Apparatus and method for impregnating a dry fiber batt
AssigneeCotton Incorporated
InventorAllen R. Winch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for impregnation of a dry fabric is disclosed including a purging device which is provided immediately upstream of a supply of liquid within an impregnation tank. The purging device urges a condensable gas through the dry fabric immediately prior to entry of the fabric into the liquid with the purging device providing a pressure differential across the fabric. The fabric is preferably conveyed by a first endless conveyor belt through a passageway of the purging device and subsequently into the impregnating liquid and beneath a first squeeze roller. The purging device displaces the non-condensable gas or air within the fabric with a condensable gas preferably steam.
Claims24
An apparatus for impregnating a dry, moving fabric with liquid, comprising:
- tank means for containing a supply of the liquid;
- means for conveying the fabric into and out of the tank means;
- and
- purging means for urging a condensable gas through the dry fabric immediately prior to entry of the fabric into the supply of the liquid, the purging means including both first chamber means for communicating the condensable gas with one side of the dry fabric and means for providing a pressure differential through the fabric, said means for providing the pressure differential including means for substantially sealing the dry fabric with respect to the first chamber means.
A method of impregnating a dry, moving fabric with liquid, comprising the steps of:
- conducting the fabric to a tank of the liquid;
- supplying a condensable gas to a first chamber on a first side of the fabric immediately upstream of the liquid;
- pressurizing said first chamber relative to ambient atmospheric pressure whereby a substantially uniform pressure differential is provided through the fabric throughout a first opening of the first chamber adjacent the fabric;
- substantially sealing the first opening of the first chamber with respect to the fabric;
- displacing a non-condensable gas in the fabric with the condensable gas of the first chamber;
- immediately immersing the fabric into the liquid of the tank to condense the condensable gas within the fabric;
- and
- conducting the fabric out of the liquid of the tank.
An apparatus for impregnating a dry, moving fabric with liquid, comprising:
- tank means for containing a supply of the liquid;
- means for conveying the fabric into and out of the tank means;
- and
- purging means for urging a condensable gas through the dry fabric immediately prior to entry of the fabric into the supply of liquid, the purging means including a first chamber having a first opening, which first opening is substantially sealed with respect to one side of the dry fabric, the purging means also including means for providing a substantially uniform pressure differential through the dry fabric throughout the first opening of the first chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.