Abstract: A screen basket with greater structural integrity and fatigue resistance is mounted within a screening apparatus with substantially no axial compressive loading. The screen basket has end portions attached to a pair of support members with screen basket position engagement elements or fasteners to place the screen basket in a condition with no substantial axial compressive load. The screen basket, supported in this way, remains stationary when exposed to high hydrodynamic torsional forces and reduces the magnitude of deflections and bending stresses placed on the screen basket. The screen basket is preferably mounted in axial tension or with an axial neutral load.

Abstract: A screening apparatus for separating acceptable and rejectable material from a pressurized stream of fluid pulp is provided. The screening apparatus includes a housing with a chamber having a geometry conducive for deflecting air and light materials radially away from an axis of rotation and to peripheral regions of the housing. The chamber is disposed at one end of the housing and has a dimension defined by an axial spacing between the housing and an end portion of a screen basket, the axial spacing along the axis of rotation increasing with increasing radius relative to the axis of rotation. Deflecting the air and light material away from the axis of rotation improves the separation of acceptable and rejectable materials from the fluid pulp and reduces wear of the internal components of the screening apparatus.

Abstract: Hydrocyclone separators of the type used to separate contaminants from pulp suspensions in paper mills are connected to feed, accept, and reject conduits using a conduit apparatus in which both feed and accept portions can be made from smooth material. The feed and accept portions include surfaces through which apertures are provided for making connections to the feed and accept nozzles of the hydrocyclones. The smooth material eliminates the tendency of pulp to build up on the conduit walls and in the nozzles, thereby avoiding the problems that can occur when such build ups break loose. The nozzles of the hydrocyclones are preferably attached by placing a resilient sealing member around the circumference of the nozzle, and inserting the nozzle into an aperture formed in the wall of the conduit until the sealing member engages the inside wall of the aperture.