Abstract: A cotton retrieving device includes a slotted cotton retrieving belt supported in an eliptical configuration by an upper pulley and a lower pulley. The upper and lower pulleys are rotatably supported by a first member. A rearward and lower end of a second member for pulling the cotton retrieving device is attached to the first member. A forward and upper end of the second member is pivotally connected to a frame member at a pivot point located substantially in front of and above the axis of the lower pulley. The axis of the upper pulley is parallel to and located above the axis of the lower pulley, so that a major axis of the eliptical configuration of the retrieving belt is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of travel of the cotton retrieving device so that the slotted cotton retrieving belt will open and then close upon tufts of cotton laying on the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dirt and debris from clumps of down cotton that are released from slots of a group of retrieving belts as the belts pass around a rotating pulley that causes the slots to open includes a first group of approximately semi-circular, parallel tines disposed adjacent to the portions of the belts passing around the pulley. A plurality of fingers extending from the pulley and between the belts into the region bounded by the first group of tines and the belts urges the released clumps slidingly along the tines, and apply forces that loosen dirt and debris, which pass between the tines. The clumps ejected from the upper end of the region are received by pegs of a rotating peg drum and are moved against a second group of approximately semi-circular, parallel tines. The pegs tend to "thump" the cotton clumps as they slide along the second group of tines, further breaking up dried mud and debris therein and causing it to pass outward between the tines of the second group.

Abstract: An air filtering unit for blowing only filtered air into a room of a building having a central air conditioning air duct outlet therein, includes an electric blower unit having an air inlet and an air outlet. An air guide system conducts all air flowing through the duct outlet into the air inlet of the blower unit. A filter disposed between the air duct outlet and the air inlet of the blower unit filters all air flowing into the blower unit. Air flowing through the outlet of the blower unit is directed into the room in which the air filtering unit is installed or is directed by means of a tubular conduit back through the central air conditioning duct to an outlet duct into another room. The air filtering unit is mounted in a housing disposed over the air duct outlet and has a door which can be opened to expose the filter to facilitate removal and replacement of the filter.

Abstract: A transversely slotted belt for a down cotton retrieving system includes a plurality of spaced, protruding island-like pads disposed along the outer surface of the belt. Each of the protruding pads is substantially bisected by one of the transverse slots, thereby forming separated pairs of opposed flexible fingers. The size, spacing, flexibility, and shape of the pairs of fingers are selected to produce a pinching action which optimizes the grasping efficiency and grasping selectivity of the bisected island-like pads during retrieving of down cotton.