Inflatable Valve Elements for Felt Cleaning Suction Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for cleaning felts in paper web production struggle to effectively open and close suction ducts during operation due to vacuum pressure and adherence of sealing strips to the suction plate, leading to reduced permeability and inefficient cleaning as felts become loaded with foreign materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating inflatable valve elements, such as hoses, assigned to suction ducts that can be inflated to close and deflated to open, allowing for dynamic adjustment of suction area based on felt permeability, enabling easy operation and maintenance without the need for additional suction devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing strips are used to close suction ducts initially, then the vacuum required for new felt operation is maintained, but the sealing strips cannot be removed during operation due to vacuum pressure and adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sealing strip system with an inflatable valve element system. Instead of using friction-based sealing strips that adhere to the suction plate under vacuum, the invention uses inflatable elements that can be remotely actuated to open or close suction ducts. This substitution eliminates the need for manual removal of sealing strips during operation, as the inflatable valves can be controlled from a remote location.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable valve elements act as intermediaries between the control system and the suction ducts. These valves are positioned in the suction plate and can be inflated or deflated to control the opening and closing of suction ducts. The intermediary nature of these valves allows for easy operation without direct contact with the vacuum environment, solving the problem of sealing strip adhesion.
2Productivity
If the total cross section of suction ducts is enlarged to maintain suction force on loaded felt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but vacuum maintenance becomes difficult with new felt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic suction duct system where the opening area of suction ducts can be adjusted during operation. Inflatable valve elements are assigned to individual suction ducts or groups of ducts, allowing the operator to progressively open additional ducts as the felt becomes loaded with foreign materials. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain optimal vacuum levels with new felt while maximizing cleaning effectiveness with loaded felt.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction plate is divided into multiple suction ducts, each可控 by its own inflatable valve element. This segmentation allows the total suction area to be gradually increased by opening individual ducts or groups of ducts as needed, rather than having all ducts open simultaneously. The segmented approach enables precise control over the suction area to match the felt's current loading state.
3Productivity
If multiple suction devices are installed to handle varying felt permeability, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single suction device multi-functional by equipping it with multiple suction ducts that can be independently controlled via inflatable valve elements. This single device can adapt to various felt conditions (new or loaded) by adjusting which ducts are open, effectively replacing the need for multiple separate suction devices. The universal design allows one device to perform the functions that would otherwise require multiple specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for cleaning a felt in a system for producing a paper web has a device for introducing a cleaning liquid into the felt and at least one following suction device in the direction of movement of the felt and having a vacuum duct, through which the cleaning liquid is suctioned out of the felt. The suction device between the vacuum duct and the felt is formed with suction ducts, through which the cleaning liquid in the felt is suctioned away. At least one of the suction ducts is assigned an inflatable valve element. In the inflated state of the valve element the suction duct is closed and in its ventilated state the suction duct is opened.