Improvements in Cotton-seed Delinters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1895
Complete Specification Left. 21st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE CONTINENTAL COTTON-SEED Co.
(Incorporated), of Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Cotton-seed Delinters.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for treating cotton seed, and
particularly to improvements in that class thereof known as delinters, which act
upon the cotton seed after it has been ginned, and it consists of an improved cotton
seed delinter of peculiar construction and arrangement, which will be hereinafter
more particularly referred to.
Delinters act upon cotton seed after it has been ginned, operating to remove
from the seed all of the cotton fibre left thereon after the ginning operation.
Thus it produces, on the one hand, a bat of cotton, most of the fibres of which are
however short, and, on the other hand, cleansed cotton seed, which may be
compressed, in order to enable the cotton seed oil to be separated therefrom, or
otherwise treated, according to processes well known in the art..
Delinters have been used, and have been in successful operation, for many years,
and the art is one in which improvements must be directed toward improving the
mechanisms employed to perform the various functions of the machine, and toward
the introduction of new principles of operation for the various parts of the
machine.
This invention is directed toward the simplification of the construction of machines
for delinting cotton seed, and therein toward the arrangement of the conveyer or
feeder and the condenser, in such relation to the main delinting cylinder, that
not only will the machine be rendered thereby more compact than the present
machines, and thus occupy very much less space than is now occupied by a
delinter, but the delinting operation will be facilitated, and the product will be
obtained in a more finished condition.
same,
and
The principal features of the improved machine which forms the subject of this
application are, first, the arrangement of the feeding or conveying screw cylinder
or agitator immediately below, and in close proximity to, the main delinting
cylinder; the causing of said feeder or conveyer to operate in a casing composed of
perforated sheet iron, or wire gauze, whose meshes are smaller than the diameter of
the cotton seed; and the feeding of the cotton seed to be delinted to the said.
feeding or conveying screw, both from a shute entering one end of the
from a feed opening at the top of the delinting cylinder; second, the formation on
the feeding or conveying screw cylinder, and on the casing or shrouding surrounding
the main delinting cylinder, of emeried surfaces which serve to render the delinting
operation more rapid and more complete; third, the use, for the clothing or fillets
of the main delinting cylinder, of strips of emery coated rubber or leather having
spikes projecting from their surfaces alternating with emery blocks; fourth, the
means used to prevent the formation of ropes or cords of cotton fibre on the
delinting cylinder; and to cause the cotton fibre to pass to the condenser as soon as
it is separated from the cotton seed; fifth the arrangement of the condenser in
immediate proximity to the main delinting cylinder, it being separated therefrom

page_text: by but a short feeding section; and certain details in the construction of the
condenser, which enable the cotton fibre to be readily carried off the surface of the
same; sixth, certain other details in construction and operation, relating to
the separation of the cotton bat from the condenser cylinder by means of an air
blast.
By the arrangement of the feeder or conveyer directly under the main delinting
cylinder, and by causing the same to operate in a casing which is provided with a
number of apertures, not only is the cotton seed freed by the normal operation of
the feeder from a great portion of the dirt which is carried along with it to the
delinter, but the cleansing and delinting of the seed is facilitated, as the cleaned
seed is heavier than the uncleaned seed, and thus gravitates to the bottom of the
feeding casing, while the uncleaned seed continually rises to the top, where it is
more readily acted upon, and subjected to such scouring as is necessary to completely
clean it and remove from it all cotton fibre which may adhere to its surface.
Dated this 21st day of May 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Cotton-seed Denters.
I PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for treating cotton seed, and
particularly to improvements in that class thereof known as delinters, which act
upon the cotton seed after it has been ginned, and it consists of an improved cotton-
seed delinter, the construction and arrangement of the parts of which, and the
various functions thereof, will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
Delinters act upon cotton seed after it has been ginned, operating to remove
from the seed all of the cotton fibre left thereon after the ginning operation. Thus,
it produces, on the one hand, a bat of cotton, most of the fibres of which are,
however, short, and, on the other hand, cleansed cotton seed, which may be
compressed in order to enable the cotton seed oil to be separated therefrom, or
otherwise treated according to processes well known in the art.
Delinters have been used, and have been in successful operation for many years,
and the art is one in which improvements must be directed toward improving the
mechanisnis employed to perform the various functions of the machine, and toward
the introduction of new principles of operation for the various parts of the
machine.
