US3011205A

US3011205A - Collection chamber for lint, dust and the like

Info

Publication number: US3011205A
Application number: US825824A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grover B Holtzclaw
Original assignee: Parks Cramer Co
Current assignee: Parks Cramer Co
Priority date: 1959-07-08
Filing date: 1959-07-08
Publication date: 1961-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1961 a. BPHQLTZCLAW 3,011,205

CQLLECTION CHAMBER FQR LINT, DUST AND THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sum-10M COLLECTING UNI "F 1-50 GROVER BHoLTzcLAw ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 v s. B. HOLTZCLAW 3,011,205

COLLECTION CHAMBER FOR LINT, DUST AND THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GROVER B. Hou'z CLAW ATTORNEY 5 3,011,205 7 i COLLECTION CHAMBER FOR LINT,

. DUST AND THE LIKE Grover B. Holtzclaw, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Parks- Cramer Company, Fitchburg, Mass, acorporation f Massachusetts I Filed July 8, 1959, Ser. No. 825,824 1 22 Claims. (Cl. 15-312) This invention relates to pneumatic cleaning-systems for textile machinery and the like and, more especially, to an improved collection box or chamber for receiving and temporarily storing lint, dust and other light material blown thereinto by air-currents, the present invention being particularly adapted for use with traveling suction cleaners of a type disclosed in copending US. application, Serial No. 759,797, filed September 8, 1958 and entitled Traveling Suction Cleaning Apparatus, of which this application is a continuation-in-part. Y

The traveling suction cleaner of said copending application comprises superposed intercommunicating suction and blower, casings. The casingsare mounted for movement along a trackway above rows of textile machines, and the lower, -suction, casing is provided with oppositely extending ductsfrom which flexible tubes depend. The

lower ends or nozzles ofthe flexible tubes are movable 3,011,205 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 wardlythrough such screened wall or walls when said door is closed. I

It is another object of this invention to provide a collection chamber of the character described which is provided with means to further assist in removing lint from the inner surface of a screen or screens thereof by momentarily diverting outwardly some or all of the current of -air entering the inlet end of the collection chamber and causing said air current to flow along a confined channel adjacent the outer surface of one or more screened walls ofthe chamber so the air flows inwardly through the More specifically, it is an object of this invention topro-v vide a collecting chamber of the character described which is provided with deflector means, operatingin conjunction with the main door or closure means, for diverting some or all of the air outwardly adjacent the inlet end of the collecting chamber. A movable apron, preferably in the form of a normally open channel, is moved to closed position as the main door is opened. In so doing, the apron forms a substantiallyclosedchannel, externally of the in close proximity to the floor which supports the machines for, sucking waste, such as lint, dus-tand other light material, into .the suction casing. -The waste is projected from the suction easing into the blower casing and passes through the outlet thereof into a collection chamber. The chamber is provided with a' discharge outlet which is normally closed by a movable door or closure member. At predetermined intervals, the discharge door is opened so the current of air from the blower discharges theco-ntents of the collection chamber into a suitable, preferably stationary, receptacle.

Since the. air from the blower must flow through and outwardly from the collectionchamber while the waste is being entrapped within the collection chamber and while the discharge outlet is closed, it is necessary that one or more walls of the collection chamber,and preferably also the door in the discharge outlet, be foraminated, or formed of a screen material through which the air may flow while lint and other light material filtered therefrom impinge against the inner; surface of the screen. Whenever the discharge outlet is opened, a' considerable amount of air'continues to flow. outwardly through the screened wall or walls, with a consequent reduction in the pressure and volume of air which blows collected waste outwardly through the discharge outlet. Although most of the waste collected in the chamber is blown therefrom wheneverthe discharge outlet is opened, some collected lint will adhere to the screened areas unless special means are employed to remove it. After substantial amounts of waste have been repeatedly collected in the chamber and exhausted therefrom, the inner surface of the screen may become matted with lint to the extent that air willnot readily flow therethrough. Unless cleaned manually or automatically, the entire suction cleaner soon becomes very ineffective.

