Double disk refiner, stock inducer therefor and method of refining low consistency stock

Abstract

A double disk refiner and inducer for the same that mixes fiber in low consistency (6% or less by weight) stock and urges it towards both pairs of refiner disks of the double disk refiner. In a preferred embodiment, the inducer comprises an impeller that has at least one flight extending radially outward from an inner hub. Each flight is angled and also can be curved so as to substantially continuously mix and urge stock toward the disks. In one preferred embodiment, the inducer is an impeller that has two helical flights that are axially spaced from one another but that overlap in an axial direction. In a preferred method, the low consistency stock is urged by the inducer toward the disks preventing clumping of fibers in the stock and breaking up any clumps already present in the stock. As a result, the gap between the disks can be increased from between one thousand and three thousandths of an inch to increase the output of the refiner.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.