US3648329A

US3648329A - Lickerin pneumatic manifold with automatic modulating damper for regulating internal static pressure

Info

Publication number: US3648329A
Application number: US74503A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F King Jr
Original assignee: Bahnson Co
Current assignee: Bahnson Co
Priority date: 1970-09-22
Filing date: 1970-09-22
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14

Abstract

A suction manifold structure for carding machines to capture fly from junction orifices through which fly is discharged while minimizing withdrawal of usable fiber, which has walls coacting with parts of the carding machine to define a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine. A barometric damper assembly is incorporated in the manifold structure and exposed to the internal static pressure in the chamber to automatically respond to variations in the internal static pressure from a selected value and vary outside air admission through an opening in the walls to maintain the selected value in the chamber.

Description

[ Mar. M, 1972 United States Patent King, Jr.

mNm Wmwm muAu mmmm mmLm up" "m?" mm m .S .H s m w BCMTM um m E HRw G m N% mm EN MI m 2 6 7 [54] LICKERIN PNEUMATIC MANIFOLD 74,994 12/1956 WITH AUTOMATIC MonULATING A 15,683 121963 DAMPER FOR REGULATING 3376510 4/1968 INTERNAL srATIc PRESSURE [72] Inventor: James F. King, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC.

The Bahnson Company, N.C.

Winston-Salem,

[73] Assignee:

Primary ExaminerDorsey Newton Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence 22 F'led: 22 1970 l l l 9 57] [21] App]. No.: 74,503

ABSTRACT A suction manifold structure for carding machines to capture fly from junction orifices through which fly is discharged while minimizing withdrawal of usable fiber, which has walls coact- Related [1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 780,301, Nov. 29, 1968,

ing with parts of the carding machine to define a suction abafldonedchamber transversely spanning the cardingv machine. A barometric damper assembly is incorporated in the manifold structure and exposed to the internal static pressure in the chamber to automatically respond to variations in the internal .19/107 15/82 19/107, 109, 98, 105; 126/292, static pressure from a selected value and vary outside air ad- [51] Int. [58] Field oi Search 126/293 mission through an opening in the walls to maintain the selected value in the chamber.

References Cited 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS LICKERIN PNEUMATIC MANIFOLD WITH AUTOMATIC MODULATING DAMPER FOR REGULATING INTERNAL STATIC PRESSURE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 780,301, filed Nov. 29, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to pneumatic cleaning of carding machines, and more particularly to suction manifold structure for the lickerin section of a carding machine for pneumatically capturing and removing dust-like trash and lint, hereinafter generally referred to as fly, being discharged from the lickerin region of a carding machine during operation, and for automatically maintaining a preselected static pressure in the manifold.

Much effort has been devoted to the elimination or reduction of escape of fly, usually in the form of a mixture of short waste fibers and trash, from carding machines, especially as the problem of fiber and trash escape increased with increasing speeds of operation of the carding machines. It is important to eliminate or minimize the escape of such fibers and trash into the air in the textile machinery room, as the resultant contamination would produce unhealthy working conditions for the operators, impair the quality of the sliver because of intermingling of the airborne trash therewith, and cause deposits of the contaminants on the machinery in the room, creating fire hazards and interference with operation of the machinery.

