Patents Examined by Denise Gromada
  • Patent number: 5437106
    Abstract: This device consists of a clothes rack that attaches to the residential Air Conditioning Condenser Unit and is readily portable, rotates for easy loading, and embodies an adjustable mounting base that clamps or fastens to the existing Condenser Unit. The pre-heated air from the Condenser Unit, which is approximately One Hundred and Fifteen Degrees Farenheit and Thirty Percent Relative Humidity, is circulated through the wet garments, thus utilizing the waste heat as the drying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventor: Fred W. Pardoe
  • Patent number: 5377425
    Abstract: A vacuum drying apparatus characterized by a means for pre-heating a product by hot air, provided to a vacuum container having a heater housed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignees: Nikku Industry Co., Ltd., Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kawakami, Kaichi Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 5357688
    Abstract: A fluid bed dryer comprises a bed plate (12) defining openings or perforations (22) therein, means (16) for feeding a pulverulent or particulate product (P) to the bed plate (13), means (12, 14) for directing fluidizing gas flows upwardly through said openings or perforations (22) so as to fluidize the product fed thereto, and means (17, 19) for discharging product (p) from the bed plate (13). The bed plate (13) comprises at least one bed plate section, each of which is divided into elongated zones (32, 34-36) extending substantially between first and second positions of the plate section. First and/or second pluralities (22b22a) of the openings or perforations (22) are substantially uniformly distributed over the area of each of at least some (34-36) of said zones and are directed and shaped so as to impart to the fluidizing gas flows a flow component which is directed generally towards said first and second positions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Niro A/S
    Inventor: Mogens A. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5355591
    Abstract: An attachment is provided for converting a table top steamer into an apparatus for steam treatment of the body. The attachment comprises an approximately cylindrical conduit having open ends and a plurality of holes located between the first and second ends. The conduit divides the steam jet discharged from the steamer into three streams and diffuses and cools the steam in each of these streams, thereby allowing the face and both hands of the user may be simultaneously steam treated. The attachment is locked onto the steamer by a pair of flexible tabs extending from the sides of the conduit. The tabs have holes formed therein that secure them to retainers extending from the steamer by means of a snap fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Caruso
  • Patent number: 5355590
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the drying and granulation of aspartame through the thermal treatment of a wet mass of aspartame crystals using a hot carrier gas, characterized in that a wet mass of aspartame crystals is supplied, in a continuous process, to a high-speed paddle dryer fitted with a jacket heated to a temperature of 80.degree.-190.degree. C. and with paddles, mounted on a central shaft with a controllable speed of rotation, at an adjustable distance from and angle to the jacket, which are positioned so that the required particle size of the granules is realized, the speed of rotation being chosen so that the Froude number is higher than 1, and the supplied product is treated in the paddle dryer for 15-600 seconds, with the simultaneous presence of a carrier gas having an inlet temperature of 100.degree.-200.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Holland Sweetener Company V.o.F.
