Abstract: A blower cleanout door assembly including a door panel pivotally connected to a blower housing for supporting a blower assembly including a blower wheel and motor for swinging movement of the door panel between a closed position covering a blower wheel opening in the housing with the blower wheel within the housing for operation and an open position in which the blower wheel is swung exteriorly of the blower housing out through the blower wheel opening for ease of cleaning the blower wheel and blower interior.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting lint from a gas comprising a shell, a gas passageway through the shell, and a lint-collecting component positioned to collect lint from the gas. The lint-collecting component has a vertical longitudinal axis and a collecting surface, preferably cylindrical, surrounding the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a cage which causes the lint to accumulate in a plurality of sections on the collecting surface. The shell has a smooth interior surface to allow the lint to travel over the surface without hang-up. A blow-off system is provided to remove accumulated lint from the collecting surface. The blow-off system includes an air reservoir and a regulator/filter for filling the reservoir with air from a supply line at a controlled rate. A control system activates the blow-off system and includes a timed delay to allow the effects of coasting to minimize.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting lint from a gas comprising a shell, a gas passageway through the shell, and a lint-collecting component positioned to collect lint from the gas. The lint-collecting component has a vertical longitudinal axis and a collecting surface, preferably cylindrical, surrounding the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a cage which causes the lint to accumulate in a plurality of sections on the collecting surface. The shell has a smooth interior surface to allow the lint to travel over the surface without hang-up. A blow-off system is provided to remove accumulated lint from the collecting surface. The blow-off system includes an air reservoir and a regulator/filter for filling the reservoir with air from a supply line at a controlled rate. A control system activates the blow-off system and includes a timed delay to allow the effects of coasting to minimize.

Abstract: A drying unit flow separator includes an inlet having a curvature, and an exhaust duct and recirculation duct connected to the inlet at a junction. A recirculation damper is provided adjacent to the junction and projects into the inlet to divide the air flow between the exhaust duct on the outside of the curvature and the recirculation duct. A method of recirculating air to a drying unit includes the steps of blowing air into a curved duct causing larger and heavier lint particles to gravitate to the outside wall of the duct, and conducting the air past a recirculation damper such that the flow is divided into a recirculation flow and an exhaust flow that includes the larger and heavier lint particles.

Abstract: A door-operating mechanism for a rotatable drum which has a mouth to be closed by a door includes a moveable arm hingedly mounted with anchoring means on the side of the frame of the drum, and clamp means for connection with a stub shaft extending from the door. When the door is closed on the mouth of the drum, the clamp means is disengaged from the stub shaft so that the door is secured, under vacuum pressure within the drum, as an integral part of the rotating drum. Force is thus avoided on the hinged, moveable arm, and stub shaft of the door and door-operating mechanism. The clamp means includes jaws which are activated to release the door after a predetermined vacuum pressure exists within the drum. Energization of the jaws to engage the shaft is effected after the vacuum pressure has decreased to a predetermined level, the mechanism has moved a predetermined axial distance from the door and there has also been a predetermined time delay.