Various pneumatic cleaning devices have been proposed to effect suction withdrawal of fly from carding machines or various portions thereof to reduce the escape of the fly into the surrounding atmosphere. Particular effort has been devoted to the design of pneumatic cleaning equipment for preventing or reducing the escape of fly and similar trash from the lickerin region of the carding machine, as especially troublesome discharge of trash occurs in this region. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lickerin section of the conventional carding machine includes a lickerin cylinder which rotates at high speed beneath a lickerin cover or bonnet and has teeth on its periphery to draw the cotton as fibers or tufts from a lap being fed thereto between a feed roll and feed plate and convey them downwardly in an arcuate path past mote knives to a main cylinder or swift. There, some of the cotton is transferred directly to the main cylinder, and some of it is impinged against the sharp knife edge of a back knife plate adjacent the main cylinder periphery and retained momentarily. Any cotton that is not immediately picked up off the knife edge or by the main cylinder is wiped off the knife edge by the rotating lickerin cylinder and is conveyed under the lickerin cover back to its original feed end location. Thus, a large quantity of usable fiber is being conveyed in a circular manner at all times underneath the lickerin cover and any opening in this cover will allow usable fibers to escape to the atmosphere. Obviously, there is also a large amount of waste spinning around this lickerin cylinder underneath the lickerin cover along with the cotton, and such waste tends to be centrifuged out to the outermost possible location. The slight separation or spacing at the junction between the exit edge of the lickerin cover and the back plate of the card, and at the junction between the feed roll and entrance edge of the lickerin cover each constitutes junction openings or spaces through which this trash can escape. While efforts have been made to minimize blowout at these locations by providing a seal or filler strip at the junction between the lickerin cover and back plate and a rotatable seal roller bearing against the feed roll and overlying the junction between the feed roll and the lickerin cover, these seals have not provided a satisfactory solution to this problem.

In an effort to solve the problems of contaminant discharge from these lickerin regions, pneumatic cleaning devices in the form of suction manifold structures have been developed to effect suction withdrawal of air from various points in the lickerin region, particularly from the opening between the lickerin cover and back plate, the opening between the feed roll and the lickerin cover, and the opening between the back plate and flats chain, to capture the trash and fly being discharged from these zones. Typically, these manifold structures have been connected at one end (i.e., at one side of the carding machine) to a conduit leading to the suction source, thus providing the suction point connection for the manifold at only one end and causing or allowing a drop off of static pressure throughout the entire length of the manifold because of the velocity pressure of the air being drawn into the manifold through the long and continuous suction intake slot. Bass, U.S. Pat. No. 3,315,320, Reiterer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,683 and Griswold, U.S. Pat. No. 2,683,901 are illustrative of such an arrangement.

Also, the manifold structures for card lickerin sections have been customarily made as unitary structural assemblies to be installed or withdrawn as a complete unit. It is advantageous to have sides which can be removed, or moved to an open position permitting access to the manifold interior, without disassembly of the remaining parts and through which the interior of the manifold can be readily observed to determine the extent to which contamination is building up or stoppage is occurring.

Further, most suction manifold structures have been factory designed to produce a certain internal static pressure for a certain suction pressure available from the: suction source of the air handling system of the mill. However, it will be appreciated that the suction pressure applied to the manifold varies from time to time for a number of reasons, among which is variation in the amount of contaminant on the filters associated with the air handling equipment between periodic cleaning of the filters. It has been found that it is especially important to continuously maintain a selected internal static pressure in the manifold despite variations in the applied suction pressure to provide a vary exact amount of suction pressure at the junction between the feed roll and lickerin cover which will prevent extraction of reusable cotton fibers while capturing the trash from this junction.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a suction manifold structure for use at the lickerin region of carding machines wherein suction pressure from the suction source is applied to the manifold at a single central suction point located midway between the opposite lateral ends of the manifold to obtain more even distribution of pressures across the transverse length of the manifold.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine, wherein a pivoted damper subject to internal static pressures within the manifold is automatically positioned responsive to variation in such internal static pressures to automatically maintain suction pressure applied to the junction zone of the feed roll and lickerin cover at a selected valve.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel suction manifold for the lickerin section of carding machines, wherein the manifold structure is provided with movable transparent lateral end walls to permit continuous inspection of the extent of contamination buildup within the manifold and facilitate ready access to the manifold interior to relieve any stoppages that may occur.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from tlhe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a vertical section view of the manifold structure of the present invention and the associated portions of the lickerin section of a carding machine, taken longitudinally of the carding machine;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse section view of the manifold structure, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal transverse section, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section view of a modified damper usable in the manifold structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refem'ng to the drawings, there is shown in somewhat schematic or diagrammatic form the lickerin section of a standard carding machine. This includes the usual lap roll 11, shown in outline form, which rests on a revolving lap drive roller (not shown) so that the web-like batt 12 of material can be fed from the lap roll 11 across dish feed plate 13 and under feed roll 14. This cotton batt from lap 12 is then fed onto the surface of lickerin cylinder 15 which, as shown, is covered with sharp projecting teeth. The cotton on the lickerin surface then travels down past a fiber retrieving section of conventional construction formed of vertical baffles and screen bars. The cotton is then conveyed upwardly in an arcuate path beyond the fiber retriever section 16 and is transferred from the lickerin cylinder 15 to the main cylinder or swift 17 which is covered by the usual spiked clothing 18. The usual back plate or back knife plate 19 of the carding machine is shown in its proper relationship to the lickerin cover 20 which is partially retained on the conventional cast iron sides of the carding machine by bolts 21. The flats chain 22 of the carding machine, which consists of flexibly interconnected flats bars 22a, has a bight near the lickerin section where the flats chain rounds the flats idler 23 joumaled on the usual stud or bolt 23a.

