ES366874A1 - Apparatus for separating fibers from a conveying air stream - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter, for removing entrained fibres from an air stream drawn from adjacent textile machinery, comprises a tubular filter element 48 into which the air flows at the top and whose lower end opens into a sack 12 for receiving the fibres, a vertically reciprocating annular plunger 26 periodically compacting the' fibres by pushing them further into the sack. In Fig. 1 the sack 12 is pervious and serves as the main air filter element, element 48 being folded in re-entrant fashion at 52, 54 and biassed by spring 62 to its retracted position. The bottom of element 48 is attached to plunger 26, and when the plunger is extended (Fig. 2, not shown) the element opens out, and its lower half extends clear of the housing 10 and temporally filters the air flowing down the element from inlet 42, 44. The pressure drop across bag 12 is monitored by means 70, which switches on a motor (38) to rotate a set of three screws 32 threaded into sleeves 33 to whose lower extensions 30 the plunger 26 is secured. The plunger then descends, until lower limit switch 66 reverses the motor, then rises until upper limit switch 66 cuts it off. A device 74 monitors the plunger movements, and gives a signal when they become too frequent because bag 12 is full. The plunger could alternatively be pneumatically/hydraulically actuated. Instead of being telescopically folded, element 48 could be of bellows construction or simply made of elastic material to follow the movements of the plunger. In Fig. 4 (not shown) the sack 12 may be impervious, the element (48') is not extensible and fan (46') is connected to the space outside and downstream of the element. Plunger 46 descends through the element to push fibres therefrom into the sack through a lower hopper (86) whose wall is toothed to prevent fibres passing upwards. A plug of fibres may seal the hopper so that there is no need to Secure the sack therearound.