US3630458A

US3630458A - Turbopulp refining blender and classifier

Info

Publication number: US3630458A
Application number: US797959A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd D Smiley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Lukens General Industries Inc; General Steel Industries Inc; Simplicity Engineering Inc
Priority date: 1969-02-10
Filing date: 1969-02-10
Publication date: 1971-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-28

Abstract

The turbopulp-refining blender and classifier is comprised of a refining chamber having an inlet port and a plurality of blades detachably mounted by securing means on a rotor which is rotatably mounted within the refining chamber. The blades have beveled cutting edges on their opposite ends and are each positioned on the rotor with one end disposed outwardly with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor and with the opposite end pointing inwardly with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor. The refining chamber includes adjustable walls adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the rotor.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lloyd D. Smiley 2915 North Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. 63106 [21] Appl. No. 797,959 [22] Filed Feb. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] TURBOPULP REFINING BLENDER AND CLASSIFIER 8 Chins, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 241/46.06, 241/73, 241/189 R, 241/191, 241/195, 241/287 [51] int. Cl. ..B02e 13/09, B02c 13/13,B02c 13/284 [50] Field of Search 241/46.06, 46.08, 73, 86, 90,138, 186, 189, 189.5, 191,194, 195, 287,82; 146/76, 123

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,041,495 10/1912 Liggett 241/194 1,648,625 1 1/ 1927 Shelton 241/82 Primary Examiner-Donald G. Kelly Attorney-John D. Pope, III

ABSTRACT: The turbopulp-refining blender and classifier is comprised of a refining chamber having an inlet port and a plurality of blades detachably mounted by securing means on a rotor which is rotatably mounted within the refining chamber. The blades have beveled cutting edges on their opposite ends and are each positioned on the rotor with one end disposed outwardly with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor and with the opposite end pointing inwardly with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor. The refining chamber includes adjustable walls adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the rotor.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LLOYD D. SMILEY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m T N E V W LLOYD D. SMILEY BY WM ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR LLOYD D; MI LEY BY M I UL ATTORNEY TURBOPULP REFINING BLENDER AND CLASSIFIER This invention relates to an improvement in a refining blender.

Presently, refining blenders often include a chamber with jagged-tooth walls and a rotatable rotor within the chamber having blades secured thereto. The teeth on the chamber walls and the blades on the rotor cooperate to shred and blend material introduced into the chamber. An example of such a refining blender is described in my previously issued US. Pat. No. 2,656,119.

Several problems are encountered with refining blenders as they are presently constructed in the art. Over an extended period of time the V-shaped teeth of the chamber walls and the blades on the rotor begin to wear, and as a result the space therebetween becomes larger and larger. Eventually this wearing becomes so pronounced that the efficiency of the refiner is afiected and the blades and chamber walls must be replaced. This is an expensive and time-consuming operation. In addition, the blades dull due to contact with the material being refined, and consequently they must often be removed and be used one at a time before it is necesary to remove and resharpen the cutting edges. The refiner further includes blades which are easily removable, and includes chamber walls which are adjustable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the rotor. Structure is also provided for facilitating the separation of fine materials from coarser materials during the operation of the refiner.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of blades with more than one usable cutting edge; the provision of blades which have shapes and arrangement giving a maximum amount of agitation of the refining material; the provision of securing means for the blades which permit their easy removal; the provision of means for adjusting the distance between the blades and the walls of the chamber; the provision of means for separating coarse materials from finer materials; and the provision of a refining blender which is economical to manufacture and durable in use. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a refining blender constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view showing the arrangement of the blades on the rotor; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the refining blender in FIGS. I and 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a refiner housing having end walls l2, 14 (FIG. 2), a floor l6, sidewalls 18, 20, top walls 22, 24, midwalls 26, 28, hinged

flaps

30, 32, and a hopper housing 34. At opposite ends of floor 16 are two

outlet ports

36, 38. Extending upwardly from the center of floor 16 is a vertically disposed divider flange 40. An arcuate fine screen plate 42 having a vertically disposed attachment flange 44 at one of its ends and a horizontally disposed attachment flange 46 at the other of its ends is operatively secured within housing 10 with vertical attachment flange 44 secured to divider flange 40 and with horizontally disposed attachment flange 46 secured to midwall 26. The arcuate portion of fine screen plate 42 comprises substantially 90 of a circle. The attachment of fine screen plate 42 within housing 10 as described above forms a fine materials outlet compartment 48 which is defined by fine screen plate 42, divider flange 40, floor l6, sidewall 18, and top wall 22.

