Cotton dust analyzer

Claim 1

An apparatus for extracting cotton dust for the purpose of determining dust generation potential of a lint cotton specimen comprising in combination: (a) a sample holding means containing a lint cotton sample which is impregnated with dust; (b) a means of blowing air through said lint cotton sample and removing the dust from said lint cotton, said air blowing means located adjacent and parallel to said sample holding means; (c) a filtering means to capture said dust removed from said sample, said filtering means located adjacent and parallel to said sample holding means and on the opposing side of said sample holding means from said air blowing means; (d) a suction means to move the dust laden air which is blown from the lint cotton sample and direct said dust to said filtering means where said dust is captured by a filter of said filtering means; (e) an enclosure around the above to enclosed said apparatus from the atmosphere and provide for air flow through said apparatus, said enclosure comprising: (1) a filtered opening at the upstream end allowing for air suction; and, (2) an exhaust opening at the down stream end of the apparatus; (f) a means of changing said sample and said filter comprising: (1) an interface where said enclosure separates into two parts, said interface located at the approximate location of said sample holding means; (2) a set of double acting air cylinders mounted on said enclosure in a vertical position on each side of said filter and said sample holding means, said air cylinders being parallel and adjacent to said filter and said sample holding means, said air cylinders provided to raise and lower the top part of said enclosure.

Claim 2

An apparatus for extracting cotton dust for the purpose of determining dust generation potential of a lint cotton specimen comprising in combination: (a) a sample holding means containing a lint cotton sample which is impregnated with dust; (b) a means of blowing air through said lint cotton sample and removing the dust from said lint cotton, said air blowing means located adjacent and parallel to said sample holding means; (c) a filtering means to capture said dust removed from said sample, said filtering means located adjacent and parallel to said sample holding means and on the opposing side of said sample holding means from said air blowing means; (d) a suction means to move the dust laden air which is blown from the lint cotton sample and direct said dust to said filtering means where said dust is captured by a filter of said filtering means; (e) an enclosure around the above to enclosed said apparatus from the atmosphere and provide for air flow through said apparatus, said enclosure comprising: (1) a filtered opening at the upstream end allowing for air suction; and, (2) an exhaust opening at the down stream end of the apparatus; (f) a means of changing said sample and said filter comprising: (1) an interface where said enclosure separates into two parts, said interface located at the approximate location of said sample holding means; (2) a set of double acting air cylinders mounted on said enclosure in a vertical position on each side of said filter and said sample holding means, said air cylinders being parallel and adjacent to said filter and said sample holding means, said air cylinders provided to raise and lower the top part of said enclosure.