Apparatus for and method of providing a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second port is longitudinally spaced downstream of said first port.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second port is completely laterally spaced from said first port.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said splitting member additionally comprises a third port laterally spaced from said first port and said second port, and further comprising a third conduit duct for directing a column of air past said third port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said third conduit duct to form a third fiber stream, and for entraining the third fiber stream in the air to direct the third fiber stream downstream, said third conduit duct being in communication with said third port.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said third port is longitudinally aligned with said first port.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second port is disposed between said first port and said third port.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first port and said third port are symmetrically disposed about the centerline of the apparatus.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said splitting member additionally comprises a dusting layer port longitudinally aligned with and laterally spaced from said first port and laterally aligned with and longitudinally spaced from a portion of said second port, and additionally comprising a dusting layer conduit duct for directing a column of air past said dusting layer port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said dusting layer conduit duct to form a dusting layer fiber stream, and for entraining the dusting layer fiber stream in the air to direct the dusting layer fiber stream downstream, said dusting layer conduit duct being in communication with said dusting layer port.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said splitting member comprises a duct.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said splitting member is circular.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said conduit ducts is disposed tangentially to said curvilinear surface of said splitting member adjacent its respective port.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said conduit ducts is curvilinear and has a radius of curvature of not less than about six inches.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said conduit ducts has an inlet port and said inlet port has an aerodynamic shape.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduit ducts are rectilinear.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said conduit ducts is a separate element secured to said splitting member adjacent its respective port.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ports each has an upstream edge and a doctor's edge disposed on the downstream side of each of said ports.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said upstream edge of each of said ports is tapered away from the path of the column of fibers so that the fibers tend to pull away from their path of travel and be directed along the pathway created by the taper of said upstream edge.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said ports each has an actual opening of between about 15° to about 45° .

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said ports each has an effective opening of between about 30° and about 60°.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said second port is circumferentially disposed downstream between about 30° and about 60° from said first port.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said doctor's edges each has an included angle of between about 30° and about 60°.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said upstream edge of each of said ports is tapered away from the path of the column of fibers so that the fibers tend to pull away from their path of travel and be directed along the pathway created by the taper of said upstream edge.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of said ports has a tangent release point positioned adjacent said port.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said tangent release point is positioned upstream of said upstream edge of each of said ports by not nore than about 15°.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said ports each has an actual opening of not greater than about 60°.

Claim 28

The aparatus of claim 26 wherein said second port is circumferentially disposed downstream between about 30° to about 60° from said first port.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said ports each has an effective opening of not greater than about 75°.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said second port is circumferentially disposed downstream not greater than about 90° from said first port.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said doctor's edges each has an included angle of between about 15° and about 60°.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said upstream edge of each of said ports is tapered away from the path of the column of fibers so that the fibers tend to pull away from their path of travel and be directed along the pathway created by the taper of said upstream edge.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 31 wherein each of said conduit ducts is curvilinear and has a radius of curvature of not less than about six inches.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 32 wherein each of said conduit ducts is disposed tangentially to said curvilinear surface of said splitting member adajcent its respective port.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein each of said conduit ducts is a separate member secured to said splitting member adjacent its respective port.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said splitting member additionally comprises a third port circumferentially aligned with said first port and completely axially offset from said first port and said second port, said second port being disposed between said first port and said third port, and further comprising a third conduit duct for directing a column of air past said third port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said third conduit duct to form a third fiber stream, and for entraining the third fiber stream in the air to direct the third fiber stream downstream, said third conduit duct being in communication with said third port.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said splitting member additionally comprises a dusting layer port circumferentially aligned with and completely laterally spaced from said first port and laterally aligned with and circumferentially spaced from a portion of said second port, and additionally comprising a dusting layer conduit duct for directing a column of air past said dusting layer port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said dusting layer conduit duct to form a dusting layer fiber stream and for entraining the dusting layer fiber stream in the air to direct the dusting layer fiber stream downstream, said dusting layer conduit duct being in communication with said dusting layer port.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said dusting layer port is laterally spaced from the centerline of and toward a lateral edge of said second port.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said curvilinear surface of said splitting member is circular.

