Press felt and base fabric
A press felt and a base fabric. The base fabric (10) includes seam loops (4) for joining the transverse joining edges of the press felt to each other. In addition to the longitudinal yarns (2, 3) that form seam loops, the base fabric includes longitudinal surface yarns (6) extending over a seam (1) on the web-side surface (D). At the seam, there are additional transverse yarns (7), which are attached at least to the longitudinal surface yarns so as to form a seam flap (8). The longitudinal surface yarns (6) are cut after batt fibre has been attached.
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The invention relates to a press felt comprising: at least one base fabric, where at least some of the longitudinal yarns are arranged to form several seam loops at a first transverse joining edge of the press felt and at a second transverse joining edge. The joining edges of the base fabric being arrangeable edge on edge to form a seam, where the seam loops of the first joining edge and the second joining edge intermesh and form a seam loop channel, into which a seam yarn connecting the joining edges can be inserted. The press felt further comprises a seam flap, which is arranged to cover the seam on the press felt surface facing the web, and at least one batt fibre layer.
The invention further relates to a base fabric intended for a press felt, and comprising several longitudinal yarns arranged to form seam loops at a first and a second transverse edge of the base fabric.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDepending on the press structure, the press section of the paper machine employs a press felt on one or both sides of the web to be dried, into which the water in the web is absorbed in the pressing phase. The purpose is to transport the water away in the structure of the press felt without letting it back into the web. The press felt comprises a base fabric which, for example, provides the felt with a necessary space for water. To obtain a smooth surface, batt fibre is needled at least onto a base fabric surface facing the paper web, the batt fibre preventing markings from being produced on the web. Also, the water retention capacity of the felt can be adjusted by means of the batt fibre. To facilitate the installation of press felts, it is known to provide them with seams. The transverse edges of such felts comprise seam loops. It is not until in the paper machine that the felt is connected into a closed loop by intermeshing the seam loops on the opposite edges and inserting a seam yarn into a seam loop channel thus formed. A problem associated with felts provided with seams is that the seam loops form a discontinuity in the felt base fabric where the felt thickness is different, which causes markings on the web. Furthermore, in the seam area, the yarn density differs from that in the rest of the structure, in which case the felt permeability is different at the seam. The difference in permeability may also cause markings on the web. In addition, since the number of yarns is lower in the seam area, adherence of the batt fibre may also pose a problem.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved press felt and base fabric for a press felt.
The press felt according to the invention is characterized in that the base fabric has at least a three-layer structure which comprises, in addition to the longitudinal yarns forming seam loops, at least one layer of longitudinal surface yarns on the web-side surface of the base fabric, the yarns being arranged to attach to at least some of the transverse yarns, that the longitudinal surface yarns are arranged to continuously extend over the seam when the base fabric is manufactured, that several additional transverse yarns are provided at the seam, the yarns being attached at least to the longitudinal surface yarns, and that the longitudinal surface yarns have been cut after the attachment of batt fibre to form a seam flap.
The base fabric according to the invention is characterized in that in addition to the longitudinal yarns forming seam loops, there is at least one layer of longitudinal surface yarns on the web-side surface of the base fabric, that the longitudinal surface yarns are attached to at least some of the transverse yarns, that the longitudinal surface yarns extend continuously over a seam formed by seam loops on the first and the second edge, and that the area where the seam is to be formed is provided with several additional transverse yarns, which are attached at least to the longitudinal surface yarns.
The invention is based on the idea that the web-side surface of the base fabric is provided with at least one layer of longitudinal yarns, which are attached to the transverse yarns of the base fabric and further arranged to extend over the seam when the base fabric is manufactured. Furthermore, additional transverse yarns excessive to the rest of the structure are brought to the seam area during manufacture. These yarns join at least the surface yarns that travel over the seam. After the base fabric has been formed, one or more batt fibre layers are attached at least to its web-side surface. It is not until after this that the longitudinal surface yarns travelling over the seam are cut, whereby a seam flap which protects the seam is formed.
An advantage of the invention is that the seam flap protects the seam from mechanical wear. Furthermore, since the seam flap comprises both longitudinal and transverse yarns, its structure is durable and firm. The number and quality of longitudinal surface yarns as well as those of the additional transverse yarns can be easily varied to obtain a desirable base fabric without having to substantially alter the structure of the basic weave. A further advantage is that batt fibre can be attached well to the seam area since the seam flap comprises both transverse and longitudinal yarns. Thus the permeability and thickness may be substantially the same at the seam as in the other press felt sections.
In respect of weaving technique, the length of the seam flap can be implemented such that stretching of the seam loops during use is compensated for and the seam flap always provides sufficient protection for the seam.
