Improvements in and relating to Rag Engines for Use in the Manufacture of Paper.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Seot., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rag Engines for Use in the
Manufacture of Paper.
I HERMANN SCHULTE, of 6 Plasslgasse Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Managing
Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to rag engines which serve for the comminution or dis-
integration of fibrous substances in the manufacture of paper. The improved machine
constructed according to the said invention can also be used for mixing or bleaching
stuff in the said manufacture.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan of the improved rag engine, and
Figure 2, a section of the same on the line A B Figure 1.
This rag-engine comprises a casing R G for the reception of the stuff, and a com-
minuting apparatus or disintegrator placed at the centre of the said casing.
The casing is divided into two compartments which are separated from each other,
that is to say an outer annular compartment R in which the stuff projected from the
disintegrator is caused to ascend, and an inner cylindrical compartment G in which
the stuff to be reduced is caused to descend to the disintegrator.
The said disintegrator is made tapering downwardly, or the inner compartment G
is provided with an annular hollow or solid breasting K, upon the inner taper sides
of which the stuff is conveyed centrally to the openings of the disintegrator.
With a variable feed of paper stuff to the rag-engine, the lower casing of the
inner compartment G is provided with an adjustable extension ring S which can be
readily shifted upwards and downwards. This ring serves for regulating the move-
ment of the stuff, and is raised when the quantity of stuff introduced into the
apparatus is great, and lowered when the quantity is small, for the purpose of equal-
izing the passage of stuff from the outer compartment R to the inner compartment G.
As shown in Figure 6, the extension ring S is balanced by counterweights P which
are suspended by means of strings or the like passing over pulleys and attached to
pins Z and can therefore be readily adjusted.
The disintegrator consists of the rotary grinding wheel L which has grinding
surfaces on the upper and lower sides. The upper grinding surface of the said
wheel L acts in conjunction with the block N' fixed to the casing G, and the lower
in conjunction with the block N', which is supported upon the bottom of the casing.
The arms of the grinding wheel L are of helical shape, and the blocks N¹ and N' are
provided with centrally reentering pockets or cavities e.
The stuff passes through the central-opening in the upper block N¹ to the dis-
integrator, entering the latter partly through the openings between the arms of the
grinding wheel L and partly through the said cavities e in the blocks, and by reason
of the action of the centrifugal force and the helical arms of the grinding wheel L is
compelled to pass between the grinding surfaces.
The disintegrator can be made of iron, steel, bronze, brass, stone, or the like,
according to requirements. The arrangement of a disintegrator made of metal, the
construction and position of the knives or cutters are shown in plan in Figures 8 and 9
to an enlarged scale.
Disintegrators made of stone or stony material are represented in plan in
Figures 16 and 18, with corresponding transverse sections, Figures 15 and 17.
Å noticeable feature is that the grinding wheels besides the ordinary depressions
or recesses which are produced by cutting the grinding surfaces, present a number of
broader and deeper furrows or grooves y which extend from the inner periphery of
the grinding surfaces to the outer periphery of the same, and afford the stuff a free

page_text: passage between the grinding surfaces, in order that the movement of the stuff in the
casing of the central rag-engine shall be quick.
In Figures 10 and 11 is shown a disintegrator constructed of metal and stone.
The part N and the upper part of the wheel consist of stone, whilst the lower part of
the same and N2 are made of metal. This enables the stone surfaces of the dis-
integrator to work together alone if necessary, by closing the passage in L with a
cover Q, Figure 12.
In all cases the circulation of the stuff from R to G must take place long enough or
the stuff must pass through the disintegrator often enough, for it to be sufficiently
comminuted or reduced.
The grinding surfaces of the disintegrator can operate independently of each other
and work together with equal or different effect, as the pressure upon the conjointly
operating grinding surfaces can be optionally varied. This is effected in the case of
the lower grinding surfaces by the following arrangement illustrated in Figures 3
and 4.
The vertical rotary shaft w, upon which the driving pulley T is secured, is carried
by the step bearing f. The latter is fixed upon the screw threaded spindle s and can
be raised and lowered by turning the worm wheel t, the consequence of which is that
the pressure of the grinding wheel L upon the block N' is increased or diminished, as
the wheel L is likewise fixed upon the shaft w. In lieu of the belts shown, use can
be made of rope or wheel gear. In like manner as above described pressure is
exerted and removed in the case of the upper grinding surfaces which operate with
each other.
The casing G with the block N2 secured thereto is guided by the rods i, and is
raised and lowered by the screw threaded spindle p¹ and p². The corresponding nuts
are provided with worm wheels u¹ and 2, supported in cast-iron arms of a pedestal on
the outside of the casing. The pressure is removed or exerted by turning the hand
wheel, whereby the worm wheels a¹ and u² are rotated through the medium of the
worms, so that the screw threaded spindles p¹ and p³ are raised or lowered.
The pressure exerted by the weight of L, w, T and by that of N₁ and G can be
decreased by a counterweight or counterpressure.
The improved rag-engine is provided with a washing apparatus for washing the
stuff.
