Patents by Inventor Michael Odell

Michael Odell 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: 20110214829
    Abstract: Method for compensating for uneven shrinkage in a paper web in the press and drying sections of a paper machine, in which there is at least one open draw. In the method, a flow guide/guides are used in the head box, by means of which the machine direction orientation tendency of the fibres is reduced in the edge areas of the web and the angle of detaching of the web from the centre roll is adjusted, by directing onto the web an air jet that is located in the cross direction and the pressure of which can be adjusted in the said direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Runtech Systems Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo Loippo, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 7536806
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for improving runnability, and dryer section length, by using a vertical impingement dryer before a first dryer cylinder of a group of dryer cylinders. After a pressing section, the web is dried with a pre-impingement dryer, closely followed by a vertical impingement dryer, which is closely following by the first dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer and vertical impingement dryer of the first dryer cylinder to have a drying temperature of approximately 80° C. with no undesirable sticking to the dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer can be arranged to dry a first side of the web, and a vertical impingement dryer after the first dryer cylinder is arranged to dry a second side of the web. The impingement drying takes place directly against the web without an intervening fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen, Markku Lummila, Michael Odell, Martti Salminen, Riikka Antikainen, Petter Honkalampi
  • Publication number: 20080115902
    Abstract: Fibrous stock is supplied by a paper or board machine headbox (1) between looped forming wires (11, 12). Water is removed in a two part first dewatering zone (Z1), the first part formed by a suction forming roll engaging a forming wire (12) and the second part formed by a fixed forming shoe engaging opposite a forming wire (11). The wires (11, 12) are guided so the first dewatering zone causes essentially non-pulsating dewatering in the stock. Water is removed in a second dewatering zone (Z2) formed by fixed dewatering blades (21) on the other side of the wires (11, 12) and supported against the stock therebetween (21) and on the opposite side of the wires (11, 12) by dewatering blades (24), loaded in a controlled manner against the fixed dewatering blades (21) at gaps (22) between these so that pulsating dewatering is caused in the second zone (Z2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventors: Antti Poikolainen, Jeffrey Irwin, Michael Odell, Hannu Korhonen, Ari Puurtinen, Sami Anttilainen
  • Patent number: 7364643
    Abstract: Fibrous stock is supplied by a paper or board machine headbox (1) between looped forming wires (11, 12). Water is removed in a first dewatering zone (Z1) formed with a fixed forming shoe (3) having a curved surface against which a wire (12) is supported while the opposite wire (11) is unsupported in the area of the shoe (3). Water is removed in a second dewatering zone (Z2) formed by fixed dewatering blades (21) on the other side of the wires (11, 12) and supported against the stock therebetween (21) and on the opposite side of the wires (11, 12) by dewatering blades (24), loaded in a controlled manner against the fixed dewatering blades (21) at gaps (22) between these so that pulsating dewatering is caused in the second zone (Z2). The wires (11, 12) are guided so the shoe (3) causes essentially non-pulsating dewatering in the stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Poikolainen, Jeffrey C. Irwin, Michael Odell, Hannu Korhonen, Ari Puurtinen, Sami Anttilainen
  • Publication number: 20070084078
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for improving runnability, and dryer section length, by using a vertical impingement dryer before a first dryer cylinder of a group of dryer cylinders. After a pressing section, the web is dried with a pre-impingement dryer, closely followed by a vertical impingement dryer, which is closely following by the first dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer and vertical impingement dryer of the first dryer cylinder to have a drying temperature of approximately 80° C. with no undesirable sticking to the dryer cylinder. The pre-impingement dryer can be arranged to dry a first side of the web, and a vertical impingement dryer after the first dryer cylinder is arranged to dry a second side of the web. The impingement drying takes place directly against the web without an intervening fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Kari Juppi, Antti Komulainen, Markku Lummila, Michael Odell, Martti Salminen, Riikka Antikainen, Petter Honkalampi
  • Publication number: 20060162890
    Abstract: Fibrous stock is supplied by a paper or board machine headbox (1) between looped forming wires (11, 12). Water is removed in a first dewatering zone (Z1) formed with a fixed forming shoe (3) having a curved surface against which a wire (12) is supported while the opposite wire (11) is unsupported in the area of the shoe (3). Water is removed in a second dewatering zone (Z2) formed by fixed dewatering blades (21) on the other side of the wires (11, 12) and supported against the stock therebetween (21) and on the opposite side of the wires (11, 12) by dewatering blades (24), loaded in a controlled manner against the fixed dewatering blades (21) at gaps (22) between these so that pulsating dewatering is caused in the second zone (Z2). The wires (11, 12) are guided so the shoe (3) causes essentially non-pulsating dewatering in the stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Antti Poikolainen, Jeffrey Irwin, Michael Odell, Hannu Korhonen, Ari Puurtinen, Sami Anttilainen
  • Patent number: 6669820
