US2119571A - Chip packer - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1938. H. COOLIDGE 2,119,571

CHIP, PACKER Filed July 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 12 21612265: H 5y Cooicpge '59 JAM JW H. COOLIDGE CHIP, PACKER June 7, 1 938.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1956 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHIP PACKER corporation of Illinois Application July 27, 1936, Serial No. 92,761

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for charging wood pulp digesters, and has to do with what I term a chip packer.

It is known to provide stationary nozzles for blowing steam or air into a digester, through the neck thereof, for packing the wood chips during the charging operation. Rotary chip packers are also used in charging the digester but such packers are heavy, due to the use of a driving motor, necessary gears and associated parts, are difiicult to handle and require the use of a crane in moving them from one digester to another.

My invention is directed to the provision of a chip packer of simple construction and operation, which is of comparatively light weight and readily portable, and which may be driven by steam under pressure, readily available in pulp mills, in such manner that the steam is distributed within the digester and is used to advantage in packing the wood chips and in conditioning them for the subsequent cooking operation. More specifically, my invention comprises a propeller and means for admitting steam under pressure to the propeller and discharging steam therefrom in such manner that the propeller is driven in desired direction by the reaction of the discharged steam. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a chip packer embodying my invention, as applied to a digester, the latter being shown fragmentarily and in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the chip packer of my invention as applied to a digester;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale;

Figure l is an axial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the lower portion of the propeller standard and the propeller, showing one blade of the latter in section, parts being broken away and certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4, with two of the propeller blades broken away;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

50 Figure 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the control valve and associated parts, on an enlarged scale, certain parts being shown in elevation, taken-substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the control valve.

In Figures 1 and 2, I have shown the chip packer of my invention operatively associated with charging neck a of a digester A, which digester is of known construction and need not be illustrated nor described in greater detail. The wood chips may be delivered to digester A, through neck a. thereof in a suitable manner, conveniently from a hopper h, also of known construction, to which the chips are supplied in a known manner.

The chip packer of my invention comprises a suitable frame Iii adapted to be supported in neck a of the digester A and to extend downward a short distance into the digester, Frame 46 comprises an annular member or ring II of angle cross section which seats upon the upper end of neck a, as shown in Figure 1. Ring l l is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper ends of the arms lZa of a U-shaped member l2, which arms 12a are in part of T cross section, as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2. Arms l3 extend inward from arms I20 of member I2 and are secured, at their inner ends to a standard 14 which passes through the lower end of frame member l2 and is suitably secured thereto, conveniently by welding. The standard i4 is thus supported by frame It! coaxially with ring I I.

Standard l4 comprises, for the major portion of its length, inner and outer tubular members 15 and i6, respectively, disposed in concentric spaced relation. Member l5 defines an inner passage or channel and the space between members l5 and I6 defines an outer concentric passage or channel of annular cross section. Member 15 is closed at its upper end by a top wall H and the space between members I5 and I6 is closed, at its upper end, by a wall 18 extending between these two members, as shown in Figure 3. Standard I4 is provided, below frame member I2, with a conical enlargement l9, below which enlargement the standard is provided with an element 20 of less diameter than the base of enlargement l9 but of somewhat greater diameter than member l6. Element 20 is provided with upper and lower circumferential channels 2| and 22, respectively. The channel between members I5 and t6 communicates with channel 2| through openings 23, and the passage or channel defined by member l5 communicates with channel 22 through openings 24. Element 20 is further provided with a plurality of relatively narrow circumferential grooves 25 arranged in separate groups disposed between and above and below the and hub 29 of the propeller.

vided with two separate upper and lower passages 33 and 3%, respectively, and with discharge nozzles 35 and 36 adjacent the outer endof the blade and opening from passages 33 and 34, respectively, through the blade at opposite sides thereof. These nozzles are preferably of Venturi form, as shown, though they may be of any other suitable form.

Hub 29 is provided with upper and lower interior circumferential channels 3? and 38, re-

spectively, which open into passages 33 and 34,

respectively, of the blades 32, and with a plurality of relatively narrow grooves 3% arranged in groups and disposed to register with the grooves in element 2!] of'standard M. The grooves 25 and 39 constitute labyrinth seals which are filled with steam, in the use of the packer, effective to prevent escape of steam between element 7 Hub 293 is further provided, at the top thereof, with an annular concentric rib 4B which extends into a corresponding groove i! in the-base of enlargement l9 and provides additional sealing means and guiding means for the propeller during rotation thereof.

The propeller is rotatably supported by means of suitable anti-friction bearings, preferably ballbearings 42 mounted within sleeve 3! and cooperating therewith and with shoulders 27 and28 of stud 2'6. A ring '33 is secured, by means of set screws 46, within sleeve 3! at the underneath of the upper baIL-bearings 42, and a collar 45 is suitably secured, as by screw means, upon the lower end of stud 26 immediately beneath the lower bearings 42. A cover plate as is suitably secured, as by means of cap screws All, upon the lower end of sleeve 3!. The propeller 29 is thus supported upon the lower end of standard M for rotation about the axisthereof and sealing means is provided eifective to prevent objectionable leakage of steam between the hub of the propeller and the associated portion of the standard. A sealing ring 48-is pressed into sleeve 3! and fits about element 2 3, immediately above the upper ball-bearings E2, to shield the ball bearings against water from the steam. ,Ring 48 is provided with an upwardly projecting concentric 'rib which engages into a corresponding groove in the lower end of element 28. While I have illustrated the preferred method of supporting the propeller for rotation, and for preventing leakage of steam between-the hub thereof and the associated portion of the standard M, the propeller may ,be mounted in any other suitable manner.

Two pipes 55 and 5! open into members i5 and !6, respectively, of standard M at the upper end thereof. A flat plate 52 is provided at the outer 1 ends of pipes'5Q and 5!, conveniently formed incentric opening 56 for admission of steam to the interior of the valve from a steam supply pipe 51 screwing into the bottom of housing 54. Valve 55 is closed at its upper end and is there provided with a coaxial stem 58 extending through a stuffing box 59 carried by a cover 60 suitably secured to the upper end of housing 54 andeffeo tive to confine valve 55 against upward movement. The upperportion of stem 58. is squared at 58a for reception of a suitable handle 6i (Figure 1) for turning valve 55 into desired position. Valve 55 is further provided with upper and lower ports 62 and 63, respectively, disposed in the plane of ports 64 and 65, respectively, extend-' ing through block53 in register with the outer ends of pipes 55! and 5!, respectively, as shown in Figures '7 to 9, inclusive. Ports 62 and 83 extend about valve 55 circumferentially thereof for an appreciable distance and are oppositely disposed with respect to the vertical medial plane of valve 55 as viewed in Figure 9. The end portions of each of the ports are of semi-circular shape and of the same radius as the ports 54 and 65.

Pipe 57 may be connected, in any suitable or convenient manner, to a steamline in the pulp mill, in which steam under pressure is extensively used and is commonly available in adequate amounts; In Figures '7 and 8 valve 55 is shown in a position which it may assume when being turned for changing the direction of rotation of the propeller. In this position of valve 55 steam is admitted to both of the pipes 59 and 5! and thence flows throughthe channels of standard it into passages 33 and 34 of the propeller blades 32, the steam discharged from the blades, at one side thereof tending to rotate the propeller in one direction by the reaction of the discharge steam, and the steam discharged from the blades at the other side thereof tending to rotate the propeller in the opposite directiomthe resultbeing that the speed of rotation of the propeller is reduced, or the propeller may be momentarily stopped, if desired.

