Patents by Inventor Vaughn Wildfong

Vaughn Wildfong has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8529733
    Abstract: A forming section for a twin fabric papermaking machine, wherein after stock impingement, the two fabrics carry and sandwich the stock. A plurality of spaced apart drainage shoes, selectively provided to either or both of the fabrics, provides continuous support in the machine direction for the respective fabric in sliding contact, and each drainage shoe deflects the fabrics by a selected angle of wrap comprising an angular displacement between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the drainage shoe. At least one of the drainage shoes is secured to a drainage box and is provided with a plurality of drainage openings extending from the fabric contacting surface through to the machine side surface of the shoe. The arrangements of the invention provide improved drainage and formation of the paper web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Jay Shands, James Ronning, Josh Price
  • Publication number: 20110290442
    Abstract: A forming section for a twin fabric papermaking machine, wherein after stock impingement, the two fabrics carry and sandwich the stock. A plurality of spaced apart drainage shoes, selectively provided to either or both of the fabrics, provides continuous support in the machine direction for the respective fabric in sliding contact, and each drainage shoe deflects the fabrics by a selected angle of wrap comprising an angular displacement between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the drainage shoe. At least one of the drainage shoes is secured to a drainage box and is provided with a plurality of drainage openings extending from the fabric contacting surface through to the machine side surface of the shoe. The arrangements of the invention provide improved drainage and formation of the paper web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Jay Shands, James Ronning, Josh Price
  • Patent number: 7776183
    Abstract: A forming section for a gap blade former type papermaking machine having a headbox which delivers a jet of papermaking stock between a conveying forming fabric and a backing forming fabric is provided. The conveying fabric moves in sliding contact over an impingement shoe on which the jet of papermaking stock is delivered at a point of impingement. A forming shoe located immediately downstream of the impingement shoe over which the backing forming fabric slides. The impingement shoe is mounted for at least one of pivoting and transverse movement so that a position of the point of impingement of the jet of papermaking stock can be adjusted by at least one of rotating the impingement shoe about a first pivot point and transversely shifting the impingement shoe. The forming shoe can also be mounted for movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Thomas Helbig
  • Patent number: 7524402
    Abstract: A twin fabric gap former forming section for paper making machine is described in which: the pitch of the fabric support elements d decreases progressively in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the forming fabrics through the dewatering boxes increases in the machine direction; the two forming fabrics together with the stock sandwiched between them traverse at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones within the forming section as they proceed in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the last of the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones is higher than the level of vacuum applied to the first of the separate and distinct vacuum zones; the level of vacuum applied to the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones follows a preselected profile; and the dewatering boxes carrying the fabric support elements are arranged so that the fabric support elements are located in an alternating sequence on the machine sides of both of the forming fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Richard Pitt
  • Patent number: 7524401
    Abstract: A twin fabric hybrid forming section for paper making machine is described in which: the pitch of the fabric support elements decreases progressively in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the forming fabrics through the dewatering boxes increases in the machine direction; the two forming fabrics together with the stock sandwiched between them traverse at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones within the forming section as they proceed in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the last of the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones is higher than the level of vacuum applied to the first of the separate and distinct vacuum zones; the level of vacuum applied to the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones follows a preselected profile; and the dewatering boxes carrying the fabric support elements are arranged so that the fabric support elements are located in an alternating sequence on the machine sides of both of the forming fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Richard Pitt, Thomas Helbig
  • Publication number: 20070295468
    Abstract: A forming section for a gap blade former type papermaking machine having a headbox which delivers a jet of papermaking stock between a conveying forming fabric and a backing forming fabric is provided. The conveying fabric moves in sliding contact over an impingement shoe on which the jet of papermaking stock is delivered at a point of impingement. A forming shoe located immediately downstream of the impingement shoe over which the backing forming fabric slides. The impingement shoe is mounted for at least one of pivoting and transverse movement so that a position of the point of impingement of the jet of papermaking stock can be adjusted by at least one of rotating the impingement shoe about a first pivot point and transversely shifting the impingement shoe. The forming shoe can also be mounted for movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Thomas Helbig
  • Publication number: 20070267164
    Abstract: A headbox including a stock dilution profiling arrangement and associated stock delivery systems are provided, which together deliver to the forming section of a papermaking machine a uniform stock flow with more consistent basis weight and fiber orientation profiles than has previously been possible. These improvements in basis weight uniformity and fiber orientation profile provide benefits in paper sheet formation and related paper properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: ASTENJOHNSON, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Shands, James Ronning, George Mendrala, Vaughn Wildfong, Douglas McPherson
  • Publication number: 20060283569
    Abstract: A twin fabric hybrid forming section for paper making machine is described in which: the pitch of the fabric support elements decreases progressively in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the forming fabrics through the dewatering boxes increases in the machine direction; the two forming fabrics together with the stock sandwiched between them traverse at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones within the forming section as they proceed in the machine direction; the level of vacuum applied to the last of the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones is higher than the level of vacuum applied to the first of the separate and distinct vacuum zones; the level of vacuum applied to the at least four separate and distinct vacuum zones follows a preselected profile; and the dewatering boxes carrying the fabric support elements are arranged so that the fabric support elements are located in an alternating sequence on the machine sides of both of the forming fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Asten Johnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaughn Wildfong, Richard Pitt, Thomas Helbig
  • Patent number: 7005040
    Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The openings can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Buchanan, Richard E. Pitt, Roy Van Essen, Karl Lemme, Vaughn Wildfong
  • Publication number: 20030173048
    Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The openings can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: John G. Buchanan, Richard E. Pitt, Roy Van Essen, Karl Lemme, Vaughn Wildfong
  • Patent number: RE40720
    Abstract: A fabric support element for a papermaking machine has improved fluid drainage means, comprising openings which can include flow-through vents. The element can comprise an impingement shoe for a forming section of a papermaking machine. The opening can be defined by a plurality of laminar segments, at least some of which define a paper side surface of the element, and which segments can be spaced apart by additional laminar segments or other spacing means. Laminar segments for use in the element, a method of constructing the element, and a papermaking machine, or a forming section thereof, including the element are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Buchanan, Richard E. Pitt, Roy Van Essen, Karl Lemme, Vaughn Wildfong