Patents by Inventor Ray Crane

Ray Crane has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7399377
    Abstract: A hammermill for singulating cellulosic fibers from a wet pulp sheet includes a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape. A process for producing singulated fibers includes wetting a fiber sheet, milling the fibers in the hammermill, and drying the fibers. The singulated fibers have a low knot content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventors: Ray Crane, Nordahl K. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7147446
    Abstract: Methods and systems for applying crosslinking agent to a sheet of cellulose fibers are described. The method and system apply crosslinking agent to one or both sides of the sheet and results in a sheet having a high loading of crosslinking agent that is uniformly distributed within the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Ray Crane
  • Publication number: 20060113707
    Abstract: Methods and systems for applying crosslinking agent to a sheet of cellulose fibers are described. In the method crosslinking agent is applied to one or both sides of the sheet and results in a sheet having a high loading of crosslinking agent that is uniformly distributed within the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventor: Ray Crane
  • Patent number: 6860440
    Abstract: A hammermill for singulating cellulosic fibers from a pulp sheet comprises a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Ray Crane, Nordahl K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040129808
    Abstract: A hammermill for singulating cellulosic fibers from a pulp sheet comprises a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Ray Crane, Nordahl K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040129392
    Abstract: A hammermill for singulating cellulosic fibers from a wet pulp sheet includes a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape. A process for producing singulated fibers includes wetting a fiber sheet, milling the fibers in the hammermill, and drying the fibers. The singulated fibers have a low knot content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Ray Crane, Nordahl K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040129393
    Abstract: A hammermill process for singulated, cellulosic fibers from a wet pulp sheet comprising a cylindrical housing, a feed slot with a breaker bar positioned therein and a rotor mounted for rotation in the housing. Feed rolls are provided to feed a sheet of pulp into the feed slot upstream of the breaker bar. A plurality of hammers are mounted on the rotor. Air is introduced into the hammermill housing tangentially downstream from the second feed slot. An air outlet is positioned tangentially on the housing downstream from the air inlet to allow air and singulated fibers to escape. Fibers produced by the hammermill from a wetted pulp sheet have a low knot content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Ray Crane, Nordahl K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040130069
    Abstract: Methods and systems for applying crosslinking agent to a sheet of cellulose fibers are described. The method and system apply crosslinking agent to one or both sides of the sheet and results in a sheet having a high loading of crosslinking agent that is uniformly distributed within the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Ray Crane
  • Patent number: 5560553
    Abstract: A unique hammermill for fiberizing sheet comprised of natural or synthetic fibers, that has a reduced tendency to clog entrance slots of the fibrous sheets into the interior of the hammermill. According to the invention, the hammermill has a nose bar deflector, mounted upstream of a feed slot and preferably extending along the entire length of the slot, to deflect fibers from the slot entrance, thereby preventing clogging of the slot. In one embodiment, the deflector is substantially triangular in cross section, wherein one side is affixed laterally along an upstream edge of a fibrous sheet feed slot, so that one side of the deflector slopes away from an internal surface of the hammermill shell to deflect fibers, carried along the surface of the shell, away from the feed slot, thereby preventing clogging. In other embodiments, the shape of the deflecting surface differs, but is designed to deflect fiber and particulates from the openings of downstream slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Ray Crane