By turning the valve 55 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, so as to move port 63 thereof entirely r5 beyond the area of port 65 of block 53, while maintaining port 52 in comunication with port M of block 53, it being understood that the ports 62 and 63 are of appropriate lengths for this" purpose, steam is admitted to pipe only and,

therefore, to the lower passages 36 only of the propeller blades 32. The propeller is then rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, by.

the reaction of the steam discharged through the nozzles 36 opening from passages 34 of the pro- -i peller blades. When the valve is turned counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, sufficiently to cut off communication'between port 62 thereof and port as of block 53, while maintaining communication between port 83 and port of block 53, steam is admitted through pipe 5! only and thence to passages 33 of the propeller blades 32, and the propeller is then rotated clockwise as viewed in Figure 2. By turning the valve 55 into position to cut-off communication between ports 62 and 63 thereof and ports 54 and trolled by adjusting valve 55 so that the effective" areas of ports 62 and 63 thereof exposed to ports 64 and 65, respectively, of block 53 are so proportioned as to cause rotation of the propeller in the The rate of rotation of desired direction at any desired speed, within limits. I thus provide means whereby the propeller may be rotated in either direction at any desired speed, within limits, by means of steam derived from the steam line within the pulp mill, and rotation of the propeller and the supply of steam thereto may be stopped at will.

In the use of the chip packer, the wood chips are delivered into the digester A through neck a thereof and are struck by the blades of the rotating propeller and thereby propelled toward the surrounding wall of the digester. The steam discharged from the propeller blades serves to preheat the wooden chips and to moisten them to a certain extent, which is conducive to uniform and close packing while also placing the chips in best condition for the subsequent cooking operation. The ability to rotate the propeller in either direction and to control its speed, as required, is advantageous as conducive to uniform distribution and quick packing of the chips. Since the propeller is driven by steam derived from a steam line within the mill it is not necessary to provide a separate motor of considerable weight for driving the propeller. As a result, the chip packer forms a unit of comparatively light weight which can be readily handled and transported by hand from one digester to another, avoiding the necessity for providing a crane for transporting and positioning the packer, such as is necessary in using packers of present types above referred to.

The propeller is preferably driven by steam, for the reasons above stated. In its broader aspects, however, my invention comprehends driving the propeller by steam, compressed air, or any other suitable fluid under pressure.

While I have illustrated herein, by way of example, the preferred embodiment of my invention, changes in construction and arrangement of parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope ofthe same, and I intend to include in this application all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted to be supported in the charging neck of a digester and to extend therethrough into the digester, a propeller comprising a blade at the lower end of said frame mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, said blade being provided with twopassages and discharge openings from said passages through opposite sides of said blade, and means for admitting steam under pressure to either of said passages selectively.

2. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted to be supported in the charging neck of a digester and to extend therethrough into the digester, a multiple blade propeller mounted at the lower end of said frame to rotate about a vertical axis, each blade of said propeller being provided with an upper passage and a lower passage and having openings from said passages through the opposite sides of the blade, and means for selectively admitting fluid under pressure to the upper and the lower passages of said blades.

3. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted to be supported in the charging neck of a digester, a standard supported by and extending below said frame, a propeller comprising a hub rotatably mounted on the lower portion of said standard and blades radiating from. said hub, the latter being provided with upper and lower passages and said blades being provided with upper and lower passages opening into the respective hub passages, said blades having discharge openings from the respective passages thereof through the opposite sides of said blades, said standard being provided with separate steam supply passages opening into the respective passages of said propeller hub, and means for admitting steam under pressure from outside the digester to either of the passages of said standard selectively.

4. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digester-s with wood chips, a frame adapted to be supported in the charging neck of a digester and to extend therethroughinto the digester, a propeller comprising a blade adjacent the lower end 1 of said frame free for rotation about avertical axis, said propeller being exposed to the space thereabove within said frame for contact with wood chips passing downward through said frame into the digester, said blade being provided with a passage, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said passage and discharging fluid therefrom effective for rotating said propeller by the reactionof the discharged fluid.

HARRY COOLIIDGE.

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