EP0235699A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam-shower apparatus and method of using same
Assignee: Kadant Web Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a steam-shower apparatus and method including a supply of steam which is fed through a Coanda nozzle and along a path running parallel with one surface of the apparatus. The sheet to which the steam is to be applied runs parallel to this same surface of the machine, but in a direction opposite to the direction of the flow of steam. The sheet travels along a path spaced slightly from the surface of the machine, and the flow of steam runs the entire length of this surface heating the sheet as it flows in the opposite direction. The apparatus may be divided into several sections so that the sheet may be profiled along certain regions which are defined by these sections. In addition, means are included for altering the volume of flow to any one of the particular sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce F. Taylor
- 👤 Kenneth G. Hagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:53
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F7/00; D21F7/008; D21F5/00; D21F5/18; D21F5/185; D21F5/187; D21F5/188; D21F7/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S239/00; Y10S239/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to cause the flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet; means to provide steam from said supply to said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to cause the flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet; means to provide steam from said supply to said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 1 further comprising: means to control the flow of steam so that steam contact with the sheet is limited to a selected region across the width of the sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 2 wherein said control means comprises: means for dividing said Coanda nozzle into at least two Coanda nozzles, each of said at least two nozzles including a chamber through which steam passes; means for providing a flow of steam to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 3 wherein said means for dividing said Coanda nozzle into at least two Coanda nozzles comprises: semi-circular baffles positioned across the width of the apparatus to surround said means for providing a flow of steam to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles, said baffles preventing carry over of steam from one chamber to any other chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 1 wherein said means to provide steam comprises: a feed pipe having an orifice communicating with said means for creating a supply of steam, said steam entering said feed pipe through said orifice, said feed pipe also including a second orifice for providing said steam to said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 5 wherein said means to provide steam further comprises: a selectively actuable stepper motor; means for adjustably controlling the percentage of said orifice which is open to said supply of steam, said orifice adjustable control means completely closing said orifice to prevent the flow of steam through one of said at least two Coanda nozzles and partially closing said orifice to adjust the volume of steam flowing through one of said at least two Coanda nozzles; coupling means for connecting said stepper motor to said means for adjustably controlling said orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 6 wherein said means for adjustably controlling the percentage of said orifice which is open to said supply of steam is a valve-poppet and the coupling means is a lead-screw coupling connected to a shaft of said stepper motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 1 further comprising: a housing surrounding said means for creating a supply of steam; insulation positioned within said housing and surrounding said means for creating a supply of steam, said insulation minimizing the likelihood of condensation carryover and maximizing the usage of steam latent heat to heat the sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 8 wherein said housing has a fixed length, and further comprising: a second housing for housing said stepper motor, said second housing being connectable to said first housing and being of a length sufficient, when added to the length of said first housing, to provide the desired length of contact between the steam and the sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 1 further comprising a means for creating a positive pressure wall at the edge of said apparatus where the sheet first comes into a position adjacent said apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 3 further comprising means for creating a secondary flow of steam from said means for providing steam from said supply to said Coanda nozzle, said secondary flow of steam being supplied at a location relative to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles so that said secondary flow is entrained by the steam emitted from each of said at least two Coanda nozzles, said secondary flow of steam providing a second source of steam thereby preventing entrainment of air from the atmosphere external to the apparatus.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to direct a flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet; a feed pipe having an orifice communicating with said means for creating a supply of steam, said steam entering said feed pipe through said orifice, said feed pipe also including a second orifice for providing steam to said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to direct a flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet; a feed pipe having an orifice communicating with said means for creating a supply of steam, said steam entering said feed pipe through said orifice, said feed pipe also including a second orifice for providing steam to said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 12 further comprising means for creating a secondary flow of steam from said feed pipe, said secondary flow of steam being supplied at a location relative to said Coanda nozzle so that said secondary flow is entrained by the steam emitted from said Coanda nozzle.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to cause a flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet, said Coanda nozzle being divided into at least two Coanda nozzles, each of said at least two nozzles including a chamber through which steam passes; means for providing a flow of steam to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet which runs parallel to a surface of the apparatus adjacent the sheet, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a supply of steam; a Coanda nozzle positioned within the apparatus to cause a flow of steam to run parallel both to the adjacent surface of said apparatus and to said sheet, said flow of steam travelling in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the sheet, said Coanda nozzle being divided into at least two Coanda nozzles, each of said at least two nozzles including a chamber through which steam passes; means for providing a flow of steam to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 14 wherein said means to provide a flow of steam comprises: a feed pipe associated with each of said at least two Coanda nozzles, each of said feed pipes having an orifice communicating with said means for creating a supply of steam, said steam entering said feed pipe through said orifice, said feed pipes also including a second orifice for providing said steam to said associated Coanda nozzle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 15 wherein said means to provide steam further comprises: a selectively actuable stepper motor; means for adjustably controlling the percentage of said orifice which is open to said supply of steam, said orifice adjustable control means completely closing said orifice to prevent the flow of steam through one of said at least two Coanda nozzles and partially closing said orifice to adjust the volume of steam flowing through one of said at least two Coanda nozzles; coupling means for connecting said stepper motor to said means for adjustably controlling said orifice.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus for applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 14 further comprising means for creating a secondary flow of steam from said means for providing steam from said supply to said Coanda nozzle, said secondary flow of steam being supplied at a location relative to each of said at least two Coanda nozzles so that said secondary flow is entrained by the steam emitted from each of said at least two Coanda nozzles, said secondary flow of steam providing a second source of steam thereby preventing entrainment of air from the atmosphere external to the apparatus.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet, said method comprising the steps of creating a supply of steam and feeding said steam to a chamber leading to a Coanda nozzle; running the sheet along a path adjacent one surface of an apparatus including said Coanda nozzle; directing a flow of steam through said Coanda nozzle, said Coanda nozzle being arranged so that said flow of steam passing through said nozzle travels along a path parallel to said surface of said apparatus adjacent said sheet in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the sheet.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of applying a flow of steam to a sheet for the purpose of heating the sheet, said method comprising the steps of creating a supply of steam and feeding said steam to a chamber leading to a Coanda nozzle; running the sheet along a path adjacent one surface of an apparatus including said Coanda nozzle; directing a flow of steam through said Coanda nozzle, said Coanda nozzle being arranged so that said flow of steam passing through said nozzle travels along a path parallel to said surface of said apparatus adjacent said sheet in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of applying a flow of steam to a sheet of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: providing a means for dividing said Coanda nozzle and said chamber leading into said nozzle into several Coanda nozzles and corresponding chambers; selectively supplying steam through a selected one of said several chambers and corresponding Coanda nozzle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of applying a flow of steam to a I sheet of claim 18 further comprising the steps of; creating a secondary flow of steam and supplying said secondary flow to said sheet so that said secondary flow is entrained by said flow of steam from said Coanda nozzle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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