Cotton picker moistener supply system

A cotton picking machine spindle moistener supply system for supplying water and liquid cleaner at selectively variable concentrations to said spindles, said moistener supply system comprising:

• (A) a plurality of moistener assemblies, each of which is configured to dispense moistener to pads that clean spindles on a rotor of a cotton picking machine;
• (B) a distribution manifold;
• (C) a plurality of moistener assembly supply conduits, each of which connects said distribution manifold to at least one of said plurality of moistener assemblies and permits fluid flow from said distribution manifold to said at lest one of said plurality of moistener assemblies;
• (D) a water tank;
• (E) a main supply conduit which connects said water tank to said distribution manifold to permit fluid flow from said water tank to said distribution manifold;
• and
• (F) a cleaner injection system comprising
• (1) a plurality of cleaner supply tanks separate from said water tank,
• (2) a plurality of cleaner supply conduits, each of which connects an associated one of said cleaner supply tanks to at least one moistener assembly supply conduit to permit fluid flow from said associated cleaner supply tanks to said at least one moistener assembly,
• (3) a selectively variable flow restrictor which controls the flow rate through at least one of said cleaner supply conduits independently of the water flow rate through the associated moistener assembly supply conduits such that the concentration of cleaner dispensed to said pads may be selectively varied by manipulation of said variable flow restrictor.

A cotton picking machine spindle moistener supply system for supplying water and liquid cleaner at variable concentrations to said spindles, said moistener supply system comprising:

• (A) a plurality of moistener assemblies, each of which is configured to dispense moistener to pads that clean spindles on a rotor of a cotton picking machine;
• (B) a distribution manifold;
• (C) a plurality of moistener assembly supply conduits each of which connects said distribution manifold to at least one of said plurality of said moistener assemblies and permits fluid flow from said distribution manifold to said at least on of said plurality of said moistener assemblies;
• (D) a water tank;
• (E) a main supply conduit which connects said water tank to said distribution manifold to permit fluid flow from said water tank to said distribution manifold;
• (F) a water supply system which pumps water through said main supply conduit from said water tank;
• and
• (G) a cleaner injection system comprising
• (1) a cleaner supply tank separate from said water tank,
• (2) a cleaner supply conduit which connects said cleaner supply tank to said main supply conduit an permits fluid flow from said cleaner supply tank to said main supply conduit,
• (3) a selectively variable output cleaner supply pump which is located in said cleaner supply conduit;
• and
• (4) a controller which controls operation of said cleaner supply pump to selectively vary the output thereof whereby the concentration of cleaner dispensed to said pads may be varied by manipulation of said controller.

A method of applying moistener to the moving spindles of a cotton picking machine comprising the steps of:

• (A) providing a cotton picking machine comprising at least one row-type harvesting unit with a plurality of generally vertically-spaced rotating spindles thereon, and a moistener supply system including a plurality of moistening pads positioned to wipe respective spindles and apply a moistener, thereby reducing the accretion of foreign materials that would otherwise reduce the harvesting efficacy of the spindles;
• (B) transferring water via a water supply conduit from a water reservoir to the moistening pads;
• (C) transferring liquid cleaner to the water supply conduit via a cleaner supply conduit from a cleaner reservoir that is separate from said water reservoir;
• (D) adjusting the cleaner flow rate through the cleaner supply conduit so as to selectively alter the concentration of cleaner in the moistener.