Large roll hydraulic press with pressurized fluid supports

Claim 2

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web comprising in combination, a rotatable roll having a cylindrical outer pressing surface, a fluid impervious belt wrapping a portion of the circumferential surface of the roll forming an arcuate elongate pressing zone with the roll, a first deflection preventing support having a chamber positioned outside of and coextensive with said roll and supporting said roll on pressurized fluid opposite the pressing zone so that said roll is supported by uniform pressure along its length preventing said roll from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means defining a confined fluid pressure chamber facing the belt and opposite said pressing zone so that a web traveling through said pressing zone is subjected to a pressing force normal to the surface, said first support and said pressure chamber being on different sides of said pressing zone, a second deflection preventing support supporting said pressure chamber having a chamber coextensive with said pressure chamber supporting said pressure chamber on pressurized fluid opposite the pressing zone so that said pressure chamber is supported by uniform pressure along its length for preventing said pressure chamber from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means in advance of said pressing zone for guiding said belt and web onto said roll surface, means positioned after said pressing zone for guiding the web and belt away from said roll surface, and means in said pressing zone receiving the water pressed from said web.

Claim 3

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web, constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means receiving the water pressed from the web includes a looped felt passing against the web in said pressing zone.

Claim 4

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said structure includes porous felts passing through said pressing zone on each side of the web sandwiching the web therebetween and receiving moisture from the web.

Claim 5

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web, constructed in accordance with claim 1: wherein said second deflection preventing support for said pressure chamber includes a rigid elongate beam extending along the length of the pressure chamber and means for maintaining a predetermined constant pressure in said chamber, seals at the incoming and outgoing edge of said confined fluid pressure chamber relative to the travel of the web, and liquid receiving savealls positioned outwardly of the seals receiving liquid leaking from the pressure chamber past the seals.

Claim 6

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web in accordance with claim 1: wherein said first deflection preventing support for said roll includes said chamber being positioned externally of said roll with means for supplying pressurized fluid to said chamber and seals at the edge of the chamber in close-running sealing engagement with the outer surface of said roll.

Claim 7

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web constructed in accordance with claim 1: wherein said second deflection preventing support has a backing chamber coextensive with said confined fluid pressure chamber and in communication therewith through a conduit.

Claim 8

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web comprising in combination, a rotatable roll having a cylindrical outer pressing surface, a fluid impervious belt wrapping a portion of the circumferential surface of the roll forming an arcuate elongate pressing zone with the roll, a first deflection preventing support, said roll being a hollow roll shell with said first deflection preventing support being positioned inside of said roll shell and coextensive therewith and supporting said roll shell opposite the pressing zone so that said roll shell is supported by uniform pressure along its length preventing said roll shell from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means defining a confined fluid pressure chamber facing the belt and opposite said pressing zone so that a web traveling through said pressing zone is subjected to a pressing force normal to its surface, said first support and said pressure chamber being on different sides of said pressing zone, a second deflection preventing support supporting said pressure chamber having a chamber coextensive with said pressure chamber supporting said pressure chamber on pressurized fluid opposite the pressing zone so that said pressure chamber is supported by uniform pressure along its length for preventing said pressure chamber from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means in advance of said pressing zone for guiding said belt and web onto said roll surface, means positioned after said pressing zone for guiding the web and belt away from said roll surface, and means in said pressing zone receiving the water pressed from said web.

Claim 9

A press structure for performing a dewatering operation on a traveling web in the steps of the formation of the web comprising in combination, a rotatable roll having a cylindrical outer pressing surface, a fluid impervious belt wrapping a portion of the circumferential surface of the roll forming an arcuate elongate pressing zone with the roll, a first deflection preventing support, said roll being a hollow roll shell with said first deflection preventing support being positioned inside of said roll shell and coextensive therewith and supporting said roll shell opposite the pressing zone so that said roll shell is supported by uniform pressure along its length preventing said roll shell from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means defining a confined fluid pressure chamber facing the belt and opposite said pressing zone so that a web traveling through said pressing zone is subjected to a pressing force normal to its surface, said first support and said pressure chamber being on different sides of said pressing zone, a second deflection preventing support supporting said pressure chamber having a chamber coextensive with said pressure chamber supporting said pressure chamber on pressurized fluid opposite the pressing zone so that said pressure chamber is supported by uniform pressure along its length for preventing said pressure chamber from bending from forces in the pressing zone, means in advance of said pressing zone for guiding said belt and web onto said roll surface, means positioned after said pressing zone for guiding the web and belt away from said roll surface, and means in said pressing zone receiving the water pressed from said web.