US4606137A — Web dryer with control of air infiltration

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

For use in a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material and wherein the dryer forms at least two adjacent zones, each having different ambient air therein, air infiltration control means for controlling air tending to ifiltrate from one zone to another through the boundary therebetween, said control means comprising, in combination: (a) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) adapted to be disposed adjacent a said zone boundary and adapted to be connected to air source means, said nozzle assembly having a head end disposed to face a moving web, (b) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from said zone boundary, (c) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and adapted to be disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said zone boundary, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (d) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 222 words

For use in a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material and wherein the dryer forms at least two adjacent zones, each having different ambient air therein, air infiltration control means for controlling air tending to ifiltrate from one zone to another through the boundary therebetween, said control means comprising, in combination: (a) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) adapted to be disposed adjacent a said zone boundary and adapted to be connected to air source means, said nozzle assembly having a head end disposed to face a moving web, (b) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from said zone boundary, (c) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and adapted to be disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said zone boundary, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (d) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 151 words

The control means of claim 1 wherein said nozzle assembly (11, 12) comprises: (a) a base plate (16), (b) a first plate (18) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said first plate merging into a generally U-shaped member forming a pressure plate (24) and a curved Coanda surface (25), (c) a second plate (19) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said second plate being spaced from said first plate (18) to form a plenum chamber (15), and having a foil plate (26) thereon for cooperating with said Coanda surface (25) to form said Coanda nozzle (27), (d) and a third plate (29) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said third plate being spaced from said second plate (19) on the side of the latter remote from said first plate (18), and cooperating with said second plate to form said secondary nozzle (33).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 257 words

For use in a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material and wherein an internal dryer chamber (4) formed by a housing wall (3) is supplied with drying air and the web moves through the chamber between narrow entrance and discharge slots (5, 6, 59) disposed in the dryer housing wall (3), air infiltration control means for controlling air tending to infiltrate through the slots from externally of the dryer into the dryer chamber, said control means comprising, in combination: (a) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) adapted to be disposed adjacent a said slot within a said dryer and adapted to be connected to air source means, said nozzzle assembly having a head end positioned to face a moving web, (b) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from said housing wall, (c) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and adapted to be disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said housing wall adjacent a said slot, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (d) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 257 words

For use in a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material and wherein an internal dryer chamber (4) formed by a housing wall (3) is supplied with drying air and the web moves through the chamber between narrow entrance and discharge slots (5, 6, 59) disposed in the dryer housing wall (3), air infiltration control means for controlling air tending to infiltrate through the slots from externally of the dryer into the dryer chamber, said control means comprising, in combination: (a) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) adapted to be disposed adjacent a said slot within a said dryer and adapted to be connected to air source means, said nozzzle assembly having a head end positioned to face a moving web, (b) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from said housing wall, (c) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and adapted to be disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said housing wall adjacent a said slot, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (d) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The control means of claim 3 in which said secondary nozzle (33, 65) forms part of said nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 151 words

The control means of claim 4 wherein said nozzle assembly (11, 12) comprises: (a) a base plate (16), (b) a first plate (18) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said first plate merging into a generally U-shaped member forming a pressure plate (24) and a curved Coanda surface (25), (c) a second plate (19) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said second plate being spaced from said first plate (18) to form a plenum chamber (15), and having a foil plate (26) thereon for cooperating with said Coanda surface (25) to form said Coanda nozzle (27), (d) and a third plate (29) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said third plate being spaced from said second plate (19) on the side of the latter remote from said first plate (18), and cooperating with said second plate to form said secondary nozzle (33).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The control means of claim 4 which includes seal means (43, 60) disposed adjacent said head end of said nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) and adapted to extend into engagement with said housing wall (3) adjacent a said slot (5, 6, 59) to reduce transient air currents within the dryer chamber (4).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

The control means of claim 3, 4, 5 or 6: (a) in which said Coanda nozzle (27, 58) and said secondary nozzle (33, 65) are adapted to be connected to said air source means through separate air flow paths, (b) and adjustable damper means (34, 35) disposed in each of said air flow paths for balancing the air flow discharging from said Coanda and supplemental nozzles.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

The control means of claim 3, 4, 5 or 6 which includes: (a) expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) adapted to be disposed on the side of said supplemental nozzle (65) remote from said Coanda nozzle (58) to laterally distribute any external air which may have infiltrated through a said slot (59), (b) said expansion chamber means having a wall member (63) forming part of said secondary nozzle (65).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The control means of claim 3, 4, 5 or 6 which includes: expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) disposed on the side of said supplemental nozzle (65) remote from said Coanda nozzle (58) to laterally distribute any external air which may have ifiltrated through a said slot (59).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The control means of claim 9 in which said expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) forms part of said nozzle assembly (44).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The control means of claim 10 in which said expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) forms a heat exchanger between infiltrating air and internal dryer air.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 62 words

