US2114553A - Separator - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1938. a c WOODFORD 2,114,553

SEPARATOR Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Swan 1M Bronson C. Wooaforc/ April 8- I B. c. WQODFORD SEIARATOR Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1938 'i' Oi FlC SEPARATOR Bronson C. Woodford, Dallas, Tex., assignor to The Murray Company, Dallas, Tex, a corporation of Texas Application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 87,020

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in separators.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton separator which will efficiently drop the cotton from the airstream which draws the cotton from the wagon, or other source.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton separator which is so constructed that a continuous suction or pull may 10 be effected, which makes for more efiicient feeding of the cotton into the separator.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton separator wherein a portion of the separating screen extends over the inlet, with means for wiping the entire surface of the screen, whereby upon the introduction of the cotton into the separator, the air is immediately separated therefrom and passes upwardly through said screen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cotton sepaartor' having an open reel therein, whereby substantially no obstruction to the cotton introduced into the separator is had, which permits the cotton to quickly fall downwardly within said separatorby gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved separator wherein the incoming cotton is dropped into a deadair space, and means for removing the cotton from this space,

whereby the cotton emitting from the separator is entirely free of air.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a separator having a comparatively coarse screen therein, with means for constantly keepmg the entire surface of said screen clean, whereby the air may readily pass therethrough and also whereby particles of dirt, or other extraneous matter may also be separated from the cotton.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton separator having a flared inlet, whereby choking of said inlet is obviated and also whereby the incoming cotton may expand to open up said cotton and separate the docks thereof, which greatly improves the condition of the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum paddle wheel for a cotton separator which is simple and sturdy in construction, and which is arranged so that its flexible blades may be readily replaced without removing the wheel from the separator.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together ,.with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of a separator, constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view, having an end wall removed,

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the same,

Figure 4 is an enlarged, partial vertical, sectional View of the vacuum wheel,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the same, and having a portion of the casing broken away, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial perspective of the paddle wheel.

In the drawings, the numeral iii designates an air-tight casing or housing which is preferably constructed of sheet metal, or other suitable material. An enlarged air conduit ii is connected to the lower end of the rear wall of the housing and communicates with the interior thereof. The conduit is preferably disposed at an angle so that a free passage of air from the housing into said conduit may be had. A suitable cotton suction fan (not shown) is located in the other end of the conduit ii and thus, it will be seen that said fan will draw an unobstructed stream of air from the housing into the conduit.

The front wall of the casing or housing extends forwardlyand converges toward the central por tion of said housing, whereby a reduced cotton inlet it is provided at the extreme forward end of the housing. It is pointed out that this inlet extends transversely throughout the length of the housing. A suitable transition M is connected with the inlet i3, and this transition communicates with a conductor (not shown) leading to the wagon or other source of cotton supply. It is obvious that when the suction means at the end of the conduit Ii is operating, cotton is drawn through the transition i l, inlet i3 and into the housing Ill. The suction means exerts an undiminished, contiuous pull on the cotton within the transition i l due to the location of the inlet i3 centrally of the housing and also due to the particular disposition of the conduit H, whereby an even flow of cotton into the housing is had.

The lower end of the housing is provided with a transverse opening it which extends the full length thereof and a suitable discharge spout Iii which has a general circular shape in cross-section, is connected to the discharge opening. A Vacuum paddle wheel ll is rotatably mounted within the discharge spout and is so constructed as to prevent the escape of air through the discharge spout while permitting the discharge of cotton from the housing iii. The details of the paddle wheel will be hereinafter described. A suitable outlet conductor i3 is connected to the lower end of the spout iii.