The lickerin manifold, indicated generally by the reference character 24, is formed basically of wall members which may very as to specific shape and manner of assembling the components together, arranged to coact with parts of the carding machine to define a suction chamber above the lickerin cylinder 15 and feed roll 14 and below the bight of the flats chain 22 to capture fly discharged through the openings adjacent the lickerin cylinder, especially the opening between the lickerin cylinder and the feed roll. In the illustrated embodiment, the manifold 24 includes a flat structural member 25 having a lower portion defining a substantially planar vertical front wall 26 extending from a lower end located near the feed roll 14 to a location above the level'of the flats idler stud 23a and having a transition portion 27 at the top thereof defining the front and sidewalls of a transition duct section 28, wherein the sidewalls converge upwardly to a center position located midway between the sides of the manifold. Left and right foot members 29, 29' each in the form of an angle frame 'member, are secured, as by spot and fusion welding, to the front wall 26 at the lateral edges thereof, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 2, and a rear cover member 30 having an intermediate vertical panel 30a, a lower inclined panel 30bextending downwardly and toward the back knife plate 19 and a top panel 30c having upwardly converging lateral edges is interposed between the parallel flanges of the foot members 29, 29' extending perpendicular to the front wall 26, with flanges at the edges of the

panels

30a and 30c spot welded to the foot members and to the sides of the transition portion 27 to tie together these components. In practice, the front wall 26 may be made approximately the width of the flats chain 22 plus a,

very short distance to project just beyond the sides of the carding machine and locate the bifurcated lower end portions of the

foot members

29, 29 on the fixed bearings of the feed roll assembly of the carding machine. The intermediate vertical panel 30a of the rear cover member 30 is spaced rearwardly an appropriate distance from the front wall 26 to form with the front wall and the side flanges of the foot members 29, 29 a boxlike duct 31 leading upwardly into the transition duct section 28, while the top panel 30c coacts with the front and sidewall portions of the transition portion 27 to complete the transition duct section 28, which is provided with a circular fitting 27a at its upper end for connection to a conduit leading to the air handling system of the mill so that suction can be applied to the transition duct section 28 at a single centrally located zone spaced midway between the lateral ends of the manifold.

