Flat Reinforcing Threads in Polymer Press Jackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Press jackets in shoe presses used for treating fibrous webs tend to fail prematurely due to local overloading, leading to increased downtime and maintenance costs, as they are prone to mechanical stress and damage from foreign objects passing through the nip.
Innovation Solution
The use of flat reinforcing threads embedded in a polymer layer, where the reinforcing threads are designed to have a flat outer contour and are made from single fibers or fiber bundles, reducing their tendency to separate from the polymer layer and enhancing the press jacket's ability to withstand local overloads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reinforcing threads (round or twisted fiber bundles) are used in the press sleeve, then the press sleeve can be manufactured with standard materials and processes, but the press sleeve tends to fail prematurely due to local overloading and foreign objects passing through the nip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the reinforcing thread from round/twisted to flat cross-section. This parameter change allows the thread to better distribute local loads across its width and prevents concentration of stress at single points, thereby increasing resistance to local overload and foreign object damage while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by embedding flat reinforcing threads within a polymer matrix layer. The flat threads provide tensile strength and dimensional stability, while the polymer matrix provides flexibility and load distribution. This composite approach enables the press sleeve to withstand both uniform pressure and localized overloads without premature failure
2Stability of the object's composition
If the press sleeve is made sufficiently rigid to withstand press load, then it maintains structural stability, but it becomes more prone to damage from alternating bending loads during running in and out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible polymer matrix that encases the reinforcing threads, creating a shell structure that can accommodate bending deformations. The polymer layer acts as a flexible membrane that absorbs and distributes bending stresses, preventing crack initiation and propagation while maintaining the overall structural stability provided by the embedded flat threads
3Ease of operation
If the press sleeve is made sufficiently flexible to be guided around the shoe, then it can navigate the press nip, but it deforms or compresses excessively under press load
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction with flat reinforcing threads embedded in a flexible polymer matrix creates a material that exhibits both flexibility and compressive strength. The polymer matrix provides the flexibility needed for guidability, while the flat threads embedded within it provide structural reinforcement that prevents excessive compression and deformation under press load
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a press cover comprising at least one polymer layer, in which a reinforcing structure is embedded, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises at least one reinforcing thread, wherein the at least one reinforcing thread is designed as a flat thread.