For preventing the cotton which is drawn into the housing iii through the inlet 13 from escaping through the air conduit l i, and also for directing such cotton to the discharge spout 55, a curved metal sheet I8 is located within the housing. This sheet is suitably secured to supporting members 19 which are fastened to the rear and upper wall of the housing. The supporting members it not only hold the sheet 18 in position within the housing but also serve to space said sheet from the rear wall thereof, whereby an air space or passage 2% is provided between said sheet and the rear wall of the housing. As is clearly shown in Figure 3, the sheet 18 extends from the upper end of the inclined front wall of the housing and curves rearwardly and downwardly in front of the open end of the air conduit Ii. The sheet is provided with a plurality of perforations or openings 2! which extend from its extreme upper end down to a point at some distance from the lower end thereof. In other words, the perforations terminate short of the lower edge of the sheet, whereby a solid baffle 22 is formed by this unperforated lower end of the sheet. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the solid portion or bafiie 22 of the sheet extends transversely the entire length of said sheet and is located just above the discharge opening or outlet of the housing.

As cotton is drawn into the housing through the transition 14 and inlet i3 by the suction created in the conduit II, it will be seen that said cotton will first strike the flared front wall of said housing. The wide angle formed by the converging front wall provides ample space for expansion of the incoming cotton and immediately a portion of this incoming cotton will drop downwardly through the discharge opening 15 in the housing. Also, this increased expansion space prevents the cotton from crowding against the top of the housing and thereby, prevents any choking effect at the inlet. The cotton which does not drop immediately upon its introduction into the housing In will, of course, be drawn with the air stream against the perforated sheet iii and will follow the contour of said sheet until it finally passes out to the opening 55 into the discharge spout !8. The air upon entering the inlet i3 will, of course, immediately rise and pass through the perforations in the forward end of the sheet H! which overlies a portion of the flared forward end of the housing.

It is noted that the perforations 2i of the sheet are comparatively large, whereby dirt and other extraneous matter is drawn through the perforations. Due to the bafiie 22 at the lower end of the sheet, it is obvious that the air must follow the contour of the housing since it cannot pass directly in a straight line from the inlet i3 to the conduit I 1. By directing the air in this manner, it is obvious that a circulation is set up within the housing.

For wiping the perforated sheet 88 so as tokeep the perforations 2! open, whereby the passage of air therethrough is not interfered with, a rotatable wheel 23 is located Within the housing iii. The reel includes a plurality of spiders 24 mounted on a transverse shaft 25 which has its ends suitably supported in the end walls of the housing. The shaft is preferably in horizontal alignment with the inlet opening l3. Each spider is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 26 which have transverse flexible wipers 21 suitably secured thereto. The curvature of the perforated sheet ii! at its upper end is substantially the same as the radius of the arms of the spiders, whereby when the reel 23 is rotated the flexible wipers 2'5 will engage the surface of the sheet to clean the same. It is noted that the construction of the reel in this manner provides an open structure, whereby the passage of air through the housing is not interfered with by the rotation of the reel. This eliminates an intermittent pulsating eifect on the suction because the usual solid paddle wheel is replaced by the open reel 23. Also, the open structure does not interfere with the falling cotton within the housing. It is further pointed out that the curvature of the perforated sheet i8 is such that the entire portion of said sheet is wiped or cleaned by the reel and thus, since the screen is kept clean, the suction is stronger because there is less tendency of the screen to clog.

From the above, it will be seen that the cotton is drawn into the housing through the inlet l3 and immediately enters the flared front portion of said housing wherein it is permitted to expand. Due to the inlet being located centrally of the flared front portion, it is obvious that the air will immediately rise in the housing while the cotton will drop down. The rising air will, of course, pass through the perforated screen and then follow the curvature of the housing, passing outwardly through the conduit I i. All dust and dirt of a fine nature will pass with the air through the perforations in the sheet and will thus be separated from. the cotton. The cotton upon entering will, of course, immediately expand and then fall into the discharge spout It. The expansion of the cotton will cause the cotton to be separated whereby any solid wads which may have been formed in the cotton previous to its inlet, are broken up. Thus, the cotton is opened up and the locks separated to a great extent, whereby the cotton is in a good condition to be handled through the distributor or cleaning machinery (not shown) to which it is carried after it leaves the housing. The open reel not only offers no obstruction to the falling cotton but also permits air to freely flow therethrough and thus does. not interrupt the suction necessary for drawing the cotton into the housing.

