IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, BREAKING, AND BEATING ENGINES OR MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Forbes, of Dalkieth, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS
IN WASHING, BREAKING, AND BEATING ENGINES OR MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Forbes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1880.
ALEXANDER FORBES, of Dalkieth, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, BREAKING, AND BEATING ENGINES OR
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to a new or improved arrangement and construction of
washing, breaking, and beating engine or machine to be used in the manufacture
or preparation of paper pulp, for washing or extracting lye or other impurities, and
cutting, beating, or reducing the crude fibrous material to the requisite consistency
or pulp for the making of paper, pasteboard, and such like materials; and it is
specially designed to produce a continuous circulation, and complete assimilation or
nixing of the pulp material under treatment, so as to prevent "lodgements," and
give a more equal and regular action of the cutting, breaking, or beating mechanism,
whilst the pulp is more effectually and rapidly washed or freed from all lye or
other impurities without loss of fibrous material, and the whole machine or engine
is thus inade to act in a more efficient, economical, and expeditious manner
than has been found possible with the ordinary construction of apparatus hitherto
used for these purposes.]
By one improvement of the Invention the tub or vat in which the raw pulp
material is placed is made in the form of an elongated tub or vat of suitable depth,
and is fitted with two narrow or thin solid or hollow longitudinal partitions of
about the full height of the vat, and running to within a short distance of each
end, so as to divide it into three separate sections or channels, instead of, as hitherto,
being divided into two sections by a central partition only. The central or mid

page_text: channel thus formed by the partitions, which is preferably wider than either of the
others, has a new or improved construction of lifting and mixing paddle fitted in it
to revolve on a transverse axis or spindle at or near one end of the vat, formed
with its paddle boards or floats set alternately in planes at reverse angles to onc
side and the other of the axis of revolution, so that the paddle lifts the pulp
material from the central channel at both sides, and delivers it alternately towards
the opposite sides into the opposite side channels in front of the paddle on an
inverted V or double inclined dividing board or bridge at that end of the vat.
The material lifted is led or flows down and round the ends of the partitions to the
two side or outer channels, an equal portion into each, then continuing to flow
along these channels in the same direction, through below the washing paddles and
cutting or breaking rolls which are placed in them to the other end of the vat,
where the two streams or currents of pulp meet, are thoroughly intermixed or
assimilated by collision at this end, and thence flow back or return through the
central channel towards the lifting and mixing paddle at the opposite end, where
the same operating is repeated.
The pulp material presented to the action of the washing paddles and cutting
rolls or drums is thus continuously mixed and changed across from side to side of
the channels, instead of, as in the old forms of these engines or machines, travelling
round the central partition in one channel always in the same parallel lines or
orbits, with the result that the inner or central portions are unduly broken or
ground, and the outer portions insufficiently acted on. The ends of the vat or
engine are curved at the corners and in the centre to deflect and mix the currents
at one end, and separate or divide the pulp of the central channel into two portions
at the other, and thus cause more complete intermixing of the material.
The rolls or drums in which the knives are fixed for cutting, breaking, or beating
the raw or crude material are fitted one in each side channel of the vat, near the
end removed from the lifting paddle, and either on separate spindles, or on one
revolving shaft actuated in the usual manner by belts or other motive or transmitting
gear, both being made to revolve in the same direction; and the pulp passes along
the side channels, preferably up a slightly inclined plane, towards and under the
rolls, between them and the usual fixed knife or cutter plate immediately below,
from which the pulp falls eithor direct or flows down an incline or declivity quite
to the end of the vat, where it returns by the central channel.
By employing a separate lifting or circulating paddle these knife rolls do
not require to lift or carry up the pulp, as has been necessary heretofore, in the
spalls between the knives or cutters against a rising breast, with the disadvantage
that a churning action takes place, and part of the pulp material while being
washed is unduly ground down, so as to be drained or floated off with the water
in the drum washers; but by this improvement the sets of cutting knives can thus
be brought closer together on the peripheries of the rolls, and greater cutting or
beating power is obtained with the same or a smaller diameter of rolls, while
preventing the passage of "knots" or "clumps" without being torn or cut in
shreds.
A further improvement consists in a new or improved construction of revolving
paddle washer or washing and draining apparatus fitted on a transverse horizontal
spindle, and placed in the two side or outer channels, one washer in cach, preferably
in a position between the cutting rolls and the lifting paddle end of the vat.
