position with the endless felt removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the wet press shown in FIG. 1 wherein the endless felt is included;

FIG. 3 is the same wet press shown in FIG. 2 wherein the top press roll and felt rolls have been pivoted as necessary for removal and replacement of the endless felt loop; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the gear assembly for pivoting the felt rolls.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention is illustrated. The cantilever frame structure comprises a first frame structure having a pair of parallel, horizontally disposed press beams 10 connected to a pair of cantilever beams 11 that each have a first end connected to one base beam, a midportion that extends transversely between the press beams 10 and a second end portion that projects beyond one of the press beams in one direction away from the first frame structure. A base structure including a pair of parallel, horizontal base beams 12 are provided directly under and parallel to the press beams 10 which are therefore above the base beams 12. During normal operation therefore, support blocks 13 between the base beams 12 and press beams 10 as shown, relieve the moment load on the cantilever beams 11. Support blocks 13 beneath the one of the press beams 10 connected to the first end of the cantilever beams 11 opposite the second and projecting end portions of the cantilever beams, are removable for a purpose that will appear from the hereinafter description of the operation of the disclosed press.

A bottom press roll 15 is rotatably and transversely mounted across the top of press beams 10 by hearing blocks 16, so that the axis thereof is parallel to the cantilever beams 11. Drive shaft 17, axially secured to press roll 15, is connected to a power source (not shown) so that press roll 15 may be rotated.

A top press roll 20 must be provided directly over and parallel to the bottom press roll 15, and must be movably supported by a second frame structure completely independent from the first frame structure. In the second frame structure, the top press roll 20 is rotatably and transversely mounted between a pair of parallel lever arms 21. The lever arms 21 are pivotally mounted by pins 22 to a pair of parallel support posts 23 which are rigidly secured to the base beams 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top press roll 20 is in operating position, being in contact with the bottom press roll 15. In actual operation however, the felt loop and wet web would be jointly moving between the two press rolls so that the two rolls would not actually contact each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the lever arms 21 can be pivoted about pins 22, so that the top press roll 20 may be lifted away from the bottom press roll 15. It should be noted that the lever arms 21 and support posts 23 comprise the second frame structure which is separate and disconnected from the first frame structure comprising press beams 10 and cantilever beams 11.

To guide and support endless felt loop 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) a pair of pivotally supported felt rolls are provided at each end of the cantilevered first frame structure. Specifically, the embodiment shown provides a cylindrical felt roll 26 rotatably supported between first and outer ends of a pair of swing arms 27 parallel to each other and press beams with each swing arm in a vertical plane parallel to the press beams and roll 26 is maintained in a position horizontally spaced from one end of the two press beams 10 and parallel to the press rolls and 20. The second and inner ends of the swing arms 27 are pivotally supported between the press beams 10 by pins 28. A gear wheel 29 is rigidly secured to the inner end of at least one swing arm 27 concentrically over the pin 28. In a like manner, felt roll 30 is rotatably supported be tween a pair of swing arms 31 and maintained in a position parallel to and below felt roll 26. The inner ends of swing arms 31 are similarly mounted pivotally between press beams 10. At least one gear wheel 32 is also rigidly secured to the inner end of swing arm 31 concentrically over pivot pin 33, and in meshing engagement with gear wheel 29 on swing arm 27. It should be apparent therefore, that if pivot arms 27 were pivotally rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the intermeshing gears 29 and 32 would force the pivot arms 31 to be rotated clockwise and vice versa. Thus each of the felt roll supporting arms 27, 31 are movable in a vertical plane to move the first and outer ends of the arms toward and away from a horizontally disposed midportion of the press beam, i.e., that midportion of the beams which as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that portion of press beam 10 between the broken line outline of cantilever beams 11. To effect any such motion at least one third gear wheel 35, rigidly secured to shaft 36, is mounted in meshing engagement with either of the gear wheels 29 or 327 The shaft 36 is rotatably mounted between press beams 10 and is provided with a means (not shown) for manually rotating the shaft. A releasable locking means (not shown) may also be provided to maintain the shaft 36 and swing arms 27 and 31 in a rigid position when the press is in operation.

Another pair of felt rolls 38 and 39 are horizontally spaced from the opposite end of the press beams 10 that carry rolls 26 and 30. The felt rolls 38 and 39 are mounted identically to felt rolls 26 and 30 described above. Thus, the felt rolls 38 and 39 and the mounting mechanism therefor are but the mirror image of the felt rolls 26 and 30 and associated mounting mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a fifth felt roll 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is rotatably mounted between a pair of bearing blocks 41 directly below the press rolls 15 and 20. The bearing blocks 41 are rigidly secured to the base beams 12 to provide substantial clearance between the bearing blocks 41 and the undersurface of press beams 10. As will become apparent, it is essential that this clearance be provided at least over the outer bearing block 41 away from the cantilevered side of the press. Felt roll 40 may be provided with an automatic guide (not shown) to maintain the felt loop 25 in a straight and proper path. Since such automatic guides are well known in the art, it will not be further discussed here.

