US1067370A - Cotton-cleaner. - Google Patents

Description

W. A. PATTERSON. COTTON CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..19,1912.

1,067,370. Patented Ju1y'l5, 1913.

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WITNESSES:

8% M MQMM A TTORA/EY W. A. PATTERSON.

COTTON CLEANER.

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COTTON CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1912.

Patented July 15, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN A. PATTERSON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 COTTON HARVESTER COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COTTON-CLEANER.

To all 0117mm it may concern Be it known that I, \VARREN A. PATTER- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cotton cleaners. Its object is to provide a machine for cleaning seed cotton before the same is ginned, and for ren'loving all of the dirt, hulls, twigs and other foreign matter, such as are usually accunmlated with seed cotton during the process of picking the same, more particularly when mechanical means are em ployed to gather the cotton.

The object of the invention is more specifically to provide a cotton cleaning ma chine comprising a rotatably mounted cylinder having slatted walls, and a means to gradually shift cotton, constantly supplied at one extremity of the cylinder to the other end thereof, the foreign matter being permitted to escape through the slats of the cylinder during this process.

The object of the invention is finally to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, simple and efficient and comparatively easy to construct, and also one that will not be likely to get out of working order.

ith these and various other objects in view, my invention has relation to certain novel features of the construction and operation, an example of which described in the following specification and illustrated in the accom mnying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the cotton cl aning machine, the same being viewed from the discharge extremity of the cylinder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the salne. Fig. 3 is an axial vertical sectional view of the cylinder, the section being taken upon the line X*X of Fig. 1. looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is an axial, horizontal sectional view of the cylinder. the section being taken upon the line Y--Y of the Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional detail view of a portion of the cylinder wall showing the slatted construction thereof. Fig. (i is a detail view showing a portion Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19,

of one of the cylinder slats, and showing the spikes which are made to pro ect into l Patented July 15, 1913.

1912. Serial No. 684,796.

the cylinder from said slats to retain the cotton. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, sectional, detail view of a special form of air out-let, adapted to project a blast of air into the cylinder along the entire length of its Wall, the section being taken upon the line ZZ of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate similar parts in all the figures, the numeral 1 denotes three large metal rings, which form part of the cylinder frame work, one of said rings being disposed at each extremity of the cylinder, and the third one at a point midway between the two end rings. Each of said rings is provided with a flange member 2, of a diameter somewhat less than that of the outer periphery of the ring. The flange members of the two end rings face toward the discharge end of the cylinder, and that of the middle ring faces toward the in-let end of the cylinder. A rigid connection is formed between the three rings 1 by a plurality of parallel rods or pipes 3, passing centrally through the rings at equidistant points, a sufficient number of the members 3 being employed to produce a strong cylindrical, frame work. The pipes 23 also pass through a number of large wooden rings at, one of which is located closely adjacent to each of the end rings 1, and one at each side of the middle ring 1. To the outer surfaces of the wooden rings it there are secured a plurality of spaced slats of composite construction. Each slat comprises a member 5 substantially square in cross section and nailed or otherwise secured to the wooden rings at and a wedge shaped member 6 surmounted upon the member 5 with its sharp edge outermost. The members 5 and 6 will both preferably have the nature of strips of wood, although other materials might be employed for the purpose. The elongated slot or spaces between the slats will be of such a width thatleaves, twigs. hulls and similar foreign matter will be able to pass through. A plurality of sharp spikes 7 slightly spaced from each other are embedded in each of the members 5, their pointed extremities being permitted to project a short distance into the cylinder from said members.