A flats cover extension 32 is hinged to the lower edge of the lower panel 30b by hinge 33 and includes a first flat planar panel 32a inclined slightly upwardly from the hinge and extending toward the back knife plate 19 and a second panel 32b inclined at a steeper angle and extending to a location immediately adjacent the upper edge of the back knife plate 19 .near the junction of the latter with the flats chain. Thus, the

lower panel 30b of the rear cover member 30 and the

panels

32a and 32b of the flats cover extension, all of which span the full width of the flats chain, form upper closure walls for the suction chamber lying just outwardly of the curved path along which the flats bars track as they pass around the flats idler 23. A pair of side baffles 34 having a concavely curved edge which conforms to and fits tightly against the back knife plate 19 of the carding machine extends from the back knife plate to a position generally vertically above the center line of the lickerin cylinder at each side of the carding machine and is fixed in position, for example, by angle mounting brackets 35 secured to the lickerin cover by one of the conventional lickerin cover bolts 21 and also bolted to the side baffles 34. The side baffles 34 have a sufficient vertical extent to span the distance between the lickerin cover 20 and the flats cover extension 32 of the path traced by the flats bars in negotiating the flats idler 23 to thus form a partial cover for the sides of the suction chamber. The remainder of the sides of the suction chamber extending between the forwardmost ends of the side baffles 34 and the side flanges of the

foot members

29, 29 is substantially covered by transparent side covers 36, which are preferably movably or removably attached to the side flanges of the foot members 29, 29', as by the continuous hinges 36a, illustrated in FIG. 3, to facilitate movement of the side covers 36 to open position, permitting the operator to gain access to the interior of the manifold .when desired without disassembly of the entire manifold. The transparent side coves 36 and side baffles 34, therefore, cooperate to form a reasonable seal at both sides of the carding machine to keep large quantities of air from moving inwardly into the interior of the manifold and into the

suction passages

31 and 28, while retaining visibility of the internal parts which required maintenance. It will be noted that the side baffles 34 are provided with eccentric stop members 37 bolted to the insides of the side baffles 34 at suitable locations to engage the under side of and support the flats cover extension 32 and permit adjustment of its position relative to the flats bars. These eccentric stop members 37, together with the hinging of the flats cover extension 32 to the rear cover member 30, allow adjustment to bring the flats cover extension 32 up reasonably tight against the flats, and the hinging of the flats cover extension 32 to the rear cover member 30 permits such movement of the cover extension as to enable the manifold to be removed from the carding machine by lifting it virtually straight upward.

The basic manifold structure formed of the front structural member 25,

foot members

29, 29, and rear cover member 30 is supported as a unit on the carding machine by the engagement of the bifurcated lower ends of the foot members 29, 29' on the fixed bearings of the feed roll assembly and by side straps 38 which are secured to the side flanges of the foot members 29, 29' at the level of the axis of rotation of the flats idler 23 and have bifurcated ends which extend under the nut on the flats idler stud or bolt that holds the flats idler in position on the carding machine.

In order to provide automatic regulation of the suction pressure within the suction chamber of the manifold to maintain an appropriate suction pressure which will capture fly escaping from openings adjacent the lickerin cylinder 15, principally the opening between lickerin cylinder 15 and the feed roll 14, notwithstanding variations in the suction pressure applied at the top of the transition duct section 28 by variations in the air handling equipment of the mill, a barometric damper assembly is incorporated in the manifold. In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated, this is provided in the front wall 26 immediately adjacent and spaced upwardly from the feed roll 14. To provide space for the damper, the lower region of the front wall 26 has a rectangular opening cut upwardly from the lower edge thereof to provide the damper opening 39, and a stiffening channel 40 is welded to the front wall 26 all the way across just above the damper opening 39 to provide reinforcement. A damper blade 41 fills this opening 39 in the front wall 26 and is freely pivoted along its lower extremity to the front wall 26, as, for example, by providing outwardly projecting trunnion pins 42 at the opposite lateral edges of the lower extremity of the damper blade 41 which extend into journal openings in the corresponding side flanges of angle brackets 43, the other flanges of which are bolted to the leg extensions of the front wall 2 6 laterally bounding the damper opening 39. A weighted arm 44 is attached to each end of the damper blade 41, for example, by rivets 45, which extend through backup plate 46 on the other side of the damper from the arm 44, to effect reinforcing of this attachment, and the free end of the weighted are lie at a position to the front and below the pivot axis of the damper and are appropriately weighted to maintain the damper in closed position for a selected appropriate static pressure within the suction chamber and to permit inward opening of the damper responsive to interior static pressures higher than the selected static pressure so as to admit additional air to the manifold to restore the internal static pressure to the proper value. By pivoting the damper 41 adjacent its lower extremity, a larger damper surface is presented to the pressure change within the manifold to give more accurate control.

