Refiner Blade Element With Stepped Side Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refiner blade configurations predetermine the rotation direction, limiting the versatility and efficiency of the refining process, and can cause clogging due to traditional dam structures at the bottom of blade grooves.

Innovation Solution

The blade element features blade bars with successive interconnected parts and steps on their side walls, allowing rotation in both directions and eliminating the need for traditional dams by using beveled surfaces to guide material efficiently through the refining zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional blade bar configurations are used with dams at the bottom of blade grooves, then material can be directed through the refining zones, but the blade grooves become clogged and rotation direction is predetermined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefining efficiencyVSAvoidclogging resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the traditional dam structure from the blade groove bottom and replaces it with steps on the side walls of the blade bars. This extraction of the harmful dam element eliminates the clogging problem while maintaining the material directing function through the stepped side wall configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the material directing structure at the bottom of the blade groove (traditional dam), the invention inverts the approach by placing steps on the side walls of the blade bars. This inversion changes the location and orientation of the material guiding feature from horizontal (bottom) to vertical (side wall), preventing clogging while achieving the same functional goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If blade bars have asymmetric configuration for unidirectional rotation, then refining performance is optimized for one direction, but the refiner cannot rotate in both directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefining performanceVSAvoidrotation direction flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The blade bar configuration uses asymmetric steps on the side walls that are positioned to provide optimal refining performance. The asymmetry is in the step positioning and geometry rather than in a directional bias, allowing the structure to function effectively regardless of rotation direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The blade bar design with steps on both side walls creates a universal structure that performs the same refining function whether the refiner rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise. The stepped side wall configuration serves multiple rotation directions simultaneously, making the blade element adaptable to bidirectional operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10953405B2Blade element

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 VALMET TECH INC

AI summary

A blade element (1) for a refiner for refining fibrous material comprises a refining surface (3) provided with blade bars (8, 10) and blade grooves (9, 11) there-between. The blade bars (8, 10) have side walls (8″, 8′″) facing away from one another. The side walls (8″, 8′″) of the at least one blade bar (8) comprise on both of its side walls (8″, 8′″) steps (14″, 14′″) which extend at least partly in the transversal direction relative to the side walls (8″, 8′″) of the blade bar (8) and away from one another.