Patent US3658626A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3658626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for manufacturing staple fiber filter elements
Assignee: Filtrona Richmond Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-25
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-03-25
Abstract
Abstract The production of staple fiber smoke filter elements and the like directly from a continuous filamentary tow. The products have functional and physical characteristics comparable to prior art filter elements, but require 20 - 30 percent less material. The continuous filamentary tow is chopped into staple fibers, dispersed in a turbulent air stream and blown into a forming means preferably comprising a porous belt which shapes and carries the stable fibers while processing fluids such as steam and cooling air are blown through the belt and into the staple fibers. The product can be supplemented by various additive materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M Berger
- 👤 Reavis C Sproull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:05
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01G; D01G1/00; A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/02; A24D3/0204; A24D3/0208; D01D; D01D10/00; D01D10/04; D01D10/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In apparatus for making a stable elongated element from a continuous filamentary tow the improvement which is characterized by: a. chopper means for chopping said filamentary tow into a multiplicity of staple fibers; b. blower means including portions forming a defined path in a confined area, said confined area having an entrance and an exit; c. fan means disposed in said confined area to produce a vacuum at said entrance and a positive pressure at said exit and to produce a turbulent air stream in said confined area; d. conduit means connecting said chopper means to said entrance of said blower means; e. porous enclosing means in the form of a tapered perforate means having an enlarged end and a reduced end; f. means connecting said exit of said blower means with said enlarged end of said enclosing means to feed said staple fibers from said blower means to said enclosing means in an air stream, said tapered perforate means slowing the speed of the staple fibers passing therethrough, orienting the length of at least a predominant portion of the staple fibers substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the elongated element to be produced therefrom, and permitting dissipation of at least a major portion of said air stream therethrough as said staple fibers pass through said enclosing means; and g. forming means connected to said reduced end of said enclosing means to bond said staple fibers together into said elongated element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In apparatus for making a stable elongated element from a continuous filamentary tow the improvement which is characterized by: a. chopper means for chopping said filamentary tow into a multiplicity of staple fibers; b. blower means including portions forming a defined path in a confined area, said confined area having an entrance and an exit; c. fan means disposed in said confined area to produce a vacuum at said entrance and a positive pressure at said exit and to produce a turbulent air stream in said confined area; d. conduit means connecting said chopper means to said entrance of said blower means; e. porous enclosing means in the form of a tapered perforate means having an enlarged end and a reduced end; f. means connecting said exit of said blower means with said enlarged end of said enclosing means to feed said staple fibers from said blower means to said enclosing means in an air stream, said tapered perforate means slowing the speed of the staple fibers passing therethrough, orienting the length of at least a predominant portion of the staple fibers substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the elongated element to be produced therefrom, and permitting dissipation of at least a major portion of said air stream therethrough as said staple fibers pass through said enclosing means; and g. forming means connected to said reduced end of said enclosing means to bond said staple fibers together into said elongated element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including means to vary the speed of said chopper means whereby the length of said staple fibers can be varied thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said enclosing means is a frustoconical screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said forming means includes an endless, flexible, porous belt, means for moving said belt through a continuous orbital path, a steam-treating station including an elongated bore, said belt passing through said bore after said staple fibers are fed thereon and being wrapped by said bore about said staple fibers, and means for passing steam into said bore, through said belt and into said staple fibers to bond said staple fibers together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 further including a cooling station including an elongated bore, said belt passing through said last-mentioned bore after leaving said steam-treating station, and means for passing a cooling gas into said last-mentioned bore, through said belt and into said staple fibers to cool and dry the same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |