Abstract: A self-cleaning filter apparatus for use in removing particulate matter from a transport fluid, such as air, which includes a housing having a pair of spaced pulleys over which an endless filter belt is positioned to present two generally straight filter reaches and two generally curved filter reaches. The endless filter belt includes a permeable substrate formed as an endless belt and a plurality of pleats of filter media extending outwardly from the surface of the substrate so that the transport fluid can pass inwardly therethrough and deposit the particulate material on the exterior surface of the pleats. A suction nozzle and/or an air discharge device is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the endless filter at one of the curved reaches thereof for removing particulate matter deposited on the pleats as they pass along such curved reach.

Abstract: A filter or dust collector which includes a housing for supporting a filter media formed as an endless belt to move along said housing as dirty air passes inwardly through the moving filter media. The surfaces of the housing which support the moving filter media are formed with suction channels, and the filter media is provided with a sealing strip that includes a slack portion of flaccid material that can be drawn partially into the suction channel by the suction therein to enhance the seal along the side edges of the moving filter media.

Abstract: A dust collector for removing foreign matter entrained in a flow of transport air, which includes individual pulse jet cleaners for each of a plurality of filter elements, and a second pulse jet cleaning arrangement that is located centrally of the filter elements, preferably in the form of a conduit extending longitudinally parallel to the axes of the filter elements. The filter elements are rotated past the second pulse jet cleaner to enhance the cleaning of the filter elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming compressible material into discrete solid blocks or briquettes in which the material is compressed in a compression chamber by a pre-press ram and a main ram. A control system is provided which includes sensors for generating signals that are a function of the density of the compressed and densified material within the compression chamber, and an arrangement which is responsive to the sensors is provided for varying the operation of the material feeding device to change the volumetric flow of material fed to the compression chamber in response to predetermined changes in the density of the material in the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying conditioned air to spinning machines which includes a duct for transporting conditioned air to the machine, such duct having an opening through which the conditioned air exits the duct. An air diffuser is mounted on the duct adjacent the opening therein, and it includes a generally V-shaped air directing wall that has upper flanges extending outwardly therefrom, with openings in such flanges, whereby a minor portion of the conditioned air flows upwardly through the openings in the flange and is directed toward the open end spinning machine, and a major portion of the conditioned air is directed outwardly toward the sliver being fed to the machine.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter apparatus for use in removing particulate matter from a transport fluid, such as air, which includes a housing having a pair of spaced pulleys over which an endless filter belt is positioned to present two generally straight filter reaches and two generally curved filter reaches. The endless filter belt includes a permeable substrate formed as an endless belt and a plurality of pleats of filter media extending outwardly from the surface of the substrate so that the transport fluid can pass inwardly therethrough an deposit the particulate material on the exterior surface of the pleats. A suction nozzle is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the endless filter at one of the curved reaches thereof for removing particulate matter deposited on the pleats as they pass along such curved reach.

Abstract: The present invention is an air diffuser for distributing conditioned air to air jet spinning machines and the like that includes a tubular outer member formed with openings therein and a tubular inner member disposed within the outer member. The inner tubular member is made of a fabric material that is formed in part with a relatively closed mesh construction and in part with a relatively open mesh construction so that the inner member emits air over a predetermined arcuate flow path through the open mesh part. The inner member directs the predetermined arcuate flow path into the outer member so that part of the conditioned air diffuses directly through the outer member in the predetermined arcuate flow path, the predetermined arcuate flow path preferably being directed towards the spinning machine. The conditioned air is thus delivered to the spinning machine at localized areas and at a low velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved heat transfer device, such as the heat exchanger included in a system for cooling and conditioning air in a textile mill, the system having an air washer and the heat exchanger operating to cool water to be used in the air washer. Water is circulated through a chilling basin where it is cooled by a refrigeration system having evaporator panels in the basin, and the water flows through the basin from a supply inlet to a discharge outlet. Bubbler tubes discharge streams of air bubbles so that the air bubbles flow along the evaporator panels in close proximity thereto. Preferably, the streams of air bubbles are discharged from the bubbler tubes under pressure supplied by an air blower, with a manifold and connecting pipes supplying the pressurized air to the bubbler tubes. The bubbler tubes are preferably spaced from the outlet so that air bubbles do not enter the discharge outlet.

Abstract: Filter media used for removing foreign matter from an air stream flowing therethrough, which includes a pair of first and second generally flat sheets of filtering material extending in generally parallel relation to one another with a spacing therebetween. The first and second sheets are each formed with a plurality of dimples extending, respectively, inwardly toward the other of the sheets for abutment therewith to maintain the spacing between the sheets, and the dimples in one of the sheets are spaced from one another along the extending length thereof and are also spaced from the corresponding dimples in the other sheet, with such spacing preferably being equal. Also, adjacent pairs of such filter media sheets are arranged so that the dimples in the facing surfaces of adjacent pairs are offset from one another whereby clumps of foreign matter do not tend to collect and become anchored in opposed crevices formed by the dimples.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming compressible material into discrete solid blocks or briquettes in which the material is compressed in a compression chamber by a pre-press ram and a main ram. A control system is provided which includes sensors for generating signals that are a function of the density of the compressed and densified material within the compression chamber, and an arrangement which is responsive to the sensors is provided for varying the operation of the material feeding device to change the volumetric flow of material fed to the compression chamber in response to predetermined changes in the density of the material in the chamber.

Abstract: A spinning machine, preferably an open end spinning machine, having a conduit associated therewith for distributing a flow of conditioned air along a predetermined flow path in which the conditioned air is caused to flow in a direction directly toward and across the rapidly rotating, heat-generating element (e.g., a rotor disposed in a spin box), with a portion of the conditioned air flowing in and around the rapidly rotating element to absorb heat from the same, and with another portion of the conditioned air flowing across the length of fibers fed to the spinning machine and across the yarn produced at the spinning machine to moisturize the length of fibers and yarn.

