US1420162A

US1420162A - Apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw

Info

Publication number: US1420162A
Application number: US309374A
Authority: US
Inventors: Toles Justin Kay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-07-08
Filing date: 1919-07-08
Publication date: 1922-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1939-06-20

Description

J. K. TOLES. ERIZING AND FELTING CEREAL STRAW. APPLICATION FILED JULYB, 1919.

APPARATUS FOR FIB Patented June 2% 1922.

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WITNESS ((5: 5: (2

A TTORNEYS J. K. TOLES. R FIBERIZING AND FELTING CEREAL STRAW. APPLICATION FILED JULY8, 1919.

APPARATUS F0 Patented June 20, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JNVENTOR J/T: 75/65 A TTORNE YS .I. K. TOLES. APPARATUS FOR FIBERIZING AND FELTING CEREAL STRAW- 1,420 16-2 APPLICATION FILED JULYB. I919.

Patented June 20 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fk in INVENTOR fl. files A TTORNE YS STATES eerie JUSTIN KAY TOLES, 0F SAN FRANCISCU, CALIFOENIA.

APPARATUS FOR IE'IBEREZING AND FELTING CEREAL STE/AW.

Application filed July a, 1919. Serial No. 309,374.

To all whom, it may concern I Be it known that I, JUSTIN KAY Torus, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cit and county of San Francisco and Stateof alifornia, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Fiberizin and Felting Cereal Straw, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, such as rice straw. 7

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for making boards or sheets of fiberized cereal straw.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings anddescription, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1, 1" and 1 are plan views partly in diagrammatical form of different portions of the apparatus of my invention.

Takentogether they'show a plan View of the entire apparatus. Figures 2, 2 and 2 are vertical sectional views taken longitudinally through the center of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 1 and 1 respectively. Figure 3 is a detail view on a larger scale of the fluted crushin and drawing rollers shown at the upper right corner of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail view on a larger scale of one of the laterally reciprocating Slashers shown in Figure 2 to the right of the large feed drum.

The complete apparatus of my invention may be divided for purposes of description, in acoordance'with the various steps of the process carried out, into the following parts or units 1. Intake feed. unit, for continuouslyfeed ing material into the apparatus.

2. Continuous cooking unit, in which the straw, which is preferably rice straw, is fiberized by cooking in an alkaline solution to loosen the gummy substances surrounding the fibers.

3. Drawing and breaking unit, in which the material is macerated and the long fibers broken up.

a. Waterproofing unit, in which the fibers are washed and agitated and thoroughly impregnated with any suitable waterproofing solution.

5. Fiber drawing and'spreading unit, in which the waterproofed fibers are accumulated in a felted layer upon a screen and lifted from the waterproofing liquid.

6. Continuous dryer unit, in which the felted layer of fiberizedmaterial is conveyed through a dryer box, to evaporate the excess moisture from the material.

7. Softening and trimming unit, in which the dried sheets of fiberized material are rendered less stifi and inflexible and are trimmed to the desired width.

The first three of the above units comprise a tank 2 divided longitudinally down the center by a partition wall 3 having an opening 4: therethrough so that the two sides are in constant communication. Because of the large bulk of the material at. the beginning of the process, this portion of the apparatus is preferably in duplicate, the same process being carried out on each side of the partition. A conveyor 6 is arranged to deliver raw stock into the head of the tank where it is first seized by the forks 7 of the drum 8 and swept around on the curved bottom. 9 and thrown between the wire mesh belt carrier 11 arranged onthe bottom of the tank, and the draper 12 arranged above the bottom carrier. The lower reach of the draper 12 is arranged below the level of the caustic solution in the tank in which the straw is cooked and therefore the straw is kept submerged as it is carried through the cookin unit between the two conveyors at a speed of 1 to 2 feet per minute, according to the temperature and strength of the cans tic solution. Steam pipes 13 are disposed in the bottom of the tank to heat the solution which is referably maintained at about 190 F. he caustic strength is from .5 to 1% b volume according to factors determine by the condition of the straw.

