Method of ventilating cylinder pockets in a cylinder dryer and apparatus for carrying out the method

Claim 1

Apparatus for ventilating cylinder pockets in a cylinder dryer including a plurality of heated cylinders about which a web-like material is taken in zig-zag mode, an endless Fourdrinier wire and return rolls positioned to press the material against certain of the heated cylinder surfaces, cylinder pockets being formed between the cylinders, web and wire when the latter relinquishes contact with the web along a separation line at a cylinder surface, to pass over an intermediate return roll arranged between the cylinders, and to make contact once again with the web along a closing line at the next consecutive cylinder circumference, the separation effected by relinquishing contact in part producing spontaneous flow into the pocket through said wire and the closing action effected by making contact once again in part producing spontaneous flow out from the pocket, said inflow being normally greater than said outflow to produce an air current transverse to the web and exhausting beyond the edge of the web, said apparatus including at least one blowing box disposed adjacent said separation line outside the cylinder pocket extending over the width of the wire, and provided with blowing orifices placed between said intermediate return roll and the said separation line where the wire relinquishes contact with the web, and barrier means on said blowing box comprising a lip of yielding material connected to the blowing box projecting outwardly therefrom with its free edge engaging against the peripheral surface of said intermediate return roll along its generatrix, at least some of the blowing orifices of the blowing box being directed such that drying air is caused to flow towards the wire in a direction forming an acute angle to, and in a direction substantially counter to the direction of travel of the wire, the flow through said orifices cooperating with said barrier means to create a reduction in pressure between said separation line and said intermediate return roll to reduce the spontaneous flow into the pocket relative to the spontaneous flow out from the pocket and thereby reduce the air current transverse to the web exhausting beyond the edge of the web, said barrier means also preventing an interface layer of wet air around the intermediate return roll periphery from being introduced into the cylinder pocket on rotation of the roll.