Patents Assigned to Albany International Corp.
  • Multi-tier rope harness
    Patent number: 6926804
    Abstract: A multi-tier fabric loading harness for installing a fabric onto a papermaking machine. The loading harness has a first portion with a supporting rigid member that attaches to an end of the fabric in the cross-machine direction and a plurality of apertures spaced across its width. The first tier is formed by a rope sequentially laced through the apertures to form self-aligning loops. A second rope is sequentially laced through the loops of the first tier to form self-aligning loops for a second tier. A pull ring gathers the loops of the second tier and is used to pull the fabric onto the papermaking machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Curtis L. Gardner, Alan L. Billings
  • Multi-layer fabric
    Patent number: 6920902
    Abstract: A fabric having top and bottom layers, with each layer having machine direction (MD) yarns and cross-direction (CD) yarns interwoven together. The fabric includes pairs of binder yarns that bind together the top and bottom layers. The binder pairs are interwoven so as to be an integral part of the first layer and contribute to a structure thereof. The binder pairs are a non-integral part of the second layer and do not contribute to a structure thereof. During a repeat pattern, at least one of the two binder yarns of a binder pair is integrally woven with the yarns of the first layer and passes over outer surfaces of two non-consecutive yarns in the second layer. As a result, a “double knuckle” binding structure may be formed which improves integrity of the resulting composite fabric by reducing the length of the binder yarn path through the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Brian G. Majaury, Ernest Fahrer, Monique Fagon, Rita Hansson
  • On-machine-seamable industrial fabric comprised of interconnected rings
    Patent number: 6918998
    Abstract: An on-machine-seamable industrial fabric comprising rings connected by pintles. In one principal embodiment, the rings are oriented in the machine direction and the pintles extend at an angle, connecting the rings. Such configuration improves the strength of the fabric and provides resistance to needling damage. In another principal embodiment, the rings are oriented in the cross-machine direction and the pintles extend in the machine direction, joining the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
  • Multi-layer forming fabric with two warp systems bound together with a triplet of binder yarns
    Patent number: 6905574
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable in the forming section of a paper machine, has a top layer and a bottom layer of machine-direction (MD) warps and cross-machine direction (CD) wefts and a triplet of CD binder yarns interwoven with the top and bottom fabric layers. The triplet of binder yarns combine to weave a plain pattern in the top layer, thereby reducing sheet marking and providing a high level of web support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Bernard Festor
  • Multi-layer papermaker's fabrics with packing yarns
    Patent number: 6902652
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable in the forming section of a paper machine, having a top layer and a bottom layer of cross-machine direction (CD) wefts. The top (forming) layer and bottom (wear side) layer are woven together to form a multi-layer fabric. CD packing yarns are inserted between adjacent wear side weft yarns. The packing yarns reduce the void volume on the wear side of the cloth without significantly disrupting the air permeability or increasing the caliper of the fabric. The placement of the packing yarns also adds to the CD stability and seam strength of the fabric and reduces the lateral movement of the wear side weft yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Chad Aaron Martin
  • Forming fabric with twinned top wefts and an extra layer of middle wefts
    Patent number: 6899143
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable in the forming section of a paper machine, has three layers of cross-machine-direction (CD) wefts. The forming layer wefts are grouped into pairs. This twinning of the top-layer wefts results in non-equal spacing in the forming (top) layer. This spacing imparts a desired non-uniformity in the web-supporting surface, thereby reducing diagonal fabric pattern. The forming layer wefts are vertically offset from the middle and wear side layer wefts, which are vertically stacked. This unstacked alignment reduces the caliper of the fabric and lowers the void volume. The middle layer wefts provide extra stability in the CD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: David S. Rougvie, Jeffrey Joseph Collegnon, John LaFond
  • Rollup door with rollable door leaf
    Patent number: 6883577
