Patents Assigned to Albany International Corp.
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Patent number: 5525410Abstract: A papermaker's fabric for the press section of a papermachine is woven from a multistrand yarn composed of filaments having diameters in the range from 0.04 mm to 0.18 mm. The multistrand yarn may be used singly or plied. The filaments are in a diameter range between those traditionally used for multifilament yarns and monofilament yarns. The fabrics woven from the multistrand yarns have compressibilities of fabrics woven from multifilament yarns and the cleanliness and openness of fabrics woven from monofilament yarns.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1995Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: Robert A. Hansen
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Patent number: 5508094Abstract: A press fabric for use on the press section of a paper machine has a multilayer structure, and is woven according to techniques normally applied in the weaving of forming fabrics. The press fabric is woven from at least one system of warp yarns and two or more layers of weft yarns, with the yarn sizes and weave patterns chosen with a view toward providing the resulting press fabric with a fine paper-contacting surface, and ample void volume. One of the two or more layers of weft yarns includes, or is entirely composed of, multicomponent yarns having a plurality of load-bearing members. The multicomponent yarns may be multifilament or multistrand yarns composed of fine filaments, or may be polyurethane-coated monofilament yarns, and provide the press fabrics with a compressible and resilient structure. The multifilament or multistrand yarns may also be polyurethane-coated.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1994Date of Patent: April 16, 1996Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: William M. McCarthy, Ebo E. Dam, Wil F. van Bergen, Keith Fitzpatrick
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Patent number: 5503196Abstract: A papermaker's fabric having a smooth surface and a prolonged life includes flat machine-direction yarns which define the upper and lower surfaces thereof. The fabric has two layers of cross-machine direction yarns, each of which is interwoven with the flat machine-direction yarns. Other machine-direction yarns, of round cross section, weave with the cross-machine-direction yarns in the two layers to bind the two layers together. The knuckles of these round machine-direction yarns are within the fabric with respect to the planes defined by the flat machine-direction yarns, and, as a consequence, are less susceptible to degradation by heat and abrasion. The round machine-direction yarns may be used to seam the fabric. A longer fabric life follows from the protection of the round machine-direction yarns by the flat. The papermaker's fabric is particularly useful as a dryer fabric on the dryer section of a papermachine.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Michael J. Josef, Eric R. Romanski, Ross G. Burbank
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Patent number: 5503195Abstract: A composite pintle for joining the ends of a pin-seamable papermaker's fabric together with a pin seam includes a monofilament yarn having at least one monofilament strand, and a filler yarn, so-called because it fills the void volume surrounding the monofilament yarn in the passage formed by the interdigitated seaming loops and through which the composite pintle is directed to join the fabric into endless form. The filler yarn, including sample fibers, may be a texturized, spun, cabled or plied yarn. The monofilament and filler yarns are drawn through the seaming passage by a wire leader, which may be attached to them by a connecting sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1994Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Albany International CorpInventor: Roy C. Edens, Jr.
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Patent number: 5501133Abstract: The invention concerns a braid structure comprising a plurality of braided layers of stranded material in which the layers are laid down in a single pass of a braiding machine, with at least one strand of each layer extending into a contiguous layer to form an interlock between the layers. The invention also concerns a machine and a method of making the structure by supplying groups of strands, (R, B, G, O, W), to a braid forming station, whereby each group of strands forms a braid layer. A strand (R) from one of the groups passes into or through the strands (B) of a group of an adjacent layer to form an interlock therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: David Brookstein, Donald Rose, Robin Dent, John Dent, John Skelton
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Patent number: 5464488Abstract: A method for forming a strong and flexible bond between two plastic fabric layers requires the controlled use of an ultrasonic welding apparatus. Control of the time ultrasonic energy is delivered to the two overlapped plastic fabric layers, and of the pressure placed upon those layers during that time, is exercised to ensure that no melting of the yarns from which the two fabric layers are woven occurs. Rather, the yarns are softened by the application of ultrasonic energy, and are compressed together between the horn and an anvil to force them to adhere to one another. After the ultrasonic energy is turned off, compression is maintained while the overlapped plastic fabric layers cool and harden. A strong, flexible bond, suitable for operation as a seam for an endless belt, is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: November 7, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: Randall F. Servin