The control means of claim 11: (a) in which said Coanda nozzle (27, 58) and said secondary nozzle (33, 65) are adapted to be connected to said air source means through separate air flow paths, (b) and adjustable damper means (34, 35) disposed in each of said air flow paths for balancing the air flow discharging from said Coanda and supplemental nozzles.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 209 words

In a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material, the combination comprising: (a) a walled housing (3) forming a drying chamber (4) and with said housing having narrow entrance and discharge slots (5, 6, 59) through which the web moves, (b) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) disposed adjacent a said slot within said housing and connected to air source means, said nozzle assembly having a head end positioned to face a moving web, (c) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging dryer air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from the housing wall, (d) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said housing wall adjacent a said slot, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging dryer air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (e) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 209 words

In a web dryer (1) for drying a moving flexible web (2) of material, the combination comprising: (a) a walled housing (3) forming a drying chamber (4) and with said housing having narrow entrance and discharge slots (5, 6, 59) through which the web moves, (b) a nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) disposed adjacent a said slot within said housing and connected to air source means, said nozzle assembly having a head end positioned to face a moving web, (c) said assembly including a Coanda nozzle (27, 58) for discharging dryer air from said air source means and through said head end of said assembly and hence in a given direction between the said web and said head end of said assembly and away from the housing wall, (d) and a secondary nozzle (33, 65) disposed closely adjacent said Coanda nozzle and disposed between said Coanda nozzle and said housing wall adjacent a said slot, and with said secondary nozzle forming means for discharging dryer air from said air source means so that the discharged air flows only in said given direction and toward said Coanda nozzle, (e) said secondary nozzle (33, 65) further comprising means for supplying induction air to the vicinity of said Coanda nozzle (27, 58).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The control means of claim 13 in which said secondary nozzle (33, 65) forms part of said nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 151 words

The control means of claim 14 wherein said nozzle assembly (11, 12) comprises: (a) a base plate (16), (b) a first plate (18) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said first plate merging into a generally U-shaped member forming a pressure plate (24) and a curved Coanda surface (25), (c) a second plate (19) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said second plate being spaced from said first plate (18) to form a plenum chamber (15), and having a foil plate (26) thereon for cooperating with said Coanda surface (25) to form said Coanda nozzle (27), (d) and a third plate (29) connected to and extending laterally from said base plate, said third plate being spaced from said second plate (19) on the side of the latter remote from said first plate (18), and cooperating with said second plate to form said secondary nozzle (33).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The control means of claim 14 which includes seal means (43, 60) disposed adjacent said head end of said nozzle assembly (11, 12, 44) and extending into engagement with said housing wall (3) adjacent a said slot (5, 6, 59) to reduce transient air currents within the dryer chamber (4).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 59 words

The control means of claim 14: (a) in which said Coanda nozzle (27, 58) and said secondary nozzle (33, 65) are connected to said air source means through separate air flow paths, (b) and adjustable damper means (34, 35) disposed in each of said air flow paths for balancing the air flow discharging from said Coanda and supplemental nozzles.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 64 words

The control means of claim 14 which includes: (a) expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) adapted to be disposed on the side of said supplemental nozzle (65) remote from said Coanda nozzle (58) to laterally distribute any external air which may have infiltrated through a said slot (59), (b) said expansion chamber means having a wall member (63) forming part of said secondary nozzle (65).

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The control means of claim 14 which includes: expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) disposed on the side of said supplemental nozzle (65) remote from said Coanda nozzle (58) to laterally distribute any external air which may have infiltrated through a said slot (59).

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The control means of claim 19 in which said expansion chamber means (61-64, 66) forms a heat exchanger between infiltrating air and internal dryer air.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The web dryer of claim 13: (a) which includes a pair of nozzle assemblies (11 or 12) disposed with said web (2) therebetween, (b) said pair of assemblies being disposed in directly opposing relationship across said web (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 51 words

The web dryer of claim 13: (a) which includes a pair of nozzle assemblies (11 or 12) disposed with said web (2) therebetween, (b) one of said assemblies of said pair being offset from the other assembly of said pair in a direction longitudinally of said web (FIGS. 5 and 6).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-08-18	1990-02-17	1990-08-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-08-18	1994-02-17	1994-08-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-08-18	1998-02-17	1998-08-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Web dryer with control of air infiltration

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