Wood And Similar Natural-fibrous Vegetable Material Patents (Class 241/28)
  • Patent number: 5358185
    Abstract: A method of digesting waste paper is disclosed wherein waste paper is digested in a gas-tight container at an elevated pressure supplied by compressed gas introduced to the container. The digestion mixture is circulated within the pulper by a rotor having vanes or helical surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Konecsny
  • Patent number: 5344871
    Abstract: To form a binder from naturally occurring products without extraction or purification steps, the binder utilizes proteins from the germ or endosperm of cereal grasses or from the seed of buckwheat, oil seed plants, Amaranthus or leguminous plants or from leaves. The protein has a thermoplastic microstructure with linear polymers of moleculer weight of at least 2,000 linked with peptide linkages of at least 50 in number. The naturally occurring product is ground or milled without further processing and thus includes carbohydrates, particularly as cellulose, and possibly fats, yeast or materials yielding ash upon burning, with the carbohydrates being at least 5 percent of the proteins by weight. The binder may include some initiators or catalysts to polymerize fats or other initiators or catalysts to polymerize proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Delmar C. Timm, Ayodeji Ayorinde, Harold E. Egger
  • Patent number: 5335865
    Abstract: A high consistency pulp refiner of the type having a pressurized casing (12) containing opposed grinding discs (14,18) mounted for counter-rotation about a common axis (26) and between which material to be refined is introduced near the axis so as to move generally radially outwardly through an inner refining zone (40) between the discs while producing steam as a result of the refining action. The partially refined material and steam then move through a generally radially outer refining zone (50) between one of the discs (14) and a stationary grinding surface (54) situated generally radially outwardly of the other disc (18), whereupon the refined material and steam are discharged from the casing through a material outlet (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Kohler, William F. Lahner, III, Heinrich F. Munster, Karl T. G. Dahlqvist
  • Patent number: 5326614
    Abstract: Methods for producing a chipped wood surfacing material having unusually high shock absorbing capabilities are provided. The chipped wood is processed in order to give it a very high shock absorbing quality. This invention also relates to chipped wood having these unusually high shock absorbing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Doose
  • Patent number: 5263651
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wood chips for use in the preparation of pulp in a papermaking operation including a conduit for accommodating a flow stream of wood chips, a rotary valve in the conduit, shunt branch conduits with a first shunt leading to a chip dumping bin and a second shunt leading to a chip processing device; dampers in the branches with the damper for the first shunt branch being in normally closed position and a damper in the other shunt branch being in a normally open position; and a metal detection device upstream of the branches operative to move the first damper to open position and the second damper to closed position for a predetermined time and to stop the rotary valve and to reactivate the dampers and rotary valve after a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravindran Nadarajah
  • Patent number: 5248099
    Abstract: A pressurized disc refiner and associated method, in which three distinct refining zones (42, 44, 46) are provided within one refiner unit (10). The refining intensity is independently controllable in each zone, in part as a result of the selective separation and redirection of steam and partially refined fibers that are discharged from the first refining zone (42) into a first separation region (68). Centrifugal force in the first separation region preferentially directs all or most of the fibers into the second refining zone (44) and an axially directed pneumatic force directs steam into a second separation region (74) on the back side of the disc. Additional separation of steam and partially refined fiber in the second separation region directs the fiber to the third refining zone (46) and draws steam directly out of the housing. A specially adapted first disc plate (14) facilitates the separation in the first separation zone (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Lahner, Gregory R. Kohler
  • Patent number: 5242121
    Abstract: A frame work is mounted on a 3 point hitch of a tractor and includes on its lower end a pair of bale support forks extending rearwardly. A pair of vertically disposed rails carry a vertically movable sickle cutter which extends parallel to the support forks and is centered to move therebetween when cutting through a bale positioned on the forks with its longitudinal axis parallel to the forks and the sickle cutter. The round bale of hay can be cut into half sections and then again into quarter sections. The bale support and cutter may be used for transporting bales with the sickle cutter pressing down against the top of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5207389
