US2095118A - Device for the manufacture of plates, sheets, or slabs of various properties from vegetable fibrous pulp - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1937. BASLER DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, OR SLABS OF VARIOUS PROPERTIES FROM VEGETABLE FIBROUS PULP Filed Sept. 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E! II I rlllll,

.. jwezazir: HERMANN BASLER Attorneys Oct 5, 937- H. BASLER 2,095,118

DEVICE; FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, OR SLABS OF VARIOUS PROPERTIES FROM VEGETABLE FIBROUS PULP Filed Sept. 29, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jiaezaibr:

HERMA N-N BAS LER Attorneys Oct. 5, 1937. H. BASLER 2,0 18 DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PLATES, SHEETS, OR SLABS VARIOUS PROPERTIES FROM VEGETABLE FIBROUS P ept. 29, 19

Filed S 34 3 S ts--Sheet 3 Fly. 8.

o a o o 0 o O 0 o o O o 0 0 Q Q 0 e e O o o o o o o D o o o O o 0 0 0 o o 0 e o 0-0 0 0 o o o e o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 Q EJ QIL HEM E UQIXU ECQUU INVENTOR HE /xi g1 BASLER Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULP Hermann Basler, Berlin, Germany Application September 29, 1934, Serial No. 746,194 In Austria August 25, 1934 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture from vegetable fibre pulp of sheets or slabs, particularly adapted for building purposes.

The advantage of the invention resides in the fact that slabs or sheets of every kind and size, e. g. hard slabs of dense quality resembling knotted wood, light slabs which are particularly suitable for insulating purposes, and porous slabs which are especially adapted for sound-damping purposes, can be manufactured in the same apparatus. Owing to the fact that very extensive removal of liquid is efiected in the first stages of the manufacturing process, the latter is also rendered very economical, because high drying costs are spared. Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is explained with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a press serving for pre-dehydration and pre-shaping,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are a side elevation, plan view and a vertical section of a trolley carrier serving to transport the moulded sheets or slabs, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations partly in section of the finishing press in the open and closed conditions respectively.

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of parts of the finishing press showing the differential grouping of the grooves for the removal of the water from the slab and the heating coils.

The pre-dehydrating and pre-pressing device I, briefly referred to as the pre-shaping box, consists of a frame 3 composed of four walls. Inside .this frame a perforated base is provided which consists of two superimposed perforated plates or perforated sheets 4 and 5. The plate 4 is fixed immovably in the frame, whilst the lower plate 5 is horizontally displaceable towards the left relatively to the upper plate, for which purpose a slot or groove 1 is provided in the frame wall. A toothed wheel 1a, which engages with a correspondingly toothed portion of the plate 5 and a hand lever B disposed outside of the frame 3 and connected by a shaft 1b with the toothed wheel la, serves to displace the plate 5. When the lever is rotated in the direction of the arrow s, the perforated plate 4 is displaced towards the left. The perforated base 4, 5 and accordingly the interior of the pre-shaping box, can be closed below by this displacement. A third perforated plate Ill is disposed loose on the perforated base. The aris in the position not displaced towards the left, the perforations of the three plates all lie one above the other as shown in Fig. 1.

Below this perforated base 4, 5 a press ram device 8 is provided, on which a carrier frame 9 is disposed, which serves for the vertical displacement of the perforated base 4, 5. The interior of the carrier frame 9 is capable of attachment to a vacuumand dehydrating lead 9a in order to enable the water to be sucked from the pulp introduced into the pre-shaping box 3 from the container 2. Above the pre-shaping box 3 a vertically displaceable press cover II is disposed, which on being lowered closesthe box 3.

'In Figs. 3 to 5 a trolley carrier, adapted to transport the sheet or slab a pre-shaped in the pre-shaping box 3 and disposed on the plate I0, is illustrated. This trolley carrier consists of a frame, constructed from the angle iron l3, the sheets I31; and U-iron [2, for the displacement of which rollers l4 and handle l5 are provided.

The finishing press (Figs. 6 and 7) consists of a frame l6, onto which the plate I0 carrying the shaped sheet or slab is pushed with the aid of the trolley carrier. The frame box I6 is vertically displaceable and is guided by the rods IT. The press ram I8 closes the under side of the frame box Hi. This ram carries a table IS. A plate 2|, provided with grooves or slots 2 la, is disposed on the table with the aid of adjustable holding down bolts 20. The final thickness of the slab or sheet can be regulated by adjustment of the holding downbolts 20. The plate is provided with a heating coil 22 which, owing to the fact that the coils are disposed closer together in the centre than towards the edges, enable-controlled heating to be effected insofar as the intensity of heat diminishes from the centre towards the edges. The heating coil is connected with a heat conduit 23, whilst the slots or grooves 2| are connected with a vacuum lead 24. A press cover 25, which is provided with a press plate 26 constructed similarly to the plate 2|, is disposed above the frame box IE and is likewise connected to a heat conduit and a vacuum conduit. Both the lower and the 45 upper press plates are covered by perforated plates 21, in which the perforations are disposed closer together per unit surface in the central portion and wider apart per unit surface towards the periphery. Owing to the practically air-tight closure of the pressing space formed by the frame 3 and the press ram a vacuum is formed on applying suction to which the plate is subjected for a longer time than in the known apparatus, so that as well as dehydration very extensive drying takes place at a lower temperature than hitherto. With a view to removing moisture an alternative procedure on pressing, particularly when sizing materials known per se and adapted to unite the fibrous particles are added, is first to slabs is effected as follows:

After the lever 6 has been moved'to the left and the base 4, I has been closed by displacing the perforated plate 5, the fibrous pulp is introduced with the aid of the rotatable feed pipe 2a from the container 2 into the 'mould or shaping box 3.

After the pulp has been introduced into the mould or pre-shaping box 3 the perforations in the base are so adjusted by displacing the lever 6 to the right that liquid can fiow through the same. The press cover II is then lowered until it fits tight on the box 3. The press ram 8 is then raised, for which purpose a slot 9b is provided in the wall of the box for the introduction of the lead 9a; the liquid passes through the perforated base downwards into theinterior of the carrier frame 9 and is removed by the waterdischarge lead 9a which is with advantage connected with a vacuum. By the sudden opening of the base, aided by the suction action, a vortex effect is produced which causes a portion of the horizontally floating fibres to take up a sloping or vertical position. At the same time thickening takes place which stabilizes the lie of the f fibres, this condition being fixed by compression.

The principal effect of this procedure is to increase the strength of the sheets or slabs.

After a large portion of the liquid of the pulp has been removed in this manner and the same has been pre-shaped into the form of a sheet or slab a (Fig. 5) the cover II is raised. The trolley carrier I3 is then run over the shaping box 3 in such a way that it takes up a position on the walls thereof. The two sheets |3a are then displaced to the left and right, respectively, in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 5) until sufiicient clearance is left for the upward passage of the perforated plate l0 carrying the cake or slab a. The press ram 8 is then raised to such a height that the perforated plate Ill and the cake or slab of material a thereon are pushed up into the trolley carrier, the lower edge of the plate I0 being disposed on a level with, or a little above the top of the two sheets l3a, after which the latter are displaced to the right and the left, respectively, the edges of said sheets l3a passing between the plate It and the lower plates 4 and 5 then fixed down inside-the trolley" carrier and the latter is passed I together with plate It and'the'pre-shaped slab disposed there;

on out of-thepre-sha i The trolley carrier-bearingthe pieh slab I is then run'o'a 'to -tlie box n of the finishing'press' to '6'). -It is covered above by a" perforated plate 20. The I9 is then raised until the perforated plate II is disposed thereon and the'trolley carrier I3 is thenremoved. The frame I6 is then raised so that it surrounds andcloses thereon on all sides. The press cover is simultaneously lowered and covers the interior of the press box It. On further raising the press ram It the pre-shaped slab is then finally compressed between the press plates 2| and 28 with simultaneous removal of the water by suction and heat, which causes evaporation of the liquid contained in the slab. As a result of the particular construction of the heating device described above and the use of perforations in the plate 21, controlled drying is accordingly simultaneously combined with the final pressing process, which ensures the sheets or slabs retaining their shape.

