Patents Assigned to Wilbanks International
  • Patent number: 6444094
    Abstract: Papermaking apparatus is disclosed having variable dewatering devices with moveable elements which engage the conveyor carrying paper stock and are adjustable to vary their operating characteristics. A variable pulse turbulation blade with an adjustable in-going angle is provided with a cam-operated adjustment device that maintains the blade height constant while adjusting the in-going angle to prevent fiber clumps and to provide the paper sheet with a more uniform consistency. The turbulation blade may have a plurality of flats disposed at different angles or multiple radii on its leading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Rulis, Robert E. Edwards, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020060040
    Abstract: Papermaking apparatus is disclosed having variable dewatering devices with moveable elements which engage the conveyor carrying paper stock and are adjustable to vary their operating characteristics. A variable pulse turbulation blade with an adjustable in-going angle is provided with a cam-operated adjustment device that maintains the blade height constant while adjusting the in-going angle to prevent fiber clumps and to provide the paper sheet with a more uniform consistency. The turbulation blade may have a plurality of flats disposed at different angles or multiple radii on its leading portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Rulis, Robert E. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6372093
    Abstract: An adjustable foil apparatus for papermaking machines is described in which a pair of rigid foil members are mounted in a pair and are pivotable about substantially parallel longitudinal axes in mirror image fashion to provide selected angularity therebetween. A common operating mechanism is attached to both of the adjustable angle foils in the pair, such that actuation of the operating mechanism produces concurrent mirror image pivoting of the foils in the pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Brewer
  • Patent number: 6274002
    Abstract: An automatic control system for a papermaking machine having a plurality of variable dewatering devices with moveable elements which engage the conveyor carrying the paper stock and are adjusted by electrical operating devices, such as servo motors or solenoid valves, to vary their water removal rate in response to control signals produced by a computer controller. A plurality of sensors are spaced along the path of the paper sheet downstream from the variable dewatering devices to sense the paper sheet characteristics including light transparency and mass, and to apply sensor output signals corresponding thereto to the computer controller. The servo motors have their shafts coupled to adjustment devices for cam mechanisms which adjust the moveable elements of the variable dewatering elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Rulis, Robert E. Edwards, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5169500
    Abstract: An adjustable angle foil apparatus for a paper making machine is described in which a rigid foil member is pivoted by a cam actuated adjustment mechanism to change the foil angle. The cam actuator includes at least a rear set of cam slots and cam follower pins connecting a foil support member to a foil mounting base member to pivot support member in response to longitudinal movement thereof for adjustment of the foil angle. A rigid foil body made of foil segments of ceramic or other hard, wear resistant material, are attached by tongue and groove connections and bonding adhesive to the foil support member. The cam actuated adjustment mechanism pivots such support member to adjust the foil angle without bending the foil. In one embodiment a front set of cam slots and cam follower pins is provided to maintain the height of the leading edge of the foil substantially constant at different foil angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Wilbanks International
    Inventor: Daniel E. Mejdell
  • Patent number: 5034100
    Abstract: A stationary drainage device for a papermaking machine is described including a drainage box which may have a plurality of vacuum chambers and a stationary curved cover formed by cover strips of ceramic material separated by drainage slots. The cover includes a central cover strip of greater width than the other cover strips on opposite sides thereof. A pressure roll presses the paper sheet and the porous conveyor transporting such sheet across the curved cover of the drainage device, against the curved upper surface of the central cover strip at a nip position spaced from the drainage slots and the other cover strips for greater dewatering efficiency. The stationary drainage device may be mounted at the output of the forming section as a stationary couch device or in the press section as a felt conveyor cleaning and dewatering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Wilbanks International
    Inventor: Geoff T. Sides
  • Patent number: 4926788
    Abstract: A mandrel system for a can coating or decorating machine or the like comprising a ceramic sleeve member for supporting a workpiece and a sleeve support core member for supporting the ceramic sleeve member and at least two axially spaced bearing units supported by the sleeve support core member and/or the support core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 4671740
    Abstract: A ceramic coated abrasion resistant member and method of making are described in which a plurality of thin plates of polycrystalline ceramic material of small size, for example, a square plate measuring 1.0 inch by 1.0 inch having a thickness less than 0.200 inch are bonded to a thicker substrate base member with a uniform layer of organic adhesive bonding material. The bonding material includes a thermosetting organic plastic adhesive and a coupling agent which forms covalent chemical bonds with the ceramic plates, base member and plastic adhesive. An organosilane, such as .gamma.-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, may be used as the coupling agent. The ceramic material may be selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and spinel ceramic materials. The substrate member is preferably metal, such as steel and the plastic adhesive may be an epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ormiston, Dean A. Rulis
  • Patent number: 4554195
    Abstract: A ceramic coated abrasion resistant member and method of making are described in which a plurality of thin plates of polycrystalline ceramic material are bonded to a thicker substrate base member with an adhesive bonding material. The bonding material includes a thermosetting organic plastic adhesive and a coupling agent which forms covalent chemical bonds with the ceramic plates, base member and plastic adhesive. An organosilane, such as .gamma.-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, may be used as the coupling agent. The ceramic material may be selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and spinel ceramic materials. The substrate member is preferably metal, such as steel and the plastic adhesive may be an epoxy resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ormiston, Dean A. Rulis
  • Patent number: 4539105
    Abstract: Cyclone separator apparatus and method of manufacture are described for providing a separator cone of abrasion resistant material covered by a sleeve of plastic material having flexible seal regions at least some of which are spaced from the outer surface of the cone. The cover sleeve of plastic is bonded to the cone of abrasion resistant material which is preferably made of aluminum oxide ceramic material, by heating the cone to a temperature above the melting temperature of the plastic, inserting the heated cone into the sleeve to melt the inner surface of the sleeve and cooling the assembly below such melting temperature to bond the sleeve to the cone. The sleeve may be made of polyethylene or other suitable thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic materials and the cleaner cone can be made of ceramic material, metal or other suitable abrasion resistant materials of high melting temperature than the plastic sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 4184915
    Abstract: A drainage foil apparatus for removing liquid from material carried across the foil by a moving foraminous conveyor such as the wood pulp stock in a paper making machine, is described. The drainage foil apparatus includes a foil having at least a nose portion of ceramic material formed by laterally spaced ceramic segments. The segments are mounted on a support means enabling individual replacement of such segments when they become damaged or worn. The support means includes a mounting member of metal which extends into a slot in a lower surface portion of the ceramic segment and is bonded thereto by a bonding material provided within the slot. For easy replacement of the ceramic segments, the mounting member and slot are shaped to enable each segment to be inserted and removed from such mounting member without moving other segments. In one embodiment, the ceramic nose portion is separate from the rear portion of the foil, such rear portion being made of a different material such as a synthetic plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: Wilbanks International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Metcalf