Device for reducing fibrous products.

摘要

A macerator for reducing soiled paper pulp products such as bedpans and the like has a housing (18) which is closeable by means of a lid (16) which is provided with an internal spray (72). At the base of the housing (18) is a rotatably mounted agitating blade (48) having two cutting edges inclined in different directions to the rotational axis of the cutting blade. The agitating blade is located and/or orientated asymmetrically within the housing. In particular, the axis of rotation of the agitating blade (48) may be inclined to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the axis of rotation may or may not intersect the longitudinal axis of the housing. Alternatively, or in addition, the agitating blade (48) may be displaced or offset from the longitudinal axis of the housing (18). This results in a high hydraulic shear between the agitating blade and the internal wall of the housing on liquid within the housing. The effect is pronounced when the blade is closly spaced from the wall of the housing. A valve which is particularly useful with the macerator has a valve closure member (52) is in the form of a relatively rigid sealing portion (56) connected to a flexible diaphragm portion (54). A pressure chamber is formed behind the sealing member and the diaphragm portion, and the sealing portion may be urged into engagement with a valve seat by application of fluid pressure behind the diaphragm and the sealing member.