It is therefore aniimportant object of this invention to provide means for automatically removing lint and the like from the inner face of the foraminated or screened wall or walls of a collection chamber of the character described, each time the door of the discharge outlet thereof is opened. 1

It is another object of this invention to provide means for substantially preventing air from flowing outwardly through a screened wall or walls of a collection chamber of the character described when the door of the discharge outlet is opened, and which will permit air to fiow outscreened wall, through w'hich the diverted air passes and is thus directed inwardly through the screened'wall for cleaning the same.

Although in its preferred embodiment, the present invention is particularly devised for use with a traveling suction cleaner of the aforesaidjcharacter, the principles of the present invention are also applicable for use with stationary vacuum type filter boxes of the general type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,799,356, for example, and which are used in conjunctioniwith pneumatic clearing systems for spinning, roving and drawing frames.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description pro disposed adjacent a stationary waste-receiving receptacle;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 with portions of the waste-receiving recep- 1 tacle broken away and showing the traveling cleaner,

extends over textile machines; v

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3' in FIG- URE 2 and showing the discharge door and channelforming apron in position for discharging Waste material from the collection chamber; I

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 with the egress opening closed and the apron open;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the collection chamber, similar to'that shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 1, but showing the discharge door in closed position; 1

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary isometric view looking down at the discharge end of the collection chamber sub} stantially in the direction of the arrow 6 inFIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary isometricv-iew, partially K in section, looking upwardly'from the inside of the ingress end ofthe collection chamber and showing the side of the means for actuating the air-diverting port door 72 opposite from that shown in FIGURE 5.

'Referring more specifically tothe drawings, the improved waste collecting chamber 10, which may be also termed as a filter box, is shown'in association with a traveling cleaner of the type disclosed in said copending application, Serial No. 759,797, to which reference is made for a detailed description thereof. Generally, this traveling cleaner comprises an upper casing or blower 11 having a fan or impeller 9 therein (FIGURE 2) which forces air to flow through an outlet portion 12 of blower 11 and into the inlet end of the collector chamber 10 embodying the present invention.

Blower 11 rests upon a suction casing 13, with which it communicates, and produces a suction current in casing 13. Branch ducts 14 extend from opposite sides of, and communicate with, casing 13. Each duct 14 has the upper end of a flexible tube or sleeve 15 connected to a v 4 a As collection chamber 10 moves beyond receptacle 26, the abutment *42 moves out of engagement with control finger 4050 spring 37 returns door 33 to closed position.

The parts heretofore described are substantially as disclosed in said copending. application, Serial No. 759,797 and it is with such or similar parts that the present embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted to be associated. As heretofore stated, the principles of the present invention are readily adaptable to other types of collection boxes, filter boXesor the like for collecting airborne lint,'dust and other waste material.

Referring to FIGURES 3 through 7, it Will be observed that the'collectionchamber or box 10 is in the form of downwardly projecting free end thereof. The lower end the traveling cleaner moves. Casings 11, 13 of the traveling cleaner are supported by a carriage having rollers 21 thereon which ride upon a trackway 22 supported on posts 23, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1. Carriage 20 may be propelled along trackway 22 by means such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763, granted on August 20, 1935.

The egress or discharge end of collection chamber 16, opposite from the outlet portion 12 of blower 11, is provided with a main hinged door or closure member 25 which is momentarily opened each time the traveling cleaner moves adjacent the inlet end of a stationary receptacle broadly designated at 26. Receptacle 26 is preferably in the form of a rectangular tube and its egress or inner end is communicatively connected to a duct 27 extending to a suitable waste collecting station 36 shown schematically as a suction collecting unit in FIGURE 2.