Claim 40

The apparatus according to claim 8, 1, 22, 31, or 37 further comprising: a disintegrator for fibrous material comprising a rotary cylindrical disintegrating element, and a housing for said disintegrating element joined to said apparatus.

Claim 41

A splitter chute apparatus for providing a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers by splitting a column of fibers into multiple fiber streams and by independently entraining each of the fiber streams in air, said splitter chute apparatus comprising: a base; four side walls extending from said base defined by a first side wall, a second side wall opposed to said first side wall, and an opposed pair of lateral side walls; a curvilinear top wall positioned on said side walls and having a plurality of ports disposed in and along the surface of said top wall and comprising a first port, and a second port at least partially axially offset from said first port, wherein a column of fibers is directed along the surface of said top wall to said ports; a first conduit duct for directing a column of air past said first port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said first conduit duct to form a first fiber stream, and for entraining the first fiber stream in the air to direct the first fiber stream downstream, said first conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said first conduit duct being in communication with said first port; and a second conduit duct for directing a column of air past said second port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said second conduit duct to form a second fiber stream, and for entraining the second fiber stream in the air to direct the second fiber stream downstream, said second conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said second conduit duct being in communication with said second port.

Claim 42

A splitter chute apparatus for providing a multiplicity of streams of air-entrained fibers by splitting a column of fibers into multiple fiber streams and by independently entraining each of the fiber streams in air, said splitter chute apparatus comprising: a base; four side walls extending from said base defined by a first side wall, a second side wall opposed to said first side wall, and an opposed pair of lateral side walls; a curvilinear top wall positioned on said side walls and having a plurality of ports disposed in and along the surface of said top wall and comprising a first port, and a second port at least partially axially offset from said first port, wherein a column of fibers is directed along the surface of said top wall to said ports; a first conduit duct for directing a column of air past said first port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said first conduit duct to form a first fiber stream, and for entraining the first fiber stream in the air to direct the first fiber stream downstream, said first conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said first conduit duct being in communication with said first port; and a second conduit duct for directing a column of air past said second port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said second conduit duct to form a second fiber stream, and for entraining the second fiber stream in the air to direct the second fiber stream downstream, said second conduit duct having an inlet and a discharge outlet, said second conduit duct being in communication with said second port.

Claim 43

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 40 wherein said second port is circumferentially spaced downstream and completely axially offset from said first port.

Claim 44

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 41 wherein said ports each has an upstream edge and a doctor's edge disposed on the downstream side of each of said ports.

Claim 45

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 42 wherein said ports each has an actual opening of not greater than about 60°.

Claim 46

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 43 wherein said second port is circumferentially disposed downstream not greater than about 90° from said first port.

Claim 47

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 44 wherein said ports each has an effective opening of not greater than about 75°.

Claim 48

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 45 wherein said doctor's edges each has an included angle of between about 15° and about 60°.

Claim 49

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 46 wherein said upstream edge of each of said ports is tapered away from the path of the column of fibers so that the fibers tend to pull away from their path of travel and be directed along the pathway created by the taper of said upstream edge.

Claim 50

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 46 wherein said inlet of each of said conduit ducts is positioned in said first side wall.

Claim 51

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 47 wherein said discharge outlet of each of said conduit ducts is positioned in said second side wall.

Claim 52

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 49 wherein said discharge outlet of each of said conduits ducts is positioned in said base.

Claim 53

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 50 wherein each of said conduit ducts is curvilinear and has a radius of curvature of not less than about six inches.

Claim 54

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 51 wherein each of said conduit ducts are integral with the splitter chute apparatus.

Claim 55

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said inlet of each of said conduit ducts has an aerodynamic shape.

Claim 56

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 53 wherein said top wall additionally comprises a third port circumferentially aligned with said first port and completely axially offset from said first port and said second port, said second port being disposed between said first port and said third port, and wherein said first port and said third port are symmetrically disposed about the axial centerline of the splitter chute apparatus; and further comprising a third conduit duct for directing a column of air past said third port so as to cause a portion of the column of fiber to split off and be drawn into said third conduit duct to form a third fiber stream, and for entraining the third fiber stream in the air to direct the third fiber stream downstream, said third conduit duct being in communication with said third port.