As the air is separated from the cotton, said cotton will drop downwardly through the outlet opening 55 in the bottom. of the housing and will fall into the discharge spout 18. Upon entering the spout N3, the paddle wheel i'i therein will carry the cotton downwardly and discharge it into the outlet conductor 58. The paddle wheel I! may be of any desired construction but it is preferably made of a plurality of supporting spiders 30 which are secured on a transverse shaft 3| extending the full length of the discharge spout iii. The spiders are provided with radial arms 3! and the space between the spiders is closed by a transverse substantially V-shaped partition 32 which is located between the arms of the spider (Figure 6). These partitions are suitably bolted in place by retaining members 33 which follow the contour of said partitions and the spider arms. As is clearly shown in Figure 6, the outer edges of the partitions 32 extend beyond the end of the arms 3i of the spiders and flexible wipers 3A are secured or clamped between .shaftw3l sof the .paddle wheel.

other suitable means, maybe connected to either these .extended outer edges of the partitions. It

is obvious that as the paddlewheel thus formed rotates within. the dischargespout ltthe flexible wipers.34:willcontact theinner surface of the discharge spout and will. thus prevent the .escape be carried around. bythe rotating wheel and dischargedinto the outlet conductor 18.

Although thereel 23 in thehousing .I 0 and the reel l'lzwithin. the discharge spout Iii may-rotate at. any desired speed, it is preferable that the reel .rotateat a comparatively slow speed while the paddle. wheel .H-which has .a much. smaller di ameter rotates at a greater speed. For transmitting. motion to the reel 23 andthe paddle .wheel l1, theshaft- 25 of said-reel has .one end extended outwardly through theend wall of the housing ill (Figure 1). The extreme outer end of this shaft carries an enlarged gear and this gear is connected through a chain 36 with a small gear 31 which ismounted on the extended end of the A motor, or any oneof the shafts to. rotate thesame, but I have shown. a drive wheel 38nmounted on the paddle wheel shaft 3!. A belt is arranged to. pass over .this drive wheel to impart rotation to said shaft.

It isclear that when thepaddle wheel I1 is rotated at a given speed, the reel 23 will be rotated at a much slower speed due to the connection between the small and large gears 31 and 35 respectively, by the chain 36.

The operation of the device is obvious. The suction means (not shown) at the end of the conduit II will draw the cotton from the transition l4 into the housing In through the reduced inlet I3. Upon entering the housing the cotton is permitted to expand due to the wide angle of the front portion of the housing. The air will immediately tend to rise within said housing while the cotton will drop toward the discharge spout IS. The open reel 23 will not interfere with the falling cotton or with the air stream whereby an undiminished continuous pull on the cotton is had. The air will, of course, escape through the perforations in the sheet I8 and will carry any fine dust or dirt therewith. As the cotton falls toward the discharge opening l5 it will be seen that it will fall opposite the baflle 22 formed by the unperforated section of the sheet 18. This bafile causes the air to pass upwardly therearound into the conduit H and thus creates a dead air space at a point just above the dis charge opening W. The revolving vacuum paddle wheel ll removes the cotton out of the air below the sheet. The structure of the paddle wheel prevents any escape of air through the discharge and thus only cotton alone is carried to the outlet conductor l8. Due to the wide internal angle adjacent the inlet l3, it is practically impossible to feed sufficient cotton through a standard telescope to choke the separator down by overfeeding the suction. It is obvious that the vacuum feeder can be speeded up to suit the particular installation. It is again noted that this type of cleaner is a great improvement in the preparation of the cotton for ginning. Instead of being dropped in solid wads as tramped in the cotton wagon, or other source of supply, the cotton is opened up and the locks separated to a much greater expanse, so that the cotton is in good condition to be handled through the distributor or cleaning machinery. A..hinged panel 10' may be,

providedinthe front wall'of the housing l0 so that 1 the interiorof the housingmay be. readily .a'c

cessible.- It is .noted that the. wiper Zluon-thereel as well as .thewiper on-thepaddle-wheel:

ll zmaybe readily replaced without removingthe reel =23 or. wheelfrom the device.

