US3367829A - Paper stock flow control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1968 BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOV! CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IZCQZ? Feb. 6, 1968 w, BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F, 5 1/ .5; #5 y! Feb. 6, 1968 w. N. BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent OfiFlce 3,367,829 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,829 PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS William N. Bennett, Fitchhurg, Mass., assignor to Fitchburg Paper Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,500 9 Claims. (Cl. 162-336) The principal object of this invention resides in the provision of the elimination of the conventional headbox which is ordinarily the initiation of the direct paper making process particularly in a paper making machine utilizing a Fourdrinier wire.

The headbox of the prior art is a reservoir of prepared stock that supplies the Fourdrinier wire. These headboxes take many forms, some being relatively simple while others are complex. In either case, the intended purpose of the headbox is to transfer the stock flow for instance from normal piping on the inlet side to that of an even, flat, uniform flow across the wire on the exhaust side.

Between the inlet area and the exhaust (wire) slice there have been incorporated in the past various mechanical devices to attempt to combat expected flow problems particularly pulsations which form waves on the wire. Each innovation in the prior art was designed to eliminate or to rectify a particular poor characteristic of normal hydraulic flow. Some of these devices are holy rolls, disc rolls, a combination of these rolls, various kinds of bafiies, and single and multiple slice outlets, etc.

Problems within the headbox are not limited to that area alone but are sometimes created even prior to the stock entry into the box. Pulsations from pumps, hydropulpers, etc. are often readily carried off through the liquid to the mass within the box, through the slice and onto the wire. In cases where these pulsations happen to be synchronized at a poor frequency for good paper making, the formation is adversely affected, regardless of adjustment or the mechanical devices which may have been put within the box itself.

The present invention eliminates the headhox and instead controls the flow of the stock in such a way as to substantially eliminate any kind of pulsation or wave form in the stock as it issues onto the Fourdrinier wire, this resulting in a greatly improved, more uniform and much higher quality paper. This is done in large part by providing for a control system that leaves the stock free, i.e., it is not impeded, as by the usual headbox slice as it approaches the apron and proceeds to the wire.

Some of the advantages derived from the present invention relative to the free flow of the paper stock, etc. reside in easier control of the consistency of the stock, i.e., the water ratio to the pulp by weight; greater explosion action for improved dispersion of stock within the flow to the wire; the elimination of the pulsations usually derived from the commonly known stock preparation equipment, including the fan pump; the elimination of the slice board to the end that the stock flows over a dam in free condition, the amount or weight of the stock flowing over the dam being controlled by simple means adjusting a novel flow control box for easy control of the rate of stock flow onto the wire from the apron, together with the use of a novel fish scale pattern on the apron and at other points which creates an even and homogeneous flow of the stock.

Furthermore less water is necessary to be used because of better mixing of the stock due to the explosion and more complete dispersion of the stock; and a shorter wire can be used because the web is formed much more quickly avoiding the extra water necessary to carry down the wire to the dandy rolls. Also there is less loss of fines and fillers because these usually tend to pass out with the water in the normal wire drainage, but with the present invention which allows the use of a shorter wire there is less wire drainage.

Furthermore more uniform color can be obtained by the use of the present invention because no mechanical beating after the stock leaves the stock chest of any kind is employed and this again lessens or eliminates pulsations. Further, the present machine is much easier cleaned in all its parts and easy adjustments thereof lead to better automation, the present invention eliminating mechanical devices formerly thought to be needed such as holy rolls, etc. Even the shaker can be omitted and there is less maintenance and cleaning needed.

However the invention has one main object in view which is to provide an improved end product, i.e., in the paper, and this involves the fact that the level of the water in free flowing condition over the darn from the novel control box, down the apron to the wire, is very minutely controllable in a very simple and efficient manner, and thus the paper is made more level across the web.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the entire stock flow system from the stock chest to the Fourdrinier wire;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the stuff box, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the mixing box and the muffler box on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section showing the flow control box on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the flow control box.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows the entire free flow system and in order to illustrate the same the parts have been shown diagrammatically, these parts being shown where necessary in greater detail in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive.

The reference numeral 10 indicates an intake pipe leading from the usual beater chest into container 12 which is the machine stock chest. The stock chest has an outlet at the bottom as at 14 so that the stock flows to the stock pump 16, being forced out of the pump through a pipe 18. This pipe will have a continuous flow of stock in it proceeding in an upward direction and this stock is in pulsative condition due to the pump. A shut-off valve 20 is usually inserted in this line.

The stuff box is shown generally at 22. This stuff box receives the stock from the stock pump to the left-hand side of a baffle 24, overflow of the stock flowing over the top of this baffle into the overflow portion 25 thereof and back into the stock chest through the pipe 28. This causes there to be at all times a constant level of the stock in the stuff box.

The stuff box has an outlet at 30 through which the stock escapes into a pipe 32. A plug valve 34 partially closes the opening at 30 according to the consistency of the stock. This plug will be opened more when the stock runs light and closed to a greater degree when the stock runs heavy so that the proportion of pulp in the stock is always maintained uniform in the mixing box.

The stock descends from the stuff box through the pipe 32 to the mixing box 36 which is provided with a chest or container 38 and spaced baffles 40 and 42. Clear water when needed enters through a pipe 44 between baffles 40 and 42 and runs under baifle 40 through the passage at 46 into the area between a wall of container 38 and baffle 40. The Broughton water also enters here from a pipe 3 43. This water is derived from the Fourdrinier wire through the conventional Broughton box 50.

The white water enters the mixing box in the chest 38 through a pipe 52 and this is derived from the Fourclrinier also more or less in the usual manner, and such devices as the Savol, sump pump, etc. are used. The white water enters the mixing box in close association with the stock emerging from pipe 32 into chest 38.

This mixture then descends through the pipe 55 into an adjustable reactor generally indicated by the reference numeral 58. This particular portion of the device will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, but in general the pipe 56 widens out into a conical form at 6%). An adjustable cone-shaped member 62 having side walls at 6% which conform to those at 60 is positioned in a complementary arrangement thereto to form a narrow conical passage. If the member 62 is adjusted too far downwardly it will completely close the opening of pipe 56. When moved upwardly it will widen the gap which forms a narrow passage through which the stock passes into the chamber 66. In the area at 68 explosions take place for dispersion of the flocs in the stock to provide for dispersion and also helping to eliminate pulsations. This explosion is due to the difference in head at the cone and the mixing box.

The stock then passes through an aperture 75, into a chamber '72 thence downwardly in a pipe "/4 to the fan pump 76. This fan pump forces the stock up through the pipe 78 but also forms pulsations therein as in the pipe 18. There is a by-pass 8t) and shutoff valve 82 as may be expected.

Pipe '78 may lead into auxiliary stock cleaning equipment as may be desired and then the stock is passed into the mutlier box 84, being exploded once again in the area 86 by the conical member 83 coacting with the conical funnel-shaped part 9t? of pipe '78. The muffler box is provided with a bathe at 92 over which the stock spills into a chamber 94 which has an adjustable gate 96 controlling the depth of the flow of the stock from this chamber down a distribution trough 98 to the flow control box Edd.

As will be hereinafter described, the flow control box 100 is tiltable on a transverse axis and it is also tiltable on a fore-and-aft axis. The fore-and-aft axis tilt controls the evenness of tlow of the stock over the dam which is indicated at 102 after it passes under the lower edge of the baffle 194. The adjustment of the flow control box on the transverse axis determines the rate of flow of the stock over the darn 102 down onto the apron or distribution trough whence the stock passes to the wire.

The distribution trough at 98 and the apron at we are both preferably provided with fish scale formations such as are described in my copending application Scr. No. 299,659 filed Aug. 2, 1963.

With the use of the scales at either one or both of these places, the stock moves a greater distance in the same amount of time due to the fact that the scales tend to cause fluid material to run in a criss-cross pattern rather than straight ahead through the passages or down the various inclines. Therefore the scales act to further mix and disperse the stock in addition to the explosions already provided and they act to speed up the flow thereof to result in even more agitation and better dispersion of the stock when it reaches the wire.

Through the use of the above generally described apparatus and system, the stock pours down the incline 106 as over a darn very evenly and under extreme con trol, with no pulsations or waves and no thin or thick spots. The usual headbox is completely done away with as is also the slice of the headbox, and one of the important parts of the invention resides in the provision of the flow rate control box which not only determines the evenness of how but also the amount thereof by a very simple and easily operated means. Also it will be seen that there are no moving parts in the entire system with the exception of the pumps, but the pulsations from the pumps are eliminated and since there is no agitation by mechanical means such as discs or holy rolls, etc., the stock as it approaches the Eourdrinier is smooth, consistent, even and level and therefore provides for a greatly improved quality of the paper as well as a faster formation thereof due to the fact that a shorter Fourdrinier wire can be used and the formation is formed immediately after or very shortly after the stock leaves the incline or the apron at 106.

Referring now to FIG. 2 wherein is shown on larger scale the details of the stuff box 22, it will be seen that in the forward wall at N8 of this box there is provided an opening or hole 39. The plug 34 is preferably in semicircular form as is also the guide means or pipe 112 in which it is slidably located, thus providing a fiat face on plug 3-4 which overlaps the opening 30 so as to provide an adjustment leaving it partially open at any point between the ends thereof.

