Device and process for expanding strand material

A strand material cutting device comprising:

• a source of pressurized fluid;
• a cylinder having an inner cavity and including a main body portion with a first opening through which pressurized fluid from said source passes in to said inner cavity, and a cylinder cap which is coupled to said main body portion and including a second opening through which pressurized fluid from said source passes into said inner cavity;
• a piston capable of reciprocating within said cylinder inner cavity;
• and
• a knife having a first size coupled to said piston so as to reciprocate with said piston in response to pressurized fluid entering said cylinder through said first and second openings;
• and
• a spring provided in said main body portion inner cavity for biasing said piston and said knife to a retracted position.

A process for expanding strand material into a wool-type product comprising:

• providing a device for expanding strand material into a wool-type product comprising an outer nozzle section having an entrance portion, an intermediate portion and an exit portion;
• and an internal nozzle section adapted to be received in said outer nozzle section and including a main body portion and a needle portion extending from said main body portion, said main body and needle portions including a first inner passage through which strand material passes to be expanded into a wool-type product, said needle and main body portions defining with inner surfaces of said entrance and intermediate portions of said outer nozzle section an inner chamber, said main body portion having at least two bores extending through said main body portion which are adapted to receive gas, said at least two bores communicate with said inner chamber and define a path for gas to travel to said inner chamber;
• and
• supplying pressurized gas to said at least two bores such that said pressurized gas passes into said inner chamber and causes said strand material to move through said first inner passage, said pressurized gas also effecting expansion of said strand material into a wool-type product.

A strand material locking device comprising:

• a piston having a nose;
• a spring;
• and
• a cylinder portion including a main body section and a cylinder cap, said main body section having an inner cavity, a passage, and first and second bores, said piston being located within said inner cavity so as to reciprocate within said inner cavity between retracted and engaged positions, said nose extending through said second bore and engaging said strand material when said piston is in said engaged position, said cylinder cap including a fluid inlet through which pressurized fluid enters said inner cavity to cause said piston to move to its engaged position, said spring returning said piston to its retracted position when said fluid inlet no longer receives pressurized fluid.