As in more conventional presses, an adjustable felt tensioning roll 45 may also be provided to maintain a proper tension in the felt. In the embodiment shown, felt roll 45 is rotatably supported between a pair of parallel angular pivot arms 46, which are pivotally supported on the base beam 12 by shaft 47 and brackets 48. The pivoting action of the arms 46 should be such that felt roll 45 can be moved in an arcuate path approximately midway between the two felt rolls 26 and 30. Hence, as felt roll 45 is pushed between felt rolls 26 and 30, any slack in the felt loop 25 is taken up and a tension placed thereon. It would of course, be desirable to provide an additional means (not shown) to lock the press roll 45 against the felt loop 25 to maintain a constant tension in the loop.

In operation, the wet press will appear as shown in FIG. 2. The rotating motion of press roll 15 will pull 4 the felt loop 25 and wet web between the two press rolls 15 and 20 driving the endless felt loop 25 round in a clockwise direction. Felt rolls 26, 30, 38 and 39 are positioned outwardly as shown, to support and carry the felt loop 25. Felt roll 45 is pressed against the felt loop 25 as shown to take up the slack and place the loop under proper tension. The entire structure is supported by cantilever beams 11 and base beams 12.

Whenever the felt loop 25 becomes worn or fouled, it must be replaced. Replacing the felt loop 25 in the wet press of this invention can be accomplished quickly and easily as compared to prior art operations. To replace the felt loop 25 it is first necessary, as in prior art presses, to shut the machine down and remove the Wet web. The rearward side of lever arms 21 are then depressed to raise the top press roll 20 off of the bottom press roll 15. Pivot arms 46 are then pivoted clockwise to withdraw felt roll 45 from between the two forward felt rolls 26 and 30. Shaft 36 must then be rotated in such a manner as will cause felt wheels 26 and 30 to be moved rearwardly. That is, the upper swing arms 27 are pivoted in a counterclockwise direction while swing arms 31 are pivoted in a clockwise direction, bringing the felt r-olls 26 and 30 inward toward the center of the wet press. In a like manner, felt rolls 38 and 39 are also pivoted toward an inward position. At this point the felt loop 25 should be extremely loose fitted over the inside rolls. The outer support blocks 13 are then removed, and the felt loop 25 can easily be slipped outward clearing all inside rolls supported by the cantilevered structure. To install a new felt loop 25, the reverse procedure is followed. It should be noted that the entire felt replacing procedure can be accomplished without removing any of the inside rolls, or any roll at all, from their mountings.

It should be apparent that numerous modifications and additional features could be made and incorporated into the embodiment detailed above without departing from the basic concept of this invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A wet press for a papermaking machine comprising: a base structure including a pair of horizontally spaced apart base beams; a first frame structure mounted on said base structure, said first frame structure having a pair of horizontal press beams each supported above a base beam and connected to a cantilever having a first end connected to one of the base beams, a midportion of the cantilever that extends transversely between the press beams and a second end portion of the cantilever that projects transversely and horizontally beyond the other of the pair of press beams in one direction away from said first frame structure; removable support block means on top of the one of the base beams beneath the one of the press beams connected to the first end of said cantilever opposite said second and transversely projecting end of the cantilever; a bottom press roll rotatably mounted between the press beams with the axis thereof parallel to the cantilever; a plurality of felt rolls, a plurality of felt roll supporting arms, each end of each felt roll being journaled in a first end of a felt roll supporting arm, each said supporting arm having a second end opposite said first end pivotally connected to one of the press beams, each felt roll being arranged such that it is parallel to said bottom press roll, each supporting arm being parallel to a vertical plane through the press beams; a gear wheel rigidly secured to the second end of at least one of the arms supporting each felt roll, each said gear wheel being paired with and engaging a gear wheel of another supporting arm of another felt roll thereby forming a felt roll pair; an endless felt loop having an inner and outer surface, said felt loop encircling said felt rolls and said bottom press roll; a driving gear wheel in meshing engagement with one gear wheel of said paired gear wheels for pivoting each of the paired supporting arms and felt rolls, the arms swinging in said vertical plane and moving the felt roll supporting ends of said arms toward and away from a horizontally disposed midportion of the press beam to which each arm is connected; a second frame structure mounted on said base structure; a top press roll rotatably journaled in said second frame structure and disposed parallel to and above said bottom press roll and outside the loop of said felt; and means on said second frame structure for lowering said top press roll to engage the outer surface of the felt and press the inner surface of the endless felt loop against the bottom press roll and vice versa for raising said top press roll to disengage the top press roll from the endless felt loop.

2. A wet press for a papermaking machine as described in claim 1 further comprising an adjustable felt tensioning roll rotatably secured to means for adjustably positioning said adjustable felt tensioning'roll against the outer surface of said endless felt loop between said pair of felt rolls supported by said arms having said meshing gears, to maintain tension therein.

3. A wet press for a papermaking machine as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of felt rolls comprises one pair of felt rolls horizontally spaced away from one end of the said press beams and one pair of felt rolls horizontally spaced away from the other end of the said press beams.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,352,747 11/1947 Lithgo et al 162--358X 3,378,435 4/1968 Loynd 162273 S. LEON BA-Sl-IORE, Primary Examiner R. H. PUSHIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1.X.R.

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