In order to support the cylinder in a horizontal position, the flange 2, carried by each of the rings 1, is allowed to rest upon a pair of large rollers 8, mounted in transverse alinemcnt in such a manner as to contact with the opposite lower portions of said flange. The three rollers 8 which are thus disposed at each side of the cylinder are mounted fast upon a horizontal shat't mounted in three bearings 10, one of which is located adjacent to each of said rollers. The bearings 10 at each extremity of the cylinder are supported by the end portions of a horizontal. cross piece 11 upheld by wooden uprights 12. The space between the cross pieces 11 and the floor is boarded in atcach extremity forming the vertical wall designated by the numeral 13. The two bearings 10 which support the middle portions of the shaft 9 are each surmounted upon a post 14, secured to the floor upon which the machine rests. In order to communicate rotation to the cylinder, a sprocket wheel may be mounted upon one of the shafts 9, as indicated at 15, said sprocket wheel forming part of any suitable mechanism for communicating rotation to the shaft. The rotation to which the shaft 9 is thus subjected will be imparted to the cylinder due to the heavy friction set up between the flanges 2 and the rollers 8 and occasioned by the weight of the cylinder. As an additional precaution against a possible displacement of the cylinder either in a longitudinal or transverse direction, a pair of rotatably mounted rollers 16 are made to contact with opposite upper portions of the flanges carried by the end rings 1. The two rollers 16 at each side of the cylinder are mounted fast upon a horizontal shaft 17, the extremities of which are mounted in hanger bearings 18, depending from the extremities of cross pieces 19 horizontally mounted upon the upper end of the uprights 20, two of which uprights are provided at each extremity of the cylinder, their lower ends being secured to the cross pieces 11. The skeleton frame work formed by the cross pieces 11, 19 and 20 in combination is further reinforced by a pair of parallel, horizontal beams 21 extending longitudinally above the cylinder and having their extremities secured to end portions of the cross pieces 19.

At the inlet of the extremity of the cylinder there is provided an inclined chute 22, having its lower end supported slightly above the bottom of the cylinder by a cross piece 23 rigidly extended between the adjacent uprights 20. The upper extremity of the chute is shown in the drawings as supported by a post or vertical bar 24, but it should be understood that a cotton elevator (not shown) will support the upper extremity of said chute and will discharge its contents into the same.

A description will now be given of the mechanism provided to produce a gradual displacement of the cotton from the inlet to the discharge end of the cylinder as the latter is rotated.

The two pairs of uprights 20 respectively provided at each end of the cylinder are connected by apair of oppositehorizontalbeams 25, passing through the cylinder. Thebeams carry upon their upper edges a plurality of equidistant bearing members 26, six of said members being shown in the drawings supported by each beam. Each pair of bearing members 26 supports the extremities of a rock shaft 27 mounted transverse of the cylinder, all of said rock shafts being in the same horizontal plane. Each of said rock shafts supports a plurality of downhanging. parallel rods 28, their number being sutticicnt to produce a spacing such that the bolls of cotton will not pass between the said rods. From one end of each of the three rock-shafts and adjacent to the inlet extremity of the cylinder, a pin 29 extends upwardly a short distance parallel to the rods 28. The upper extremities of. the three pins 29 each has pivotal. connection with a horizontal bar 30, extending longitudinally of the cylinder, and projecting a short dis tance from the cylinder at the discharge end thereof. Similarly a horizontal bar 31 has pivotal connection with one of the end rods 28, carried by each of the rock-shafts 27 nearest adjacent to the discharge end of the cylinder, the points of pivotal connection in this case being below the rock-shafts. The projecting free end of each horizontal bar 30 and 31 is supported by a hook member 32, two of which members are carried by one of the u]n'ights 20 at the discharge end of the cylinder. The bars 30 and 31 form elongated handles by which the rock-shafts may be subjected to a slight angular displacement, two of said handles being provided that it may be possible to adjust onehalf of the rock-shafts separately from the other half. It is obvious that this adjustment may be accomplished in either case by subjecting the rods 30 and 31 through a slight longitudinal displacement. Between the two uprights Qtl at the discharge end of the cylinder is mounted the lower edge end of an inclined chute 32, extending into the cylinder at a slight inclination, a pair of bracket members 3?) serving to support the lateral edges of said chute from said uprights. The upper edge of the chute terminates on a line substantially beneath the rock-shaft nearest adjacent to the dis charge end of the cylinder.

A description will now be given of a mechanisn'i employed to discharge a. blast of air radially into the cylinder along the entire length thereof.

At one side of the cylinder a blower fan 31 is mounted upon a suitable table 35, a driving pulley 36 being carried by the fan shaft and adapted to receive rotation from any suitable source of motive power. The fan outlet communicates with a pipe 37 which rises vertically adjacent to the middle portion of the side of the cylinder. Four branch pipes 38 COD'III'llUliCltG with the upper extremity of the pipe 37 and are adapted to discharge at four different points into an elongated box or casing 39 wedge shaped in cross section having a discharge opening ex tending the entire length of its reduced edge. A plurality of equally spaced vertical partitions 40 are diagonally mounted in the casing 39 (see Fig. 7) for the purpose of deflecting the blast of air discharged from the casing slightly toward the discharge end of the cylinder. It will later be made clear how the blast of air discharging from the casing 39 is employed to blow the seed cot ton from the cylinder wall so that it may fall upon the series of inclined rods 28.

Owing to the lightness of the seed cot ton it is difficult to give the air blast sufficient power to properly distribute the seed cotton across the entire width of the cylin der. For this reason an apparatus which will now be described is employed as an auxiliary to the air blast.

At each end of the cylinder a horizontal beam 41 is extended between the. uprights 20, said beam being located in each case slightly below the horizontal diameter of the cylinder. Adjacent to that side of the cylinder against which the air blast impinges, two parallel, horizontal shafts extemliiig from end to end of the cylinder are mounted in bearings 43, secured to the cross pieces 41. Each shaft 42 carries two series of arms 44 perpmulicular to each other and mounted closely adjacent, said arms being extended equally from the shaft in each direction. The space between the two shafts 42 is such that the end portions of the rods carried by one shaft will extend between those of the other. as the two shafts are rotated. The shafts 42 each carry a pulley 45 upon their rear extremities, which pulleys are adapted to be driven by a belt 46 having its lower portion passed over a pulley 47 carried by the rear end of one of the shafts 9. The belt 445 is crossed in order to communicate a like rotation to the shaft 4?, such that the arms 44 will supplement the blast of air in projecting the seed cotton across the cylinder.

The construction of the cotton cleaning machine having been above explained, a consecutive description of the operation will now be given.

A constant supply of seed cotton is fed into the chute 22. the rate of feeding being dependent upon speed of rotation of the cylinder and upon the adjustment of the rock shaft 27. The fibers of the cotton will be engaged by the spikes projecting inwardly from the cylinder slats and the cotton will therefore tend to adhere to the cylinder as the latter rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. As soon as the cotton has been rotated to a point opposite the casing 39. he air blast issuing from said casing will in'unediately blow the cotton to 'ard the center of the cylinder, the path along which it is blown traversing the path traveled by the rapidly rotating arms 44. The speed of rotation of the two shafts 42 will be such that a considerable velocity will be imparted to the seed cotton which is encountered by the rods 44. so that. said cotton in falling will drop upon the inclined rods farthest removed from said shaft 42. Some of the seed cotton will pass between the rotating rods 44, and the distance to which this is projected will be less. Thus the cotton will be evenly distributed upon the series of inclined rods 28, and in sliding from these rods to the bottom of the cylinder, the cotton will undergo a. slight for-- ward displacement. After discharging from each series of inclined rods 28. the cotton will then again be subjected to a partial rotation upon the cylinder wall. and the forwardly deflected air blast will cause it to fall upon a series of rods somewhat nearer to the discharge outlet. Thus the cotton will gradually feed from the inlet to the outlet extremity of the cylinder, during this process being thoroughly shaken up and frequently discharged in a thoroughly distributed condition upon the cylinder bottom. It is obvious that during this process. all foreign matter will have opportunity to sift out through the slats, falling to the floor beneath the cylinder. This method of separating the foreign matter from the seed cotton is dependent both upon the superior weight of the foreign matter and upon the fact that the foreign matter will have no such tendency to adhere to the spikes as is inherent in the cotton owing to its fibrous nature. The amount of cotton therefore that passes between the slats of the cylinder will be negligible. By adjusting the series of inclined rods 2% at different angles. the length of time required to pass the cotton through the cylinder may be sub jccted to adjustment. this adjustment being largely dependent upon the amount of foreign matter contained in the cotton.

if some form of mechanically operated harvesting machine has been employed to gather the cotton. there is usually a large amount of hulls. leaves. twigs. etc, contained in the crop and the al)ove-descrilwd machine will be found particularly ctficacious in removing such foreign matter from machine picked cotton before such cotton is subjected to the ordinary process of ginmng.

