US2475869A

US2475869A - Rotary refiner

Info

Publication number: US2475869A
Application number: US640734A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Edmund P Arpin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-01-12
Filing date: 1946-01-12
Publication date: 1949-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1966-07-12

Description

July 12, 1949. A ARPlN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l [my E172 4:4 EDMUND P An m JR.

July 12, 1949. ARPIN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [17.27am T :1-

Eamuno P Anpm JR.

July 12, 1949. ARPlN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll ggzzii Kg Phtented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY REFINER Edmund P. Arpin, Jr., Neenah, Wis. Application January 12, 1946, Serlal No. 640,734

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a rota;y refiner for the refining of wet, fibrous material, such as pulp, paper stock and the like.

In my prior Patents Nos. 1,689,190, dated Octobcr 30, 1928, and 1,714,752, dated May 28, 1929, I have described and claimed rotary refiners wherein a plurality of kidney-shaped refining elements are rotated within an abrasive-lined cylindrical shell for reaction with the abrasive lining in the refining of fibrous material. In the patented apparatus, the rotary refining elements were caused to bear against the abrasive lining under the action of centrifugal force, and the fibrous material was caused to force its Way between the surfaces of the rotor elements and shell lining under the action of pumping vanes attached to the rotor. Such an arrangement had the drawback that if the refiner were run empty or if the fibrous material was unable to force its way between the refining surfaces of the rotor elements and lining, a considerable wear of the refining surfaces would take place and thesesurfaces might become glazed or otherwise injured. These difficulties, of course, would be increased if the rotor elements were to be revolved about a horizontal shaft, instead of a vertical one, since with a horizontal shaft the lower rotor elements \vould always be bearing more heavily against the abrasive lining due to gravity action, while the uppermost rotor elements, if the rotor were motionless, would drop away from the abrasive lining.

In accordance with my present invention, a rotary refiner possessing some of the general characteristics of my patented devices is so constructed that whether the axis of the rotor is vertical or horizontal, a minimum operating clearance is always provided between the surfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasive lining of the shell, or stator. This resuit is accomplished by the provision of hollow box-like housings secured to the shaft of the rotor and having pivotal connections to the leading and trailing portions of each of the rotor elements. A pivot pin secured in one of the boxlike housings provides a pivot for the leading portion of each of the rotor elements, while the trailing portion of each of the rotor elements is pivotally connected to one end of a pivotally fulcrumcd lever assembly. The other end of each of the lever assemblies is pivotally connected to a pin, or rod, that extends radially into the interior of a hollow shaft constituting the rotor shaft. Wedge-like members movable within the hollow shaft are externally operable to force the 2 radially extending pins outwardly and thus limit the amount of minimum clearance provided between the cooperating surfaces of the rotor elements and the abrasive lining of the shell.

My novel construction thus provides for a full range of adjustment of the rotor refining elements while the machine is in operation. This is obviously a great advantage inasmuch'as in the case of the older designs the machine had to be stopped in order to adjust the operatin clearances between the rotor elements and the abrasive lining of the shell in order to make any fine adjustment or any considerable adjustment to compensate for appreciable wear on the abrasive surfaces. A further advantage of my present construction is that brought about by a reduction in the weight of the refining abrasive elements of the rotor as well as by a greater ease of replacement of the-rotor elements.

In addition, my present construction includes the provision of feed plates, one at the outlet end of the refiner and at least one intermediate the ends, which feed plates can be adjusted to properly position the peripheral apertures of said r feed plates relative to the leading surfaces of the rotor elements. Means extending from one end of the shell of the rotary refiner are provided for separate adjustment of the several fed plates so as to get an optimum feeding of the pulp or other fibrous material through the refiner.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a rotary refiner for use in the refining of fibrous material such as wood pulp and the like, wherein means are provided for maintainin a minimum clearance between the abrasive surfaces of the rotor elements and the stator, and wherein such minimum clearance can be adjusted during the operation of the machine without interfering with such operation.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a rotary refiner comprising a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive liner and a, rotor including centrifugally acting rotor elements having abrasive surfaces for cooperation with the abrasive lining to bring about the desired refining action wherein externally operable means are provided for adjusting the minlmum clearance between sets of the rotor elements-and the abrasive lining to thereby insure a proper refining action for different kinds and characters of fibrous material.

.It is a further important object ofthis invention to provide a rotary refiner adapted to be installed with its axis in a horizontal position and having an intake and an outlet for fibrous mate- 3 rial and a plurality of feed plates for guiding Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken the flow of fibrous material between the refining.

substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 1 s with parts in elevation.

Figure 3 isan enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line III-J11 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Figure 2. As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral I0 (Fig. 1) indicates generally a rotary refiner embodying the principles of my invention. Said rotary refiner'ln includes a generally cylindrical shell, or casing II, which is supported normally in horizontal position upon suitable supports I25. The shell II is provided at each of its ends with an end plate, the end plate at the intake being indicated by the reference numeral l2 and that at the outlet being indicated by the reference numeral I3. The end plate I2 is outwardly dished and provided with an inlet I4 and with a. centrally positioned annular boss I5 defining an opening for receiving a hollow shaft I6, with reference .to which the shell and end plates I2 and I 3 are stationarily mounted. Said shaft I 6 is adapted to be driven by a grooved pulley I1. The end plate I3 is similarly formed with an outwardly dished portion having an outlet opening I8 and an annular boss I9 surrounding the hollow shaft IS. The ends of the cylindrical shell II are flanged as at and 2|, for receiving

bolts

22 and 23 that serve to secure the end plates I3 and I2, respectively, in place.

The shell II is provided internally with a sectional liner 24, which is formed of suitable abrasive material, such as stone, metal, or a synthetic ceramic of an abrasive type. The interior surface of the abrasive lining 24 may suitably be provided with grooves 25 that extend longitudinally in equispaced helical rows. The lining may, of course. be monolithic, but is prefererably formed in ring sections that abut each other except where spaced apart to provide for the reception of a feed plate, such as the feed plate 26 (Fig. 1).

The hollow shaft I6 is mounted at each of its extended ends in bearing mountings 21, which support the shaft for rotation. Packing glands 28 provide seals between the rotary driven shaft I6 and the stationary end plates I2 and I 3. The shaft I6 and the parts carried thereby are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the rotor, while the shell I I, lining 24 and end plates I2 and I3 are sometimes referred to hereinafter as the stator. The rotor will now be more fully described.

A plate 29 is secured upon the hollow shaft IS on the inside of the intake end plate I2. Said with radially extending vanes an impeller to throw fibrous material introduced into refiner through the intake I4 outwardly for introduction into the interior of the refiner. The vanes 30 lie inside of the dished portion of the end plate I2 and conform closely to the curvature of said dished portion, but with clearances, as at 3I, to afford passages for the fiow of stock around the perimeter of the plate 29. A threaded ring 32 mounted upon a threaded portion of the shaft I6 serves to position the plate 29 in place on the shaft.

At the outlet end of the refiner there is mounted a feed plate 33, which is in general similar to the feed plate 26 and which will be described in greater detail later on. Said feed plate 33 is mounted upon the shaft l6 by means of a sleeve 34, which permits relative rotation-of said plate 33 with respect to said shaft I6 except when the plate 33 is locked in place thereon. The plates 28 and 33 serveasstock fiow regulating plates, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A plurality of hollow box-like housings 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) are mounted along the shaft I6 between the centrally positioned fiow regulating plate 26 and the plate 29 at the intake end, and between said plate 26 and the flow regulating plate 33 at the discharge end of the refiner. Each of said housings 35 comprises a hub portion 36 that is mounted directly upon the shaft I6 and keyed thereto for rotation therewith as a unit.

Spaced side plates

31, 31, which are generally rectangular in shape, extend radially outwardly from the hub portion 36 of each of the housings 35. Each housing 35 serves to support'a rotor element indicated as a Whole by the reference numeral 38.

Each rotor element 38 comprises a refining element proper 39 and a backing plate 40. The refining element proper is formed of stone, metal, or some synthetic abrasive material of a ceramic type and is provided with an arcuate shaped outer or working face, a major portion of which is segmental cylindrical to substantially conform with the curvature of the abrasive lining 24. The leading surface of each refining element 39, however, is formed upon a lesser radius of curvature to provide a curved leading surface, as at M (Fig. 2), which serves to guide the fibrous material between the generally conforming surfaces of the rotor elements and the abrasive lining of the shell.

Each of the backing plates 40, as best shown in Figure 4, comprises an integralside and end portion 42, and a separate side portion 43, the two side portions havin reversely inclined inner walls to provide a dove-tailed groove, or recess, 44, for receiving and anchorin a, similarly shaped strip formed on the refining elements 39. The

ing plate 40 by means of bolts 45. Adhesive cushioning material 46 may line the reentrant side walls of the groove 44 to obviate the necessity of a close fit between the corresponding surfaces of the refining elements 39 and of the backing plates 40.

Each of the backing plates 40 is provided adjacent its leading edge with inwardly extending spaced cars 41 (Fig. 2), which are apertured to ance for the ears 41, and a transversely extending web portion 5I extends between the spaced plates 31 of each housing a conforming to the cut-away portion 50. The lugs 49 may be formed portions 5|.

The other, or trailing, end of each of the backing plates 48 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending ears 52 (Fig. 2), in which is fixed a pivot pin 53. A link 54, connected at one end through the pivot pin 53 with the ears 52. is connected at the other end by means of a pivot pin 55 to a bifurcated end 58 of a rocking lever 51. Each rocking lever 51 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a pin 58 extending between and fixed in the spaced plates 31 of a box-like hollow housing 35. Each rocking lever 51 isalso provided with a second bifurcated end, indicated at 59, which is apertured to receive bushings 8'1 (Fig. 4). A pin 6| extends through and is swivelly mounted in the bushings .68. Upon each of the pins BI is mounted a reduced end 82 of a radially extending rod 83, the other, or inner, end 64 of which passes through a hub portion 38 and the wall of the hollow drive shaft l8 into the interior of said drive shaft. The inner end 84 of each rod 63 is tapered for a purpose that will later appear.

A spring 65 (Figs. 2 and 4) is associated with each of the rotor elements 38 for normally urging said rotor elements outwardly into contact with the inner surfaces of the abrasive lining 24. Each spring 85 comprises a relatively thin strip of metal with a flat end 68, anchored to a web portion 5|, and with a bowed free end portion 6! bearing against the inner side of a backing plate 48. The main purpose of the springs 65 is to prevent the rotor elements 38 from droppin away from the abrasive lining 24 when the refiner is stationary, as would otherwise occur in the case of the uppermost rotor elements while the refiner is not in motion.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, there are four rotor elements 38 in each set and each pair of adjacent sets of rotor elements is provided with mechanisms whereby the rotor elements in that pair may be simultaneously adjusted to give the desired amount of minimum clearance between the working faces of the rotor elements and of the lining 24. The clearing adjusting mechanism will now be described.

As previously stated, the hollow driven shaft |6 terminates at one end in the bearing housing 2'! adjacent the intake end. A cylindrical casing 68 is supported from the stationary part of the bearing housing 21 to provide a stationary extension for housing the adjusting mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 69, mounted within the hollow shaft I8. Said adjusting mechanism 89 (Fig. 1) comprises a plurality of coaxial elongated members, the inner of which may be a solid rod or shaft 10 provided at its inner end with a pair of frusto-conically shaped members II and Ila. A second elongated member consists of a hollow shaft or tube 12 that is mounted upon and guided by the rod 10 and that carries at its inner end a pair of integral frusto-conically shaped members 13 and 13a, identical in all respects with the members 1| and I la. A third elongated member consists of a hollow shaft or tube I4 and that carries at its inner end frusto-conically shaped members 15 and 15a identical with the similar members previously referred to. Each of the members 1 I la, 13, 13a and 15, 15a. cooperates with a set of the radially extending rods 63 to force said rods outwardly or to permit said rods to move inwardly, depending upon the positions, respectively, of the cooperating sets of said members. The tapered end faces 84 of the rods 63 conform with and ride upon the 6 frusto-conical surfaces of the adjacent wedgelike member.

