US3873164A

US3873164A - Pneumatic valve for airborne materials

Info

Publication number: US3873164A
Application number: US376972A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Anselm C Griffin; Charles A Collins; Jr Joe S Ferriss
Original assignee: US Department of Agriculture USDA
Current assignee: US Department of Agriculture USDA
Priority date: 1973-07-06
Filing date: 1973-07-06
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25

Abstract

A quick-acting valve for routing solid fibrous materials by adjustable direction of air streams. The air streams and design of the pneumatic valve of this invention are such that routing the flow of material through preferred routes can be accomplished by manipulation of air currents. The design of the valve provides for the elimination of movable parts, such as hinged leaf or blade, to block the optional routes.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Griffin, Jr. et al.

PNEUMATIC VALVE FOR AIRBORNE MATERIALS Inventors: Anselm C. Griffin, Jr.; Charles A.

Collins; Joe S. Ferriss, Jr., all of Leland, Miss.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Filed: July 6, 1973 Appl. No.2 376,972

Assignee:

us. Cl 302/28, 137/836, 302/64 Int. Cl. B65g 53/56 Field Of Search 137/829, 832, 836; 302/28,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hausmann 137/836 X 1 Mar. 25, 1975 3,285,262 11/1966 Ernst et a1. 137/836 3,431,027 3/1969 Koclley, Jr 302/28 3,544,170 12/1970 Bowles 302/28 3,567,288 3/1971 Wood 302/28 3,578,009 5/1971 Spyropoulos 137/832 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney, Agent, or FirmM. Howard Silverstein; Max D. Hensley [57] ABSTRACT A quick-acting valve for routing solid fibrous materials by adjustable direction of air streams. The air streams and design of the pneumatic valve of this invention are such that routing the flow of material through preferred routes can be accomplished by manipulation of air currents. The design of the valve provides for the elimination of movable parts, such as hinged leaf or blade, to block the optional routes.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PNEUMATIC VALVE FOR AIRBORNE MATERIALS A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to valves. Specifically, this in vention relates to valves for routing solid fibrous materials being conveyed through ducts with optional routes. More specifically, this invention relates to quick-acting valves for routing materials such as raw stock cotton being conveyed by air stream into one of several routes. This valve finds utility in the operation of a cotton gin.

PRIOR ART Historically, from the time of the first cotton gin, cotton fibers have been conveyed from the gin saws by air currents that are generated either by (l) a doffing brush that also serves as a fan, or (2) a blast of air emitted from a doffing nozzle in the air blast" type of gin. In present day ginneries the ginned lint may be conveyed by air in rectangular ducts or round pipes directly from gin stand to baling press, or alternately, to either of one or more lint cleaning machines, the particular route being selected by the ginner. The current method of routing ginned lint requires the conventional hinged leaf type route selector valves be positioned with no cotton flowing in the ducts. When hinged-leaf type valves are operated with cotton flowing in the system lint fibers usually hang on the leaf and prevent it from properly seating in the new position, or if the lint flow is sufficiently dense the duct may become immediately choked with fibers. Such chokages delay the ginning process, reduce production, and add to the cost of ginning. Improperly seated directional valves usually become clogged or cause unwanted variations in the air flow pattern.

The prior art does not teach the use of pneumatic valves in the manner applicable to the pneumatic valve ofthe present invention. There has been no use of controlled air current to selectively route cotton fibers into one oftwo or more optional routes. This valve is unique in cotton ginning history. It is unique in that it contains no moving parts, such as a hinged leaf or blad that would block one of the optional routes.

The main object of this invention is to provide a means of changing the route of cotton fibers being conveyed in air streams without choking the conveying duct.

A second object of this invention is to provide a means of routing cotton into particular ducts without the necessity of shutting down the pneumatic transport system or interrupting the cotton ginning process.

A third object of this invention is to provide a means of routing cotton or other materials and at the same time eliminate thr troubles that accompany hinged leaf valves due to wear and poor fit of their component parts.

This invention can best be described as an apparatus or device which is a quick acting valve for routing materials such as cotton in a cotton gin as the material is being conveyed by an air stream. The valve can generally be installed at a point where more than one route should be available for selection in routing. The valve is unique in that it contains no moving parts within the ducts where the fibers are being conveyed. The valve operates in a manner which eliminates the need of a mechanical obstruction to block one of the optional routes. This valve operates equally well whether the conveying air is being propelled by a blow-fan or a suction-fan or a combination of the two.

