Flow-through moist pulp fiberizing device

Claim 2

Apparatus for effecting the separation of fibrous agglomerates into individual fibers comprising an elongated tubular chamber having a leading end and a trailing end, a fiberizing blade rotatably mounted within said chamber toward the leading end thereof, means for rotating said blade, means for introducing fibrous agglomerates into said chamber ahead of said fiberizing blade, a discharge opening at the trailing end of said chamber, an orifice plate mounted within said chamber between said fiberizing blade and said discharge opening, said orifice plate lying in spaced relation to said fiberizing blade to define a fiberizing zone therebetween, and means for drawing a vacuum on said discharge opening.

Claim 3

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 including means adjustably mounting said orifice plate within said chamber, whereby the size of the fiberizing zone may be varied.

Claim 4

The apparatus claimed in claim 2 including air inlet means at the leading end of said chamber, and adjustable means for selectively opening and closing said air inlet means.

Claim 5

The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said fiberizing blade is configured to produce a turbulent vortex within said chamber without creating a pressure differential which would induce fiber flow from the leading to the trailing end of the chamber.

Claim 6

The apparatus claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for drawing a vacuum on said discharge opening comprises a centrifugal fan.

Claim 7

The apparatus claimed in claim 1 in combination with a second tubular chamber having a leading end and a trailing end, an inlet opening at its leading end and a discharge opening at its trailing end, a fiberizing blade rotatably mounted within said second chamber toward the leading end thereof, means for rotating said fiberizing blade, and an orifice plate mounted within said second chamber between said fiberizing blade and said discharge opening, said orifice plate lying in spaced relation to said fiberizing blade to define a fiberizing zone therebetween, and conduit means interconnecting the inlet opening of said second chamber with the discharge opening of said first named chamber.

Claim 8

The apparatus claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for drawing a vacuum on the discharge opening in said first named chamber comprises a centrifugal fan interposed in the conduit means interconnecting the inlet opening of said second chamber with the discharge opening in said first named chamber.

Claim 9

The apparatus claimed in claim 7 in combination with a third tubular chamber having a leading end and a trailing end, an inlet opening at its leading end and a discharge opening at its trailing end, a fiberizing blade rotatably mounted within said third chamber toward the leading end thereof, means for rotating said fiberizing blade, and an orifice plate mounted within said third chamber between said fiberizing blade and said discharge opening, said orifice plate lying in spaced relation to said fiberizing blade to define a fiberizing zone therebetween, and conduit means interconnecting the inlet opening of said third chamber with the discharge opening of said second chamber.

Claim 10

The apparatus claimed in claim 8 including means for drawing a vacuum on the said third chamber through the discharge opening therein.

Claim 11

The apparatus claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for drawing a vacuum on said third chamber comprises a centrifugal fan operatively connected to the discharge opening in said third chamber.

Claim 12

The apparatus claimed in claim 10 including air flow adjusting means interposed between said last named centrifugal fan and the discharge opening in said third chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus for effecting the separation of fiberous agglomerates into individual fibers in a gaseous media comprising first, second and third elongated tubular chambers each having a leading end and a trailing end, an inlet opening at the leading end of each chamber and a discharge opening at the trailing end of each chamber, a fiberizing blade rotatably mounted within each chamber in spaced relation to the leading end thereof, means for rotating said fiberizing blades, orificial constricting means mounted within each said chamber intermediate said fiberizing blade and said discharge opening in cooperating fiberizing relationship with said fiberizing blade, conduit means interconnecting the discharge opening in said first chamber with the inlet opening in said second chamber, and additional conduit means connecting the discharge opening in said second chamber with the inlet opening in said third chamber, means for introducing a gaseous media into said chambers, and pressure differential creating means for producing a fiber carrying flow of the gaseous media from the leading to the trailing end of each chamber.

Claim 14

Apparatus for effecting the separation of fiberous agglomerates into individual fibers in a gaseous media comprising first, second and third elongated tubular chambers each having a leading end and a trailing end, an inlet opening at the leading end of each chamber and a discharge opening at the trailing end of each chamber, a fiberizing blade rotatably mounted within each chamber in spaced relation to the leading end thereof, means for rotating said fiberizing blades, orificial constricting means mounted within each said chamber intermediate said fiberizing blade and said discharge opening in cooperating fiberizing relationship with said fiberizing blade, conduit means interconnecting the discharge opening in said first chamber with the inlet opening in said second chamber, and additional conduit means connecting the discharge opening in said second chamber with the inlet opening in said third chamber, means for introducing a gaseous media into said chambers, and pressure differential creating means for producing a fiber carrying flow of the gaseous media from the leading to the trailing end of each chamber.

Claim 15

The apparatus claimed in claim 12 wherein the pressure differential creating means comprises a centrifugal fan interposed in the conduit means interconnecting the inlet opening in said second chamber with the discharge opening in said first chamber.

Claim 16

The apparatus claimed in claim 13 wherein said pressure differential creating means also includes a centrifugal fan operatively connected to the discharge opening in said third chamber.

Claim 17

The apparatus claimed in claim 14 wherein the means for introducing a gaseous media into said chambers comprises a gaseous media inlet at the leading end of said first chamber.

Claim 18

The apparatus claimed in claim 15 including adjustable means for selectively opening and closing said gaseous media inlet.

Claim 19

The apparatus claimed in claim 16 including gaseous media flow adjusting means interposed between the discharge outlet of said third chamber and said second centrifugal fan.

Claim 20

The apparatus claimed in claim 12 wherein said fiberizing blade is configured to produce a turbulent vortex within said chamber without creating a pressure differential therein.

Claim 21

The apparatus claimed in claim 18 wherein said fiberizing blade comprises a first set of opposing arms of outwardly curved configuration, terminating at their outermost ends in flattened tips, and a second set of opposing arms, each of the arms in said second set lying at an acute angle with respect to one of the arms in said first set, said second set of arms being inclined outwardly in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of curvature of said first set of arms.

Claim 22

The apparatus claimed in claim 19 wherein the tips of the arms of said fiberizing blades lie in close proximity to the inner surface of the chamber in which each said blade is mounted.