The rod 18 carries at its outer end a two-part bearing housing, the outer part I8 of which is stationary and is provided with an integral extension 11 having an internally threaded bore I8. The

tube 12 is similarly provided with a two-part bearing, the outer part 19 of which is provided with an integral extension 88 having an internally threaded bore 8|. The outermost tube 14 is likewise provided with a two-part bearing, indicated at 82, the outer part 83 of which has an integral extension through which extendsa threaded bore t4. The threaded bores I8, 8| and 84 are in alignment with each other and also with a threaded bore 85 formed in a boss 86 integral with the casing 68. A threaded rod 81 extends through the bores 18, 8| and 84 and is threaded into the bore 85. Said rod 81 is held against turning by means of a lock nut 88 threaded on said rod into tight engagement with the end of the boss 86. A pair of nuts 89 and 89a are threadingly mounted upon the rod 81 on either side of the extension TI to determine the position of the bearing part 16 and hence of the rod 10. Similarly, a pair of nuts 90 and 98a are threadingly mounted upon the rod 81 to lie on either side of the extension 88 to determine the position of the bearing part 19 and hence of the tube 12. In much the same way, a pair of nuts 9| and Ma are threaded upon the rod 81 to lie on either side of the extension 84 to determine the position of the bearing 82 and hence of the tube 14.

The construction of these three bearings is best shown in Figure 1, where the bearing 82 is shown in section. Said bearing 82 comprises the outer bearing part 83 and an inner bearing part 92 that is formed on the tube 14 and therefore revolves with said tube 14. An inner bearing race 93 is secured to said inner bearing part 92, and an outer bearing race 94 is secured to said outer bearing part 83. Said outer bearing race 94 and the outer bearing part 83 may be suitably locked together and held in spaced relationship to the inner bearingrace 93 and inner bearing part 92 so as to be stationary while the latter revolves. The threaded rod 81 passing, as it does, through the extensions 11, 8| and 84, serves to hold the corresponding outer bearing parts 18, 19, 83 against rotation.

The manner of adjusting the clearances between any set of rotor elements 38 and the corresponding surfaces of the abrasive lining 24 will be apparent from the foregoing description of the adjusting mechanism 82. For instance, if it were desired to increase the clearance in the case of the set of rotor elements 38 controlled by the wedge-like members H and 1 |a, the outer bearing part 18 associated with the rod I8 would be moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, after first loosening the nut 89, by then turning the nut 89a against the extension 11. The nut 89 would again be tightened in place when the desired amount of movement had occurred. As the rod 19 is moved toward the left, the radially extending rods or pins 63 will be caused to ride up along the conical surfaces of the wedge-like members H and Ha and. will thus be moved radially outwardly. Such movement will be translated through the lever assemblies, including the rocking levers 51 and links 52 to move the corresponding trailing ends of the rotor elements 38 inwardly, and thereby increase the clearence between said trailing ends and the abrasive lining 24. If, on the other hand, it is desired to decrease the amount of clearance between any set of rotor elements and the abrasive lining 24. the corresponding set of wedge-like members would be moved to the right, as viewed in Figure .1, to permit the corresponding rods 83 to move inwardly. Upon inward movement of the rods 63, the lever assemblies connecting such rod to the trailing ends of the rotor elements 38 operate to move said trailing ends toward the surface of the abrasive lining 24.

