Abstract: A pressurize air differential core winding apparatus comprises core mounting outer rings rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner camming ring having outer camming surfaces. A rotating drive shaft has radial displaceable buttons which are displaced radially outwardly by an inner inflatable bladder to selectively rotate the inner ring forming a clutch mechanism. Each outer ring has an annular array of slots in which are elongated rotatable gripping cylindrical rollers having arcuate edges. Each roller is resiliently urged radially inwardly by an O-ring against the camming surfaces. The camming surfaces selectively urge the rollers outwardly to grip a core about which filaments are to be wound. An array of recesses in the outer ring receive a corresponding pad of fibrous members such as the hook type fasteners available as Velcro and Velcoin brands for initially frictionally engaging and gripping a received core.

Abstract: A plurality of core mounting outer ring members are each rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner ring member having cam surfaces in the outer surface. A rotating drive shaft has radial pistons and rotates the inner ring member by frictional engagement of the pistons displaced by an inflatable bladder. A plurality of strips in one embodiment are between the bladder and the pistons for providing increased torque on the inner ring member. The outer ring member has a first annular array of bores with core gripping balls resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A second array of bores in the outer member receive larger core gripping balls which freely displace in the bores. Ramp camming grooves are in the outer surface of the inner ring member, the larger gripping balls are engaged with the grooves and are forced into gripping engagement with the received core when the inner ring member is rotated.

Abstract: A plurality of core mounting outer ring members are each rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner ring member having cam surfaces in the outer surface. A rotating drive shaft has radial pistons and rotates the inner ring member by frictional engagement of the pistons displaced by an inflatable bladder. The outer ring member has a first annular array of bores with core gripping balls resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A second array of bores in the outer member receive larger core gripping balls which freely displace in the bores. Ramp camming grooves are in the outer surface of the inner ring members, the larger gripping balls engaged with the grooves and forced into gripping engagement with the received core when the inner ring member is rotated. The spring loaded balls provide initial friction load between the core and outer ring members so that the ramp balls can operate to grip the core upon rotation of the inner ring member.

Abstract: A plurality of core mounting outer ring members are each rotationally slidably mounted on a corresponding inner ring member having cam surfaces in the outer surface. A rotating drive shaft has radial pistons and rotates the inner ring member by frictional engagement of the pistons displaced by an inflatable bladder. A pluraltiy of strips in one embodiment are between the bladder and teh pistons for providing increased torque on the inner ring member. The outer ring member has a first annular array of bores with core gripping balls resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A second array of bores in the outer member receive larger core gripping balls which freely displace in the bores. Ramp camming grooves are in the outer surface of the inner ring member, the larger gripping balls are engaged with the grooves and are forced into gripping engagement with the received core when the inner ring member is rotated.

Abstract: A plurality of core mounting ring members are rotationally slidably mounted on a drive shaft which has a central axial bore for receiving settable pressurized air. The ring members have an annular array of bores with core gripping buttons resiliently urged radially outwardly to grip a core receiving a winding strip thereabout. A central groove on an inner surface of each of the ring member is fluid coupled to the gripping button bores and to the drive shaft central bore for urging the buttons outwardly with pressurized air. The button bores are fluid coupled to two annular grooves on each side of the central ring member groove. A chlorinated quad O-ring is in each of the two annular grooves.

Abstract: A transfer device for passing material between two different fluid environments which uses a multi-passageway rotor member rotatable about a vertical axis and interposed between upper and lower ported members. Each passageway (or chamber) passes through the rotor and has a major axis parallel to the vertical axis of the rotor. Rotation of the rotor brings each passageway successively into fluid communication with the upper ported member whereby the passageway is filled with material, then to at least one position where the passageway is not aligned with either ported member, and finally to a position where the passageway is aligned with the lower ported member and the material is transferred to the second environment. The rotation may be continuous or incremental, and the fluid environments are maintained in isolation from each other. Methods of transferring solids, and a solids transfer system in a steam hydrolysis and drying plant are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transfer device for passing material between two different fluid environments which uses a multi-passageway rotor member rotatable about a vertical axis and interposed between upper and lower ported members. Each passageway (or chamber) passes through the rotor and has a major axis parallel to the vertical axis of the rotor. Rotation of the rotor brings each passageway successively into fluid communication with the upper ported member whereby the passageway is filled with material, then to at least one position where the passageway is not aligned with either ported member, and finally to a position where the passageway is aligned with the lower ported member and the material is transferred to the second environment. The rotation may be continuous or incremental, and the fluid environments are maintained in isolation from each other. Methods of transferring solids, and a solids transfer system in a steam hydrolysis and drying plant are also disclosed.

Abstract: A removable bladder assembly for insertion into the core of a roll support sleeve having roll gripping lugs radially displaced by the bladder assembly includes an outer flexible bladder tube and an inner rigid tube for supporting the outer tube. A coupling member is secured to the tubes at each of the tube ends to seal and clamp the tubes together. The member includes a nut axially threaded to the inner tube bore and having an outwardly extending flange. A T-shaped cap has a section over the outer tube and a section over the nut flange. The cap has a flange depending from between the sections and located between the nut flange and the ends of the two tubes. An O-ring and washer like ring are in a rigid tube recess between the rigid tube end and the cap flange. An annular wedge shaped recess is in the cap section overlying the outer tube radially aligned with the O-ring.

Abstract: An energy efficient process for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic materials which comprises using a primary system by providing a start-up energy input to operating saturated steam conditions and thereafter operating the primary system with substantially constant energy input, the condition of the hydrolyzing saturated steam being controlled by water injection and/or steam bleeding from the primary system. The dwell time of the solids stream in the primary sustem is controlled by controlling its passage with flashing off of steam into a secondary system where drying occurs together with some small measure of hydrolysis in a lower pressure superheated steam environment, there being an energy input into the secondary system using steam bled from the primary system. The output solids material stream is preferably capable of being self polymerized into a formed shape eg a board.