Apparatus for producing a foamed fibre dispersion

Abstract

Apparatus for producing a foamed fibre dispersion for deposition on the foraminous support of a machine for manufacturing non-woven fibrous material includes an outlet manifold closed except for an outlet from which foamed fibre dispersion issues for deposition on the foraminous support, as well as a plurality of input openings, an inlet manifold closed except for an inlet through which the apparatus is supplied with dispersion to be foamed, and a plurality of outlet openings. A plurality of closed foam-forming pipes each effect communication between an individual one of the inlet manifold outlets and an individual one of the outlet manifold inlet openings. Each foam-forming pipe includes at least one internal region defined by zones of alternately decreasing and increasing cross section so as to establish cross sectional restriction to increase the speed of flow of dispersion, thereby to create in the foam-forming pipe turbulence to effect foaming of the dispersion. A pump is operable to pump a dispersion of air and fibres in a liquid containing a surface active agent into and through the inlet manifold, through the foam-forming pipes, and into and out of the outlet manifold.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.