US2413409A - Steam shower for corrugators - Google Patents

Description

T. s. FlTcHETT ET Al. 2,413,409

STEAM SHOWER FOR coRRUGAToRs 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 5, 1945 ...cansan lmrms frcuET-r, HENRY B. GREENWOOD Alva i fl .rrl

Dec. 31, 1946.

lo EN Dec. 31, 1946. s. FITCHETT ET AL 2,413,409

STEAM SHOWER FOR coRRUGAToRs Filed oct. 5'; 1945 's-sheets-snee s HENRY GREENwooD 7 lA//LL/AM SHAcrfsLr-'onni 7TloMAs S. FTTCHET-g' mmf Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT omas r2,413,409 STEAM SHOWER FOR ooRRUGAToRs' Thomas SJ-Fitchet't, Baltimore County, and Henry B. Greenwood, Baltimore, MdL, and William G. Shackelford, Parkersburg, W. Va., lassignorsto F. X. Hooper Company, Inc., G'lenarm, yMd., a corporation of Maryland Application october 5, 1943, seriai'No. 505,000

12 claims. (cm1-1s) In the manufactureof corrugated board or corrugated paper for other purposes which may not include its conversion into 'corrugated board, it is necessary or -at least'desirable as a preliminary step to soften the paper or web just prior toits entrance between the corrugating rolls. This has been accomplishedw'ith some degree of success by steaming, and steaming just prior to the corrugating step has come to be regarded by those vversed in the art as a necessity.

.lustableto the Widthfth web.

Fourth, the previous "apparatus `presents considerable difficulties in threading a new lweb through the machine.

.The robje'ct of Athe invention is to overcome these and other Jdiiculties, providing a vweb steaming vapparatus or steam shower which will operate 1in a `satisfactory manner' under the' 'con'- Y ditions presented.

.By the ,invention 'lierein disclosed all of the known 'difficulties havelin `effect been overcome, a steam shower, which 'is highly satisfactory according to all existing standards being produced.

This steam-:showercomprises one or more, pref-u erably a pair of troughs, located on opposite-sides of the web, and applying steam to thelupperand lower :surfaces .of the web. These troughs l extend transversely across'the web, eachriprovi'ding :a steam chamber, which has oneopen side,lreferred to for convenience as .the atop. The -Web'covers the isaid openings whichconform to the lwidth of the web: andere` disposed .each toward -'the'other, the web being'passedbetween the`troug'hs,..from which it is led Lto :the Ycorrugating rollers. 'Ihe size of the troughs and the fopenin'gs may Vbe1so determined as to providea suitable steaming area togive suchsteaming-of the web asmayberfound necessary to soften to the desired degree fthe 't1-'pe Ofpaber to be used.

'-According'to'th'e practice; prevailing nin the :pa-v

n per corrugatng art,-,asngle;machinerisused-with webs of widely different widths. The length of the steam chamber in the device of the invention is adjustable to the width rof the web by means of 'sliding blocks, preferably, @one at each end of each trough, said blocks being fitted yto the troughs after the manner of a piston Vin a steam cylinder. In adjusting the steam chamber to the width of the web, these blocks may be moved by hand or by any suitable device, two parallel screws being shown as an example of the various different mechanisms regarded as available for this purpose.

The peripheral surface of each block where it crosses the opening is shaped to .correspond to the piane'of theweb where it passes the opening, and this surface of the yblock is closely contacted bythe 'corresponding side `portion of the web, and the .long edges of the openings extend vacross 'the web `from side to side in close engagement therewith, the'web being drawn tightly over the opening, forming a seal to conne the steam within the chamben'pra'ctically eliminating any and all diniculties -incident vto the escape of steam, the passage ofxsmall quantities of steam through the web being regarded as essential to steaming.

In the preferred arrangement one trough is superimposed von the other, the openings being partially in registration, the web passing between the troughs and closing both openings, variation 'of this arrangement and the use ofy a single trough when regarded las suiiicient being contemplated.

To maintain the desired temperature in the steam chamber, any suitable means vas a steam jacket, most conveniently located in the bottom wall of the trough, may be employedother heating means as gas jets, or electrical heating units having been used vfor'this and similar purposes with a degree of satisfaction, the-particula11 external rheating Vmeans not being regarded of fprimary importance.