These paddle washers are not made cylindrical, as usual, but are formed with a
number of hollow scoop-shaped vanes, buckets, or paddles (as from three to six in
number) extending from the central boss or shaft outwards the full breadth of the
washer and side channel, and close and curved at the back, so as to lift the water
from the circumference to the centre inside, while driving the pulp forward towards
the cutting rolls; and these vanes or buckets are fitted with flat or reversely
curved open metal gratings or bars in front, covered over with wire cloth or other
suitable material to act as sieves or drainers. The buckets in revolving through the
pulp partially drive it forward, and also lift it slightly, and the water is forced or

page_text: drained through tho wire cloth, and flowing down the inner sides of the curved
buckets passes at the centre into the open eye at one side, and thence into a
suitable waste pipe. This paddle washer when not being used for washing purposes
may still be kept in action during the "beating" process, as an auxiliary circulator
of the pulp, either in this improved or in other engines. In this improved engine
during the beating the washers fill their buckets from the pulp immediately in front
of the rolls, and by means of their paddle-like buckets simultaneously circulate or
drive the pulp, which they have partially drained of its water, which pulp then
passing under the knives of the roll in a thickened state must make the roll or
knives act more effectually. When the washer is used as a circulator of the pulp
only the water lifted is not discharged into the waste pipe, but instead into the
central or mid channel of the engine to be again mixed with the pulp. This
improved paddle washer, which is more efficient and rapid in its action than the
old cylindrical forms, may be easily applied with advantage to or in connection
with the ordinary forms of vats of washing, breaking, and beating engines, or
machinery for the preparation of paper pulp, and it may be driven by gearing at
the side in the ordinary way in connection with the gear actuating the lifting
paddle and cutting roll.
The Invention is also applicable with the same or nearly the same arrangement
and construction of apparatus for reducing wool or woolen cloth to fibre, and for
the reduction and washing of other fibrous material for analogous purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Forbes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1880.
ALEXANDER FORBES, of Dalkieth, in the County of Midlothian, North-Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING, BREAKING, AND BEATING ENGINES OR
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER PULP, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates to a new or improved arrangement and construction of
washing, breaking, and beating engine or machine to be used in the manufacture of
paper pulp, for washing or extracting lyes or other impurities, and cutting, beating,
or reducing the crude fibrous material to the requisite consistency of pulp for the
making of paper, pasteboard, and such like materials, and it is specially designed to
produce a continuous circulation and complete assimilation or mixing of the pulp
material under treatment, so as to give a more equal and regular action of the
cutting, breaking, or beating mechanism. Lodgments or lumps are also prevented
from forming in the engine, whilst during the washing process the pulp is more
effectually and rapidly washed or freed from all alkaline lyes or other impurities
without loss of fibrous material, and the whole machine or engine is thus made to
act in a more efficient, economical, and expeditious manner than has been found
possible with the ordinary construction of apparatus hitherto used for these
purposes.
In order that the nature of my said Invention and manner of performing the
same, may be clearly understood, I have hereunto appended two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings for that purpose, showing two modifications of washing,
beating, or breaking engines, arranged and constructed in accordance with my
improvements, and which I shall now proceed to describe. In these Drawings the
same reference letters are used to indicate the same or like parts where they are
shown.