It will be apparent that as the damper 41 rotates inwardly or in a counter-clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, an air entry opening is provided through the damper opening 39 which is adjustable in size, depending upon the an gular position of the damper. Although the offset external weight provided by the weighted arms 44 develops a couple on the damper 411 tending to rotate its upper edge outwardly toward the lap from the true vertical position, this couple is resisted by the suction pressure exerted on the inner surface of the damper blade exposed to interior manifold suction, to cause the damper blade 41 to reside in a vertical position for a selected manifold internal static pressure. As the internal manifold static pressure decreases, providing greater suction within the interior of the manifold, the damper blade 41 is rotated counter-clockwise moving its upper extremity inwardly from the front wall 26 and admitting additional air to the manifold to restore the internal static pressure to the proper value. in practice it has been found that satisfactory operation is achieved with a damper measuring about three inches between its upper and lower edges with its lower edge located about lv inch from the feed roll 114.

The most critical area for suction cleaning in the lickerin region of the carding machine is the junction opening between the entrance edge of the lickerin cover 20 and the feed roll M. if the suction pressure applied to this junction opening to capture and remove escaping trash becomes excessive, good reusable fiber will also be withdrawn from this opening into the manifold, resulting in loss of good fiber. By the present construction, any increase in suction pressure within the manifold which would produce excessive suction pressure at this junction opening above a selected value is instantly counter balanced by modulation of the damper 4f responsive to the increase in pressure to a more open position allowing extra inlet of air through the damper opening 39 to restore the suction pressure communicated to the junction opening between the liclrerin cylinder and feed roll 14 to the desired value. Thus, the modulating action of the damper 4i permits any desired set pressure to be maintained within the zone of the manifold directly communicating with this junction opening by proper selection of the weight and offset of the weighted arms 44.

If desired, the damper blade, as indicated at 41a in FIG. 4, may have its pivot axis 42a located above the lower extremity thereof, but below the vertical mid point of the damper, whereby the lower edge of the damper moves forwardly away from the feed roll 14 as the upper extremity of the damper moves inwardly from the front wall 26, thereby providing an adjustable air entrance 47 adjacent the feed roll 14. In such a modified arrangement, weighted arms similar to the arms 44 may be used, appropriately modified to provide less gravitational resistance to opening of the damper, as the portions of the damper below the axis of rotation would assist in resisting opening of the damper responsive to increasing suction pressure, or simple counterweights 48a as shown in F104 may be secured to the lower edge of the damper to provide ap propriate counter-balancing force. By providing the adjustable air entrance 47 immediately adjacent the feed roll 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the modulation of the damper 41a toward a more open position increases the size of the air entrance 47 at the low point adjacent the feed roll M and adjacent the suction opening between the feed roll 14 and liclterin cylinder l5, causing a greater conveying stream of air to pass through this region and carry the trash away, in this modified arrangement, a web portion of the front wall 26 may be bent inwardly at the top of the damper opening 39 to form a downwardly concave baffle 26a concentric with the axis of rotation of the damper 411a and extend for a selected distance inwardly from the plane of the front wall 26. With this arrangement, the progressive enlargement of the air entry opening through which outside air is admitted into the interior of the suction chamber when the damper rotates responsive to increased suction pressure may be predominantly confined to the air entrance 47 immediately adjacent the feed roll for a selected range of pressure variations, and additional quantities of air may be admitted above the upper extremity of the damper 41a when the damper rotates beyond the edge of the baffle 26a when a greater decrease in suction pressure occurs.

it will be appreciated that the barometric damper assembly may be located in other wall members of the manifold or at other locations in the front wall than the particular location shown in the drawings, and that the manifold structure with the barometric damper may be formed over other parts of the carding machine, particularly in the doffer region, for maintaining a selected internal static pressure appropriate to capture and remove fly without withdrawing good usable fiber.