It will be noted that during these adjustments of the clearances between the rotor elements 38 and the surface of the abrasive lining 24, the radially outward distance of each pivot pin 48 from the axis of the shaft It remains constant. Consequently, the leading surfaces of the rotor elements 38 retain a substantially constant relationship with respect to the cylindrical surface of the abrasive liner 24, regardless of the adjustment of the amount of clearance between the trailing surfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasive lining. The result is that the clearance between the surfaces of the rotor elements 38 and of the abrasive lining 24 can be adjusted to decrease very gradually from the leading to the trailing ends of each. rotor element, thus facilitating the movement of the fibrous material between such surfaces and insuring a gradual refining of the fibers under the action of the gradually merging refining surfaces.

The clearance adjusting means described also permit the clearances to be gradually decreased in a sequence of steps from the intake to the discharge end of the refiner. For instance, at the intake end of the refiner, the two sets of rotor elements 38 controlled by the shaft I4 may be provided with a rather large amount of clearance, the two middle sections of rotor elements controlled by the shaft 12 may be provided with a relatively smaller amount of clearance, and the two sets of rotor elements adjacent the discharge end and controlled by the rod I may be set for a still smaller amount of clearance, thereby eflecting a gradual refining of the fibrous material as it passes from the intake to the discharge ends of the refiner.

The stock flow regulating plates 28 and 33 aid in the proper control'of the flow of stock through the refiner. The flow regulating plate 26 is preferably positioned midway of the length of the refiner shell I I, a space 95 (Figure 1) being provided for this purpose by a spacer ring 98 inserted between the middle two ring sections of the abrasive liner 24. The plate 28 is provided with an inner annular hub portion 91 that is mounted upon a bearing ring 98 which, in turn, is secured to the hollow shaft I 0. The regulating plate 28 is thus capable of rotation relative to the shaft I6, the same as is the flow regulating plate 33.

Both the plate 28 and the plate 33, however, are normally locked against relative rotation so as' to rotate with the shaft I6 during the operation of the refiner. The purpose of providing for relative rotation of the

plates

23 and 33 with respect to the shaft I6 is to permit circumferential adjustments of the plates with respect to therotor elements 38. This purpose will be more clearly understood by reference to Figure 3, which shows the relationship between the end feed plate 33 and the adjacent set of rotor elements 38. Since the two plates 26 and 33 are substantially identical in form and construction, a description of plate 33 and its relationship to the adjacent set of rotor elements 38 will serve also as a description of plate 26.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the plate 33 is provided with a plurality of peripheral recesses or openings I00, the number of recesses being the same as the number of rotor elements 38 in each set. Each of the openings I00 includes the space between the trailing end IOI of one rotor element 38 and the leading end I of the next following rotor element 38. Preferably, each plate opening I00 terminates just ahead of a leading edge I02 so that the fibrous material passing through an opening I00 will be fed into the space between the leading edge I of a rotor element and the surface of the abrasive lining 24.

Since it is sometimes desirable to change the relative positions of the openings I03 with respect to the rotor elements 30, means are provided for this purpose. The plate 33 (Figures 3 and 4) is provide with arcuate shaped openings I33 and I04 which are diametrically arranged with respect to the axis of the shaft I0 and which are provided with toothed segments I" and I03 along their edges nearest the axis of the shaft I3. A gear I0! is mounted for meshing engagement with the teeth I 05, and a similar gear I03 is mounted for meshing engagement with the teeth I03. The gear I08 is mounted upon a shaft I03 (Figure l), the front end of which is hexagonal shaped, as at IIO, for the reception of a socket wrench or crank and the inner end of which carries a gear III for adjustment of the stock flow regulating plate 28. At its end I II the shaft I09 is journaled in a boss '2 (Figure 4) that is formed integrally with a wall 37 of the hollow box-like housing 35 adjacent the stock flow regulating plate 33. The other gear I0'I is similarly mounted upon a shaft (Figure 2) having a hexagonally shaped end A locking strap III is provided for locking the shaft II3 against rotation and a similar locking strap H6 is provided for locking the shaft I09 against rotation. Since each of the locking straps is identical, only one need be described. The locking strap III is provided with a hexagonally shaped opening II! for fitting over the hexagonally milled end IIII of the shaft I09. Said locking strap I I6 is also provided with an arcuate shaped groove '3, through which extends a bolt II9 for locking said strap in place against the plate 33. When the bolt I I3 is screwed home into the plate 33, the locking strap I I 8 holds the hexagonal end IIO against being turned and hence locks the shaft I03 against rotation. The plates I 33 and 26 are then also held against rotation relative to the shaft it but are free to revolve as a. lllit with said shaft and with the rotor elements It will be apparent that in order to effect an adjustment of the