Referring to these Drawings, Figure 1, on Sheet 1, is a longitudinal vertical
section; Figure 2 is a side elevation partially broken away; Figure 3 is a plan; and
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken as at the line 1--1, in Figure 3, all
of a modification of my improved pulp beating or breaking engine, which consists of
an elongated cast-metal tub or vat A (or it might be made of wood or other material),
having the usual fittings for supplying puro water and drawing-off the pulp, and of
any suitable depth and size, in which the raw pulp material is placed, and this:
vat A is fitted with two narrow or thin solid, or it might be hollow, longitudinal
partitions A of about the full height of the vat, and running to within a suitable
distance of each end, so as to divide the vat A into three separate sections or
channels a, a, a¹, instead of as hitherto being divided into two sections by a nearly
central partition only. The central or mid-channel a thus formed by the partitions,
which is preferably wider than either of the others a', a', has a new or improved
construction of lifting, circulating, and mixing paddle or wheel B fitted near one
end in it, and which revolves on a transverse axis or spindle b carried in journal
bearings on each side of the vat framing A, and driven by a spur wheel b on it
in gear with and actuated by a spur pinion b¹ on a transverse shaft be carried in
bearing brackets beneath the vat A, and having a pulley 6s on its other end to be
driven by a belt from the motive power shaft, or this might be driven by pulleys
and a belt from a suitable driving or motive power shaft. This mixing paddle B,
which may also be applied as a mixer or circulator of the pulp in any other
construction of engine or mixing vat, is made in the form of a cylinder with four,
six, or more longitudinal conoidal or tapered segments 13' cut out of the periphery,
and the ridges or paddles B" left are thus made or set in planes inclined successively
at reverse angles to one side and the other of the axis of revolution, and a flange B
is formed or fitted at the narrow end of each segmental space B', so that the
paddle B3, during its revolution, lifts the pulp material in the segmental spaces B'

page_text: from the central channel a at both sides up a curved inclined A*, and delivers it, as
shown by the arrows, alternately towards each of the sides a, a, in front of the
paddle B on an inverted V or double inclined dividing board or bridge a" at the
end of the vat A leading towards the opposite side channels a', that is, the pulp
from the left hand side of the mid-channel a is delivered into the opposite or right
hand side channel a³, and vice versa. The material lifted is led or flows down and
round the ends of the partitions A' to the two sides or outer channels a', a¹, an
equal portion into each, then continuing to flow along these channels a', a', in the
same direction through below the washing paddles C, and cutting or breaking rolls D,
which are placed in them, to the other end of the vat A, where the two streams or
currents of pulp meet at a, are partially intermixed or assimilated by collision at
this end, and thence flow back or return through the central channel a towards the
lifting and mixing paddle B at the opposite end, where the same operation is
repeated continuously. The pulp material presented to the action of the washing
paddles and cutting rolls or drums is thus continuously mixed and changed across
from side to side of the channels, instead of, as in the old forms of pulp beating
engines or inachines, travelling round the central partition in one channel always in
the same parallel lines or orbits, with the result that the inner or central portions
were unduly broken or ground, and the outer portions insufficiently acted on. The
ends of the vat or engine A are curved at all the corners A" and in towards the
centre A² at one end to deflect and mix the current at this end, and separate or
divide the pulp of the central channel into two portions at the other end, and thus
cause more complete intermixing of the material.
The rolls or drums D, in which the knives d are fixed for cutting, breaking, or
beating the raw or crude material, are fitted one in each sido channel a' of the
vat A near the end removed from the lifting paddle B, on separate spindles D' (but
these rolls might be on one revolving shaft) carried in journal bearing blocks D",
supported on brackets A³ formed on the outer sides of the vat. A, and actuated in
the usual manner by belts and pulleys D² or other motive or transmitting gear,
both shafts being made to revolve in the same direction. The pulp passes along
the side channels a, preferably up a slightly inclined plane a, shown dotted in
Figure 1, towards and under the rolls D, between them and the usual fixed knife
or cutter plates D* immediately below (which are fitted and removed, when desired,
through openings with closing doors D³ in the partitions A', as shown in Figure 2),
from which the pulp falls either direct or flows down an incline or declivity a quite to
and round the end of the vat, where it returns by the central channel. By the
employment of a separate lifting or circulating paddle B in this improved machine
these knife rolls D do not require to lift or carry up the pulp, as has been necessary
heretofore, in the spaces between the knives or cutters against and over a rising
breast, in order to produce the neces-ary circulation (with the disadvantage that a
churning action takes place, and part of the pulp material, while being washed, is
unduly ground down by being forced through the usual narrow space at the back
of the roll, so as to be drained or floated off with the water in the drum washers).
