Leakage control system for treatment of moving webs

A method for reducing leaks in a pressurized web treatment system for treating a moving fabric web with a pressurized fluid, the web treatment system comprising a pressurized chamber, a seal between the moving fabric web and the pressurized chamber, a leak detector positioned near the seal, and means for removing the pressurized fluid from the web treatment system, the method comprising:

• (a) detecting a leak along the seal with the leak detector;
• (b) identifying the approximate location of the leak;
• (c) generating a signal indicative of the approximate location of the leak;
• and
• (d) increasing local sealing pressure above a predetermined minimum along the seal in the approximate location of the leak responsive to the signal.

A pressurized web treatment system for applying a pressurized fluid from a fluid source to a moving fabric web while dynamically reducing fluid leaks to the atmosphere, comprising:

• (a) a web treatment chamber comprising chamber walls that define an interior plenum, a fluid inlet for receiving pressurized fluid from a fluid source, an opening for applying pressurized fluid to a moving fabric web, a leading edge and a trailing edge both extending in the cross direction, opposing side edges extending in the machine direction, and a flexible seal assembly along at least one of the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the side edges, the seal assembly comprising a first seal head in contact with the web treatment chamber and an opposing second seal head with the moving fabric web passing between the first and second seal heads and wherein one of the first and second seal heads is urged toward the other of the first and second seal heads with a sealing force, and means for removing the applied fluid from the web treatment chamber;
• and
• (b) a control system for reducing fluid leaks along the seal assembly comprising a leak detector for identifying the presence and location of a fluid leak between the moving fabric web and the seal assembly, and localized leak reduction means responsive to the leak detector, wherein the localized leak reduction means comprises a force generator for variably adjusting the sealing pressure along the length of the seal assembly to reduce leakage in the vicinity of the fluid leak as identified by the leak detector.

A treatment system for a moving fabric web having a first surface and a second surface, comprising:

• (a) a chamber comprising a plenum for pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the moving fabric web, the chamber having at least one edge along which the moving fabric web travels into or out of the chamber;
• (b) a flexible seal assembly in contact with said at least one edge for preventing leakage of pressurized fluid from the treatment system;
• (c) a leak detector responsive to fluid leaks along the seal assembly such that the approximate location of fluid leaks can be identified;
• (d) localized leak reduction means along the seal assembly cooperatively associated with the leak detector such that increased sealing force is applied where leaks occur;
• and
• (e) means for removing the applied fluid from the web treatment system.