Abstract

A device for hydrodynamic entanglement operates to compact the fibers of a fiber web made of natural and/or manmade fibers. The device includes a first endless belt supporting the fiber web, the first endless belt being guided under tension and stretched between at least two rolls, including a reversing roll, and a second endless belt likewise stretched between at least two rolls, the second endless belt being located opposite the first endless belt and traveling in the same direction as the first endless belt, a tight side of the second endless belt being located opposite a tight side of the first endless belt. The second endless belt is driven to turn in the same direction as the first endless belt. The tight sides of the first and second endless belts are directed conically toward one another along their lengths, so that the fiber web lying on the tight side of the first endless belt is increasingly compressed between the advancing first and second endless belts. A pair of rolls is provided for pressing the second endless belt against the reversing roll of the first endless belt for greater wrapping of the reversing roll by the first and second endless belts. An associated needling drum is provided with which at least one nozzle beam is associated across the working width and axially parallel thereto. An additional nozzle beam is provided between the pair of rolls for wetting the fiber web, water jets of the additional nozzle beam being directed against the back of and through the second endless belt and against the fiber web which is compressed and held between the first and second endless belts.