In order to provide a maximum amount of negative pressure within receptacle 26, duct 27 and suction collecting unit 30 without using an unnecessarily large and expensive motor and blower equipment for creating suction at station 30, the outer ends of'a pair of inwardly diverging panels 31 are connected to the side walls 'of receptacle 26, adjacent its free open end, and the inner ends thereof terminate in spaced relationship to provide an ingress or waste-receiving opening 32 within stationary waste receptacle 26. A closure means or door 33, which is preferably made from sheet metal and has an arcuate outer surface thereon, normally closes ingress opening 32, but is moved to open position, as shown in FIGURE 2, as the traveling collection chamber 10 moves into registration with the outer end of receptacle 26.

. Door 33is fixed to an arm 34 fixed on a shaft 35. Shaft 35 extends upwardly through the upper wall of receptacle 26 and has'a bar 36 fixed thereon. One end of a tension spring 37, is connected to the inner end of bar 36 and the other end of tension spring 37 is suitably connected to the upper Wall of receptacle 26. The outer end of bar 36 has one end of a control arm or finger 40 attached thereto which extends outwardly and beyond the upper wall of receptacle 26.

Tension spring 37 normally tends to maintain bar 36 in alinement between pivot shaft 35 and the remote end of the spring 37. In so doing, spring 37 normally maintains control arm 40 against a stop 41 projecting upwardly from the top wall of receptacle 26. Thus, spring 37 normally urges door 33 to closed position. A further detailed description of receptacle 26 and associated elements is deemed unnecessary, since they are clearly shown and describedin said copending application, Serial No; 759,797.

It will be noted that collection chamber 10 is provided with an abutment 42 thereon which projects upwardly and, with movement of the traveling cleaner past recept acle 26, abutment 42 engages control finger 4i and moves the same in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 2 to thereby open and maintain open the door 33 as collection chamber 10 moves past the open end of receptacle 26.

a substantially rectangular tubular body or duct, although it need not be limited to this particular form. Collection chamber 10 comprises a lower or bottom wall 50, a top or upper Wall 51 and spaced

side walls

52, 53 whose inner ends form an ingress opening and are suitably secured to and preferably surround outlet portion 12 of blower 11. The discharge or'egress end of chamber 10 is provided with an opening 54 which is adaptedto be closed by main movable door or closure member 25. Door 25 is hingedly or pivotally connected, as at 57,'to the free outer edge of bottom wall 50.- Main door 25 is preferably foraminated or provided with a screened opening 60 so as to permit air to flowthrough door 25 while retaining waste W, including lint, dust and other light material, within collection chamber 16 (FIGURE 4).

One side of door 25 has a bracket 61 thereon to which one end of a link or connecting rod 62 is pivotally connected, as at 63. Link 62 extends inwardly and is conn ected to a shifting mechanism, broadly designated at 64, supported by carria'geZG. Shiftingmechanism 64 may be of any desired construction and is' shown as being of the type disclosed in said copending application, Serial No. 759,797 Accordingly, a detailed description and illustration of shifting mechanism 64 is deemed unnecessary. It might be stated, however, that shifting mechanism 64 includes a normally stationary but rotatable spider wheel 65 which is rotated a partial revolution as. collection chamber 10 moves into registration with receptacle 26, and another partial revolution is'imparted thereto as collection chamber 10 moves away from receptacle 2 6. Said movement is imparted to spider Wheel 65 by spaced abutments 66 only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1, carried by trackway 22;

Through intervening connections fully disclosed in said copending application, connecting rod 62 is moved in one direction with alternate steps in rotation by spider wheel 65, and connecting rod 62 is moved in the other or opposite directionwith intervening steps in rotation by spider wheel 65. Thus, it is apparent, by referring to FIGURES 1, 5 and 6, that main door 25 is opened each time connecting rod62 moves outwardly from the position of FIGURES 5 and 6 to that of FIGURE 1, and door 25 isclosed each time connecting rod 62 moves inwardly from the position of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it is apparent that only a relatively small amount of'waste W could'be received in' collection chamber 10 before the screened opening 60 inend of collection chamber 10, air flows upwardly and outwardly through screen 70. In so doing, lint and the like tend to adhere to and partially. clog the interstices in screen 70 so that, although a large portion of the waste W is discharged from collection chamber ltl whenever door 25 is opened as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, in the 1 absence of means for increasing the force of the air flow ing through chamber and opening 54 or, in the absence of means for cleaning screen 70, the inner surface of foraminated wall or screen 70 would soon become seriously clogged with lint and other light material.