This plug is moved up and down to control the flow cf the stock from the stuff box to the mixing box according to the consistency of the stock, so that when the stock runs heavy the gate is closed somewhat from its normal position, and when the stock runs light the gate is opened to a greater degree, thus controlling the percentage of the stock as it moves to the mixing box where it is mixed with the white water and Broughton water so that it will be seen that the consistency of the pulp is thereby controlled.

The baffle in the mixing box 36 controls the head, as the overflow is passed over this baffle down to an overflow drain in the chamber 114. The battle 40 is adjustable to vary the width of the gap or passage 46 as may be desired or necessary and the chest 38 receives the clear water and Broughton water over the edge of its wall and also receives the stock and the white water as previously described.

If desired the conical element 62 and the surface at 60 may be provided with fish scales but it is important that the member 58 be vertically adjustable as for instance by a hand wheel 116 which may be threaded as may be needed in a fixed nut M8 for this purpose. It is pointed out that the explosion above described caused by the member 62 in cooperation with surface 6'0 occurs due to the diflerence in head pressures between the point where the explosion takes place and the top of the baffle 42 which controls the head.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 showing the flow control box, the reference numeral 120 indicates a transverse pivot rod mounted on a base 122 and in brackets 124 attached to a platform 126. This platform is provided at its rear with a threaded rod 128 which can be turned in order to elevate or depress the rear end of the platform 126 and as will be described the flow control box is mounted on the platform 126 so it is therefore easily adjustable about the axis of the rod 120. It will be appreciated that with the controlled flow system this action will control the depth of the flow over the dam 102.

On the base 126 there are provided a pair of brackets 128 mounting a rocking rod 139 which extends lengthwise from front to rear of the flow control box and on which the flow control box may be mounted as at 132, etc. An ofiset adjusting screw 134 is provided and as best seen in FIG. 5 this will cause the entire flow control box to tilt about the axis of the rod 130, thus leveling the flow of stock over the dam which of course has a hori- Zontal top portion. The screw or bolt 134 acts against a spring 136 so that when the screw 134 is backed off the box will be self-leveling.

The scale surface trough 98 is preferably connected at its lower end to the rear wall lfltl of the flow control box by a piano hinge or the like 138 for adjustment of trough 98 with respect to the box and a rubber seal or the like 140 can be utilized in contact with a cylindrical surface 142 to form a seal at this point. Also the area between the dam Th2 and the rear wall 1% an adjustable member 144 can be used to adjust the pond depth of the flow control box.

The distribution trough at 106 is provided with scales as shown in FIG. 4 and as illustrated in my copending application above identified. This is done by applying a rubber or plastic embossed sheet having the scales on it to the distribution chute 106. This is indicated by the reference numeral 146 in FIG. 4. These sheets are removable and replaceable but they are of different thicknesses for variations in scale size, so that it is preferable to have a very fine adjustment for the scale sheet thickness. This is provided by means of the inclined surface at 148 forming a bottom portion of the distribution chute 106. In contact with this member there is a supporting bracket or arm 150 which has a corresponding inclined surface thereon and is connected by means of a fastener of any desired description as at 152 which extends through an elongated slot or the like 154. Thus it will be seen that by loosening the fastener 152 the distribution chute 106 can be adjusted in a direction parallel with its plane in order to accommodate scale sheet thicknesses as may be desired.

The distribution chute 106 as Well as the supporting arm 1511 are mounted on an axis at 156 for rotation between the solid line position thereof in FIG. 4 and the dotted line position, this being a full range of adjustment as may be necessary. At the ends of the pivot rod 156 there are provided friction nuts or the like 158 and it is preferred that the distribution chute 196 can be adjusted by hand quickly and easily as may be required.

There are also provided a pair of brackets 160 which can be mounted on the control box in any desired manner and each bracket mounts a threaded rod 162 surrounded by a spring 164, and each rod is provided with a wing nut or the like 166. The rods 162 pass through and support side wings or stock guides 168, 168 mounted on hinges 170, 170. The operation here is that by turning the Wing nuts 166 the stock wings or giudes 168 are movable in and out with respect to the width of the Web. These side guides 168 thus provide for a slight gap at the edges of the distribution trough 106 over which the stock may flow and this avoids the usual eddies and unevenness in the flow due to friction of the stock against the side guides, at the same time resulting in very little loss over the edges of the distribution through 106.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to 'be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Stock flow control apparatus for a paper making machine: comprising (a) a stock chest;

(b) a stulf box interconnected to said stock chest to receive paper stock therefrom;

(c) a mixing box disposed to receive paper stock from said stuff box;

(d) stock control means coacting with said stuff box to regulate the flow of stock issuing therefrom according to the consistency thereof;

(e) means coacting with said mixing box to provide fresh water and white water to said mixing box;

(f) an explosion chamber interconnected to said mixing box to receive paper stock therefrom;

(g) a muffler box coacting with said explosion chamber to receive the stock therefrom;

(h) a flow control box coacting with said muffler box to receive the paper stock therefrom;

(i) said flow control box including a dam and a pond;

(j) tilting means coacting with said flow control box to tilt same in a predetermined manner to vary the relationship of the pond and dam and thus the amount of stock flowing over the dam; and

(k) means coacting with said flow control box to conduct the fluid stock therefrom.

2. The stock fiow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tilting means tilts the flow control box on an axis transverse to the direction of stock flow.

3. The stock flow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tilting means tilts the flow control box on an axis parallel to the direction of stock flow.

4. Flow rate control apparatus for a paper making machine comprising (a) receptacle means for the receipt of paper stock;

(b) dam means disposed in said receptacle means to accumulate paper stock to a predetermined depth therewithin;

(c) said dam means including an upper edge over which the stock flows in free condition out of said receptacle means;

(d) tilting means mounting said receptacle means for a movement about an axis parallel to said upper edge of said dam means to control the amount of stock flowing thereover; and

(e) leveling means coacting with said receptacle means to position said receptacle means to provide a. substantially constant level of stock in said receptacle means.

5. The flow rate control apparatus of claim 3 wherein said leveling means includes means coacting with said receptacle means for adjusting same on an axis disposed at right angles to said upper edge of said dam means.

6. The flow rate control apparatus of claim 3 including (a) a distribution chute extending from said dam means to receive said stock as it flows over said upper edge of said dam means, and to conduct same away from said receptacle means;

(b) means mounting said distribution chute for movement about an axis transverse to the direction of stock flow to vary the position thereof about said axis and thus vary the inclination of said distribution chute;

(c) holding means coacting with said distribution chute to hold same in any adjusted position thereof.

7. The flow control apparatus of claim 6 including (a) a multiple scale formation disposed upon said distribution chute;

(b) said scale formation being directed in the direction of stock flow and extending across said distribution chute in a generally regular order; and

(c) said scale formation coacting with the stock as it flows thereover to direct same in a substantially regular criss-crossing pattern.

8. The flow control apparatus of claim 7 wherein said scale formation is disposed on a separate and removable sheet.

9. The flow control apparatus of claim 8 including (a) means mounting said distribution chute so that said scale formation is disposed on a plane substantially tangent with said upper edge of said dam; and (b) adjustment means coacting with said mounting means for adjusting said distribution chute so that said scale formation may be adjusted in planes parallel to said tangent plane to thus accommodate different thicknesses of sheets and to maintain said scale formation in said plane tangent with said upper edge of said dam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,819 5/1912 McIntyre 162-261 1,451,659 4/1923 Hockman 137-92 2,272,970 2/1942 Frymoyer 137-92 2,444,668 7/1948 Poirier 13792 2,748,670 6/1956 Beachler 162-264 DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

J. H. NEWSOME, A. C. HODGSON,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A PAPER MAKING MACHINE: COMPRISING (A) A STOCK CHEST; (B) A STUFF BOX INTERCONNECTED TO SAID STOCK CHEST TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK THEREFROM; (C) A MIXING BOX DISPOSED TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK FROM SAID STUFF BOX; (D) STOCK CONTROL MEANS COACTING WITH SAID STUFF BOX TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF STOCK ISSUING THEREFROM ACCORDING TO THE CONSISTENCY THEREOF; (E) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID MIXING BOX TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER AND WHITE WATER TO SAID MIXING BOX; (F) AN EXPLOLSION CHAMBER INTERCONNECTED TO SAID MIXING BOX TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK THEREFORM; (G) A MUFFLER BOX COACTING WITH SAID EXPLOSION CHAMBER TO RECEIVE THE STOCK THEREFROM; (H) A FLOW CONTROL BOX COACTING WITH SAID MUFFLER BOX TO RECEIVE THE PAPER STOCK THEREFROM; (I) SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX INCLUDING A DAM AND A POND; (J) TITLING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX TO TILT SAME IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER TO VARY THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE POND AND DAM AND THUS THE AMOUNT OF STOCK FLOWING OVER THE DAM; AND (K) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX TO CONDUCT THE FLUID STOCK THEREFROM.

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