Low density multilayer papermaking fabric

Claim 2

In a multilayer papermaking fabric having a single layer thread system with threads extending in one direction of the fabric and a multiple layer thread system with threads extending in a direction normal to the threads of the single layer system, the combination of: threads in an upper layer of said multiple layer thread system being grouped with threads in a lower layer of said multiple layer thread system, with threads of a group being stacked one above the other; threads of said single layer thread system interweaving with the threads of each layer of the multiple layer thread system; and the projected open area of the fabric being within 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 3

A fabric as in claim 1, wherein the minimum void volume an any level within the fabric is no less than 40%.

Claim 4

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein the lateral crimp of threads in both thread systems is within a value of 0.33 as measured by subtracting the thread diameter from the width of the thread envelope in the plane of the fabric and dividing the resultant by the thread diameter.

Claim 5

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein the threads of a stacked group in the multiple layer thread system have an average stacking factor not exceeding a value of 0.2.

Claim 6

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein a thread of the single layer thread system interlaces through the upper and lower layers of the multiple thread system to pass around the outside of threads of the upper and lower layers to form knuckles that are recessed within the knuckles of the threads of the upper and lower layers.

Claim 7

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein a thread of the single layer thread system is in an interior position between the upper and lower layers of the multiple layer thread system for at least two thirds of its crossovers with said upper and lower layers.

Claim 8

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein the binding points along a stacked group of multilayer threads are spaced in a substantially balanced pattern.

Claim 9

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein the binding points along a stacked group of multilayer threads are equally spaced from one another.

Claim 10

A fabric as in claim 1 wherein a thread of the single layer thread system binds around only a single thread of the upper layer of the multiple layer thread system and around only a single thread of the lower layer of the multiple thread system in each weave repeat.

Claim 11

A fabric as in claim 9 wherein a thread of the single layer thread system has a weave repeat of eight groups of threads of the multiple layer thread system.

Claim 12

In a multilayer papermaking fabric of interwoven threads having a single layer thread system with threads extending in one direction of the fabric and a multiple layer thread system with threads extending in the other fabric direction, the combination of: threads in an upper layer of said multiple layer thread system being horizontally spaced from one another, and threads in a lower layer of said multiple layer thread system also being horizontally spaced from one another; threads of said single layer thread system interlacing with threads of both the upper and lower layer of said multiple layer thread system, and being spaced apart from one another with the spacing between threads being such that the thread density of the single layer thread system is within a range of about 0.50 to 0.65; and the projected open area of the fabric being within 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 13

In a multilayer papermaking fabric of interwoven threads having a single layer thread system with threads extending in one direction of the fabric and a multiple layer thread system with threads extending in the other fabric direction, the combination of: threads in an upper layer of said multiple layer thread system being horizontally spaced from one another, and threads in a lower layer of said multiple layer thread system also being horizontally spaced from one another; threads of said single layer thread system interlacing with threads of both the upper and lower layer of said multiple layer thread system, and being spaced apart from one another with the spacing between threads being such that the thread density of the single layer thread system is within a range of about 0.50 to 0.65; and the projected open area of the fabric being within 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 14

In a multilayer papermaking fabric of interwoven threads having a single layer thread system extending in one direction of the fabric and a multiple layer thread system extending in the other fabric direction, the combination of: threads in said multiple layer system being grouped with threads of a group being stacked one above the other; the upper thread of a group having a weave repeat pattern of passing over a number of threads of the single layer system and then passing under a thread of the single layer system to bind with the single layer thread system; the lower thread of a group having a weave repeat pattern of passing under a number of threads of the single layer system and then passing over a thread of the single layer system to bind with the single layer thread system; the number of single layer threads residing in an interior position between a binding of the upper thread and a binding of the lower thread being at least two; and the projected open area of the fabric being within about 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 15

In a multilayer papermaking fabric of interwoven threads having a single layer thread system extending in one direction of the fabric and a multiple layer thread system extending in the other fabric direction, the combination of: threads in said multiple layer system being grouped with threads of a group being stacked one above the other; the upper thread of a group having a weave repeat pattern of passing over a number of threads of the single layer system and then passing under a thread of the single layer system to bind with the single layer thread system; the lower thread of a group having a weave repeat pattern of passing under a number of threads of the single layer system and then passing over a thread of the single layer system to bind with the single layer thread system; the number of single layer threads residing in an interior position between a binding of the upper thread and a binding of the lower thread being at least two; and the projected open area of the fabric being within about 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 16

A fabric as in claim 12 wherein the binding points along a stacked group of multilayer threads are in a substantially balanced spacing from one another.

Claim 17

In a multilayer papermaking fabric having a single layer thread system interwoven with a multiple layer thread system, the combination comprising: threads of said single layer thread system being spaced apart from one another with the thread density of the system being within about 0.50 to 0.65; and said fabric having openings passing straight through the fabric with the resultant projected open area being within about 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 18

In a multilayer papermaking fabric having a single layer thread system interwoven with a multiple layer thread system, the combination comprising: threads of said single layer thread system being spaced apart from one another with the thread density of the system being within about 0.50 to 0.65; and said fabric having openings passing straight through the fabric with the resultant projected open area being within about 13 to 25 percent of the total fabric area.

Claim 19

A fabric as in claim 14, wherein the multiple layer thread system includes a thread layer with threads being stiffer than other threads of such system.