The problem of entirely removing lint from the chamber 10 is at least partiallyovercome by substantially closing screen 70 to the discharge of air therethrough by means of a movable apron, hood or cover. 95, which will be later described, so as to prevent loss of air through screen 76 when main door 25 occupies open position. While apron 95 insures etficient flow ofthe air from blower 11 through the open discharge opening 54, lint and other light material may, in some instances, still become lodged against the inner surface of screen 70.

Now, since waste W is discharged from collection chamber 10 by the blast of air from blower 11, in order to assist in cleaning screen 70, I divert a portion of the air from blower 11 outwardly of collection chamber 10 and into a confined channel embodied in said apron 95, and that air which is diverted outwardly is again caused to flow inwardly through the screen 70 to thereby blow lint and other light material inwardly away from the inner surface of screen 70 and thence outwardly through discharge opening 54. To this end," upper wall 51 is provided with a relatively small port or passage- Way 71 therein adjacent its inner portion; thatis, inwardly of screened opening 70. Whenever door 25 is closed, opening or port 71 is also closed by a port closure m'emberor door 72 disposed Within collection chamber 10.

Port door 72 is hingedly or pivotally connected as at 73, to the lower or inner surface of upper'wall 51; Thus,

when port door 72 is open, as shown in FIGURE 3, it

also serves as a deflector to assist in diverting a portion of the current of air from blower 11 upwardly or outwardly through port 71. Means to' open and close port door 72 are connected with main door 25. Although a direct mechanical connection may be

provided'between doors

25, 72, in this instance, the inner or lower surface of port door 72 is engaged by a cam 75 fixed on a shaft 76 (FIGURES 5 and 6). Shaft 76 is journaled in side wall 52 and has a crank 77 fixed on its outer end. Crank 77 is connected, by an adjustable slot-and-pin connection 80, to a head or clevis 79 adjustably secured to one end of an arm 81'of a composite extensible or telescoping link broadly designated at 82. Adjustment of head 79 on arm 81 determines Whether

doors

25, 72 openfsimultaneously or the opening of port door 72 is delayed until door 25 is substantially opened, as will be later described.

The outer end of arm 81 is loosely mounted in a tubular member 83 having a slot 84 in its side wall in which a pin 85, projecting radially from arm 81 is loosely positioned. The end of tubular member 83 remote from arm 81 has an arm 86 attached thereto by a fitting 87 which also closes the corresponding end of tubular member 83. The end of arm 86 remote from fitting 87, is pivotally connected to bracket 61 atpivot point 63.

Opposite ends of a compression spring 90, loosely p'ositioned within tubular member'83, bear against fitting 87 and against the corresponding end of armSl. It will be observed in FIGURE 5 that cam 75 bears against port door 72 under pressure of spring 90 when main door 25 is closed. As door 25 is opened, arm 86, fitting 87 and tubular member 83 move away from arm 81 until the inner wall of slot 84 engages pin,85, whereupon crank 77 and arm 75 move in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 5, and in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 7. v

Port door 72 is provided with a weight 74. Thus, when arm 75 moves in clockwise direction (FIGURE 5), door 72 is released to rotate by gravity to substantially the position of FIGURE 3 when main door 25 reaches open position. provided to limit the angular opening of door 72.

In some instances, it may be desirable to divert all the air through port 71 when screen 70 is to .be cleaned.

An adjustable stop, as at 88, maybe 7 FIGURE. 3.

