Feeding of comminuted fibrous material to a pulping process

A method of handling comminuted cellulosic fibrous material utilizing a chisel-type discharge from a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material bin having a first hollow substantially right circular cylindrical first body portion, a second hollow transition portion connected to the bottom of the first portion and having a substantially circular cross-section open top and a substantially rectangular cross-section open bottom and a larger cross-sectional area at the top than at the bottom and opposite non-vertical gradually tapering side walls, and at least one metering device mounted below the open bottom of the second transition portion in a housing;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) feeding comminuted cellulosic fibrous material into the top of the first body portion;
• (b) causing the material to flow downwardly through the first portion and into and through the second portion;
• (c) causing the material to flow through a third transition portion from the second portion substantially directly to the metering device so that the flow of material from one side to the other is substantially uniform;
• and
• (d) discharging the material from the bin using the metering device.

A vessel for handling comminuted cellulosic fibrous material comprising:

• a first hollow top portion;
• a second hollow transition portion disposed substantially directly below said first portion, said second transition portion having a larger cross-sectional area at a top portion thereof than at an open bottom portion thereof with a first width, and opposite non-vertical gradually tapering side walls,
• a third hollow transition portion located substantially directly below said second hollow transition portion;
• at least one adjustable baffle operatively disposed between said second and third transition portions to adjust the effective dimension of said first width;
• and
• a metering device disposed below said third transition portion for transporting comminuted cellulosic material from said third transition portion to a discharge;
• and
• said third transition portion, during operation, not being completely full of comminuted cellulosic material so that compression relief is provided.

A vessel assembly for handling comminuted cellulosic fibrous material comprising:

• a substantially hollow chisel-type convergence vessel including a substantially cylindrical main body portion with opposite side walls gradually converging to a substantially rectangular outlet;
• a discharge device below said outlet;
• and
• means for substantially continuously and uniformly withdrawing material from said outlet with minimal or no lateral or upward thrust on the material above said outlet, and for substantially uniformly and continuously discharging the material from said metering device.

A method of treating comminuted cellulosic fibrous material using a vessel having a hollow main body and a chisel-shaped discharge to a substantially rectangular bottom outlet, and a discharge device below the outlet, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) feeding material into the top of the vessel to flow downwardly toward the bottom;
• (b) substantially continuously and uniformly withdrawing material from the outlet;
• and
• (c) operating the discharge device so that there is substantially no upward thrust on the material above the outlet as a result of the discharge device and so that the discharge of material from the metering device is substantially uniform and continuous.

A bin for handling comminuted cellulosic fibrous material comprising:

• a hollow substantially right circular cylindrical first, main body portion having a substantially vertical central axis, a top and an open bottom;
• a top wall closing off said top of said main body portion, and allowing introduction of particulate material into said hollow main body portion mounted thereon;
• a second hollow transition, portion connected to said bottom of said first body portion having a substantially circular cross-section open top and a substantially rectangular cross-section open bottom and a first width dimension, and a larger cross-sectional area at said top thereof than at said bottom thereof, and opposite non-vertical gradually tapering side walls;
• at least one metering device mounted below said open bottom of said second transition portion, in a housing;
• a third, hollow transition, portion located between said second hollow transition portion and said metering device housing and having a height;
• a discharge operatively connected to said metering device housing;
• said at least one metering device being operable to move particulate material from said bottom of said third transition portion to said discharge;
• wherein the height of said third hollow transition portion is at least equal to said first width dimension of said open bottom of said second hollow transition portion;
• and
• wherein said metering device comprises at least one metering screw that is disposed at an angle of at least about two degrees sloping downwardly from the horizontal from a position furthest from the discharge to a position closest to the discharge.

A bin for handling comminuted cellulosic fibrous material comprising:

• a hollow substantially right circular cylindrical first, main body portion having a substantially vertical central axis, a top and an open bottom;
• a top wall closing off said top of said main body portion, and allowing introduction of particulate material into said hollow main body portion mounted thereon;
• a second hollow transition, portion connected to said bottom of said first body portion having a substantially circular cross-section open top and a substantially rectangular cross-section open bottom and a first width dimension, and a larger cross-sectional area at said top thereof than at said bottom thereof, and opposite non-vertical gradually tapering side walls;
• at least one metering device mounted below said open bottom of said second transition portion, in a housing;
• a third, hollow transition, portion located between said second hollow transition portion and said metering device housing and having a height;
• a discharge operatively connected to said metering device housing;
• said at least one metering device being operable to move particulate material from said bottom of said third transition portion to said discharge;
• wherein the height of said third hollow transition portion is at least equal to said first width dimension of said open bottom of said second hollow transition portion;
• and
• wherein said third hollow transition portion has a second width dimension greater than said first with dimension.