Patents Assigned to Advanced Fiber Technologies
  • Patent number: 9199841
    Abstract: Bundled carbon nanotubes are disentangled and dispersed using the principles of extreme pressure reduction of fluids carrying the bundled nanotubes. They are added to a high pressure fluid upstream of a chamber operated at much lower pressure. These high-low pressure ratios are preferably at least 100:1. As the high pressure fluid enters the lower pressure chamber it violently expands causing separation and disentanglement of the bundled carbon fibers. To further assist in this disentanglement a nozzle may be used at the inlet to the lower pressure chamber to direct the high pressure fluid against a hardened anvil in the chamber. This impact further aids disentanglement. Coating the nanotubes with a dispersant also improves disentanglement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren C. Schimpf
  • Publication number: 20110284430
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a rotor for a screening apparatus and a rotor structure for a screening apparatus. The rotor structure is particularly suitable in screening fiber suspensions of the pulp and paper industry. The apparatus relates to a novel rotor construction, and especially to a novel means of fastening a turbulence element on the rotor surface. The rotor is provided with easily replaceable turbulence elements so that at least a part of the rotor has at least one area—having a surface configuration different from the remaining rotor surface, on which area the turbulence element is fastened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ADVANCED FIBER TECHNOLOGIES (AFT) TRUST
    Inventor: Mathieu Hamelin
  • Publication number: 20110042300
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a screen cylinder that is particularly suitable for screening, filtering, fractionating, or sorting cellulose pulp suspensions of the pulp and paper making industry, or other similar suspensions. The present invention relates more particularly to a screen cylinder formed from a plurality of screen wires leaving screening slots therebetween, and circular support elements. The support elements include openings/grooves for installation of the screen wires therein, so that at least one of the support rings is thermally deformed and clamps the screen wires in the openings/grooves of the rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: ADVANCED FIBER TECHNOLOGIES (AFT) TRUST
    Inventor: Aku ASIKAINEN
  • Patent number: 7856718
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a screen cylinder, and a screen cylinder that is particularly suitable for screening, filtering, fractionating, or sorting cellulose pulp suspensions of the pulp and paper making industry, or other similar suspensions. The present invention relates more particularly to a screen cylinder formed from a plurality of screen wires leaving screening slots therebetween, and circular support elements. The support elements include openings/grooves for installation of the screen wires therein, so that at least one of the support rings is thermally deformed and clamps the screen wires in the openings/grooves of the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT TRUST)
    Inventor: Aku Asikainen
  • Patent number: 7779525
    Abstract: Replaceable refiner fillings used for refining of lignocellulosic and other natural and synthetic fibrous materials in the manufacture of paper, paperboard, and fiberboard products. The refiner fillings include a pattern of blades and spacers defined by a bar cluster, with the bar cluster being the basis of formation of the filling. A method of manufacture provides bar cluster patterns based on factors including pumping angle, plurality of segments in a refiner filling, and the number of clusters in a segment. A bar set cluster is established for uniform fabrication of bar clusters for the refiner fillings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Trust
    Inventor: John B. Matthew
  • Publication number: 20070251092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a screen cylinder, and a screen cylinder that is particularly suitable for screening, filtering, fractionating, or sorting cellulose pulp suspensions of the pulp and paper making industry, or other similar suspensions. The present invention relates more particularly to a screen cylinder formed from a plurality of screen wires leaving screening slots therebetween, and circular support elements. The support elements include openings/grooves for installation of the screen wires therein, so that at least one of the support rings is thermally deformed and clamps the screen wires in the openings/grooves of the rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: ADVANCED FIBER TECHNOLOGIES (AFT) TRUST
    Inventor: Aku Asikainen
  • Patent number: 7188733
    Abstract: A screening device (e.g., screen plate or screen cylinder) is manufactured relatively inexpensively and easily yet has uniform screening openings (e.g., screening slots) even when of a width of less than 0.5 mm. A plurality of wires having first and second sections (the second sections having base portions and of smaller cross-section than the first sections) are mounted substantially parallel to each other, supported by at least one support bar or ring. The bars or rings have slots formed in a first side surface, and a cavity in open communication with the slots in a second side surface. The wires are fixed to the bars or rings by deforming the wires (e.g., by bending a flap, engagement by a reciprocating tool, welding, etc.) within the cavity, or by deformation of the support bar or ring in the cavity. The screen plate or cylinder is preferably used to screen or otherwise treat a cellulose pulp suspension, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Trust
    Inventors: Jonathan P. May, Tim Wood, John Stephenson, Jari Jurvanen, Jaakko Putkonen
  • Patent number: 7168570
    Abstract: A screen cylinder (125) used for screening cellulosic fibrous material pulp in the pulp and paper industry incorporates first (66) and second (67) downstream surfaces (16) having contoured slopes that form a funnel entrance of the grooves (13) at the screen cylinder slots (17). The contoured construction of the screen cylinder (125) effects greatly enhanced utility compared to conventional milled and discrete element screen cylinders, including substantially avoiding the Coanda effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies
    Inventor: Frey Frejborg
  • Patent number: 6925929
    Abstract: A screw press provided with a rear excess fluid outlet is described herein. The rear excess fluid outlet includes a circular screen provided at a longitudinal end of the screw press body, near a material inlet. Scraper blade assemblies are provided to prevent the screen from clogging. The efficiency of excess fluid removal is thereby increased by the increased screen surface near the material inlet of the screw press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Trust
    Inventor: Hugues Dionne
  • Publication number: 20040112827
