Abstract: A centrifugal grinder has an internal grinding surface shaped as a surface of revolution, and a rotor mounted within the surface for rotation about the axis of the grinding surface. The rotor defines a generally axial inlet passageway for wood chips to be ground, and at least one pocket extending generally outwardly from the axis of the rotor toward the grinding surface. The pocket is provided with a configuration such that its cross section increases at an increasing rate away from the rotor axis. This encourages the wood chips to orient themselves parallel to the grinding surface, such that they take up such parallel orientation by the time they reach the grinding surface.

Abstract: A centrifugal grinder for pulp wood and wood chips has a stationary internal grinding surface and a rotor rotating within the surface. The rotor has an axial feed passage for stock to be ground, and at least one passageway extending from the passage to the grinding surface. A guideway in the rotor is disposed at an angle to the grinding surface and is located such that, as the rotor rotates, the guideway sweeps over the portion of the grinding surface in contact with the stock to be ground. A sealing bar is located in the guideway, the bar being of a material softer than the grinding surface so that it can be worn down into conformity with the surface. A rack within the guideway is connected to the sealing bar, and a pinion engages the rack.

Abstract: A centrifugal grinder with an internal grinding surface and a rotor turning within that surface includes a passage for inserting material axially into the rotor and a pocket to allow the material to contact the internal grinding surface. A spray is provided on the rotor at a location trailing the pocket, to spray liquid against the internal surface and make a slurry with ground material. An element of air-foil shape is mounted on the rotor at a location trailing the spray, the air-foil having a rounded contacting portion juxtaposed against the internal grinding surface, and have the effect of lifting the slurry away from the surface. A scoop trails the foil and has a leading edge juxtaposed against the internal grinding surface, defining a pocket for collecting the scooped-up slurry. A compartment is located axially beyond the grinding surface and a passage allows the scooped up slurry to pass from the pocket of the scoop to the compartment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding woodchips into pulp provides an internal grinding surface of circular section defining a cavity in which a rotor rotates. The rotor has a pocket extending to the grinding surface from an inlet spaced inwardly from the grinding surface, and the rotation of the rotor gives rise to centrifugal force urging woodchips against the surface, the woodchips entering at the inlet. The woodchips form a compact plug of material filling the pocket adjacent the surface, and the woodchips are ground to pulp and then removed from the surface to a discharge. A pressure differential is placed across the plug of material in the sense to urge the woodchips in the plug more strongly against the grinding surface, so that the woodchips can press with a satisfactory grinding force against the surface without requiring an excessive rotational speed.

Abstract: A roller entry guide assembly for angle shapes is disclosed. The assembly is used in steel rolling mills and overcomes the problems of distortion due to the friction of fixed guides in high speed mills. The assembly comprises a support frame, two freely rotating bottom rollers rigidly mounted in a horizontal plane in the support frame, each of the bottom rollers having sides contoured to fit an angle configuration with the largest diameter at the center, and a freely rotating top roller positioned above and between the two bottom rollers, and parallel thereto, the top roller being adjustably mounted from the support frame to vary the height above the bottom rollers, the top roller having sides contoured to fit an angle configuration with the smallest diameter at the center adapted to guide and position an angle shape between the top and bottom rollers in conjunction with the bottom rollers.

Abstract: A self-cleaning nozzle includes a piston with a cleaning tip slidably mounted in the interior of a cylinder having two ends and a side wall, the cylinder having first, second and third openings into its interior, the second opening being intermediate the first and third openings. First and second sources of fluid are provided, the former communicating in fluid-flow relationship with the piston and the interior of the cylinder via the second opening. The second source communicates in fluid-flow relationship with the piston and the interior of the cylinder via the third opening. When the force exerted by the pressure of the second source is greater than the force exerted by the pressure of the first source, the piston moves to the cleaning position where the cleaning tip is passed into the first opening, cleaning out any foreign object therein.