The shape of housing 10 may be varied without detracting from the invention. It should be arranged so that its interior will be easily accessible for repair and changing of blades and screens. This can be done by arranging the top half to be bolted in sections.

An arcuate coarse screen plate 50 includes a vertically disposed attachment flange 52 at one of its ends and a horizontally disposed attachment flange 54 at its opposite end. Vertical attachment flange 52 is operatively secured to divider flange 40 and horizontally disposed attachment flange 54 is operatively secured to midwall 28. Coarse screen plate 50 is comprised of a plurality of louver slats 56 which form a plurality of openings similar to the arrangement of venetian blinds. These openings are substantially larger than the apertures in fine screen plate 42. The angle of louver slats 56 and the distance therebetween determine how much refining material is forced back into the refining blades (described hereinafter) for further shredding. Coarse screen plate 50 may be constructed with louver slats 56 being angled from 6 to 60 with respect to the tangent of the arc del'med by coarse screen plate 50. The distance between louver slats may be from onesixteenth of an inch to one-half of an inch. The attachment of coarse screen plate 50 within housing 10 forms a coarse outlet compartment 58 which is defined by coarse screen plate 50, divider flange 40, floor l6, sidewall 20, and top wall 22.

Fine outlet compartment 48 is provided with an adjustable weir 60, and coarse outlet compartment 58 is provided with an adjustable weir 62. Weirs 60, 62, are pivoted at their lower ends to brackets 64, 66, respectively. Two

weir adjustment bolts

68, 70, extend downwardly through top walls 22, 24, respectively, and engage the upper ends of weirs 60, 62, respectively. Weirs 60, 62, each contain a slot (not shown) at their upper ends for receiving the lower ends of

weir adjustment bolts

68, 70, respectively. Weir

adjustment bolts

68, 70, are equipped with T-shaped lower ends 72, 74, which bear against the undersurfaces of weirs 60, 62, respectively. Thus, by turning

weir adjustment bolts

68, 70, weirs 60, 62, are pivoted upwardly or downwardly.

I-Iopper housing 34 includes a hopper chamber 76. Referring to FIG. 2, an inlet port 78 provides communication into hopper chamber 76. Hopper chamber 76 is enclosed at its top and around its sides and extends downwardly to a hopper mouth 80. A feeder wheel 82 is rotatably mounted across hopper chamber 76 at a position slightly above hopper mouth 80. Feeder wheel 82 includes an axle 84 which is joumaled at one of its ends in a pillow block 86 and has the other of its ends extending outwardly through end wall I4 to engage a conventional variable speed drive motor 88. Operatively extending along the length of axle 84 and radiating outwardly therefrom are six feeder paddles 90. Feeder paddles 90 spiral around axle 84, each paddle progressing a radial distance of about 60 from one of its ends to the opposite of its ends. Upon activation of the drive motor 88, axle 84 and paddles 90 are rotated at a speed which may be varied to obtain the desired results. The purpose of feeder wheel 82 is to distribute the refining materials across the width of hopper chamber 76 before they fall downwardly through hopper mouth 80. A pair of wiper plates 91 are rigidly secured to the inside of hopper chamber 76 and extend inwardly adjacent feeder wheel 82 to aid in the distribution of refining materials across the width of hopper chamber 76.

A pair of arcuately shaped chamber wall plates 92, 94, having a plurality of V-shaped teeth 96 protruding from their inner arcuate surfaces are hinged at their upper edges 98, 100, to the extreme lower ends of hopper housing 34 by pins 102, 104. The lower ends 106, 108, of plates 92, 94, rest on horizontal attachment flanges 46, 54, of fine screen plate 42 and coarse screen plate 50, respectively. The result of this construction is the formation of a cylindrical refining chamber defined by fine screen plate 42, coarse screen plate 50, and the inner arcuate surfaces of chamber wall plates 92, 94.

V-shaped teeth 96 are formed by bars which run lengthwise along the inner arcuate surfaces of chamber wall plates 92, 94. Bars having two different cross-sectional shapes can be used asillustrated in H6. 1. The V-shaped teeth 96 on chamber wall plate 92 have in cross section triangular sides which are equal length, thereby creating a plurality of undulations on the inner arcuate surface of chamber wall plate 92. The V-shaped teeth 96 on the chamber wall plate 94 have one side longer than the other and have a sharp apex. The sharp apexes all point one direction so as to present a plurality of cutting edges for shredding the fibers of the refining materials. Either of these two typesof V-shaped teeth may be used.

Extending horizontally through midwalls 26, 28, respectively, are two chamber adjustment bolts 112, 114, which have their extreme inner ends hinged to chamber wall plates 92, 94, respectively, by

hinges

116, 118.

Hinges

116, 118, are located adjacent lower ends 106, 108, of chamber wall plates 92, 94. By rotating chamber adjustment bolts 1 12, 1 14, one can move the lower ends 106, 108, of chamber wall plates 92, 94, horizontally inwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylindrical axis of refining chamber 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, two bearing bases 120, 122, protrude from the outer lower ends of

end walls

12,14. Mounted upon bearing bases 120, 122, are two bearing

housings

124, 126, which are equipped with bearings (not shown) therein. Rotatably extending through bearing

housings

124, 126, is a rotor axle 128. Rotor axle 128 extends through apertures in

end walls

12, 14, and through the cylindrical axis of refining chamber 110. Rotor axle 128 is adapted to rotate within bearing

housings

124, 126, and is rotatably driven by any conventional drive means (not shown).

Extending along the length of rotor axle 128 is a key slot 130. Mounted upon rotor axle 128 within refining chamber 110 are a plurality of blade spacer disks 132 having center apertures embracing the outer surface of rotor axle 128. A disk key slot 134 is cut in the center aperture of spacer disks 132 and is aligned with the key slot 130 of rotor axle 128. A plurality of spacers 136 encircle rotor axle 128 and are interspaced alternatively between blade spacer disks 132. Spacers 136 are also provided with key slots which align with key slots 130, 134, of rotor axle 128 and blade spacer disks 132, respectively. A key 138 extends through the aforementioned aligned key slots to prevent rotational movement of blade spacer disks 132 and spacers 136 with respect to rotor axle 128. Thus rotation of rotor axle 128 causes blade spacer disks 132 and spacers 136 to rotate within cylindrical refining chamber 110. Rotor axle 128, blade spacer disks 132 and spacers 136 may be referred to collectively as rotor 140.

Slidably extending through blade spacer disks 132 are eight blade rods 142 which are positioned equidistantly from rotor axle 128 so that they define a circle concentric about rotor axle 128. Cotter pins 144 extend through the opposite ends of blade rods 142 to hold them against sliding movement out of blade spacer disks 132. Securing means other than cotter pins 144 may be used without detracting from the invention. For example, a rotatable locking disk could be used. A plurality of rectangular blades 146 are strung upon blade rods 142 through pivot apertures in their centers. Blades 146 are substantially equal in thickness to the space between spacer disks 132 and are mounted in their spaces on blade rods 142. Blades 146 are rotatable upon blade rods 142 and are positioned thereon with one of their ends outwardly disposed with respect to rotor axle 128 and the opposite of their ends disposed inwardly and pointing toward rotor axle 128. The outwardly disposed ends of blades 146 protrude slightly beyond the edges of blade spacer disks 132. A plurality of lock rods 148 also slidably extend through blade spacer disks 132 and are positioned equidistantly from rotor axle 128 so that they are positioned in a circle concentric with rotor axle 128. Lock rods 148 are positioned so that they abut against the opposite edges of blades 146. They are positioned away from the midpoint of the longitudinal axis of blades 146 so that their engagement with the blade edges prevents the rotation of blades 146 about blade rods 142. Cotter pins (not shown) protrude through the opposite ends of lock rods 148 to hold them against sliding movement longitudinally within blade spacer disks 132. Securing means other than cotter pins may be used without detracting from the invention. For example, a rotatable locking disk could be used. Lock rods 148 may be removed by taking out the cotter pins or rotating the locking disk and sliding lock rods 148 out of spacer disks 132. Removal of lock rods 148 is necessary in rotating blades 146 through 180 to reposition blades 146. Blade rods 142 may likewise be removed by removing cotter pins 144 (or the locking disks, if used) and sliding blade rods 142 out of blade spacer disks 132.Removal of blade rods 142 permits removal of blades 146 from between blade spacer disks 132.

Blades 146 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. They are comprised of substantially rectangular plates having opposite ends 152, 154, opposite faces 156, 158, and

opposite edges

160, 162. At the opposite ends of edge 160 are beveled cutting or shredding edges 164, 166, and at the opposite ends of edge 162 are beveled cutting edges or shredding edges 168, 170. The central portions of

opposite edges

160, 162, are shaped to form blunt bearing edges 172, 174. Pivot apertures 176 extend through blades 146 at the center of their longitudinal axes. Lock rods 148 extend through apertures in blade spacer disks 132 and abut against blunt bearing edges 172, 174, to prevent the rotational movement of blades 146 about blade rods 142.

The opposite ends 152, 154, of blades 146 are trapezoidal in cross secton due to the beveled shredding edges 164, 166, 168, 170. Face 156 forms the top member of the cross-sectional trapezoid and face 158 forms the trapezoidal base. Blades 146 are arranged on blade rods 142 so that faces 156 face one another and faces 158 face one another. In other words blades 146 are positioned so that when they are viewed in cross section, the trapezoid bases face one another and simultaneously the trapezoid tops face one another. This arrangement of blades 146 causes a maximum amount of agita-,

tion of the refining materials. The beveled edges create convection currents in the refining materials in much the same fashion as would a plurality of airplane propellers. At extremely high speeds they force the refining materials to be diverted in a plurality of directions.

In instances where a sharp shredding edge is not essential to properly refine the refining materials, a blade having squaredoff edges could be used.

The V-shaped teeth 96, as previously described, are formed from a plurality of bars which create undulations on the inner arcuate surfaces of chamber wall plates 92, 94. When rotor 140 rotates at high speeds it causes the refining materials to be propelled around refining chamber in wavelike fashion in small clumps accelerated by blades 146 and then retarded by the undulations to a near stop. The crests of the waves of refining materials are then sheared ofi by blades 146. Consequently, the ability to adjust the distance between V-shaped teeth 96 and blades 146 is essential to attain the maximum efficiency in shredding action.

The turbo refining blender and classifier operates in the following manner: Refining materials are introduced through inlet port 78 into hopper chamber 76 where they are swept by feeder wheel 82 across the entire width of hopper chamber 76 and then are permitted to fall through hopper mouth 80 into refining chamber 110. If the materials are introduced into hopper chamber 76 at a rate faster than the refining blender can accommodate, they will overflow through an overflow port 178 in hopper chamber 76. Rotor is rotated at high speed by a drive means (not shown) which is secured to rotor axle 128. As the refining materials enter refining chamber 1 10 they are flung about the chamber by the rotation of blades 146. V-shaped teeth 96 of chamber wall plates 92, 94, and the forward leading shredding edges of blades 146 cause the refining materials to be shredded and combed into small fibers. Only one shredding edge of each blade 146 will be driven against the fibers of the refining materials in any one given position of the blade, thus saving the remaining three shredding edges to be used at a later time. The refining materials, when broken down into small enough fibers, will filter downwardly through coarse screen plate 50 into coarse outlet compartment 58. Other materials which have been broken into finer fibers will filter through the small apertures in fine screen plate 42 and will fall into fine outlet compartment ed. The level of refining materials in

compartments

48 and 58 will rise until the material flows over weirs 60, 62. The materials will then leave

compartments

48, 58, through

outlet ports

36, 38. The level of the refining materials in the outlet compartments may be controlled by adjusting

weir adjustment bolts

68, 70, to hold weirs 60, 62, at the desired height. it is preferable that the level of refined fibers in

compartments

48, 58, be maintained at a point above the lowermost edge of rotor 140, thereby causing a backup" of refining materials into refining chamber 110 to contribute to the agitation within refining chamber 1 10.