Claim 57

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 54 wherein said top wall additionally comprises a dusting layer port circumferentially aligned with and completely laterally spaced from said first port and said third port, and laterally aligned with and circumferentially spaced from a portion of said second port; and additionally comprising a dusting layer conduit duct for directing a column of air past said dusting layer port so as to cause a portion of the column of fibers to split off and be drawn into said dusting layer conduit duct to form a dusting layer fiber stream and for entraining the dusting layer fiber stream in the air to direct the dusting layer fiber stream downstream, said dusting layer conduit duct being in communication with said dusting layer port.

Claim 58

The splitter chute apparatus of claim 55 wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of plates secured together.

Claim 59

The splitter chute apparatus according to claim 40, 54, 55 or 56 further comprising: a disintegrator for fibrious material comprising a rotary cylindrical disintegrating element, and a housing for said disintegrating element joined to said splitter chute apparatus.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said splitter chute apparatus is integral with said housing.

Claim 61

The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said base of said splitter chute extends beyond said lateral side walls to define flanges having bores so that said splitter chute may be secured to said housing.

Claim 62

The apparatus of claim 58 additionally comprising a flow channel formed between said disintegrating element and said housing and between said disintegrating element and said top wall of said splitter chute apparatus, said flow channel having a clearance between about 0.79 mm and about 6.35 mm.

Claim 63

The apparatus of claim 60 wherein said flow channel, said housing, said disintegrating element, and said top wall of said splitter chute define a splitting member.

Claim 66

The method of claim 62 additionally comprising the steps of: directing said column of fibers along the splitting member additionally having a third port; directing a third column of air through a third conduit duct past the third port so as to create a pressure differential adjacent the third port; releasing a third portion of said column of fibers away from its angular path of travel; drawing said third portion of said column of fibers through the third port into the third conduit duct as a result of the angular momentum of the fibers and the pressure differential formed adjacent the third port so as to form a third fiber stream; entraining said third fiber stream in the third column of air; and directing the third stream of air-entrained fibers downstream.

Claim 67

The method of claim 63 wherein said third portion of said column of fibers is simultaneously drawn into the third conduit duct as said first portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the first conduit duct.

Claim 68

The method of claim 64 wherein said second portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the second conduit duct after said first portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the first conduit duct.

Claim 69

The method of claim 65 wherein said first portion and said third portion of said column of fibers comprise the edge portions of said column of fibers.

Claim 70

The method of claim 65 additionally comprising the steps of: directing said column of fibers along the splitting member additionally having a dusting layer port; directing a dusting layer column of air through a dusting layer conduit duct past the dusting port so as to create a pressure differential adjacent the dusting layer port; releasing a dusting layer portion of said column of fibers away from its angular path of travel; drawing said dusting layer portion of said column of fibers through the dusting layer port into the dusting layer conduit duct as a result of the angular momentum of the fibers and the pressure differential formed adjacent to the dusting layer port so as to form a dusting layer fiber stream; entraining said dusting layer fiber stream in the dusting layer column of air; and directing said dusting layer stream of air-entrained fibers downstream.

Claim 71

The method of claim 67 wherein said dusting layer portion of said column of fibers is simultaneously drawn into the dusting layer conduit duct as said first portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the first conduit duct.

Claim 72

The method of claim 68 wherein said column of fibers is released from its angular path of travel not more than about 15° upstream of the upstream edge of the ports.

Claim 73

The method of claim 69 wherein said columns of air each is directed tangentially past its respective port.

Claim 74

The method of claim 62 wherein said second portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the second conduit duct after said first portion of said column of fibers is drawn into the first conduit duct.

Claim 75

The method of claim 62 wherein said column of fibers is released from its angular path of travel not more than about 15° upstream of the upstream edge of the ports.

Claim 76

The method of claim 62 wherein said columns of air each is directed tangentially past its respective port.