    Abstract: A twin-wire former in a paper machine has two forming wire loops (10, 20), which define between themselves a twin-wire zone. At least one dewatering box (30) is located inside one of the wire loops (10, 20) to remove water through the wire from a web (W) being formed. At least one loading blade (40) is located opposite the dewatering box (30) inside the other wire loop (20; 10) in contact with the other wire. The dewatering box (30) includes at least three successive dewatering zones (30a, 30b) in which every second zone (30a) has a vacuum (p) and every second zone (30b) is vacuum-free. The at least one loading blade (40) is placed inside one of the wire loops (20; 10) at a location where it is opposed by a respective vacuum-free zone (30b), which is preceded and followed by a vacuum zone (30a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 6517685
    Abstract: The invention concerns the short circulation of a paper or board machine and in particular a simplified process arrangement for the short circulation, which arrangement comprises a metering system (20) for the stock (M) or stocks, pumps (110, 130, 170), a headbox (150), and a wire part (160) as well as a pipe system interconnecting the devices, with means of regulation, and in which arrangement a high-consistency stock (3) is fed into the headbox (150), and the white water (4) recovered from the wire part (160) is fed by means of a diluting pump (170) into the headbox (150) so that diluting of the stock suspension is carried out in the headbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Michael Odell
  • Publication number: 20020096301
    Abstract: A twin-wire former in a paper machine has two forming wire loops (10, 20), which define between themselves a twin-wire zone. At least one dewatering box (30) is located inside one of the wire loops (10, 20) to remove water through the wire from a web (W) being formed. At least one loading blade (40) is located opposite the dewatering box (30) inside the other wire loop (20; 10) in contact with the other wire. The dewatering box (30) includes at least three successive dewatering zones (30a, 30b) in which every second zone (30a) has a vacuum (p) and every second zone (30b) is vacuum-free. The at least one loading blade (40) is placed inside one of the wire loops (20; 10) at a location where it is opposed by a respective vacuum-free zone (30b), which is preceded and followed by a vacuum zone (30a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Odell
  • Publication number: 20020060026
    Abstract: The invention concerns the short circulation of a paper or board machine and in particular a simplified process arrangement for the short circulation, which arrangement comprises a metering system (20) for the stock (M) or stocks, pumps (110, 130, 170), a headbox (150), and a wire part (160) as well as a pipe system interconnecting the devices, with means of regulation, and in which arrangement a high-consistency stock (3) is fed into the headbox (150), and the white water (4) recovered from the wire part (160) is fed by means of a diluting pump (170) into the headbox (150) so that diluting of the stock suspension is carried out in the headbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 6270624
    Abstract: A stock feed system for a multi-layer headbox and a method in the operation of a multi-layer headbox in which into each inlet header of the multi-layer headbox, a stock concept is passed which has been produced out of the same fresh stock by adding the necessary chemicals and fillers to separated portions of the fresh stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Machinery Inc.
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Erkki Ilmoniemi, Michael Odell, Antti Suonperä
  • Patent number: 5833809
    Abstract: A twin-wire former of a paper machine, for high speed paper machines whose web running speed is of an order of from about 1600 m/min to about 2500 m/min. The former includes a carrying wire guided in a loop and a covering wire guided in a loop to define a twin-wire zone and an inlet or forming gap between the wires. A pulp suspension layer or a pulp suspension jet is fed into the inlet or forming gap through a discharge duct of a headbox. The former also includes, as a combination, a first forming-suction roll arranged proximate the forming gap in a loop of one of the wires and a second forming-suction roll arranged inside the loop of the wire opposite to the wire inside whose loop the first forming roll is arranged. The forming-suction rolls have suction zones over which the twin-wire zone is curved on certain sectors. In the suction zones, the vacuum levels are arranged adjustable independently from one another, and possibly relative to one another, so as to minimize the unequalsidedness of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5798024
    Abstract: A roll and blade gap former for a paper machine having first and second wires guided in a respective loop and defining a twin-wire forming zone, a forming gap in which the first and second wires converge before the twin-wire zone, a headbox including a slice channel having a slice opening through which a stock suspension jet is fed into the forming gap to form a web between the wires, and drainage and forming elements arranged in the twin-wire zone for removing water from the web. To provide an improvement in the control of the Z-direction properties of the web, the former includes turbulence generating vanes arranged in the slice channel in the headbox to cause turbulence in the stock suspension jet upon its discharge from the slice opening into the forming gap and a first forming roll arranged in the twin-wire zone and which constitutes the first drainage and forming elements in the twin-wire zone after the forming gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Odell, Lauri Verkasalo
  • Patent number: 5759353
    Abstract: A former section provided with a twin-wire zone in a paper machine including a carrying wire and a covering wire which form the twin-wire zone therebetween them, and web-forming and draining members arranged in the twin-wire zone. In an initial part of the twin-wire zone, a stationary unit of forming ribs is arranged inside a loop of one of the wires and includes transverse forming ribs extending across the entire width of the wires and placed at a distance from one another to define gaps therebetween. A loading unit is placed opposite to these forming ribs inside the loop of the opposite wire and includes spring blades which are loaded against that wire. The dragging and loading areas of these spring blades are placed substantially in the middle areas of the gaps between the forming ribs in the stationary unit of forming ribs to prevent crushing of the web between the forming ribs in the stationary unit of forming ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jyrki Jaakkola, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5688372
    Abstract: A method and device in the regulation of a headbox. The headbox includes a pulp inlet header, after the pulp inlet header, seen in the pulp flow direction, a distributor manifold whose pipes are opened into an intermediate chamber. The headbox comprises an attenuation chamber placed in connection with the intermediate chamber and, after the intermediate chamber, a turbulence generator having tubes which are opened, at their outlet end, into a discharge duct and, at their inlet end, into the intermediate chamber. In the method, into different positions along the width of the headbox, a pulp suspension flow is introduced, the concentration of this flow is adjustable by combining two component flows. In the method, in the regulation of the concentration of the flow passed into the pulp suspension, two component flows are combined by into the pulp suspension flow introducing an additional flow. The mixing ratio of the combined flow is regulated by adjusting the additional component flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Ari Linsuri, Petri Nyberg, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5599427
    Abstract: The invention is related to a twin-wire web former in a paper machine having a covering wire and a carrying wire which form a twin-wire forming zone with one another. A discharge opening of a headbox feeds a pulp suspension jet into the forming gap defined between said wires. The forming gap is immediately followed immediately by a forming shoe provided with a curved guide deck. A draining unit or units is/are provided after the forming shoe, before the first forming roll. The draining unit/units comprise(s) a press/support unit which guides the wire placed in contact with it as a straight run. The draining unit or units further comprise(s) a draining equipment provided with suction and foil equipment and placed opposite to the press/support unit, which draining equipment removes a substantial amount of water out of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Mauri Koivuranta, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5582687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a twin-wire web former for a paper machine wherein a covering wire and a carrying wire form a twin-wire forming zone between them. A method for dewatering a web is also disclosed. In the invention, water is drained out of a web running through the twin-wire zone through both of the wires. After the twin-wire zone, the web is separated from the covering wire and is transferred on the carrying wire to a pick-up point. In hybrid formers, after an initial single-wire forming zone preceding the twin-wire zone, and in gap formers, after a curved forming zone placed directly after a forming gap, there is a forming shoe provided with a ribbed deck and arranged inside one of the wire loops. This forming shoe is followed by dewatering and web forming units which include forming ribs and are placed inside both of the wire loops. At least one of the dewatering and web forming units is loaded by means of a pressure-hose arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Odell, Pekka Evasoja, Jyrki Jaakkola, Jouko Aula
  • Patent number: 5569360
    Abstract: A multi-layer headbox including at least two inlet headers for stock through which separate stocks are passed into a system of distributor pipes and further through a turbulence generator into a slice cone narrowing in the stock flow direction. Flaps are placed in the slice cone and one end of the flaps is attached to the turbulence generator. The flaps have at least two flap faces between which a step is formed. The step is arranged on the flap in an area in which the flap, and the flow duct, is curved and its the function is to dissipate any secondary vortices that might form on the curved flap face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Petri Nyberg, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5545293
    Abstract: A method and device in the regulation of a headbox. The headbox includes a pulp inlet header, after the pulp inlet header, seen in the pulp flow direction, a distributor manifold whose pipes are opened into an intermediate chamber. The headbox comprises an attenuation chamber placed in connection with the intermediate chamber and, after the intermediate chamber, a turbulence generator having tubes which are opened, at their outlet end, into a discharge duct and, at their inlet end, into the intermediate chamber. In the method, into different positions along the width of the headbox, a pulp suspension flow is introduced, the concentration of this flow is adjustable by combining two component flows. In the method, in the regulation of the concentration of the flow passed into the pulp suspension, two component flows are combined by into the pulp suspension flow introducing an additional flow. The mixing ratio of the combined flow is regulated by adjusting the additional component flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Jyrki Huovila, Ari Linsuri, Petri Nyberg, Michael Odell
  • Patent number: 5536372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a twin-wire web former for a paper machine wherein a covering wire and a carrying wire form a twin-wire forming zone between them. A method for dewatering a web is also disclosed. In the invention, water is drained out of a web running through the twin-wire zone through both of the wires. After the twin-wire zone, the web is separated from the covering wire and is transferred on the carrying wire to a pick-up point. In hybrid formers, after an initial single-wire forming zone preceding the twin-wire zone, and in gap formers, after a curved forming zone placed directly after a forming gap, there is a forming shoe provided with a ribbed deck and arranged inside one of the wire loops. This forming shoe is followed by dewatering and web forming units which include forming ribs and are placed inside both of the wire loops. At least one of the dewatering and web forming units is loaded by means of a pressure-hose arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Odell, Pekka Evasoja, Jyrki Jaakkola, Jouko Aula