Heated controlled deflection roll

Abstract

A heated controlled deflection roll including a center support and a rotatable roll shell surrounding the center support. A shoe assembly connects the center support and the inside surface of the rotatable roll shell. The shoe assembly includes a shoe in contact with the inside surface of the rotatable roll shell and a bladder positioned between the shoe and the center support. The shoe assembly has a length substantially equal to a length of the inside surface of the rotatable roll shell. Free space within a chamber within the rotatable roll shell is filled with a heat transfer fluid and heater elements. The heater elements have angled fins for directing the flow of the heat transfer fluid in a helical pattern towards one end of the rotatable roll shell. The heat transfer fluid returns to the opposite end of the chamber through a passage through the center support.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A controlled deflection roll, comprising: 
 a center support;    a rotatable roll shell including an inside surface surrounding the center support; and    a shoe assembly including a shoe in contact with the inside surface of the rotatable roll shell and a bladder positioned between the shoe and the center support, the shoe assembly having a length substantially equal to a length of the inside surface of the rotatable roll shell.    
     
     
         2 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder contains one of a gas and a fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder exerts a load on the shoe when a pressure within the bladder is increased.  
     
     
         4 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 1 , further comprising an end element surrounding the center support on each end of the roll shell, the rotatable roll shell and the end elements enclosing a chamber containing a heat transfer fluid.  
     
     
         5 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 4 , wherein the heat transfer fluid flows within the chamber around the center support in a direction of rotation of the rotatable shell.  
     
     
         6 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 5 , further comprising a shoe assembly bypass in combination with the shoe assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 6 , wherein the shoe assembly bypass allows the heat transfer fluid to flow between the bladder and the center support.  
     
     
         8 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one heater element within the chamber and in contact with the heat transfer fluid.  
     
     
         9 . A controlled deflection roll, comprising: 
 a center support;    a shoe assembly in combination with the center support;    a rotatable roll shell including an inside surface contacting the shoe assembly, the rotatable roll shell surrounding the center support;    an end element surrounding the center support on each end of the roll shell, the rotatable roll shell and the end elements enclosing a chamber; and    a heat transfer fluid within the chamber, wherein the heat transfer fluid flows within the chamber around the center support in a direction of rotation of the rotatable shell.    
     
     
         10 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 9 , further comprising a heat transfer fluid expansion line connecting the chamber to a heat transfer fluid expansion tank external of the chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one heater element within the chamber and in contact with the heat transfer fluid.  
     
     
         12 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 11 , further comprising fins on at least one of the heater element and the center support.  
     
     
         13 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 12 , wherein the fins are configured to direct the flow of the heat transfer fluid in a helical pattern around the center support from one end of the chamber to an opposite end of the chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat transfer fluid passage extending through a length of the center support.  
     
     
         15 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 9 , wherein the shoe assembly has a length substantially equal to a length of the rotatable roll shell.  
     
     
         16 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 15 , further comprising a shoe assembly bypass in combination with the shoe assembly.  
     
     
         17 . A controlled deflection roll, comprising: 
 a center support;    a rotatable roll shell including an inside surface surrounding the center support;    an end element surrounding the center support on each end of the roll shell, the rotatable roll shell and the end elements enclosing a chamber;    at least one heater element within the chamber;    a heat transfer fluid within the chamber; and    at least one angled fin on at least one of the center support and the at least one heater element for directing a flow of the heat transfer fluid within the chamber.    
     
     
         18 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 17 , further comprising a heat transfer fluid passage extending through a length of the center support.  
     
     
         19 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 17 , further comprising a shoe assembly between the center support and the roll shell.  
     
     
         20 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 19 , further comprising a shoe assembly bypass in combination with the shoe assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 17 , wherein the at least on angle fin is configured to cause turbulence in the heat transfer fluid flow as the heat transfer fluid flows over the surface of the heater element.  
     
     
         22 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 17 , wherein the heat transfer fluid fills an annulus of the chamber.  
     
     
         23 . The controlled deflection roll of  claim 17 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is an oil.