Appeal No. 1997-4282
Application 08/164,608
doctor blade which is biased against a heated roll. The
support member has an interior void which is partially filled
with liquid which can evaporate and condense to improve the
temperature uniformity along the support member, thereby
minimizing distortion of the support member caused by heat
transfer from the heated roll. Claim 3 is illustrative:
3. An apparatus for use in papermaking comprising:
a heated roll for supporting and drying a paper web, the
roll having a cylindrical surface;
a support member spanning the length of the roll, the
support member having portions defining an interior void
extending the length of the support member, the void being
sealed and defining an interior surface;
a quantity of liquid contained within the void; and
a blade fixedly supported on the support member, wherein
the blade substantially spans the length of the roll, and
wherein the blade is biased against the roll surface, and
wherein the support member remains at a substantially uniform
temperature in response to changes in phase of the liquid,
which is heated by the roll, and wherein despite non-uniform
heating the support member provides uniform support immune to
thermal-induced distortion, the arrangement being such that
heat radiating from the heated roll surface to the support
member causes the liquid disposed on the interior surface
adjacent to the heated roll surface to evaporate, thus raising
the internal vapor pressure in the interior void of the
support structure, the vapor continuously condensing on the
interior surface of the support structure not exposed to
radiant heating from the heated roll so that the evaporation
and condensation of the liquid within the interior void
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