Tube in a tube mechanical folding roll

A method for providing both fluid communication between a fluid source and fluid ports on an outer surface of a rotatable processing roll and distributed bearing support of the processing roll along a longitudinal length of the processing roll, the method comprising, rotatably supporting an outer tube of the processing roll on a non-rotating inner tube of the processing roll with a fluid valving arrangement configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of fluid between a cavity on the inside of the inner tube and the fluid ports distributed longitudinally along an outer surface of the outer tube, with the cavity being connected to the fluid source, while the fluid valving arrangement is also providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube on the other of the outer and inner tube at a plurality of locations along a longitudinal axis of the processing roll;

• wherein:
• the non-rotatable inner tube extends along the longitudinal axis and the rotatable outer tube is disposed about the inner tube for rotation about the longitudinal axis with the inner and outer tubes defining an elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes including a longitudinally elongated fluid transfer zone at a predetermined relative angular positioning of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube;
• and
• the fluid valving arrangement is disposed in the elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes;
• the inner tube defines an elongated fluid plenum therewithin extending along the longitudinal axis beneath the elongated fluid transfer zone, with the inner tube having at least one fluid port disposed therein providing fluid communication between the fluid transfer zone and the fluid plenum;
• the outer tube includes a plurality of fluid ports distributed along the longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the outer tube and connected in fluid communication with the annular space between the inner and outer tubes;
• the fluid valving arrangement is configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of fluid from the fluid plenum inside of the inner tube to the fluid ports distributed longitudinally along the outer surface of the outer tube, and also being configured for providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube on the other of the outer tube and the inner tube at a plurality of locations along the longitudinally elongated fluid transfer zone.

A processing roll apparatus providing both fluid communication between a fluid source and fluid ports on an outer surface of a rotatable processing roll and distributed bearing support of the processing roll along a longitudinal length of the processing roll, the apparatus comprising, rotatable outer tube of the processing roll supported on a non-rotating inner tube of the processing roll with a fluid valving arrangement configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of fluid between a cavity on the inside of the inner tube and the fluid ports distributed longitudinally along an outer surface of the outer tube, with the cavity being adapted for connection to the fluid source, while the fluid valving arrangement is also providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube on the other of the outer tube and the inner tube at a plurality of locations along a longitudinal axis of the processing roll;

• wherein:
• the non-rotatable inner tube extends along the longitudinal axis and the rotatable outer tube is disposed about the inner tube for rotation about the longitudinal axis with the inner and outer tubes defining an elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes including a longitudinally elongated fluid transfer zone at a predetermined relative angular positioning of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube;
• and
• the fluid valving arrangement is disposed in the elongated annular space between the inner and outer tubes;
• the inner tube defining an elongated fluid plenum therewithin extending along the longitudinal axis beneath the elongated fluid transfer zone, with the inner tube having at least one fluid port disposed therein providing fluid communication between the fluid transfer zone and the fluid plenum;
• the outer tube including a plurality of fluid ports distributed along the longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the outer tube and connected in fluid communication with the annular space between the inner and outer tubes;
• the fluid valving arrangement being configured for providing angularly controlled transfer of fluid from the fluid plenum inside of the inner tube to the fluid ports distributed longitudinally along the outer surface of the outer tube, and also being configured for providing distributed bearing support of one of the outer tube and the inner tube on the other of the outer tube and inner tube at a plurality of locations along the longitudinally elongated fluid transfer zone.

A method for providing distributed bearing support to an elongated rotatable roll, the method comprising:

• journalling an outer tubular member of the roll defining a longitudinal axis of the roll on an inner non-rotatable member of the roll extending through the outer tubular member along the longitudinal axis, to define a longitudinally extending annular space between the inner and outer members of the roll, with a distributed bearing arrangement disposed in the annular space and having a plurality of axially spaced separately replaceable substantially cylindrical-shaped bearing elements secured to the outer member for rotation therewith:,
• securing the plurality of bearing elements to the inner member in an axially spaced relationship to one another along the longitudinal axis, in a manner precluding axial movement of the bearing elements along the longitudinal axis while allowing the bearing elements to rotate about the inner member;
• securing the plurality of bearing elements to the outer member for rotation therewith;
• securing the plurality of bearing elements to the outer member with a longitudinally extending key arrangement operatively engaging an outer surface of the bearing elements and an inner surface of the outer member;
• forming a longitudinally extending slot in an outer surface of the bearing elements configured for engaging the distal end of a longitudinally extending key element protruding into the annular space from a wall of the outer member and having the distal end thereof configured for engaging the longitudinally extending slots in the bearing elements;
• and
• aligning the longitudinally extending slot in each one of the bearing elements with the key element as the each one of the bearing elements enters the annular space.