Method and apparatus for washing a porous mat
AssigneeFabcon, Inc.
InventorsRobert F. Wood, William R. Vanderveer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retainer maintains a body of standing washing liquid against the outside surface of a mat, such as a pulp mat. The mat moves on a vacuum screen which draws washing liquid from the body of liquid through the mat to clean it. The retainer pivots to adjust different mat heights and allows clumps of material on the mat to pass underneath the retainer. Clumps on the mat are also smoothed into the mat as the clumps pass underneath the retainer.
Claims21
A liquid retention assembly for use with a shower disposed over a portion of a porous moving surface which bears a mat of material impregnated with chemicals, the assembly comprising:
- a substantially rigid retainer with a distal edge positionable to rest on a mat of material on a porous moving surface to deter liquid from flowing between the distal edge and the mat for maintaining a body of washing liquid in contact with the outside surface of the mat;
- and
- hinge means a connectable between the shower and the retainer for permitting the retainer to pivot such that the distal edge is in floating contact with the mat
A shower for removing chemicals and waste solids from a mat of material, the mat being disposed over a portion of a porous moving surface with an outside surface of the mat exposed, the shower comprising:
- supply means for directing a washing liquid at the outside surface of the mat;
- a substantially rigid retainer with a distal edge that rests on the mat to deter liquid from flowing between the distal edge and the mat for maintaining a body of washing liquid in contact with the outside surface of the mat across a width of the mat;
- and
- hinge means connectable between the shower and the retainer for permitting the retainer to pivot such that the distal edge is in floating contact with the mat.
A shower for removing chemicals from a mat of material impregnated with chemicals, the mat being disposed over a portion of a porous moving surface with an outside surface of the mat exposed, the shower comprising:
- liquid source means for directing a supply of washing liquid at the outside surface of the mat;
- a substantially rigid, fiberglass stop plate mounted to the liquid source and projecting towards the mat across the width of the mat, the stop plate having a bottom edge;
- and
- a concave, substantially rigid, fiberglass retainer hingedly mounted to the stop plate, the retainer having a proximal edge mounted to the stop plate above the bottom edge, and a distal edge that rests on the mat to deter liquid from flowing between the distal edge and mat for maintaining a body of washing liquid in contact with the outside surface of the mat;
- a fabric hinge comprising a polytetrafluoroethylene fabric sheet having a first edge embedded in the plate and a second edge embedded in the retainer;
- a plurality of safety cords connected between the retainer and the stop member;
- and
- end walls fixedly mounted in relation to the stop member,
- the pulp mat, retainer and end walls together defining an arcuate trough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.