Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Scutching, and Separating Dirt from Cotton Fibres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Scutching, and Separating
Dirt from Cotton Fibres.
We, SAMUEL HERBERT BROOKS of the Firm of Brooks & Doxey, Union Iron
Works, West Gorton, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Makers,
and WALTER FROST, of the Union Iron Works aforesaid, Foreman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the pneumatic dust trunk or tube through which the cotton is introduced
to the opening machine we form the grids with loose or removable division plates
or partitions so that they can be easily removed to allow of the removal of any
dirt or fibre that may have accumulated or stuck between them or in the tube.
And we also make the lid to open so as to expose the bottom and side of these
partitions or division plates to facilitate the removal of the dirt and dust
collected between them.
For this purpose we prefer to affix brackets or their equivalents to the sides of
the trunk or tube and to cut notches out of the sides of the division plates which
will rest thereon thus suspending them from a point a little below the top edge.
This will allow of the bottom edges being moved to and fro or of a single plate
being removed. The division plates may be otherwise supported each loosely and
separately in any convenient manner.
We make the bottom and one side of the trunk to form the lid so that when
opened the bottom and one side of the partition plates are exposed which allows
the loose dirt to fall away and render the plates easily accessible for the removal
of any dirt or dust adhering thereto.
The top may also be hinged so as to give access to the top of the grid when
desired.
The division plates may be flat on top as hitherto or they may be recessed to
the extent of half a circle or corrugated or otherwise formed to give a greater
rubbing surface to the fibres passing over them.
Or they may be stamped out with a hole or passage of circular or other shape
through them to give a rubbing surface both at the top and bottom.
To prevent the air escaping around the edges of the perforated drums or cages
in the opener or scutcher we affix a strip of leather to a bracket or holder of sheet
metal which firmly grips the edges thereof. This strip of leather extends over
the edges of the cage and is held in position by the sheet metal bracket which is
screwed or bolted to the side of the framing. By this arrangement the drilling
and plugging of a great number of holes is obviated to which the leather was
formerly secured by tacks or small nails. Further, by this arrangement the
leathers can be more easily replaced.
Dated this 12th day of December 1806

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Opening, Scutching, and Separating
Dirt from Cotton Fibres.
We, SAMUEL HERBERT BROOKS of the Firm of Brooks & Doxey, Union Iron
Works, West Gorton, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Makers
and WALTER FROST, of the Union Iron Works, aforesaid, Foreman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates in the first place to the pneumatic dust trunks or tubes
through which the cotton is carried to the opening machine from the mixing room
to render them more efficient and more easily cleaned, and secondly to the
perforated drums or cages used in opening and scutching machines to prevent
air escaping around the edges thereof.
This invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings;-
Fig. 1 Longitudinal elevation of pueumatic dust trunk, partly open and partly
closed.
Fig. 2 Transverse sectional elevation on line . y. Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 Side elevation of division plate or partitions B, (drawn to a smaller
scale.)
Fig. 4 Side elevation of modified form of division plate, (drawn to a smaller
scale).
Fig. 5 Side elevation of part of perforated drums or cages with the frame L
and annular plate or holder K in section.
Fig. 6 Transverse sectional elevation of drums showing the annular plate K in
position around them.
Fig. 7 Sectional elevation of modified arrangement of the annular plate or
holder K.
Fig. 8 Front view of same.
Fig. 9 Sectional elevation of another modification of annular plate K.
Fig. 10 Sectional elevation of another modification of same.
In the pneumatic tube or trunk A we form the grids which catch or separate
the dust, of a number of loose removable division plates or partitions B that can
be readily moved or displaced to allow of the removal of any dirt or fibre that may
have accumulated or stuck between them or in the tube.
To each side of the trunk A we affix brackets C by bolts c or otherwise, by
which the division plates B are held preferably suspended in position. The
plates B are preferably made of the contour shown in Fig. 2 and 3 with a notch b
cut at one side and a projection at the other to rest upon the supporting
brackets C, thus suspending the plates as in a pivot from a point a little below
the top edge. This will allow of the bottom edges being moved to and fro or of
a single plate being removed. The division plates may be otherwise supported
each loosely and separately in any convenient manner.
The bottom and one side of the trunk A. are made or joined together to form a
"lid" D of angular shape (as shown in Fig. 2) or curved. This "lid" is hinged
or pivoted at the back of the trunk on a pin d and opens clear of the division
plates. When the lid D is opened, the bottom and one side of the partition
plates Bare exposed, which allows the loose dirt to fall away, and renders
the plates easily accessible both in front and beneath for the removal of any dirt or
dust adhering thereto. The lid may be hinged in the centre to open straight if
desired.
.

page_text: The top E may also be hinged so as to give access to the top of the grid when
desired.
The division plates may be flat on top as hitherto, or they may be recessed to
the extent of half a circle or corrugated or otherwise formed to give a greater
rubbing surface to the fibres passing over them.
Or they may be stamped out with a hole or passage B of circular or other
shape through which the cotton passes to give a rubbing surface both at the top
and bottom. (See Fig. 4, drawn to a smaller scale.)
Referring to Figs. 5 to 9 we affix to the side framing L of the machine at each
end of the perforated drums F and G, an annular plate or holder K, for the
purpose of securing in position the leather strips H by which the air is prevented
escaping round the edges of the drums. We at present prefer to make the
annular plate K of sheet metal with a flange & forming recess to receive
the leather Hand which is pressed down upon and firmly grips the edges. The
annular plate K is then affixed to the side L of the scutcher by screws or bolts
(see Figs. 5 and 6).
The annular metal holder K may, however, be made to clamp the leather strip
between it and the framing L, the leather being preferably attached to the inner
side of the holder K, by means of teeth or projections projecting from one side of or
inserted in the plate, as in Figs. 7 and 8. Or the leather strip may be merely
clamped by the annular plate of holder K against the framing L, the strip being
cemented thereto as in Fig. 9.
In another modification see Fig. 10, the leather strip is secured between two
annular plates KK' which are screwed or rivetted together, and one or both of
which are scrowed to the framing L.
The annular metal plate or holder K is preferably affixed to the side frame L
inside the machine, but if found desirable, it may be affixed at the other side of
the frame L inside the air flue the end of the cage projecting sufficiently far
through the framing to engage the leather strip H.
The application of this annular plate or holder obviates the drilling or plugging
of a great number of holes in the side framing, and the use of tacks or nails to
secure the leathers, and renders the removal and replacement of the leathers more
easy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. A pneumatic dust tube or trunk for cotton openers having the grids con-
structed of loose or removeable division plates or partitions to facilitate the
removal of dirt or fibre substantially as described.
2. A pneumatic dust tube or trunk for cotton openers constructed with the
bottom and side together forming a lid or door which may be opened to expose
both the bottom and sides of the partitions, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A pneumatic dust tube or trunk for cotton openers constructed and arranged,
substantially as described and shown.
4. In a cotton opener or scutcher the combination with the perforated drums or
cages of the annular plate or holder of sheet or other metal by which the leather
strips are secured and which are attached to the side frames of the machine, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of Avnet 1807
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & Loudon, Patent Agents.