When the refining blender has been used over a long period of time wearing occurs on the extreme outer ends of blades 146 and on V-shaped teeth 96 of chamber wall plates 92, 94. Consequently, the space between blades M6 and l-shaped teeth 96 is enlarged. In order to prevent a decrease in the efficiency of the refining action, it is necessary to close up this enlarged space. This is done by turning chamber adjustment bolts 112, lid, to move lower edges 106, 108, of chamber wall plates 92, 94, inwardly with respect to chamber 1 10. The hinging of chamber wall plates 92, 94, about pins 102, 104, permits this adjustment to be made.

Throughout a period of extended use of forward leading shredding edges of blades 1 .46 become dulled due to their contact with refining materials. Referring to FIG. 3, if rotor 144) is rotating in a clockwise direction, shredding edge 168 is the first leading shredding edge. When it becomes dull the machine is stopped, lock rods 148 are removed, and blades 146 are rotated 180, thereby introducing shredding edge 166 as a second leading shredding edge. Lock rods Mg are then replaced to hold blades 146 in position. When the second shredding edge becomes dull, blade rod 142 is removed and blades 146 are removed and rotated 180 about its longitudinal axis so that shredding edge 170 is introduced as a third leading shredding edge. Blade rod 142 is reinserted to hold blades 146 in place. When the third leading shredding edge becomes dull, lock rods 148 are again removed and blades 146 are rotated 180 to introduce shredding edge 164 as a fourth leading shredding edge. Thus means are provided for utilizing four shredding edges on each blade before it is necessary to sharpen the shredding edges.

The necessity for removing blades 146 between the introduction of the second and third shredding edges may be avoided by providing means for reversing the rotational direction of rotor 140. The reversal of the rotational direction of rotor 140 will introduce the third shredding edge as a leading edge without removing blades 146.

It is desirable to have the fine materials removed first from the refining chamber Hi0 so that they can be separated from the coarser materials. Consequently, fine screen plate 42 is positioned so that the rotating materials will pass it before progressing to coarse screen plate 50. For example, in H6. 1 the screen plates are positioned for counterclockwise rotation of rotor 140. lfthe direction of rotor M0 is reversed, then fine screen plate 42 and coarse screen plate 50 should be interchanged so that the fine materials will be separated from the coarse materials.

A modification of the refining blender is illustrated in FIG. 4. The construction of this refining blender is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that a single screen plate 180 extends around the complete bottom half of refining chamber 110 and a single outlet compartment 182 is provided below screen plate 180. Single outlet compartment 182 narrows at its lower end and forms a communication with an outlet hopper 184 at the bottom thereof. Outlet hopper 1&4 includes an outlet paddle wheel 186 which is identical in construction to feeder wheel 82 illustrated in H6. 2. The extreme lower end of outlet hopper 184 has an open mouth 188 which may be connected to a conduit (not shown) for carrying away the refined fibers. The structure in FIG. 4 is identical in construetion to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that a single outlet compartment E82 is provided with an outlet hopper 184 at the bottom thereof.

in view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

What is claimed is:

l. A turbo pulp-refining blender and classifier comprising a housing, a refining chamber in said housing, said chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor rotatably mounted within said refining chamber, and a plurality of blades having opposite ends, said blades being detachably mounted on said rotor by securing means, said blades having at least two shredding edges for shredding refining materials and including at least one shredding edge on each said opposite end, each of said blades being positioned on said rotor with one said opposite end being disposed outwardly with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor and with the other said opposite end pointing inwardly with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor, and wherein each of said opposite ends includes two beveled shredding edges facing in opposite directions, said opposite ends of said blades being trapezoidal in cross-sectional shape, the opposite faces of said blades forming the cross-sec tional trapezoidal tops and trapezoidal bases, whereby said blades create hydraulic turbulence in said refining materials when said rotor is rotated and said beveled shredding edges cause said refining materials to be subjected alternatively to high and low pressure to further break open the fibers of said refining materials as said blades pass through said refining materials.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said blades are spaced apart and are arranged so that the faces forming cross-sectional trapezoidal bases are facing one another and the 'faces forming cross-sectional trapezoidal tops are facing one another.

