US2961041A - Apparatus for disintegration of fibrous material - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 22, 1966 LESNIAK 2,961,041

APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 STARTING SWITCH CHIP LOADING VALVE OPENS METERING SCREW STOPS AFTER PRESET NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS. GUN FEED SCREW REVOLVES ADDITIONAL PRESET NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS TO CLEAR IT OF CHIPS.

AS IT STOPS IT DE-ENERGIZES A SOLENOID SOLENOID OPENS CIRCUIT TO CAUSE CHIP LOADING VALVE TO CLOSE LOADING VALVE STEM ACTUATES LIMIT SWITCH CAUSING AIR VALVE TO OPEN AND AIR IS BLOWN THROUGH VALVE STEM AGAINST VALVE SEAT LOADING VALVE STEM ACTUATES SECOND LIMIT SWITCH AS VALVE CLOSES WHICH ACTUATES STEAM INLET VALVE OPENING MECHANISM STEAM IS ADMITTED TO GUN SLOWLY TO PREHEAT PRESSURE (400-800 PSI) THEN RAPIDLY TO SHOOTING PRESSURE LSOOJOOO PSI). GUN IS THEN DISCHARGED AND CYCLE REPEATED E 2 INVENTOR FRANK G. LESNIAK ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1966 F. G. LESNIAK APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3: 955w Egon km 10.2% NQDWWWQQ INVENTOR FRANK c. LESNIAK Y Mu ATTORNEY United tates Patent APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Frank G. Lesnialt, Laurel, Miss, assignor to Masonite Corporation, Laurel, Miss., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 6, 1956, Ser. No. 602,347

6 Claims. (Cl. 162-247) The present invention relates to an apparatus for the explosive disintegration of fibrous material such as, for example, wood chips and similar fibrous lignocellulose materials. More particularly, the invention comprises an automatic apparatus for carrying out the disintegration of fibrous material.

Broadly speaking, the apparatus of the invention is an improvement on the apparatus disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 1,824,221 issued September 22. 1931, to W. H. Mason. The physical configuration of the present novel apparatus is similar to the patented apparatus insofar as the pressure chamber itself is concerned. The same is true of the dis2harge port and the valve means for controlling the discharge of hydrolyzed material from the apparatus. The improvements of the present invention are concerned with rendering automat c the complete process of disintegration of fibrous material.

The invention will be described in detail with particular reference to the drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, showing the pressure chamber and the raw material feed means of the novel apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a chart setting forth the sequential steps in the operation of the novel apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic presentation of the circuit hook-up governing the novel appa atus.

In the drawings, the pressure chamber is Within a vertical cylinder or gun of metal suitable for resisting internal pressure of the order of magnitude of about 1200 p.s.i. The upper end of the gun 10 is provided with an annular rib 12 suitable for the insertion of compressble packing material. Positioned on the upper end of the gun 10 is a second cylinder 14, the two cylinders firmly united by the vertical threaded studs 16 having nuts 16. The cylinder 14 is also constructed of metal resistant to high internal pressure. The upper end of cylinder 14 is sealed by the cap plate 13.

There is a feed port or opening 20 in the wall of the cylinder 14 through which raw material such as, for example, wood chips may be fed into the cylinder and thence into the gun 10. The port 20 may be closed, as shown in Fig. l, by the valve 22 mounted on the valve stem 24 which is, in turn, connected to the hydraulic cylinder 26 by the rod 28 by conventional coupling means 30. The valve stem 24 is provided with a passage 32 which continues through the valve 22 as the divergent jets 34. in turn, the passage 32 is connected by a pres sure resistant flexible hose 36 to a conventional means for providing a flow of compressible fluid such as air or other gaseous medium. The valve stem 24 passes through the opening 38 in the wall of cylinder 14 and through a packing gland 40 of usual construction.

Wood chips, or other suitable raw material, are fed from a storage bin (not shown) by the metering screw 42 into the feed screw 44. The chips fall through the tube 46 into a second feed screw 48 which advances them through the opening 29 into cylinder 14 and gun 10. The feed screw 48 is mounted on the movable carriage "ice 50 so that it may be retracted for ready access to the cylinder 14. The means of mounting and driving the feed screw 48 are of conventional design and constitute no part of the invention.

The gun 10 is provided with a high pressure steam opening 52, a similar steam opening 53, and a discharge port 54. The port 54 is opened and closed by a rapid action valve 55 which permits substantially instantaneous discharge of the material charged to the pressure chamher.

