US3400518A

US3400518A - Apparatus for separating flock from an air stream

Info

Publication number: US3400518A
Application number: US580115A
Authority: US
Inventors: Staheli Paul
Original assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
Current assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
Priority date: 1966-04-05
Filing date: 1966-09-16
Publication date: 1968-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-10
Also published as: ES332084A1; ES334962A1; ES124800Y; DE1510368C2; NL147487B; DE1510368A1; AT272159B; BE692905A; DE1946638U; ES124800U; CH437063A; BE696655A; GB1133883A; DE1957236U; DE1286436B; NL6612818A

Description

Sept. 10,1968 RSTAHEL. 3,400,518

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FLOCK FROM AN AIR STREAM Filed Sept. 16, 1966 FIE/.3

9 -LLLLLLLLiL ILLLL INVENTOR. PA u; STA HEI- BY I ATTO NE'YS United States PatentO APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FLOCK FROM AN AIR STREAM Paul Staheli, Wilen, near Wil, Switzerland, assignor to Rieter Machine Works, Ltd. Filed Sept. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 580,115

Claims priority, application Switzerland, Apr. 5, 1966,

5,009/66 14 Claims. (Cl. 55-428) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a card feed system wherein a stream of air is used to transport loosened fibrous flock to a spinning machine, the flock containing air stream is directed through the filling shaft and thence through the separating wall so that the flock is separated out of the air stream and deposited in the filling shaft. The flock deposited in the filling shaft is removed in a wad by the wad forming rollers at the base of the filling shaft.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating flock. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for separating flock from a stream of transporting air.

Generally, after being removed from such devices as mechanical bale disintegrators, mixing bale openers and beater machines in a spinning system, cotton flock has been transported by streams of air to filling shafts of carding machines. These filling shafts have in some systems been arranged in series with aerodynamic deflecting means positioned relative to the shafts so that only a very small quantity of air has escaped from the shafts in comparison to the total quantity of air while a fraction of the transported flock has been deposited in each shaft in order to insure that all of the shafts have remained filled. While these systems have had no moving parts for operation, the systems have the disadvantage that the plurality of filling shafts must be set in series.

In other systems, separator heads having sieve-drum separators have been used although such has required moving parts. This has involved greater expense as well as a certain degree of inspection and maintenance. Further, these systems have separated the total quantity of flock out of the transporting air stream so that each filling shaft has required a separate branch conduit leading into the shaft. Thus, notwithstanding that sieve-drums necessarily produce agglomerations of fibrous flock which impair uniform deposition, charging of a plurality of filling shafts set in series by means of a single transportation conduit cannot be realized with sieve-drums.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of these above systems, flock filling shafts have been provided with perforated walls so that the entire flock transporting air stream could be directed into the filling shafts and subsequently separated from the flock upon passin through the perforated wall. These filling shafts have been provided with a series of weight-loaded pivotable flaps arranged in shingle fashion on the perforated wall in order to obtain a reliable filling of the shafts from the bottom to the top and to inhibit uncontrolled accumulation of the flock on the perforated wall thereby preventing plugging of the wall. The flaps have been lifted directly above the level of the fibers by the air stream so as to control and limit deposition of the flock. However, the flaps have in some instances been deranged resulting in plugging of the perforations and improper deposition of the flock.

Generally, the invention eliminates the drawbacks of the heretofore used devices in separating loosened fibrous flock out of a stream of air as indicated through a simpli- Patented Sept. 10, 168

fied form of construction of a filling shaft. Also, the invention provides for the pneumatic charging of one or more filling shafts by a single flock-transporting conduit so that a part or the whole of the flock-transporting air stream can be separated out in one or more filling shafts. The deposited flock is compacted not only by the weight of the column of fibrous material above but also by an above normal air pressure of the air stream delivered from the conduit in the filling shaft. The fibrous material in the lower end of filling shaft is fed to an opening or fine-opening machine such, for example, as a carder.

The apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of filling shafts connected to a common pneumatic flocktransporting conduit. Each filling shaft is provided at the bottom with a wad forming means and along at least one side with a channel which ends in a chamber at the lower end and which is placed under a lower pressure than the filling shaft. The channel is separated from the filling shaft by a partition having a plurality of vertically disposed narrow slits of a width less than the size of the flock being deposited. The partition permits a uniform accumulation of flock across the entire breadth of the filling shaft while allowing passage of the entire air stream through the filling shaft and channel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to fill a plurality of filling shafts with flock from a single air transporting conduit.

It is another object of the invention to provide for the uniform accumulation of flock across the breadth of a filling shaft.

It is another object of the invention to conduct a stream of flock transporting air through a filling shaft in entirety.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an individual flock filling shaft in a section along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken on line II-II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken on line III-III of FIG 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates avariant of the form of construction of the shaft cross section analogous to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the withstanding organs of the filler shaft in section;

FIG. 6 illustrates a double-flow shaft as a variant, in cross section; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an elevational view of a plurality of flock shafts set in series.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an apparatus for separating flock which is positioned between a mixing bale-opener (not shown) and a spinning machine (not shown) includes an air-conveying conduit 1 for conveying openedout fibrous flock 2 under an above normal pressure p from the mixing bale-opener into a head 3 of a filling shaft 4. The filling shaft 4 is formed with a vertical wall 5 having a plurality of vertically disposed narrow slits 6, for example, of 3 mm. to 6 mm. wide, which separates the filling shaft 4 from a contiguous outflow channel 7. The channel 7 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed individual passages 8 running the length of the channel 7, each of which passages 8 is in communication with a slit 6 in the wall 5 of the filling shaft 4.

In order to form the separating wall 5 with the slits 6 and passages 8, the interior of the filling shaft 4 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed L-shaped plates 10 fastened to an outer wall 9 of the filling shaft. The lower ends of the plates 10 are arranged so that the slits form a comb open at the bottom. Also, a plate 7' is disposed across the tops of the plates 10 to make the channel 7 of less height than the filling shaft 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the separating wall 5 can alternatively be formed by vertically disposed T-scction plates having webs 12 and flat plates 13 in alternating fashion at a spacing to provide a passage 11 between a pair of webs 12 with two slits 14.

The lower end of the filling shaft 4 receives the fibrous flock 2 for compaction of the deposited flock 15 into a wad for withdrawal by a wad forming means which consists of a pair of rollers 16, 17 positioned at the end of the filling shaft 4. The rollers 16, 17 which are driven at the same peripheral speed include a sieve-drum positioned directly below the outflow channel 7 and a solid drum which is mounted to press against the sieve-drum under a suitable spring force. The sieve-drum is placed under a pressure p being lower than the pressure 17 at the top of the outflow channel 7 and is covered exteriorly by a housing 19 which emerges from the channel 7. The outlet pipe 18 is connected to the interior of the sievedrum 17 and for this purpose projects through the housing wall'covering the sieve-drum at one end. Thus air can only be drawn into the sieve-drum through the outflow channel when the filling shaft 4 has been filled somewhat. Prior to or during the very first flock deposition obviously the air will be sucked into the sieve-drum from the shaft 15.

Referring to FIG. 5, instead of the sieve-drum arrangement, the Wad forming and withdrawing device may consist of a pair of

solid rollers

20, 21 which are of about the same size and which rotate at the same peripheral speed in counter direction. In this case, the outflow channel 22 which ends on a slant opens directly into an interconnected outlet channel 23. Also, the slits in the separating wall 24 of the filling shaft extend to the solid roller 20 disposed below the channel 22.

Referring to FIG. 6, the filling shaft can be formed with a pair of

duplicate outflow channels

30, 31 disposed on opposite sides of the filling shaft which communicate with a common outlet pipe.

Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of

filling shafts

25, 26, 27 each of which includes a separating

head

28, 29, 29' are disposed in the path of the flock-transporting air stream so that the air stream can pass transversely through the foremost separating

heads

23, 29 with the remainder of the flock-transporting air stream passing into the last separating head 29. Thus, the last filling shaft 27 receives the flock not deposited in the

other filling shafts

25, 26 so that a return of the transporting medium with any excess flock is unnecessary.