    Abstract: A screening device (e.g., screen plate or screen cylinder) is manufactured relatively inexpensively and easily yet has uniform screening openings (e.g., screening slots) even when of a width of less than 0.5 mm. A plurality of wires having first and second sections (the second sections having base portions and of smaller cross-section than the first sections) are mounted substantially parallel to each other, supported by at least one support bar or ring. The bars or rings have slots formed in a first side surface, and a cavity in open communication with the slots in a second side surface. The wires are fixed to the bars or rings by deforming the wires (e.g., by bending a flap, engagement by a reciprocating tool, welding, etc.) within the cavity, or by deformation of the support bar or ring in the cavity. The screen plate or cylinder is preferably used to screen or otherwise treat a cellulose pulp suspension, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Oy
    Inventors: Jonathan P. May, Tim Wood, John Stephenson, Jari Jurvanen, Jaakko Putkonen
  • Patent number: 6736054
    Abstract: A screw press provided with a rear excess fluid outlet is described herein. The rear excess fluid outlet includes a circular screen provided at a longitudinal end of the screw press body, near a material inlet. Scraper blade assemblies are provided to prevent the screen from clogging. The efficiency of excess fluid removal is thereby increased by the increased screen surface near the material inlet of the screw press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Trust
    Inventor: Hugues Dionne
  • Patent number: 6521096
    Abstract: A screen, such as a drum screen or a flat screen, for screening or fractionizing pulp suspensions or the like suspensions of the pulp and paper industry. The screen comprises a reinforcement attached to the surface of the screen plate, such as a reinforcing ring (16, 18) attached to the surface of a drum screen (10). The reinforcement (17) is made of fiber-reinforced composite material. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the reinforcement of a screen plate of composite material. The composite material is preferably made of reinforcing fiber and plastic matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Oy
    Inventor: Jari Jurvanen
  • Patent number: 5527432
    Abstract: Provided are methods of dry recovering useable fiber from paper making sludge. In the methods, paper making sludge is dewatered and dried. The dewatered and dried sludge is then fiberized using a dry fiberizing machine into a fibrous material consisting of fibers and other material including fiber fines, clay, filler material and the like. The fibers in the fibrous material are then separated out in a sifting process. The separated fibers are then ready for use in paper making without further processing. The fiber fines and filler material separated from the fibers is also collected and can be used as filler material in other composite material applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Leuthold, Mark A. Leuthold
  • Patent number: 5188298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating feed stock in the form of shreds or the like to form a low density particulate product. The shredded feed stock is fed to a material handling rotor that functions as a centrifugal blower. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a cylindrical rotor chamber formed about a horizontal axis and a volute-shaped internal passage having at least one convolution formed around the rotor chamber. Located within the housing is a cylindrical screen with perforations that open into the rotor chamber. The centrifugal blower rotor is mounted in the rotor chamber and has a plurality of radial vanes with rakers attached to the outer ends closely spaced from the inner surface of the screen so that they continuously wipe pass the perforations to prevent clogging or blinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton Gerber
  • Patent number: 4919340
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fiberizing feed stock in the form of shreds or the like to form a low density cellulosic product. The shredded feed stock is fed to a material handling rotor that functions as a centrifugal blower. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a cylindrical rotor chamber formed about a horizontal axis and a volute-shaped internal passage having at least one convolution formed around the rotor chamber. Located within the housing is a cylindrical screen with perforations that open into the rotor chamber. The centrifugal blower rotor is mounted in the rotor chamber and has a plurality of radial vanes with rakes attached to the outer ends closely spaced from the inner surface of the screen so that they continuously wipe pass the perforations to prevent clogging or blinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton Gerber
  • Patent number: RE39940
    Abstract: The screen cylinder includes a screening plate having contoured grooves along an inflow side and a backing cylinder having a plurality of openings therethrough and disposed on the outflow side of the screening cylinder. The contoured grooves are elongated in the axial direction and are closely circumferentially spaced one from the other about the screen cylinder. In one embodiment, circumferentially extending grooves are formed along the outflow side of the screening cylinder whereby pulp flows through the contoured grooves into the recesses and then through the openings of the backing cylinder. In another embodiment, the recesses are formed on the inflow side of the backing cylinder, the screening cylinder being provided with elongated slots along its outflow side in registry with the contoured slots. In this manner, increased flow capacity is provided. Additionally, the screening cylinder is removable when worn for replacement by a fresh screening cylinder which may then be secured to the backing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technologies (AFT) Trust
    Inventors: Frey Å. Frejborg, Lassi J. Halonen
  • Patent number: RE35118
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fiberizing feed stock in the form of shreds or the like to form a low density cellulosic product. The shredded feed stock is fed to a material handling rotor that functions as a centrifugal blower. The apparatus includes a housing that defines a cylindrical rotor chamber formed about a horizontal axis and a volute-shaped internal passage having at least one convolution formed around the rotor chamber. Located within the housing is a cylindrical screen with perforations that open into the rotor chamber. The centrifugal blower rotor is mounted in the rotor chamber and has a plurality of radial vanes with rakes attached to the outer ends closely spaced from the inner surface of the screen so that they continuously wipe pass the perforations to prevent clogging or blinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Advanced Fiber Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton Gerber