Method and device for feeding out fibre pulp

A method for dispersing fiber pulp over an overflow rim disposed at an upper end of a cylindrical container having a longitudinal axis and a bottom, the container containing a suspension, comprising the steps of:

• providing a scraper element in rotatable engagement with the container;
• providing a plurality of rotatable diluting nozzles attached to the scraper element, the diluting nozzles being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the container;
• continuously feeding fiber pulp from the bottom of the container and upwardly through the container;
• suspending the fiber pulp in the suspension contained in the cylindrical container to form a fiber pulp suspension, the fiber pulp suspension having an upper surface;
• diluting the fiber pulp suspension at a level that is below the upper surface of the fiber pulp suspension by spraying a liquid through the diluting nozzles in an backward direction relative to the rotational movement of the scraper element about the longitudinal axis of the container and adding liquid to increase a volume formed between the diluting nozzles and the upper surface by at least 50%, the diluting nozzles extending downwardly through the upper surface;
• mixing the fiber pulp suspension and the liquid for a time period ranging from between about three seconds and about thirty seconds to form a substantially homogenous diluted suspension by rotating the scraper element, the scraper element extending downwardly into the diluted suspension;
• and
• while forming the homogenous diluted suspension, permitting the homogenous diluted suspension to flow outwardly and over the overflow rim.

A pulp feeding device, comprising:

• a cylindrical container having a longitudinal axis and an upper end, the container containing a fiber pulp suspension having a surface layer;
• an overflow rim disposed at the upper end of the container, the fiber pulp suspension being permitted to continuously flow upwardly through the cylindrical container to flow outwardly over the overflow rim;
• a scraper arm positioned above the cylindrical container;
• a plurality of diluting nozzles in operative engagement with the scraper arm, the diluting nozzles extending downwardly into the fiber pulp suspension to substantially dilute the suspension with a liquid, each diluting nozzle having outlet openings defined therein;
• a driving member rotating the scraper arm and the diluting nozzles about the longitudinal axis of the container;
• a plurality of scraper elements disposed above the container and in operative engagement with the scraper arm, the scraper elements being rotatable about the longitudinal axis at the surface layer of the fiber pulp suspension to thoroughly mix the liquid and the fiber pulp suspension to form a homogenized mixture, the scraper elements directing the homogenized mixture radially outwardly to permit the homogenized mixture to flow over the overflow rim, each scraper element having a lagging end portion, the lagging end portions extending obliquely across the outlet openings of the diluting nozzles.

A pulp feeding device, comprising:

• a cylindrical container having a longitudinal axis and an upper end, the container containing a fiber pulp suspension having a surface layer;
• an overflow rim disposed at the upper end of the container, the fiber pulp suspension being permitted to continuously flow upwardly through the cylindrical container to flow over the overflow rim;
• a scraper arm positioned above the cylindrical container, the scraper arm being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the container, the scraper arm having a lower edge, the scraper arm being tube-shaped and extending diametrically above the container;
• a hollow axle attached to the scraper arm, the hollow axle having an inlet opening defined therein for receiving diluting liquid, the hollow axle being in fluid communication with the scraper arm so that diluting fluid is permitted to flow from the hollow axle into the scraper arm;
• driving elements operatively attached to the hollow axle to rotate the hollow axle;
• a plurality of diluting nozzles in operative engagement with the scraper arm, the diluting nozzles extending downwardly into the fiber pulp suspension to substantially dilute the suspension with a liquid, the diluting nozzles having a lower edge so that a distance is formed between the lower edge of the scraper elements and the lower edge of the diluting nozzles, the distance is between about 150 millimeters and about 400 millimeters, the diluting nozzles being in fluid communication with the scraper arm so that diluting liquid is permitted to flow from the scraper arm out through the diluting nozzles;
• the diluting nozzles having outlet openings formed therein, the outlet openings facing away from a radial rotational direction of a rotational movement of the diluting nozzles when the diluting nozzles are rotated about the longitudinal axis of the container;
• flow controlling means for controlling the flow of diluting liquid from the scraper arm to the diluting nozzles, said flow controlling means disposed in the diluting nozzles;
• and
• a plurality of scraper elements in operative engagement with the scraper arm, the scraper elements rotatable about the longitudinal axis at the surface layer of the fiber pulp suspension to thoroughly mix the liquid and the fiber pulp suspension to form a homogenized mixture, the scraper elements directing the mixture radially outwardly to permit the mixture to flow over the overflow rim, the scraper elements being in operative engagement with the diluting nozzles and disposed radially behind the diluting nozzles at a sloping angle relative to a rotational movement of the diluting nozzles when the diluting nozzles are rotated about the longitudinal axis, each scraper element having a lagging portion, the lagging portions extending obliquely across the openings of the diluting nozzles.