Pure water obtained from a water pipe is admitted above G, and the waste water
is discharged through so-called sieves g¹ 9² arranged on the sides of the casing R, and
through valves v¹². Figure 7 shows the washing apparatus in section on the
line C-D, Figure 1. The inclined sieves are slid into inclined sides of the
casings ¹² and pressed by wedges into the groove of the same. They form as it
were, the hypotenuse of triangles, one side of which is horizontal, and the other in the
direction of the sides of R.
The improved rag-engine can be used as a mixing or bleaching apparatus, as shown
in Figure 13 in plan and in Figure 14 in transverse section on the line U-V,
Figure 13. The form of this apparatus is similar to that of the improved rag engine.
For the sake of simplicity the compartment G is not made movable but is firmly
supported on the wall of the compartment R; and the extension ring which. becomes
superfluous when the feed of stuff to the apparatus is uniform, is dispensed with.
In the place of the disintegrator, a wheel J having vanes which extend from the
centre in straight or curved lines is employed for the purpose of transporting the.stuff
from the inner compartment G to the outer compartment R.
The wheel represented in Figures 17 and 18 which is made of stone or stony
material, can also be employed for this purpose, as the deep and broad₁ furrows or
channels of the same act in a, similar manner as the vanes of the wheel J and cause
a circulation of the stuff.
Dated this 22nd day of Santambor 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rag Engines for Use in the
Manufacture of Paper.
I, HERMANN SCHULTE, of 6 Ploesslgasse Vienna, in the Empire of Austria Managing
Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
.
-
This invention relates to rag engines which serve for the comminution or disinte-
gration of fibrous substances in the manufacture of paper. The improved machine
constructed according to the said invention can also be used for mixing or bleaching
stuff in the said manufacture.
In the drawings left with the provisional specification
Figure 1 is a plan of the improved rag engine, and
Figure 2 a section of the same on the line A B of Figure 1.
This rag-engine comprises a casing R G for the reception of the stuff, and a
comminuting apparatus or disintegrator placed at the centre of the said casing.
The casing is divided into two compartments which are separated from each other,
that is to say, an outer annular compartment R in which the stuff projected from
the disintegrator is caused to ascend and an inner cylindrical compartment G in
which the stuff to be reduced is caused to descend to the disintegrator.
The said disintegrator is made tapering downwardly, or the inner compartment G
is provided with an annular hollow or solid breasting K, upon the inner taper sides of
which the stuff is conveyed centrally to the opening of the disintegrator.
With a variable feed of paper stuff to the rag-engine, the lower casing of the inner
compartment G is provided with an adjustable extension ring S which can be readily
shifted upwards and downwards. This ring serves for regulating the movement of
the stuff and is raised when the quantity of stuff introduced into the apparatus is
great, and lowered when the quantity is small, for the purpose of equalizing the
passage of stuff from the outer compartment R to the inner compartment G.
As shown in Figure 6 the extension ring S is balanced by counter weights P which
are suspended by means of strings or the like passing over pulleys and attached to
pins Z and can therefore be readily adjusted.
The disintegrator consists of the rotary grinding wheel L which has grinding
surfaces on the upper and lower sides. The upper grinding surface of the said wheel L
acts in conjunction with the block N' fixed to the casing G and the lower in con-
junction with the block N' which is supported upon the bottom of the casing. The
arms of the grinding wheel L are of helical shape and the blocks N¹ and N' are
provided with centrally reentering pockets or cavities e.
The stuff passes through the central opening in the upper block N¹ to the disin-
tegrator, entering the latter partly through the openings between the arms of the
grinding wheel L and partly through the said cavities e in the blocks, and by reason
of the action of the centrifugal force and the helical arms of the grinding wheel L is
compelled to pass between the grinding surfaces.
The disintegrator can be made of iron, steel, bronze, brass, stone, or the like,
according to requirements. The arrangement of a disintegrator made of metal, the
construction and position of the knives or cutters are shown in plan in Figures 8
and 9 to an enlarged scale.
Disintegrators made of stone or stony material are represented in plan in Figures 16
and 18, with corresponding transverse sections, Figures 15 and 17.
A noticable feature is that the grinding wheels, besides the ordinary depressions or
recesses which are produced by cutting the grinding surfaces, present a number of
broader and deeper furrows or grooves y which extend from the inner periphery of the
grinding surfaces to the outer periphery of the same, and afford the stuff a free
passage between the grinding surfaces, in order that the movement of the stuff in the
casing of the central rag-engine shall be quick.
In Figures 10 and 11 is shown a disintegrator constructed of metal and stone. The

page_text: part N and the upper part of the wheel consist of stone, whilst the lower part of
the same and N3 are made of metal. This enables the stone surfaces of the disinte-
grator to work together alone if necessary, by closing the passage in L with a cover Q,
Figure 12.
In all cases the circulation of the stuff from R to G must take place long enough,
or the stuff must pass through the disintegrator often enough, for it to be sufficiently
comminuted or reduced.
The grinding surfaces of the disintegrator can operate independently of each other
and work together with equal or different effect, as the pressure upon the conjointly;
operating grinding surfaces can be optionally varied. This is effected in the case of
the lower grinding surfaces by the following arrangement illustrated in Figures 3
and 4.
The vertical rotary shaft w, upon which the driving pulley T is secured, is carried
by the step bearing f. The latter is fixed upon the screw threaded spindles and can
be raised and lowered by turning the worm wheel t, the consequence of which is that
the pressure of the grinding wheel L upon the block N2 is increased or diminished,
as the wheel L is likewise fixed upon the shaft w. In lieu of the belts shown, use
can be made of rope or wheel gear. In like manner as above described pressure is
exerted and removed in case of the upper grinding surfaces which operate with each.
other.
The casing G with the block N₁ secured thereto is guided by the rods i and is
raised and lowered by the screw threaded spindle p¹ and p². The corresponding nuts
are provided with worm wheels u¹ and u² supported in cast-iron arms of a pedestal on
the outside of the casing. The pressure is removed or exerted by turning the hand
wheel r, whereby the worm wheels u¹ and u² are rotated through the medium of the
worms ¹² so that the screw threaded spindles pl and p² are raised or lowered.
The pressure exerted by the weight of L, w, T and by that of N¹ and G can be
decreased by a counter-weight or counter-pressure.
The improved rag engine is provided with a washing apparatus for washing the
stuff. Pure-water obtained from a water pipe is admitted above G, and the waste
water is discharged through so-called sieves g¹², g² arranged on the sides of the
casing R, and through valves v1, v2. Figure 7 shows the washing apparatus in section
on the line C-D Figure 1. The inclined sieves are slid. into inclined sides of the
casings and pressed by wedges into the groove of the same. They form as it
were the hypotenuse of triangles, one side of which is horizontal, and the other in the
direction of the sides of R.
The improved rag-engine can be used as a mixing or bleaching apparatus as shown
in Figure 13 in plan, and in Figure 14 in transverse section on the line U V
Figure 13. The form of this apparatus is similar to that of the improved rag engine.
For the sake of simplicity the compartment G is not made movable but is firmly
supported on the wall of the compartment R and the extension ring which becomes
superfluous when the feed of stuff to the apparatus is uniform, is dispensed with.
In the place of the disintegrator, a wheel J having vanes which extend from the
centre in straight or curved lines is employed for the purpose of transporting the stuff
from the inner compartment G to the outer compartment R.
The wheel represented in Figures 17 and 18, which is made of stone or stoney
material, can also be employed for this purpose, as the deep and broad furrows or
channels of the same act in a similar manner to the vanes of the wheel J and cause
a circulation of the stuff.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
First. A rag engine the casing of which consists of two compartments separated
from each other, that is to say, an outer compartment R of annular shape and an
inner cylindrical compartment G, and in which the movement of the staff takes place
from the outer compartment R to the inner compartment G of the same.

page_text: Second. In the rag engine above described, the arrangement of an extension ring S
limiting the inner compartment G of the casing and capable of upward and down-
ward adjustment, for the purpose of providing for a uniform passage of the stuff
from one compartment R over to the other G.
Third. The installation of a disintegrator N L N2 acting on two sides and the
grinding surfaces or cutting edges (knives) of which operate in conjunction under
equal or different pressure which can be exerted separately or combined.
Fourth. The arrangement represented in Figures 17 and 18 of a disintegrator N¹
I operating on one side, and in which the runner L works only with the upper
block N¹.
Fifth. The arrangement enabling the admission to the cutting edges or grinding
surfaces operating on both sides of the disintegrator N₁ L N³, to take place
centrally.
Sixth. The helical wing shape of the arms of the runner II.
Seventh. The centrally reentering pocket-shaped spaces e, e of the blocks N¹ N' of the
disintegrator (Figures 2 and 9) through which spaces the stuff passes directly
between the grinding surfaces acting in conjunction on knife-shaped edges of the
disintegrator.
Eighth. The arrangement of an annular inclined solid or hollowed so-called breasting K
in the stuff space through which the stuff must pass before its entrance into the
disintegrator N¹ L N.
Ninth. The arrangement of a disintegrator Figures 10, 11 and 12 which is com-
posed partly of metal partly of stone or stone ware and can be operated on one side
by separating the admission of stuff by means of a cover Q (Figure 12).
Tenth. The arrangement in which the runners of stone or stone ware, besides the
ordinary recesses which are produced by the cutting out, present a number of broader
and deeper furrows y (Figures 11 and 16) which extend from the inner periphery of
the grinding surfaces to the outer periphery of the same and afford the stuff a free
passage through the grinding surfaces.
Eleventh. The stuff washing apparatus so arranged that the introduction of the
pure water into the rag engine takes place in a central direction and the separation
of the waste water at the side of the apparatus by means of inclined sieves g¹ g²
(Figures 1 and 7).
Twelfth. The conversion of the rag engine into a stuff mixing apparatus by
removing the disintegrator and substituting for it a simple vane wheel J (Figures 13
and 14.
Dated this 18th day of June 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.