What is claimed is:

ll. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source of possibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of a carding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly is discharged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising vertical wall members including transverse wall members and sidewall members extending transversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machine collectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suction chamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlying direct pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machine having said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suction source to establish selected internal. static pressure conditions therein for capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove the same from said enclosure, one of said wall members having a damper opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said enclosure, a modulating damper blade member having a peripheral shape corresponding to the shape of said damper opening, means piwotally supporting said blade member in said damper opening for angular movement about a pivot axis between a vertical position closing said damper opening and a range of inclined open positions varying the effective size of the damper opening for regulating passage of outside air inwardly therethrough, said damper blade member having an exterior surface exposed to outside air pressure conditions and an interior surface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in said enclosure to continuously position said blade member responsive to the relative pressure condition on said surfaces and continuously position said blade member in selected relation to variations in such relative pressure conditions so as to continuously maintain a selected pressure value in said enclosure.

2. The manifold structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is a horizontal pivot axis located below the centroid of pressure of the damper blade member, said damper blade member having its interior surface above said pivot axis exposed to the internal static pressure in said enclosure to continuously exert an opening force thereon which varies with variation in said internal static pressure.

3. The manifold structure as defined in claim 2, including counterweight means secured to said damper blade member for maintaining the damper blade member in a position closing said damper opening when said internal static pressure is at said selected pressure value and for exerting a selected resistance to opening of said damper blade member responsive to internal static pressures exceeding said selected pressure value.

4. The manifold structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said manifold structure is located over the lickerin cylinder and feed roll of the carding machine with said suction chamber enclosure being in direct pneumatic communication with the junction orifice between the feed roll and lickerin cylinder, said damper blade having horizontal upper and lower edges and a horizontal pivot axis below its vertical midpoint, and said damper blade being located in substantially vertical position generally above said feed roll with the lower edge thereof disposed closely adjacent said feed roll when said selected pressure value occurs and being automatically angularly moved to positions selectively throttling air entry through said opening responsive to internal static pressure exceeding said value communicated to the surface of said damper blade lying above said pivot axis and facing inwardly of aid enclosure.

5. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source of possibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of a carding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly is discharged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising wall means including transverse wall members and sidewall members extending transversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machine collectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suction chamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlying direct pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machine having said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suction source to establish selected internal static pressure conditions therein for capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove the same from said enclosure, said transverse wall members including a wall having an opening immediately adjacent a surface of a moving part of the carding machine on which cotton is conveyed for admitting outside air into said enclosure, damper means in said opening automatically continuously positioned responsive to the internal static pressure in said enclosure to vary the size of said opening and the amount of outside air admitted therethrough in selected relation to variations in said internal static pressure from a selected pressure value to continuously maintain said selected pressure value in the region of said enclosure directly adjacent to said junction orifice, said damper means including a damper blade member having a shape corresponding to said opening defining upper and lower horizontal edges, means pivotally supporting said blade member in said opening about a horizontal pivot axis located below the vertical midpoint of the blade member for angular movement from a position closing said opening to open positions spacing the upper edge thereof inwardly from said wall, the lower edge of said blade member being located closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said surface, and said blade member having its interior surface above said pivot axis continuously exposed to the internal static pressure in said enclosure and its exterior surface exposed to exterior air pressure conditions to continuously angularly position the blade member to said open posi- 6. The manifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located immediately adjacent the lower edge of said damper blade member, and said damper means including counterweight members secured to said blade member for exerting selected gravitational biasing forces thereon toward said closed position.

7. The manifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located a selected distance above the lower edge of said blade member whereby said lower edge moves progressively away from said surface of said moving part of the carding machine as said upper edge moves inwardly from said wall.

8. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having a damper opening and a damper pivoted therein defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said damper having a first exterior surface exposed to the ambient pressure conditions externally surrounding the manifold and having a second internal surface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber, said damper being continuously positioned by the pressure forces on said first and second surfaces in selected relation'to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone.

9. A suction manifold as defined in claim 8, wherein said wall means includes an upright wall panel extending from a lower position immediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the level of said bight, said damper opening extending substantially across the width of the wall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lower position, and said damper substantially fully occupying said damper opening and having horizontal lower and upper edges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the top of said damper opening, and said damper being pivoted below the midpoint between said upper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsive to variations in said internal static pressure to vary the effective size of said damper opening.

10. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having means defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, said suction connection means being located midway between said sidewall members spaced from said bight in the direction away from said back knife plate and located above said bight, said sidewall members including portions extending in upwardly converging paths from substantially the level of said bight to a central zone located midway between opposite sides of the carding machine defining an upwardly tapering duct section therebetween, and said suction connection means including means defining a suction connection fitting immediately adjacent the uppermost ends of said sidewall portions.

1111. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding maching defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having means defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of said wall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

112. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for a lllll lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having means defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of out side air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, said wall means including an upright wall panel extending from a lower position immediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the level of said bight, said means defining a variable area opening including a damper opening in said wall panel substantially across the width of the wall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lower position and a damper forming said regulating member substantially fully occupying said damper opening and having horizontal lower and upper edges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the top of said damper opening and an interior surface exposed to said internal static pressure, and said damper being pivoted below the midpoint between said upper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsive to variations in said internal :static pressure to vary the effective size of said damper opening, a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from said upright wall panel toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

13. A manifold as defined in claim including a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of said wall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith rising to said upwardly tapering duct section and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

Claims

1. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source of possibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of a carding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly is discharged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising vertical wall members including transverse wall members and sidewall members extending transversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machine collectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suction chamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlying direct pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machine having said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suction source to establish selected internal static pressure conditions therein for capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove the same from said enclosure, one of said wall members having a damper opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said enclosure, a modulating damper blade member having a peripheral shape corresponding to the shape of said damper opening, means pivotally supporting said blade member in said damper opening for angular movement about a pivot axis between a vertical position closing said damper opening and a range of inclined open positions varying the effective size of the damper opening for regulating passage of outside air inwardly therethrough, said damper blade member having an exterior surface exposed to outside air pressure conditions and an interior surface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in said enclosure to continuously position said blade member responsive to the relative pressure condition on said surfaces and continuously position said blade member in selected relation to variations in such relative pressure conditions so as to continuously maintain a selected pressure value in said enclosure.

4. The manifold structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said manifold structure is located over the lickerin cylinder and feed roll of the carding macHine with said suction chamber enclosure being in direct pneumatic communication with the junction orifice between the feed roll and lickerin cylinder, said damper blade having horizontal upper and lower edges and a horizontal pivot axis below its vertical midpoint, and said damper blade being located in substantially vertical position generally above said feed roll with the lower edge thereof disposed closely adjacent said feed roll when said selected pressure value occurs and being automatically angularly moved to positions selectively throttling air entry through said opening responsive to internal static pressure exceeding said value communicated to the surface of said damper blade lying above said pivot axis and facing inwardly of said enclosure.

