Improvements in Preparing Pulp for Paper-making Machines and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Preparing Pulp for Paper-making Machines and
in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES HUNTER ANNANDALE, of Polton Paper Works, Polton, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Paper Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its objects, by means of improved apparatus and arrange-
ments, to expedite the processes employed in preparing pulp, to render them more
continuous than heretofore, to reduce the extent and cost of plant, and to diminish the
expenditure of power and labor.
In carrying out my Invention I treat the esparto or other fibrous materials in
boilers of any suitable known construction having vomiting or other efficient
circulating appliances with provision for conveniently cleaning them. The steam
passing from the boilers is utilised for heating fresh water; and provision is made so
that after blowing or draining off the leys, the fibrous materials may be drenched
with boiling water once or oftener, boiling being also repeated if found desirable.
With such arrangements in connection with the boilers the preliminary process known
as steeping may be dispensed with. The contact of the fibrous materials with cold
water is avoided, the last drenching or rinsing water being such as to merely cool
the materials sufficiently for emptying from the boiler.
The breaking engine in which the fibrous materials are next operated on is of
improved construction and arranged to act continuously, and not like common
breaking engines on separate charges of materials. The improved breaking engine is
made with a roll of a conical form which is placed with its axis vertical, and which
works in a conical casing, the roll being armed with knives, and knives or bars being
fixed all round the casing and being distributed either uniformly or in sets with
intervals. The fibrous materials are fed into a hopper at one side along with hot
water, and the hopper communicates with the bottom of the breaker casing, so that
the materials enter the casing with a pressure due to the head in the hopper, and tend to
rise up through the casing this rising movement being aided by the centrifugal action

page_text: due to the rotating roll and the conical form of the roll and casing which is widest at
the top. In rising through the breaker each part of the fibrous materials is repeatedly
acted on by the knives and every part is subjected to the same amount of action
by the knives so that the halfstuff formed is of very uniform character. The action
down in the
of the apparatus is easily regulated by adjusting the roll up or
casing; whilst the rate at which the materials pass through is regulated by means of
a valve through which they are discharged from the top of the casing, and which
valve is loaded more or less as may be found desirable.
The materials pass from the breaking engine through a rotating conical drainer
(known as a "save-all") and thence along rhones or ducts with a stream of hot
water to one or other of a set of improved bleaching chests. Each bleaching chest is
of a circular form in plan and has a basin-shaped bottom; and a steady circulation is
produced in the materials by a rotating central vertical spiral or helical propeller,
extending a limited distance from the centre so that there may be upward currents
at the centre and downward currents at the sides, or vice versa. The bleaching agent
and afterwards the antichlor are supplied in the usual way.
The bleached materials are next passed through coarse strainers and over sand
tables; and next through finer strainers and through a rotating conical drainer or
save-all," thereby completing the process for converting the fibrous materials into
bleached halfstuff.
The bleached halfstuff is conveyed along rhones or in truck boxes to one of a set
of vessels constructed and fitted like the improved bleaching chests, in which the
engine sizing" is applied; and afterwards it is passed through an improved vertical
conoidal beating engine constructed like the improved breaking engine hereinbefore
described, and in which the halfstuff is reduced to fine pulp.
From the beating engine the pulp is passed into one of a set of machine chests
constructed and fitted like the improved bleaching chests hereinbefore described; and
in this chest the starch and clay or other body ingedients are added, and the
alum or acidifying agent; and after these have been thoroughly amalgamated, the
coloring matter is mixed in. Or the body ingredients may be added at an earlier stage
if thought preferable. The pulp is then ready for being passed through the usual
apparatus on to the paper-making machine.
Dated this Twenty-first day of June 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Preparing Pulp for Paper-making Machines and
in Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES HUNTER ANNANDALE, of Polton Paper Works, Polton, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Paper Maker, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its objects, by means of improved apparatus and
arrangements, to expedite the processes employed in preparing pulp, to render them
more continuous than heretofore, to reduce the extent and cost of plant and to diminish
the expenditure of power and labor.
