Patents by Inventor Keith FitzPatrick

Keith FitzPatrick 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).

  • Publication number: 20120097353
    Abstract: A substrate for an endless belt in a papermaking machine comprising a plurality of preformed layers coated or impregnated with a polymeric or rubber material. Each preformed layer may be a textile material. At least one layer contains a matrix of preformed reinforcing components. The individual layers are first coated with a polymer resin or rubber material and then combined/stacked and cured/bonded to form the substrate of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FITZPATRICK
  • Patent number: 8080137
    Abstract: A belt for use in a long nip press having an arcuate pressure shoe. The belt has at least one layer having a polymer resin coating on at least one surface thereof. The resin coating has a plurality of grooves arranged therein and wherein a number of the grooves has a length less than a length of the arcuate pressure shoe to reduce ingoing nip spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Bo-Christer Aberg, Michael G. Moriarty, Paul Turner
  • Publication number: 20090029051
    Abstract: A belt for use in a long nip press having an arcuate pressure shoe. The belt has at least one layer having a polymer resin coating on at least one surface thereof. The resin coating has a plurality of grooves arranged therein and wherein a number of the grooves has a length less than a length of the arcuate pressure shoe to reduce ingoing nip spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Bo-Christer Aberg, Michael G. Moriarty, Paul Turner
  • Patent number: 7387711
    Abstract: A belt for use in a long nip press having an arcuate pressure shoe. The belt has at least one layer having a polymer resin coating on at least one surface thereof. The resin coating has a plurality of grooves arranged therein and wherein a number of the grooves has a length less than a length of the arcuate pressure shoe to reduce ingoing nip spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Bo-Christer Aberg, Michael G. Moriarty
  • Patent number: 7384516
    Abstract: A belt for use in a papermaking process, such as in a long nip press having a cylindrical press roller and an arcuate pressure shoe which define a nip. The belt has a nip load zone which passes through the nip during an operation. The belt comprises a substrate having a coating on at least one surface thereof. The substrate is in the form of an endless loop and has a longitudinal direction. The coating has a plurality of grooves running in a center portion of the nip load zone, in which the number of grooves have at least one of a depth, width, cross-sectional shape, or spacing which is different from that of the others so as to vary the void volume in a desired manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Thomas Krauthauf
  • Patent number: 7303656
    Abstract: A laminated substrate or base structure comprising separately formed layers with warp knitted or stitch bonded yarns joining the layers together wherein at least one of the layers is a reinforcing layer and at least one of the layers is for inhibiting resin flow through the substrate. A method for forming the substrate or base structure into a coated papermaker's process belt product is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Patent number: 7156956
    Abstract: A family of paper industry process belts (“PIPB's”) having a range of properties for different applications in the paper industry. The PIPB can be a laminate comprising a grooved press belt and a porous membrane embedded therein and used as a substitute dewatering structure heretofore provided by press fabric(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Publication number: 20050126733
    Abstract: A belt for use in a long nip press having an arcuate pressure shoe. The belt has at least one layer having a polymer resin coating on at least one surface thereof. The resin coating has a plurality of grooves arranged therein and wherein a number of the grooves has a length less than a length of the arcuate pressure shoe to reduce ingoing nip spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Bo-Christer Aberg, Michael Moriarty
  • Publication number: 20050115100
    Abstract: A belt for use in a papermaking process, such as in a long nip press having a cylindrical press roller and an arcuate pressure shoe which define a nip. The belt has a nip load zone which passes through the nip during an operation. The belt comprises a substrate having a coating on at least one surface thereof. The substrate is in the form of an endless loop and has a longitudinal direction. The coating has a plurality of grooves running in a center portion of the nip load zone, in which the number of grooves have at least one of a depth, width, cross-sectional shape, or spacing which is different from that of the others so as to vary the void volume in a desired manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Keith Fitzpatrick, Thomas Krauthauf
  • Publication number: 20050086833
    Abstract: A laminated substrate or base structure comprising separately formed layers with warp knitted or stitch bonded yarns joining the layers together wherein at least one of the layers is a reinforcing layer and at least one of the layers is for inhibiting resin flow through the substrate. A method for forming the substrate or base structure into a coated papermaker's process belt product is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Publication number: 20050037681
    Abstract: A family of paper industry process belts (“PIPB's”) having a range of properties for different applications in the paper industry. The PIPB can be a laminate comprising a grooved press belt and a porous membrane embedded therein and used as a substitute dewatering structure heretofore provided by press fabric(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Publication number: 20050003724
    Abstract: A substrate for an endless belt in a papermaking machine comprising a plurality of preformed layers coated or impregnated with a polymeric or rubber material. Each preformed layer may be a textile material. At least one layer contains a matrix of preformed reinforcing components. The individual layers are first coated with a polymer resin or rubber material and then combined/stacked and cured/bonded to form the substrate of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Patent number: 6465074
    Abstract: A resin-impregnated endless belt for a long nip press or calender of the shoe type, or for other papermaking and paper-processing applications, has a base support structure which includes coated elements, such as yarns, having a coating of a first polymeric resin material. The base support structure is in the form of an endless loop, at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of which is coated with a second polymeric resin material. The second polymeric resin material impregnates the structure of the base support structure, rendering it impermeable to oil and water. The first and second polymeric resin materials have an affinity for one another, so that the coating of second polymeric resin material on the base support structure as a whole establishes a chemical, as well as a mechanical, interlock with the coated yarns having the coating of first polymeric resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Keith FitzPatrick, Francis L. Davenport
  • Patent number: 5753085
    Abstract: A long nip press belt for a papermaking machine has a textile substrate impregnated and coated on at least one side with a polymeric resin material. The polymeric resin material is ground and buffed after being cured to provide the belt with a smooth surface and a uniform thickness. The textile substrate includes textile components (monofilaments, continuous fine filaments or staple fibers) having non-circular cross sections with a plurality of lobes. Such cross sections provide the textile components with a greater surface area than would be provided by components of equal denier having circular cross sections. As a consequence, the mechanical interlock and chemical bond or adhesion of the polymeric resin coating to the textile substrate are strengthened. In addition, the textile components having non-circular cross-sections with a plurality of lobes reduce the permeability of the textile substrate, so that polymeric resin material applied to one side may be prevented from flowing through to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick
  • Patent number: 5508094
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: William M. McCarthy, Ebo E. Dam, Wil F. van Bergen, Keith Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 5360518
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: William M. McCarthy, Ebo E. Dam, Wil F. van Bergen, Keith Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 4882217
    Abstract: A needled press felt, i.e. a felt which is intended to be used in the press section of a papermaking machine. The batt part of the felt comprises at least two kinds of fiber one of which consists of fibers having a diameter size 0.010 mm or less. These fibers are removed either successively or intermittently during the service of the felt in the press section, whereas the rest of the fibers in the batt part of the felt, i.e. the fibers having a larger diameter than those of the first kind, remain in the batt part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Keith FitzPatrick