Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater includes a Mach diffuser having a plurality of steam diffusion holes in lieu of a coaxial steam nozzle. High velocity steam (i.e. choked flow) flows radially through the plurality of steam diffusion holes into a high velocity axial flow of liquid through a combining tube within the heater. An adjustably positionable cover over the steam diffusion holes in the Mach diffuser modulates the amount of steam added to the liquid by exposing the proper number of steam diffusion holes. This modulation is done at constant steam pressure without the use of an external steam control device. The arrangement facilitates thorough mixing of steam and liquid within the combining region. It also discourages the generation of relatively large steam bubbles within the mixture, even when heating liquids that promote the generation of relatively large steam bubbles such as liquids without a significant number or nucleation points or without sufficient surface tension.

Abstract: A method of disassembling fiber drums having a fiber sidewall, a fiber bottom and an upper and lower metal chime includes the use of a portable fiber drum chime remover. The fiber drum is placed on the lower metal chime and the portable fiber drum chime remover is used to remove the upper metal chime by engaging a rotatable drive wheel against an outer surface of the upper chime and a rotatable cutting head against the inner surface of the fiber sidewall opposite the drive wheel. The portable fiber drum chime remover is then driven around the upper chime to cut the upper edge of the fiber sidewall. The fiber drum is then placed on the cut upper edge of the sidewall and the portable fiber drum chime remover is used in the same manner to cut the lower edge of the fiber sidewall slightly above the fiber bottom. The lower metal chime is then snipped to relieve tension and allow the fiber bottom and lower metal chime to be easily removed from the drum.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater allows shear to be adjusted without taking the process off-line to relieve pressure within the heater. A stud is mounted to an adjustable combining tube within the heater. The stud extends through an opening in the heater body into a sealed housing. An adjusting mechanism exerts force on the combining tube stud within the sealed housing to move the combining tube longitudinally within the body to adjust the shear within the heater. The position of the combining tube is indicated by an analog revolution counter. The adjusting mechanism can be driven manually or by a motor. The motorized embodiment of the invention can be used with feedback control to automatically optimize shear.

Abstract: Portable metal drum openers allow the use of a cutting head with a relatively small diameter so that most metal drum covers can be removed without having to beat down or remove bungs in the cover. The cutting head is spring mounted so that the small diameter cutting head will not slip or stall when encountering a kink in the chime. The cutting head is tilted downward in the direction of cutting so that the cutting head would tend to move downward along the chime when making the cut, however, the cutting head is physically restrained from moving downward past a selected chime cutting height. The selected chime cutting height is preferably adjusted by adjusting the position of a shaft collar along threads on a cutting shaft that projects perpendicularly from the cutting head. It is preferred that the drum opener be driven either manually, or by an electric DC motor.

Abstract: A fiber drum chime removing system for disassembling fiber or paperboard drums having metal chimes has a stationary cutting assembly and a movable cutting assembly. The stationary cutting assembly cuts the upper edge of the fiber sidewall of the drum to remove the upper drum chime from the drum. Contemporaneously, the movable cutting assembly cuts the lower edge of the fiber sidewall of the drum. A chime cutter mounted to the movable cutting assembly then cuts the lower drum chime to remove from the drum. Air cylinders automatically engage the stationary and movable cutting assemblies, and electric DC motors automatically drive the cutting assemblies. The chime cutter is automatically actuated by an air cylinder. The position of the movable cutting assembly is also adjusted automatically with an air cylinder so that the movable cutting assembly can be located in the proper position for cutting engagement.

Abstract: A portable fiber drum chime remover allows the disassembly of fiber or paperboard drums on location. The height of the cutting head is adjustable so that the portable chime remover can remove both the upper metal chime and the lower metal chime during the fiber drum disassembling process. The cutting head height can be selected among predetermined settings using a grooved cutter shaft and a spring-loaded stop, or can be self-setting using the fiber drum geometry as a guide. The fiber drum chime remover preferably has a restraint element to prevent the cutting head from coming in direct contact with the drive wheel when the cutting head is engaged to cut the fiber sidewall of the drum.

Abstract: A direct contact steam injection heater with a coaxial steam nozzle has a converging/diverging combining tube. The converging/diverging combining tube eliminates the need for an adjustable combining tube sleeve to accommodate various flow rates of a liquid or slurry entering into the heater. The heater is especially well suited for sanitary applications because, without the combining tube sleeve, the heater can be made so that surfaces in contact with the liquid or slurry do not have pockets or folds in which liquid or particulates can accumulate. Contact surfaces in the heater are substantially self-cleaning because of turbulent mixing action, and the heater can be quickly disassembled and reassembled for manual cleaning.

Abstract: A liquid heating apparatus capable of using low pressure steam and having a temperature control system to automatically control the output temperature of a heated liquid. The apparatus includes a tubular housing having an internal annular seal, and a liquid nozzle, that is connected to a source of liquid to be heated, is mounted for axial movement in the housing relative to the seat. The annular space between the nozzle and the seat that defines an annular diverging passage which communicates with a source of steam under pressure. The steam is accelerated as it is discharged through the diverging passage into contact with the stream of liquid being discharged from the liquid nozzle. The liquid and steam then pass through a converging mixing chamber where the momentum energy of the steam transfers to the liquid as the steam condenses on the liquid. The mixture then passes into a diverging diffuser section and the heated liquid is discharged from the diffuser through a discharge conduit to a site of use.

Abstract: A method for defibrating waste paper and dispersing contained asphalt and wax contaminants within the fibers. The waste paper is initially pulped with water and the resulting stock is then contacted with a high pressure stream of steam having a velocity in the range of 1200 to 1600 ft./sec. The mixture of steam and stock is passed through a mixing tube under highly turbulent conditions to defibrate the waste paper and disperse any asphalt, waxes, and other contaminants throughout the separated fibers. The resulting stock can be used in papermaking processes, particularly for the production of paperboard products.