Improvements in Cleaning Trunks for Use in connection with Cotton-openers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleaning Trunks for Use in connection with
Cotton-openers.
I, JAMES CHARLES POTTER, of No. 228 Broadway, in the City of Pawtucket, in
the County of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Textile Machinery, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 has reference to an improvement in the construction of the
cleaner-trunk through which the cotton, opened by the opener, is blown for the
purpose of removing as much as possible the impurities contained in the opened.
cotton.
As heretofore constructed the lower surface of the trunk was formed of a grating,
usually a series of transverse slats, over which the cotton was blown. Below this
grating a series of transverse partitions were placed so as to form a series of pockets
in which the sand, leaf and other impurities that passed through the grating were
collected;
the bottoms of these pockets were formed by doors hinged at one side to a
partition and secured, when in place, at the opposite side to the next partition,-
by opening these doors the dirt, sand and dust were discharged into suitable
receptacles.
The object of my invention is to facilitate the removal of the dirt, dust, sand and
other impurities and secure more ready access to the grating for cleaning.
The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction and the combination
of the parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed
out in the claims.
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved cleaner-trunk showing both ends with
the middle portion cut out, the interior grating and partitions being indicated in
broken lines.
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the trunk.
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connection of the latch-plate
with the bottom plate.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the trunk.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In the drawings, the cleaner-trunk 5 is divided transversely by the grating 6 into
the upper chamber 7, through which the cotton is blown, and the lower part subdivided
by the transverse partitions 8 into a series of chambers 9, in which the dust, sand and
impurities are collected, the bottom plates or doors 10 of which, instead of being
hinged to the partitions 8, are hinged at one end on the brackets 11 at a point
considerably below the plates 10, each plate 10 being provided with the hinge-
bracket 12. The partitions 8 are extended below the plates 10 at the hinged end of
the plate 10, and a considerably greater distance below the plate 10, when in its
normal or closed position, at the opposite or outlet end where the exhaust flue 13 is
connected with the cleaner-trunk, at this end the partitions 8 are connected by the
bar 14. The plate 15 is hinged to the outlet end of the plate 10 and is provided at its
upper end with the stop 16, the wire spring 17, coiled around the pivot of the hinge,
has one end bearing on the plate 10 and the other on the plate 15. The lower end of
the plate 15 is supported on the bar 14 and closes the outlet to the exhaust-flue 13
when the plate 10 is in the closed position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. The
exhaust-flue 13 is connected with the exhaust-fan 18 which may be located in any

page_text: desired position and is provided with the discharge-tube 19 through which the dirt,
sand and impurities are conveyed to any place desired for the discharge of said
impurities.
To enable others versed in the art to carry out my invention, I will now describe the
operation more fully.
-
From time to time the dirt, dust, sand and other impurities deposited in the chambers 9
have to be removed, and, usually at longer intervals, the grating has to be cleaned,
to facilitate the removal of the impurities I start the exhaust-fan 18 and, if a general
system of exhaust is used in a mill, I connect the exhaust-flue 13 with the exhaust
system. By means of the handles 20, connected with each of the plates 15, 1 push
one of the plates 15 off from the bar 14 and drop the plate 10 into the position shown
in broken lines in Figure 2 and marked A, the stop 16 will rest on the bar 14 and
support the plate 1 in this position, the respective chamber or chambers 9 are now
in connection with the exhaust-flue 13 and the dirt, dust and other impurities are
drawn by suction into and through the exhaust-flue 13. Such a suction would have a
tendency to draw the loose cotton fibre in the upper chamber 7 on to or through the
grating 6 over the particular chamber or chambers now connected with the exhaust-
tube, to prevent this, air must be admitted to the chamber 9 and preferably at the
end opposite the discharge end connecte with the exhaust-flue; in the preferrel forin
I accomplish this by the hinge 12, the pivotal point is below the plate 10, so that when
the opposite end is lowered the plate 10 swings forward and the air enters each
chamber, as is indicated by the arrow shown in broken lines in Figure 2.
When the grating requires sweeping, the plate 10 is lowered into the position shown
in broken lines in Figure 2 and marked B. I do not wish to confine myself to the
exact detail construction herein shown and described, as modifications may be made
without materially changing the results secured by the use of my invention.
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 :
Claim 1. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber 7, the
grating 6 and the collecting chambers 9, of the plates 10 pivotally connected at one
end with one side of the trunk and supported by a latch at the other end, and the
partitions 8 extending beyond the plates 10; whereby each plate may be lowered at
one end and the impurities discharged at one side of the trunk from each chamber
separately, as described.
2. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, the grating and the
collecting chambers, of partitions extending beyond the collecting chambers, plates
forming the bottoms of the chambers, hinges, supporting the ends of the bottom-plates,
the pivots of which are placed below the plates, and latches for supporting the
plates in the raised or lowered position, whereby the bottom-plates are raised and
lowered transversely to the length of the trunk and the impurities are discharged on
one, side of the trunk from each collecting chamber separately, as described.
3. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, the grating and the
collecting chambers, of the bottom plates of the collecting chambers pivotally
connected at one end with one side of the trunk, a double latch supporting the
opposite end of each of the plates in the raised position and in the lowered position A,
and transverse partitions, extending from the grating downward below and between the
bottom plates when lowered into the position A, whereby each collecting-chamber is
independently connected with the exhaust on one side of the trunk and each chamber
may be opened to give access for the cleaning of the grating, as described.
4. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, the grating and the
collecting chambers, of the bottom plates of the collecting chambers pivotally
supported at one end, latches, pivotally connected with the bottom plates, adapted to
support the ends of the bottom plates and close the opening of the exhaust-flue, the
partitions 8, and the bar 14; whereby each one of the collecting chambers may be
connected with 'and disconnected from the exhaust-flue, as described.

page_text: 5. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, the grating and the
collecting chambers, of the bottom-plates 10 hinged to one side of the trunk at one
end, latches for supporting the other end, and exhaust-flue extending along one sile of
the trunk, the downward-extended partitions and connections between the exhaust-flue
and the collecting chambers; whereby the dirt, dust and impurities may be removed
from the collecting chambers and access may be had for the cleaning of the grating,.
as described.
6. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber 7, the grating 6 and
the collecting chambers 9, of the plates 10, the brackets 11 and 12 forming the hinges.
for the support of one end of the plates 10, the latches 15 hinged to the opposite ends
of the plates 10 and each having the stop 16 at its upper and the handle 20 at its
lower part, the partitions 8, the connecting-bars 14 and the exhaust-flue 13, whereby
the dust and impurities may be removed from the collecting chambers separately and
the inlet to the exhaust-flue controlled, as described.
Say of vanuary, A.D. 10.
JAMES CHARLES POTTE {.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.