US 11,732,414 B2
Seal strip wear and temperature monitoring systems and assemblies therefor
Brandon Kilbourne, Appleton, WI (US); James Michael Walker, Waupaca, WI (US); and Christopher Mason, Bunker Hill, WI (US)
Assigned to Stowe Woodward Licensco LLC, Youngsville, NC (US)
Filed by Stowe Woodward Licensco LLC, Youngsville, NC (US); and Mary Lynn Otto, Princeton, WI (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/518,710.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/229,679, filed on Aug. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/111,849, filed on Nov. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0145538 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. D21F 3/10 (2006.01); D21G 9/00 (2006.01); D21F 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC D21F 3/10 (2013.01) [D21F 3/04 (2013.01); D21G 9/0036 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly, comprising:
a seal strip with an upper surface configured to provide a seal for a suction roll, the seal strip including a cavity therein;
a seal strip holder, the seal strip residing in the seal strip holder and movable relative thereto; and
a temperature monitoring system comprising:
an infrared thermopile array sensor positioned in the cavity of the seal strip such that empty space exists within the cavity above the infrared thermopile array sensor, the infrared thermopile array sensor comprises a plurality of thermopiles, each of the thermopiles configured to generate a small electric voltage when exposed to infrared radiation emitted into the cavity due to operation of the suction roll; and
a controller operatively connected with the infrared thermopile array sensor, the controller configured to receive signals from the infrared thermopile array sensor and process the signals to provide a temperature grid representative of the temperature of the upper surface of the seal strip.