This invention is directed toward the simplification of the construction of
machines for delinting cotton seed, and therein toward the arrangement of the
conveyer or feeder, and the condenser, in such relation to the main delinting
cylinder, that not only will the machine be rendered thereby more compact than
the present machines, and thus occupy very much less space than is now occupied
by a delinter, but the delinting operation will be facilitated, and the product will
be obtained in a more finished condition.
The principal features of the improved machine which forms the subject of this
Application, are, first, the arrangement of the feeding or conveying screw cylinder
or agitator immediately below, and in close proximity to the main delinting
cylinder, the causing of said feeder or conveyer to operate in a casing composed of
perforated sheet non, or wire gauze, whose meshes are smaller than the diameter

page_text: of the cotton seed, and the feeding of the cotton -eed to be delinted to the said
feeding or conveying screw, both from a shute entering one end of the same, and
from a feed opening at the top of the delinting cylinder; second, the formation, on
the feeding or conveying screw cylinder, and on the casing or shrouding surrounding
the main delinting cylinder, of emeried surfaces, which serve to render the delinting
operation more rapid and more complete; third, the use, for the clothing or fillets
of the main delinting cylinder, of strips of emery coated rubber or leather, having
spikes projecting from their surfaces alternating with emery blocks; fourth, the
means used to prevent the formation of ropes or cords of cotton fibre on the
delinting cylinder, and to cause the cotton fibre to pass to the condenser as soon as
it is separated from the cotton seed; fifth, the aangement of the condenser in
immediate proximity to the main delinting cylinder, it being separated therefrom
by but a short feeding section, and certain details in the construction of the
condenser, which enable the cotton fibre to be readily carried off the surface of the
same sixth, certain other details in construction and operation, which will be
hereinafter described and pointed out.
By the arrangement of the feeder or conveyer directly under the main delinting
cylinder, and by causing the same to operate in a casing which is provided with a
number of apertures, not only is the cotton seed freed by the normal operation of
the feeder from a great portion of the dirt which is carried along with it to the
delinter, but the cleansing and delinting of the seed is facilitated, as the cleaned
seed is heavier than the uncleaned seed, and thus gravitates to the bottom of the
feeding casing. while the uncleaned seed continually rises to the top, where it is
more readily acted upon, and subjected to such scouring as is necessary to
completely clean it, and remove from it all cotton fibre which may adhere to its
surface.
The invention is fully illustrated in the drawings which accompany and form
part of this Application, in which the same reference numerals refer to the same
or corresponding parts, and in which-
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the entire machine, showing the location of the
various parts, and indicating the construction of the same.
Fig. 2 is a plan section of the machine, taken on the line X X Fig. 1, showing
particularly the construction and arrangement of the saws which work through one
portion of the casing or shrouding of the main delinting cylinder, and are designed
to take out bunches of cotton which may pass up from the feeder, and which mat,
unless they are taken out, and also showing the construction of the condenser.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the machine, taken on the line Y Y, Fig. 1,
showing the flights on the feeder, and also showing the feed spouts and the seed-
outlet opening.
Fig. 4 is a detail view of the face of the feeding or conveying screw cylinder.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the seed-outlet spout.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the surface of the main or delinting cylinder.
Fig. 6A is a view of a portion of a modified form of cylinder surface.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of the casing or shrouding for the main or delinting
cylinder, showing the emeried surface of the same.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of the toothed frame which prevents the formation of
ropes of cotton fibre on the main or delinting cylinder, and aids the conducting of
the cotton fibre to the condenser.
It is formed
Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the main machine flame.
with legs, and supports above the surface of the ground the main delinting
cylinder 2, and all parts connected therewith. In this frame is journalled the
shaft 3 of the main delinting cylinder, and the shaft 4 of the feeding or conveying
cylinder 5, which is situated directly underneath, and in line with the main
delinting cylinder, and rotates in the casing 6. This casing is perforated, and is
made either of sheet iron or of wire mesh, though the perforations must be smaller
than the diameter of the cotton seed, so that the cotton seed will not escape
therethrough. There is no shrouding between the main delinting cylinder and

page_text: this feeder or conveyer, an opening the width of the feeder casing being formed
in the main cylinder casing, through which the cotton seed is drawn up, to be
subjected to the action of the same. In frame 1 are further journalled shafts 7
and 9, which support respectively the saws 10 and the brushes 11, and the shaft 12
of the condenser cylinder, upon which shaft are mounted fans 13 and 14 (see
Fig. 2). Upon short shafts loosely mounted upon the shaft 12 is mounted the
condenser cylinder 15. The ends of the condenser cylinder are shown at 15¹.
The following is a description in detail of the construction of the various parts
of the delinter.
The cotton seed is fed to the delinter either through feeding spout 16, which
enters one end of the feeding or conveyer screw cylinder, or through the opening 17
at the top of the main delinting cylinder, or through both of these opening.
When the cotton fibre is wet, it is preferred to feed it through the opening at the
top of the main delinting cylinder, as it is loosened and shaken apart before it
reaches the conveyer or feeder, and thus is more easily fed and scoured.
Whichever feed opening is used, the cotton seed falls into the feeder or conveyer
casing, and is fed forward to the other end of the machine by means of the spirally
arranged flights formed on the feeding cylinder, which flights are composed of
numbers of short fan-like portions. The cylinder surface between the spirals 15
coated with glue and emery, in order to produce additional friction, and to
facilitate the delinting operation. The dirt and impurities which are carried with
the cotton seed as it is fed to the delinter, in a great measure fall through the
openings formed in the casing of the feeder or agitator, and thus escape. The
cotton seed, as it is carried along the feeder, is continually taken up and retaken
up by the delinting cylinder, and thoroughly scoured. The uncleaned cotton seed,
being lighter than the cleaned seed, naturally of itself rises to the top of the feeder,
where it is directly exposed to the influence of the delinting cylinder, while the
cleaned seed falls to the bottom of the feeder casing, and is swept along to the
discharge spont. In this manner, the influence of gravity is used to assist in
the delinting of the cotton seed, and to cause the uncleaned seed to be continually
exposed to the delinting action, until it is thoroughly cleansed.
The cleansed seed is discharged either through the discharge spout 18 located
at one end of the feeder, or through the opening 19 formed in the tail end of the
machine, at the top of the main delinting cylinder, the former discharge opening
being the most commonly used. As shown in detail in Fig. 5, slide valve 20, which
moves in discharge spout 18, and regulates the outflow through the same, is formed
with the opening 21. This valve may be pushed up into the feeding casing,
thereby causing the seed to back up in the feeder casing, or may be pushed down,
so as to deliver the cleansed seed more freely, the position of the valve being
determined by the condition of the seed discharged. In this way, the cotton seed
is kept in the machine until it is thoroughly cleansed and scoured.
The cotton seed, as it is fed into the machine, is caught up by the main delinting
cylinder, and subjected to an abrading and scouring action between the surfaces
of the said cylinder and the casing which is provided therefor. The main cylinder
is made of wood. Its surface is covered with a strip of emeried clothing 21 from
which project, in alternate series, rows of spikes 22, and of emery blocks 23. These
blocks may have any convenient form, not necessarily that shown. The spikes
which form the caid teeth may be square, chisel-pointed, or rounded, but are
preferably formed of case-hardened steel, with square edges on the teeth. The
emery biocks are made with a hole in their bottom, which is filled with plaster or
cement, and then pressed over projecting screw heads formed on the cylinder. In
this manner, the blocks are held perfectly tight, and secure to the cylinder, and
are free from expansion by the heat incident to their action, and thus are not
likely to be loosened from their position.
If desired, the spikes may be used entirely of the first half of the delinting
cylinder, and the emeried blocks be reserved for the last half, or that which treats
the cotton seed after it has been partially cleaned, this being a matter of detail

page_text: in construction which is determined by the working conditions of the machine.
This form of cylinder surface is illustrated in Fig. 64, the view being taken at
the middle of the cylinder, and showing a portion of both the spikes and the emery
blocks.
The casing or shrouding 25, which is provided for the main cylinder, and is
shown in detail in Fig. 7, is composed of wire cloth, whose meshes are filled with
emery or corundum stone. It is lined on the back side with paper, and the paper
is covered with glue, so that the emery or corundum will be held in the meshes of
the wire cloth. By this construction of the cylinder and casing, a very great
amount of friction is obtained, so as to scour the seed in such a manner as to
thoroughly cleanse the same, and remove from the seed all fibres of cotton.