What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1.: Acotton separator. including, a housing having an outwardly extending convergent wall and havingv aninlet opening inv its reduced end, a suction conduit connected. in its oppositewall for. drawing thelcotton into the housing through. the inlet opening, a screen within the housing. open: to saidinlet for separating the cotton from-the.

air stream, said-screen having a portion. thereof extendingfrorn. and underlying the convergent.

wall of the housing, means within the screen for cleaning the entire surface of the screen, and a discharge in theb-ott-om cf -the,housing forthe cotton therein.

2. A cotton separator including, a housing have ing-an outwardly extending convergent wall and:

having an inlet opening in its reduced end, a suction conduit connected in its opposite wall for drawing the cotton into the housing through. the

inlet opening, ascreen-within the housing for.-

separating thecotton from the air stream, said.

screen having aportion thereof within the con.-...

vergent wall of the housing, an open structure reel within the housing for cleaning the entire surface of the screen without interrupting the air stream therethrough and without interfering with the cotton, and means for discharging the cotton from the housing separately of the air.

3. A cotton separator including; a housing having an outwardly extending convergent wall and having an inlet opening in its reduced end, a suction conduit connected in its opposite wall for drawing the cotton into the housing through the inlet opening, a coarse curved screen within the housing for separating the cotton from the air and fine dust, said screen having a portion thereof within the convergent wall of the housing, and means for discharging the cotton from the housing separately of the air.

4. A cotton separator including, a housing having an outwardly extending convergent wall and having an inlet opening in its reduced end, a suction conduit connected in its opposite wall for drawing the cotton into the housing through the inlet opening, a coarse curved screen extending from and underlying the convergent wall of the housing for separating the cotton from the air and fine dust, said screen having a portion thereof within the convergent wall of the housing, a rotatable open structure reel within the screen for cleaning the entire surface of the screen, and means for discharging the cotton from the housing separately of the air.

5. A cotton separator including, a housing having a divergent inlet, a stationary arcuate screen extending from the divergent top wall of the housing to the bottom of said housing and dividing the housing into a cleaning chamber screen extending from the divergent top wall of the housing to the bottom of said housing and dividing the housing into a cleaning chamber and an air chamber, a revolving cleaner operating on the inner surface of the screen for wiping the same, and means at the lower end of the cleaning chamber of the housing for receiving cotton therefrom and for discharging said cotton separately from the air.

'7. A cotton separator including, a housing having a cotton inlet at approximately midheight of one side wall thereof, a suction conduit connected to the opposite wall of said housing for drawing cotton into the housing and across the same through the said inlet, a stationary upright screen mounted within the housing between the inlet and the conduit for arresting the passage of the cotton and separating the same from the air stream, and a revolving wiper within the housing between the inlet and the screen constantly wiping the entire inner surface of said screen to maintain said screen surface free of the accumulation of cotton and to produce an unobstructed passage for the air.

8. A cotton separator including, a housing having an inwardly flared cotton inlet along one side, a suction conduit connected in the opposite side of the housing below said inlet for drawing cotton into said housing through said inlet and across said housing, an upright stationary screen within the housing between the inlet and the conduit thereof and open to said inlet and receiving cotton therefrom for separating the latter from the air stream, means within the housing between the screen and the inlet for cleaning the screen, whereby the entire surface of the screen is maintained free of cotton and unobstructive to the passage of air therethrough, a discharge spout for the cotton below the screen, said screen and the inlet side of the housing discharging into said spout, and means within the spout for discharging cotton received from the screen and housing without permitting the escape of air from the housing.

9. A cotton separator including, a housing having an inwardly flared cotton inlet at one side, a suction conduit connected in the opposite side of the housing for drawing cotton from the inlet across said housing, an upright stationary screen within the housing between the inlet and suction conduit and open to said inlet for receiving cotton therefrom and separating the latter from the air stream, a cleaning reel within the housing between the screen and the inlet for cleaning the screen without interrupting the air H stream, whereby the entire surface of the screen is maintained free of cotton and unobstructive to the passage of air therethrough, a discharge spout connected with the screen and the inlet side of the housing, whereby cotton flowing down the stream is discharged into the spout, and means within the spout for discharging the cotton therefrom without permitting the escape of air from the housing.

BRONSON C. WOODFORD.

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