Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
  • D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
  • D21F3/00—Press section of machines for making continuous webs of paper
  • D21F3/02—Wet presses
  • D21F3/0209—Wet presses with extended press nip
  • D21F3/0218—Shoe presses
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B30—PRESSES
  • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
  • B30B3/00—Presses characterised by the use of rotary pressing members, e.g. rollers, rings, discs
  • B30B3/04—Presses characterised by the use of rotary pressing members, e.g. rollers, rings, discs co-operating with one another, e.g. with co-operating cones

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an assembly and a method in accordance with the preambles of appended base claims for connecting and securing the rolls of an extended-nip press to each other.
• the press zone, or nip, in an extended-nip press is formed by two substantially parallel to each other aligned rolls that in the present case are a shoe roll and a backing roll.
• the shoe roll comprises a rotating endless-loop blanket of a flexible, liquid-impervious material, a rigid roll support beam mounted in a stationary fashion so as to extend axially through the interior of the endless blanket, at least one loading shoe supported by the support beam and having a concave top face, and loading means for pressing the concave top face of the loading shoe against the flexible endless blanket so that the endless blanket forms a press nip zone in cooperation with the backing roll.
• Both the shoe roll and the backing roll are rotatably mounted by their both ends in bearing blocks.
• An extended-nip press is characterized by a high line load in the nip. At its maximum, the line load may be as high as 2000 kN/m. Hence, a conventional screw-loaded connection between the rolls is not generally practicable. Therefore, it is known in the art to adapt the bearing blocks of one roll in a close vicinity of the bearing blocks of the opposed roll so that the rolls may be connected and secured to each other by means of connecting members linking the bearing blocks to each other.
• patent publication Fl 101633 discloses a yoke assembly and method for connecting the rolls of an extended-nip press to each other.
• the bearing blocks of the extended-nip press rolls are joined to each other by connecting members.
• the connecting member described in the publication is adapted to rotate relative to the bearing block so that the end of the connecting member is locked in a wedged fashion to the other bearing block.
• the displacement, or outdistancing, of the connecting member from the bearing block, whereto the connecting member is joined, is effected by means of a hydraulic cylinder.
• both roll ends are provided with two connecting members that are lockable to either side of the bearing block relative to the cross-machine center axis of the press rolls.
• Both ends of the connecting member are provided with a pivot point allowing the connecting member to rotate pivotally in either one of the bearing blocks, whereby it is possible to select the upper or, alternatively, the lower bearing block to act as the pivot point.
• This construction suffers from several shortcomings including a need for wide elbowroom and incompatibility with the renovation requirements of existing machines.
• patent publication US 5,547,547 discloses an interconnection assembly for the rolls of an extended-nip press based on connecting members that are clampable to the bearing blocks.
• the roll interconnection arrangement described in cited publication comprises U-shaped connecting members that engage with the mating surfaces of the bearing blocks of the rolls. Additionally, each one of the connecting members is provided with pivot points about which the connecting member can be rotated to disengage from and engage with a mating surface provided on the bearing block.
• at both ends of the connecting members of the assembly is also adapted a hydraulic actuator having the end portions of the connecting members coupled to its ends, whereby the hydraulic actuator facilitates the rotation of the connecting members about their pivot points.
• a roll connecting assembly is characterized in that the connecting member is pivotally coupled to a first bearing block by means of a pivot pin equipped with an oblique key surface adapted mating with a first clamping surface of the connecting member.
• the inclination angle of the pivot pin key surface is selected such that the construction is self-locking under all circumstances and thus prevents any uncontrolled movements of the assembly.
• the present roll connecting assembly is simple and highly functional. Moreover, the elbowroom required for disengaging the connecting member is substantially reduced in regard to prior arrangements. Furthermore, the bearing blocks of the backing roll need no discrete shoulders in the present roll connecting construction.
• the connecting member includes an aperture that penetrates through the body of the connecting member and allows the pivot pin to be insertable therethrough for locking the connecting member to the first bearing block, whereby at least a portion of the inner wall of the aperture has an inclined or the like shape such that serves as the first clamping surface of the connecting member.
• the term "aperture in the connecting member” refers to a keyhole or slot with an at least partially inclined inner wall made in the body of the connecting member. Then, the inclined portion of the inner wall of the keyhole and the clamping surface in cooperation provide, not only the tightening of the connecting member, but during the tightening operation also the movement of the connecting member that secures the connecting member to the second bearing block. The disengaging/engaging movement always takes place in the vertical direction.
• anchoring element refers to the piston rod of a pressurized-medium-driven actuator or the like locking means.
• the inner wall of the aperture is provided with a recess into which a locking pin is insertable for preventing inadvertent rotation and radial movement of the connecting member relative to the pivot pin.
• the term "recess on the inner wall of an aperture” refers to a notch, keyway or the like recess.
• the machine-direction movement of the connecting member during service operations is prevented through having the locking pin thus secured, whereby the roll shaft and the connecting member are forced into cooperation with each other.
• the end of the connecting member coupled to the second bearing block includes a projection with a second clamping surface of the connecting member.
• the second clamping surface has a curved contour shaped so as to cooperate with a mating surface made on the second bearing block.
• cooperation of surfaces refers to an ability of the opposed surfaces to mate at least partially with each other at areas over which the mating surfaces are at least partially parallel to each other.
• the mating surfaces of the second bearing block comprise on the opposite sides of the bearing block such mating surfaces whose contour advantageously is curvedly semiplanar.
• both the clamping surface and its mating surface may have a conical shape, whereby the construction becomes self-locking.
• the conical surface is adapted to taper toward the center of the bearing block.
• the connecting member is coupled with the bearing blocks so that the radius of the rotating movement of the connecting member is aligned perpendicular to the machine direction.
• the rotation of the connecting member that is pivotally coupled to the first bearing block by means of a pivot pin apart from the second bearing block forces the connecting member to rotate in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll, that is, in the cross-machine direction.
• rotation of the connecting member is used when reference is made to an automatically or manually performed operation causing a change in the position of the connecting member relative to the bearing block.
• the method according to the present invention is principally characterized in that the connecting member is coupled to the first bearing block by means of a pivot pin and to the second bearing block by means of a second clamping surface of the connecting member adapted compatible with the mating surface of the second bearing block and that the pivot pin is equipped with an oblique key surface adapted mating with the first clamping surface of the connecting member so that, during the tightening engagement of the connecting member with the first bearing block by means of the pivot pin, the key surface of the pivot pin moves the connecting member so as to move the second clamping surface of the connecting member toward its respective mating surface provided on the second bearing block.
• the pivot pin is secured to the first bearing block by an anchoring element adapted insertable through the bore of the pivot pin.
• the interconnection of the bearing blocks by means of the connecting member is disengaged by releasing the locking of the pivot pin and moving the pivot pin slightly in the first bearing block in order to disengage the second clamping surface of the connecting member from the second bearing block, whereupon the connecting member is released rotatably supported by the pivot pin.
• the releasing movement of the pivot pin is accomplished with the help of pressurized medium introduced into the bore of the pivot pin.
• One of greatest benefits of the connecting assembly and method according to the present invention is the structurally and functionally simple arrangement used in the invention.
• the construction according to the invention offers safe and reliable locking.
• the elbowroom requirements in the disengagement and engagement of the connecting assembly are minimal.
• the assembly according to the invention is cost-effective to manufacture. The disengagement and engagement of the assembly can be performed without using any specially designed tools of a massive weight.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational side view of the rolls of an extended-nip press interconnected using the connecting assembly according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a connecting assembly according to the invention as seen in the machine direction;
• FIG. 3 is an schematic view of a connecting member used in the connecting assembly
• FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged and cross-sectional view of a portion of the connecting assembly according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the disengagement of a connecting assembly according to the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a connecting assembly according to the invention in its disengaged position as seen in the machine direction.
• FIG. 1 is schematically shown an exemplary embodiment of the construction of an extended-nip press used in a papermaking machine as seen from the operating side of the machine, wherein a web W is passed into a nip N between a lower shoe roll 1 and a backing roll 2 placed thereabove.
• the backing roll may be a heated roll or a nonheated roll.
• the shoe roll 1 includes loading means (not shown in the diagrams) and an endless-loop blanket 4 a flexible, liquid-impervious material.
• the loading means comprise at least a loading shoe and actuators for loading the endless blanket by means of the press shoe against the backing roll so as to form the above-mentioned nip N and to remove water from the web W passed into the nip.
• the web W is a paper or paperboard web.
• the extended-nip press also includes other parts and elements omitted from the diagram for greater clarity. These kinds of accessories are, e.g., lift machinery for elevating the upper roll, means for feeding coolant and lubricant press to the sliding face of the shoe, etc. Further, an extended-nip press may be implemented in an inverted fashion whereby the shoe roll is located above the backing roll instead of being located below the backing roll.
• FIG. 2 shows the ends of rolls 1 and 2 of FIG. 1 viewed in the machine direction.
• the rolls are connected to each other by the connecting assembly according to the present invention.
• a first bearing block 5 upper bearing block in the diagram
• a second bearing block 6 lower bearing block in the diagram
• the bearing blocks at either end of the rolls are connected to each other by similar connecting members.
• connecting members 7 and 8 mating with the first bearing block 5 is coupled to the first bearing block 5 by pivot pins 9 that also supportingly serve as pivot points for the connecting members.