In carrying out my Invention I treat the esparto or other fibrous materials in
boilers of any suitable known construction, having vomiting or other efficient
circulating appliances with provision for conveniently cleaning them. The steam
passing from the boilers is utilised for heating fresh water; and provision is made so
that after blowing off the leys, the fibrous materials may be drenched with boiling
water once or oftener, boiling being also repeated if found desirable.
arrangements in connection with the boilers the preliminary process known as steeping
may be dispensed with. The contact of the fibrous material with cold water is
avoided, the last drenching or rinsing water being such as to merely cool the
materials sufficiently for emptying the boiler.
With such
The breaking engine in which the fibrous materials are next operated on is of
improved construction, and arranged to act continuously, and not like common
breaking engines on separate charges of materials. My improved breaking engine
which is hereinafter particularly described, is, together with other apparatus, shown
in the accompanying explanatory drawings, of which there are four sheets.
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the drawings are diagrams showing one modifi-
cation of the general arrangements. Figure, 3, on sheet, 2, is an enlarged vertical
section of the improved breaking engine, and figures, 4, and 5, are horizontal sections
of the main parts of the engine. Figure, 6, on sheet, 3, is a sectional side elevation
of a save-all through which the materials are passed after leaving the breaking
engine; and figure, 7, on sheet, 4, is a vertical section of an improved vessel for
bleaching and other operations. In these drawings the same reference letters and
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
*
The materials pass from the breaking engine, A, figure, 1, through a box, B, and
through a rotating conical drainer, C, (known as a "save-all") and thence through a
vessel, D, with a stream of hot water to one or other of a set of bleaching chests, E,
of an improved kind hereinafter particularly described. The bleached materials are
next passed through a box, F, to coarse strainers, G, then over sand tables, H, and
through finer strainers, J, into a box, K, from which they pass through a rotating
conical drainer or "save-all," L, thereby completing the process for converting the
fibrous materials into bleached halfstuff, which is received in a truck,. M. As is well

page_text: understood some of the operations may be effected in a different order. Thus the
fibrous materials may be passed through the strainers and sand tables, F G H,
immediately after leaving the breaking engine, A.
"
The bleached halfstuff is conveyed to one of a set of vessels, N, constructed
and fitted like the improved bleaching chest, E, in which vessel, N," engine sizeing
is applied; and afterwards it is passed through an improved vertical conoidal
beating engine, P, (or through more than one such engine) constructed like the
breaking engine, A, in which beating engine the halfstuff is reduced to fine pulp.
From the beating engine, (or engines) P, the pulp is passed into one of a set of
machine chests, Q, constructed and fitted partly like the improved bleaching chests, E;
and in this chest, Q, the starch and clay or other body ingredients are added, and
the alum or acidifying agent; and after these have been thoroughly amalgamated
the coloring matter is mixed in. Or the body ingredients may be added at an earlier
stage if thought preferable. The pulp is then ready for being passed through the
usual apparatus on to the paper-making machine.