In employing the novel apparatus, as is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the operator throws a starting switch which actuates the hydraulic cylinder 26 to retract the valve 22, thus opening the feed port 2%. As the chip loading valve 22 arrives at open position, the rod 28 trips the limit switch 29 which actuates the raw m"terial feeding means. Wood chips, for example, are fed from a. storage bin by the metering screw 42 into the feed screw 44, through the tube 46, into the feed screw 48, and thence into the pressure chamber of the gun 10.

he metering screw 42 makes a preset number of revolutions to deliver the desired volume of raw material to the gun. The feed screw 43 operates somewhat longer and is controlled by a conventional time delay switch (not shown) to insure that all of the raw material has been cleared into the gun. Upon stopping, the feed screw 48 de-energizes a solenoid 49 and thereby actuates the hydraulic cylinder 26 to close the feed port 20. As the feed port valve 22 arrives at its closed position, the rod 28 t ips the limit switch 31 which actuates the valve mechanism 51 governing the flow of steam through the steam inlet 53 into the gun 10. The orifice of the steam inlet 53 is somewhat constricted so that the steam is admitted rather slowly into the gun. As the steam pressure rises it is indicated on the gauge 66. When the pressure has attained the desired degree as, for example 400-800 p.s.i., the pressure switch 56 actuates the valve mechanism 63 thus allowing high pressure steam to flow through the steam opening 52 into the gun. The steam pressure in the gun chamber now rises rapidly to the desired maximum of about 1000-1200 p.s.i. At this point, the pressure switch 57 closes off both of the valves 51 and 63 and actu tes the opening mechanism of the discharge port valve 55. The discharge port 54 is thereby opened and the steam saturated wood chips are instantaneously and explosively discharged from the pressure chamber. As the pressure in the gun 10 approaches zero, the pressure switch 58 actuates the mechanism for closing the discharge port valve 55, As the valve 55 arrives at its closed position, it trips a limit switch (not shown) which reverses the cylinder 26 to withdraw the feed port valve 22 and thereby open the feed port 20. The entire cycle is now repeated.

During the gun loading operation, as the feed port valve 22 is traveling into closed position, the rod 28 may be equipped so as to trip an additional limit switch (not shown) to allow a flow of air or other gas through the hose 36, the valve stem passage 32, and through the valve jets 34. The jet of air impinges upon the valve seat of the feed port 20 and removes any occluded raw material. This operational feature is not always necessary and when the raw material is substantially dry and dust free, the air flow may be dispensed with.

It has been stated above that the stopping of the feed screw 48 de-energizes the solenoid 4% thereby actuating the hydraulic cylinder 26. In the drawing this mechanism is shown as a single action solenoid which operates a three-way valve 64. Suitable fluid is admitted to the cylinder and exhausted therefrom by the hydraulic fluid lines 65 and 66 from a compressing means of conventional design (not shown). In the illustration, this solenoid valve is equipped, for safety reasons, with a spring return. It will be apparent that a double acting solenoid may be employed where desired.

In the description, the feeding of raw material into the pressure chamber is controlled by the metering screw 42; Obviously, other measuring means may be employed. .For example, an electronic probe may be inserted into the pressure chamber for indicating that the chamber has received its desired volume of raw material. Other mechanical measuring devices may also be employed, it being important only that uniform charges be obtained.

The foregoing description has also been directed to the use of limit switches, solenoids, and pressure switches to control the operational sequence. The switches are shown schematically in Fig. 1 inasmuch as other conventional means may be employed equally as well. For example, the complete cycle may be carried out on a timed basis governed by a system of relays. In such an electrical control system, and with particular reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the operator first turns on the main switch which supplies power to the apparatus. The operator then turns on the two selector switches. The automatic load selector switch energizes the counter which in turn energizes the control relay A. The control relay A energizes a pilot valve which in turn activates the hydraulic cylinder 26, shown in Fig. l, which retracts the valve 22. The rod 28 trips the limit switch 29 and this completes the circuit to a magnetic starter and puts into operation the gun metering screw 42 and the feed screws 44 and 48. After the metering screw has made the required predetermined number of revolutions the counter stops the metering screw 42 and deenergizes a time delay relay. As soon as the time delay has taken efiEect, control relay A opens, stops the gun feed screws 44 and 48 and causes the gun loading valve 22 to close. As the rod 28 moves the valve 22 toward a closed position, it trips the limit switch 31 which c"uses the control relay B to be energized and the relay B, in turn, opens the preheat steam pilot valve 51 thus allowing steam to flow into the chamber through inlet 53. When the predetermined steam pressure has been reached, pressure switch 56 closes and energizes the high pressure steam pilot valve 63. High pressure steam is admitted into'the chamber 10 through the inlet 52. When the predetermined high pressure is reached, pressure switch 57 closes and energizes a double acting relay which, in turn, closes the valve 63 and opens the gun discharge valve 55. The material in the gun is explosively discharged. When the pressure in the gun has dropped below, for example, 50 p.s.i., pressure switch 58 de-energizes the control relay B and completes the circuit to the counter and thus starts another complete cycle of the apparatus.

