DUSTING COTTON FROM AIRPLANES. 5 
THE AIR-SUCTION HOPPER. 
To meet the difficulties encountered with the first hopper, another 
was constructed as shown in Figures 3 to 5, inclusive. This hopper 
was intended to be entirely automatic in operation except the open- 
ing- and closing of the feeder valve. The general shape was much 
the same as in the first design, and its size and location in the 
plane were practically identical. In this case, however, the paddle 
wheel was eliminated and a feeder inserted which consisted of a 
funnel extending slightly above the upper wing and connected to 
a 4-inch sheet -metal pipe which extended down through the inside 
of the hopper and to within 5 inches of the bottom. At the lower 
end a box-like section, 7 inches square and 5 inches deep, was con- 
structed with its lower side flush with the upper end of the dis- 
Fig. 3. — Air-suction hopper installed in Curtis plane. Lid of hopper open fur filling. 
Outlet for dust discharge is shown projecting helow fuselage, together with a portion of 
lever arrangement for controlling the feed valve. 
charge pipe. This section acted as a guide for a valve or sleeve 
which fitted closely around it, but which was free to slide up and 
down. When at its lowest position this sleeve seated on the upper 
end of the outlet tube and thus prevented the dust from feeding 
out. while the rate of dust flow could be controlled by varying the 
height to which this sleeve was raised. The sleeve movement was 
controlled through a link joining it to a lever hinged to the bottom 
of the fuselage, with a sliding rod and handle attached to the other 
end to bring it within reach of the operator. 
The details of this internal construction are shown in Figure 5, 
and the lever controlling the operation of the valve is shown best 
in Figure 4. 
The operation of this feeder was as follows: The funnel pointing 
forward over the wing of the plane was, of course, subjected to a 
violent blast of air while in flight, and this high-velocity current 