By way of example, the separating apparatus of the invention has an outflow channel 1 meter wide (approximately the width of the carding machine) and 40 mm. deep. The filling shaft is as wide and is 70 to 100 mm. deep. The total height of the filling shaft is approximately 2 meters so that with a 75% degree of filling, 2 kg. of cotton is contained in the filling shaft. Further, with an input pressure p of 30 to 50 mm. of water-column conducted into the head of the filling shaft and an output pressure p of about mm. of water-column at the lower end of the outflow passage, the flock laden air stream flows into the filling shaft and thence through the slits of the separating wall under the influence of the lower pressure p into the outflow channel. Because of the vertical disposition of the slits, the deposited flock material does not remain suspended in front of the slits, but slides downward under gravity without passing through the slits into the outflow channel. However, should a few rare very small flocks pass through the slits, they are returned to the filling shaft by means of the sieve-drum at the bottom or else eliminated by direct removal without causing any trouble. After the shaft is filled up to a certain height depending on the conditions and relationships, for example 75 a state of equilibrium becomes formed between the new separation of flock and the speed of withdrawal of the wad that is formed. The slits above the column of material remain clean and an approximately constant quantity of air escapes through the outflow channel. The pressure relationships and, thus, the density of the accumulation remain approximately stable for the constant column of material whereas, if the separating wall were provided with a sieve, the sieve would become permanently plugged-up after a short time.

Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be so limited as changes may be readily made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the subject matter described above and shown in the drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

p 1. An apparatus for separating loosened fibrous flock from a transporting air stream comprising:

a flock-transporting conduit for conducting a flocktransporting air stream at a first pressure,

at least one filling shaft connected to said conduit receiving the flock-transporting air stream for depositing of the flock therein,

at least one outflow channel contiguous to said filling shaft for receiving the air stream at a second pressure less than said first pressure,

a wad forming means positioned below said filling shaft and channel for withdrawing the deposited flock, and a vertically disposed separating wall between said filling shaft and said outflow channel for separating the flock from the air stream, said wall having a plurality of vertically disposed slits for preventing passage of the flock therethrough whereby the flock slides down said wall to obtain a uniform deposition of the flock over the width of said shaft and the entire air stream passes through said shaft. 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slits of said wall are open at the lower ends thereof.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wad forming means includes a pair of rollers pressed against each other, one of said rollers being a sieve-drum disposed under said channel.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein an outflow channel is disposed on each of two opposite sides of said filling shaft.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slits of said wall extend to the lower end of said filling shaft.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slits of said wall extend the height of said channel.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slits are 3 to 6 mm. wide.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the slits are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width thereof.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel includes a plurality of vertically disposed passages in communication with said filling shaft through the slits in said wall.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said passages communicate with said filling shaft through one slit.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said separating wall includes a plurality of spaced parallel L- shaped plates forming said plurality of passages.

12. An apparatus for separating loosened fibrous flock from a transporting air stream comprising:

a filling shaft having a wad forming discharge device, a flock-transporting conduit interconnected to said filling shaft and maintained under an excess pressure,

an outfiow channel parallel to said filling shaft and terminating below said filling shaft in a space maintained under a pressure lower than said excess pressure, and I a common separating wall between said filling shaft and said outflow channel having a plurality of vertically disposed narrow slits, each of the slits being 5 6 of a width smaller than the size of fibrous flock to be 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein an deposited. outflow channel defines said area. 13. An apparatus for forming and condensing a flock column from a stream of flock-transporting air compris- References Cited mgr fin. h ft f th t f fi kt 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS a mg s a or recelvmg e s ream 0e ransporting air and having a wad forming means mounted 1720702 7/1929 Streun 55417 X below the lower end thereof for forming a wad from 381 4/1932 55443 the flock column in said filling shaft; 1,975,335 /1934 591th 55-400 X a space adjoining said filling shaft, said space being 10 2,024,469 12/1935 h l 55-430 X maintained at a lower pressure than said filling shaft 2,253,698 8/1941 Goldsmlth 55428 to receive the air of the stream of air passing from 2,639,780 5/ 1953 Hardy X said fining h ft; 2,712,858 7/1955 Wintenmute. an air outlet wall disposed between said filling shaft 2,720,938 10/1955 Cates.

and said space, said 'wall having a plurality of ver- 2,878,893 3/ 1959 Madsen 55432 tically disposed slits for permitting passage of the air therethrough from said filling shaft into said space FOREIGN PATENTS and for separating the flock from the flock-transport- 1,302,240 7/ 1962 France.

ing air stream to deposit the separated flock in said 1,369,176 6/1964 France.

filling shaft in a substantially uniformmanner over the width of said filling shaft. HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, 0.0. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,400 ,518 September 10 1968 Paul Staheli It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 2, "area" should read space Signed and sealed this 10th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer