# US 2022/0034032 A1 · Supported toothed plates in a disperser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034032 A1 - Document ID: US20220034032A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/451,661 - Filed: 2021-10-21 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29 - Assignees: Andritz Inc. - Applicants: Andritz Inc. - Inventors: Luc Gingras - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034032A1 ## CPC - D21C 5/025: {De-inking} - D21D 1/008: {Discs} - D21C 9/007: {by mechanical or physical means} - Y02W 30/64: Paper recycling - D21C: PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR - D21D: TREATMENT OF THE MATERIALS BEFORE PASSING TO THE PAPER-MAKING MACHINE - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A plate segment includes a substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; rows of teeth protruding from the front side of the substrate, wherein each of the rows are arranged along an arc extending from one side of the plate segment to an opposite side of the plate segment. In at least one of the rows of teeth, adjacent teeth are joined by a bridge spanning a gap between the adjacent teeth. The bridge is elevated above the front side of the substrate such that the bridge is separated from the front side by an open space in the gap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plate segment comprising: a substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; and rows of teeth protruding from the front side of the substrate, wherein each of the rows of teeth are arranged along an arc extending from one side of the plate segment to an opposite side of the plate segment, wherein in at least one of the rows of teeth, adjacent teeth are joined by a bridge spanning a gap between the adjacent teeth, wherein the bridge is elevated above the front side of the substrate such that the bridge is separated from the front side by an open space in the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge is at or near an end of the adjacent teeth away from the front side of the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge joins a sidewall of each of the adjacent teeth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge joins sidewalls of the adjacent teeth at an elevation of the adjacent teeth above the front side in a range of one-third to an entirety of a height of the adjacent teeth above the front side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a circular or oval shape in cross section at a midpoint of the bridge between the adjacent teeth, a rectangular shape in cross-section at the midpoint of the bridge between the adjacent teeth; a tapered shape in cross-section at the midpoint of the bridge between the adjacent teeth; and a tear drop shape in cross-section at the midpoint of the bridge between the adjacent teeth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge is between each of the adjacent teeth in at least one of the rows of teeth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge is a first bridge between the adjacent teeth and the plate segment includes a second bridge between the adjacent teeth, wherein the second bridge is at a different height above the substrate than the first bridge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge is in a radially outermost row and a radially innermost row lacks the bridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the bridge is a first bridge between a first pair of adjacent teeth in a row of teeth and the plate segment further comprises a second bridge between a second pair of adjacent teeth in the row of teeth, wherein the first bridge is at a different height than the second bridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The plate segment of claim 1, wherein the plate segment is configured to turn about a rotational axis, and the plate segment includes an arc-shaped radially inner edge and an arc shaped radially outer edge, and the plate segment has side edges each aligned along a respective radial line. ### Claim 11 A disperser plate segment comprising: a substrate; rows of teeth protruding from the substrate, wherein each of the rows of teeth are arranged along an arc extending from one side of the disperser plate segment to an opposite side of the disperser plate segment; and bridges between at least some adjacent teeth, wherein in at least one of the rows of teeth, the bridges span gaps between the at least some adjacent teeth, and wherein the bridges join the at least some adjacent teeth and are elevated above the substrate such that the bridges are separated from the substrate by open spaces in the gaps. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the bridges join the at least some adjacent teeth in a first one, two, or three radially inward rows. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the bridges join the at least some adjacent teeth in a radially outermost row. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the at least some adjacent teeth comprise all adjacent teeth in at least one of the rows of teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the bridges are arranged in an arc matching the arc formed by the at least one of the rows of teeth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the bridges are separated from the substrate in the open spaces in the gaps by a distance in a range of 30% to 90% of a tooth height. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The disperser plate segment of claim 11, wherein the bridges have cross-sections in a range of 20% to 60% of a cross-section of a tooth at a same elevation from the substrate as the bridges. ### Claim 18 A disperser plate segment comprising: a substrate configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; rows of teeth protruding from a front side of the substrate; and bridges between at least some adjacent teeth in at least one of the rows of teeth, wherein the bridges join the at least some adjacent teeth and are elevated above the substrate such that the bridges are separated from the substrate in open spaces in gaps between the at least some adjacent teeth by a distance in a range of 30% to 90% of a tooth height. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The disperser plate segment of claim 18, wherein the disperser plate segment is a rotor plate segment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The disperser plate segment of claim 18, wherein the disperser plate segment is a stator plate segment.