Apparatus for treating fibrous materials in the production of cellulose or semi-cellulose

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY IMPREGNATING AND DEAERATING FIBROUS MATERIAL IN THE PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE OR SEMI-CELLULOSE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CASING ENCLOSING A VACUUM CHAMBER; TWO TUBULAR MEMBERS EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM SAID CHAMBER, ONE SERVING FOR THE SUPPLY OF THE FIBROUS MATERIAL TO THE VACUUM CHAMBER AND THE OTHER SERVING FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE MATERIAL FROM THE VACUUM CHAMBER, THE SUPPLY MEMBER HAVING ITS UPPER END CONNECTED WITH THE VACUUM CHAMBER AT A POINT AT LEAST AS HIGH AS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE UPPER END OF THE DISCHARGE MEMBER AND THE VACUUM CHAMBER; TWO CONTAINERS OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE; MEANS SUPPLYING DIGESTING LIQUOR TO SAID CONTAINERS, THE SUPPLY MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF ONE OF SAID CONTAINERS BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL THEREIN, THE DISCHARGE MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE OTHER CONTAINER BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL THEREIN; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINERS CONTROLLING THELEVEL OF LIQUOR IN SAID MEMBERS WHEREBY EACH IS SUBSTANTIALLY FILLED WITH LIQUOR; MEANS OPENING INTO SAID ONE CONTAINER BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL MAINTAINED THEREIN FOR INTRODUCING FIBROUS MATERIAL INTO THE LOWER END