Patents by Inventor Richard M. Strebel

Richard M. Strebel 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: 20080000363
    Abstract: A dynamic vibration absorber within a roll of a calender has a viscoelastic spring and damping element, which is compressed to adjust and control the spring constant and so the frequency response of the vibration absorber. The viscoelastic spring and damping element is compressed by a mechanical arrangement, or a hydraulic arrangement, which can be actuated exterior to the roll shell. One embodiment employs an adjustment rod, having left hand threaded portions and right hand threaded portions such that when the adjustment rod is rotated to cause two masses mounted interior to the roll shell to be drawn together compressing one or more viscoelastic spacers therebetween. A further embodiment adjustable dynamic vibration damper increases or decreases a secondary mass by adding or removing liquid from the interior of the secondary mass. This also has the effect of adjusting the characteristic frequency of the dynamic vibration absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: METSO PAPER, INC.
    Inventor: Richard M. Strebel
  • Patent number: 7237743
    Abstract: A tail turn-up assembly has a frame positioned upstream of a reel spool. A carriage is pivotally mounted to the frame by a four bar linkage. The carriage is pivotable, from a retracted position to an extended position. When the carriage is engaged with the reel spool, a pair of curved tracks are positioned so that arcs defined by the tracks have their centers coincident with the spool axis. A knife carriage rides on the curved tracks and is constrained to move circumferentially about the reel spool. An actuator on the carriage causes the knife carriage to traverse circumferentially about the reel spool. The knife carriage has a leading edge formed by a knife which tears through the a tail which is cut from the web when the knife carriage is moved on the curved tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis S. Czechowicz, Richard M. Strebel
  • Publication number: 20030116035
    Abstract: A supercalender has a top roll, a bottom roll, and a plurality of intermediate rolls. The intermediate rolls are mounted to support frames by pivot arms. The pivot radius defined by the arms is at least about 2½ times the diameter of the largest intermediate roll. Hydraulic load support cylinders are arranged between the intermediate roll bearings and anchor points which are spaced away from the intermediate rolls, to allow greater movement without mechanical interference between hydraulic load support cylinders. The greater length of the pivot arms combined with a greater stroke of the load support cylinders allows the supercalender to accommodate filled rolls which change diameter substantially over their life, as the surface of the rolls is repeatedly turned down to refurbish the roll surface. The calender may be based on an existing calender of the closed A-frame type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Richard M. Strebel
  • Patent number: 6578473
    Abstract: A supercalender has a top roll, a bottom roll, and a plurality of intermediate rolls. The intermediate rolls are mounted to support frames by pivot arms. The pivot radius defined by the arms is at least about 2½ times the diameter of the largest intermediate roll. Hydraulic load support cylinders are arranged between the intermediate roll bearings and anchor points which are spaced away from the intermediate rolls, to allow greater movement without mechanical interference between hydraulic load support cylinders. The greater length of the pivot arms combined with a greater stroke of the load support cylinders allows the supercalender to accommodate filled rolls which change diameter substantially over their life, as the surface of the rolls is repeatedly turned down to refurbish the roll surface. The calender may be based on an existing calender of the closed A-frame type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Strebel