Improvements in Machines for the Production of Wood Fibre.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 14th Dec., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by RUDOLF STEIMMIG, Manufacturer, of Grossbolkau,
near Dantzig, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in Machines for the Production of Wood Fibre.
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto the mechanical production of wood fibre has been effected by pressing
suitably prepared wood against a vertically or horizontally rotating grindstone, water
being at the same time admitted thereto.
The action of the stone upon the wood causes the separation of finer and coarser
fibres therefrom. To increase the efficiency of the stones, it has been found necessary
to roughen and dress the sharp sandstones employed for grinding.
According to the present invention, stone is entirely dispensed with in the con-
struction of these wood-reducing machines, and in the place thereof are employed
disc-shaped or cylindrical bodies, on the peripheries or sides of which are secured
metal cutting pieces, preferably of flat wire laid or standing upon the cylinders. Of
these cutters the working surfaces of the discs or cylinders will be formed, and the
wood will be thereby reduced to fibre in the same way as by stones, but in a more
thorough and efficient manner.
.
The discs or cylinders may be formed of any desired material, or even of different
materials, such as wood, metal, and other suitable substances. These need only fulfil
the one condition, that the cutting pieces which are to effect the disintegration of the
wood shall be capable of being fastened thereto in a suitable manner. These cutting
pieces will be so arranged that their cutting edges shall stand as close together as
possible, and, shall so operate that the surface of the wood pressed against the same
shall not have the fibres removed therefrom in lines or streaks, but in as regular and
even a manner as possible.

page_text: The cutting pieces for reducing the wood are arranged in such a manner that they
project from the periphery or the side surface of the cylinder or disc, and, rotating
therewith, with their edge shave off, as wood fibre, the surface of the wood pressed
against the disc or cylinder, which fibre, as heretofore, can be carried off by water.
For the manufacture of the cutting pieces above mentioned, a suitable band of
metal may be used. The metal itself must possess both sufficient hardness and a
certain amount of elasticity, and must be as little subject as possible to the influence
of the wood and water.
Flat steel wire of a rectangular section of 1 × 2/m, and projecting from 10
to 20 above the surface of the disc, has been proved suitable for the disintegration
of the wood, whilst round wire has been found not to be suitable at all. On the other
hand, it is not essentially necessary that the section of the wire should be exactly
rectangular.
It is advisable, also, to cover the wire or metal strips with a coating of a com-
position which will protect them against rust, or to employ flat wires made of some
suitable material which possesses all the necessary qualities,-hardness, elasticity; and
immunity from rust.
The spaces between the projecting cutting pieces must be so determined that the
"springing" of the same can take place without touching each other, and that for
the exit of the wood fibre, not too much resistance should be offered. The cutters are
arranged in accordance with the kind of wood to be reduced, as also in accordance
with the metal from which they are formed.
The advantages of these disc-shaped or cylindrical bodies provided with cutting
pieces, over the stones at present used in wood reducing machines, consist in the
much greater perfection of the product obtained, with the employment of less power.―
As the final product, a long white flexible fibre is obtained, and therefore one very
suitable for felting.
The power to be employed with this invention is less, or, with the same amount of
power, a larger quantity of wood fibre is obtained, than in the machines hitherto
in use.
4000

page_text: Improvements in Machines for the Production of Wood Fibre
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings, Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 :-
Hitherto the mechanical production of wood fibre has been effected by pressing
suitably prepared wood against a vertically or horizontally rotating grindstone, water
being at the same time admitted thereto.
The action of the stone upon the wood causes the separation of finer and coarser
fibres therefrom. To increase the efficiency of the stones, it has been found necessary
to roughen and dress the sharp sandstones employed for grinding.
In the machines both the circumferential surface of the stone and the side surface
may be used as a working surface.
The object of the present invention is to do away entirely with stone in the con-
struction of these wood reducing machines, and in the place thereof, to employ
plate or disc shaped or cylindrical bodies, on the peripheries or sides of which are
secured projecting flat wires or comb-shaped cutting pieces of metal. By means
of these, the working surfaces of the discs will be formed, and the wood will be
reduced to fibre in the same way as by means of stones, but in a more thorough and
efficient manner.
The plates or discs or cylinders, may be formed of any desired material, or even of
different materials, such as wood, metal, and other suitable substancos. These need
only fulfil the one condition that the projecting flat wire or comb-shaped cutting
pieces, which are to effect the disintegration of the wood, shall be capable of being
fastened thereto in a suitable manner.
These pieces will be so arranged that their cutting edges shall not stand too close
together, but at a certain distance from each other, and shall so operate that the
surface of the wood pressed against the same, shall not have the fibres removed
therefrom in lines or streaks, but in as regular and even a manner as possible.
The Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings show some constructions by means
of which the cutting instruments may be fastened. The Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the
arrangement of single flat wires placed at a certain distance from each other on the
periphery of the disc by means of dovetail shaped pins or wedges catching into

