Pressure pulp washer with inlet pivot

In a pressure washer with a cylinder rotatable in a vat containing pulp slurry:

• a pulp slurry inlet box;
• at least one pivotable member pivotally mounted in the vat at the area where the pulp slurry leaves the inlet box and enters the vat, the radial inner surface of the pivotable member being spaced from the cylinder a predetermined distance, and the radial outer surface of the pivotable member being spaced from an inner surface of the vat and said radial outer surface being shaped to speed-up slurry flow between the outside of the pivotable member and the inside surface of the vat to minimize the forming of flocs and to break up any formed flocs, and means for establishing a predetermined pressure in the space between the cylinder and the radial inner surface of the pivotable member such that if fibers become stuck between said inner surface of the vat and said radial outer surface of the pivotable member, the pivotable member will automatically pivot away from said inner surface of the vat and toward the cylinder to thereby free the stuck fibers, said pivotable member automatically returning to its initial position after the pulp fibers become loosened.