To take out the bunches of cotton which may be fed up into the delinting
cylinder, and which would mat, unless taken out, there are provided the saws 10,
which work through a portion of the shrouding of the delinting cylinder, and are
spaced so that neither seed nor broken bulbs can pass through the shrouding. The
fibre which is taken away from the cylinder by these saws is brushed away by the
brushes 11, and discharged through the discharge opening 26.
The cotton fibre which is separated by the action of the delinter is mostly
composed of short fibres, and the short fibres are drawn, simply by the air current
created by the fans 13 and 14 of the condenser, through the casing 27 inter-
mediate of the delinting cylinder and the condensing cylinder. The long fibres,
however, which have not been taken away from the cotton seed by the ginning
operation, and are separated by the delinter, tend to form ropes or chains of fibre
around the delinting cylinder. To prevent this action, there are provided a number
of toothed sections 28 at the outer end of the casing 27, the teeth of which act to
break up and prevent the formation of any such ropes or chains of fibre, and to
cause the long fibre, as well as the short fibre, to be readily and quickly conducted
to the condenser cylinder
A
The condenser cylinder 15 is mounted upon bearings which loosely rotate upon
the fan shaft 12 and is caused to rotate by means of the power pulley 36.
casing 29 is provided for the cylinder, to prevent outside currents of air from
interfering with the operation of the same. At its top, the casing is formed with
the hinged portion 30, at the end of which is journalled the pressure roller 31,
which running against the surface of the condenser, cylinder serves to form the
bat. The casing ends with the slanting plate 32, over which the bat of cotton
passes, as it is delivered from the condenser. The fan 14 is mounted upon the
shaft 12, at one end of the condenser, and is operated by power pulley 40, and
delivers currents of air through openings 33 formed in the end of the casing of
the condenser cylinder, in such a manner as to separate the bat of cotton fibre
which is formed upon the condenser cylinder from the same, the action of the
faus 13 inside the condenser cylinder serving to decrease the tendency of the fibre
to cling to the condenser cylinder, and thus to assist in the removal of the bat of
cotton therefrom.
The machine, in its various parts, having been considered, the operation of the
same as a whole will now be explained.
The cotton-seed to be cleansed is fed into the machine through either the feed
spout 16, or the opening 17, formed at the top of the delinting cylinder casing,
and in either case falls into the feeder casing 6, and is there constantly agitated,
and carried along by the feeder or conveyer 4 to the tail end of the machine, the
cotton seed being continually caught up by the main delinting cylinder and
cleansed. The cleaned seed escapes through the discharge spout 18, its outflow
being regulated by the valve 20 operating therein, or through the discharge
opening 19. The cotton fibre passes around the main delinting cylinder, being
continually subjected to the scouring and abrading action of the spiked or toothed
surface of the cylinder, acting against the emeried face of the casing. At an early
point of its separation from the seed, the cotton fibre is subjected to the action of
the saws 10, which remove any bunches of cotton which may have been carried

page_text: along to the delinting cylinder, cleaning the cotton from all motes and dirt, and
bringing out its best qualities The cotton fibre is then carried along, and is drawn
into the condenser, the toothed sections 28 preventing the formation of ropes of
cotton fibre, and in the condenser it is rolled into the form of a bat, and delivered
from the machine over the plate 32.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim, is :-
1. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing therefor having an aperture therein, of a seed feeder or conveyer in free
communication with the delinting cylinder through said aperture, but secured on a
level below that of said aperture, whereby seed carried along by said feeder or
conveyer will not of itself come into contact with the delinting cylinder, but will
be caught up by the suction caused by the action of the delinting cylinder, and
subjected to the delinting operation, substantially as described.
2. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing therefor, having an aperture therein, of a seed feeder or conveyer in free
communication with the delinting cylinder through said aperture, and a casing for
said feeder or conveyer, the bottom of which is on a level below that of the
aperture in the delinting cylinder casing, substantially as described.
3. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing therefor having an aperture therein, of a seed feeder or conveyer in line
with the delinting cylinder, and in free communication with the same through said
aperture, but secured on a level below that of the aperture in the delinting
cylinder casing, substantially as described.
