Suction roll with turbulence suppression element

Claim 1

A suction roll comprising: a roll shell, said roll shell comprising a plurality of recesses, each recess having a plurality of holes therein through which holes air is sucked to press a paper web toward the outer surface of the roll shell; a pair of journals about which said roll shell is rotatable; said suction roll having an internal space within said roll shell with no suction box therein and in which suction roll a suction condition is created by an external suction device directly connected to one of said journals; an air turbulence suppression element connected to an end of said roll shell which is in proximity to said one journal directly connected to said external suction device, said turbulence suppression element comprising at least one shell member whose surface extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which directs air flow within said roll shell so as to reduce air turbulence therein and thus maintain a substantially constant suction condition along the inner surface of said roll shell throughout its entire width and to maintain a substantially constant flow of suction air through said recesses of said roll shell, said suction roll and device being arranged so that said suction condition is applied over the entire inner surface of the roll shell.