United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 4,915,788
Winheim [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 10,1990
[54] METHOD OF CONTACTING RUNNING WEBS WITH STEAM
[75] Inventor: Stefan H. Winheim, Frankfurt am Main, Fed. Rep. of Germany
[73] Assignee: V.I.B. Apparatebau GmbH, Maintal, Fed. Rep. of Germany
[21] Appl. No.: 302,075
[22] Filed: Jan. 24,1989
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 82,786, Aug. 6, 1987, abandoned.
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Jan. 20, 1987 [DE] Fed. Rep. of Germany 3701406
[51] IntCL* D21F5/00
[52] UJS. CI 162/207; 162/290;
34/16; 34/23; 34/155; 34/160
[58] Field of Search 162/207, 290, 275;
34/155, 160, 26, 23; 226/97; 239/290, 428 S
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,549,070 12/1970 Frost et al 226/97
4,351,700 9/1982 Dove 162/252
4,384,666 5/1983 Koponen et al 226/97
4,414,757 11/1983 Whipple 34/156
4,444,622 4/1984 Dove 162/207
4,685,221 8/1987 Taylor et al 162/207
Primary Examiner—Karen M. Hastings
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Peter K. Kontler
[57] ABSTRACT
Steam is blown against one side of a running web of moist fibrous material in a paper making machine through a first set of apertures in the wall of an apparatus which defines a first chamber for supplying steam to the first set of apertures, a second chamber which supplies steam to a second set of apertures upstream of the first set, and a third chamber which supplies steam to a third set of apretures downstream of the first set. The apertures of the first set discharge jets of steam at right angles to the plane of the adjacent portion of the running web, the apertures of the second set discharge jets of steam which draws some atmospheric air toward the jets issuing from the first set of apertures, and the jets of steam issuing from the third set of apertures also draw air toward the region where the jets issuing from the first set of apertures impinge upon the web so that steam is less likely to escape from the treating zone and that each increment of the running web is contacted by a preselected quantity of steam.
18 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
