Graduated Bedplate Openings for Pulp Processing Flow

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bedplates in pulp processing units have constant-sized openings, which fail to account for varying flow conditions across their surface, leading to inefficiencies in throughflow, backflow, and contaminant removal.

Innovation Solution

A bedplate with openings that vary in size, shape, orientation, or combinations thereof based on their position relative to wear strips and the radial distance from the center, allowing for optimized design based on local flow conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If constant-sized openings are used in the bedplate, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the throughflow performance and contaminant removal efficiency deteriorate due to varying flow conditions across the bedplate surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidthroughflow performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bedplate openings are designed with varying sizes, shapes, and/or orientations based on their specific locations on the bedplate surface. Openings in regions with higher flow velocities are made smaller, while openings in regions with lower flow velocities are made larger, creating local quality variations that optimize overall throughflow performance and contaminant removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric parameters of the openings (size, shape, orientation) are changed as a function of position on the bedplate surface. This parameter variation allows the bedplate to adapt to the non-uniform flow conditions created by the rotor, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If constant-sized openings are used in the bedplate, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the contaminant removal efficiency deteriorates due to uniform openings not adapting to local flow conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcontaminant removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bedplate openings are designed with varying sizes, shapes, and/or orientations based on their specific locations on the bedplate surface. Openings in regions with higher flow velocities are made smaller, while openings in regions with lower flow velocities are made larger, creating local quality variations that optimize overall throughflow performance and contaminant removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric parameters of the openings (size, shape, orientation) are changed as a function of position on the bedplate surface. This parameter variation allows the bedplate to adapt to the non-uniform flow conditions created by the rotor, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If varying size and shape openings are used in the bedplate, then the throughflow and contaminant removal performance improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughflow performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bedplate openings are designed with varying sizes, shapes, and/or orientations based on their specific locations on the bedplate surface. Openings in regions with higher flow velocities are made smaller, while openings in regions with lower flow velocities are made larger, creating local quality variations that optimize overall throughflow performance and contaminant removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric parameters of the openings (size, shape, orientation) are changed as a function of position on the bedplate surface. This parameter variation allows the bedplate to adapt to the non-uniform flow conditions created by the rotor, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250137197A1Bedplates having graduated openings for pulp processing units

Publication Date: 2025.05.01 KADANT BLACK CLAWSON LLC

AI summary

A bedplate for a pulp processing unit includes a plate having an upper axial surface, a lower axial surface, and plurality of openings extending through the plate from the upper axial surface to the lower axial surface. Each of the plurality of openings has a shape, a size, and an angle. The shape is the cross-sectional shape, the size is equal to the largest cross-sectional dimension, and the angle is an angle formed between a centerline of each of the plurality of openings and an axial line parallel to a center axis of the bedplate. The shape, the size, the orientation of the shape, the angle, or combinations thereof of the plurality of openings varies depending on a location of the opening on the bedplate. A pulp processing unit comprising the bedplate is also disclosed.