Abstract: An improved air filtration apparatus of the rotary prefilter type having a rotating filter screen disposed in a wall of the filter housing is equipped with a constricted suction nozzle which is reciprocable radially across the rotating filter surface to remove debris accumulated thereon. Operation of the suction nozzle is controlled in relation to the pressure drop across the filter to maintain the pressure drop within a predetermined desired range.

Abstract: Apparatus for filtering or collecting dust or other particulate matter which includes a plurality of filter elements that must be cleaned at periodic intervals by emitting a burst of cleaning air into the interior of the filter element so that it flows in a reverse direction to the normal flow of the transport air to remove particulate matter accumulated on the surface of the filter element. The cleaning air is emitted from a plurality of nozzles mounted on a horizontal arm that rotates above the filter elements, and each nozzle is provided with its own valve which can be opened to connect the nozzle to a source of pressurized cleaning air. A microprocessor is programmed to receive a reference signal when the horizontal arm reaches a predetermined point in its movement, after which the microprocessor is programmed to operate each of the valves in a predetermined sequence and at a predetermined timed frequency.

Abstract: A dust collector for removing particles entrained and transported in a flow of transport air which comprises a housing having a generally cylindrical chamber with a tangential inlet for introducing the transport air and causing it to assume a helical flow path within the chamber. A plurality of vertically extending cylindrical filter elements are disposed within the chamber, and conventional reverse pulse-jets are provided for periodically cleaning the filter elements by creating a reverse flow of air outwardly therethrough. A wall arrangements is provided adjacent each filter element to create a flow channel that directs the outward flow cleaning air and particles removed from the filter elements thereby in a direction toward the main helical flow path of the transport air to substantially reduce re-entrainment of the removed particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for filtering dust and the like entrained in a flow of transport air which includes an enclosed housing having an upper filtering portion and a lower hopper for collecting dust. A plurality of filter elements are disposed in the upper housing portion, and a specially formed inlet plenum directs the transport air with entrained foreign particles in a predetermined direction toward the hopper so that heavier particles of dust are carried directly to the hopper by inertia rather than collecting on the filter elements. The filter elements are support solely by a cluster of support rods extending across the housing, and an access opening and closure door are provided for inserting and removing the filter elements. A latch assembly is provided which slidably engages the enclosure door at its closed position, after which it can be tightened, all without requiring any special tools.

Abstract: A filter unit for insertion in, and removal from, an opening in a mounting plate of a dust collector, the filter unit including a filter bag having a lengthwise extent and a tubular configuration, and the upper portion of the bag is biased outwardly to its fully extended or cylindrical disposition and is formed with a slot for engaging the partition plate in the dust collector for mounting therein. Also, the filter unit includes a cage having a lengthwise extent and a generally tubular configuration, and the cage includes a plurality of longitudinally extending support members that engage the surrounding bag and normally maintain it at its fully extended configuration, and the support members are constructed so that they can be moved inwardly by the application of a manual force at the exterior of the upper portion of the bag, whereby the upper portion of the bag can be collapsed to permit removal and installation of the filter unit in the partition plate.

Abstract: A dust collector for removing entrained particles from an air stream that includes filter elements that are periodically cleaned, such as by a pulse jet, to remove the collected particles therefrom, which particles move downwardly to a hopper at the bottom of the dust collector. A container having a removable lid and a drum portion are disposed beneath the hopper to receive the collected dust particles for ultimate removal, and the lid is securely sealed to the drum portion of the container by an annular inflatable balloon-type seal that extends between a flange on the lid and the side wall of the drum, with the air used to operate the inflatable seal preferably being obtained from the existing pulse jet system for the dust collector.

Abstract: A two stage filtration system for removing textile waste materials and the like from transport air. The first stage includes a preseparator having a cylindrical screen and an inlet at the interior portion of the cylindrical screen and an outlet on the outside portion of the screen, and the outlet portion is in open communication with a panel filter for further cleaning. Large waste particles are separted by the cylindrical screen and contained in a compartment therebeneath. A second stage filter is provided which includes a generally rectangular housing having a flat filter element extending diagonally thereacross, a small fan is provided for diverting a relatively small portion of the main air in the first stage to carry the collected waste particles from the first stage to the bottom face of the flat filter in the second stage.

Abstract: A reverse air dust collector having a housing and a partition plate dividing the housing into a clean air chamber and a dirty air chamber, with filter elements depending from the partition plate into the dirty air chamber so that air with entrained particles can pass through the filter elements and into the clean air chamber through openings in the partition plate. A centrifugal blower for generating a flow of cleaning air is fixed to a plenum chamber as an integral unit, and this unit is fixed to a stanchion member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in the clean air chamber, with the plenum chamber and the blower being arranged on opposite sides of the axis of rotation. A drive arrangement is provided for the stanchion member which permits the driving gear to be pivotally displaced away from the driven gear fixed to the stanchion member in the event rotation of the stanchion member is prevented.

Abstract: An energy conservation system for cooling and conditioning air, particularly air at elevated temperatures which is discharged from the rotors of open-end spinning machines. The air is directed along a predetermined flow path in which a first stage cooling zone is established, which utilizes one or more cooling coils through which flow a heat exchange fluid that is cooled by an externally located cooling tower. The system includes a second stage cooling zone comprising an air washer in which water is sprayed into the air stream, such water being chilled in part by a mechanical refrigeration unit. The air washer preferably includes two spray pipes, one being located upstream of the other, with the downstream spray pipe receiving some liquid chilled by the refrigeration unit, and with the upstream spray pipe receiving its spray liquid from the discharge collected from the downstream spray pipe.