Abstract: An apparatus for processing a fibrous material batt like lint cotton to increase the moisture content of the material and to compress the batt of humidified fibers to increase the batt density. A stream of warm humid air is passed through the moving batt of fiber that is constrained between a rotatable hollow cylinder and a stationary perforated screen. The batt is doffed off the rotatable cylinder by a roller that serves to both doff and compress the batt. The doffer/compression roller compresses the batt against a smooth surface plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring moisture content and bulk flow rate of cotton and other bulk materials, such as wool or wood chips, while they are being transported on a belt conveyor. The apparatus comprises resistance-sensing electrode fingers pendulously mounted over the conveyor, the movement of the resistance-sensing fingers being halted in their downward arcuate path by the sensed material. The weight of the electrode assembly presses the fingers against the material with uniform pressure. The angular displacement of the fingers about an axis of suspension is used as a measure of bulk flow rate.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for treating fibrous material are shown. A concurrent stream of air and fibrous material are spewed into an empty chamber large enough to allow the fibrous material to fall out of the conveying air into a collecting duct where the two components are removed in a concurrent stream having the normal conveying velocity. An evase section at the entrance of the chamber promotes the slowing of the seed cotton, allowing it to come to a state of agitation with respect to the air in the chamber before being drawn out the chamber exit where it is again accelerated with the outgoing stream of air.

Abstract: A hot air induction box is shown which includes an enclosure surrounding the point at which seed cotton or other fibrous material is sucked up from a belt conveyor or chute. The entrance into the enclosure through which the fibrous material passes is restricted by a horizontally pivoted door. This door is counterweighted in such a manner that it restricts the necessary entrance of the air used for conveying and induces a partial vacuum within the enclosure. The partial vacuum thus formed is adequate to pull hot air from an air heater into the enclosure where it becomes a substantial portion of the conveying air.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting litter from roadways and grounds includes a ground engageable rotating drum with easily removable and replaceable fingers which slip in and out of channels mounted on the drum. A spring finger assembly rotates against the drum to aid in litter pickup and to strip material from the drum and deposit same on a conveyor. The conveyor directs the litter into a hopper, which, when full, is lifted by an arrangement of pivots and linkage arms to raise upwardly, then swing rearwardly and tip to dump the litter into a suitable receptacle.

Abstract: A fan mechanism with a fan impeller having flexible blades is shown. The fan impeller is used on a rotatable shaft which includes at least one piece of flexible belting and a plurality of elongate members carried about the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft for clamping the flexible belting in the approximate mid-region thereof whereby each piece of belting forms two fan blades. A retaining element located at either end of the plurality of elongate members positions the members equiangularly about the circumference of the shaft. Since one piece of belting is clamped in the mid-region to form two blades, the full strength of the belting is utilized to withstand the centrifugal forces generated during operation of the fan.

Abstract: A first control assembly is provided operative to supply gas from a supply of gas under pressure to the inlet of a centrifugal liquid pump at increasing and decreasing rates responsive to decreases and increases in the pressure of liquid discharge from the pump. The first control assembly includes spring structure for closing an associated air flow controlling valve member which is yieldingly biased toward the open position by the pressure of liquid discharged from the pump and a second control assembly is provided operative to increase and decrease the loading of the aforementioned spring structure responsive to increases and decreases in demand for liquid being discharged from the pump.

Abstract: A back pressure valve employing a spring loaded diaphragm normally closing a discharge port or orifice combined with a push rod extending externally of the valve for coupling with a control actuator with the inner end of the push rod being operatively associated with the diaphragm for using an external control system for varying or regulating the back pressure in a fluid flow line. In one embodiment of the invention, the push rod is engaged directly with the diaphragm assembly, whereas in a second embodiment of the invention, the push rod is engaged with the spring which in turn is engaged with the diaphragm assembly. In both embodiments of the invention, a weak spring is associated with the diaphragm to bias the diaphragm to a closed position to prevent passage of air to a pump intake in the event the system is shutdown with the control actuator and push rod in a position to leave the diaphragm open or to relieve pressure on the heavier main diaphragm spring.

Abstract: Apparatus for humidifying lint cotton in a cotton gin has a lint slide arranged for receiving a batt of cotton from a battery condenser and controlling movement of the batt over a grid made of longitudinally disposed tubular members placed inside the lint slide. Warm humit air introduced through the floor of the lint slide passes upwardly through the grid and, thus, through the cotton, and escapes into the ambient air after raising the moisture content of the cotton. A retarder device is provided on the slide for holding the cotton on the grid for longer exposure times, while the entire operation of the apparatus is controlled responsively to the action of the battery condenser of the gin.

Abstract: A multiple-jet orifice for the gas burner of a directly fired air heater of the non-premix type. The orifice openings are formed by radial slots in the periphery of a thin metal disc clamped between the end of a gas inlet pipe and a thicker metal disc member of special configuration. This specially configured disc member is larger in diameter than the gas inlet pipe and also larger in diameter than the slotted orifice disc. The portion of the member which is in contact with the slotted orifice disc is flat while the portion of the member larger than the slotted orifice disc is contoured outwardly in a convex manner. This convex surface by means of the Coanda effect causes the gas jets as emitted from the slotted orifice disc to flow into a conical shaped pattern and promotes the mixing of the gas with air and recirculated products of combustion.

Abstract: A controller converts the number of operating stands in a cotton gin plant into a simulated stepwise movement of a potentiometer for modulating control of a humidifier. I.e., processing units of a cotton gin plant are regulated according to the rate of cotton being ginned.