Kamyr, Inc.

Andritz Inc.

Ahlstrom Machinery, Inc.

John D Weston

Joseph R Phillips

Victor L Bilodeau

Ronald G Bain

J Robert Prough

Brian F Greenwood

Mark D Barrett

Keith Vogel

R Fred Chasse

Mark R Wilkinson

J Wayne Chamblee

Michael D Meredith

John Pietrangelo

Carl Luhrmann

Grant Bechard

Jay J Miele

Keith P Vogel

James Oropallo

Marco Marois

A bearing cylinder for a screen assembly of a pressurized pulp diffuser, the bearing cylinder including: a plurality of segments of the bearing cylinder wherein the segments are arranged side-by-side to form the bearing cylinder; and each of said segments includes a first region formed of a hard material resistant to damage from sand and rocks, and a second region formed of a soft material that thermally expands and conforms to bearing surfaces opposite to the bearing cylinder.

Cylindrical bearing for pressure diffuser and associated method

Chemical cellulose pulp is made from sawdust utilizing a static down-flow retention vessel. By adding steam and cooking liquor to a flow of sawdust a heated slurry, at a cooking temperature of about 250-350&deg; F., is produced. The heated slurry is, at superatmospheric pressure, moved downwardly in the static down-flow retention vessel while cooking temperature is maintained, for a time period of about 0.5-6 (preferably 1 to 3) hours, the slurry having a consistency of about 5-30%. At superatmospheric pressure, without significant reduction in pressure from the retention vessel, the slurry is cooled to well below cooking temperature by diffusing cooling liquid through it, as in a conventional pressure diffuser. The discharge from the retention vessel is preferably substantially solely gravity action (e.g. using a discharge with single convergence and side relief). Various mixing, diluting, thickening, steaming, and pumping devices are utilized in the system from initial steaming of the sawdust to passage into the top of the retention vessel.

Apparatus for pulping sawdust

A multi-stage pressure diffuser is provided for treating paper pulp or similar comminuted cellulosic fibrous material. Two different subvolumes are defined within the annular screen of the pressure diffuser by a tubular baffle hung from adjacent the top of the vessel, and a transverse wall near the middle of the vessel. Wash liquid is introduced into the top stage, extracted liquid passes through the bottom of the baffle, and is removed through a liquid outlet at the top of the vessel. That removed liquid is then reintroduced into the bottom stage as wash liquid, and the extracted liquid from the bottom stage is discharged from the vessel at the bottom. The screen assembly may be blanked at the area of the transverse wall dividing the subvolumes from each other, in order to minimize the possibility of mixing of the extraction flows in the different stages.

Two stage pressure diffuser

Located within the annular screen of the pressure diffuser is a tubular baffle hung from adjacent the top of the vessel. The baffle has two headers disposed on its inner surface, with openings in the tube providing communication between the exterior of the tube and the headers. A conduit extends from each header to an arm at the top of the vessel, to allow extracted liquid to be discharged. Another extraction conduit is provided at the bottom of the vessel, in communication with the screen interior and the tubular baffle interior. Treatment liquid, such as wash liquid, may be introduced at two, three, or more positions along the vessel with the liquid extracted from the first and second headers being introduceable at different positions along the vessel. A flexible, elastomeric material, sealing element with integral annular skirt may extend from the bottom end of the tubular baffle and engage the screen to provide a seal minimizing mixing between stages.

Variable stage pressure diffuser

In an atmospheric diffuser for the treatment of paper pulp (thickening, bleaching, and/or washing) the flow of backflushing liquid is controlled so as to maximize the effective treatment of the pulp. The pulp passes upwardly in a vessel. A number of annular screen assemblies are provided, with at least one screen associated with each screen assembly. The lower screen includes a barrier wall with a passage in the barrier wall adjacent the bottom end of the screen. Liquid which flows through the screen must flow to the passage in order to be withdrawn from the vessel, as the screen is slowly moved upwardly. When the screen is rapidly moved downwardly to cause backflushing, the backflushing liquid at the top end of the screen is liquid that recently passed through the screen at that point, so the pulp at that point --which is the cleanest along the length of the screen--has a minimal chance of being contaminated. The barrier may be provided by a number of tubes separated by webs, or a number of channels separated by webs. A baffle may be mounted between each passage and screen to redirect the backflushing liquid so that it does not merely backflush the bottom portion of the screen.

Atmospheric diffuser improved lower screens backflushing

The proper pressure conditions are maintained within an atmospheric pre-steaming chips bin used in the production of paper pulp. Extending upwardly from the top of the chips bin is a vertical section of conduit, an elbow section, and a horizontal section. A door guide with a door opening in it is disposed in the horizontal section and precludes passage of gas through the horizontal section except through the door opening. A pivot pin mounts a door at its top so that it normally assumes a vertical orientation closing off the opening, and it is adjustably biased into that orientation by a counterweight mechanism. The counterweight includes weight discs which mount on a vertical section of rod having external screw threads, and a horizontal section of rod is connected by a flange to a flange of the pivot pin. The door remains closed unless the pressure differential between the chips bin and the surrounding environment is greater than about 2 psig, in which case gas may flow from the environment to the chips bin, or vice versa, to bring the pressure differential within the desired range.

Atmospheric pre-steaming chip bin vacuum and pressure relief device

In an atmospheric diffuser for the treatment of paper pulp (thickening, bleaching, and/or washing) the flow of backflushing liquid is controlled so as to maximize the effective treatment of the pulp. The pulp passes upwardly in a vessel. A number of annular screen assemblies are provided, with at least one screen associated with each screen assembly. The lower screen includes a barrier wall with a passage in the barrier wall adjacent the bottom end of the screen. Liquid which flows through the screen must flow to the passage in order to be withdrawn from the vessel, as the screen is slowly moved upwardly. When the screen is rapidly moved downwardly to cause backflushing, the backflushing liquid at the top end of the screen is liquid that recently passed through the screen at that point, so the pulp at that point--which is the cleanest along the length of the screen--has a minimal chance of being contaminated. The barrier may be provided by a number of tubes separated by webs, or a number of channels separated by webs. A baffle may be mounted between each passage and screen to redirect the backflushing liquid so that it does not merely backflush the bottom portion of the screen.

A hydraulic accumulator prevents oil with gas entrained in it from exiting the accumulator. The accumulator comprises a completely static structure which provides laminar flow of oil from a gas pad to the accumulator outlet. The laminar flow is preferably provided by a plurality of tubes disposed between the gas pad and the outlet, each tube having a substantially greater length than the largest cross-sectional dimension. The tubes are preferably rigid and circular in cross-section, and the passageways defined between the tubes also have a substantially greater length than the largest cross-sectional dimension. The accumulator can either be a low pressure accumulator or a high pressure accumulator. With a high pressure accumulator it is desirable to provide a float switch or like sensor to ensure that the tubes within a tube bundle are always fully immersed in oil. The accumulator is particularly useful in association with an atmospheric or pressure diffuser for treating paper pulp, which includes one or more screens which are hydraulically reciprocated.

Growing community of inventors

Glens Falls, NY, United States of America

John D Weston