6 This could be accomplished by removing stop 88 and increasing the length of port door 72, or by locating shaft 76 outwardly of hinge 73 so that port door 72, when in open position, will completely close chamber 10 to the ingress of air, except through screen 70. The location of pin 85 relative to the right-hand wall of slot 84 may be determined by adjustment of arm 86 and clevis 79 rela- -tive to tubular member 86 and arm 81, respectively, thereby determining the instant port door 72 is opened as main door- 25 is opened. Other means may beprovided for delaying the opening of door-72 relative to door 25 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It would thus be possible to delay the opening of port 71, after door 25 isopened, until time is allowed for the full volume of air to "eject waste W and then deflect some or all of the air from blower 11 through port '71 to clean screen 70. 1

Apron 95 is generally'channel-shaped and is located adjacent wall 51 in order to prevent air from flowing outwardly through screen 70. More importantly, apron 95 causes air to flow in reverse direction, that is,'inwardly through screen 70, whenever main door 25 is open, as in To this end, an upper wall 94 of apron 95 is normally spaced upwardly from wall 51 and screen 70, as shown in FIGURE 4. Wall' 94 ofapron 95 has an inwardly curving wall portion 96 on its inner end which is hingedly or pivotally connected, as at 97, to top wall 51. Spaced side walls or flanges 100, 191 are connected to wall 94.

and its curved portion 96. Side flanges 1'00, 101- are spaced apart only sufliciently to-permit free movement the respective flanges 190, 101. In order to assist in directing the collected waste W into receptacle261when main door 25 is open, as shown inFIGURES-l and 3,

' upper wall 94 and flanges 100, 101 of apron 95 extend outwardlybeyond the egress end of collection chamberilt);

members or rollers 103,104 carried by a bar 105 suitably secured to main door 25 adjacent its free edge. Said lower edge portions of flanges 100, -101 are each preferably providedwith a race plate 106 thereon which is also adapted to be engaged by rollers 103,104.

As main door 25 is moved from open to closed position, rollers 103, 194 move into engagement with and ride against the lower edges of flanges 100', 101 to raise apron 95, thus forming a channel through which air flows after it has passed. upwardly or outwardly through screen 70. Thus, as main door 25 is closed, .-auxiliary or port door 72 is simultaneously closed and apron 95 is raised to open position. T

On the other hand, whenever main door 25 ismoved to open position and port door 72 moves to open position therewith,

rollers

103, 104 move out of engagement with flanges 100, 101, thus permitting apron 95 to move downwardly, by gravity, to thereby close the outer end of the channel formed thereby. This causes the portion of air deflected through opening 71 to return into collection chamber lfl through screen 70, thus blowing any lint or the like, which may have collected against'and adhered to the inner surface of screen into chamber 10 to be exhausted through discharge opening 54.- Although apron 95 is shown as being movable to closed position 95 moves to closed position, I have provided a resilient cushion member, or sealing member 11% which extends laterally atop wall 51 adjacent the free end thereof. In

this instance, cushion member 110 is shown in the form.

of a doubled stripof pliable or resilient material, such as rubber, leather or the like, and its overlapped portions are suitably secured to the upper surface of top wall 51, as by means of a strip of rigid material 111 and rivets 1-12.

Apron or hood 95 is preferably made from a lightweight material such as thin sheet metal, plastic or the like. Thus, in order to. prevent apron from rocking about its pivot 97 or from being raised too high by air pressure when main door 25 is closed and waste W has restricted screen air outlet 60, at least one of the flanges 100, 101 may have a latch 1 15 thereon (FIGURE 5) above which the respective roller 1%, 104 moves as main door 25 is moved to closed position. Latch 115 may be formed integral with the respective race plate 11-66, as shown.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel collection chamber for separating airborne waste material such as lint, dust and the like from the air and receiving and storingthe lint, etc., and wherein means are provided for automatically closing a screened Wall or walls to the outward flow of air from the chamber, and for causing air to flow in a reverse direction through the screened wall or walls of the said chamber whenever the discharge door is opened, to remove from the inner surface of the screened wall any lint, dust or other waste material which may have adhered thereto during the interval in which said material was deposited in the collection chamber by a movingcurrent of air.

In thedrawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic andjdescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.-

I claim:

1. A collection chamber for a traveling pneumatic cleaning system, a track on which said system is mounted for movement from place to place, said system having a blower provided with an air outlet, a filter adjacent the air flow from said outlet for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while air passes through the same, a second normally closed outlet-for the air adjacent one side of said filter, and means for deflecting air from said blower outletoutwardly from said system and for directing the latter air against the other side of said filter and throughv the same whenever said second outlet is open, for dislodging, and discharging through said second outlet, lint, dust and the like which may have collected on said one side of said filter.

2. A collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system having a blower provided with an air outlet, a filter adjacent the air flow from said outlet for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while air passes through the same, said chamber having an egress opening therein adjacent said one side of said filter, a foraminated movable closure means for said opening for also receiving lint thereagainst while, at times, permitting air to pass therethrough from the blower outlet, and means for directing air from the blower outlet outwardly from said chamber and then against the opposite side of said filter and through the same when said closure means is moved to open position for dislodging, and discharging through said egress opening, lint, dust and the like which may have collected on said one side of the filter when said closure means was closed.

3. A collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system having a blower provided with an air outlet, a filter adjacent the air flow from said outlet for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while air passes through the same, said chamber having an egress opening therein adjacent said one side of said filter, a movable screen normally closing saidopening for collecting lint thereagainst as air flows therethrough from said blower outlet, andmeans for directing air from said blower outlet against the opposite side of said filter and through the same when said screen is moved to open position for dislodging, and blowing through said egress opening, lint, dust and the like which may have collected on said one side of the filter when said screen Was closed.

4. In a collection chamber for a pneumatic cleaning system, having a filter for receiving airborne lint against one side thereof while air passes throughthe same, and said chamber having an opening for the air adjacent said filter; the combination of a deflector normally closing said opening-means for moving .said deflector away from said opening and into the path of air entering said chamber, and means cooperating with opening of said deflector for closing said filter to the outward flow of air therethrough while directing inwardly through said filter air previously diverted outwardly through said opening by said deflector.

5. In a pneumatic cleaning system for textile machinery including a traveling blower mounted for movement along a track above textilemachinery; the combination therewith of a collection chamber communicatively connected to the outlet only of said blower, said chamber having opposite end portions provided with respective ingress and egress openings therein for respectively receiving and discharging airborne lint and other light material therethrough, said chamber also having at least one other opening therein with a screen over said other opening, said screen being located in oif-set relation to said ingross and egress openings, normally closed movable closure means for said egress opening. whereby air flows normally outwardly from said chamber through said screen leaving lint and the like entrapped within said chamber, and means operatively connected to said closure means for forcing air to flow inwardly through said screen when said closure means, is moved to open position to thereby dislodge any lint, which may have adhered to the inner surface of said screen as lint is removed from said chamber through said egress opening.

6. A collection chamber for use in a pneumatic cleaning system for receiving and temporarily storing lint and other light material therein, said chamber having at least one wall thereof provided with a filter therein for entrapping lint directed into said chamber while permitting air to pass outwardly therethrough, said chamber having an air inlet therein, for receiving airborne lint therethrough, said chamber also having a discharge opening therein remote from said inlet,.door means'normally closing said discharge opening, means operable automatically upon said door means being opened for diverting at least a portion of the air, entering the chamber through said inlet, outwardly in advance of said filter relative to said discharge opening, and means for channeling the air so diverted inwardly through said filter to dislodge lint from the inner surface of said filter whereby the entrapped lint and the lint so dislodged from the inner surface of the filter is discharged through said opening.

7. In a collection box having an inlet for receiving air and lint and the like borne by the air, said box also having a discharge opening remote from said inlet, at least one at least partiallyforaminated side wall portion located between and to one side of the plane of said inlet and said discharge opening for entrapping said lint as air flows outwardly through said wall portion, said side wall portion having a port therethrough adjacent said inlet, and movable door means for said discharge opening; the combination therewith of deflector means for diverting outwardly through said port at least a portion of said air flowing into said box whenever said door means is opemmeans for channeling said portion of air to and inwardly through said foraminated Wall portion for dislodging lint from the inner surface of said foraminated wall portion as lint is discharged through said opening, and means to move said deflector means in register with said port for substantially closing the port when said door means is closed.

