Abstract: A method for absorbing hydrophobic substances in liquid form, by subjecting the liquid to contact with an adsorbent material comprising fibers in knop form, which has a spherical fiber orientation gained in the knopping process. The knopping process parameters form the fibers into knops of a wide range of densities in order to allow optimized oil adsorbency for a range of oil viscosities. The fibrous material can be modified by including the use of chemicals, such as water repellants, to modify the surface characteristics of the fibers to enhance oil pick-up or flotation. The fibrous material can be used in conjunction with a containment device made of netting or porous material shaped into an elongated system or pad to allow oil and oil water mixtures to penetrate the netting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously filling separate compartments of a duvet by pneumatically fluidizing material from a drum with pulsed jets of air using a venturi effect.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing, in bulk, long tailed neps, the apparatus including a housing supporting a main rotor the periphery of which has a plurality of teeth and beaters which co-operate with teeth on a set of feed rollers mounted in the housing alongside the periphery of the main rotor, the housing having an intake chute and a closeable discharge door, the arrangement being such that, in use, a synthetic or material fibrous material fed to the intake chute, while the discharge door is closed, is fed into the housing by the feed rollers, the fibrous material being removed by the beaters and teeth of the rotor from the feed rollers, the fibrous material being spun in the housing and the interaction between the teeth and the beaters of the main rotor and the teeth of the feed rollers causing the fibrous material to be entangled and felted to form a plurality of long tailed neps which are discharged from the housing when the discharge door is opened.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for manufacturing long-tailed neps useful as a fill or effect material the method including feeding a synthetic or natural fibrous material to a woollen opening mechanism with its outlet closed, running the opening mechanism for a predetermined period, opening the outlet of the opening mechanism so that a rotating fan doffer roller of the opening mechanism throws therefrom a plurality of modified fibre neps, each of which has a nep-shaped region from the fibres of which extends a tail (long-tailed neps). The fibrous material can be scoured wool, a synthetic fibrous material or woollen fibres in an unclean state with vegetable matter and other contaminants entrained therewith.