US 4,187,615 A · Process for treating feathers and cyclone used for carrying out the process

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for cleaning feathers in a cyclone, wherein feathers are introduced into the interior of a tubular-shaped cyclone in a tangential direction thereof, so that a swirl motion of feathers can be generated in the cyclone together with the downward movement of feathers toward the bottom of the cyclone. A flow of ionized air from compressed air nozzles provided with high voltage electrodes is discharged onto the feathers in a direction transverse to that of the swirl motion. A turbulent flow is created in the cyclone, thereby permitting the feathers to be effectively opened. The impurities attached to the feathers are thus separated therefrom. Thereafter, purified feathers are exhausted out of the cyclone. Ozone generated by the corona discharge in the high voltage electrodes causes the feathers to be sterilized, deodorized and decolorized.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A process for treating feathers, adapted for separating impurities attached thereto, comprising the steps of;

(a) introducing feathers into a treatment zone;
(b) generating, in the treatment zone, by horizontal swirl motion of introduced feathers together with downward movement of said feathers toward the bottom of said zone;
(c) ejecting a flow of ionized air transversely and inwardly directed to said swirl motion of said feathers from substantially the entire outer periphery of the swirl motions in order to cause said impurities to be separated from said feathers while said separated impurities are exhausted to the outside of said cyclone at the center of the swirl motion;
and
(d) removing purified feathers from said treating zone.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for treating feathers and cyclone used for carrying out the process

Life of this patent

Process for treating feathers and cyclone used for carrying out the process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15