Apparatus for separating fiber flocks from a transporting air stream

Claim 2

In an appuratus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening rotatably mounted on a substantially horizontal axis and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said centrifugal wheel of each inlet opening comprises a fan wheel.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a respective deflecting wall member partially surrounding each centrifugal wheel, each such deflecting wall member extending over at least the upper half of its associated centrifugal wheel, each said deflecting wall member being arranged such that its radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel increases in the direction of rotation of such centrifical wheel.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each said deflecting wall member possesses a substantially spirally-shaped configuration.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said deflecting wall members define at least one exit location for the transporting air stream, and an adjustable guide member for the transporting air stream provided at said exit location.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said exit location is disposed at an end of the associated deflecting wall member possessing the greatest radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including a pivotably mounted guide blade disposed between said deflecting wall members, said guide blade being pivotable at right angles with respect to the transporting air stream and serving as a guide member for said transporting air stream.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a duct connecting member for connecting said inlet openings with a flock transporting duct.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said duct connecting member possesses a substantially forked-shaped configuration having a pair of duct legs.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including means provided for said fork-shaped duct connecting member for altering the distribution of the transporting air stream to both legs of said forked-shaped duct connecting member.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a Respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein each said centrifugal wheel rotates about an associated axis of rotation and wherein said opposite directions of rotation of said centrifugal wheels are directed downwardly between said two axes of rotation.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a Respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein each said centrifugal wheel rotates about an associated axis of rotation and wherein said opposite directions of rotation of said centrifugal wheels are directed downwardly between said two axes of rotation.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, a respective deflecting wall member partially surrounding each centfifugal wheel, each such deflecting wall member extending over at least the upper half of its associated centrifugal wheel, each said deflecting wall member being arranged such that its radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel increases in the direction of rotation of each centrifugal wheel, and further including a sliding baffle adjustable in the direction of the vertical chute axis and disposed between said deflecting wall members, said sliding baffle serving as a guide member for the transporting air stream.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, a respective deflecting wall member partially surrounding each centfifugal wheel, each such deflecting wall member extending over at least the upper half of its associated centrifugal wheel, each said deflecting wall member being arranged such that its radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel increases in the direction of rotation of each centrifugal wheel, and further including a sliding baffle adjustable in the direction of the vertical chute axis and disposed between said deflecting wall members, said sliding baffle serving as a guide member for the transporting air stream.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein said drive means serves to drive said centrifugal wheels such that the directions of rotation point upwardly between the two axes of rotation thereof.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, and wherein said drive means serves to drive said centrifugal wheels such that the directions of rotation point upwardly between the two axes of rotation thereof.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, each centrifugal wheel rotates about an associated axis of rotation wherein said opposite directions of rotation of said centrifugal wheels are directed downwardly between said two axes of rotation.

Claim 19

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, each centrifugal wheel rotates about an associated axis of rotation wherein said opposite directions of rotation of said centrifugal wheels are directed downwardly between said two axes of rotation.

Claim 20

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, a respective deflecting wall member partially surrounding each centrifugal wheel, each such deflecting wall member extending over at least the upper half of its associated centrifugal wheel, each deflecting wall member being arranged such that its radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel increases in the direction of rotation of such centrifugal wheel, a sliding baffle adjustable in the direction of the vertical chute axis and disposed between said deflecting wall members, said sliding baffle serving as a guide member for the transporting air stream.

Claim 21

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, a respective deflecting wall member partially surrounding each centrifugal wheel, each such deflecting wall member extending over at least the upper half of its associated centrifugal wheel, each deflecting wall member being arranged such that its radial spacing from the periphery of its associated centrifugal wheel increases in the direction of rotation of such centrifugal wheel, a sliding baffle adjustable in the direction of the vertical chute axis and disposed between said deflecting wall members, said sliding baffle serving as a guide member for the transporting air stream.

Claim 22

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, including means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, said drive means serves to drive said centrifugal wheels such that the directions of rotation point upwardly between the two axes of rotation thereof.

Claim 23

In an apparatus for separating opened fiber flocks from a transporting air stream carrying the fiber flocks at a feed chute connected with a pneumatic flock transporting duct, the improvement comprising an upper chute portion, said upper chute portion being provided with at least two inlet openings for the flock carrying transporting air, and a respective centrifugal wheel provided for each inlet opening and substantially concentrically arranged with respect to its associated inlet opening, including means for driving said centrifugal wheels of each two neighboring inlet openings so as to rotate in opposite directions, said drive means serves to drive said centrifugal wheels such that the directions of rotation point upwardly between the two axes of rotation thereof.