W. R. Grace Co.-conn.

W. R. Grace Co.

Harris Graphics Corporation

C.a. Litzler Co., Inc.

Richard J Wimberger

Richard A Carman

Michael O Rocheleau

Robert Richard Murray

Dale Hiett Jackson

Randall D Helms

Allan W Rogne

Philip S Sprague

Kenneth J Moran

Eugene J Bergeron

Donald L Wickesberg

James H Rogers

David M Klein

Edward T Albus

An oxidation oven for use in the production of carbon fibers from a polyacrylonitrile precursor fiber. The oven has an oven chamber formed by sides and ends. At least one of the ends has a first opening and a second opening. The product passes through the openings for treatment in the oven chamber. The oven is also provided with a first nozzle adjacent the first opening and a second nozzle adjacent the second opening. Each nozzle is effective for discharging air from an air flow pathway into the oven chamber and forming an air curtain at the opening to which it is adjacent. An air bar defines the air flow pathway.

Oxidation oven

Web cooling device where liquid is applied to both sides of a hot web to enhance cooling via evaporation of the liquid from the web.

Web cooling device

Apparatus and method for reducing web slot infiltration in web floatation drying apparatus, including a moveable web slot assembly which moves according to the position of the running web in the dryer. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a web steering assembly which steers the web in a substantially straight sinusoidal path. The moveable web slot is in communication with the steering assembly so that the slot moves to accommodate the position of the steered web.

Moveable web slot

A compact efficient air flotation dryer with a built-in afterburner for combustion of solvent-laden air within a dryer-enclosed combustion chamber. An internal exhaust fan propels internal solvent-laden air across a burner where it combusts, causing a heat rise. Heated, combusted air is routed to a recirculating supply air fan which provides for pressurized heated air for air bars for drying a web. Heated air in excess of that required to dry the web is vented externally and helps to maintain desired solvent concentration levels Variable parameters such as fan speed, burner temperatures, air box pressures, exhaust air rate, solvent concentration, supply air flow, supply air temperature and damper vane position are monitored, and the components are actuated to effect a high level of clean up efficiency.

Air flotation dryer with built-in afterburner

An apparatus is provided which both floatingly supports a web, and maintains the web in a substantially straight path as it travels through a dryer. The apparatus comprises a steerable air bar assembly comprising: i) one or more adjustable air bars, each having an elongated surface from which air may be discharged, said surface being in opposing relation to the running web, and each having two ends; ii) air supply means, in fluid communication with the air bars; and iii) adjustment means for altering the orientation of the elongated surfaces of the adjustable air bars with respect to the running web. In a preferred embodiment the orientation of the surfaces is adjusted such that each said surface rotates about an axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the running web. Said steerable air bar assembly is positioned in a web dryer such that the web is guided through the dryer in a substantially straight path. A plurality of such steerable air bar assemblies can be used in a web dryer. The dryer can also include one or more fixed air bars. Air bars can include back pressure means for creating an opposing force to urge the web back to a substantially centered position. Said back pressure means preferably comprises one or more edge dams preferably disposed at or near the ends of one or more fixed air bars in the web dryer.

Steerable air bar/edge dam apparatus

A compact efficient air flotation dryer with a built-in afterburner for combustion of solvent-laden air within a dryer-enclosed combustion chamber. An internal exhaust fan propels internal solvent-laden air across a burner where it combusts, causing a heat rise. Heated, combusted air is routed to a recirculating supply air fan which provides for pressurized heated air for air bars for drying a web. Heated air in excess of that required to dry the web is vented externally and helps to maintain desired solvent concentration levels. Variable parameters such as fan speed, burner temperatures, air box pressures, exhaust air rate, solvent concentration, supply air flow, supply air temperature and damper vane position are monitored, and the components are actuated to effect a high level of clean up efficiency.

Infrared air float bar for use in floating and drying a continuous planar web of a material in a dryer. Direct radiated or reflected infrared electromagnetic energy from an infrared bulb in a removable air bar channel assembly accelerates drying, or evaporation of solvents, or curing of planar web material passing in proximity to the infrared air float bar either by infrared electromagnetic energy, or in combination with Coanda air flow. The infrared bulb is cooled by pressurized air passing through an interior portion of the removable air bar channel.

Infrared air float bar

Air bar

Ultraviolet air float bar for use in floating and drying a continuous planar web of a material in a dryer. Direct radiated or reflected ultraviolet electromagnetic energy from an ultraviolet bulb in a removable air bar channel assembly accelerates drying, or evaporation of solvents, or curing of planar web material passing in proximity to the ultraviolet air float bar either by ultraviolet electromagnetic energy, or in combination with Coanda air flow. The ultraviolet bulb is cooled by pressurized air passing through an interior portion of the removable air bar channel.

Ultraviolet air floatation bar

A control system for a compact efficient air flotation dryer with a built-in afterburner for combustion of solvent-laden air within a dryer-enclosed combustion chamber. An internal exhaust fan propels internal solvent-laden air across a burner where it combusts, causing a heat rise. Heated, combusted air is routed to a recirculating supply air fan which provides pressurized heated air for air bars for drying a web. Heated air in excess of that required to dry the web is vented externally and helps to maintain desired solvent concentration levels. Variable parameters such as fan speed, burner temperatures, air box pressures, exhaust air rate, solvent concentration, supply air flow, supply air temperature and damper position are monitored, and the components are actuated to effect a high level of clean up efficiency. The control system provides for the coordinated control of the exhaust fan speed, damper positions, and burner firing. The control system utilizes a computer in real time processing to monitor and control the electrical and electromechanical components.

Control system for air flotation dryer with a built-in afterburner

Air flotation bar for use in floating and drying continuous webs of material in a dryer using dimensionally enlarged air bars. Air flows through three Coanda air slots to provide an air flow distributed over a large area of a passing web to maintain heat transfer capabilities and flotation capabilities. A central Coanda slot air impinges against a web for enhanced heat transfer while outer Coanda slots create a flotation pressure pad.

Tri-flotation air bar

An assembly of air bars from which air is blown against a lengthwise moving web to contactlessly confine it to a plane comprises a header having a ported wall extending along its full length, parallel to said plane. Each of a series of outlet ports along the ported wall opens into an air bar intermediate its ends. A centrifugal blower has its cylindrical rotor near a rear end of the header, spaced to the side of said ported wall remote from the plane. An internal plenum chamber in the header opens to the outlet ports in the rear one-third to one-half of the header. The blower has one outlet near the rotor periphery from which air flows into the front part of the header and another outlet, spaced at a greater distance from the rotor periphery, from which air flows into said plenum chamber. The header is movable toward and from said plane relative to the blower, for air bar retraction to facilitate web threading.

Growing community of inventors

Depere, WI, United States of America

Richard J Wimberger