Patents by Inventor Rolf Ekholm

Rolf Ekholm 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: 6946072
    Abstract: A method for washing a fibre suspension with washing liquid, in which, in accordance with the invention, the fibre suspension is introduced into an annular treatment channel (24) that has an inlet end (72) and an outlet end (73) and is concentric with an axis of rotation (5) to form an inner annular layer (74), washing liquid simultaneously being introduced into the treatment channel form an outer layer (75), which surrounds the inner annular layer. The fibre suspension and washing liquid are caused to rotate in the treatment channel whilst moving from said inlet end to said outlet end, fibres in the fibre suspension being caused to move into the outer layer of washing liquid, under the influence of the centripetal force, so that an accept (29), the liquid phase of which completely or mostly consists of washing liquid, is discharged at the outlet end of the treatment channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Peter Wigarthsson
  • Publication number: 20040040678
    Abstract: A method for washing a fibre suspension with washing liquid, in which, in accordance with the invention, the fibre suspension is introduced into an annular treatment channel (24) that has an inlet end (72) and an outlet end (73) and is concentric with an axis of rotation (5) to form an inner annular layer (74), washing liquid simultaneously being introduced into the treatment channel to form an outer layer (75), which surrounds the inner annular layer. The fibre suspension and washing liquid are caused to rotate in the treatment channel whilst moving from said inlet end to said outlet end, fibres in the fibre suspension being caused to move into the outer layer of washing liquid, under the influence of the centripetal force, so that an accept (29), the liquid phase of which completely or mostly consists of washing liquid, is discharged at the outlet end of the treatment channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Peter Wigarthsson
  • Patent number: 6659635
    Abstract: The apparatus is adapted for the admixing of a first fluid, preferably steam into the flow of a second fluid, preferably cellulose pulp. With the purpose of obtaining a high and good admixing capacity and avoiding the generation of noise, the admixing of the second fluid is effected in the end of a pipe, which pipe has an increase in area of at least 50%, directly after the admixing, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ekholm
  • Publication number: 20030147301
    Abstract: The apparatus is adapted for the admixing of a first fluid, preferably steam into the flow of a second fluid, preferably cellulose pulp. With the purpose of obtaining a high and good admixing capacity and avoiding the generation of noise, the admixing of the second fluid is effected in the end of a pipe, which pipe has an increase in area of at least 50%, directly after the admixing, viewed in the direction of flow of the second fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 6418963
    Abstract: A pipe attachment comprises a pipe elbow that is tightly attached to a stand pipe so that the diameter of the stand pipe is greater than the diameter of the pipe elbow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 6371526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a quick cone (1) for pipe assemblies for conducting fiber suspensions wherein the quick cone provides a transition from a pipe (8) with a greater diameter to a pipe (9) with a smaller diameter as seen in the flow direction of the fiber suspension. The invention is characterized therein that the quick cone (1) has a pipe (2) wherein the pipe (2) has a major portion of its axial extension concentrically enclosed by a jacket (3) that includes a conical jacket portion (4) that is shaped as a cut cone and a cylindrical connection segment (5) where a thicker end of the conical jacket portion (4) is in engagement with the cylindrical connection segment (5) that has substantially the same diameter as the larger diameter pipe (8) and the pipe (2) has substantially the same diameter as the smaller diameter pipe (9) and wherein the more pointed end of the jacket portion (4) is tightly attached to the pipe (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 6347883
    Abstract: The apparatus is used for adding a first fluid to a second fluid. The apparatus has a tube-shaped element. The tube-shaped element has a flow-through channel defined therein for carrying the flow of the second fluid. The flow-through channel has, a substantially constant first cross-sectional area and maintains a first pressure. The apparatus has a chamber defined therein that extends about the tube-shaped element and along a length of the tube-shaped element. The chamber maintaining a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure. A connection supplies the first fluid to the chamber. The tube-shaped element has a plurality of openings defined therein. The openings are disposed adjacent to the chamber so that the first fluid flows through the openings into the second fluid flowing inside the tube-shaped element. A second conduit is attached to the tube-shaped element and directly downstream thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 6341888
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for introduction of a first fluid into a second fluid, that flows in a conduit. A first member with a pass-through canal for said second fluid, is at least partially encircled by a chamber with a wall between the inner part of the chamber and the pass-through canal, and a pressurized source of first fluid which is to be supplied into the chamber. At least one series of apertures is distributed about the periphery of the wall, extending there through, such that the first fluid is introduced through the apertures to be mixed into the second fluid based upon the pressure differential between the pressure in the chamber and the pressure in the pass-through canal. At least a portion of the apertures may be selectively blocked or closed to regulate the flow of the first fluid into the pass-through canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping, AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Peter Wigarthsson
  • Patent number: 6254335
    Abstract: A device for admixing a first fluid into a second fluid. The device has a housing with a rotationally symmetrical rotation chamber defined therein that is arranged with an inlet for the second fluid and an outlet for the mixed fluids. A distance from a center shaft of the housing to its inner wall is decreasing continuously from the inlet to the outlet. The device has rotation means for setting the second fluid in rotation along the inner wall of the rotation chamber. The device also has adding means for adding the first fluid into the vortex that is formed when the second fluid is rotating in the rotation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 6241852
    Abstract: Process and device for mixing fluid into a pulp suspension of cellulose-containing fiber material, in which the pulp suspension is pumped in through a pump inlet (17), brought into rotation and, at the desired reaction pressure, mixed with the said fluid while passing through a reaction sector comprising a stator shell (1), a rotor (7) which is coaxial therewith, and at least one fluid inlet (23), after which the pulp mixture leaves the reaction sector through a pulp outlet (20), in which the fluid, via the said fluid inlet (23), is supplied in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the rotating pulp suspension, where the local pressure in the pulp suspension is lower, due to the centrifugal force increasing radially outwards, than the reaction pressure prevailing at the periphery of the pulp suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson, Per Nyström
  • Patent number: 6156159