In the practice of ythis invention, the steam chambers and steam jackets are fed with steam by way of exible pipes, and one or both troughs are movably mounted,vso that they can be'moved and separated, to provide for convenient threading of new webs throughthe machines.

lPreheating or any'additional heating of the web which maybe required isperformed in any suitable manner as by means of one or more steam heated rollers, and'to give equalization of steam supply throughout the -widthof .the web, steammay be fed to the steam chamber throughout its length, or substantially so. or any 4suitable method of feeding theV steam which istadapt- 3 ed to the conditions presented may be employed, suitable variation as to the details, combination and arrangement of the elements of the invention above suggested, being contemplated.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a corrugator equipped with a steamshower, which is illustrative of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is la top plane view, which may be regarded as of a fragmentary nature showing the steam shower in its relation to the web,V and heater.

Figure 2 is a top plan of a single element or trough of the shower, particularly the bottom trough, the upper trough being removed or omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 in Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the upper trough, the lower trough being shown in section on the lined-4 in Figure 3.

. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing fragme'ntarily the steam discharge pipe, whereby the steam is distributed throughout the length of the steam chamber. e

Figure 6 is al side elevation, showing the elements of a corrugating machine for making single face corrugated board and having` the steam shower of the invention applied thereto.

Y Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on line 'I-'I of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar partisv inthe dierent gures, the machine, as shown in Figure 6 which is for example only, comprises upright side frame members I, on whi'chcorrugator rollers 2 and 3 of the usual type used in making corrugated paper are mounted. The straw or other web to be corrugated. and to the treatment of which the invention relates is indicated by reference character 4.

VThe facer web 5 is fed from a supply roll not shown to and about heating rollers 6 and l, and presser roller t. lated `to the lower corrugator ro-ller 3, and serves to press the facer web 5 against the corrugated webYfiCp-after the peaks of the corrugations have been coated with adhesive.

The straw or other web i to be corrugated is fed about` the upper co-rrugator roller 2, and passes rearwardly and downwardly and then forwardly between the upper and lower corrugator rollersv 2-.a'nd 3, whereby `it is corrugated, and at the forward side of the lower corrugator roller the peaks of the corrugations are coated with adhesive by a distributor roller 9, which receives adhesive from a pot I, by way of a pick up roller III The 'single face corrugated board is then completed kby pressing the facer web against the adhesive coated peaks of Ythe corrugations as above suggested.

All of the features and details in the drawings soffar described are in a general way known to the prior art. i

YAs the` web fi enters the machine, it passes over a small supporting idler roller I2, at the front of themachine, and downwardly and rearwardly about a heatingroller I4, which may be referred to Yas a preheating roller. While such rollersmay be heated in any suitable manner, the preferred' practice is to heat them by steam which enters at the axis. In the present device, any' vsuitable pre-heating means may be employed. In the'form shown, thev web 4 passes from the roller Iii to and through' the steam'shower which The latter roller is closely re-4 4 is indicated in a general way by reference character I5.

A steam shower illustrating the practice of the invention is shown in detail in Figures 1 to 5.

The steam shower per se as shown, may consist of one or more elongated receptacles, which for convenience are referred to as troughs I6 and I1, Figure 3. These are open at one side, re-

ferred to for convenience as the top, the upper trough being shown as inverted. In operation the troughs are connected to a continuous supply of steam in a manner to be further described and the top openings 33 and 33 are closed by the web 4 of paper or suitable material to be corrugated, to which web as much tension is applied as it will stand without danger of injury. It is considered of advantage that the web may be deected into the troughs and for this purpose, the top edges 25 of the walls I8 and the corresponding edges of the sliding blocks, to be described, are preferably ydepressed aththe center or otherwiseconcave between the front and back sides I9 and 20 of the trough.

To provide for adjustment of the length of the steam chambers 2|, within the trough, and particularly the said top opening 33 to the width of the web, thetrough or each trough as the case may be,A contains a 'sliding block or preferably two sliding blocks or partitions 22 and 24, one at each end, extending from the front wall I9 to the'back Wall 2B, closing the cross-section of the trough, and these blocks or walls are upright or vertical, and mounted in the troughs to slide inthe [direction of the length thereof, being iitted somewhat after the manner ofthe piston in a steam cylinder, as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. v A

These blocks or sliding walls 22 and 24 are intended to be adjustedto the Width of the web i. e. to provide an opening 33 of a length, corresponding to the'width of the web, the longitudinal edge portions of the web bearing at all times against the exposed edge portions 26 and 2l of the sliding blocks or Walls 22 and 24. It may be noted that the opening is of substantial width as from siX to eight inches togive an ample steaming area. As shown it comprises an entire side of the trough.

n It has been suggested that the top edges 25 of lille` end walls I8 of the troughs are intermediate- Iydepressed, and the exposed edges 26 and 21 of the slidingblocks 22 and 24 areshown as similarly concaved or centrally depressed. While this concavity is desirable as to the top edges of Ithe end walls,A it is more important las to the exposed edges of the sliding blocks 22 and 24 as shown in plan at Y26 and' 21 in Figure 2. These latter edges effect the sealing of the ends of the openings.

While these edges 26 and V2'I may be of any suitable shape which the edges of the web can be madetoV follow to effect the essential sealing ofthe opening, they are preferably in the form of a wide blunt V, as best shown in Figure 3, the plane of the web and of the edges of the openings being rectilinear in directions transverse to the lengthof the web, lmeaning the lines of the intersection of all vertical transverse planes with the web and the plane of said edges.

In theform of theinvention shown, the top longitudinal edges of the front and rear walls of both 'the :front trough I6 whichis thev bottom trough, and the rear or upper troughV I'l, the latter ybeing preferably inverted, arerectilinear in thes'aid direction and rounded'asVV at 29 .to per-v ssi-egos form a satisfactory seal without injury to the web, substantiallyinlthe Imanner illustrated inV Figure 3 which shows vwhat is at present regarded as the preferred arrangement. The exposed sur'- face surrounding the openings 33 and 3 3', which would be contacted by the web is referred to hereinafter as in the plane of the opening. l

This is likewise true of the upper or rear trough. The web 4 by close contactwth the top edges 29, 43 and 44 which extend lonigtudinally of the troughs atrthe front and rear of the troughs and transversely Aof the web and similar contact vof the longitudinal edge portions of the .we-b with the exposed edges 26 and 21 of .the sliding blocks effects a satisfactory Vclosure or sealing ofthe openings 33 and 33' of the bottom and top troughs, respectively. The web whereby theseal is effected is in continuous motion in the direction of its length so that its entire area is steamed as it passes.

While it is believed that satisfactory steaming may be attained by means of a single trough operating from one side of the web, the apparatus as shown, which may be treated as the-preferred form, comprises two troughs i6 and l1, as already pointed out, one being movable, relativelyto the other in order to permit the new webs to be threaded between the troughs. f

In accordance with the preferred form `illustrated, the bottom trough le, shown at the front is stationary and placed withthe open-side upwardly, and extending transversely across the we-b, the troughs, both being of a lengthcorrespording to the width 'of the web of :greatest width to be passed through the machine.

The upper trough l1 as shown,.has its opening 33 or open side downwardly disposed, this arrangement being preferred but subject to variation, and it likewise extends across the web,r b'eing to best advantage of the same lengthasthe bottom trough, i. e. slightly longer than the width of the widest web.

In the form shown, the top edges of the end walls are centrally depressed or .concave'd .as already described and the sliding blocks 22 and 2d are similarly formed as to the surfaces l26 and 21 which are exposed in said openings. The two openings 33 and 33 are in the form shown partly in registration, the front side wall 42`of the upper trough, extending longitudinally of the 'lower trough i6, at its fore and aft center and having. one Vlong free vedge 43,0verl`ying and closely re'- lated tothe center of each depression or concavity in the sliding blocks and said walls,V the top longitudinal edge ed of the rear wall 2'@ of the lower trough I6, being correspondingly at 'the center of the upper trough, and occupying the/deepest suitable means being provided for holding the web in contact with the edges of the opening-in the v,remaining trough, whereby the web closes the opening, preventing harmful escape of the Vsteam therefrom. In operation the greatest tension which can be 'safely applied to the web is most satisfactory for sealing the openings.

The bottom wall of each tro-ugh is shown'fas provided with a steam jacket as at 3d 'to assist in maintaining the desired temperature of the steam in the trough. The vsteam chambers'aresupplied with steam by way of flexible tubes3l, connected to` a `feed -pipe 32, 'which-'in the form Vof thenyentln shown, leads to #a -lngitudinal disd `aliarse pipe 33"; This discharge pipe gg shown extends along the fore and aft center of the lchan'nber for the length of the steam chamber between the blocks in their closest relation. This discharge pipe 33 as shown is perforated as at 34 and is to best advantage of a length slightly less :thanthe minimum width of the web.