plates

33 and 23, it is only necessary when the refiner is not operating to remove the discharge end plate I3, unscrew the bolts "3 and lift off the locking straps Ill and H6, and then turn either one of the shafts I09 or II3 by means of a crank, or the like, to rotate the

plates

33 and 23 to their desired positions. After the adjustment has been made, the locking straps Ill and III areagain put in place and bolted tightly against the plate 33 by means of the bolts III. It will be understood that a single shaft, such as the shaft I03, with its associated parts would be sumcient for making the adjustment of the feed regulating plates 33 and 26, or, if desired, two shafts might be used and only one of the shafts continued through to control itself.

together, or only the feed regulating plate '33 by The purpose of the adjustment is, of course, to permit the stock openings I'M in the plates 33 and 26 to be positioned at the proper points with relation to the positions of the rotary elements 38'so as to obtain a feed of fibrous material through the rotary refiner that will give optimum refining results.

In operation, stock is introduced into the intake l4 under the desired amount of head, or pressure, with the rotary refiner in operation, the

vanes 30 on the plate 29 adjacent the intake end of the refiner serve to throw the stock, or other fibrous material, outwardly and the stock is forced around the periphery of the plate 29 through the annular clearance spaces 3| into the interior of centrifugal forces set up by the rotating elements 38 throw the stock radially outwardly between the refining surfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasive lining 24. Thus, the stock is held against the surface of the abrasive lining 24 and very little stock finds its way into the 'central portion of the shell II in back of the rotor elements 38.

In this latter connection, it will be noted that the rotor elements 38 are in closely abutting relationship, except for the spacing, as at 95, between the middle set of rotor elements. The result is that the stock fiows practically exclusively between the revolving surfaces of the rotor elements 38 and the stationary surface of the liner 24. The pressure causing such flow is the pressure of stock ahead of the intake l4. Regulation of the flow of stock through the refiner is accomplished, as previously described, by the proper adjustments of the regulating plates 26 and 33. After being refined, the stock is discharged through the discharge opening |8 in the end plate [3.

In order to prevent unnecessary abrasion and injury to the abrasive lining 24 or to the abrasive surfaces of the rotor elements 38, the joints between successive ring sections of the liner 24, as at I20 (Figure 1) are slightly offset with respect to the joints l2l between the adjacent rotor elements spacings.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material,

a stationary shell having an abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, a plurality of sets of centrifugally acting rotor elements, means mounting said rotor elements from said shaft for rotation therewith, and a plurality of individually adjustable means including wedge carrying rods extending through said hollow shaft and each externally operable while said refiner is in operation to act through said mounting means to control the amount of minimum clearance between each set of said rotor elements and said abrasive liner.

2. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, centrifugally acting rotor elements, members ,secured to said shaft, pins carried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements,

lever assemblies-carried by said members for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and having rods extending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like members within said hollow shaft bearing against the inner ends of said rods and means operable while said refiner is in operation for moving said wedge-like members to adjust said rods and lever assemblies to control the amount of. minimum clearance between said rotor elements and said stator.

3. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft,

pins carried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, pivotally mounted lever assemblies carried by said members for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements, rods pivotally connected to said lever assemblies and extending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like membersv said refiner is in operation for moving said wedgelike members to adjust said rods and lever assemblies to control the amount of minimum clearance between said rotor elements and said stator.

4. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft, pins carried by said members for pivotally mount ing the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assemblies carried by said members for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and having rods extending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like members within said hollow shaft bearing against the inner ends of said rods and elongated members connected to said wedge-like members and extending axially of said hollow shaft and operable while said refiner is in operation for moving said wedgelike members to adjust said rods and lever assemblies to v control the amount of minimum clearance between said rotor elements and said stator.

5. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, centrifugally acting rotor elements, hollow box-like housings secured to said shaft, pins carried by said housings for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assemblies carried by said housings for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and having rods extending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like members within said hollow shaft bearing against the inner ends of said rods and means operable whilesaid refiner is in operation for moving said wedge-like members to adjust said rods and lever assemblies to control the amount of minimum clearance between said rotor elements and said stator.

6. A rotary refiner for the refining of wet fibrous material, which comprises a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive lining, a hollow driven shaft co-axial with said lining, hollow box-like housings secured to said shaft, rotor elements for cooperation with said lining to effect a refining action, pins secured in said housings for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assemblies pivotally fulcrumed in said housings and pivotally connected'to the trailing portions of said rotor elements, pins pivotally 11 connected to said lever assemblies and extending radially into said hollow shaft, conically shaped members within said shaft cooperating with the inner ends of said pins, concentric elongated members connected to said conically shaped members, means associated with said elongated members and externally operable to move the same acting through said pins and lever assemblies to adjust the clearance between said rotor elements and said abrasive lining, means for introducing and discharging fibrous material into and from said shell. and feed plates for distributing the fibrous material about the inner periphery of said shell between said rotor elements and said lining.

7. A rotary refiner for the refining of wet fibrous material, which comprises a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive lining, a hollow driven shaft coaxial with said lining, hollow boxlike housings secured to said shaft, rotor elements for cooperation with said lining to effect a refining action, pins secured in said housings for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assemblies pivotally fulcrumed in said housings and pivotally connected to the trailin portions of said rotor elements, pins pivotally connected to said lever assemblies and extending radially into said hollow shaft, conically shaped members within said shaft cooperating with the inner ends of said pins, concentric elongated members connected to said conically shaped members, means associated with said elongated members and externally operable to move the same acting through said pins and lever assemblies to adjust the clearance between said rotor elements and said abrasive lining, and means for introducing and discharging fibrous material into and from said shell.

8. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell having an intake and outlet and provided with cylindrical abrasive lining, rotor elements mounted for outward movement into refining relationship with said lining, feed plates having peripheral openings for the admission of material to be refined between said rotor elements and said lining, and means accessible from one end of said shell for rotating said feed plates to change the positioning of said peripheral openings.

9. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell, a driven shaft rotatable in said shell, a plurality of sets of centrifugally acting rotor elements carried by said shaft for cooperation with said stationary shell in efi'ecting a refining action, means pivotally mounting the leading portion of each of said rotor elements from said shaft, and means externally operable along said shaft and operatively connected to the trailing portions of said rotor elements to control individually the amount of minimum clearance between each set of said rotor elements and said stationary shell. said means including a plurality of individually adjustable telescoping members mounted for rotation in said shell and a sleeve portion movable from the exterior of said shell and associated with each member for moving said member axially of said shaft and for rotatable movement relative thereto, whereby said telescoping members may be adjusted axially of said shaft while said refiner is in operation.

10. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material. a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive lining, a hollow driven shaft. centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft, pins carried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portions of said rotor elements. lever assemblies carried by said members for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and having rods extending radially through said hollow shaft, and individually adjustable telescoping means mounted for rotation in said shell having wedge-like portions bearing against the inner ends of said rods, and sleeve members movable from the exterior of said shell and associated with each telescoping member for moving each of said members axially of said shaft and for rotatable movement relative thereto.

EDMUND P. ARPIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 939,769 Williams Nov. 9, 1909 939,774 Williams Nov. 9, 1909 1,072,058 Sturtevant Sept. 2, 1913 1,306,772 Plaisted June 17, 1919 1,651,372 Carline Dec. 6, 1927 1,689,190 Arpin Oct. 30, 1928 1,714,752 Arpin May 28, 1929 .1 854.652 Kirchner et a1 Apr. 19. 1932