• the other end of connecting members 7 and 8 mating with the second bearing block 6 is provided with a projection 10 that cooperates with mating surfaces 11 and 12 made on the second bearing block 6.
• the connecting members are secured to the bearing blocks by screws 13.
• the connecting members 7 and 8 are provided with a locking means 15 for locking the connecting member in its disengaged position.
• the surface of projection 10 facing the mating surface has a curved contour with a radius of curvature advantageously equal to the distance of the surface of the projection from the center point of the pivot pin.
• the mating surfaces 11 and 12 of the second bearing block have a mirrored curved contour with a radius of curvature advantageously equal to the distance of the mating surface from the center point of the pivot pin connected to the first bearing block.
• the backing surfaces 11 and 12 on projection 10 may be shaped conical. In this case, conical mating surfaces are adapted to taper toward the center of the bearing block, whereby the assembly is self-locking thus needing no separate locking means.
• FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the technique used for securing connecting member 7 by pivot pin 9 to the first bearing block 5.
• the end of the pivot pin inserted in the bore made on the bearing block is provided with a cylinder bore space 25 wherein the anchoring element with annular collars 26 made thereon is inserted.
• the inclination angle of the mating surfaces 17 and 24 is selected such that under all circumstances the connecting assembly is self-locking thus preventing the occurrence of any uncontrolled movements.
• FIG. 4 shows schematically a side elevational view and a cross-sectional view of the forged-steel connecting member 7 and 8.
• the connecting member includes an aperture 16 extending through the entire thickness of the connecting member. A portion of the inner wall of the aperture is made inclined whereby it forms the first clamping surface 17 of the connecting member. Additionally, the aperture 16 is provided with a recess 18 located on the opposite side of the aperture inner wall relative to the inclined clamping surface, whereby a locking means may be inserted in the recess in order to prevent the connecting member from rotating and/or moving relative to the pivot pin inserted therethrough when the connecting member is being rotated.
• the connecting member further includes a projection 10 having a curved or cylindrical contour shaped so as to act as the second clamping surface 19.
• the connecting member is provided with recesses 20 adapted to accommodate screws serving to secure the connecting member to the bearing blocks.
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the disengagement of a connecting assembly according to the invention.
• the screws used for securing the connecting member 7 to the bearing blocks 5 and 6 are herein shown unscrewed from bearing block 6 and slightly loosened from bearing block 5, and further, locking nut 22 securing pivot pin 9 has been unscrewed up to its limit stop.
• a manually-operated hydraulic pump 28 by means of which a medium at an elevated pressure has been pumped into the cylinder bore displacement space of the pivot pin illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the collars of the anchoring element delineate the displacement space acting in the same fashion as piston rings thus forcing the pivot pin to move outwardly from the first bearing block 5 and the bore made thereto.
• the connecting member 7 Owing to the cooperation of the oblique key surface 24 of pivot pin 9 with the inclined clamping surface 17 of the connecting member, the connecting member 7 (or 8) has been able to sink downward, whereby the projection 10 of the connecting member has been disengaged from the respective mating surface 11 (or 12) of the second bearing block. Further respectively, the movement of the connecting member has opened access to recess 18 made on the inner wall of aperture 16 in the connecting member, whereby the recess is capable of adapting the insertion therethrough of locking pin 27 passed via a hole made in the stem portion of the pivot pin in such a fashion that the locking pin prevents the disengagement of connecting member 7 from the pivot pin 9 when the connecting member is being rotated.
• the connecting member projection 10 and the second clamping surface 19 thereof are disengaged from the respective mating surface 11 of the second bearing block and the securing screws are finally unscrewed apart from bearing block 5, the connecting member may be rotated aside into its disengaged position by the cylinder illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• FIG. 6 shows the connecting assembly in its disengaged position as seen in the machine direction.
• the connecting member 8 is secured aside into its disengaged position by locking means 15.
• the upper and lower rolls of the nip may be elevated apart from each other, e.g., in order to replace the endless blanket of the shoe press. The rolls are thereupon secured to each other by performing the above-described steps in a reverse order.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
• Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
• Rolls And Other Rotary Bodies (AREA)
• Electroplating Methods And Accessories (AREA)
• Machines For Manufacturing Corrugated Board In Mechanical Paper-Making Processes (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8561599

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (4)

Citations (2)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-05 FI FI20011474A patent/FI116309B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-07-05 ES ES02753091T patent/ES2275896T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-05 EP EP02753091A patent/EP1402190B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-05 DE DE60216760T patent/DE60216760T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-05 AT AT02753091T patent/ATE348271T1/de active
  • 2002-07-05 WO PCT/FI2002/000614 patent/WO2003004889A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (2)

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