Machine for making preassembled drainage units
The barrel of a machine for passing a light weight synthetic aggregate into a sleeve of disparate materials, such as netting and geotextile material, has a tongue extending from a portion of the periphery of the terminal end of the barrel to balance the air flow from the barrel and achieve a uniform filling of the sleeve. A ring is also disposed about the end of the barrel to blow jets of air onto the sleeve to block blowback of aggregate between the sleeve and barrel.
1 . In a machine for making drainage units, the combination comprising
a horizontally disposed barrel for passage of a light weight synthetic aggregate-laden air stream therethrough; and
a tongue extending longitudinally from a terminal end of said barrel and being of a complementary shape to said barrel to extend over at least a portion of the periphery of said barrel.
2 . In a machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrel has a predetermined diameter and said tongue has an arcuate shape.
3 . In a machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tongue is integral with said barrel.
4 . In a machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tongue is removably mounted on said barrel.
5 . In a machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tongue has a plurality of holes to regulate the passage of air from said barrel through said tongue.
6 . In a machine as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a ring disposed concentrically of said terminal end of said barrel and defining a gap therebetween for passage of a moving sleeve of material therethrough during passage of the light weight synthetic aggregate-laden air stream from said barrel.
7 . In a machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said barrel has a predetermined diameter at said terminal end and said gap between said barrel and said ring is annular.
8 . In a machine for making drainage units, the combination comprising
a horizontally disposed barrel for passage of a light weight synthetic aggregate-laden air stream therethrough; and
a ring disposed concentrically of a terminal end of said barrel and defining a gap therebetween for passage of a moving sleeve of material therethrough during passage of the light weight synthetic aggregate-laden air stream from said barrel.
9 . In a machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said barrel has a predetermined diameter at said terminal end and said gap between said barrel and said ring is annular.
10 . In a machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said ring is hollow and has a plurality of circumferentially disposed ports directed towards said terminal end of said barrel and wherein a supply of air is delivered to said ring for passage through said ports.