8. In a collection chamber box for a pneumatic traveling cleaner movable along a trackway above a row of textile machines, said cleaner including a blower, said chamber having an air inlet communicating with the discharge side of said blower, a filter in said chamber for receiving lint and other waste against one side thereof 'while air passes through the same, and said chamber having an opening therein adjacent said filter, in combination, deflector means normally closing said opening, means for moving said deflector means away from said opening and into the path of air entering said chamber from the outlet, and means cooperating with said de flector means, when said deflector means isopen, for

closing said filter to the outward flow of air therethrough while directing inwardly through said filter air previously diverted outwardly through said opening by said deflector means. i I

9. In a collection chamber for a suction traveling cleaner movable along a trackway above a row of textile machines, said cleaner comprising a blower provided with an outlet for discharging air and lint therefrom, said chamber having an inlet connected with the outlet of said blower for receiving lint and the like from said blower, said chamber also having; an outlet opening opposite from said inlet, a door normally closing said outlet opening, means on said trackway for momentarily opening said door with movement of said cleaner thereby, a filter on at least one side of said chamber for receiving lint against the inner surface thereon while air passes through thesame, and said chamber having another opening in said side thereof located between said inlet and said filter; in combination, deflector means normally closing said other opening, means connected with said door for moving said deflector means away from said other opening and into the path of air entering said chamber when said door is opened, and means cooperating with the opening of said deflector means for closing said filter to the outward flow of air therethrough while directing inwardly through said filter air diverted outwardly through said other opening by said deflector means.

10. In a collection chamber for a suction traveling cleaner having a blower movable along a trackway above a row of textile machines, said blower having an outlet for airborne lint picked up by said cleaner, said chamber comprising top, bottom and side walls and having an inlet connected with the outlet of said blower for receiving lint and the like from said blower, said chamber also having an outlet opening opposite from said inlet, a door normally closing said outlet opening, means on said trackway for opening and then closing said door, a filter in said top wall for receiving lint against its lower. surface while air passes through the same, and said top wall having another opening therein located between said inlet and said filter; in combination, movable deflector means within said chamber and normally closing said other opening, means operable automatically as said door is opened for moving said deflector means away from said other opening and into the path of air entering said chamber, and means movable with said door for closing said filter to the outward flow of air therethrough, when said door is opened, while directing inwardly through said filter air diverted outwardly through said other opening by said deflector means.

11. In a structure according to claim 10 wherein said means for closing said filter and directing air inwardly therethrough comprises an apron having one end pivotally mounted on said top wall and overlying said other opening and said filter, and means on said door engageable with said apron for raising and lowering the same to respectively move its portion remote from said other opening out of and into engagement with said top wall, said 10 apron forming a normally'open channel above said top wall when raised'and the end of said channel remote from said other opening being closed when the apron is lowered. f 1

12. In a traveling suction cleaner having a suction casing movable along a track above a row of textile machines, at least one duct extending from said casing and having a tube depending therefrom provided with a nozzle on its lower end adapted to move adjacent the floor supportingsaid machines for sucking waste into said suction casing, a blower movable with said casing for creat ing a suction current in said casing, said blower having an outlet portion, a collection box communicating with said outlet portion andprovided with a normally closed discharge opening at its end remote from said blower, a normally closed door for said opening, means operable automatically for momentarily opening saiddoor at predetermined intervals, and said collection box having. a foraminated upper wall for passage of air outwardly therethrough when said door is closed; the combination therewith of normally inactive deflector means adjacent said outlet portion of the blower, means for activating said deflector means upon said door beingopened, said deflector means, when active, being operable to divert outwardly a portion of said current of air from said blower, and means for directing inwardly through said foraminated wall the portion of air so diverted for dislodging any lint adhering against the inner surface of said wall as lint is discharged from the collection chamber through-said discharge opening. I

13. A collection chamber comprising a tubular body adapted to receivein one of its ends air under pressure and lint and the like borne by the air, amoVablescreened door means for the other end of the body, said body having a wall provided with at least one screened opening whereby said lint is entrapped and stored within said chamber as air flows outwardly through said door means and through said screened opening, and means for substantially closing said screened opening to the outward flow of air therethrough whenever said door means is opened to thereby minimize loss of air pressure while forcing the previously stored lint outwardly through said other end of the body.