Discharge pipe` 33 is supported in any suitable manner as by means o'f T fitting 35, 'connected to the bottom of the trough in which 'it is located, and in the form shown, pipe 33" is provided with telescoping connections 36 and 31. These telescoping connections V36 and 31 terminate at and are mounted as to their outer closed ends on the respective sliding blocks or walls 22 and 24. Members 36 and 31 are lslotted longitudinally' asat 38, the telescoping relation being cle'ar from the drawings. The purpose yis by discharge through the openings 34 and through the slots 38 to Idistribute the steam with substantial uniformity throughout the length of the steam chamber which term is applied to the area within lthe trough and between the sliding blocks 22 and 24.

While this method of distribution of steam within the steamA chambers is regarded as desirable, various methods of distribution rwill'occu'r to those skilled inthe art, and can be substituted for this'arrangement within the scope of the inmaintain the temperature of the steam in the steam chambers i. e. ybetween the sliding blocks 22 and 2d. f

The web may be pre-heated inv any suitable manner as by means of a steam roll lil, see Figure 3which engages'the web as it approaches the steam fountain. l f

As already suggested, the steam connections at least to the upper trough are preferably flexible and at least one trough preferably the upper one asvshown in Figure 3 is movably mounted to provide for separation of the troughs to admit the web, i. e. t0 permit the forward end of a newweb to be'threaded therebetween.

In the form of the invention shown, the upper trough is provided with rearwardly extending ears 46, and there is a sha-ftA or pivot pin 41, lextending therethrough, and through suitable bearings in the side frames i. t In the form ofthe invention shown, the ears dit, are nonrotatively connected to the shaft 41, and the latter is vprovided with a handle or crank d8, whereby the shaft may be turned through a `suitable angle to raise and lower the upper trough l1.

In this connection, it should be understoodv that the separation of the troughs to admit the web may be accomplished in any suitable man-k ner, suitable means of which the'device shown is an example being provided and thatone -or any suitable number of troughs may be employed.

According to the practice of the inventionV at present developed, the sliding blocks 22 and 24 would be moved each backwardlyand forwardly toward and from the other by hand or in any suitable manner the device as shown being for example only so that the edges of the web of whatever width will bear on the exposed surfaces :26 and 21 of these blocks. In accordance with this arrangement each shaft 49 and 5U has a threaded engagement with one of the sliding blocks and passes through the other block in guiding relation thereto.

The thread l which engages and moves the block 22 is on the shaft or rod 49, the guiding portion where the same rod or shaft extends through block 24, being shown at 52. The rod or shaft 5G is threaded at 53, through the block 24, and has a guiding portion 54, which extends in guiding relation through the block 22. It should be understood that the shafts 49 and 50 Vmay be omitted in favor of other adjusting means, or the blocks may be moved and adjusted by hand. The ends of the shafts 49 and 50 project f-rom the ends of the troughs and are shaped for engagement by a crank or wrench. While the shafts 49 and 5B have been described in connection with a single trough, both troughs where a plurality of troughs are employed would be to best advantage similarly equipped and are so illustrated, the exact method of moving the blocks and adjusting the same being regarded as unimportant.

In operation, assuming that a new Web is being introduced into the corrugating machine, it is passed about the idler roller I2 at the left in Figure 3, and then about the heating roller 4l. Prior to introducing the web, the blocks 22 and 24, if not suitably located are adjusted to the width of the new web, so that these blocks can support the side edge portions of the web. The upper trough l1, having been raised to the dotted position shown in Figure 6, the web is then passed over the forward or lower trough I6, and drawn forwardly about the corrugator rollers 2 and 3, as shown, and then between the paste roller 9 and the lower c-orrugator roll y3, and hence into the bight of the presser roller 8, where it is to be combined with the facer web 5.

The upper trough l1 is then lowered to the position shown in Figure 3, and in full lines in Figure 6, whereby tension is applied to the web, so that it closes and seals the openings 33 and 33in the steam chambers.

Wet steam having been introduced by way of pipes 32 and 32', and the jackets 3i) and 38 being first supplied with heating fluidwhich may be super-heated steam or other heating means, the machine is ready for operation.

If a single trough is regarded as suflicient, any suitable means as for example a tension device operating to apply tension somewhat after the manner of the upper trough, but lacking the steaming feature, may be provided for close contact of the web with the lips of the opening, whereby the steam chamber is sealed, and the discharge steam confined wholly or almost wholly to the passage of steam into and through the web as in the operation of the multiplel trough device.

Having thus described a machine bodying what may be regarded as the preferred form of the invention what we cla-im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A steam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a trough having an opening elongatedy in a direction transverse to the length of the web, said opening being of a length corresponding to the width of the widest-web to be treated, blocks closing the cross-section of the trough, and each having an exposed edge portion with a surface,

bridging said opening in the .direction of the' length ofthe web, said blocks being adjustable in Vthe direction of the length of the opening, to conform to the width of different webs, the said opening having two opposite edge portions extending transversely of the web and adapted to form a sealing contact with the web, substantially throughout its width, and said exposed edge portions of the sliding blocks being adapted to contact the longitudinaledge portions of the web throughout the length of said exposed portions, whereby the entire periphery of the opening is contacted by the web, the opening being sealed thereby and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, said means being adjustable to vary the extent of the steam supply with the length of the trough opening.

2. A ysteam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a trough having an opening elongated in a direction transverse to the length ofthe web, said opening having its entire periphery in two intersecting planes and being of a length corresponding to the width of the Widest web to be treated, blocks `closing the cross-section of the trough, and each having an exposed edge portion with a surface, bridging said opening in the direction of the length of the web, said blocks being adjustable in the direction of the length of the openings, to conform tothe width of different webs, the said opening having two opposite edge portions extending transversely of the web and adapted to form a sealing contact with the web, substantially throughout its width, and said exposed edge portion of the sliding blocks, being adapted to contact the longitudinal edge portions of the web throughout the `length of said exposed portions, the 'planes of the opening being substantially rectilinear in all vertical planes transverse to the length of the web, whereby the entire periphery of the opening'is contacted by the web, the opening being sealed thereby, and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, said means being adjustable to vary the extent of the steam supply with the length of the trough opening.

3. A steam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a trough having an opening elongated in a horizontal direction, transverse to the length of thc web, said opening being of a length corre-l sponding to the width of the widest web to be treated, blocks closing the cross-section of the trough, near its respective ends, and each having an exposed edge portion, bridging said opening in the direction of the length of the web, said blocks being movable and thus adjustable in the direction of the length of the opening to conform the length of the opening to the width of different webs, means for supplying steam to the trough between the blocks, the said opening having opposite horizontal edge portions transverse to the web and adapted to form a sealing contact with the web, substantially throughout its width, and said exposed edge portions of the sliding blocks being in substantial horizontal alignment in all vertical planes transverse to the length of the web and thus adapted tocontact the longitudinal edge portions of the web throughout the length of said exposed portions of the blocks, whereby the entire periphery of the opening is contacted by a surface of theweb, the opening being sealed thereby, means for applying tension to the web to perfect the sealing of said opening throughout the feeding of the web,l

and means for supplyingsteam tothe trough t opening, said last named means being ladjustable to vary the extent lengthwise of the trough opening of the steam supply 4 with the length of the troughv opening.

4. A steam shower as per claim 3 inwh'ich the exposed edges of the blocks are vdepressed intermediately of their extent in the direction-of the length of the web, said tension means comprising means engaging the opposite surface of the web at the greatest depth kof the depressionsI to apply sealing tension tothe web." f

5. A steam shower as vper claiml 3 in whichV th exposed edges of the blocks are depressed intermediately of their extent in the direction of the length of theweb, said v'tension means comprising means engaging the opposite surface of the web at the greatest depth of the depressions to apply sealing tension to the web, said latter means extending in a straight line across the web transversely to its length.

6. A steam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a trough having an opening elongated in a direction transverse to the length of the web, Said opening being of a length corresponding to the width of the widest web to be treated, blocks closing the cross-section of the trough, and each having an exposed edge portion with a surface bridging said opening in the direction of the length of the web, said blocks being movable and hence adjustable in the direction of the length of the opening, to conform to y the width of different webs, the said opening having substantially rectilinear edge portions extending transversely of the length of the web and adapted to form a sealing contact with the web substantially throughout its width, said exposed edge portions of the sliding blocks being adapted to Contact the longitudinal edge portions of the web throughout the length of said exposed portions whereby the entire periphery of the opening is contacted by the web, the opening being sealed thereby, means for applying tension to the web to perfect the sealing of said opening throughout the feeding of the web, and means for supplying steam to the trough between the blocks.

7. A steam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a steam trough extending transversely of the web, said trough having an opening with its entire periphery in planes which are substantially rectilinear transversely to the length of the web and hence adapted to be sealed by the passing web, said opening comprising substantially an entire side of the trough, and being elongated and having its maximum length extending transr versely of the length of the web and corresponding tothe Width of the Widest web to be passed through the machine, means for adjusting the length of the opening to conform to the width of the web and means for sup-plying steam to .1

the opening by way of the trough, said last named means being adjustable to Vary the extent of the steam supply with the length of the trough opening.

8. A steam shower for va corrugating machine,

comprising a steam trough extending transversely of the web, said trough having an opening with its entire periphery in planes whichare substantially rectilinear transversely tothe length of the web and hence adapted to be sealed by the passing web, said opening being elongated and having its maximum length extending transversely of the web, and corresponding to the width of the widest web to be passed through the machine, means for adjusting the length of the opening to conform said length to the width ofthe web and means `for supplying steam'V to the opening by way of the trough, said adjusting means comprising a block fitting in thetrough, after the manner of the piston in a steam engine cylinder `Abut having an exposed edge portion spanning the opensteam to the trough opening, said 'last named means being adjustable to vary the extent lengthwise ofthe trough opening of thesteamsupply with the length of the trough opening i 9. A steam shower for-a corrugating machine, comprising al steam trough, extending transversely of the web,l said trough having an' opening with' its entire periphery in planes which are substantially rectilinear transversely to the length of the web and hence adapted to be sealed by the passing web, Said opening being elongated and having its maximum length extending transversely of the web and correspondingto the width of the widest web to be passed through the ma- Chine, means for adjusting the length of the opening to conform to the width of the web and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, and a second trough, substantially identical with the first said trough, and having an opening with its entire periphery in planes which are substantially rectilinear transversely to the length of the web and hence adapted to be sealed by the passing web, said opening being elongated and having its maximum length extending transversely of the web and corresponding to the width of the widest web to be passed through the machine, means for adjusting the length of the opening to conform to the width of the web and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, the two steam troughs being located on opposite sides of the web with their said openings opposed, one of said troughs being movably mounted to permit the troughs to be separated to provide for threading a new web between the troughs, the opening of the second trough also having its entire periphery in contact with the web and one plane of the openings of each trough substantially coinciding in the operative position of the parts.

10.Y A steam shower for a corrugating machine, comprising a steam trough, extending transversely of the web, said trough having an opening with its entire periphery in planes which are substantially rectilinear transversely to the length of the web, and thus adapted to be sealed by the passing web, said opening being elongated and having its maximum length extending transversely of the web, and corresponding to the width of the widest web to be passed through the machine, means for adjusting the length cf the opening to conform to the width of the web and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, and a second trough, substantially identical with the first said trough, and having an opening with its entire periphery in planes which are substantially rectilinear transf versely to the length of the web and thus adapted to be sealed by the passing web, said opening being elongated and having its maximum length extending transversely of the web and corresponding to the width of the widest web to be passed through the machine, means for adjusting the lengthof the opening to conform to the width of the web and means for supplying steam to the opening by way of the trough, the two steam troughs being located on opposite sides of the web with their said openingsopposed, one of said troughs being movably mounted to permit the troughs to be separated to provide for threading a new web between the troughs, the second opening having its entire periphery in the operative position of the parts in contact with the web, the said openings of the respective troughs being in partial registration.

11. A steam shower as per claim 10 in which the ends of the openings are intermediately depressed, a long edge of each opening being, in operative position, in the depression inthe ends of the other opening, thus applying sealing tension to the web as it advances.

12. A steam shower for a corrugating machine for paper and the like, comprising two steam troughs, located on opposite sides of the web in front of the corrugating rollers; each trough having an elongated opening extending transversely across the web, the entire periphery of each opening being adapted for continuous ysealing by the web as it advances ln the operative relation of the troughs, means for feeding steam to each opening by way of the corresponding trough, the openings being opposed and one trough being movably mounted, whereby the troughs may be separated to provide for threading a. new web through the machine and means applying sealing tension tothe Web when the troughs are in operative relation.

THOMAS s, FITCHE'TI'. HENRY B. GREENWOOD. WILLIAM G. sHACKELFORD.

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