    Abstract: Process and device for mixing fluid into a pulp suspension of cellulose-containing fiber material, in which the pulp suspension is pumped in through a pump inlet (17), brought into rotation and, at the desired reaction pressure, mixed with the said fluid while passing through a reaction sector comprising a stator shell (1), a rotor (7) which is coaxial therewith, and at least one fluid inlet (23), after which the pulp mixture leaves the reaction sector through a pulp outlet (20), in which the fluid, via the said fluid inlet (23), is supplied in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the rotating pulp suspension, where the local pressure in the pulp suspension is lower, due to the centrifugal force increasing radially outwards, than the reaction pressure prevailing at the periphery of the pulp suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson, Per Nystrom
  • Patent number: 6059323
    Abstract: An expansion coupling, for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, has a housing that is open at opposite ends thereof. The conduits and at least one end of the housing have sealing means that comprise an interior sealing ring and an exterior sealing ring that has a larger external and internal diameter than the interior sealing ring. The interior sealing ring has a radially inwardly directed sealing surface and the exterior sealing ring has a radially outwardly directed sealing surface. The sealing rings have sealing side surfaces for sealing against adjacent sealing rings and the sealing rings are radially displaceable with respect to each other to accommodate for any misalignments of connected conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 6004364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for the separation and purification of gas from a fiber suspension, especially residual gas after ozone delignification or pulp suspension, wherein the suspension together with the gas is introduced into a cyclone (2) or similar in which essential separation of suspension takes place, after which the essentially gas-free suspension is drawn off downwards and the gas (5) containing residual fiber and/or other impurities is drawn off upwards, the gas stream (5), before it is conducted away, being led through a liquid bath for separation of residual fibers and/or other impurities from the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Kamyr Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 5934318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve system for a space (1) which is under vacuum in relation to its surroundings (3), which valve system comprises a valve unit (7) which is intended to be arranged in association with a wall (2) which delimits the said space and has a wall opening (4) through the said wall, which valve unit comprises a valve (8) which is normally shut and closes the said wall opening but is arranged to be opened and allow air from the surroundings into the said space if the vacuum, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping aktiebolag
    Inventors: Ulf Jansson, Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 5904753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for the separation and purification of gas from a fiber suspension, especially residual gas after ozone delignification or pulp suspension, wherein the suspension together with the gas is introduced into a cyclone (2) or similar in which essential separation of suspension takes place, after which the essentially gas-free suspension is drawn off downwards and the gas (5) containing residual fiber and/or other impurities is drawn off upwards, the gas stream (5), before it is conducted away, being led through a liquid bath for separation of residual fibers and/or other impurities from the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 5762760
    Abstract: The reactor comprises a pressurized vessel having an outlet member at its top and further including a blow line. The outlet member includes a housing that is in fluid communication with the vessel and to which the blow line is connected. A rotor is arranged in the housing for urging pulp in a direction of an inner side of the housing so that the pulp is discharged to the blow line while gas accumulates in the center of the housing. An outlet line is in fluid communication with an outlet channel for removing the gas from the center of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 5744004
    Abstract: System for feeding a suspension, preferably a suspension of chips in a liquid carrier, to a pressurized vessel in a cellulose pulp mill, which system comprises at least one pump (25, 26) between a low-pressure part and the pressurized vessel for driving the suspension from the low-pressure part into the vessel, which pump is of the type which comprises a number of parallel discs (40, 42) which are held together to form a stack (39) and rotate in a pump chamber (36) in a pump housing about a common axis of rotation, with the spaces (46) between the discs being greater than the particles in the suspension, and with an axial inlet and a tangential outlet for the suspension. The invention also includes a pump and an apparatus unit which are intended to form part of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 5711852
    Abstract: A process and device for mixing fluid into a pulp suspension of cellulose-containing fiber material, in which the pulp suspension is pumped in through a pump inlet, brought into rotation and, at the desired reaction pressure, mixed with the said fluid while passing through a reaction sector comprising a stator shell, a rotor which is coaxial therewith, and at least one fluid inlet, after which the pulp mixture leaves the reaction sector through a pulp outlet, in which the fluid, via the said fluid inlet, is supplied in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the rotating pulp suspension, where the local pressure in the pulp suspension is lower, due to the centrifugal force increasing radially outwards, then the reaction pressure prevailing at the periphery of the pulp suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Technologies Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson, Per Nystrom
  • Patent number: 5698079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for spreading paper pulp in a container for storing or treating the pulp, which arrangement comprises an inlet for supplying the pulp to a rotatably mounted spreader wheel and a driving member for driving said spreader wheel. The spreader wheel is provided with spreader blades, where each spreader blade has a surface which is directed towards the direction of rotation and is shaped to transport and spread the pulp outwards towards the periphery of the container during rotation of the spreader wheel. A spreader shield is arranged to divert a part of the outwardly directed pulp towards the center of the container so that the pulp is essentially spread over the entire cross-sectional area of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Technologies AB
    Inventors: Christen Gronvold-Hansen, Rolf Ekholm
  • Patent number: 5685342
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a first fluid into a second fluid, comprising a housing having a flow-through chamber for the second fluid, a throttling body in the flow-through chamber, and inlet and outlet passages to enable flow of the second fluid to and from, respectively, the flow-through chamber. The throttling body is arranged with elements which are able to displace the throttling body between a position in which the throttling body blocks the inlet passage and a position in which the inlet passage is open. The apparatus is also provided with holes for introducing the first fluid, preferably into, or immediately in front of, the inlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping Technologies, AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ekholm