Abstract: The invention relates to a protective glove comprising ergonomic features. The finger receiving portions of the glove of the present invention have at least two flexion zones that preferably correspond to the joints of the fingers thereby increasing the flexibility of the glove at that area and improving stick control. In another aspect, the glove has four finger sheaths that are adapted to receive the fingers of the player and that are bend toward the palm side of the glove, the bending of these finger receiving portions increasing from the index finger to the little finger. The protective glove of the invention is particularly useful for hockey players.

Abstract: A continuous cylindrical wood pulp refiner comprising a rotor disposed in a housing having a plurality of structural members. At least one refining plate is mounted to a holder portion of each member such that the entire periphery of the rotor is exposed to refining plates. The pulp to be refined continuously flows axially along the periphery of the rotor. The members define two shells which are pivotally mounted to the refiner base such that the shells may be pivoted away from each other to provide access to the interior surface for changing the refiner plates. Each holder portion has a pair of bores which are parallel to the axis of the rotor. A cam portion of a cam shaft is disposed in each bore. Rotating the cam shaft causes the cam portion to engage the surface of the bore thereby moving the holder portion radially towards or away from the rotor whereby the gap between the refining plates and the rotor can be adjusted.

Abstract: An impeller is for separating a conveyed stream of material. The impeller has a central rotatable hub with a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom. The hub and blades form a number of generally wedge-shaped material receiving spaces within the impeller. One set of spaces has a baffle arrangement which is configured to direct material in this set outwardly from the impeller on the upstream side of the baffle arrangement. Another set of spaces has a guide arrangement which is configured to guide the material in this set of spaces outwardly from the impeller on the downstream side of the baffle arrangement. The impeller is particularly useful for separating streams of particulates, such as wood chips, compressed shavings, or the like.

Abstract: A method for refining lignocellulose-containing material into pulp in a disc refiner comprises preheating the material to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature of lignin in the material, and holding this temperature for under one minute. The heated material is then subject to high speed refining in a disc refiner to produce pulp. The resulting pulp may then be subject to secondary refining steps to produce paper quality pulp. The preheat retention time is preferably in the range of 5-30 seconds, and can be controlled as a process variable to optimize energy savings, pulp strength, and optical qualities. High quality pulp can be obtained with preheat at high temperature and low retention time, followed by primary refining at disc speed of at least 2300 rpm.

Abstract: An air lift pump for wet particulates has a plurality of transport tubes and air injectors disposed in a central column for transporting particulate matter from a lower elevation to a higher elevation. The central column has a closed top and an open bottom. Each tube has a lower, intake end, a lower first air injector and an upper second air injector. Each air injector is comprised of a housing disposed around an air injection section of the transport tube in which is mounted a first or second air jet, respectively. Compressed air is supplied to the first air injector via an air supply line and to the second air injector via an air supply line and the central column.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for calibrating a gap sensing probe (12) in a refiner having first (76) and second (80) grinding plates facing each other and supported by respective first and second plate holders, each grinding plate having a face (78, 82) defining a grinding gap (86). The gap measuring device, which is secured within one of the plates, includes a sensor probe (12) for measuring gap width data having a substantially cylindrical tip (14) with a flat frontal portion (16), an attached conical portion (18) and a longitudinal axis (20) therebetween. A cable (22) is electrically connected to the conical portion of the probe, for transmitting the gap width data. A protective sleeve (24) can be positioned around and contact the cylindrical tip, wherein the flat frontal portion of the tip is exposed through the sleeve.