Improvements in Cotton Openers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cotton Openers.
I HENRY S. HOUGHTON, of Northbridge in the County of Worcester and
State of Massachusetts U.S.A. Manufacturer of Cotton Cloths &c. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in cotton openers, and more particularly
to beaters used therein.
The general object of my invention is to provide a cotton opener beater which is
adapted when operating in conjunction with an ordinary grid or in conjunction
with the grid illustrated, to thoroughly knock the cotton to pieces and open it to
permit the escape of dirt, seed and the like; and also adapted to thoroughly
separate the fibres and check the dirt and throw it through the grid so as to
prevent it from mingling again with the cotton, and further adapted to effectually
prevent stringing of the cotton.
With the foregoing in view, the invention will be fully understood from the
following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed
drawings, in which:
Figure 1, is a vertical section of a portion of a cotton opener embodying my
invention.
Figure 2, is an elevation of the grid.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of my improved beater.
Figure 4, is a detail perspective view in section of a portion of one of the bars of
the beater.
Figure 5, is a similar view of a modification.
Figure 6, is a detail view illustrating how the beater serves to check the dirt
and seed and cause them to fall through the grid.
In the said drawing:
A, indicates a feeding apron; B, indicates feed rolls, and C, indicates the grid
of the cotton opener. This grid comprises curvilinear side bars e, and transverse
bars f, which are arranged a slight distance apart and are preferably of the form
in cross-section and inclined as illustrated and are provided upon their upper sides
with teeth g; the bars adjacent to the feed rolls being preferably provided with a
greater number of teeth than those remote from the same as shown. The said
teeth g, extend lengthwise approximately at right angles to the length of the bars
and in the direction in which the cotton moves and are provided with long faces or
sides and with a blunt square, beveled or curved forward end a, and the teeth of
one bar are arranged in alignment with the space on the teeth on the next bars as
shown so as to enable them to better engage and open all of the cotton. In virtue
of the peculiar form and arrangement of the teeth g, as just describel, it will be
seen that when the cotton is moved against them by the beater presently described,
they will separate and straighten the fibres of the same without catching and
tearing, cutting or otherwise injuring the same. Said teeth g, also, while permitting
the dirt and seed to readily pass between the grid bars, will effectually prevent any
material amount of cotton from taking the same course and will consequently effect
a material saving of the same which is a desideratum.
D, E, indicates the primary and secondary combs which are preferably employed
in conjunction with the grid and are arranged as shown; and F, indicates my

page_text: improved rotary beater. This beater F, may comprise a shaft h, radial arms i, and
bars i, and it is provided upon the outside of said bars j, with teeth G, better
illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5. These teeth G, extend lengthwise approximately
at right angles to the length of the bars j, and in the direction in which the beater
rotates, and they are provided with long faces or sides and with a blunt forward
cud as shown, and two sets or series of teeth are preferably arranged on each
bar j; the teeth of one set being arranged in alignment with the teeth of the
other set as shown in Figures 3, and 4, or the teeth of one set in alignment
with the spaces between the teeth of the other set as shown in Figure 5, as
desired.
Extending lengthwise of the beater bars j, midway the width thereof and
preferably formed integral therewith and with the teeth G, is, what 1 term the
bridges M. These bridges M, which separate the teeth on each bar j, into two
sets as above described and are arranged between the teeth of each set, preferably
have their sides beveled or inclined as indicated by m, and they are designed and
adapted to separate the fibres and effectually prevent stringing of the cotton and
are also adapted to check the dirt, seed and the like in the manner shown in Figure 6,
so as to cause such dirt and seed to take through the grid and prevent it from again
mingling with the cotton.
The above described teeth G, and bridges M, on the beater F, when such beater
is used in conjunction with the grid C, or an ordinary grid, will thoroughly knock
the cotton to pieces and open it so as to permit the escape of dirt and seed and
assist the teeth of the grid in separating and straightening the fibres and will at
the same time prevent stringing of the cotton and will check the dirt and scod
to cause the same to take through the grid and prevent it from again mingling
with the cotton, which is advantageous, as it materially accelerates the opening of
the same.
My improved beater when used in conjunction with my improved grid C, forms
a highly efficient opener, and I therefore prefer to use such beater and grid together
in one machine. I do not however desire to be understood as confining myself to
the use of my improved beater in conjunction with the grid C, as the beater may
be used to advantage in conjunction with an ordinary grid and when so used will
serve the purposes described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a cotton opener, the combination of a grid, and the rotary beater comprising
a bar j, the teeth arranged upon the outside of said bar and extending in the
direction in which the beater rotates, and a bridge extending in the direction of
the length of the bar and bridging the spaces between the teeth, substantially as
specified.
2. In a cotton opener, the combination of a grid and the rotary beater comprising
a bar j, the teeth arranged upon the outside of said bar and extending in the
direction in which the beater rotates, and the bridge extending in the direction of
the length of the bar and occupying the longitudinal centre thereof so as to divide
the teeth into sets and bridge the spaces between the teeth, and having beveled or
inclined sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.