My improved breaking engine, A, is made with a roll, R, of a conical form, which
is placed with its axis vertical, and which works in a conical casing, S, the roll, R, being
armed with knives, 10, which may be like those of the roll of an ordinary breaking engine,
excepting that their edges are inclined to the axis like the sides of a cone. Knives or
bars, 11, are fixed in the casing, S. and whilst they may be like the fixed knives or
bars of an ordinary breaking engine they do not merely occupy a small segment but
are fixed all round the casing, S. These fixed knives or bars, 11, may be formed ou
segmental plates, each plate being made with a number of knives or projecting
edges; or they may be formed in any other suitable manner. The knives, 10, of the
roll, R, and the knives, 11, of the casing, S, are not made exactly parallel to each
other but with a slight inclination; and the knives, 10, of the roll, R, or those, 11,
of the casing, S, or both sets may be serrated if found advantageous instead of
having continuous straight edges. Also, either or both sets of knives, 10, 11, may
be distributed either uniformly or in sets with intervals. The fibrous materials are
fed into a hopper, 12, (figure 1,) of any suitable size at one side along with hot water,
and the hopper, 12, communicates with the lower part of the side of the casing, S,
so that the materials enter the casing with a pressure due to the head of the hopper,
which pressure may be increased, if necessary, in any convenient way, or any
suitable regulated mechanical feed apparatus may be employed. The materials tend
to rise between the casing, S, and roll, R, this rising movement being aided by the
centrifugal action due to the rotating roll and the conical form of the roll and
casing, which is widest at the top. In thus rising through the breaker each part of the
fibrous materials is repeatedly acted on by the knives, and every part is subjected to
the same amount of action by the knives, so that the halfstuff formed is of very
uniform character. If it is found that the fibrous materials tend to rise too rapidly
along the channels between the knives, 10, the upper parts of these channels may be
filled to a greater or less extent with wood. The action of the apparatus is easily
regulated by adjusting the roll, R, up or down in the casing, S; whilst the rate at
which the materials pass through is regulated by means of a valve, 13, through
which they are discharged from the top of the casing, and which valve may be a
suitably loaded valve or any suitable valve set more or less open as may be found
desirable.
The rotating conical drainer or "save-all," C, which I employ, and which is shown
on sheet, 3, of the drawings is of the ordinary construction excepting that I apply a
conical roller, T, held by a bracket, 14, so as to touch the bottom of the inside of the
"save-all" at its larger end, the part that the roller bears on being lined with
perforated sheet metal whilst the other part is lined with wire gauze. The roller, T,
which rotates by contact friction with the inside of the "save-all" gives the fibrous
materials a final squeeze, and expresses out of them more water than would drain from
them. A belical doctor or blade, 15, fixed to the bracket, 14, is arranged so as to
detach any fibrous materials adhering to the roller and to direct them towards the
larger end of the "save-all."

page_text: The improved bleaching chest, E, which I employ is shown on sheet, 4, but with
additional stirring apparatus which may be used only in the final mixing chest, Q,
or at earlier stages if found desirable. The chest, E, N, or Q, as shown on sheet, 4,
is of a circular form in plan and has a basin-shaped bottom; and a steady circulation
is produced in the materials by a rotating central vertical spiral or helical
propeller, U, consisting of a conical drum having on its outside a number of slightly
projecting helical or inclined ribs or blades. This propeller, U, is fixed on a vertical
rotating shaft, 16, and is placed within a conical casing, 17, having openings round
the bottom of it and continued upwards in a pipe, 18, the length of which may be
modified if found desirable. The rotation of the propeller, U, causes the fibrous materials
and liquid to enter below it, to rise between it and the casing, 17, and to pass up
through the pipe, 18, to near the surface of the liquid; and the propeller, which is
driven at a suitable speed, causes a slow steady current to flow upwards at the centre of
the vessel and downwards near the sides, without agitation or eddies which would tend
to form the fibres into curls or knots. For the bleaching operation, the bleaching
agent, and afterwards the antichlor are supplied in the usual way.
For the final mixing operation the chest, Q, made otherwise as hereinbefore
described, and fitted with the circulation propeller, U, is also provided with a rotating
mixer, W, consisting of paddles fixed to horizontal arms, 19, fast on a short tubular
shaft, 20, through which the propeller shaft, 16, passes and which has fast on its
upper end a bevil wheel, 21, in gear with a pinion on a shaft, 22, driven by means of
pulleys and a belt. The propeller shaft, 16, is driven in a similar way by means of
bevil wheels, 23, and a shaft, 24, having on it pulleys for a driving belt.
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 :-
1. The improved combination of processes for preparing pulp for paper-making
machines, substantially as herein before described.
2. The improved construction of breaking and beating engines, the essential
features thereof being the conical form and vertical position of the roll and casing
and the application of knives or bars all round the casing the same being distributed
uniforinly or in sets with intervals substantially as bereinbefore described.
3. The improved construction of chest for bleaching and otherwise treating
fibrous materials in making pulp substantially as herein before described with reference
to figure, 7, on sheet, 4, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of March 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.