4. In a cotton seed delinter. the combination with a delinting cylinder, of a seed
feeder or conveyer underneath, and in line with the delinting cylinder, and in free
communication with the same, whereby seed carried along by said feeder or
conveyer, will be caught up by the suction caused by the action of the delinting
cylinder, and subjected to the delinting operation, substantially as described.
5. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing therefor, having an aperture therein, of a seed feeder or conveyer in free
communication with the delinting cylinder through said aperture, but secured on a
level below that of the aperture in the delinting cylinder casing, and a perforated
casing or shrouding in which said feeder or conveyer operates, substantially as
described.
6. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, of a seed
feeder or conveyer underneath and in line with the delinting cylinder, and in free
communication with the same, and a perforated casing or shrouding in which said
feeder or conveyer operates, substantially as described.
7. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing therefor, having an aperture therein, of a seed feeder or conveyer in free
communication with the delinting cylinder through said aperture, but secured on a
level below that of said aperture, a perforated casing or shrouding in which said
feeder or conveyer operates, a feed supply opening in said casing, and means in
said casing for regulating the discharge of the cleansed seed, substantially as
described.
8. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing or shrouding therefor, having seed inlet and outlet openings, and an aperture
to perinit communication with the seed feeder or conveyer, of a seed feeder or
conveyer in free communication with the delinting cylinder through said aperture,
but secured on a level below that of said aperture, substantially as described.
9. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing or shrouding therefor, having seed inlet and outlet openings, and an
aperture to permit communication with the seed feeder or conveyer, of a seed
feeder or conveyer in free communication with the deliating cylinder through said

page_text: aperture, but secured on a level below that of said aperture, a perforated casing or
shrouding in which said feeder or conveyer operates, a feed supply opening in
said casing, and means in said casing for regulating the discharge of the cleansed
seed, substantially as described.
10. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder, and a
casing or shrouding therefor, having at its top a seed inlet opening, of a seed
feeder or conveyer underneath, and in line with the delinting cylinder, and in free
communication with the same, a casing in which said feeder or conveyer rotates,
and adjustable means for regulating the discharge of the cleansed seed, substantially
as described.
11. In a cotton-seed delinter, a delinting cylinder covered with emeried-faced
clothing, from part of the surface of which project spikes or card teeth, and from
part emery blocks, substantially as described.
12. In a cotton seed delinter, a delinting cylinder covered with emeried-faced
clothing, from which project circular rows of spikes and emery blocks in alternate
series, substantially as described.
13. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder and a
shrouding therefor, of a condenser, a shute leading from said delinter to said
condenser, and toothed sections stationed at the entrance of said shute, to prevent
the formation of ropes of cotton fibre on the delinting cylinder, substantially as
described.
14. In a cotton-seed delinter, the combination with a delinting cylinder and a
shrouding therefor, of a condenser and a shute having a series of toothed bars
extending across its mouth, which come in close contact with the surface of the
delinting cylinder, leading from said delinting cylinder to said condenser, sub-
stantially as described.
15. In a condenser for treating cotton, the combination with a condenser cylinder,
a casing therefor, and fibre inlet and outlet openings, of a fan stationed at one end
of the condenser cylinder, and arranged so as to deliver a current of air end wise
against the end periphery of the said cylinder, substantially as described.
16. In a condenser for treating cotton, the combination with a condenser cylinder,
a casing therefor, and fibre inlet and outlet openings, of a fan journalled inside the
condenser cylinder, and adapted to prevent the cotton from clinging to said
cylinder, substantially as described.
17. In a condenser for treating cotton, the combination with a condenser cylinder,
a casing therefor, and fibre inlet and outlet openings, of a fan arranged to deliver
a current of air against one end of the condenser cylinder, and a fan journalled
inside the condenser cylinder and adapted to prevent the cotton from clinging to
the said cylinder, substantially as described.
18. In a condenser for treating cotton, the combination with the condenser
cylinder 15, and a casing 29 therefor, having openings 33 formed in the same, of
the shaft 12, the fans 15 mounted on said shaft and stationed inside the condenser
cylinder, and the fans 14 stationed at the end of said cylinder, and adapted to
deliver currents of air through the apertures 33 against the periphery of the
condenser cylinder, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1805
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.