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Patent number: 5456836Abstract: A self-supporting filter element is produced from a precursor fiber web according to one of several methods. The precursor fiber web contains heat-shrinkable fibers or binder fibers or both. The web is exposed to temperatures sufficiently elevated to cause shrinkage of the fibers or melting of the binder. After cooling the web, the filter elements produced are self-supporting, and may have densities up to 500 kg/m.sup.3 to improve filtration while retaining good functional characteristics for operating pressure drop and air permeability. The self-supporting filter elements can be constructed of one material, and thus may be suitable for recycling.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Andrew B. Jeffery, George Bakis, John Skelton
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Patent number: 5454405Abstract: A triple-layer papermaking fabric includes top and a bottom weft yarn layers interwoven with a system of warp yarns. The warp yarn system includes pairs of associated, stacked first and second warp yarns. The first warp yarn in each pair interweaves with the top weft yarns in a plain-weave pattern occasionally broken by an interweaving with a bottom weft yarn to join the top and bottom weft yarn layers together. The second warp yarn in each pair, ordinarily running between the top and bottom weft yarn layers and stacked below the first warp yarn, weaves over the top weft yarn skipped by the first warp yarn when it weaves down under a bottom weft yarn to maintain the plain-weave character of the top surface of the fabric. The second warp yarn never weaves with the bottom weft yarns. The fabric is flat-woven, and subsequently seamed into endless form. The first warp yarns have an exaggerated crimp to provide the fabric with an enhanced seam strength.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1994Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: John M. Hawes
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Patent number: 5411463Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite roll which utilizes a thin metal outer shell and in the interior thereof reinforced foam elements and resin and wherein each of said elements extends longitudinally the length of said shell.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1993Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: David S. Brookstein
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Patent number: 5391419Abstract: A press fabric for use on papermaking and similar machines is of the open-ended variety, and has loops at each end enabling it to be closed into endless form during installation on the machine by means of a pin seam. The machine-direction (MD) yarns, from which the loops are formed during the flat or endless weaving of the fabric, are composite yarns having a core yarn with a sleeve-like coating. The coating, either permanent, semi-permanent, or soluble, gives the composite yarn a monofilament-like structure enabling good loop formation and stability. The use of multifilament yarn as the core yarn provides a fabric having improved elasticity in the machine direction, and a greater degree of resiliency, following the removal of a soluble coating material, than can be obtained using monofilament yarn.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1992Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: Francis L. Davenport
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Patent number: 5388498Abstract: A braiding machine for braiding a three-dimensional braid formed of interlocked layers includes a plurality of yarn carriers with packages of yarn, tracks defining serpentine paths and a drive mechanism for driving the carriers along the paths. The drive mechanism includes a two-dimensional array of braiding horn-gears arranged in rows. At the ends of each rows turnaround horn gears are provided for turning the carriers around. Advantageously, a small turnaround horngear is provided at one end of each row and two turnaround horngears are provided at the other end, each horngear having less number of slots than the braiding horngears.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1993Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Robin Dent, Donald J. Rose
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Patent number: 5359806Abstract: A pesticidal barrier, which may be used as a liner for a building excavation to protect the building to be constructed from infestation by termites and other insect pests, takes the form of a flexible membrane. The membrane comprises an assembly of fibers or filaments. The assembly has an average void volume of less than 85% when measured under a pressure of 10 kPa (1.45 psi). The fibers in the assembly have an average fiber size of less than 6 denier. The assembly integrally incorporates within its structure, or has above or below its structure, an array or network of connected permeable-walled tubes, so that an insecticide may be delivered to all parts of the membrane, particularly after the barrier has been installed at a building site.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Andrew B. Jeffery, John Skelton
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Patent number: 5360541Abstract: A modular table filter for a circular horizontal rotating table filter includes a number of sections which may be assembled on the support frame thereof. The sections are annular-sector-shaped and, when assembled, form an annulus on the table filter. Each section, in turn, may be broken down into an outer subsection and an inner subsection. Filtration fabric, or textile, may be placed on top of the outer subsection, and secured therein by the inner subsection, which is designed to lock thereinto. Alternatively, each section may be an integral annular-sector-shaped frame having a peripheral groove or channel. Filtration textile may be placed on top of the frame, and over the groove or channel, and wedges driven thereinto to hold the fabric tautly across the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: Michael Gerakios
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Patent number: 5360518Abstract: A press fabric for use on the press section of a paper machine has a multilayer structure, and is woven according to techniques normally applied in the weaving of forming fabrics. The press fabric is woven from at least one system of warp yarns and two or more layers of weft yarns, with the yarn sizes and weave patterns chosen with a view toward providing the resulting press fabric with a fine paper-contacting surface, and ample void volume. One of the two or more layers of weft yarns includes, or is entirely composed of, multicomponent yarns having a plurality of load-bearing members. The multicomponent yarns may be multifilament or multistrand yarns composed of fine filaments, or may be polyurethane-coated monofilament yarns, and provide the press fabrics with a compressible and resilient structure. The multifilament or multistrand yarns may also be polyurethane-coated.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1991Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: William M. McCarthy, Ebo E. Dam, Wil F. van Bergen, Keith Fitzpatrick
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Patent number: 5360656Abstract: A press felt is devised for use in a papermaking machine, and a method is provided for manufacturing such a press felt. The press felt comprises a base fabric which is made of fabric of yarn material and is endless in the machine direction of the press felt, and one or more layers of fiber material arranged on the base fabric. The base fabric of the press felt comprises at least one layer composed of a spirally-wound strip made of fabric of yarn material and having a width which is smaller than the width of the final base fabric. Longitudinal threads of the spirally-wound fabric strip of yarn material make an angle with the machine direction of the press felt. The fabric strip of yarn material may advantageously be flat-woven.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Jan Rexfelt, Sven-Arne Svensson
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Patent number: 5358758Abstract: A structural member formed from a plurality of layers of interwoven fibrous material. The plurality of layers intersect and join each other along lines of contact. The lines of contact form axes of the member. A hollow central portion having a perimeter is defined by the plurality of intersecting layers and the lines of contact. A plurality of points are formed on the perimeter of the hollow central portion defined by the lines of contact formed by the axes. At least one flange extends outwardly of the hollow central portion at each of the points, wherein each of the plurality of layers extends beyond the axes of the member to define the flanges.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1992Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: John Skelton, David S. Brookstein
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Patent number: 5357839Abstract: A solid braid structure comprising a plurality of interlocked layers is created by causing a plurality of package carriers of yarn to move along a plurality of defined serpentine paths by track modules. The track modules extend in a first direction to define a longitudinally extending path corresponding to a first layer of the braid structure and in a second direction to provide at least one crossover path between adjacent serpentine paths. The package carriers which move in the first direction create a first layer of braid and, at a crossover path, move between adjacent serpentine paths to cause the yarn forming the first layer of braid to interlock with the braid of an adjacent layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1993Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: David S. Brookstein, John Skelton, John R. Dent, Robin W. Dent, Donald J. Rose
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Patent number: 5346567Abstract: This invention is directed to coating press fabrics to achieve a controlled void volume. More particularly, this invention is directed to a method of modifying a press fabric for a papermaking machine which comprises the steps of:(a) applying a thin layer of a polymeric foam to the surface of a press fabric;(b) drying said foam to form a coated press fabric; and(c) curing said coated press fabric.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1992Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventor: James M. Barnewall
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Patent number: 5328757Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of paper machine clothing for use in high temperature applications, which article comprises:a) a paper contacting surface layer adapted in use to contact a forming paper sheet;b) a base layer structure; andc) at least one intermediate layer disposed between said surface layer and said base layer structure, characterised in that said surface layer comprises a fibrous or continuous layer constituting a thermal barrier and providing properties of sheet release.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1992Date of Patent: July 12, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Maryann C. Kenney, Sandra K. Barlow, Ludmilla Konopasek
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Patent number: 5316833Abstract: This invention relates to paper machine clothing and has particular reference to paper machine clothing suitable for use in the forming, presing and drying sections of a papermakng machine and comprises a monofilament and/or staple fibre in which themonofilament or staple fibre comprises a polyamide material which has been subjected to a treatment with an aqueous solution of aldehyde in the presence of a catalyst to effect partial cross-linking of the polyamide to provide a gel content thereof within the range of 0.1-75%.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1992Date of Patent: May 31, 1994Assignee: Albany International Corp.Inventors: Robert B. Davis, Charles E. Kramer, John P. Rooney, Jr., Chunghi H. Park, Dana B. Eagles, Joseph G. O'Connor, Chian-Hsiang Lin, Kathleen A. Tabis, Maryann C. Kenney, Jeffrey A. Emond