A pipe 14: is connected into the foot of the tank and a pump 16 draws solution from that end and delivers it through the header 17 into the head of the tank so that a constant circulation of the solution is maintained. Caustic is introduced into the tank in the first instance through the valve controlled pipe 18, and water through the valve controlled pipe 19, both connected into the header 17. A valve controlled 'pipe 21 connected to the pump, discharges into a sump.

After the cooked straw emerges from between the two conveyors, it is caught by the wooden slat conveyor 23 formed with projecting pins 24, and carried upwardly out second pair, so that the pieces of straw are rial to the reciprocating slashers 48.

not only crushed, but pulled apart or broken into relatively short lengths. The various moving parts so far referred to are driven by the motor 29 suitably connected as by belts to pulleys arranged on the several shafts.

The next two units are arranged in the tank 31 shown in Figures 1? and 2 This tank is forthe washing and waterproofing solution, and is provided with heating pipes 32, and pipe connections 33 and pump 34 similar to those already described in connection with the preceding tank. The crushed and broken fibers emerging from the fluted rollers 28 fall upon the inclined plate 36 and from thence to the conveyor 37 arranged on the bottom of the tank. As the material is carried along by the conveyor 37, it is worked over and agitated by the forks 38. Each set of forks is mounted on cranks 39 and fulcrumed on the rod 41. The cranks are mountedv in suitable bearings 42 arranged on the sides of the tank and are driven by suitable belt connections with the motor 43. The fibers are washed and freed from any remaining gummy materials, and thoroughly impregnated with the waterproofing material during their agitation on the conveyor 37 and atthe end of the conveyor are caught by the projecting pins 44 of the feed drum 46, and forced upwardly between the drum and the perforated plate 47, pressing out much of the liquid and delivering a loose mat or layer of the mate- The slashers oneof which is shown in side elevation in Figure 4, are reciprocated across the loosely matted material near the surface of the liquid in the tank to break up any lumps of fiber and reduce the material to a homogeneously matted mass. The slashers are moved by suitable connection to cranks on the shaft 49 connected by appropriate belts and gears to the motor 43;

From the slashers, the matted material passes to. the slatted draper 51 where it is worked and pressed to felt it, by the rollers 52. Both draper and workers are provided with short teeth, and the workers are given a short longitudinal movement in addition to their rotary motion, by rods 53 connected to cranks arranged on the shaft 54. Belts 56 driven mediately by the motor 43 turn the workers at a somewhat slower speed than that of the draper. Between the cylindrical workers are arranged patter-s, comprising narrow plates 57 having a plurality of pins on the lower surface. These plates are lifted up and pressed down upon the matted material on the draper to facilitate the mat ting process, by the rods 58 formed in two pieces with a resilient coupling 59 therebetween. The rods are reciprocated by cranks arranged on the shafts 61 which are turned by belts 62. i

As the material passes upwardly on the inclined draper 51, it is carried out of and above the level of the liquid in the tank and during the working of the fibers most of the liquid drains back into the tank. From the draper 51, the material passes over the idler 63 and under the foraminated drum or compression roller 64 onto the screen conveyor 66, upon which it is conveyed through the dryer box 67.

The dryer box comprises a closed casing provided with flexibly mounted rollers 68, between-which the conveyor and its load of matted or felted fiber enters and leaves the dryer without permitting a. circulation of air through the dryer casing. Heating coils condenses in drops and which run down the sides and drains away. The condensing arch is kept cool by water circulating behind it in the chamber 72.

As the felted fiber sheet emerges from the dryer, it is substantially dry and quite stiff. In /order to soften it and impart a greater degree of flexibility, it is run between rubber faced rollers 73 which by their crushing action achieve the desired results.

The sheet next passes under the rollers 74 which firmly hold the sheet while the adj ustably positioned saws 76 trim it to the desired width.