    Abstract: A granular, biodegradable carrier made from a naturally occurring cellulose material such as corncobs, wood shavings or saw dust, rice hulls, peanut shells and pecan shells. A maximum density cellulose carrier product is produced in a wide variety of granule size ranges by the process of reducing the cellulose material to produce an intermediate pulverulent product, compressing the intermediate pulverulent product to produce pellets, shearing the pellets to produce the granular product, and classifying the granules to the desired size range. Critical control of a moisture addition to the intermediate pulverulent product before it is compressed or pelletized along with selective tempering of the pulverulent product before compression yields a maximum density pellet and a maximum density granular product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: The Andersons
    Inventors: Glenn E. Hall, Daniel R. Kory
  • Patent number: 5167373
    Abstract: A double disc refiner apparatus (10) and associated method, in which two counter-rotating refiner discs (26,28) which define a refining zone (58) therebetween, are counter-rotated at different steady-state speeds, such as 1800 rpm and 1200 rpm. For energy-efficiency, the feed end disc (26) is rotated at a faster speed than the control end disc (28), but in some instances, desired refiner output quality can be achieved by rotating the control end disc faster than the feed end disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: ABB Sprout-Bauer, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Bohn, Gary L. Jackson, Martin J. Sferrazza
  • Patent number: 5152871
    Abstract: The energy consumption of a cellulosic fibrous material refiner is significantly reduced, while the capacity is maintained by reducing grinding frequency while increasing the retention time and power amplitude (edge bar load). The grinding frequency is maintained between about 200-2,000 Hz, preferably between about 300-900 Hz. The retention time is more than a second, being increased at least about 100 times compared to conventional disk refiners. The power amplitude is at least doubled. Retention time is increased by greatly increasing the retention volume by removing the majority (at least about 90%) of the steam at approximately the area that it is generated, minimizing the number of cutting elements, and disposing the grinding surfaces of the refiner so that they define a volume of revolution (e.g. a frusto-conical or cylindrical volume).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Jonan Gullichsen
  • Patent number: 5133507
    Abstract: A two-stage procedure is disclosed for sorting wood chips. The chips are directed to a gyratory screen in the first stage and to a disc screen in the second stage. The chip flow is divided in the first stage into four fractions of which the first fraction contains mainly oversized chips and is directed to a pin chipper, from which it emerges as suitable-sized chips and is directed back to the gyratory screen of the first stage. The second fraction contains acceptable sized chips and most of the overthick chips and is directed to the second or thickness screening stage. The third fraction consists mainly of acceptable chips and is directed to a pulping process, while the fourth fraction consists mainly of fine particles and is directed to a burning station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Kone Oy
    Inventors: Matti Sepling, Jorma Vuojolainen, Matti Kahilahti
  • Patent number: 5123599
    Abstract: Wood is reclaimed from demolition debris in a process that includes a vibratory feeder 12 feeding material to a hammer mill 16 which comminutes the debris into fragments that are then fed to a disk screen 22. Debris fragments below a predetermined size are fed to a trommel 28. The trommel sorts small debris particles under a second smaller predetermined size, directing smaller particles to a first waste conveyor. Intermediately sized debris fragments between the first and second predetermined size pass through the outlet of the trommel to a sink float tank 48 in which the non-wood waste debris fragments that sink are transported away by a second waste conveyor 52 and floating wood debris fragments are recovered out of the tank 48 by conveyor 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Henry C. Mardigian
  • Patent number: 5087400
    Abstract: Process and installation for making a composite product, obtained by removing the fibre from wood chippings or other cellulose raw material, especially for above-ground cultivation purposes. The chippings (3) are place in a two-screw (2) fibre-removing machine (1), the overall characteristics being adjusted in such a way as to obtain, at the outlet of the machine (1), a mixture (31) based on isolated fibres and agglomerated bunches of fibres, of varying lengths and grain dimensions. An adhesive binder is inserted at a set feed-rate in the sleeve (11) during fibre removal so that it spreads through the fibre mixture in a discontinuous manner. By controlling the temperature the hardening of the binder can be delayed until the product emerges from the machine (1). Also covered is the product obtained in the form of a rigid block inserted in a sealed jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Wogegal S.A.