In operating the automatic apparatus on a commercial schedule, it will be apparent that provision must be made for efiecting repairs and the like operations. Accordingly the manually operated port 61 is provided in the cap plate 18. Similarly, the feed screw 48 and its operating mechanism is mounted on the carriage 50, and maybe withdrawn for access to the interior of the apparatus the tube 46 may be disjoined by means of removing the collar 62.

As many apparently widely difierent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended'claims.

I claim:

I, An apparatus for hydrolyzing and explosively disintegrating lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressure chamber having a steam inlet, a discharge port equipped with rapid opening andclosing means, a feed port, and a valve adapted to open and seal said feed port; said valve mounted on a valve stem connected to a hydraulic cylinder; said valve stem and said valve containing a passage therethrough adapted to admit a gaseous medium in the open position of said feed port; screw-type metering and feeding means adapted to charge to said pressure chamber a predetermined quantity of lignocellulose particles; and means for sequentially energizing said valve, said metering and feeding means, said steam inlet, and said discharge port.

2. An apparatus adapted for carrying out a lignocellulose hydrolysis and disintegration process which comprises a pressure chamber adapted to receive a charge of raw material, said pressure chamber equipped with a feed port in its upper area, a discharge port in its lower said discharge port, and means for sequentially energiz- 7 through the feed port 20. To facilitate this operation,

ing said feed port valve, said metering and feeding means, admission of steam into said pressure chamber, and said discharge port valve whereby raw material is charged to said pressure chamber, hydrolysis effected under steam pressure, and said hydrolyzed raw material rapidly discharged from said pressure chamber.

3. Apparatus for treatment of lignocellulose particlescomprising in combination a pressure chamber having a steam inlet, a feed port and a discharge port, a valve adapted to seal said feed port, said valve mounted on and actuated by a valve stem connected to a hydraulic cylinder, a passage through said valve stem and through said valve face adapted to permit passage therethrough of a gaseous medium, screw-type metering and feeding means associated with said feed port adapted to charge to said pressure chamber a predetermined quantity of lignocellulose particles, and means for opening said feed port valve, means for metering and charging said lignocellulose particles to said chamber, means for closing said valve and said feed port, means for admitting steam into said chamber, and means for subsequently opening said discharge port.

4. An apparatus for intermittent hydrolysis and explosive disintegration of lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressure chamber having a steam inlet, a feed port, a valve adapted to open and close said feed port, and a discharge port equipped with rapid-acting opening and closing means; said feed port having associated therewith screw-type raw material metering and feeding means; said feed port valve mounted on' a valve stem which extends through the pressure chamber wall and connects with means adapted to move said valve into closed and open position; means for actuatingsaid feed port valve to its open position; means for actuating said metering and feeding means; means to actuate said feed port valve to its closed position; means for opening said steam inlet; means for closingsaid steam inlet; means for closing said discharge port and actuating said feed port valve to its open position.

5. An apparatus for intermittent hydrolysis and explosive disintegration of lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressure chamber having a steam inlet, a feed port, and a discharge port; said feed port fitted with a feed port valve mounted on a valve stem which extends laterally therefrom through the pressure chamber wall to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to actuate said valve; said discharge port having a rapidacting valve adapted to open and close said port; screwtype raw material metering and feeding means associated with said feed port; and an electrical control system adapted tosequentially actuate means to load said pres sure chamber with raw material, admit steam into said chamber, and thereafterdischarge said material from the pressure chamber and thereby explosively disintegrate feeding means to charge a predetermined quantity of raw material to said pressure chamber, means for actuating said hydraulic cylinder to close said feed port valve, means for opening said steam inlet, means for closing said steam inlet, means for actuating said discharge port valve to its open position, means for actuating said dischange port valve to its closed position, and means to reopen said feed port valve.

6. An apparatus for the intermittent hydrolysis and explosive disintegration of lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressure chamber having steam inlets, a feed port, and a discharge port; said feed port fitted with a feed pont valve mounted on a valve stem which extends laterally therefrom through the pressure chamber Wall to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to actuate said valve; said discharge port having a rapidacting valve adapted to open and close said pont; a raw material metering screw and feed screws associated with said feed port; and an electrical control system adapted to sequentially actuate means to load said pressure cham- 6, oer with raw material, admit steam into said chamber, and thereafter discharge said material from the pressure chamber and thereby explosively disintegrate said material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,609 Mason Mar. 30, 1926 1,824,221 Mason i Sept. 22, 1931 1,938,802 Braun et a1. Dec. 12, 1933 1,991,244 De La Roza Feb. 12, 1935 2,063,367 De La Roza Dec. 8, 1936 2,321,015 Davis June 8, 1943 2,539,990 Chapman et a1. Jan. 30, 1951 2,680,683 Obenshain June 8, 1954 2,711,369 Birdseye June 21, 1955 2,731,904 Van Arsdell et a1 Ian. 24, 1956 2,734,824 De Luca Feb. 14, 1956 2,809,576 Van Edeskuty Oct. 15, 1957

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