Face mounted installation fixture and associated methods

1. A refiner plate segment for refining lignocellulosic material comprising:

a top surface comprising bars and grooves for refining lignocellulosic material;

a bottom surface adapted to interface with a mounting surface of a refiner;

a first hole in the top surface and a second hole in the bottom surface;

wherein the first hole comprises a threaded portion adapted to receive a first threaded bolt and wherein the second hole comprises a threaded portion adapted to receive a second threaded bolt,

wherein the first hole and second hole are the same hole through the plate segment,

wherein the first threaded bolt is adapted to cinch a face-mounted plate carrier between a head portion of the first threaded bolt and the refiner plate segment, and

wherein the face-mounted plate carrier comprises a collar extending beyond the bottom surface, wherein the collar rests on a portion of the plate segment circumferential to the hole such that a gap is formed, wherein the gap prevents the entire surface of the bars and grooves from contacting the face-mounted plate carrier.

2. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded bolt comprises a temporary installation bolt adapted to be removed prior to refining lignocellulosic material.

3. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded bolt and the second threaded bolt are substantially the same bolt.

4. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the hole is machined directly into the refiner plate segment.

5. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 further comprising an insert having a hardness less than the hardness of the bars and grooves of the refiner plate segment, wherein the threaded portion of the hole is machined directly into the insert.

6. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 further comprising at least two holes connecting the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein each hole comprises a threaded portion adapted to receive a threaded bolt.

7. The refiner plate segment according to claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises a cylinder or a portion thereof.

8. An assembly for transporting a refiner plate segment to a refiner refining lignocellulosic material comprising:

a refiner plate segment comprising:

a top surface comprising bars and grooves for refining lignocellulosic material;

a bottom surface;

a hole connecting the top surface to the bottom surface;

wherein the hole comprises a threaded portion adapted to receive a first threaded bolt from both the top surface and a second threaded bolt the bottom surface; and

a face-mounted carrier adapted to be adjacent to the top portion of the refiner plate segment and adapted to receive a bolt that is threaded into the threaded portion of the refiner plate segment, wherein the face-mounted plate carrier comprises a collar extending beyond the bottom surface, wherein the collar rests on a portion of the plate segment circumferential to the hole such that a gap is formed, wherein the gap prevents the entire surface of the bars and grooves from contacting the face-mounted plate carrier.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the first threaded bolt comprises a temporary installation bolt adapted to be removed prior to refining lignocellulosic material, such that the face-mounted carrier is not adjacent to the refiner plate segment while lignocellulosic material is refined.

10. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the first threaded bolt and the second threaded bolt are substantially the same bolt.

11. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the refiner plate segment further comprises an insert having a hardness less than the hardness of the bars and grooves of the refiner plate segment, wherein the threaded portion of the hole is machined directly into the insert.