Betz Paperchem, Inc.

Richard A Hobirk

Michael A Schuster

Alan J Schellhamer

John T Lin

An apparatus and method to simultaneously evaluate the drainage, retention and formation characteristics of paper pulp comprising mixing the paper pulp furnish in the top chamber of the apparatus, releasing the furnish into a middle chamber via a valve having a cone shaped structure for even distribution of the furnish onto a wire screen, and utilizing a time delay before opening a vent valve in order to attenuate impingement forces. The apparatus utilizes a rotating blade under the wire screen to duplicate the pulsation forces of full scale papermaking equipment, an externally applied means to assist in the removal of water similar to a paper machine couch roll. Data generated during the foregoing steps is fed into a computer to evaluate the entire free water drainage process of the furnish. The device is able to set parameters to simulate the water removal process on most paper machines via level control and duration of pertinent variables.

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Jacksonville, FL, United States of America

Richard A Hobirk