    Inventors: Hubertus J. M. Slangen, Mathieu H. M. Mertens
  • Patent number: 5355593
    Abstract: A device for transferring a paper web from the press section into the dry end of a paper making machine. The web contacts a rotatable press surface, e.g. on a press roll, and travels with the press surface through a press nip against a backing roll, and thereafter travels with the press surface to a web removal place. The web is transferred by a suction device across an adjustable gap to a porous transport belt which transports the web toward a first dryer group. The first dryer group has a number of drying cylinders and a web support belt that transfers the web from drying cylinder to drying cylinder. Either a suction device or another intermediate transfer roll transfers the web from the transport belt to the support belt for the dryer group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: J.M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kotitschke
  • Patent number: 5355595
    Abstract: A steam box includes a system for distributing steam onto a web being calendered. At least one valve is connected to the steam distributing system for controlling the flow of steam onto the web. The steam box also has element for feeding hot steam to the valve. Each valve has at least three steam channels, namely an inlet channel for feeding the steam to the valve, an outlet channel of the valve for feeding the steam onto the web and a recirculation channel for recirculating the steam. The valve also has a check element for controlling and dividing the incoming steam flow from the inlet channel between the outlet channel and recirculation channel of the valve, and a return pipe connected to the recirculation channels of the valves, capable of routing the steam directed to the recirculation channel of the valve to e.g., the condensate return line of the steam distributing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Pekka Koivukunnas, Teuvo Lappalainen
  • Patent number: 5353519
    Abstract: A vacuum drying apparatus for refuse or the like includes a drying vessel which receives a material, e.g., refuse, to be dried; a heat recoverer connected to the drying vessel through a steam discharge passage extending from the upper portion of the drying vessel; means for exhaust and drainage mounted to the heat recoverer; a heat pump; a radiator provided in the heat pump; heat exchanger for the drying vessel which introduces the heat of a refrigerant flowing through a piping of the heat pump into the drying vessel; and heat exchanger for the heat recoverer which introduces the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the piping of the heat pump into the heat recoverer. The refrigerant piping of the heat pump is capable of being switched over from a flow of the refrigerant through a circulation system for heating the drying vessel and cooling the heat recoverer, and discarding the heat generated by the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Saibu Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Kanamaru, Shinichi Ito
  • Patent number: 5351417
    Abstract: A hair dryer adapted for multifunctional use includes a housing which is mounted on a wall and a hand-held dryer connected to a power supply in the housing through an electrical cable. The power supply to the dryer is controlled by the degree of extension of the cable from the housing. The housing is adapted to receive a number of different modules which can be installed with security in the housing. A tumble dryer can be incorporated into the housing. The apparatus can be provided with a switching device which controls the supply of heated air from the dryer to selected heated air utilization devices such as the tumble dryer, a hand and nail dryer, a room heater and a defogger outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Secajo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard Rubin
  • Patent number: 5351418
    Abstract: A process of drying moist or wet carbon particles in a series of tubular drying sections by electrical resistance heating where the current is introduced into the uppermost column of carbon particles through a graphite block positioned at the center of the top of the said column by attachment to a steel plate that includes a flat or a V-shaped shelf and that is provided with openings to allow the moisture to escape in the form of steam and wherein the dried or partially dried carbon may be fed into a second or into a sequential plurality of similar sections provided with similar graphite blocks similarly positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventor: Cornelius J. du Plessis
  • Patent number: 5349763
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for drying the outside of hoses (2), particularly fire hoses is described, which has a pneumatic suction apparatus with suction nozzles (6) located on the hose wall below the hose (2) moved through the apparatus (1) and which is characterized in that the suction nozzles (6) are arranged in spaced succeeding manner in the movement direction of the hose (2) and that the hose (2) is curved in the vicinity of the suction nozzles (6) and that the suction nozzles (6) are externally located on the outwardly curved area of the hose surface. (cf. FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventors: Karl Hafenrichter, Heinz Bormann
  • Patent number: 5347728
    Abstract: The suction roll, especially for a paper web drier, comprises a perforated roll shell containing therein an internal chamber partitioned by a wall member transversely arranged with respect to the lengthwise axis of the suction roll. A connection flow communicates the interior of the suction roll with a suction device, preferably a vacuum pump. At least one blade or vane within the suction roll at least reduces or prevents a possibly arising rotational or cyclone-like flow. Thus, the pressure differential brought about by the suction device can be completely used for creating the suction action and for fixing the paper web at the suction roll. This rotational or cyclone-like flow particularly occurs when the suction action is applied through a hollow shaft or duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Pinter, Herbert Holik, Werner Leitenberger
  • Patent number: 5347725
