Abstract: This invention is related to an economic and practical method of using barcode systems for the management of railroad tracks. The systems consist of barcodes and device(s) which can optically read and decode the barcodes. The barcodes are permanently installed on one or both rails of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the track. The barcodes include coded contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information along the track. By using these novel track barcode systems, sections of problematic tracks could be accurately located either manually or automatically for repeatable monitoring, repairing or replacement purposes.

Abstract: This invention is related to suction nozzles having a center protrusion for stabilizing a continuous web for various web property measurements. Suction nozzles blow air out of the nozzle, yet produce a vacuum proximate thereto. Two nozzles are disclosed, a single sided sheet-contact stabilizer and a non-contact sheet stabilizer. An air-bearing may be formed between the end surface of the center protrusion and the moving web.

Abstract: This invention is related to suction nozzles having a center protrusion for stabilizing a continuous web for various web property measurements. Suction nozzles blow air out of the nozzle, yet produce a vacuum proximate thereto. Two nozzles are disclosed, a single sided sheet-contact stabilizer and a non-contact sheet stabilizer. An air-bearing may be formed between the end surface of the center protrusion and the moving web.

Abstract: This invention is related to an economic and practical method of using barcode systems for the management of railroad tracks. The systems consist of barcodes and device(s) which can optically read and decode the barcodes. The barcodes are permanently installed on one or both rails of a railroad track at predetermined locations along the track. The barcodes include coded contents such as track location coordinates and other railroad property information along the track. By using these novel track barcode systems, sections of problematic tracks could be accurately located either manually or automatically for repeatable monitoring, repairing or replacement purposes.

Abstract: This invention is related to suction nozzles having a center protrusion for stabilizing a continuous web for various web property measurements. Suction nozzles blow air out of the nozzle, yet produce a vacuum proximate thereto. Two nozzles are disclosed, a single sided sheet-contact stabilizer and a non-contact sheet stabilizer. An air-bearing may be formed between the end surface of the center protrusion and the moving web.

Abstract: A steam distributor that uses a porous metal plate to replace the conventional screen plate of a steam shower for distributing steam to a moving web such as the web of a paper making machine. Steam showers using a steam distributor with this porous metal plate can deliver extremely uniform steam to the surface of a paper web. Profiling steam showers constructed by using an array of the steam distributors are able to deliver the best profiling results for various paper products. The porous metal plate can be considered as an equivalent of a screen plate with thousands of micro-orifices arranged tightly in both the machine direction and the CD direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to use steam to atomize water to produce a mixture of moisture and heat for application to the web of a paper machine for both production improvement and paper quality control. The method allows independent droplet size and heat control in the mixture, resulting in flexibility that can not be offered by conventional steam showers or water spray systems individually. In one embodiment the apparatus consists of a plurality of actuator nozzle modules which control the water volume flow feeding the nozzle through a pneumatic pressure signal. Pressurized steam feeding the nozzle is used to break the water into fine droplets. The resulting nozzle spray is a mixture of moisture in fine water droplets and steam vapor, and heat stored in the steam. Alternatively, a plurality of steam valves can be used to regulate the steam volume flow feeding each atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: A three-stream atomizing nozzle that has an air stream divider that separates the atomizing air from the source into three streams. The first stream is a straight air stream staying closest to and around the atomized water jet. The second stream is a swirl running around the first straight stream. The third stream is also a straight stream that wraps around the first straight stream and the second swirl. The nozzle also has a mixing chamber in which the three air streams are mixed together for the atomizing purpose. From the combination of the three air streams the nozzle can produce fine water droplets that are suitable for many uses and more importantly creates a tailorable water mass profile. The mass profile can be tailored into a shape that is close to a square shape which creates minimal coupling between adjacent zones.