The conveyor 66 softening rollers and saws are driven by suitable belt and gear connections with a motor 77 i I claim:

1. In an apparatus for fiberizing andfelting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for crushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means for felt ing the fibers into a sheet, and means for drying the sheet.

2. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felt means for crushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means for accumulating an even layer of the fibers,

means for working the fibers in the layer to cause them to felt, and means for drying'the sheet so formed.

3. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for crushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means for washing the fibers, means for felting the fibers into a sheet, and means for drying the sheet.

4c. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for crushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means for washing and waterproofing the fibers,

means for felting the fibers into a sheet, and

means for drying the sheet.

5. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for cooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, means for crushing and breaking the fibers, a tank adapted to contain a waterproofing liquid, means for agitating and feeding the fibers through said liquid, means felting the fibers into a sheet, and meansfor drying the sheet.

6. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, a tank adapted to hold a quantity of caustic solution, means for conveying the straw through said solution submerged therein, means for crushing and breaking the fibers of the straw, means for conve ing the straw from said tank to said crushing and breaking means, a second tank adapted to hold a waterproofing liquid, means for agitating and feeding the fibers through said liquid to wash them and impregnate them with the waterproofing material, means for accumulating an even layer of the fiber, means for breaking up lumps of the fiber, means for felting the fiber into a sheet, and means for drying the sheet.

7. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for crushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means for accumulating av layer of fiber, means for breakin up lumps of fiber in said layer, and means or working the fibers to cause them to felt.

8. In an apparatus for fiberizing and feltingcereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for accumulating a layer of fiber, reciprocating slashers for breaking up lumps of fiber in said layer, a conveyor for receivingsaid layer, and cylindrical rollers to work the fibers of said layer on said con-. veyor to felt the same into a sheet.

9, In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for accumulating a layer of fiber, means for felting the fiber into a sheet, a conveyor for receiving said sheet, a closed casing through which said conveyor passes, means for heating the inside of said casing, and means for condensing the moisture evaporated from the sheet in said casing.

10. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for separating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means for accumulating a layer of fiber, means for felting the fiber into a sheet, means for drying said sheet and means for softening said sheet to impart pliability thereto.

11. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for cooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, a tank adapted'to contain liquid, a conveyor for carrying. the fiber through said tank and liquid, a plurality of forks arranged above said conveyor, means for moving said forks to work over and agitate said fiber, means for accumulating an even layer of the fiber, a conveyor for carrying said layer out of said liquid, and means for felting the fiber while on said conveyor.

12. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for cooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, a tank adapted to contain liquid, a conveyor for carrying the fiber through said tank and liquid, a curved foraininated plate in said tank, a drum having pins projecting from the surface thereof arranged to revolve adjacent said late, a

conveyor for receiving the layer of her delivered from between said drum and plate and carrying the same out of said liquid, means for working the fiber in said layer on the conveyor to felt the same, means forsqueezing out liquid from the felted sheet, and means for drying the sheet. 13. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means for cooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, a plurality of pairs of fluted rollers, means for driving each succeeding pair of rollers faster than the preceding pair whereby the straw fibers are broken into short pieces, means for delivering the cooked straw to the fluted rollers, means for accumulating the macerated and broken fibers into a homogeneous layer, means for felting the fibers and means for drying the fiber sheet.

14. In an apparatus for fiberiz-ing and felting cereal straw, a tank ada ted to hold liquid, a conveyor arranged in t e bottom of said tank, a second conveyor spaced from the first but submerged within said liquid,

means for delivering said straw between said conveyors whereby it is kept submerged within the liquid and carried therethrough, and means for heating the liquid to cook said straw.

15. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, a tank adapted to hold liquid, a conveyor arranged in the bottom of said tank, a second conveyor spaced from the first but submerged within said liquid, means for delivering said straw between said conveyors whereby it is kept submerged within the liquid and carried therethrough, means for heating the liquid, means for squeezing the cooked straw arranged above the liquid, and a conveyor for carrying the straw from the ends of the first two conveyors to said squeezing means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco, California, this 27th day of June 1919.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES.