Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.

Voith Paper Gmbh

Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North Amrica, Inc.

Kurt William Lorenz

Klaus Doelle

Oliver U Heise

Robert J Matz

Werner Witek

Steve Richard Wickesberg

Steve Wickensberg

David W Hostetter

Mike Van Rossum

Mike Theobald

A pulper for pulping a fiber suspension includes a vessel, an extraction plate assembly and a rotor. The extraction plate assembly is disposed within the vessel and includes a metal plate with a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A plurality of metal inserts are respectively disposed within the holes and project from the plate. Each insert is removably attached to the plate. A rotor is disposed within the vessel adjacent to the extraction plate assembly. The inserts are removably attached to the plate by brazing the inserts within the holes, or slightly shrinking the inserts using liquid nitrogen and placing the inserts in the holes.

Pulper with extraction plate assembly having removable inserts and method of manufacturing same

A screening apparatus is used for screening acceptable and rejectable material from a pressurized fiber suspension. The screening apparatus includes a housing, a rotor, a screen basket and at least one sensor. The screen basket is positioned generally concentrically around the rotor, and includes at least one screen element. Each sensor is positioned in association with the screen basket. Each sensor is configured for sensing a wear parameter relating to a wear state of the screen element.

Screening apparatus for fiber suspension

A pulper for pulping a fiber source includes a tank and a rotor. The tank has a plurality of annular-shaped inner walls defining a chamber. The plurality of walls include a first wall, second wall, third wall and forth wall which are sequentially vertically adjoining relative to each other. Each of the walls are disposed at an angle relative to a vertical reference. The first wall is disposed at an angle of between 45 and 70&deg; relative to the vertical reference. The second wall is disposed at an angle of between 20 and 45&deg; relative to the vertical reference. The third wall is disposed generally parallel to the vertical reference. The forth wall is disposed at an angle of between 10 and 30&deg; relative to the vertical reference. The tank further includes two baffles within the chamber which inhibit rotational movement of the fiber source within the chamber.

Pulper for a fiber stock preparation system

An apparatus for continuously loading fibers in a fiber suspension with a chemical compound includes a deflocculating vessel having an interior chamber, a fluid inlet connected with the interior chamber, a fluid outlet connected with the interior chamber, and a high shear imparting device disposed within the interior chamber for imparting high shear forces to and thereby deflocculating the fiber suspension. A mixing container has an interior compartment, a fluid inlet connected with both the interior compartment and the fluid outlet of the deflocculating vessel, a fluid outlet connected with the interior compartment, and a low shear imparting device within the interior compartment for imparting low shear forces to the fiber suspension. A gas supply is connected with the interior chamber of the deflocculating vessel and/or the interior compartment of the mixing container. The gas supply is configured for supplying a gas to and pressurizing each of the deflocculating vessel and the mixing container.

Apparatus and method for chemically loading fibers in a fiber suspension

Method for deflocculating and chemically loading fibers in a fiber suspension with calcium carbonate

A washing system for washing a fiber suspension associated with a fiber stock preparation system, includes a plurality of rolls and a porous fabric carried by the plurality of rolls in a closed loop. The closed loop includes a lower run defining a washing zone, with the porous fabric moving in a running direction through the washing zone. The porous fabric has an upper surface in the washing zone which carries the fiber suspension thereon. A headbox is positioned with the closed loop and above the porous fabric at an upstream end of the washing zone. The headbox discharges a fiber suspension to be washed onto the upper surface of the porous fabric. An accept removal device is positioned within the closed loop and above the porous fabric at a downstream end of the washing zone. A plurality of showers, each having an inlet, are positioned within the closed loop and above the porous fabric in the washing zone between the headbox and accept removal device. A plurality of dewatering elements are positioned below the fabric in the washing zone. Each dewatering elements is configured for removing water from a bottom surface of the porous fabric. An effluent tank has a plurality of compartments, with each compartment having an inlet and an outlet. At least one outlet of the effluent tank is connected with a corresponding shower inlet. A plurality of drainage pans are positioned below the lower run of the porous fabric. Each drainage pan is associated with at least one dewatering element and has an outlet. Each drainage pan outlet is connected with a corresponding effluent tank inlet.

Washing system and washer for a fiber suspension

An apparatus providing process water used for making or processing a fiber suspension includes a multi-compartment tank with a top, a bottom wall, and a plurality of exterior sidewalls. Each compartment has an inlet positioned near the top, an outlet positioned near the bottom wall, and at least one intervening wall common with an adjacent compartment. Each intervening wall has a height defining an overflow weir whereby the compartments are arranged with sequentially decreasing maximum fluid levels. Each intervening wall also has a backflow device positioned near the bottom wall. The backflow device is selectively openable to allow flow from one compartment to an adjacent compartment in a direction opposite to a flow direction over the corresponding overflow weir.

Apparatus and method for providing process water used for making or

A screen basket for filtering an aqueous fiber suspension includes a cylindrical foraminous filter element, anchoring collars surrounding and fixed to opposite ends of the filter element, at least two support rings surrounding the filter element, and support rods for adjusting the support rings between axially contracted positions disengaged from the anchoring collars, and axially expanded positions engaging the anchoring collars and axially tensioning the filter element. In a first embodiment, the anchoring collars are relatively flexible. This allows the anchoring collars to be deformed for insertion of the cylindrical foraminous filter element within the support rings. Alternatively, the upper and lower support rings are divided into segments that are easily disassembled and reassembled to facilitate removal of a defective cylindrical foraminous filter element and installation of a new filter element. Advantageously, the screen basket includes a reusable rigid frame that cooperates with a replaceable and disposable cylindrical foraminous filter element.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Kurt William Lorenz