Sealing device for a twin wire dewatering apparatus

A sealing device in an apparatus for removing liquid from a liquid slurry containing fibrous material which liquid slurry is fed from a headbox into a space between converging upper and lower liquid pervious moving belts having opposite longitudinal side edges and which belts are guided for movement in substantially fixed planes comprising:

• an elongated flexible member mounted adjacent to each of said opposite longitudinal side edges and having a longitudinal axis, a first end portion and a second end portion;
• said elongated flexible member having a base portion and two integral lip portions diverging outwardly from said base portion in opposite angular directions;
• each of said two integral lip portions having a terminal end for forming an effective seal with one of said converging upper and lower pervious moving belts;
• said terminal ends of said two integral lip portions at said first end portion being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance said terminal ends of said two integral lip portions are spaced apart at said second end portion;
• each of said two integral lip portions having an inner surface extending outwardly from a substantially common center line of said base portion;
• at least portions of each of said inner surfaces having a first substantially planar surface extending from a center line at a predetermined angle and a second substantially planar surface extending at a predetermined angle to said first substantially planar surface;
• said first substantially planar surface being tapered from at least a first location adjacent to said first end portion to at least a second location adjacent to said second end portion;
• said second substantially planar surface being tapered from at least a third location adjacent to said second end portion to at least a fourth location adjacent to said first end portion;
• and
• adjustable mounting structures for mounting said elongated flexible member on said apparatus for vertical, horizontal and pivotal adjustment.

In apparatus for removing at least a substantial quantity of liquid from a liquid slurry containing fibrous material wherein the liquid slurry is fed from a headbox Into the space between upper and lower moving liquid pervious belts moving in relatively fixed planes and having opposite longitudinal side edges and wherein the upper and lower moving liquid pervious belts converge from an entrance portion to an exit portion in substantially fixed planes, the improvement comprising:

• at least two elongated flexible sealing members, each having a longitudinal axis:
• each of said two elongated flexible sealing members having a base portion and two integral lip portions diverging outwardly from said base portion in opposite angular directions:
• one of said at least two elongated flexible sealing members being located adjacent to one of said opposite longitudinal side edges and the other of said at least two elongated flexible sealing members being located adjacent to the other of said opposite longitudinal side edges;
• said at least two elongated flexible sealing members having facing inner surfaces;
• each of said at least two elongated flexible sealing members having portions in sealing contact with portions of said upper and lower moving liquid pervious belts;
• and
• adjustable mounting structures mounted on said apparatus for adjusting the distance between said inner surfaces of said at least two elongated flexible sealing members from adjacent to said entrance portion to adjacent to said exit portion to vary the width of the product being produced.