Abstract: A Y-shaped flow splitter passes papermaking fluid with some fibers with reduced clogging and has a flat surface opposite the leg of the Y where the flow divides into the two arms of the Y. A generally flat rectangular surface is positioned opposite the leg of the Y of the flow splitter which divides the flow evenly without providing a place for fibers to collect and thus clog the flow through the splitter. The splitter allows the flow to a pair of dilution tubes to be controlled by a single valve with a single flow passage reducing clogging and valve cost. The flow splitter is constructed of stainless steel by a by casting process. A process known commercially as the Extrudehone process is used to produce smooth flow passages.

Abstract: A headbox apparatus is disclosed for ejecting stock onto a forming wire for forming a web. The apparatus includes a housing which is connected to a pressurized source of the stock. The housing defines a tapered inlet for the flow therethrough of the stock. The tube bank has an upstream and a downstream end with the upstream end being connected to the tapered inlet such that the stock flows at a substantially constant flow rate through the inlet and through the upstream end of the tube bank to the downstream end of the tube bank. The tube bank includes a plurality of tubes for the flow therethrough of the stock. A member defines a slice chamber which has an upstream and a downstream extremity. The upstream extremity is connected to the downstream end of the tube bank, and the downstream extremity is disposed adjacent to the forming wire.

Abstract: A headbox tube bank apparatus and method of directing flow through same is disclosed for permitting the flow therethrough of stock in a papermaking machine. The apparatus includes a tube bank frame for rigidly supporting the tube bank, the frame defining a plurality of openings. A plurality of tubes cooperate with the frame such that each tube extends through and is supported by an opening. Each tube has an upstream and a downstream portion, the upstream portion defining an internal cross-machine direction section of substantially circular configuration for maximizing the velocity of the stock through the tube.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a paper web having a low tensile ratio. The method includes the steps of ejecting stock substantially horizontally from a headbox, and receiving the rejected stock onto a substantially horizontally disposed looped first wire, moving at substantially the same speed and the same direction as the ejected stock. The arrangement is such that a first portion of water is removed from the ejected stock downwardly through the first wire during passage of the ejected stock through an initial dewatering zone. The partially dewatered stock is sandwiched between the first wire and a looped second wire, the wires defining therebetween a secondary dewatering zone for further dewatering the ejected stock. A second and third portion of water are removed downwardly and upwardly, respectively, through the first and second wires during movement of the ejected stock past a curved shoe.

Abstract: At least a substantial proportion of the fibers in papermaking stock are delivered in cross direction orientation to the slice chamber of a headbox and remain in the cross direction orientation for delivery from the slice chamber to a forming surface. The cross direction orientation is effected by a set of partitions defining stock flow passages extending obliquely in the cross direction, receiving the stock flowing in the machine direction and biasing the streams of the stock to flow in generally the cross direction to the downstream ends of the passages from which the streams are diverted in substantially the machine direction towards the slice chamber. The stock with fibers oriented in the cross direction may be supplied to turbulence controlling channels in the slice chamber.

Abstract: By imposing pressure pulses on mobile fibers in suspension in paper making stock slurry in the primary drainage area of the forming zone of a roll former substantially uniform distribution of the fibers is effected in forming of the paper web. A device for effecting the pressure pulses is located adjacent to the primary drainage area and may comprise a pressure pulse producing element of selected shape to control the length of the pressure pulse for the particular character of paper making fiber stock slurry involved in the paper web being formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a traveling fibrous web such as paper including a hollow cylindrical dryer drum with means for directing a flow of steam into the drum and for removing condensate from the inside of the drum and positioning an axially elongate bristle support with bristles projecting radially outwardly so that the support and bristles form a brush of substantial uniform axial density to generate a visual high level of turbulence in the condensate and decrease the rotational speed of the layer of rimming condensate formed on the inner surface of the drum shell.

Abstract: Holders for floating slice chamber dividers are provided with flexible bodies whereby the dividers are relieved from bending strains in their upstream attached end portions. Advantageously these holder facilitate orientation of the slice chambers of headboxes in a manner to provide for unusual compactness in headbox construction and space requirements. Purging of air from the stock flow is facilitated.

Abstract: Turbulence is generated within a headbox nozzle passage in such close adjacency to the slice opening as to assure thorough and substantially uniform dispersion of the fibers in a jet stream delivered to the forming area on a travelling paper web forming surface. Substantial suppression of turbulence in the jet stream is effected without interferring with the substantial uniformity of fiber dispersion in the suspension as delivered to the forming surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deflocculating a dry suspension of fibers wherein the fibers are introduced into a housing in suspension in air, and are allowed to commence settling by free fall through the housing. An impeller is positioned below the inlet and is in the path of the falling suspension, the impeller being rotated in such a manner that it provides air currents in opposition to the settling tendencies of the suspension. A foraminous forming means is located below the impeller, and cooperates with suction means acting thereon to form a sheet of fibers from the fibers which ultimately settle onto the foraminous forming means. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is included a mechanical vibrating means which is positioned below the impeller and is arranged to apply small amplitude sonic waves at the suspension passing to the forming means thereby additionally enhancing the deflocculation of the fibers in suspension.