    Inventor: Christian Theuveny
  • Patent number: 5085735
    Abstract: A refiner for producing mechanical pulp has greater spacing between bars of the refiner grinding elements than is conventional. The grooves between the bars have a sloping bottom, making an angle of about 1.degree.-30.degree. (preferably 5.degree.-20.degree.) with respect to a straight line between the bars. The width of the grooves is about 10-50 mm. The relative rotation of the refiner elements (whether disks, cylindrical, or conical) with respect to each other results in sequential refining: a moving tension field, with successive compressions before impacts, and expansions, achieving increased fiber flexibility, more fiber rolling motion, and less fiber cutting. Pulp produced has increased fiber flexibility yet maintains a high content of long fibers, and higher refiner capacity also ensues. Also, the refiner of the invention can be used to mix treatment chemicals --such as bleaching chemicals in liquid form--into kraft pulp at high consistency (e.g. about 30-55%).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Bengt Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5074476
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is described for the manufacture of fibrous material containing ligno cellulose for the production of fibre boards by the dry process, wherein cleaned and mechanically dewatered starting material such as hacked chips, hacked shavings or the like pass into a preheating stage and are subsequently broken down into fibre material. In order to use the water which arises on mechanical dewatering of the cleaned starting material which contains lignocellulose in a manner which is particularly friendly to the environment and also particularly economical, provision is made for the water which arises on dewatering a starting material which is cleaned by a mechanical process to be fed completely to a preheating stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignees: Bison-Werke Baehre, Greten GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Mund
  • Patent number: 5068079
    Abstract: A method for forming a dry web on the wire, with the fibre material being fed into at least one perforated drumlike forming element that covers essentially the whole width of the web to be formed, in which forming element fibres are conveyed in the drum along the width of the web and screened through the mantle of the forming element onto the wire. To achieve such web formation as has as few disturbances as possible, the fibre material is fed into the drumlike forming element in such a way that the bulk of the fibres, when advancing in the feeding direction toward the other end of the forming element, get screened from the forming element onto the wire, and that those fibres that do not get screened, but travel through the forming element are removed from the forming element and returned for a new defibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Oy Walkisoft Engineering
    Inventor: Helmer Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 5047118
    Abstract: The energy consumption of a cellulosic fibrous material refiner is significantly reduced, while the capacity is maintained by reducing grinding frequency while increasing the retention time and power amplitude (edge bar load). The grinding frequency is maintained between about 200-2,000 Hz, preferably between about 300-900 Hz. The retention time is more than a second, being increased at least about 100 times compared to conventional disk refiners. The power amplitude is at least doubled. Retention time is increased by greatly increasing the retention volume by removing the majority (at least about 90% of the steam at approximately the area that it is generated, minimizing the number of cutting elements, and disposing the grinding surfaces of the refiner so that they define a volume of revolution (e.g. a frusto-conical or cylindrical volume).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Johan Gullichsen
  • Patent number: 5042726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for conjoint or simultaneous adjustment of the gap spaces of the inner and outer grinding zones of a pulp refiner apparatus in a single step. The inner grinding zone is generally radially oriented, and merges into an outer inclined grinding zone. Pulp stock to be ground is introduced into a central inlet position and is accelerated through the inner and outer grinding zones by centrifugal forces generated by a pair of grinding members which rotate relative to one and other. The opposed surfaces of the relatively rotating members each carry a plurality of concentric rows of teeth, and the gap spacing of the inner grinding zone is defined between adjacent surfaces of the teeth. The adjacent teeth defining the inner grinding zone are arranged so that adjustment of the gap space of the outer grinding zone simultaneously controls the gap spacing of the inner grinding zone without the need for separate adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator AB
    Inventor: Rolf B. Reinhall
  • Patent number: 5035362