Abstract: A steam distributor that uses a porous metal plate to replace the conventional screen plate of a steam shower for distributing steam to a moving web such as the web of a paper making machine. Steam showers using a steam distributor with this porous metal plate can deliver extremely uniform steam to the surface of a paper web. Profiling steam showers constructed by using an array of the steam distributors are able to deliver the best profiling results for various paper products. The porous metal plate can be considered as an equivalent of a screen plate with thousands of micro-orifices arranged tightly in both the machine direction and the CD direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to use steam to atomize water to produce a mixture of moisture and heat for application to the web of a paper machine for both production improvement and paper quality control. The method allows independent droplet size and heat control in the mixture, resulting in flexibility that can not be offered by conventional steam showers or water spray systems individually. In one embodiment the apparatus consists of a plurality of actuator nozzle modules which control the water volume flow feeding the nozzle through a pneumatic pressure signal. Pressurized steam feeding the nozzle is used to break the water into fine droplets. The resulting nozzle spray is a mixture of moisture in fine water droplets and steam vapor, and heat stored in the steam. Alternatively, a plurality of steam valves can be used to regulate the steam volume flow feeding each atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a three-stream atomizing nozzle for use with a rewet shower. The nozzle has an air stream divider that separates the atomizing air from the source into three streams. The first stream is a straight air stream staying closest to and around the atomized water jet. The second stream is a swirl running around the first straight stream. The third stream is also a straight stream that wraps around the first straight stream and the second swirl. The nozzle also has a mixing chamber in which the three air streams are mixed together for the atomizing purpose. The nozzle can from the combination of the three air streams produce fine water droplets that are suitable for a paper rewet shower and more importantly creates a tailorable water mass profile. The mass profile can be tailored into a shape that is close to a square shape which is ideal for rewet showers as a square profile creates minimal coupling between adjacent zones.

Abstract: A three-stream atomizing nozzle that has an air stream divider that separates the atomizing air from the source into three streams. The first stream is a straight air stream staying closest to and around the atomized water jet. The second stream is a swirl running around the first straight stream. The third stream is also a straight stream that wraps around the first straight stream and the second swirl. The nozzle also has a mixing chamber in which the three air streams are mixed together for the atomizing purpose. From the combination of the three air streams the nozzle can produce fine water droplets that are suitable for many uses and more importantly creates a tailorable water mass profile. The mass profile can be tailored into a shape that is close to a square shape which creates minimal coupling between adjacent zones.

Abstract: This invention relates to a three-stream atomizing nozzle for use with a rewet shower. The nozzle has an air stream divider that separates the atomizing air from the source into three streams. The first stream is a straight air stream staying closest to and around the atomized water jet. The second stream is a swirl running around the first straight stream. The third stream is also a straight stream that wraps around the first straight stream and the second swirl. The nozzle also has a mixing chamber in which the three air streams are mixed together for the atomizing purpose. The nozzle can from the combination of the three air streams produce fine water droplets that are suitable for a paper rewet shower and more importantly creates a tailorable water mass profile. The mass profile can be tailored into a shape that is close to a square shape which is ideal for rewet showers as a square profile creates minimal coupling between adjacent zones.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle for use with a rewet shower or a steam box. The nozzle has first and second orifices and a pressure port which allows the pressure between the orifices to be measured. The nozzle also has a pressure port upstream of the two orifices that allows for the measuring of the regulated water pressure from an actuator attached to the atomizing unit. The measured pressures can be used to determine if either orifice is completely blocked or if one orifice is partially blocked or the other orifice is worn.

Abstract: An actuator for controlling the pressure of fluid, such as water or steam, from a fluid source to a flow controlling orifice. The actuator can be used to apply such fluids to the web of a papermaking machine. The actuator comprises a housing having a first inlet connectable to the fluid source and a second inlet connectable to a pressure source. A resilient bellows structure extends between the first and second inlets within the housing to define an internal region of the bellows structure in sealed communication with one of the first and second inlets and an external region of the bellows structure in sealed communication with the other inlet. The bellows structure expands or contracts within the housing depending on the difference in pressures between the internal and external regions of the bellows.