Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A method of treating a running moist fibrous web with steam, comprising the steps of transporting the web along a predetermined path; directing at least one first stream of steam against one side of the running web in a predetermined portion of said path; directing at least one additional stream of steam against the one side of the running web in a second portion of said path adjacent said predetermined portion, said step of directing said first stream including conveying said first stream through at least one aperture having a length which at least equals the width thereof; orienting the additional stream with reference to the web in said path in such a way that the additional stream draws atmospheric air toward the predetermined portion of the path; and regulating at least one of the first and additional streams so that the drawn atmospheric air substantially prevents the flow of steam along the one side of the running web and out of the second portion of said path in a direction counter to the direction of flow of atmospheric air drawn by the additional stream; and wherein the step of directing the first stream includes directing a plurality of first jets of steam in a first direction substantially at right angles to the one side of the running web, said step of directing the additional stream including directing a plurality of second jets of steam against the one side of the running web in the second portion of said path, said orientating step including confining said jets of said additional stream to a flow at an acute angle to said first direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
272 words
A method of treating a running moist fibrous web with steam, comprising the steps of transporting the web along a predetermined path; directing at least one first stream of steam against one side of the running web in a predetermined portion of said path; directing at least one additional stream of steam against the one side of the running web in a second portion of said path adjacent said predetermined portion, said step of directing said first stream including conveying said first stream through at least one aperture having a length which at least equals the width thereof; orienting the additional stream with reference to the web in said path in such a way that the additional stream draws atmospheric air toward the predetermined portion of the path; and regulating at least one of the first and additional streams so that the drawn atmospheric air substantially prevents the flow of steam along the one side of the running web and out of the second portion of said path in a direction counter to the direction of flow of atmospheric air drawn by the additional stream; and wherein the step of directing the first stream includes directing a plurality of first jets of steam in a first direction substantially at right angles to the one side of the running web, said step of directing the additional stream including directing a plurality of second jets of steam against the one side of the running web in the second portion of said path, said orientating step including confining said jets of said additional stream to a flow at an acute angle to said first direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said regulating step comprises regulating the velocity of at least one of the first and additional streams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said regulating step comprises regulating the quantity of fluid medium which forms at least one of said streams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said regulating step includes regulating the velocity of the respective stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of regulating the temperature of the steam which forms at least one of said streams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of directing the first stream includes establishing and maintaining a supply of steam adjacent the predetermined portion of the path and discharging said plurality of jets of steam from the supply against the one side of the running web in the predetermined portion of said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of continuously admitting fresh steam to said supply, including directing into the supply a plurality of streamlets of steam at an acute angle to the plane of the running web in the predetermined portion of the path so that the streamlets form at least one annulus of streamlets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the path is located upstream of the predetermined portion as seen in the direction of advancement of the web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the path is located downstream of the predetermined portion as seen in the direction of advancement of the web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the one side is the upper side of the web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the one side is the underside of the web.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said path is an arcuate path having a convex side and a concave side and the one side of the web is located at the convex side of said path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of directing at least one third stream of steam against the one side of the running web in a third portion of said path adjacent said predetermined portion, and regulating at least one of the first and third streams so that the drawn atmospheric air inhibits the flow of fluid medium along the one side of the running web and out of the third portion of said path in a direction counter to the direction of flow of atmospheric air drawn by the third stream, said predetermined portion of said path being located between said second and third portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said second portion of said path is located upstream of said predetermined portion and said third portion is located downstream of said predetermined portion as considered in the direction of advancement of the web.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said orienting step is performed in such a manner that the additional stream is inclined to the one side of the running web at an angle of approximately 69 to approximately 75 degrees.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said orienting step is performed in such a manner that said angle is approximately 73 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said orienting step is performed in such a manner that the additional stream is inclined to the one side of the running web at an angle of approximately 63 to approximately 70 degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said orienting step is performed in such a manner that said angle is approximately 66 degrees.