US2860552A - Flow evener roll for paper making machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1958 w. s. CORBIN 2,860,552

FLOW EVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Wes/e J. Corbin Nov. 18, 1958 w. s. CORBIN 2,860,552

mow EVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Fild Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 esley R5. Corbin A from/5 0 Unite States Patent FLOW EVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHiNES Wesley S. Corbin, Watertown, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Black-Clawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 26, 1955, Serial No. 484,257

4 Claims. (Cl. 9244) This invention relates to fiow distributor rolls or flow evener rolls for use in conjunction with the forming member of a paper making machine. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application .Serial Number 238,723, filed July 26, 1951 and now abandoned.

The invention is especially concerned with the establishment of proper conditions of flow and fiber distribution in the paper making stock as it approaches the forming member, namely the wire of a Fourdrinier machine and the cylinder mold of a cylinder type paper machine. lhus if optimum sheet formation is to be obtained, the stock should be delivered to the forming member in accurately controlled parallel flow in the direction of movement of a forming member, but at the same time there should be a minimum of parallel-ism of the individual fibers in the stock, which usually comprises only about 1% of the stock. In addition, the stock should be as free as possible from lumps and flocs or clusters of fibers.

In conventional practice, flow distributor rolls are commonly in the nature of a perforated hollow cylinder journaled in the head box in proximity to the slice to effect agitation of the stock in order to break up any lumps or clusters of fibers, and to parallel out the flow by reducing cross flows. This is brought about by the change in the velocity of the stock. The perforated area of these rolls is about 50% of the area occupied by the roll in the head box. This means that the stock speeds up going through the holes, slows down in the body of the rolls, and speeds up again as it goes through the holes on the opposite side of the rolls. This effects substantial agitation of the stock, but since alternate rows of holes present themselves to the outgoing stock, the flow of stock has a tendency to waiver or snake back and forth lengthwise of the slice or transversely of the making wire, and this weaving or snaking of the flow is often of such magnitude that it can be readily observed. This transverse flow in the stock results in uneven distribution of the fibers in the sheet and is most objectionable. Also, many long fibered stocks will rope or form strings due to the whirling movement of the stock passing through the holes in the perforated cylinder.

Other forms of flow evener rolls have also been tried without obtaining adequately satisfactory results. For example, one such other type of roll incorporates a plurality of corrugated disks for increasing the agitation of the stock, but the corrugated portions of such disks tend to increase the wavering or snaking of the stock out of the desired straight line flow to the forming member.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a flow distributor roll of such structural and operational characteristics that it will thoroughly agitate all of the stock passing therethrough while at the same time establishing effectively parallel flow of the stock with minimum tendency to the development of cross currents therein.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flow distributor roll which will agitate the individual fibers in the stock flowing therethrough in such localized man- 16, as by riveting as shown.

nor as to minimize tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers and to prevent possible development of string formations in the stock as well as lumps or flocs of fibers while at the same time establishing accurately parallel flow conditions throughout the stock as a whole.

Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away in axial section showing a flow distributor roll constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the roll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another construction of roll in accordance with the invention, with the roll being illustrated as mounted between the walls of a head box or stock inlet;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating a detail of construction of the roll of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the roll of Fig. l or 4 mounted adjacent the slice outlet of a headbox.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention, the roll of Figs. 1-3 includes a center shaft shown as formed by a cylinder 10 having a stub shaft 11 fixed in each end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom to form journals for mounting the roll in its operative position. A plurality of thin flat disks 13 of suitable rigid material such as sheet metal are mounted on the cylinder 10, and these disks are maintained in axially spaced relation along the shaft and in accurately perpendicular relation with the shaft by a corresponding plurality of spacing collars 14. The shaft cylinder 10 and the disks 13 and collars 14 are keyed together as indicated at 15, and the disks and collars are in turn received between a pair of end plates 16 locked in place by threaded collars or nuts 17 on each endof the cylinder 10.

A plurality of rods 1'8 of relatively small diameter are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation around the disks 13 and end plates 16 in parallel relation with the shaft 1011. As shown, the rods 18 are secured to the disks 13 at substantially the outer periphery of these disks, as by being received through a corresponding series of holes located close to the outer periphery of each disk, and the ends of the rods 18 are secured to the end plates Satisfactory results have been obtained with these rods formed of quarter-inch rod stock spaced on approximately l-inch centers around the outer periphery of the disks and end plates and being approximately one-eighth inch in from the outer edge of these disks which are approximately one-sixteenth inch thick and spaced about l-inch apart.

