Steam distribution system

Abstract

A system for distributing steam to a travelling web includes an elongated chamber having numerous steam distribution outlets arranged therealong and a steam inlet manifold extending lengthwise along the interior of the chamber. A plurality of ports formed along the manifold serve to admit steam from the manifold to the chamber. A system of manually adjustable valves individually controls the amount of fluid passing through each port from the manifold into the chamber to thereby enable an operator to selectively establish various profiles of steam distribution. In a preferred embodiment the system is located above the web. The steam distribution outlets are directed downwardly and each is surrounded on the interior of the chamber by an upstanding ferrule which prevents condensation from passing from the chamber onto the web.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for distributing steam .Iadd.onto a traveling paper machine web .Iaddend.comprising: a. .Iadd.first .Iaddend.means forming a .Iadd.single, continuous .Iaddend.chamber .Iadd.space extending substantially across the width dimension of said web and .Iaddend.having a multiplicity of steam distribution outlets spaced .Iadd.uniformly .Iaddend.along a .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.portion of .[.its surface.]. .Iadd.said first means adjacent said web .Iaddend.   b. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.means forming a .[.plurality.]. .Iadd.multiplicity .Iaddend.of steam supply ports .[.in.]..Iadd., each port having individual .Iaddend.fluid communication with diverse portions of said chamber .Iadd.space.Iaddend.; and   c. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.means for variably regulating the passage of steam through at least a number of said ports individually to effect .Iadd.continuously transitioned .Iaddend.variation in the distribution of steam throughout said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.as such steam passes thereinto and thereby produce .Iadd.continuously transitioned .Iaddend.variation in the steam distribution profile established at said steam distribution outlets.   
     
     
       2. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said .Iadd.third .Iaddend.means for variably regulating the passage of steam through a number of said ports comprises a plurality of valves, each valve being mounted for regulating the passage of steam through .Iadd.a respective .Iaddend.one of said number of ports. 
     
     
       3. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the passage of steam through all of said steam supply ports is variably regulated by said plurality of valves. 
     
     
       4. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said steam distribution outlets are substantially downwardly directed, further comprising .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.means forming a raised water barrier surrounding each of said steam distribution outlets internally of .Iadd.said .Iaddend.chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for resisting passage of condensation from the interior of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.through said outlets. 
     
     
       5. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said steam distribution outlets are substantially downwardly directed, further comprising .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.means forming a raised water barrier surrounding each of said steam distribution outlets internally of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for resisting passage of condensation from the interior of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.through said outlets. 
     
     
       6. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.is of polygonal cross section and said steam distribution outlets are grouped in a plane face thereof nearer to the junction of said plane face and one intersecting face than to the junction of said plane face and another intersecting face whereby a condensate conduit is formed at said junction of said plane face and said other intersecting face when said plane face is angularly disposed to the horizontal so that said junction of said plane face and said other face forms the lower extremity of said apparatus. 
     
     
       7. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means forming a raised water barrier surrounding at least a portion of said steam distribution outlets internally of said .[.second.]. chamber .Iadd.spaced .Iaddend.for resisting the passage of condensate from the interior of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.through said outlets. 
     
     
       8. Steam distributing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.means forming a plurality of steam supply ports comprises a steam inlet manifold disposed internally of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and connected to a source of supply for conveying steam to diverse portions of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.through said ports. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for distributing steam .Iadd.across the width of a traveling paper machine web .Iaddend.comprising: a. an elongated steam inlet manifold .[.forming.]. .Iadd.longitudinally disposed substantially across the width of said web and having .Iaddend.a plurality of ports .Iadd.distributed .Iaddend.along the length thereof;   b. means forming .[.an elongated enclosed.]. .Iadd.a continuous .Iaddend.chamber .[.surrounding the.]. .Iadd.space enclosing that .Iaddend.portion of said manifold along which said ports are distributed;   c. means forming a multiplicity of steam distribution outlets .Iadd.distributed .Iaddend.along the length of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and   d. a plurality of valves, each valve being mounted for variably regulating the passage of steam from said manifold through an individual port into said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.to thereby vary the distribution of steam throughout said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and permit the establishment of a variety of .Iadd.continuously transitioned .Iaddend.steam distribution profiles .[.at.]. .Iadd.from .Iaddend.said steam distribution outlets.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means outside of said enclosed chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for adjusting each of said plurality of valves individually. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said steam distribution outlets are substantially downwardly directed, further comprising means forming a raised water barrier surrounding each of said steam distribution outlets internally of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for resisting the passage of condensation through said outlets from the interior of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.to the exterior thereof. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein .[.paid.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.steam distribution outlets are arranged along one side of said enclosed chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and said ports are arranged linearly along said manifold to face in a direction away from said steam distribution outlets. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus for distributing steam upon a travelling web comprising: a. means forming an elongated chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.adapted to be mounted above and extend substantially .Iadd.continuously .Iaddend.across said web;   b. means forming a multiplicity of steam distribution outlets .Iadd.distributed .Iaddend.along the length of a substantially downwardly directed portion of said chamber .Iadd.space.Iaddend.,   c. an elongated steam inlet manifold enclosed within said elongated chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and extending substantially lengthwise thereof, said manifold forming a plurality of substantially upwardly directed ports .Iadd.distributed along the length of said manifold .Iaddend.for distributing steam throughout said chamber;   d. a plurality of valves, each one of which regulates the amount of steam passing through one of said ports;   e. means outside of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for variably adjusting each of said plurality of valves individually to thereby vary the distribution of steam throughout said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.and permit the establishment of a variety of steam distribution profiles at said steam distribution outlets; and   f. means forming a raised water barrier surrounding each of said steam distribution outlets internally of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.for resisting the passage of condensate through said outlets from the interior of said chamber .Iadd.space .Iaddend.to the exterior thereof. .Iadd. 14. An apparatus for distributing steam onto a travelling web of finite width and indefinite length comprising:   a. means forming a continuous elongated chamber space extending across at least a substantial portion of the width of said web, said chamber space having an array of steam distribution outlets uniformly spaced along a planar structural surface of said means most proximate of said web, said surface being secured in spaced disposition from said web and substantially parallel therewith;   b. means forming a multiplicity of steam supply ports uniformly distributed along the length of said chamber space in fluid communication with diverse portions thereof, said space being substantially open to fluid communication along said length thereof inclusive of said plurality of ports; and   c. means for variably regulating the passage of steam through at least a number of said ports, individually, to effect variation in the distribution of steam throughout said chamber space as such steam passes thereinto and thereby produce a continuously transitioned flow distribution profile established at said steam distribution outlets. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A method of regulating the distribution profile of steam onto a traveling paper web of finite width and indefinite length, such steam being issued from a single distribution chamber space having a continuous void longitudinally disposed across a substantial portion of said web width and through an array of uniformly distributed apertures in chamber enclosing structure adjacent said web, said method comprising the steps of:   Supplying steam to said single chamber space from a steam source through a multiplicity of individually flow controllable conduits and adjusting the steam flow rate through each of said conduits to obtain a predetermined and continuously transitioned flow distribution profile of steam issuance from said apertures along the full length of said chamber. .Iaddend.