    Abstract: A colloidal substance is injected into a vacuum chamber to be dehydrated therein. The dehydrated substance is extracted from the vacuum chamber by a screw extruder disposed at a bottom of the vacuum chamber. A gas resulting from the dehydration is drawn from the vacuum chamber into a surface condenser to be cooled through an indirect heat exchange with cooling water. After the dehydration of the substance, the extraction of the dehydrated substance and the cooling of the gas are carried out in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Sato Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Sato
  • Patent number: 5347729
    Abstract: A food and materials dryer having one or more cylindrical hollow rotary tunnels each consisting of an outer cylindrical shell and an inner lining cylinder. The inner lining cylinder has perforations and is mounted substantially concentrically within the outer shell. The inner lining cylinder has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the outer shell such that air for drying may be directed between the outer shell and inner lining cylinder, passing through the perforation in the inner lining cylinder for drying material within the inner lining cylinder. Mounted in each inner lining cylinder is an agitating auger which has a central shaft and outwardly projecting helical blades for agitating and moving food products within the inner lining cylinder of a rotary tunnel. Also provided are devices for rotating the auger and devices for directing air for drying through the agitating auger and between the outer shell and inner lining cylinder of each of the rotary tunnels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5345696
    Abstract: A device (1) for the hot-air drying of a printed film in a rotogravure machine, comprising a support structure (3) to house a blowing group (4) which blowing group (4) will feed hot air towards a film (2) to be dried, a plurality of pinions (5) mutually distanced and arranged along a predetermined course, aimed at favoring the introduction of the film (2), a plurality of idler running and supporting rollers (6), mutually distanced and arranged along a predetermined course, to support the film (2) and cause it to run. The said blowing group (4) is fixed and exhibits two lateral uprights (8) into which hot air is introduced, which air flows from above downwards in a plurality of blowing elements (9), mutually-distanced at a good hand's-width from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Schiavi Cesare Costruzioni Meccanichi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giannino Bosoni
  • Patent number: 5345693
    Abstract: Offal material, such as shrimp or crab shells, fish offal, etc, is dried to produce a fine-grained base material or additive for use in foodstuffs and animal fodder by subjecting a starting material in a chamber to a turbulent air current which accelerates the material lumps into various paths of movement. Hereby the material lumps continuously collide with each other, thereby constantly exposing new surfaces or rupture. The chamber is supplied with air, having a temperature which partly depends on the temperature of the starting material and partly depends on the comminution rate, in an amount adjusted according to the amount of starting material introduced per time unit. Hereby it is achieved that free water is immediately removed from the exposed surfaces of rupture by evaporation. By exerting a counter-pressure, the material is retained in the chamber until a desired particle size has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Nutec SpA
    Inventor: Rene Skjold
  • Patent number: 5343635
    Abstract: An improved disc dryer for aggregate material which operates by rotating and impacting a tilted pan which holds the material being dried. Increased capacity is attained by transverse stabilizers on the impactor assembly, adjustable pressure air shock mounts for variable amplitude control of the impactor assembly, sets of dual support wheels upon which the pan rotates a reinforced support tract on the underside of the pan, and an adjustable feed box for supplying material to the pan at varying locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Aggregates Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Lam T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5343631
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling coal dried in a fluid bed reactor are disclosed in which heated dried coal is separated into coarser and finer fractions and the coarser and finer fractions are separately cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Amax Coal West, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Shackelford, Robert G. Bauer, George W. Land
  • Patent number: 5343634
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying an ostomy pouch in a discreet manner includes a container having a box-shaped structure formed from top, bottom, front, back and side panels with an L-shaped extensor rod extending from an inner surface of one of the back or side panels. At least two of the front, side and top panels include a plurality of perforations therethrough to allow air flow through the container to aid in drying an ostomy pouch mounted on the extensor rod. The front panel is moveable from a closed position adjacent the top, bottom and side panels to an open position to allow access to an interior region of the box-shaped structure and to the extensor rod. A removable drip pan can be included for convenient collection and removal of all drainage from the ostomy pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Carol A. Dailey
  • Patent number: 5341579
    Abstract: In a paper making machine a porous support belt travels together with the web over a drying cylinder and leaves the cylinder at a point of removal. A suction box provided in the region of the web removal has a suction zone which is defined by means of two yieldable sealing strips which extend transversely to the direction of travel of the web, and each is supported in a sealing strip holder. The distance between each sealing strip holder and the outer surface of the drying cylinder amounts to at least 30 mm, and each of the yieldable sealing strips has, in its normal condition of operation, such an inherent stiffness that the sealing strip remains substantially free of deformation in the event of a difference in pressure of 0.01 to 0.1 bar between the suction zone and its surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Schiel, Gerhard Kotitschke, Karl Groner