Apparatus and process for suspending solids

Claim 2

The method of claim 1 in which the flow direction of the merged impacted streams of slurry through the narrow zone is changed by about 90* from the flow path of each of the two streams of slurry before their impact, and this general flow direction is maintained while passing through the narrow zone except in the immediate vicinity of the solid posts.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for reducing the size of solid particulate matter in a liquid slurry that is fed to the apparatus under pressure, and including a pair of aligned nozzles having a common discharge axis, said nozzles having spaced discharge ends for directing a discharge of slurry toward each other to disintegrate the particulate matter, the improvement comprising: a. a pair of spaced panels extending transversely of the common axis of said nozzles, said panels forming a narrow zone in fluid flow communication with the discharge ends of said nozzles, and extending radially outwardly from said common axis; b. frame means for fixing the position of each of said panels, said panels being mounted on said frame means; and c. a plurality of posts connected to at least one of said panels and extending into the narrow zone between said panels to further disintegrate particulate matter passing outwardly through said zone at a high velocity from the discharge nozzles, each of said posts comprising a pin connecting said panels and a plurality of abrasion resistant washers concentrically mounted on said pin with one face of one washer abutting the interior face of one of said panels and one face of another washer abutting the interior face of the other panel.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 4 including a container surrounding said panels for collecting the slurry passing radially outwardly from between said panels; and a high pressure displacement pump having its inlet connected to the interior of said container and its outlet connected to the inlet end of said nozzles for pumping slurry to said nozzles.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said panels are spaced from one thirty-second inch to three-fourths inch apart, and the pair of aligned nozzles are spaced from one thirty-second inch to three-fourths inch apart.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 including a high pressure displacement pump having its discharge outlet connected to the inlet end of said nozzles.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said spaced panels are removably mounted on said frame means to permit periodic replacement of said posts when said posts become eroded by abrasion.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for reducing the size of solid particulate matter in a liquid slurry that is fed to the apparatus under pressure, and including a pair of aligned nozzles having a common discharge axis, said nozzles having spaced discharge ends for directing a discharge of slurry toward each other to disintegrate the particulate matter, the improvement comprising: a. a pair of spaced panels extending transversely of the common axis of said nozzles, said panels forming a narrow zone in fluid flow communication with the discharge ends of said nozzles, and extending radially outwardly from said common axis, each of said panels beinG concave to form a zone that decreases in width in a radially outward direction from the common axis, b. frame means for fixing the position of each of said panels, said panels being mounted on said frame means; and c. a plurality of posts connected to at least one of said panels and extending into the narrow zone between said panels to further disintegrate particulate matter passing outwardly through said zone at a high velocity from the discharge nozzles.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said posts function as said frame means and connect said panels, and at least one pair of said posts engage said panels to prevent relative movement of said panels.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 10 in which the end portions of each of said pair of posts extend through said panels, and protrude outwardly from the exterior face of said panel and are threaded to permit nuts to hold the plates together in compression.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for reducing the size of solid particulate matter in a liquid slurry that is fed to the apparatus under pressure, and including a pair of aligned nozzles having a common discharge axis, said nozzles having spaced discharge ends for directing a discharge of slurry toward each other to disintegrate the particulate matter, the improvement comprising: a. a pair of spaced panels extending transversely of the common axis of said nozzles, said panels forming a narrow zone in fluid flow communication with the discharge ends of said nozzles, and extending radially outwardly from said common axis; b. frame means for fixing the position of each of said panels, said panels being mounted on said frame means; and c. a plurality of posts connected to at least one of said panels and extending into the narrow zone between said panels to further disintegrate particulate matter passing outwardly through said zone at a high velocity from the discharge nozzles, at least two of said posts being positioned entirely on the same side of a first plane parallel with and passing through said common axis and at unequal distances therefrom, a portion of each of said two posts lying in a second common plane parallel with and passing through said common axis.