The force that directs the material being conveyed is provided by either of two air jets so positioned and directed as to blow the material into the desired branching duct.

A visual interpretation of the preferred embodiments of the apparatus which is an illustration of the invention is presented graphically in these FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the pneumatic valve for airborne materials which is the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of vertically positioned plenae.

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of potential block systems that could be used with the plenum.

FIG. 4 is a dimensioned isometric view of a working model of the pneumatic valve which is the apparatus of this invention.

Operation of the valve can be understood by referring to FIG. 1. The path of the conveyed material is from the main duct 1 into either of the branching ducts 2a or 2b. A source of pressurized air is connected to the plenum chambers 3a and 3b and the air is allowed to enter the main duct 1 through either of the nozzles 4. Air is prevented from leaving one of the plenae but at the same time it is allowed to leave the other through the nozzle 4 to impart a directing force on the conveyed material so that it enters the branching duct 2 opposite the active nozzle 4.

The flow of air from the plenae 3a and 3b may be controlled either manually or automatically by opening and closing the nozzle aperture at the plenum by means of a leaf, rod, or wedge 5a, 5b, and 50, or other blocking device (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 2 indicates that the blocking device 5 can be operated by various convenient means, as illustrated. FIG. 2 also shows the blocking device 5 in its relationship to plenum 3 and nozzle 4. Air blockage at the nozzle is guaranteed by the gasket 7 which is attached to the inner surface of plenum 3 and prevents air leaking between the blocking device 5 and walls of the plenum chamber 3.

The blocking device 5 is raised and lowered by means of an operating rod 6, FIG. 2. Air leakage is prevented by air-seal bushing 8.

The means for connecting the plenum chambers 3 to source of pressurized air and the means for actuating the operating rods 6 are now shown. This is a minor problem since they may be located and connected as convenience dictates.

In a typical installation the directing nozzles 4 should be located in the main duct 1 just before it branches. The plenum-and-nozzle assemblies are not rigidly attached to the main duct but are attached by means of a flexible joint 9 so that the angle for most favorable operation may be obtained by trial. The optimum angle setting will depend upon many factors, among which are the velocity of the conveying air, the material being conveyed, the nozzle area, the pressure of the air in the plenum chamber, and the depth of the ducts.

We claim:

l. A pneumatic valve for selectively routing airborne solid fibrous materials within a pneumatic system by controllably activating currents of air at the exclusion of mechanical means, said valve consisting of various component parts fastened to the main ducts of a pneumatic system, to function as a unit accessory to the said pneumatic system, the pneumatic valve comprising:

the main duct and preceding the area of attachment of the branching ducts, said plenum chambers having their respective plannar axes oriented quasi-perpendicular to the planar axes of the branching ducts, each of said plenum chambers constituting a funnel-like structure to convey a jet air stream into a flexible nozzle which connects to and empties its air contents into the branching ducts, each of the said plenum chambers having a surface to which is attached a tubular flexible duct, and each of said plenum chambers containing a gate to stop the passage of air at the nozzle end of the plenum chamber, each of said gates being actuated controllably open or shut from outside of the plenum chamber.

Claims

1. A pneumatic valve for selectively routing airborne solid fibrous materials within a pneumatic system by controllably activating currents of air at the exclusion of mechanical means, said valve consisting of various component parts fastened to the main ducts of a pneumatic system, to function as a unit accessory to the said pneumatic system, the pneumatic valve comprising: a. a main duct to receive the airborne fibrous solid materials, to be secured to the main duct of an existing pneumatic system, and positioned as a continuation of the said existing pneumatic system, b. a plurality of branching ducts secured to the main duct at oblique angles and linearly continuing therefrom, the dimensions of said branching ducts being of the same magnitude as those of the main duct, and c. a plurality of plenum chambers secured flexibly to the main duct and preceding the area of attachment of the branching ducts, said plenum chambers having their respective plannar axes oriented quasi-perpendicular to the planar axes of the branching ducts, each of said plenum chambers constituting a funnel-like structure to convey a jet air stream into a flexible nozzle which connects to and empties its air contents into the branching ducts, each of the said plenum chambers having a surface to which is attached a tubular flexible duct, and each of said plenum chambers containing a gate to stop the passage of air at the nozzle end of the plenum chamber, each of said gates being actuated controllably open or shut from outside of the plenum chamber.