page_text: The
corresponding recesses of the plate or disc, and fastened therein; in Fig. 3, the
cutting edges are arranged only on one side, and in Fig. 4 on two sides.
Figs. 9-14 represent another fastening device. The wedges are arranged here
between the inner nave n and the outer ring r, and they are kept together by
screws, or by any other suitable means. The flat wire strips a, or the comb-shaped
pieces b, are inserted between the wedges s.-The cutting edges may also be secured
by any other suitable means, for instance, by putting them into an easily melting
composition, in which case the produced plates, containing the cutting edges fastened
therein, are inserted into the plate, or disc shaped, or cylindrical body.
The cutting edges may also be secured to any other suitable surface, which, by
the aid of any mechanical means (such as an excentric, crank, or the like), is put
in a vertical or horizontal reciprocating motion (see Figs. 19, 20, and 21).
The work of reducing the wood by means of flat wire strips a a, or comb shaped
pieces bb, is arranged in such a manner that the cutting instrument projecting from
the periphery or the side surface of the cylinder, plate, or disc, rotates or moves
therewith, and with the broader side of its section being placed at a right angle or
nearly a right angle to the fibre of the wood, shaves off, as wood fibres, the surface of
the wood pressed against it, which, as heretofore, can be carried off by water.
For the manufacture of the cutting pieces above mentioned, a suitable band of
metal may be used.-The metal itself must posses both sufficient hardness and a
certain amount of elasticity, and must be as little subject as possible to the influence
of the wood and water.
Steel wires of a rectangular section, of ± × 2 mm. (see Fig. 7 and 8), and projecting
from 10 to 20 mm., above the surface of the disc or plate, has been proved suitable for
the desintegration of the wood, whilst round wire has been found not to be suitable at
all. On the other hand, it is not essentially necessary that the section of the cutting
pieces or wire should be exactly rectangular, Pieces having cross sections such as
shown in Fig. 15-18, or of similar section, may also be employed. The cutting
pieces or strips need only have the above said properties.
It is advisable also to cover the wire or metal strips with a coating of a composition
which will protect them against rust, or to employ flat wires made of some other
suitable material which possesses all the necessary qualities, hardness, elasticity, and
immunity from rust.
The spaces between the projecting cutting pieces must be so determined that the
springing of the same can take place without touching each other, and that for
the continuous conveyance of the wood fibre, not too much resistance should be
offered.
They are arranged in accordance with the kind of wood to be reduced, as also in
accordance with the metal from which they are formed.
For a cross section of the cutting pieces of x from 1 to 4 mm., the intermediate
spaces may be of up to 10 mm. at most.-The rows of the working instruments may
be arranged in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotating body, or they may
be arranged radially, or they may form with the said direction any optional angle (see
Figs. 12, 3 and 4, 11 and 12, 13 and 14).-These rows may also be disposed, one in
respect to the other, in such a manner that the spaces between the projecting cutting
pieces of one row, may be covered in some measure by the cutting pieces of the
next row.
The advantages of these disc or plate shaped, or cylindrical bodies, put by any
suitable mechanical device in a rotary or horizontal or vertical reciprocating motion,
and provided with cutting pieces, over the stones at present used in wood-reducing
machines, consist in the much greater perfection of the product obtained, with the
employment of less power. As the final product, a long soft flexible fibre is obtained,
and therefore one very suitable for felting.
The power to be employed with this invention is less, or with the same amount of
power, a larger quantity of wood fibre is obtained, than in the machines hitherto
in use.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
In the reduction of wood for mechanically producing wood fibre, the employment
in lieu of grindstones hitherto in use, of plate or disc shaped or cylindrical bodies, on
the peripheries or side surfaces of which, are cutting edges, or comb shaped pieces,
projecting in certain intermediate spaces, and arranged at certain distances from each
other, and made of elastic or "
springing" "flat metal, wire, or metal strips or bands,
such cutting edges being secured in such a manner that they will reduce to fibre, with
the flat side of their section, the wood pressed against them substantially as set forth
and shown in the drawings.

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