On completion of the final pressing process the ram 25 is raised. The box It is then lowered, the trolley carrier run onto the same and the moulded slab pushed by theplunger l9 into the interior of the trolley carrier and there made fast. The trolley carrier together with the moulded slab is then pushed out and the latter subjected to a finishing treatment.

The described method of dehydrating and heating the moulded slab in the final pressing treatment is of particular importance. In the described process of manufacture the four sides of the moulded slab abut against the frame I 8. Since the press plates 2| and 26 are heated, the frame heated. The moulded slab accordingly undergoes considerably stronger drying at the edges than at the central portions, so that its moisture content .is non-uniform. Owing to this nonuniform dehydration and drying, stresses are set up in the moulded slab, which during the final drying process give rise to troublesome distortions. In certain circumstances the moulded slab shows this troublesome property of becoming dis- I6 also becomes correspondingly torted immediately on leaving the finishing press.

This invention accordingly makes use of a suitably controlled drying and dehydrating process.

For this purpose the perforations in the perforated plates 2l, which cover the pressing plates 2| and 26, are so constructed that the number of perforations perunit surface diminishes or entirely vanishes towards the edges, so that greater opportunities are provided for the discharge of the water from the moulded slab in the centre than at the edges.

The heating device also is so adjusted that more heat is given off at the centre of the plate than towards the edges.

The variation of the plate or slab for its different purposes as hard slab, porous slab, insulating slab or the like, is effected in the first place by If the operation is effected substantially with out pressure, soft porous' pla't'esor slabs are obtai'ned.- If medium pressure, suchas-3 kgms is .employed, plates or-slabs'are obtained, which are admirably adapted'for heat. and sound insulating purposes and which have an average gravity of 0.32

I-f, on the" other hand, the pressure is increasedto 25 kgms. and more, and-the pressing in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 6 is combined with drying at relatively low temperature, hard plates or slabs resembling knotted wood and having a specific gravity of about 1, are obtained as end products.

Hard plates or slabsare preferably subjected to further subsequent drying and pressing treatment in a hydraulic press.

The quality of hard plates or slabs can be further improved by impregnating the plate or slab,

while being worked up in the hydraulic press,

with 25 to 30% of water and again effecting compression in the hydraulic press at temperatures above 140 C.

What I claim is:

1. A device for the manufacture of plates, sheets or slabs of various properties from vegetable fibrous pulp comprising a finishing press adapted to receive the same from a preshaping mould and consisting of a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates, on top of the same the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the centre.

2. A device for the manufacture of plates, sheets or slabs of various properties from vegetable fibrous pulp comprising a finishing press adapted to receive the same from a preshaping mould and consisting of a vertically displaceable mould frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates, the latter being provided with a suction lead and heating channels, which are more closely dls posed towards the centre than at the edges.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mould adapted to interlace the fibres of the pulp and a finishing press, the preshaping mould comprising a vertically movable frame, a closable base with three perforated plates, one of the same being horizontally displaceable relatively to the other 40 plates, the base-being supported on pistons, a

vertically movable cover, which closes the frame and a suction pipe connected to the space underneath the base.

4. In apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, 45 plates and slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mould adapted to interlace the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabs for a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same, comprising a pair 50 of perforated base plates, means for moving one of said base plates to bring the perforations therein into or out of register with the perforations in the other plate, means for depositing pulp in said base plates, means for applying pres- 55 sure to said pulp in a direction normal to the surface of said base plates, means for applying suction beneath said base platessimultaneously with the application of pressure, and means for conveying the preshaped slab thus formed to 0 said finishing press having means for completing the manufacture of the slabs by applying pressure suction and heat.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, in 65 cooperative combination, a preshaping mould capable to interlace the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabs for a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same comprising a pair of perforated base plates, means for moving one 70 of said base plates to bring the perforations therein into or out of register with the perforations in the other plate, means for depositing pulp on said base plates means for applying pressure to said pulp in a direction normal to the 75 surface of said base plates, means for applying suction beneath said base plates simultaneously with the application of pressure, and means for conveying the preshaped slab thus formed ,to said finishing press having means for completing the manufacture of the slabs by applying pressure suction and heat.

6. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mould capable of interlacing the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabs for a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same comprising a closeable perforated base upon said mould, means for simultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform it into a slab, means for conveying said preformed slab to the finishing press, said finishing press being adapted to remove the water from the preshaped slab oom-.

prising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforatedplates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center. i

7. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mould, a pair of perforated base plates upon said mould, means for moving one of said base plates to bring the perforations therein into or out of register with the perforations in the other plate, means for depositing pulp on said base plates, means for applying suction beneath said base plates simultaneously with the application of pressure, means for conveying the preshaped slab thus formed to said finishing press, said finishing press being adapted to remove the water from the preshaped slabs and press the same and com "prising a vertically displaceable mould-frame,

pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center.

8. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, in cooperative combination a preshaping mould capable of interlacing the fibres of the pulp and preparing the slabs for a finishing press adapted to receive and finish the same, comprising a closeable perforated base, means for opening said base when the pulp is in position thereon, means for simultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform it into a slab, means for conveying said preformed slag to said finishing press, said finishing press being adapted to remove the water from the preshaped slabs and press the same, and comprising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, thepressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center, the said pressing plates being provided with a suction lead and heating channels which are more closely disposed towards the center than at the edges.

9. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means for simultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform it into a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposed plates,

new"

means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforations thereof in or out of register with the perforations of the other plates, the upper plate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slab to the finishing press, and means in said finishing press for applying at the same time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufactureof the slab.

10. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means for simultaneously applying pressure and suction to said pulp to preform it into a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposed plates, means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforations thereof in or out of register with the perforations of the other plates, the upper plate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slab to the finishing press, and means in said finishing press for applying at the same time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufacture of the slab, said finishing press comprising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center.

11. In apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp a preshaping mould including perforated base plates, means for moving one of said base plates, meansfor applying pressure to said pulp in a direction normal tothe surface of said base plates, means for applying suction beneath said base plates simultaneously with the application of pressure, means for conveying preshaped slab thus formed to a finishing press, comprising a vertically displaceable mould-frame, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center.

12. In an apparatus for the manufacture of large sheets or slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp, a preshaping mould having means for simultaneouslylapplying pressure and suctionto said pulp to preform it into a slab, a closeable base consisting of three perforated, superposed plates, means to displace one of the plates to bring the perforations thereof in or out of register with the perforations of the other plates, the upper plate serving as a transporting means for the preformed slab to the finishing press, and means in said finishing press for applying at the same time pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufacture of the slab, said finishing press comprising a vertically displaceable mouldframe, pressing rams closing the same above and below during the treatment of the plate, the pressing rams carrying pressing plates and perforated plates on top of the same, the number of perforations per unit surface being greater towards the center, the said pressing plates being provided with a suction lead and heating channels which are more closely disposed toward the center than at the edges.

13. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mould adapted to, interlace the fibres of the pulp with a finishing press, the preshaping mould comprising a closeable base, means for closing the base during the introduction of the pulp into the mould, means for exerting a vacuum underneath the base and means for suddenly connecting the space above the base with the vacuum.

14. In an apparatus for the manufacture of sheets, plates and slabs from vegetable fibrous pulp in cooperative combination a preshaping mould adapted to'interlace thefibres of the pulp and a finishing press, the preshaping mould comprising a closeable base, means for closing the base during the introduction of the pulp into the mould, means for exerting a vacuum underneath the base, means for suddenly connecting the space above the base with the vacuum, means for conveying the said preformed slab to finishing press and means in said finishing press for applying pressure, suction and heat to complete the manufacture of the slab.

HERMANN BASLER.

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