By this improvement the sets of cutting knives d can thus be brought closer
together on the peripheries of the rolls, as shown in Figure 1, in which the spaces
between the knives d are almost entirely filled up by the wooden separating
wedges, and greater cutting or beating power is obtained with the same or a smaller
diameter of rolls, while preventing the lodgment or passage of "knots or lumps,
without being torn or cut into shreds. Under the present improvements an arrange-
ment of mechanism is provided for enabling these two rolls D to be raised or
lowered sinultaneously, and to be adjusted vertically to cut the fibre to any desired
degree of fineness, as with one roll. For this purpose the journal bush bearings of
the roll spindles D" are made capable of sliding vertically in their brackets or
plummer blocks D", somewhat similar to those now in use, but with the difference
that they are made to rest on a pair of levers E jointed at their outer ends by pins c
in the blocks D, and at their inner ends connected by links E' with a screw nut c²
"

page_text: through which a screw el passes and is turned to raise or lower this nut e¹, and
with it the levers E and roll spindles D¹ for the adjustment of the knife rolls. The
screw spindle el is turned by means of a bevil pinion e² at its upper end in gear
with a bevil pinion e³ on a transverse shaft El carried by pillars E2 and actuated
by the hand wheel E³ at one side. The joint pins e of the lever E are fitted in
eccentrics which can be turned round to raise or lower the outer end of either of the
levers E slightly independently of the other and its roll D, or only one end of its
roll, and so adjust it to suit any unequal wear of the knives & or knife plates D*.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and Figure 6 is a horizontal section showing one of
the eccentric joint pins e and holding nut e' of the levers E which fit and turn in
bearings in the framing of the machine. The middle part ex of each pine which
fits into the eye E' in the end of each lever E is eccentric to the centre of rotation
in the bearing, so that by turning the pins e a part of a revolution in the one
direction or the other the ends of the levers E are raised or lowered to a slight
degree, but each independently of the other. The pins may be turned by a screw
key applied to a square on their outer ends, and either fixed in their adjusted
position by jam nuts, by a worm and screw wheel, or, as is preferred, by the form
of differential nut e' shown in these Figures 5 and 6, which is octagonal inside
at e¹ where it fits on the end of the joint pin e, but hexagonal outside where it is
fitted into a corresponding recess in the framing D, or any other polygonal form
might be used, as, say, with 12 sided figure outside and 11 sided one inside, so as to
give a very fine adjustment, the mode of adjusting and fixing the eccentric pins e
being to withdraw the nut e', turn the pin c in one direction to its required position,
and re-apply the nut c'. By moving the pin e one eighth part of a revolution to
the left and then moving the nut e' with the pin e one sixth part of a revolution to
the right, a differential advance of 1/24th part of a revolution to the right is
obtained, and the pin e is fixed in the advanced position.
In setting the rolls D to their respective under plates or knives D* the mode of
proceeding is thus:-The hand wheel is turned until one roll D exactly touches the
under plate D*, then the second roll D is lowered, if necessary, by means of the
eccentric pin e until it touches the under plates or knives D*. If no such adjusting
nechanism is provided any unequal wear, either in the knives of the rolls D, or the
knives of the under plates D*, or in the bearings of the shafts, would produce the
result that the two rolls would not be equi-distant from their respective plates or
under knives D*, the consequence of which would be that the pulp would be
unequally treated. The two rolls D are lifted simultaneously by simply turning
one hand wheel Es (or it might be any other equivalent, such as a lever,) which
improvement thus obviates the possibility of the attendant having one roll working
lower than the other, a result which must happen (more or less) if the two rolls are
noved each by independent mechanism, as hitherto applied to the old type of
engines having more than one roll.
A further improvement of this Invention consists in a new construction of
revolving paddle washer, or washing and draining apparatus C, fitted on a trans-
verso horizontal spindle c, revolving in journal bearings c¹, fitted on bracket
standards c¹ on each side of the vat frame A, placed one in each of the two side or
outer channels a¹, a', preferably in a position between the cutting rolls D and the
lifting paddle end of the vat, and driven by the open belt z from the shaft b of the
lifting paddle B and spur wheels 2¹, 2¹¹.
These paddle washers C are not made cylindrical, as usual, but are formed with
a number of hollow scoop shaped vanes, buckets, or paddles C¹ (as from three to
six in number, extending from the central boss or shaft c outwards the full breadth
of the washer C and side channel a', and close and curved at the back so as to lift
the water from the circumference to the centre inside, while driving the pulp
forward towards the cutting rolls D. These vanes or buckets C¹ are fitted with
reversely curved or flat open metal gratings or bars in front, covered over with
wire cloth or other suitable material at C¹¹ to act as 'sieves or drainers.
The

page_text: buckets C in entering through the pulp partially drive it forward and also lift it
slightly, and the water in the pulp is forced or drained through the wire, cloth, C¹¹,
and flowing down the inner sides of the curved buckets C passes out at the centre c
into the open eye c² of the washer C at one side, and thence into a suitable waste
pipe or duct formed or fitted in each of the dividing partitions A¹ of the vat A.
These paddle washers C, C, when not being used for washing purposes may still be
kept in action during the beating process to thicken the pulp in front of the
rolls, or they may be lifted or raised quite out of the circulating pulp by an
automatic arrangement. For this latter purpose the bearing bushes C¹ of the
washer spindle c are fitted in vertical slots in their carrying standards or
brackets e, in which the washer spindle c can be raised by means of crank discs F
and connecting rods F' attached to their pins, and to the outer ends of the spindle c.
The crank discs F are fitted on a transverse shaft F", carried at the top of the side
standards cl, and are turned to about one half revolution to raise the washer C
clear of the pulp by means of a screw wheelf on the shaft F", actuated by a
screw at the upper end of a vertical or inclined spindle f", the lower end of
which is fitted with a bevil pinion ƒ³, in gear with a corresponding pinion on the
short axis f³, carried by a bracket C on the standard C", and having on it a fast
and loose pulley g, g', driven by a belt g" from similar pulleys g², g³, on the end of
the shaft b of the lifting paddle B, which can be brought into action when desired
by shifting the belt on the fast pulleys g, g. In this improved engine during the
beating process the washers C when placed in front of the rolls D, as shown on the
Drawing, fill their buckets C¹ from the pulp immediately in front of the rolls D,
and by means of their paddle like buckets C" simultaneously circulate or drive
forward the pulp and partially drain it of its water, which pulp then pussing under
the knives d of the rolls D in a thickened state must make the rolls and knives act
much more effectively; and when the washer C is used to thicken the pulp only
the water lifted is not discharged into the waste pipe C³, but instead into the
central or mid-channel a of the engine, to be again mixed with the pulp. This
improved construction of paddle washer, which is more efficient and rapid in its
action than the old cylindrical forms, may be easily applied with advantage to or
in connection with the ordinary forms of vats of washing, breaking, and beating
engines or machinery for the preparation of paper pulp.
For certain grades of paper the whole systein of treatinent of the material after
being boiled may be performed in this one improved construction of engine or
vessel, namely, washing, breaking, potching while bleaching, and beating, thus
effecting not only great economy in the manipulation of the material but also
preventing waste and reducing to a minimum the possibility of gathering dirt,
which can only with the greatest care be avoided under the present system of
transfering from breaking engines to presses and back again to beaters.
Figure 7 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a plan showing a slightly modified
arrangement of my improved construction of pulp breaking or beating engines, in
which only one paddle washer C is used and fitted in the central channel a of the
vat A on the transverse shaft, but made to revolve in the reverse direction (to suit
the flow of the pulp in that channel) by means of the same gearing as in the
previous modification described, driven by a cross belt z, instead of an open one
from the shaft of the lifting paddle. The same construction of lifting gear or
mechanism is provided for lifting the paddle C out of action, and the construction
and action of the engine is otherwise substantially the same as described in
reference to Figures 1 to 6. The paddle C is preferably thus placed in the mid-
channel a when the machine is used as a washing engine.
The Invention is also applicable with the same or nearly the same arrangement
and construction of apparatus for reducing wool or woollen cloth to fibrous pulp,
and for the reduction and washing of other fibrous material for analogous purposes.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original, and

page_text: therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The general arrangement and construction of washing, breaking, potching,
and beating engines or machines for the preparation and treatment or manufacture
of paper pulp or similar fibrous material, having the vat (A) divided into three
circulating channels a, a, a', fitted with a revolving, lifting, and mixing or
circulating paddle (B), drum washers (C), and cutting rolls (D), all substantially as
and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second. The construction and use in a paper pulp or fibre washing, breaking,
potching, or beating engine or machine, of a revolving, lifting, and mixing or
circulating paddle (B), fitted in a circulating channel, and having its paddles or
floats preferably made or set at angles inclined successively in reverse directions to
the axis of revolution, for the purpose of lifting, mixing, and circulating the pulp,
all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. The construction and use of the revolving drum or paddle washers (C),
with curved acting wire cloth surfaces C₁ for washing, draining, or separating and
driving forward the pulp or other fibrous material under treatment in paper pulp
or fibre washing, potching, or beating engines or machines, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement and combination of the parts of mechanism for raising
the drum washers C or pulp breaking or beating engines out of action, by a crank
or crank disc F, and connecting rods F¹ on each side, operated by a shaft Fand
screw or equivalent gearing, all substantially as and for the purposes herein
described in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement of the adjusting eccentric joint pins e, preferably with
the differential holding nuts e', in combination with the levers E and screw gearing
el, el, actuated by a single hand wheel E³ and shaft, for vertically adjusting and
simultaneously raising and lowering the cutting rolls D, all substantially as and for
the purposes herein described in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Forbes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ALEX". FORBES. (L.S.)