Improvements in and relating to Cotton Seed Delinters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar.. 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cotton Seed Delinters.
I, FRANK WASHINGTON CROSS, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 59 East Harris Street, in the City of Atlanta, County of Fulton and
State of Georgia, one of the United States of America, Inventor, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for delinting cotton seed, and
my said invention consists in certain novelty in the construction, arrangement and
combination of the various parts of the same, all of which I will now proceed to
point out and describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a rear end elevation.
Figure 3 a top plan view of the casing of the machine, the feeding hopper being
removed and a portion of the driving mechanism being shown in section.
Figure is a cross section of the casing taken on line -r of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the casing and brush, the brush shaft and
rollers being shown in section.
Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line y-y of Figure 5.
Figure 7, an enlarged detail of adjusting screws for the rollers.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the lower end of the casing.
Figure 9 is a cross section taken on line - of Figure 5.
Figure 10 is a detail in section of the feeding hopper and stirrers.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the clutch mechanism for controlling the endless
feeding belt.
Referring to said drawings:
The frame of the machine consists of two rear uprights or supports 1, the two
shorter forward uprights or supports 2 secured to a suitable base 3, or, if preferred,
directly secured to the flooring. 4 is a cone-shaped casing or housing having a
lower head 5, on its larger end and a substantially cylindrical casting, 6, secured to
its upper end, said casting having a head 7.
To the head 7 at diametrically opposite points are secured brackets 8, on which
are formed trunnion bearings 10, provided with annular flanges 11. Said trunnion
bearings are, respectively, mounted in bearings 12, formed in the rear uprights or
supports. By means of this construction the casing or housing may be swung upon
the supports and adjusted at any desired angle for a purpose hereinafter described.
The forward uprights. 2, are provided with segmental slots 13. 14 are castings
secured to diametrically opposite points on the lower head of the casing. Said
castings are provided with screw-threaded apertures 15.
16 are clamping hand screws passing through the segmental slots 13 and engaging
the female screws in the castings 14. Said screws are provided with collars 17.
When the casing is adjusted at the desired angle, the screws are tightened until
the collars 17 engage the outer side of the uprights, and the said casing is thus
held in position. An ordinary headed screw may be used instead of the hand
screws. or any other desired means may be employed to hold the casing as
adjusted.
In the centre of the lower head of the casing is formed a bearing 18, and in the
centre of the head 7 of the cylindrical casting is formed a bearing 19, in which

page_text: latter is mounted the hollow shank 20 of a bevel gear 21, which gear is held in
place by a suitable collar or unt, 22.
23 is a brush shaft having its lower end mounted in the bearing 18, and its upper
end passing through and extending beyond the hollow shank 20, and pinion 21,
which form its upper hearing. The pinion is splined to the shaft as shown, and
thus permits said shaft. to be moved longitudinally.
To the lower part of the brush shaft is rigidly secured a spider 24, to its upper
part a conical head 25, and at suitable intervals hrace arms or spiders 26. To these
are secured a conical brush support 27 preferably inade of metal.
28 is the brush made of wire or other suitable material secured to a suitable
hacking 29, said backing being made in longitudinal sections, whereby the same
may be readily adjusted and removed. This brush is rigidly secured to the brush
support. The bristles at the upper ends of the brush are cut away in an inclined
line, as shown.
30 is a circular guard secured to the conical head 25, and fitting snugly against
the inside of the cylindrical hend, thus preventing any possibility of leakage of oil
or the backing up of seed in the head. Said guard moves freely in the head.
32 is an annular bearing block secured to the lower head of the casing, and 33 an
annular bearing block secured to the upper hend. 34 are independent bearings
formed in and extending partly through the lower bearing block, and 35 are
benrings formed in the upper hearing block registering with the bearings 34.
In said bearings are mounted a series of independent tapering rods or rolls 36,
having journals 37, the small ends of the rods or rolls being at the top. Said rolls
are so arranged that a space is left between each of sufficient size to permit lint to
pass, but not to permit the passage of a seed, said space being of the same width
between ench roll or rod throughout their length. Each roll or rod is free to have
an independent movement, and the entire set of rolls or rods are concentric with
the casing, thus forining a conical backing or surface against which the seeds are
forced as the brush is revolved. 38 are a series of set screws in the lower head
which engage the lower ends of the rolls and regulate the degree of speed with
which they turn.
The bearing blocks are formed with a removable section 39, on top, so that the
same can be taken ont and the brush cleaned, or a section removed for repairs or
other purposes.
Un the outside of the lower bend of the easing is an enlarged portion 40, cast
integral with the head and through which the brush shaft passes.
41 are female screws on diametrically opposite sides of the brush shaft bearing,
in said casing, and extending through said lower head.
42 is a cross bar loosely mounted on the lower end of the brush shaft between
two collars 43, rigidly seenred to said shaft. In each end of said cruse-bar are
formed smooth bearings 44, for adjusting serews 45, one of which is provided with
a hund-wheel the other screw being provided with a hend and adapted to be operated
by a wrench or other means. Said screws engage with the female screws in the
enlarged portion 40. Each screw is provi-led with binding nuts 46. Upon releasing
the binding nuts, by means of the adjusting screws, the shaft may be moved up or
down to regulate the space between said brush and the surrounding backing surface
of rolls or rods.
Mounted in one of the trunnion bearings is a short shaft 48, on the outer end of
which is mounted a fixed pulley 40, and a smaller fixed pulley 50.
51 is a bracket arm secured to one of the uprights 1, in the upper end of which
is a bearing 51 in which the outer end of the shaft 48 is mounted.
On the inner end of said shaft is a fixed beveled gear 52 engaging the beveled
gear secured to the upper end of the brush shaft.
53 is a belt on the pulley 49 connected with any suitable means of power. Through
this mechanism motion is imparted to the brush shaft and brush to revolve the
same. Suitable means may be employed to reverse the direction of motion of the
belt and thus reverse the movement of the brush shaft and brush.