    Abstract: Disintegration of a body of organic material involving subjecting the body to liquid jet action with the energy of the liquid as it impacts on the body such as to effect disintegration of the body into particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Inventor: Marian Mazurkiewicz
  • Patent number: 5028299
    Abstract: An installation and an industrial process for the production of stabilized wood particles.The process is characterized by the succession of the following operations: mechanical reduction by a shredder, calibration, thermal treatment by passage through a rotating furnace at a decreasing temperature between 800.degree. C. and 75.degree. C., chemical treatment of impregnation/absorption/precipitation by successive action on the product while it is still hot by a soluble calcium salt and by a silicate, followed by drying and stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventors: Gilbert Guidat, Claudine G. de Queiroz
  • Patent number: 5016824
    Abstract: Method and an apparatus for controlling the production of thermomechanical pulp meter chips by metering elements (9, 10) into a feed chest (2), and by feed elements (3, 7) connected to the feed chest feeds chips for refinement between thermomechanical pulp refining discs (5). Water is added to the chips prior to feeding the chips between the discs (5). Moisture content of the thermomechanical pulp is measured after the thermomechanical pulp refiner at least in a semicontinuous fashion by at least one measurement device (21, 22, 23, 24) operating on-line, and on the basis of measured moisture content, the quantity of chips and water to be metered is controlled so as to regulate the moisture content to a desired level of having a constant value by, e.g., increasing the volume of metered chips and simultaneously decreasing the quantity of fed water for an increasing trend of moisture content, and correspondingly, applying an opposite strategy to counter a decreasing trend of moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventors: Pertti Pietinen, Aslak Savonjousi
  • Patent number: 5011090
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chip refiner meters chips into the chip refiner with the help of a metering device and feeder which is adapted to the chip refiner for feeding chips between refiner disks. Water is added to the chips prior to feeding them between the refiner disks. Input power to the feeder means is measured, and using conventional methods, the volume of chip stock metered to the feeder is controlled with the help of the metering device so as to regulate the input power to the feeder to constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: ABB Stromberg Teollisuus Oy
    Inventor: Aslak Savonjousi
  • Patent number: 5011088
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chip refiner meters chips into a chip refiner with the help of a metering device, and feeder which is adapted to the chip refiner for feeding chips between refiner disks. Water is added to the chips prior to feeding them between the refiner disks. Temperature of the axial bearing is measured, and using conventional methods, the volume of chip stock metered to the feeder means is controlled with the help of the metering device so as to regulate the temperature of the axial bearing to a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: ABB Stromberg Teollisuus Oy
    Inventor: Aslak Savonjousi
  • Patent number: 5000390
    Abstract: A wood chip sizing apparatus, based on the thickness dimension, which includes a gyratory screen system (16) comprising three separate screens (18, 22, 26) which produces a total of four fractions, one fraction (20) comprising substantially all overthick chips, another fraction (24) comprising both overthick chips and accepts, another fraction (28) comprising substantially all accepts, and another fraction (30) comprising substantially all unders. Fraction (20) is moved directly to a chip slicer (52) which reduces the size of substantially all the chips to accepts. Fraction (24) is directed to a second screening station (42) which separates fraction (24) into two further fractions (44 and 46), one of which (44) comprises overthick chips, and the other of which (46) comprises accepts. The overthick chips (fraction 44) are applied to the chip slicer (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Gevan Marrs
  • Patent number: 5000823
    Abstract: Coarse wood residues, slivers and shives present in groundwood pulp as obtained in grinders are removed by passing a uniform flow of the pulp suspension containing coarse wood residues and shives from the grinder to a conical crushing and beating refiner having two treatment zones with a stationary part and a rotary part for reducing all wood material present in the suspension to free fibers, while measuring and controlling the freeness of the pulp within selected limits by controlling both the power input to the grinder and the power input to the conical crushing and beating refiner, and the degree of beating of the pulp, obtaining groundwood pulp having a low shives content and superior strength properties, at a low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mo och Domsjo Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Jonas A. I. Lindahl
  • Patent number: 4986480
    Abstract: Mechanical cellulosic fibrous material pulp (mechanical pulp to produce paper products) having lower freeness, and enhanced light scattering properties, tensile and tear strengths, for a given energy input, is produced by force feeding a refiner. Using a progressive compacting plugscrew, cellulosic material (e.g. wood chips) is fed to the refiner inlet at a rate greater than the transporting capacity of the refiner (e.g. about 10-40% greater). The refiner preferably is a low frequency conical refiner with steam removal at the grinding area between the conical refiner elements. The production rate is regulated by sensing the axial force on the refiner rotor and controlling the spacing between the refiner elements in response to the sensed axial force. The screw has a compaction ratio of at least 3/1 for wood chips and 6/1 for pulp, and is rotated at about 6-10% the speed of rotation of the refiner rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventors: Johan Gullichsen, Bengt Nilsson, Ronny Hoglund
  • Patent number: 4966651
    Abstract: An improved paper for printing and other uses can be made from a paper pulp that contains pulp derived from hardwoods if the pulp is refined in a refiner that has at least one abrasive surface disk. The pulp can be refined to give a vessel picks count of 2/cm.sup.2 or less and have a Freeness of less than that which can be achieved using a refiner having conventional barred disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: P.H. Glatfelter Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Olson, Lewin R. Lutz, III
  • Patent number: 4954221
    Abstract: In a refiner (40) with two opposed discs (47,48) rotatable relative to each other fibre pulp is manufactured from lignocellulose-containing material. The material is advanced in a channel comprising a plug pipe (20), through which the material is fed in compressed state, and a steam screen pipe (32) for discharging steam. The steam screen pipe (32) is located directly after the plug pipe (20) and has a cross-sectional area, which slightly exceeds that of the plug pipe in order to allow a limited expansion of the material plug. The steam is thereby allowed to flow through the material, at the same time as the material plug prevents clogging of the apertures (37,39) of the steam screen pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Rolf B. Reinhall, Johan G. I. Johansson, Anders V. Mokvist
  • Patent number: 4943347
    Abstract: A method of refining fibrous material under predetermined conditions by the help of relatively rotating refining means. The material is during refining passed from the inner circumference of the refining means to their outer circumference and is thereby exposed to bending forces and axial forces. At least two variables of the refining process, such as power and gap width are measured. The measured values of the variables and their relation are used to compare them with the set point values of the predetermined refining conditions for these variables to create control signals for positioning devices for the refining means, thereby returning the refining process to the aforementioned predetermined conditions and keeping these dependent variables constantly at these conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Inventor: Mats Floden
  • Patent number: 4921650
    Abstract: Fibre material is defibrated and dispersed in an air flow and introduced through an inlet (2) into a forming head (1). In the forming head (1) the inlet transforms to a single-curved convex surface (5), which leads all the way to an accept outlet (6). A screen (7) is located at adjustable distance from the curved surface (5) for dividing ingoing fibre/air flow into accept and reject. An outlet (10) for the reject is located behind the screen (7). At a distance of 10-150 mm from the accept outlet (6) a running air-pervious support (27) is located, on which the web precipitates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Kjell G. Eriksson, Bo R. Ek, Stig G. Wallin, Nils L. Eriksson
  • Patent number: 4917762
    Abstract: A liquid absorbing pad, in particular for use in hygiene articles and sanitary products, such as diapers, bed pads, sanitary napkins, pads for incontinence, panty shields, nursing pads or the like, is produced in a dry and direct process on the basis of wet-strength and/or coated paper waste, especially originating from the production of food packages, milk carton packages, deep-freeze packages, disposable tableware and the like. The waste is cut and defibrated, and during the defibration or just before it a maximum of 25% by volume, based on the volume of the paper waste, of a mixture of water and a surfactant is added to reestablish the absorption capacity of the fibres. Starting materials otherwise difficult to process can thus be used in a dry and direct process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventor: Peter Dalki r
  • Patent number: 4886576
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing uniform pulp yields, wherein at least a refiner is controlled in accordance with the UV absorbance of the lignin dissolved in the digester cooking liquor, thereby to produce for a given quantity of wood chips a uniform pulp yield. A backflow control valve is automatically adjusted to maintain uniform flow of a sample of the digester cooking liquor through a UV analyzer, and a flushing arrangement is provided for flushing out contaminates such as sulphur dioxide from the system. Preferably the refiner is of the two-stage type, the first stage being automatically adjusted as a function of the UV absorbance of the digester cooking liquor, and the second stage being automatically adjusted as a function of the freeness of the output fiber slurry. Also, one or more of the cooking parameters is controlled by the UV analyzer to control the fiber yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation
    Inventor: Tod H. Sloan
  • Patent number: 4884753
    Abstract: A method for pulverizing a material comprises having the material packed into an ice tube and frozen to form a composite ice pillar. The pillar is ground from one end thereof on a grinder. The outer tube serves to prevent the material from being scattered prematurely before being sufficiently pulverized. This method assures pulverization to a fine powder, at one operation, and a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Toshiya Maki
  • Patent number: 4858834
    Abstract: Apparatus and a process for use in preparing pulp for papermaking and particularly the preparation of wood chips including a rotary anvil with vanes forcing wood against a cutting knife and an infeed chute directing wood into the radial interior of the rotary anvil positioned to center the wood with respect to the anvil vanes with an additional stationary guide to center the infed wood and stationary guide deflectors on the anvil vanes further directing the wood toward the center of the anvil vanes for centering the load axially on the rotary anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan Lanham
  • Patent number: 4818338
    Abstract: In a pulping apparatus including a pulper with a rotor near the bottom therein, the pulper has a sluice outlet at the bottom for acceptable pulp suspension. Above the rotor at a corner of the pulper is a second outlet for suspension and dirt. A conduit leads from the second outlet to a horizontally oriented withdrawal apparatus chamber having a suspension agitating rotor at the end of the chamber opposite the entrance for pulp thereinto. A tangential outlet from the withdrawal apparatus chamber lead to a rotary, perforated sorting drum which permits exit of acceptable suspension and which has a rejected suspension and dirt outlet. A valve in the inlet to the withdrawal apparatus chamber is periodically and cyclically opened to permit periodic replacement of the suspension in the withdrawal apparatus chamber, and the suspension which has been agitated in the withdrawal apparatus chamber then moves to the sorting drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Bahr, Helmut Thumm, Walter Musselmann
  • Patent number: 4797135
    Abstract: A method for the production of highly comminuted flour of wood and other types of vegetable biomass suitable for the use as fuel, in that coarsely ground wood or other type of coarsely ground vegetable biomass is treated with a dilute solution of an alkaline substance, and subsequently exposed to elevated temperatures, whereafter the treated coarsely ground material is subjected to grinding, whereby a finely divided powder with a narrow particle size distribution is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventors: Josef Kubat, Lars M. Qvist
  • Patent number: 4773600
    Abstract: Apparatus for crushing chunks of trees and tree stumps comprising a solid cylinder having cutting elements extending from the surface. The housing containing the cylinder is provided along one side wall with stationary cutters extending out toward the surface of the cylinder between the columns of the cutting elements which are moving as the cylinder rotates. The space between the stationary cutters and the surface of the cylinder is adjustable in order to be able to select the size of particles being produced. A conveyer beneath the housing carries away the particles. The cutting elements are mounted in such away as to permit easy replacement in the event of a failure. Means are provided to drive said cylinder at no more than 50 RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Inventor: Edward S. Metski
  • Patent number: 4772358
    Abstract: Method and appparatus for making pulp of grinding goods, such as fibre material, in the grinding zone of a grinding apparatus by pressing it against a grinding surface provided with a pattern extending in the direction of movement of the grinding goods over the grinding surface for desintegration of the grinding goods. Steam generated during the grinding work causes a pressure rise along the grinding surface. The region for the maximum pressure in the grinding zone is established with the aid of measurements of the pressure course in the grinding zone and the pattern is formed in a predetermined region around this pressure center so that braking of the grinding goods will be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator AB
    Inventor: Nils G. Virving
  • Patent number: 4767848
    Abstract: Absorbent retentive pulp is described which is capable of retaining good absorbency even after having been highly compressed. The pulp is produced by subjecting a microfibrillated pulp slurry to pore generation with pore generating particles and to cross-linking with a cross-linking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Personal Products Company
    Inventors: Kambiz B. Makoui, Pronoy K. Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 4761203
    Abstract: A process for making mechanically expanded fiber from fibrous material having a fibrillar ultrastructure. The expanded fiber is made by impacting the fibrous material with a plurality of fine media. Impacting by the fine media causes the fibers to expand from a fibrous form to a highly fibrillated form, wherein fibrils separate from, or become substantially disassociated from, the fibrous material ultrastructure. Cellulosic fibrous material is particularly applicable to the process. Cellulosic fibrous material is preferably impacted with fine media at least until the cellulose-containing phase of an aqueous slurry containing 0.5%, by weight, of cellulosic material will retain at least fifty percent of the initial volume of such cellulose-containing phase upon unagitated settling for a period of sixty minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: The Buckeye Cellulose Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Vinson
  • Patent number: 4754935
    Abstract: A refiner has a frusto-conically shaped grinding zone located between an outer housing and an inner frusto-conical rotor. The rotor has suitable openings for removing steam from the grinding zone inwardly into an interior chamber within the rotor. Multiple separation stages are provided in the rotor and between it and the housing, respectively, whereby separation of the steam and any following fibrous material particles is effected. By removing the steam from the grinding zone, increased retention time of the fibrous material in the grinding zone and increased production is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Johan Gullichsen
  • Patent number: 4726880
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the quality of paper manufactured from a contaminated fibrous stock having therein recycled paper pulp and contaminants smaller than a predetermined size and with a specific gravity approximately that of the specific gravity of whitewater used in the production of recycled paper stock comprises a hydrokinetic amplifier having a mixing chamber connected to each of a steam inlet, a stock inlet, a chemical feed inlet, an overflow discharge and a venturi. The venturi is connected to an outlet of the hydrokinetic amplifier. The apparatus also includes a pulper, a dump chest, a cyclone separator, a pressure screen, a vibratory screen, a holding tank, a pump, and various auxiliary pumps, valves, piping and sources of steam and whitewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: EZE Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4723715
    Abstract: Disintegration of wood especially for production of wood pulp for making paper, involving subjecting a body of wood, more particularly a debarked log, to liquid jet action with the energy of the liquid as it impacts on the body such as to effect disintegration of the body into particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventor: Marian Mazurkiewicz
  • Patent number: 4710268
    Abstract: A method and system for efficient heat recovery during the production of mechanical pulp treats the process steam inherently produced during the production of mechanical pulp to maximize the energy content of clean steam produced. Comminuted cellulosic material is refined in one or more refiners, and the mixture of mechanical pulp and process steam from the refiner is separated into process steam and pulp flows by a cyclone. The process steam is passed to a scrubber, and then to an inlet of a reboiler (steam transformer) which produces clean steam and discharged flow-through process steam. The conduit between the cyclone and the scrubber is open so that the pressure of the process steam before it enters the reboiler is not significantly affected; a buffer may be provided in the conduit, however, to damp process steam pressure variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Bengt H. Nilsson
  • Patent number: 4699324
    Abstract: A device for screening fluidizable suspensions, such as medium consistency (e.g. 6-15 percent solids) paper pulp includes a housing with a main suspension inlet and a main (rejects) outlet. A rotor having a plurality of ribs is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis. A stationary screen is disposed in the housing between the main inlet and outlet. The stationary screen defines, with the housing, a chamber, and the rotor is positioned so that the ribs sweep past the screen, with only a small clearance between the screen and ribs. Between the screen and the outlet grinding elements are provided, comprising a stationary grinding ring connected to the housing, and a movable grinding ring connected to the rotor for rotation with the rotor. The grinding elements define a grinding slot between them. The grinding slot is adjustable either by replacing one or both of the grinding rings, or by forming the grinding elements so that they are conical and adjusting the axial position of the rotor in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Kamyr AB
    Inventor: Bjorn Ahs
  • Patent number: 4688726
    Abstract: A particle refining process is controlled in response to detected electron transfer phenomena. Pulses of electromagnetic radiation emanating from a refiner during a refining process are detected. The detected radiation is produced by dissociation and recombination phenomena in the particles being refined. The detected pulses are processed to obtain data indicative of the performance of the refining process. In particular, the mean pulse duration and mean energy per unit time of the detected pulses are computed. A process control signal is produced in response to the data, and the operation of the refiner is controlled with the process control signal to optimize the refining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventor: Irving R. Brenholdt
  • Patent number: 4688725
    Abstract: A method of regulating a grinding process in a pocket grinder pressing a wood batch in at least one pocket against a rotating grindstone with a grinding plate movable in the pocket calculates the apparent pulp quantity produced at measuring points at fixed intervals of the grinding stroke and changes in the wood batch density which occur during the grinding stroke. The value thus calculated is compared with a target value for the pulp quantity to be produced and the grinding process regulated thereby to reach the target value. To make the pulp quantity produced as even as possible, the calculated value of the apparent pulp quantity produced is corrected in relation to the hydraulic pressure used during the grinding stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Oy Tampella Ab
    Inventors: Seppo Blomqvist, Heikki U. Liimatainen, Kaj Sundstrom, Risto T. Vahteri
  • Patent number: 4685623
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for treating pulp prior to being made into paper, which treatment is known as beating or refining. The method comprises feeding a slurry of the pulp to the narrow nips of grooved rolls at which the slurry of pulp is partially dewatered then almost simultaneously fragments of the pulp are subjected to a predetermined heavy pressure, then dispersed before being subjected to the same sequence until treated to the desired degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventor: James d'A. Clark
  • Patent number: 4683814
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for compressing moisture containing material including a pair of opposed rolls for receiving and advancing the material therebetween to apply rolling load thereto to compress the material and remove at least a portion of said moisture therefrom, and differential means for causing one of said rolls to rotate at a lower speed than the rolling speed of the other of the rolls, the differential rolling speeds developing friction between the rolls causing the rolls to be heated and apply heat to said material to further remove moisture therefrom, to cause the compressed material to adhere to the one roll and to cause the removed moisture to adhere to the other roll, also alone and in combination, apparatus and process of decomposing organic material such as an animal biomass by the action of aerobic microorganisms in the presence of oxygen, including introducing the organic material into a container having an end adapted to receive the organic material and an output end adapted to discharge th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Revere Copper and Brass Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles J. Plovanich, Guy H. Ossont, Keith C. King, Robert H. Irwin, Walter V. Knoop
  • Patent number: 4673136
    Abstract: Apparatus for the dry defibration of sheets of wood pulp cellulose and like materials comprises a tubular casing to which the sheets to be defibrated are fed substantially radially and a cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within the casing substantially coaxially of the casing itself. The rotor has external teeth for impinging on the material to be defibrated. The rotor is constituted by a plurality of externally toothed discs and spacer members connected together in a pack in an arrangement in which the spacer members alternate with toothed discs. The general plane of each disc is at a predetermined angle to planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor whereby, during rotation, the periphery of each disc describes a respective substantially cylindrical surface coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Fameccanica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Bianco, Roberto Colleluori, Egidio De Sanctis