3. A turbo pulp-refining blender and classifier comprising a refiner housing, a cylindrical refining chamber formed within said refiner housing, a rotor rotatably mounted to said refiner housing and extending into the refining chamber, said rotor being adapted to rotate within said refining chamber, a plurality of blades operatively secured to said rotor, said blades being arranged concentrically around the rotational axis of said rotor and protruding radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of arcuate chamber wall plates movably secured to said housing and defining a portion of said refining chamber, said chamber wall plates being movable towards and away from said rotor, a pair of hinged flaps, each said flap being secured to said housing in spaced relationship over a respective said chamber wall plate, and adjustment means engaging said chamber wall plate, said adjustment means extending from said space between said chamber wall plates and said flaps to a position remote from and outside of said space and adapted to be moved selectively to cause said chamber wall plates to be moved towards and away from said rotor.

d. The device of claim 3 wherein said refining chamber includes a single screen wall forming communication from within said chamber to a single outlet compartment.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said chamber wall plates are hingcdly mounted at an edge thereof to said housing for pivotal movement of said plates toward and away from said rotor.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said adjusting means comprise a bolt secured at one end to said arcuate chamber wall plates and a nut threadedly secured to said bolt outside said space in bearing relationship with said flap such that rotation of said nut moves said chamber walls inwardly and outwardly with respect to said rotor to adjust the spacing between said chamber walls and said rotor.

7. A turbo pulp-refining blender and classifier comprising a refiner housing, a cylindrical refining chamber formed within 7 said refiner housing, said refining chamber including a fine screen wall portion leading to a first outlet compartment and a coarse screen wall portion leading to a second outlet compartment, said coarse screen wall portion having larger apertures towards and away from said rotor, and adjustment means engaging said chamber wall plates and adapted to be moved selectively to cause said chamber wall plates to be moved towards and away from said rotor.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said first and second outlet compartments each include adjustable overflow weirs which are adapted to maintain the level of refined material in said compartments at a height which will cause the refining materials to back up in said refining chamber so that they will be sub- 10 jected to further shredding action within said refining chamber to insure full breakdown of the fibers of said refining materials.

W i i l

Claims

1. A turbo pulp-refining blender and classifier comprising a housing, a refining chamber in said housing, said chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor rotatably mounted within said refining chamber, and a plurality of blades having opposite ends, said blades being detachably mounted on said rotor by securing means, said blades having at least two shredding edges for shredding refining materials and including at least one shredding edge on each said opposite end, each of said blades being positioned on said rotor With one said opposite end being disposed outwardly with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor and with the other said opposite end pointing inwardly with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor, and wherein each of said opposite ends includes two beveled shredding edges facing in opposite directions, said opposite ends of said blades being trapezoidal in cross-sectional shape, the opposite faces of said blades forming the cross-sectional trapezoidal tops and trapezoidal bases, whereby said blades create hydraulic turbulence in said refining materials when said rotor is rotated and said beveled shredding edges cause said refining materials to be subjected alternatively to high and low pressure to further break open the fibers of said refining materials as said blades pass through said refining materials.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said blades are spaced apart and are arranged so that the faces forming cross-sectional trapezoidal bases are facing one another and the faces forming cross-sectional trapezoidal tops are facing one another.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said refining chamber includes a single screen wall forming communication from within said chamber to a single outlet compartment.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said chamber wall plates are hingedly mounted at an edge thereof to said housing for pivotal movement of said plates toward and away from said rotor.

7. A turbo pulp-refining blender and classifier comprising a refiner housing, a cylindrical refining chamber formed within said refiner housing, said refining chamber including a fine screen wall portion leading to a first outlet compartment and a coarse screen wall portion leading to a second outlet compartment, said coarse screen wall portion having larger apertures therein than said fine screen wall portion, a rotor rotatably mounted to said refiner housing and extending into the refining chamber, said rotor being adapted to rotate within said refining chamber, a plurality of blades operatively secured to said rotor, said blades being arranged concentrically around the rotational axis of said rotor and protruding radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of arcuate chamber wall plates movably secured to said housing and defining a portion of said refining chamber, said chamber wall plates being movable towards and away from said rotor, and adjustment means engaging said chamber wall plates and adapted to be moved selectively to cause said chamber wall plates to be moved toWards and away from said rotor.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said first and second outlet compartments each include adjustable overflow weirs which are adapted to maintain the level of refined material in said compartments at a height which will cause the refining materials to back up in said refining chamber so that they will be subjected to further shredding action within said refining chamber to insure full breakdown of the fibers of said refining materials.