5. A manifold structure adapted to be connected to a suction source of possibly variable suction pressure and to be located over a portion of a carding machine wherein a junction orifice occurs through which fly is discharged for capturing and removing the fly, comprising wall means including transverse wall members and sidewall members extending transversely of and along opposite sides of the carding machine collectively with parts of the carding machine defining a suction chamber enclosure transversely spanning the carding machine in overlying direct pneumatic communication with the portion of the carding machine having said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber enclosure to an external suction source to establish selected internal static pressure conditions therein for capturing fly discharged from said junction orifice and remove the same from said enclosure, said transverse wall members including a wall having an opening immediately adjacent a surface of a moving part of the carding machine on which cotton is conveyed for admitting outside air into said enclosure, damper means in said opening automatically continuously positioned responsive to the internal static pressure in said enclosure to vary the size of said opening and the amount of outside air admitted therethrough in selected relation to variations in said internal static pressure from a selected pressure value to continuously maintain said selected pressure value in the region of said enclosure directly adjacent to said junction orifice, said damper means including a damper blade member having a shape corresponding to said opening defining upper and lower horizontal edges, means pivotally supporting said blade member in said opening about a horizontal pivot axis located below the vertical midpoint of the blade member for angular movement from a position closing said opening to open positions spacing the upper edge thereof inwardly from said wall, the lower edge of said blade member being located closely adjacent and substantially parallel to said surface, and said blade member having its interior surface above said pivot axis continuously exposed to the internal static pressure in said enclosure and its exterior surface exposed to exterior air pressure conditions to continuously angularly position the blade member to said open positions by the relative forces of the pressure on said surfaces in selected relation to variations in said internal static pressure from said selected pressure value.

6. The manifold structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot axis is located immediately adjacent the lower edge of said damper blade member, and said damper means including counterweight members secured to said blade member for exerting selected gravitational biasing forces thereon toward said closed position.

8. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding Machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having a damper opening and a damper pivoted therein defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said damper having a first exterior surface exposed to the ambient pressure conditions externally surrounding the manifold and having a second internal surface exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber, said damper being continuously positioned by the pressure forces on said first and second surfaces in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone.

11. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding maching defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having means defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of said wall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

12. A fly collecting and removing suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine having a feed roller, a main cylinder, a lickerin, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an entrance edge paralleling the lickerin axis defining a junction orifice with said feed roll through which fly is discharged and a flats chain adjacent and overlying the main cylinder periphery having a curved bight spaced above said lickerin cover and converging toward said back knife plate; the manifold comprising wall means including wall members transversely spanning the carding machine located generally above said Feed roll and spaced sidewall members collectively with parts of said carding machine defining a suction chamber transversely spanning the carding machine above the lickerin cover and feed roll to capture fly discharged through said junction orifice, suction connection means for communicating the interior of the suction chamber to an external suction source, said wall means having means defining a variable area opening therethrough for entry of outside air into said chamber in variable amounts upon variation of the internal static pressure in said chamber from a selected pressure value to maintain the static pressure in a zone of said chamber directly communicating with said junction orifice at said selected value, said last-mentioned means including a regulating member for varying the size of said opening exposed to the internal static pressure conditions in the chamber and automatically controlled responsive thereto in selected relation to regulate the amount of outside air entry through said opening and thereby automatically maintain substantially constant static pressure at said chamber zone, said wall means including an upright wall panel extending from a lower position immediately above the periphery of said feed roll to the level of said bight, said means defining a variable area opening including a damper opening in said wall panel substantially across the width of the wall panel for a substantial height upwardly from said lower position and a damper forming said regulating member substantially fully occupying said damper opening and having horizontal lower and upper edges respectively adjacent said feed roll and the top of said damper opening and an interior surface exposed to said internal static pressure, and said damper being pivoted below the midpoint between said upper and lower edges and angularly positioned responsive to variations in said internal static pressure to vary the effective size of said damper opening, a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from said upright wall panel toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.

13. A manifold as defined in claim 10 including a back wall member having a vertical panel portion spaced from one of said wall members toward said back knife plate forming a vertical air duct therewith rising to said upwardly tapering duct section and an inclined panel portion extending from the vertical panel portion downwardly and toward said back knife plate about a portion of said bight, and an extension wall hinged to said inclined panel portion and adjustably positioned to extend below and about the remainder of said bight from said inclined panel portion to a location adjacent the convergence of said bight and back knife plate.