    Abstract: A rollup door comprising a door leaf of increasing width from top to bottom and having a narrower part on the top and a wider part on the bottom, and flexibility in the rolling direction; channels for guiding the door; and two modules for rolling and unrolling the door leaf so that a number of leaf layers do not come in contact. The modules are situated on each side of the door, have the same center axes and are successive radially enlarged so that on opening and closing of the door, the narrower and wider parts of the leaf engage the smaller and larger parts respectively of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Friedhelm Frede
  • Double cross parallel binder fabric
    Patent number: 6883556
    Abstract: A multi-layer fabric which may be utilized in a papermaking process. Such fabric has a first layer having machine direction (MD) yarns and cross-direction (CD) yarns interwoven therewith and a second layer having machine direction (MD) yarns and cross-direction (CD) yarns interwoven therewith. In such fabric, a plurality of pairs of first type of binders each having a first binder and a second binder are interwoven with the first and second layers. The first and second binders of at least one pair are interwoven with the first and second layers so as to pass over at least one same yarn on an outer surface of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Ernest Fahrer, Monique Fagon
  • Papermaker's and industrial fabric seam
    Patent number: 6880583
    Abstract: A papermaking or other industrial fabric formed from a base fabric and having a seam where a first end of the base fabric is attached to a second end of the base fabric. At least one preformed coil is used to attach the first end of the base fabric to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Alan L. Billings
  • Flexible fluid containment vessel
    Patent number: 6860218
    Abstract: A seamless, woven, flexible fluid containment vessel or vessels for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fresh water, having beam stabilizers, beam separators, reinforcing, and the method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Dana Eagles, Crayton Gregory Toney, Srinath Tupil, Donald Tripp Lawton, James G. Donovan, William Dutt, Eric Romanski, Bjorn Rydin, Jan Rexfelt
  • Extended nip press for the leather industry
    Patent number: 6854301
    Abstract: An extended nip press machine, similar to those used in the paper industry, for use in the leather industry to remove water from hides after the tanning process. The leather press consists of a shoe whose surface substantially matches the radius of an opposing pressure roll. Moving across the shoe is an endless belt, which is lubricated by a thin film of oil. Between the belt and corresponding pressure roll pass two endless felt belts, which are the means of conveying the leather hides. The nip formed by the shoe press is dramatically longer than a conventional press nip, thereby increasing the dewatering efficiency of the leather press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Eric Romanski
  • Air channel dryer fabric
    Patent number: 6837275
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric includes first and second layers of cross-machine-direction (CD) yarns and a plurality of machine-direction (MD) yarns interwoven therewith and arranged in groups each having a first, two second, and two third MD yarns. The first MD yarn binds with two CD yarns of the first layer and with two CD yarns of the second layer. The second MD yarns bind with only one CD yarn of the first layer and floats over at least two consecutive CD yarns of the second layer. The third MD yarns bind with only one CD yarn of the first layer and floats over at least two consecutive CD yarns of the second layer. The second MD yarns are offset from the third MD yarns in a direction parallel to the MD yarns. The first MD yarn is between the two second MD yarns which are between the third MD yarns so as to form a continuous air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Josef, Rick Barbery
  • Air channel dryer fabric
    Patent number: 6837276
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable with a dryer section on a paper machine, has a first layer and a second layer of cross-machine-direction (CD) yarns. Interwoven with the CD yarns in a duplex weave is a system of MD yarns. The MD yarns are provided in groups of at least two adjacent MD yarns. Each group has one first MD yarn and one or more second MD yarn. The first MD yarn interweaves between the first and second layers of CD yarns, each time binding with only one CD yarn. Each second MD yarn also interweaves between first and second layers of CD yarns, each time binding with only one CD yarn in the first layer, but floating over at least two CD yarns in the second layer. The first MD yarn is between the one or more second MD yarns in its group and those of an adjacent group, and defines a continuous air channel on the surface of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Josef, Rick Barbery
  • Monofilament low caliper one-and-a-half layer seamed press fabric
    Patent number: 6835284
    Abstract: A one-and-a-half layer monofilament fabric for use as a low-caliper seamed press fabric on a papermaking machine. The fabric is endless woven with seaming loops formed by adjacent unstacked MD wefts. The seaming loops are oriented perpendicular to the plane of the base fabric for easier connection and seaming. When the fabric is placed under load, the loops collapse back to produce a seam area having the same low caliper as the base fabric. Further, this unstacked fabric structure produces a larger web cake than other fabrics having a similar caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Glenn Kornett
  • Paired warp triple layer forming fabrics with optimum sheet building characteristics
    Patent number: 6834684
    Abstract: A papermaker's fabric, usable in the forming section of a paper machine, having two layers of cross-machine-direction (CD) yarns. Interwoven with the CD yarns is a system of MD yarns. The MD yarns are grouped into alternating pairs comprising a crossing pair having a first MD yarn and a second MD yarn and a second pair having a third MD yarn and a fourth MD yarn. The first MD yarn and the second MD yarn combine to weave each CD yarn in the first layer and cross between the first layer and the second layer. The left and right warp yarns in the pairs are aligned in such a way that like adjacent yarns from adjacent pairs have MD cell lengths equal to or less than the MD cell lengths from non-like adjacent yarns from adjacent pairs. The third MD yarn is interwoven with the first layer of CD yarns and the fourth MD yarn is interwoven with the second layer of CD yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Chad A. Martin, Scott Quigley
  • Segment formed flexible fluid containment vessel
    Patent number: 6832571
    Abstract: A flexible fluid containment vessel or vessels fabricated out of segments of fabric clamped together for transporting and containing a large volume of fluid, particularly fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Dana Eagles
  • Nonwovens forming or conveying fabrics with enhanced surface roughness and texture
    Patent number: 6790796
    Abstract: An industrial fabric used in the form of an endless fabric belt to form and convey a nonwoven fiber web during the manufacture of a nonwoven fabric has a web-supporting surface which includes rough-surface yarns which inhibit movement, namely, slippage, of the nonwoven fiber web relative to the web-supporting surface. Preferably, the rough-surface yarns make long floats in one or both directions, that is, lengthwise and/or crosswise, on the web-supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Scott Sheldon Smith, Paul Allen Zimmerman, Mark Joseph Levine
  • Monofilament structure to monitor fabric abrasion
    Patent number: 6786243
    Abstract: An industrial fabric of the variety used in the papermaking and similar industries has machine-direction (MD) yarns and cross-machine-direction (CD) yarns, which may be interwoven with one another to form a woven structure. The industrial fabric includes, as at least some of the MD and/or CD yarns, sheath/core yarns which have a core yarn surrounded by a sheath. The core yarn and the sheath are visually distinguishable by the naked eye from one another, such as by color, so that wear on a surface of the industrial fabric can be monitored visually during its operating life by the visual change that would become apparent when the sheath is worn away from the core yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Michael G. Moriarty, William A. Luciano
  • Laminated multiaxial press fabric
    Patent number: 6776878
    Abstract: An on-machine-seamable laminated multiaxial press fabric has a first base fabric and a second base fabric laminated to one another by needled staple fiber batt material. The first base fabric is a multiaxial fabric produced by spirally winding a fabric strip, flattening the endless loop produced by the spiral winding, and removing crosswise yarns at the ends of the flattened endless loop to form seaming loops. The second base fabric is an on-machine-seamable base fabric, which may also be mutiaxial. The press fabric is joined into endless form by interdigitating the seaming loops at the two ends of both base fabrics with one another to form a single passage through which a pintle is passed to join the press fabric into endless form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Steven S. Yook
  • High drainage dimensionallally stable brownstock washer belt design
    Patent number: 6769535
    Abstract: A belt suitable in a brownstock washer machine and a method of producing the same are provide. The belt is produced from a high-density multi-layer woven fabric, which is preferably made using an eight-shed weave pattern. The fabric provides high fiber support via a high warp-density/long-warp-float while achieving high drainage/resistance-to-sealing through increased void volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory Zilker, Mark Levine, John VanHandel