14. A structure according to claim 13, in which the means for closing the screened opening comprises a movable apron carried by and located exteriorly of said body, means normally maintaining said apron, at least in part, in sufficiently spaced relation to said body to permit air to flow outwardly through said screened opening while said door means is closed, and said apron being movable toward said wall to substantially close the screened opening to the outward flow of air therethrough when said door means is moved to open position.

15. A structure according to claim 14, in which said means normally maintaining said apron in spaced relation to said body comprises means carried by the door means and being movable into and out of engagement with said apron with respective closing and opening movements of said door means.

16. A structure according to claim 14, wherein said wall has a port therein located within the plane of said apron, a port door normally closing said port, means for opening said port door into the path of air entering said one end of the body when said screened door means occupies open position, and said apron, at least when closed, forming a channel into which air is deflected through said port when the port door is opened whereby at least some of the air entering said chamber is caused to flow outwardly through said port and then inwardly through said screened opening to assist in dislodging lint from the inner surface of the screened opening.

17. A structure according to claim 16 wherein said means for opening said port door is responsive to the movement of said screened door means to open position and includes means for closing said port door in response 11 to movement of said screened door means to closed position;

18. A structure according to claim 17 in which said means for opening said port door includes means delaying the opening of the port door until said screened door means has moved to at least partially open position.

19. In a traveling suction cleaner having a fan, a suction nozzle connected to the fan and a collection chamber provided with a filter to entrap collected material against one side thereof; means for opening said chamber, and air deflecting means operable upon opening said chamber and movable into the path of air from said fan to deflect air from said fan against the opposite side of said filter and through-the same.

20. In combination with a traveling suction cleaner for textile mills having a fan, a suction inlet, a collection chamber and a filter for entrapping collected material against oneside thereof as air from said fan passes therethrough, means for periodically opening the collection chamber for removing material therefrom, movable air deflecting means movable into the path of air from said fan for deflecting air from said fan against the opposite side of said filter and through the same, and means connecting the air deflecting means and chamber opening means to actuate the air deflecting means upon opening of the collection chamber, to cause air from said fan to be deflected against said opposite side of and through the filter.

21. An overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textile mills comprising a fan, a suction inlet for said fan, a collection chamber, a filter in said collection chamber and against one side of which material is collected as air from said fan passes through said filter, means for periodically opening the collection chamber during travel of the cleaner for emptying collected material therefrom, a movable air deflector, and means for moving the air deflector into the path of air from the fan to deflect air from the fan against the opposite side of said filter and through the same upon opening of the chamber opening means. I I

22. An overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textile mills comprising a fan, a suction inlet for said fan, a collection chamber, a filter in said collection chamher and against one side of which material is collected as air from said fan passes through said filter, means for periodically opening the collection chamber during travel of the cleaner for emptying collected material therefrom, a movable air deflector, means for moving the air deflector into the path of air from the fan to deflect air from the fan against the opposite side of said filter and through the same upon opening of the chamber opening means, and means for moving the air deflector out of air deflecting position upon closing of the chamber opening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,292 Lindsay May 19, 1925 1,892,751 Smith e Jan. 3, 1933 2,381,705 Vokes Aug..7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,426 France u- June 8, 1931 846,368 Germany Aug. 11, 1952 1,001,465 Germany Jan. 24, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Parks-Cramer: Bulletin #415, published Sept. 14, -9.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,011,205 December 5, 1961 Grover. Ba Holtzclaw' It is hereby certified that error appears in the above nfimbered patent requiring correction and that the sa id Letters Patent should ,read as corrected below.

Column 9, line 16, for "outlet" read .inlet Signed and sealed this 17th day of April 1962;

XSEAL) ttest:

ESTON e. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents