US5076894A — Suction box apparatus with composite cover elemen…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 272 words

Suction box apparatus for a papermaking machine, comprising: suction box means for removing water from a web conveyed across said suction box means by a porous conveyor belt when said suction box means is mounted in a papermaking machine, including a suction box having a length extending across the conveyor belt and a width extending along the conveyor belt; a suction box cover, including a plurality of cover strips of ceramic material extending along the length of the suction box and supported on a top portion of the suction box in spaced relationship to be located at positions spaced along the width of the suction box so that said conveyor belt engages the ceramic cover strips and said cover strips are separated by drainage slots; support means for supporting the ceramic cover strips, including support members of plastic material attached to the cover strips by bonded tongue and groove attachment means and extending along the length of the suction box, and including spaced cross braces of metal which extend across the support members at positions spaced along the length of the suction box; and releasable interlocking connection means for connecting the support members to the cross braces with releasable interlocking connections, including mounting slots in such cross braces which slidably engage mounting projections on the support members for releasable interlocking connection thereof which enable removal of the cover strips from the suction box by sliding said support members longitudinally in said mounting slots relative to said cross braces, said interlocking connections preventing movement of the support members within said mounting slots toward or away from the top portion of said suction box.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 272 words

Suction box apparatus for a papermaking machine, comprising: suction box means for removing water from a web conveyed across said suction box means by a porous conveyor belt when said suction box means is mounted in a papermaking machine, including a suction box having a length extending across the conveyor belt and a width extending along the conveyor belt; a suction box cover, including a plurality of cover strips of ceramic material extending along the length of the suction box and supported on a top portion of the suction box in spaced relationship to be located at positions spaced along the width of the suction box so that said conveyor belt engages the ceramic cover strips and said cover strips are separated by drainage slots; support means for supporting the ceramic cover strips, including support members of plastic material attached to the cover strips by bonded tongue and groove attachment means and extending along the length of the suction box, and including spaced cross braces of metal which extend across the support members at positions spaced along the length of the suction box; and releasable interlocking connection means for connecting the support members to the cross braces with releasable interlocking connections, including mounting slots in such cross braces which slidably engage mounting projections on the support members for releasable interlocking connection thereof which enable removal of the cover strips from the suction box by sliding said support members longitudinally in said mounting slots relative to said cross braces, said interlocking connections preventing movement of the support members within said mounting slots toward or away from the top portion of said suction box.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the support members are of fiber-reinforced plastic material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the support members contain fiberglass.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the mounting slots and projections are of a dovetail shape.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the mounting slots and projections are of a T-shape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the cross braces have intermediate portions between the mounting slots which taper toward ridges at their outer edges extending toward the conveyor belt.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the ceramic cover strips include tongue portions which extend into grooves in the support members and are bonded thereto to provide the tongue and groove attachment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which the bonding is provided by adhesive bonding material in said grooves.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the metal cross braces are attached to front and rear supports extending laterally across the conveyor by threaded fasteners.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

Suction box apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the front and rear supports are plastic support members for front and rear ceramic cover strips at the front and rear edges of the suction box.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 242 words

In a papermaking machine, drainage apparatus comprising: drainage means for removing water from a paper web conveyed across said drainage means by a porous conveyor belt and including a drainage box having a length extending across the conveyor belt and a width extending along the conveyor belt; said drainage means including a plurality of cover strips of ceramic material extending across the length of the drainage box and supported on a top portion of the drainage box in spaced relationship at positions spaced across the width of the drainage box so that said conveyor belt engages the ceramic cover strips and said cover strips are separated by drainage slots; support means for supporting the ceramic cover strips, including support members attached to the cover strips by bonded tongue and groove attachment means and extending along the length of the drainage box, and including spaced cross braces which extend across the support members at positions spaced along the length of the drainage box; and releasable connection means for connecting the support members to the cross braces with releasable interlocking connections, including mounting slots which slidably engage mounting projections for releasable interlocking connection thereof which enable removal of the cover strips from the drainage apparatus by sliding said support members longitudinally in said mounting slots relative to said cross braces, said interlocking connections preventing movement of the support members within said mounting slots toward or away from the top portion of said drainage box.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 242 words

In a papermaking machine, drainage apparatus comprising: drainage means for removing water from a paper web conveyed across said drainage means by a porous conveyor belt and including a drainage box having a length extending across the conveyor belt and a width extending along the conveyor belt; said drainage means including a plurality of cover strips of ceramic material extending across the length of the drainage box and supported on a top portion of the drainage box in spaced relationship at positions spaced across the width of the drainage box so that said conveyor belt engages the ceramic cover strips and said cover strips are separated by drainage slots; support means for supporting the ceramic cover strips, including support members attached to the cover strips by bonded tongue and groove attachment means and extending along the length of the drainage box, and including spaced cross braces which extend across the support members at positions spaced along the length of the drainage box; and releasable connection means for connecting the support members to the cross braces with releasable interlocking connections, including mounting slots which slidably engage mounting projections for releasable interlocking connection thereof which enable removal of the cover strips from the drainage apparatus by sliding said support members longitudinally in said mounting slots relative to said cross braces, said interlocking connections preventing movement of the support members within said mounting slots toward or away from the top portion of said drainage box.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the support members are of fiber-reinforced plastic material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the mounting slots and projections are of a dovetail shape.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the mounting slots and projections are of a T-shape.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the cross braces have intermediate portions between the mounting slots which taper toward ridges at their outer edges extending toward the conveyor belt.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the ceramic cover strips include tongue portions which extend into grooves in the support members and are bonded thereto to provide the tongue and groove attachment.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the cross braces are attached to front and rear supports extending laterally across the conveyor by threaded fasteners.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

Drainage apparatus in accordance with claim 17 in which the front and rear supports are fiberglass reinforced plastic support members for front and rear ceramic cover strips at the front and rear edges of a suction box.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-12-30	1995-07-01	1995-12-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-12-30	1999-07-01	1999-12-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-12-30	2003-07-01	2003-12-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Suction box apparatus with composite cover elements mounted in slots on cross braces

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