In use, this roll is mounted in the usual manner with the shaft 1tl11 extending transversely of the direction of flow of stock therepast and as close as possible to the point of delivery of the stock onto the forming member of the paper machine, for example, in a position closely adjacent the slice outlet of the head box of a Fourdrinier machine and with the roll positioned in close proximity to the top and bottom walls of the slice opening as shown in the copending applications of Corbin et al. Serial Nos.- 319,156, new U. S. Patent No. 2,747,471, and 319,157, filed November 6, 1952 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. Thus Fig. 6 shows one of the rolls R of the invention mounted between the upper and lower walls 20 and 21 of a slice outlet in close proximity to.

the forming wire 22 on the breast roll 23. Provision flat or keyway 24 on one of stub shafts 11 and the diagrammatic representation of a drive in Fig. 4.

Under these conditions, the spaced parallel disks 13 rotate in planes parallel with the direction of movement of the forming wire and thus channel the stock into the desired parallel flow while suppressing tendencies to cross flow currents therein. At the same time, the rods 18 successively chop across the path of the out-flowing stock from between the disks 13 to cause tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in this out-flowing stock, and this latter action effectively reduces tendencies to parallelism and flocculation of the individual fibers. Also, since the rods are at substantially the outer periphery of the disks, they eliminate such tendencies to streakiness in the stock as might otherwise result from the channeling action of the interior portions of the disks, particularly since such small portions of the disks as extend radially beyond the rods 18 for the purpose of stable construction are of insuflicient extent to redevelop such streaks. Thus the desired final effect of essentially parallel flow of stock over the entire width of the machine is obtained together with thorough localized agitation of the individual fibers for properly uniform sheet formation.

Two other characteristics of the roll construction of the invention also contribute to the final high quality results. One is that with the shaft cylinder 10 of large diameter as compared with the roll as a whole, the cyl inder 10 being shown as having a diameter equal to approximately one-half the diametral distance between a pair of opposed rods 18, the effective flow area through the roll as a whole, and therefore through the slice or other flow passage in which it is mounted is correspondingly reduced. This in turn causes rapid successive deceleration and acceleration of the velocity of flow of stock through the roll, creating increased agitation of the individual fibers without tending to introduce cross currents. In addition, the arrangement of the disks 13 and rods 18 as described causes the outlet openings therebetween to be essentially rectangular, as compared with the circular holes commonly used in rectifier rolls of the perforated cylinder type. Thus as shown in the drawings, there are many more disks 13 than rods 18, and the relative spacing of these disks axially is such that the distance between each pair of adjacent disks is comparable with but not greater than the circumferential spacing between each adjacent pair of rods. The resulting rectangular configuration of the openings defined by adjacent disks and rods has not only been found to inhibit tendency to roping of the stock, but also this desired result is further aided by the flaring discharge opening between adjacent rods as contrasted with the abrupt configuration of the punched perforation in a hollow cylinder type of rectifier roll.

The roll illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is generally similar to that described in connection with Figs. 13, and it is shown as mounted by means of journal boxes and 31 between the side walls 32 of the head box, stock inlet or other flow passage wherein the roll is to operate. The arrangement is such as shown that there is a clearance indicated generally at 33 between each end plate 16 and the adjacent wall or journal box, this clearance being approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent disks 13. In order to provide for proper agitation of the individual fibers in the stock flowing through these clearances 33, the rods 18' are proportioned and mounted to extend axially beyond the two end plates into the clearances 33. The mounting of each individual rod is therefore somewhat different from that in Fig. 1, one end of the rod being threaded at 35 into the right hand end plate 16 and having a portion 36 of reduced diameter projecting beyond its threaded portion and of the proper length to extend substantially the full width of the adjacent clearance 33. Each rod as a whole is of sufiicient overall length as to provide a similar extension portion 37 beyond the other end plate 16, and each rod is fixed in position by a pin 38 driven in the left hand end plate 16 and fitting in a groove or fiat on the side of the rod 18' as shown in Fig. 5. The operation of this roll is otherwise the same as that already described in connection with the roll of Figs. 1-3.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flow distributor roll of the character described for mounting in conjunction with a stock flow passage to the forming member of a paper making machine to establish maintained effectively parallel flow of the stock to said forming member while reducing the tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in the stock, comprising a central shaft, a pair of opposed end plates mounted on said shaft and extending radially thereof, means for mounting said shaft in said passage for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the direction of flow of the stock through said passage and with said end plates spaced inwardly of the side walls of said passage leaving clearances therebetween of predetermined width, a plurality of flat and relatively thin disks of rigid material and substantially the same diameter as said end plates, means mounting said disks between said end plates in axially spaced relation along said shaft with the individual said disks each extending at substantially right angles to the axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of cross currents in stock passing between said disks during rotation thereof with said shaft, a plurality of rods mounted on said end plates and extending therebetween substantially parallel with said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disks, means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outer periphery of said disks in substantially perpendicular relation with said disks for rotation with said disks essentially across the path of the out-flowing stock from within said roll to cause tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in said out-flowing stock while minimizing the introduction of cross flow currents in said stock, and projecting portions of the ends of said rods extending axially beyond said end plates and substantially equal in length to the widths of said clearances to effect similar tumbling action on the stock flowing through said clearances between said end plates and the side walls of said passage.

2. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperation with the forming member of a paper making machine to establish maintained effectively parallel flow of stock to said forming member while reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in the stock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway for directing the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in said passageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said side walls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway in transverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, a plurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material on said shaft, means securing said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaft with individual said disks each extending at substantially right angles to the axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of cross currents in the stock passing between said disks during rotation thereof with said shaft, a plurality of rods extending substantially parallel with said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disk, means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outer periphery of said disks and in substantially perpendicular relation with said disks for rotation therewith, the number of said disks and the relative axial spacing thereof with respect to the number and circumferential spacing of said rods being such that the axial distance between each pair of adjacent disks is not greater than the circumferential distance between each adjacent pair of said rods to provide a corresponding multiplicity of relatively small rectangular openings through the outer portion of said roll, and means for rotating said shaft to cause said disks to channel the stock flowing through said roll into multiple closely spaced parallel flows while suppressing tendencies to cross flow currents therein and to carry said rods successively across the path of out-flowing stock from within said roll with resulting tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in said out-flowing stock.

3. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperation with the forming member of a paper making machine to establish maintained effectively parallel flow of stock to said forming member while reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in the stock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway for directing the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in said passageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said side walls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway in transverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, a pair of opposed end plates mounted on said shaft and extending radially thereof, a plurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material mounted on said shaft and of substantially the same diameter as said end plates, means securing said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaft with individual said disks each extending at substantially right angles to the axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of cross currents in the stock passing between said disks during rotation thereof with said shaft, a plurality of rods mounted on said end plates and extending therebetween substantially parallel with said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disk, means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outer periphery of said disks and in substantially perpendicular relation with said disks for rotation therewith, the number of said disks and the relative axial spacing thereof with respect to the number and circumferential spacing of said rods being such that the axial distance between each pair of adjacent disks is not greater than the circumferential distance between each adjacent pair of said rods to provide a corresponding multiplicity of relatively small rectangular openings through the outer portion of said roll, and means for rotating said shaft to cause said disks to channel the stock flowing through said roll into multiple closely parallel flows while suppressing tendencies to cross flow currents therein and to carry said rods successively across the path of out-flowing stock from within said roll with resulting tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in said outflowing stock.

4. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperation with the forming member of a paper making machine to establish maintained efiectively parallel flow of stock to said forming member while reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in the stock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway for directing the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in said passageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said side walls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway in transverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, a plurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material on said shaft, means securing said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaft with individual said disks each extending at substantially right angles to the axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of cross currents in the stock passing between said disks during rotation thereof with said shaft, a plurality of rods extending substantially parallel with said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disk, means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outer periphery of said disks and in substantially perpendicular relation with said disks for rotation therewith, means for rotating said shaft to cause said disks to channel the stock flowing through said roll into multiple closely spaced parallel, flows while suppressing tendencies to cross flow currents therein and to carry said rods successively across the path of outflowing stock from within said roll with resulting tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in said out-flowing stock, and said shaft being a cylinder of large diameter relative to the diameter of said disks for establishing corresponding reduction in the flow area through said roll as measured in axial section to cause temporary increase in the velocity of flow of the stock in passing from one side to the other of said roll with resulting increased agitation of the individual fibers in the stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,052

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