Downflow control system for web making machines

A downspout device in combination with a paper machine for transferring to a white water tank at a lower level liquid flowing as a high velocity liquid jet at substantially atmospheric pressure together with significant quantities of air and vapourous components in partially separated relation therewith, said jet being directed by the machine substantially horizontally out of the machine towards the device at a first level for subsequent flow of the liquid in a substantially non-cascaded condition at a second level below said first level, comprising a tube having an upper end, a lower end, and a substantially unobstructed interior extending between said first and second levels, having water entry means at said first level spaced from said upper end of the tube to provide an air space within the tube extending above said entry means, and to receive said liquid and air, said entry means having a downwardly sloping lower surface to impart a downward component of liquid flow velocity, said entry means being located in off-centered relation to the main longitudinal axis of said tube, to provide in operation a tangential flow component to liquid entering the downspout device and to permit unobstructed up draft of said air and vaporous components entering through said entry means, a first outlet from said tube, located at said second level and a second substantially unrestricted outlet in said tube, located above said entry and connecting with said air space, to receive in operation an air and water vapour up-draft at substantially atmospheric pressure, including air separated from said liquid by the centrifuge effect of high velocity rotation of said liquid flowing over the inner surface of the tube and downwardly along the downspout device.