Patent Application
20150034733
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to the field of pulp washing using a shower pipe to spray wash liquid onto a pulp mat, and particularly to the wash liquid orifice openings in the shower pipe. However, this disclosure can be related to the field of washing other materials, such as lime mud.
2. Related Art
Pulp is typically produced in mills by soaking or mixing wood pieces in tanks with chemicals. Depending on the production methods used, these chemicals are designed to have varying efficacies in converting wood pieces into pulp, and in bleaching the pulp. To obtain pulp of desired brightness and consistency, processing typically involves repeated stages of mixing the pulp with liquid and drawing the liquid out of the pulp on cylindrical vacuum drums. As pulp contacts the outer surface of the vacuum drum, liquid chemicals generally flow through holes in the outer surface of the vacuum drum, thereby allowing the semi-dry pulp to form mats on cylindrical vacuum drums. The pulp mats are generally washed by spraying or otherwise dispersing wash liquid onto the mats. Shower pipes generally span the length of the cylindrical vacuum drums and are generally located in proximity to the outer surface of the vacuum drum and the overall housing for the washing station. Wash liquid is typically used to displace chemicals from the pulp mat. The wash liquid flows through orifice openings in the shower pipes. The orifice openings are conventionally of fixed size and shape and span the length of the vacuum drums. The wash liquid flowing through the orifice openings is usually directed to the pulp mat on the vacuum drum surface by paddles mounted along the shower pipe in the vicinity of the orifice openings. Traditional paddles are stationary and cause the wash liquid to spread into a fan-shaped spray pattern.
In some conventional shower pipe arrangements, orifice openings may be in one, two, or more rows along the length of the shower pipe. Orifice openings in one row may be staggered with the openings in another row, or the openings may be circumferentially aligned, such that openings in one row are adjacently aligned with each opening in a second row along a circumferential arc of the shower pipe.
Each orifice opening typically has a paddle attached to the outside surface of the shower pipe to help direct the flow of the wash liquid exiting the orifice opening. In such arrangements, the orifice openings may be machined, drilled, or otherwise cut into the surface of the shower pipe to a predetermined size and shape. In some conventional arrangements, an orifice insert is inserted and affixed to a larger opening in the shower pipe, and this orifice insert gives the predetermined size and shape.
If the volume and intensity of the wash liquid sprayed through the orifices becomes too high, operators risk possible damage the pulp mat with the wash liquid. Conversely, operators risk insufficient washing if the volume or intensity of the wash liquid is too low.
Conventional paddles are typically welded to the pipe. When these paddles fail during the normal course of operation of the shower pipe and washer, the conventional shower pipe design can also contribute to extensive maintenance periods because removing defective paddles and re-welding new paddles to the pipe can extend downtime significantly. Operating shower pipes with damaged but still operational paddles contributes to inefficient washing.
Other conventional shower pipes may use a spray nozzle attached to the shower pipe (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,207, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference). In the spray nozzle configuration, nozzles generally extend the length of the shower pipe and are typically configured to spray a wash liquid onto the pulp mat. The shower pipe usually spans the length of the pulp mat and the nozzles may be laterally aligned into two or more rows such that immediately adjacent apertures are in different rows. The wash liquid usually flows through the shower pipe, into the hollow stem of the nozzle, and out of the nozzle in a stream toward the pulp mat. The nozzles typically spread the stream such that the wash liquid is sprayed uniformly onto the mat. These nozzles sometimes eliminate the need for paddles to direct the flow of wash liquid. The spray nozzles, however, have a tendency to become plugged, which may result in uneven distribution of wash liquid along the surface of the pulp mat. The spray nozzles may be attached individually to the shower pipe, and replacement may be possible, but adjusting the size or shape of the spray nozzle opening is not possible without replacement of the spray nozzle. Each of either the multiple rows of apertures or the nozzle configurations generally project wash liquid toward the mat at different directions.
In conventional shower pipes, the open area for wash liquid is fixed. For conventional shower pipes with orifices, the open area of each orifice is constant. Similarly, conventional spray nozzles have fixed openings for wash liquid. Changing the open area requires metal work to change the size of the orifice or to replace a nozzle. Fixed sized openings or nozzles can result in uneven washing of the pulp mat or damage to the pulp mat. Uneven washing of the pulp mat can be especially problematic when the volume or intensity of wash liquid through a single or group of orifice openings or nozzles unintentionally changes. Further, conventional shower pipes do not allow for flexibility to remove and replace the mechanism used to direct wash liquid flow from the shower pipe to the pulp mat surface. Controlling the volume and intensity of wash liquid flow may be desirable to improve washing of the pulp mat. Moreover, controlling the volume and intensity of the wash liquid flow may facilitate removing and replacing the mechanism used to direct the wash liquid flow, especially when individual mechanisms used to direct the wash liquid flow become damaged. Accordingly, there is a need for a shower pipe with adjustable wash liquid flow opening size and shape having easily removable flow direction mechanisms to provide improved control of wash liquid volume, intensity, and flow direction. The present disclosure may be suitable for use in processes where wash liquid is desirably uniformly distributed over a width of material, such as a pulp mat, to remove chemicals from the pulp. The problems of conventional shower pipes are solved through the use of adjustable open areas and adjustable paddles to control and direct the flow and distribution of wash liquid onto a pulp mat.
A shower pipe assembly has been conceived to provide wash liquid for washing a pulp mat, the shower pipe containing oblong orifice openings in the shower pipe outside wall; the term “oblong” may refer to a stadium shape resembling the general shape of a horse race track.
An exemplary embodiment comprises a shower pipe assembly to provide a wash liquid for washing a pulp mat, the assembly comprising: a shower pipe with areas defining oblong orifice openings extending through the wall of the shower pipe, the wall having an inside and an outside; and a combination plate paddle configured to be removed and configured to be adjusted along the outside wall of the shower pipe, wherein the combination plate paddle may comprise a plate and a paddle, wherein the plate may be configured to be attached to the wall of the shower pipe and the paddle may be configured to distribute wash liquid exiting the shower pipe oblong orifice openings to the pulp mat, the paddle may extend from a lower edge of the plate outward from the surface of the shower pipe, wherein the plate may have areas defining a plate opening adjacent to and configured to communicate with at least one oblong orifice opening of the shower pipe in an open position, and the combination plate paddle may be slideably engaged to the shower pipe by fastening means.
The fastening means may comprise bolts, rails, grips, lips, flanges, buckles, magnets, screws, or other means than permit the combination plate paddle to move in a first direction and a direction opposite to a first direction along a plane.
In another exemplary embodiment, the combination plate paddle can be unbolted and slid axially (e.g. horizontally) to adjust the open space size and shape through which the wash liquid may flow from the shower pipe. By unbolting and sliding axially the combination plate paddle, the size and shape of the open space in the shower pipe can be adjusted to be full size (the size of the oblong orifice opening of the shower pipe) or a size smaller than the oblong orifice opening of the shower pipe, thereby allowing the open space through which wash liquid flows from the shower pipe to be adjusted to a desirable size and shape. Such an adjustable shower pipe assembly may allow for adjustable open space for the flow of wash liquid from the shower pipe resulting in better control of the volume and intensity of wash liquid flowing to wash the pulp mat, increased accessibility for maintenance of the oblong orifice openings in the shower pipe, an increased ability to maintain or replace the combination bolt plate paddle on the shower pipes, an ability to vary the size of the open space for wash liquid flow along the shower pipe length, and reduced potential for plugging the orifice opening due to the lack of a spray nozzle.
The combination plate paddle may be held in place by a fastener, such as at least one bolt passing through the plate, the plate having at least one slotted opening to allow the at least one bolt to pass and allow the plate to be moved slideably to adjust the shape and size of the open space through which the wash liquid passes from the shower pipe. The combination plate paddle may be a single structure with a plate configured to be attached snugly to the surface of the shower pipe and a paddle extending from the lower edge of the plate outward from the surface of the shower pipe. Wash liquid can pass through the oblong orifice opening of the shower pipe and through the open area resulting from the placement of the combination plate paddle on the shower pipe and contacting the paddle. The paddle can serve to spread the wash liquid as the wash liquid exits the open area resulting from the placement of the combination plate paddle on a shower pipe's oblong orifice opening toward the pulp mat such that the wash liquid contacts the pulp mat in a desired manner, which is usually a uniform pattern. The plate may be held in place by one or more bolts, but desirably two bolts disposed in slotted openings disposed opposite the plate opening. A slotted opening or openings may be an oblong shape or other suitable shape in the plate, positioned generally to the side (one side or both sides) of the plate opening through which the wash liquid flows. The plate opening may have a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of a rounded trapezoid, rounded triangle, triangle, trapezoid, circle, oval, oblong, or other geometric shape. The bolts in the slotted openings generally allow the plate to slide axially along the outer wall of the shower pipe surface in front of the shower pipe's oblong orifice openings thereby permitting the adjustment of the size and shape of the open space through which wash liquid flows out of the shower pipe assembly.
In other embodiments, the slotted openings may be oriented vertically on the plate such that the plate may move tangentially relative to the circumference of the shower pipe. Desirably, in yet another exemplary embodiment, the slotted openings may be oriented generally vertically such that the combination plate paddle may be flush with the curvature of the outside wall of the shower pipe and move circumferentially along a circumferential arc on the outside wall of the shower pipe. In the exemplary embodiment in which the combination plate paddle moves circumferentially along the outside wall of the shower pipe, the shower pipe may rotate along the shower pipe's center horizontal axis such that combination plate paddle may be angled toward the pulp mat at an optimal angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees and the open area of the orifice opening and plate opening may be adjusted such that wash liquid may contact the paddle of the combination plate paddle at optimal intensity.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the shower pipe may be hollow and wash liquid may be fed into the shower pipe from at least one end. In certain exemplary embodiments, the plate and the paddle may form a single combination plate structure.
An additional exemplary embodiment of the shower pipe assembly allows the bolt piece, and therefore the combination bolt plate paddle, to slide along the outer surface of the shower pipe thereby providing positions for the shape and size of the open space through which wash liquid flows from the shower pipe.
In the present disclosure, the combined bolt plate paddle structure may be shaped to fit securely to the outer surface of the shower pipe and a paddle, or combination bolt plate paddle, may be provided for each shower pipe orifice opening.
In other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, the orifice openings of the shower pipe can extend the length of the shower pipe and may be positioned in at least two parallel rows where adjacent orifice openings can be staggered so the orifice openings do not generally align circumferentially and can be located in different rows.
An exemplary method to adjust the open space of a shower pipe assembly has been conceived comprising: having a shower pipe having and inner and outer surface and having areas defining oblong orifice openings positioned along a length of the pipe in at least one parallel row to allow the flow of wash liquid from the shower pipe out of the orifice openings for washing of a pulp mat; attaching a plate and paddle to the outer surface of the shower pipe, the plate and paddle configured to be removed; wherein, the plate has areas defining a rounded triangular opening disposed adjacent to each oblong orifice opening of the shower pipe; and sliding the plate circumferentially along the outer surface of the shower pipe such that an open area defined by the adjacent plate opening and each oblong orifice opening and having a size and a shape, is configured to be adjusted in size and shape; wherein, the plate having at least one slotted opening further comprises at least one bolt passing through the at least one slotted opening to secure the plate to the shower pipe.
The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the disclosed embodiments.
As the wash liquid 30 flows from each orifice opening 1, the liquid flows onto a conventional paddle 2 attached to the outer surface of the shower pipe 3. The conventional paddle 2 may be adjacent the orifice opening 1 but does not block or overlap the orifice opening 1. As wash liquid 30 hits the conventional paddle 2, the conventional paddle 2 helps to create a wide stream 32 of wash liquid 30, as the conventional paddle 2 directs the wash liquid 30 toward the pulp mat.
The orifice openings 1 may be arranged in one or more rows parallel to a center horizontal axis 15 of the shower pipe 3. If there are multiple rows, the rows may be positioned in at least one or more parallel rows where adjacent orifice openings 1 are staggered such that the orifice openings 1 do not align circumferentially. The adjacent orifice openings 1 may be located in different rows. Typically, as shown in
The shower pipe 3 includes a connection 4 at one or both ends of the shower pipe 3 and the shower pipe 3 may rotate in the direction of the double arrows depicted in
Referring now to
The plate 5 serves as a valve to open or close the orifice opening 1 in the shower pipe 3. The plate 5 includes an area defining a plate opening 6 that may have a similar open area 7 and shape as does the orifice opening 1. It will be understood that the “open area” 7 refers to the area created by the orifice opening 1 communicating with the plate opening 6. The orifice opening 1 and the plate opening 6 may have corresponding open areas 7 having a shape of an oblong, racetrack, rectangular, elliptical, circular, or other shape. In other exemplary embodiments, the area defining the plate opening 6 in the plate 5 may differ from the shape of the orifice opening 1. For example, the plate opening 6 may have a trapezoidal, rounded trapezoidal, triangular, rounded triangular, hexagonal, rounded hexagonal, or other polygonal or rounded polygonal shape.
The amount of overlap between the plate opening 6 in the plate 5 and the orifice opening 1 in the shower pipe 3 determines the open area 7 through which wash liquid 30 flows from the shower pipe 3 to the pulp mat (26 in
It will be understood that the modifications of
The plate 5 may be adjusted by loosening the bolt 8. The plate 5 slides axially to adjust the overlap between the plate opening 6 in the plate 5 and the orifice opening 1 in the shower pipe 3. The overlap is adjusted to change the open area (7 in
The plate 5 may be asymmetrical with respect to a center line 25 of the combination plate paddle 11. The center line 25 extends through the center of the plate opening 6 and the center of the paddle 10. An asymmetrical combination plate paddle 11 positions one of the slots 9b laterally further away from the plate opening 6 than the other slot 9a.
A gasket 36 may fit between the back of the combination plate paddle 11 and outside wall of the shower pipe 3. The gasket 36 may be generally planar and conform to the curvature of the combination plate paddle 11. The gasket 36 may extend around the plate opening 6 in the combination plate paddle 11 and be between the plate opening 6 and the slots 9a and 9b. The gasket 36 is desirably deformable and provides a seal to prevent leakage of wash liquid 30 out from edges 18, (23, 27 in
A curvature may be applied to the combination plate paddle 11 to conform to the outer surface of the shower pipe 3. An angle and curvature may be applied to the paddle 10 to achieve a desired wide stream to the wash liquid 30 flowing over the paddle 10.
Bolts 8 engaged with threaded bolt holes (38 in
The combination bolt plate paddle 11 can be secured to the shower pipe 3 by one or more bolts 8 that screws into an area defining a threaded bolt hole 38 in the wall of the shower pipe 3. A gasket 36 may be placed between the outside wall of the shower pipe 3 and the plate 5. The gasket 36 may extend around the plate opening 6 in the plate 5. The gasket 36 may be deformable and provide a seal to prevent wash liquid 30 leaking through the slots 9 in the plate 5 and from between the combination plate paddle 11 and shower pipe 3.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method may further comprise adjusting the shower pipe to achieve an optimal angle at which wash liquid contacts the pulp mat.
It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims known in the art. It will be appreciated by those skilled, in the art that the assemblies herein disclosed will find utility with respect to multiple shower pipes used to distribute wash liquid.
This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional App. No. 61/861,713 filed Aug. 2, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61861713 | Aug 2013 | US |