An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea that the longitudinal yarns to be extended over the seam on the base fabric surface differ from the monofilaments that form seam loops in the base fabric. For example, plied yarns can be used as longitudinal surface yarns. Thanks to the structure according to the invention, the longitudinal surface yarns can be selected so as to obtain a good surface smoothness and batt fibre adherence.
An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea that the additional transverse yarns in the seam flap are attached to the longitudinal surface yarns by weaving.
An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea that the additional longitudinal yarns and longitudinal surface yarns are attached to one another by weaving, and after weaving, the attachment of the yarns is secured by melting or welding the yarns into one another. The result is a very firm and durable seam flap.
An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea that the additional transverse yarns attach only to the longitudinal yarns that travel over the seam.
The basic idea of an embodiment according to the invention is that the longitudinal yarns in the base fabric do not cross one another. Thus the longitudinal surface yarns form a layer which is independent of the rest of the structure and whose yarns can be selected relatively freely. In addition, since the longitudinal surface yarns do not cross the yarns forming seam loops, they do not take room between adjacent seam loops. The longitudinal surface yarns have no effect on the density of the seam loops, and thus the loop density can be selected according to the need.
An embodiment of the invention is based on the idea that the seam flap area is provided with a special reinforced layer, such as a layer made of resin or adhesive which reinforces the structure of the seam flap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURESThe invention will be described in greater detail in the accompanying drawings, in which
For the sake of clarity, the figures illustrate the invention in a simplified manner. Like reference numbers refer to like parts in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It appears from
As further appears from
It further appears from
It should be noted that the base fabric 10 can be formed using weave patterns other than those illustrated in the figures. In addition, the longitudinal surface yarns 6 can be arranged in two or more layers and they form a seam flap 8 with the additional yarns 7.
It should further be mentioned that instead of the woven structures described above, the base fabric may be a yarn assembly.
The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the inventive concept. The details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A press felt comprising:
- at least one base fabric, which includes a bottom side and a side facing the web to be dried and several longitudinal yarns and transverse yarns and where at least some of the longitudinal yarns are arranged to form several seam loops at a first transverse joining edge of the press felt and at a second transverse joining edge, the joining edges of the base fabric being arrangeable edge on edge to form a seam, where the seam loops of the first joining edge and the second joining edge intermesh and form a seam loop channel, into which a seam yarn connecting the joining edges can be inserted;
- a seam flap, which is arranged to cover the seam on the press felt surface facing the web, and
- at least one batt fibre layer arranged at least on the base fabric surface facing the web, and wherein
- the base fabric has at least a three-layer structure which comprises, in addition to the longitudinal yarns forming seam loops, at least one layer of longitudinal surface yarns on the web-side surface of the base fabric, the yarns being arranged to attach to at least some of the transverse yarns,
- the longitudinal surface yarns are arranged to continuously extend over the seam when the base fabric is manufactured,
- several additional transverse yarns are provided at the seam, the yarns being attached at least to the longitudinal surface yarns, and
- the longitudinal surface yarns have been cut after the attachment of batt fibre to form a seam flap.
2. A press felt according to claim 1, wherein
- the base fabric is a woven structure formed in one phase in one weaving machine.
3. A press felt according to claim 1 wherein
- the structure of the seam flap is reinforced by providing it with at least one additional reinforcing material layer.
4. A press felt according to claim 1 wherein
- the structure of the seam flap is reinforced by attaching the longitudinal surface yarns to the transverse additional yarns by an adhesive and/or by melting their materials.
5. A press felt according to claim 1, wherein
- at least some of the longitudinal surface yarns are made of plied yarn and that the longitudinal yarns forming seam loops are monofilaments.
6. A base fabric for a press felt, the base fabric comprising
- a bottom side and a web side;
- several longitudinal yarns, which are arranged to form seam loops on a first and a second transverse edge of the base fabric;
- several transverse yarns, which are arranged to attach to the longitudinal yarns,
- at least one layer of longitudinal surface yarns on the web side of the base fabric, in addition to the longitudinal yarns that form seam loops
- and wherein
- the longitudinal surface yarns are attached to at least some of the transverse yarns,
- the longitudinal surface yarns extend continuously over the seam formed by the seam loops on the first and the second edge, and
- the area where the seam is to be formed is provided with several additional transverse yarns, which are attached at least to the longitudinal surface yarns.
7. A base fabric according to claim 6, wherein
- each longitudinal yarn is arranged to run in the base fabric so that it does not cross the other longitudinal yarns.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 7, 2005
Applicant: TAMFELT OYJ ABP (Tampere)
Inventor: Aimo Rautanen (Nokia)
Application Number: 11/072,959