It will be seen that only a small number of the slots between members 5 are subjected to the air blast at a time, thus permitting the spikes 7 to carry the cotton up to the air blast so that it may be dislodged from the spikes and projected transversely of the. cylinder. The rods 28 are in the path of the projected cotton and it is caught thereby and then again delivered to the spikes.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form and proportions of parts and details of the above-described invention without sacrificing the advantages or de ')arting from the spirit thereof, and the same is therefore presented as including all such mtalitications as come within the scope of the following claims.

hat I claim is:

1. A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted, and means located extcriorly of the cylinder for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats, in combination with means for feeding the cotton hmgitmlinally of the cylinder.

A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted, a plurality of pointed projections extending radially inward from each slat. and means located exleriorly of the cylinder for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats, in combinaticn with means for feeding the cotton longitmlinally of the cylinder.

3. in a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, and an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, in combination with means for feeding the cotton longitudinally of the cylinder.

In a cotton clcaner a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast, device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a. plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openin s thereof, in combination with u ans for t eding the cotton longitudinally of the cylinder.

5. A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted and adapted to receive a supply of cotton at one extremity, means for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats. and in ans for producing a gradual displacement of the cotton toward the other cylinder extremity when the cylinder is being rotated.

(3. A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l cylinder rotatably mounted, and adapted to receive a supply of cotton at one extremity, a plurality of pointed projections extending radially inward from each slat means for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats, and means for producing a gradual displacement of the cotton toward the other cylinder extremity when the cylinder is being rotated.

7. A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted, and adapted to receive a supply of cotton at one extremity, a plurality of rock-shafts mounted transversely of the cylinder in horizontal alinement, a plurality of parallel rods extending downwardly from each of the said rock shafts, and means by which said rock-shafts may be simultaneously rocked.

8. A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted, a plurality of pointed projections extending radially inward from each slat of the cylinder, a plurality of rock-shafts mounted transversely of the cylinder in horizontal alinement, a plurality of parallel rods extending downwardly from each rock-shaft and a manually operated means by which the rockshafts may be simultaneously rocked.

9. A. cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably mounted adapted to re ceive a supply of cotton at one extremity, means for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats, a plurality of rcck'shafts mounted transversely of cylinder. in horizontal alinement, a plurality of parallel rods extending downwardly from each rock-shaft, and manually operated means for simultaneously rocking said shafts.

it). A cotton cleaner comprising a slatted cylinder rotatably nnmnled, adapted to receive a supply of cotton at one extremity, a plurality of pointed projections extending radially inward from each slat of said cylinder. means for discharging a blast of air into the cylinder through the slats, a plurality of rocleshafts transversely mounted within the cylinder and in horizontal alinement, plurality of parallel rods extending downwardly from each rock shaft, and means for simultaneously rocking said shafts.

11. ln a. cotton cleaner, a finale, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and lo *ated between the openings thereof, in combination with means located within the cylinder for producing a gradual longitudinal displacement of cotton introduced into one end of the cylinder.

12. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with cotton displacing members located within the cylinder and independent thereof.

13. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with cotton displacing members located within the cylinder and independent thereof, and controlling devices connected to the displacing members.

171. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engag ing projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with cotton displacing members pivotally supported in the cylinder independently thereof.

15. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with cotton displacing members pivotally supported in the cylinder in dependently thereof, and means for varying the angle of inclination of the displacing members.

16. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cyliir der mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openings of the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder Wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with cotton displacing mem bers pivotally supported in the cylinder in dependently thereof and elongated members having swinging connection with the displacing members.

17. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, said cylinder having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, an air blast device arranged outside of the cylinder having provision for directing a current of air through the openingsof the cylinder, and a plurality of cotton engaging projections directed inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder wall and located between the openings thereof, in combination with a plurality of cotton displacing members disposed transversely within the cylinder and arranged in series, one series in advance of the other longitudinally of the cylinder.

18. In a cotton cleaner, :1 frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame and having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, spaced circumferentially of the cylinder wall, and an air blast discharge device arranged exteriorly of the cylinder and having connection with a source of air supply, said air blast device being positioned so as to direct its air discharge through the openings of the cylinder.

19. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame and having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated hingitudinal openings, spaced circumferentially of the cylinder wall, and an air blast discharge device arranged eXteriorly of the cylinder having connection with a source of air supply, said air blast device being positioned so as to direct its air discharge through the openings of the cylinder, and cotton projecting members located within the cylinder and longitudinally thereof at one side and cooperating with the air blast discharge device.

20. In a cotton cleaner, a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame, and having in its cylindrical wall a plurality of elongated longitudinal openings, spaced circumferentially of the cylinder wall, an air blast discharge device arranged exteriorly of the cylinder and having connection with a source of air supply, said air blast device being positioned so as to direct its air discharge through the openings of the cylinder, and a member mounted within the cylinder adjacent the air blast discharge device and having cotton engaging fingers movable in the arc of a circle.

21. In a cotton cleaner, in combination with a frame, a revolving cylinder mounted on the frame and provided with peripheral openings, an air discharge device adjacent the exterior of the cylinder, a series of parallel rock shafts mounted within the cylinder transversely of the same, rods projecting from each rock shaft longitudinally of the cylinder in closely spaced order, and cotton engaging projections mounted on the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder.

2:2. The combination in a cotton cleaner, of a frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame and having its peripheral wall constructed of a. plurality of slats disposed longitudinally of the cylinder and spaced snfiiciently to provide elongated restricted slots therebetween, cotton engaging projections extending from the slats a short distance within the cylinder, and an air discharge nozzle arranged outside of the cylinder in such a manner as to aline with the slots between the slats.

23. The combination in a cotton cleaner, of a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame and having a cotton inlet at one end and a cotton outlet at the opposite end, said cylinder having provision on its inner peripheral wall for picking up cotton and carrying it circumferentially of the cylinder, a device for constantly dislodging the cotton from its association with the wall of the cylinder and projecting it transversely of the cylinder, and displacing members within the cylinder in the path of the projected cotton arranged in consecutive series, the series of displacing members being disposed transversely within the cylinder and separated sufliciently to permit the projected cotton to fall therefrom to the wall of the cylinder.

2%. The combination in a cotton cleaner, of a frame, a cylinder having elongated peripheral openings mounted to revolve on the frame and having a cotton inlet at one end and a cotton outlet at the opposite end, said cylinder having provision on its inner peripheral wall for picking up cotton and carrying it circumferentially of the cylinder, a device located outside of the cylinder for constantly dislodging the cotton from its association with the wall of the cylinder and projecting it transversely of the cylinder, and displacing members within the cylinder in the path of the projected cotton arranged in consecutive series, the series of displacing members being disposed transversely within the cylinder, and separated siiltiiciently to permit the projected cotton to fall therefrom to the wall of the cylinder.

'25. The combination in a, cotton cleaner, of a frame, a cylinder mounted to revolve on the frame having peripheral openings in its wall, and provided with a cotton inlet and a cotton outlet, cotton carrying projections on the inner side of the cylinder wall and associated with the openings thereof, and an air blast arranged outside of the cylinder and constructed and positioned to deliver air through a restricted number of the openings of the cylinder wall as the cylinder revolves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VARREN A. PATTERSON.

*itnesses D. C. RAMsEY, J. S. MURRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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