US 5,669,560 AGranted

Non-pulpables collection chamber with removable basket for solid waste pulpers

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsWilliam K. Upton, III, William E. Schneider, Stuart H. Brown, Steven A. Stetz, Emily J. Gotich, Jack L. McCrea

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A pulper includes a pulping chamber, a pulping mechanism, and a non-pulpas collection chamber attached to a bottom of the pulping chamber below a top of the pulping mechanism in an annular area outside of the pulping mechanism. The collection chamber includes a container with openings at first and second ends; a basket having an opening at a first end and disposed inside the container wherein at least a bottom portion of the basket includes perforations; a pipe connection located at the second end of the container; means for removing the basket from the container; and means for preventing material from entering a space between the basket and the container; wherein the first end of the container is inserted into the pulping chamber. The collection chamber does not interfere with the fluid flow around the pulping mechanism and can collect a relatively large amount of non-pulpables without requiring pulper shutdown.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A collection chamber for a pulper of the type having a pulping chamber containing a pulping mechanism for processing pulpable material into a pulp, said collection chamber being for collecting non-pulpable material in an area outside of the pulping chamber so as not to interfere with circulation around the pulping mechanism, said collection chamber comprising:

a container having openings at first and second ends;
a basket disposed inside said container and having an opening at a first end for permitting non-pulpable material to pass downward from the pulper into said basket via said opening in said first end of said container, said basket including perforations in at least a bottom portion of said basket, said bottom portion positioned proximate said second end of said container;
a pipe connection located at said second end of said container for permitting a fluid to flow upward into said container and via said perforations into said basket to prevent pulp from settling into said collection chamber;
means for removing said basket from said container;
and
means for preventing material from entering a space between said basket and said container.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.