page_text: In the other trunnion bearing is mounted a short shaft 55, on the inner end of
which is mounted a fixed beveled gear 56 also engaging the beveled gear on the
end of the brush shaft. On the outer end of this shaft is mounted a fixed
pulley 57.
58 is a counter shaft mounted in bearings, 59, on the rear uprights. Upon one
end of this shaft is mounted a fixed pulley 60 having belt connection 61 with the
pulley 57 and through which the shaft 58 is operated.
62 is an upright arm secured to one of the rear supports, and having mounted.
on its upper end a sprocket wheel 63.
64 are brackets secured to the rear of the uprights 1, having bearings 65 in their
ends in which is mounted a second counter shaft 66.
67 is a sprocket wheel mounted on one end of the shaft 66 and connected by a
sprocket chain 68, with the sprocket wheel 63. Said chain is provided with
buckets 69 which form an endless carrier to convey the seed to the feeding hopper
hereinafter described. Said buckets enter a seed receptacle 70 which is fed by a
chute 71.
On the opposite end the second counter shaft 66 are rigidly mounted pulleys 72
and 73.
On the corresponding end of the shaft 58 are loosely mounted small pulleys 74
and 75, the pulley 74 having straight belt connection 74 with the pulley 72, and
the pulley 75 having cross belt connection with the pulley 73. 76 is a double
clutch splined upon the shaft 58 and operated by lever mechanism, whereby either
of the pulleys 72 or 73 may be thrown into operation, the object of this mechanism
being to keep the endless feeder moving in the same direction, no matter what the
movement of the brush shaft may be.
78 is a feed hopper located just above the upper small end of the conical casing
into which the seeds are dropped by the endless carrier. 78 is an aperture in
the cylindrical casting or head through which the sceds fall and are conveyed
by gravity between the brush and surrounding backing or surface of rods or rolls.
80 is a shaft mounted in bearings in said hopper, carrying on one end a pulley 81,
having belt connection 82 with the pulley 50 by means of which the stirrers 83 arc
operated through suitable gearing 84.
On each side of the conical casing are openings 85 communicating with the.
exhaust chambers 86, said chambers having valves 87, and each of said chambers.
being connected with exhaust pipes 88, preferably having a telescopic joint 89..
Said pipes in turn communicate with an exhaust fan 90, which directs the lint
through a pipe 90° to any suitable receptacle or liut room.
In the lower head of the bottom of the casing is a discharge opening and
chute, 91, through which the cleaned seed is discharged.
93 and 94 are binged doors on the top and bottom of the casing, by means of
which the interior may at any time be inspected and cleaned.
94" is a sight hole in the casing just below the feeding hopper.
95 are vents in the bottom of the casing.
100 are braces ou the inside of the casing which engage the rolls or rods and
prevent any sagging.
The operation is as follows:-
The casing is first set at the required angle, the brush adjusted so as to bring it
the necessary distance from the surrounding rolls. When power is applied, the
seeds are fed in through the feed hopper by the mechanism described, passing
between the brush and rolls or rods in a spiral course, the brush removing the lint
and the smooth surface backing or surface of revoluble rolls preventing the hulls
of the seeds from becoming broken or injured. The exhaust mechanism draws the
lint between the rolls and conveys it to the blower, from whence it passes to any
suitable receptacle or lint room, the cleaned seed passing through the discharge
opening.
A great advantage of the cone-shaped brush and surrounding cone-shaped surface
of rolls having the larger end of the coue at the bottom, is that the seeds are much

page_text: more quickly fed and distributed, thus expediting their cleaning and preventing
any clogging.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a casing, a conical
revoluble brush mounted in said casing, and means for revolving the same; of a
series of inpering rods or rolls surrounding the brush and arranged conically to
leave the same space between each two adjacent rods or rolls throughout their
length, and suitable exhaust mechanism communicating with the interior of the
casing, substantially as shown and described for the purpose set forth.
2. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a revoluble
conical brush and means for revolving the brush, of a surrounding backing or
surface consisting of a series of conically arranged smooth-surfaced tapering rolls
or rods having a space between each two adjacent rolls or rods, said space being
the same width between each roll or rod throughout their length, substantially as
shown and described.
3. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a conical casing, 4,
having trunnion bearings, 10, on its smaller end mounted in bearings in the uprights
or supports, 1, clamping screws, 16, secured to the lower and larger end of the
casing, and engaging seginental slots in the lower uprights or supports, 2; of a
conically arranged revoluble brush in said casing, and a surrounding backing or
surface consisting of a series of conically arranged tapering rods or rolls surrounding
said brush and having a space between ench two adjacent rolls or rods, substantially
as shown and described.
4. In a machine for delinting cotton seed, the combination with a conical casing, 4,
having a lower head, 5, and a cylindrical casting, 6, secured to its upper end and
pivotally mounted in uprights 1, and clumping screws, 16, engaging a segmental
slot. 13, in uprights, 2, exhaust chambers S6, said chambers provided with valves 87,
and suitable exhaust mechanism communicating with the chambers; of a conical
revoluble brush mounted in said casing and baving a surrounding backing
consisting of a series of revoluble rolls or rods surrounding said brush, and having
a space between each two adjacent rolls or rods, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C., Patent Agents.