Patents Examined by Steve M Gravini
  • Patent number: 8844154
    Abstract: A dryer system for a firefighting ensemble comprising a housing having an air intake port and an air outlet port, a forced air assembly including a heater and a blower accommodated within the housing, a plurality of flexible porous hose segments coupled to the air outlet port operable to receive and conduct forced air therefrom, and the plurality of flexible porous hose segments are operable to conduct forced heated air into elements of the firefighting ensemble to speed drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: John E. McLoughlin, Neocles G. Athanasiades, Kiam Meng Toh
  • Patent number: 8844158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a felt material comprising at least one felt layer and an absorbing layer, to a method for producing the felt material, and to the use of the felt material in textiles, shoes, technical application or medical applications. The felt material according to the invention has the advantages of conventional felt materials regarding the warming and damping properties and is permeable to air in the dry state. Due to the special design, however, it is waterproof in the wet state and thus it is suitable for sealing many materials. The felt material according to the invention binds more humidity or binds water in a different way than common felt materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IQTEX Patentverwaltung UG
    Inventor: Michael Christian Dehn
  • Patent number: 8844157
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for drying wet biosolids to produce a class A biosolids. Generally described, the method of treating biosolids includes drying a wet biosolids in an indirect dryer to produce a partially dried biosolids and drying the partially dried biosolids in a direct dryer in series with and downstream of the indirect dryer to produce a class A biosolids. The indirect dryer and direct dryer may be operated at an average temperature of greater than about 100° C. and may have a total combined residence time of less than about 60 minutes. Also provided are systems for drying wet biosolids including an indirect biosolids dryer and a direct biosolids dryer in series. The methods and systems are particularly effective at reducing the moisture content of the biosolids from greater than 85% to less than 10% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: AGL Resources Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Ray Wagner, Jr., Gerald Harstine
  • Patent number: 8832964
    Abstract: A system, method and configuration for recovering turpentine during the manufacturing of wood chips, wood pellets or other substances that may include turpentine. In general, a turpentine recovery system is used to capture turpentine from exhaust of a dryer as wood chips are being dried. Advantageously, application of the various techniques disclosed herein can result in the recovery of turpentine that can then be sold to generate revenue and, may contribute to a reduction in the capital and operation costs for emission controls for the dryer exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Robert J. Foxen
  • Patent number: 8832960
    Abstract: An apparatus for purge to prevent AMC & natural oxide includes an FOUP configured to contain wafers and to have a receipt supply hole for supplying gas and a receipt discharge hole for discharging the gas at a lower part of the FOUP; stage units each configured to have the FOUP separated therefrom or seated therein, to support the seated FOUP, and to have a gas supply hole for supplying the gas at a position corresponding to the receipt supply hole and a gas discharge hole for discharging the gas at a position corresponding to the receipt discharge hole; a first gas supply port unit disposed in response to the gas supply hole and configured to supply the gas to the FOUP; and a first gas discharge port unit disposed in response to the gas discharge hole and configured to discharge the gas from the FOUP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: LS TEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8832965
    Abstract: One of the controlling methods disclosed relates to control of a laundry machine including a tub and a drum, the method includes the steps of: sensing selection of a tub drying step and performing the tub drying step. The other controlling method of a laundry machine comprises the steps of: selecting a tub drying step; sensing door operation of the laundry machine; and performing the tub drying step based on the result of the door operation. Further, a laundry machine is disclosed that comprises a tub drying step selecting part configured to dry a tub (2); and a control part configured to control the tub (2) dried in case the tub drying step selecting part is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Bok Son, Myoung Suk You, Sung Min Ye, Tae Hee Lee, Deug Hee Lee, Ae Kyung Chae, Yoon Seob Eom
  • Patent number: 8832963
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a city media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventor: Sarjit Johal
  • Patent number: 8832962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying slurry-like materials, in particular sludge from wastewater treatment plants, including two drying stages, namely: a first indirect drying stage (2), supplied with hot fluid, which receives sludge having an entry dryness Se, and outputs sludge having an intermediate dryness Si and water steam, which is channelled towards a condenser (8) in which a heating fluid, in particular water, is reheated and, in turn, heats a heating gas for a second drying stage (6); and a step (5) of forming strings of sludge at the exit from the first stage; the second stage (6) of drying the strings of sludge using gas at least partially heated by the heat extracted from the condenser, said second stage outputting a slurry having a final dryness Sf; the intermediate dryness Si is controlled according to the measured entry dryness Se and the desired exit dryness Sf, for minimum consumption of the total energy used for drying, the flow rate, pressure and/or temperature of the hot fluid (3)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventor: Pierre Emmanuel Pardo
  • Patent number: 8826563
    Abstract: In a general aspect, an apparatus for treating clothes includes a filter unit and a substance removal unit. The filter unit is positioned to filter substances from air discharged from an accommodating space and the substance removal unit is configured to move substances remaining on a portion of the filter unit. A method for controlling the apparatus for treating clothes includes detecting a condition related to the apparatus for treating clothes. The method further includes controlling, based on detection of the condition and without user input after detection of the condition, the substance removal unit to start removing substances remaining on the portion of the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghyun Kim, Hyojin Ko, Sangik Lee, Jeongyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8826565
    Abstract: An automotive paint spray and drying booth having a plurality of walls which, together, define a housing with a chamber sufficient in size to contain an automotive vehicle. An air dispenser is positioned within the chamber and the air dispenser includes an outlet positioned to direct air along one or more of the housing walls. A regenerative blower is positioned outside the housing chamber. The blower is connected to an inlet open outside of the housing chamber and includes an outlet which is fluidly connected to the air nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hahn Marketing LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hahn, Richard J. Hahn
  • Patent number: 8826558
    Abstract: A media drying system removes a moistening liquid from a moistened medium having first and second surfaces. A liquid reservoir contains a heating liquid heated above a moistening-liquid boiling point. A rotatable liquid-blocking member has a liquid-blocking layer with an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the medium entrained around the liquid-blocking member so that the first surface of the moistened medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer. An entrained portion of the moistened medium passes through the liquid reservoir and is submerged in the warmed heating liquid. The heating liquid contacts the inner surface of the liquid-blocking layer so that heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking layer from the warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid, or heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the second surface of the moistened medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Priebe, Donald Saul Rimai, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8826560
    Abstract: A support apparatus and method is disclosed for supporting a syphon within a rotating cylinder. The apparatus includes a hub which is disposed within the rotating cylinder. The hub has a first and a second end, the hub defining a bore which extends between the ends of the hub for rotatably supporting the syphon. A first, second and third arm extend from the hub, each of the arms extending radially outwardly from the hub. Each of the arms has an inner and an outer extremity. The inner extremities of the arms are disposed adjacent to the hub. Also, the outer extremities of the arms are disposed adjacent to an internal surface of the rotating cylinder such that the arms and the hub support the syphon within the rotating cylinder while permitting rotation of the rotating cylinder relative to the syphon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kadant Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew H. Beach, Alan T Ives
  • Patent number: 8813383
    Abstract: A watermark-free hand dryer includes a main body, an annular air discharge portion and a water absorbing portion. The main body generates high pressure airflow. The annular air discharge portion is connected to the main body and includes at least one extending section extended from the main body and a connecting section connected to the extending section. The extending section and connecting section surround to form an annular hand drying passage to receive user's hands. The annular air discharge portion further has at least one nozzle on an air discharge surface communicating with the annular air discharge portion. The nozzle forms an air discharge angle against the air discharge surface to output the high pressure airflow towards an air discharge side. The water absorbing portion is located on the main body and relative to the air discharge side to receive the high pressure airflow output from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hokwang Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Chen Liu, Cing-Fong Jheng
  • Patent number: 8806771
    Abstract: A low impact belt dryer is presented for drying pellets while minimizing high-energy pellet collisions that may create pellet dust or cause pellets to fracture. The dryer includes a vacuum chamber having multiple air knife assemblies that direct high velocity drying fluid towards the pellets and though a liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt to a vacuum port. The low impact dryer may also include a centrifugal dryer for dewatering the pellets before they pass though the vacuum chamber. The conveyor belt of the dryer may transport the pellets through multiple desiccation chambers where low velocity air is directed upwards though the belt to both dry and levitate the pellets above the belt. The dryer may also include a cleaning chamber for removing debris from the liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: George A. Holmes, Tadeuz Rybka
  • Patent number: 8806773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for folding an airbag (1) for placement in an airbag module for a motor vehicle. The method involves folding the airbag (1), exposing the airbag (1) to moisture, compressing the airbag (1), and simultaneously extracting the moisture. Moisture in liquid or vapor form can be introduced before or after folding the airbag. Further disclosed is a device for folding the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Raimund Nebel, Oliver Adolph, Jürgen Mackensen
  • Patent number: 8806775
    Abstract: A method for operating a clothes treating apparatus having a dry function capable of reducing abrasion and crease of a dry object and improving a dry efficiency is provided. The method for operating a clothes treating apparatus having a dry function for drying the clothes by supplying hot air into the interior of a tub includes: supplying hot air into the interior of the tub while forwardly and reversely rotating the tub; detecting the moisture content of the clothes put into the interior of the tub; lowering the temperature of hot air and supplying the same when the detected moisture content is less than a first predetermined level; and supplying the hot air having a lower temperature to complete drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Minji Kim, Hyojin Ko, Yongcheol Jin, Sanghun Bae
  • Patent number: 8806774
    Abstract: A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising mixing the tailings with a sufficient amount of an additive or a mixture thereof; depositing the resulting mixture into a disposal area; pumping water from the deposit to one or more sumps, and allowing the deposit to reach a sufficient strength; and removing remaining deposit water and rainfall through one or more of a network of ditches, a decant tower, or a plurality of dike drainage structures to yield a non-segregating deposit for reclamation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: James Lorentz, Barry Bara, Randy Mikula, Eric Leneve, Nan Wang
  • Patent number: 8800163
    Abstract: A hair care appliance for application of vapor to dry hair to provide humidity to the hair, including a housing defining an inner cavity, a vapor-generating system positioned at least partially within the cavity, and a spacer including a cap, a plurality of spacer elements projecting outwardly from the cap, and an aperture through the cap. The spacer elements partially define therebetween a work area in which the hair is gathered. The vapor-generating system discharges vapor through the aperture to the work area for application to the hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Heidi Schmid
  • Patent number: 8800161
    Abstract: A dryer for material to be dried (T), wherein an air supply channel (4) for supplying a drying gas to the drying region is provided, and at least one exhaust-gas opening (8) is provided for removing the drying gas, wherein the air supply channel (4) is surrounded at a distance by an outer wall (11), which has at least one supply opening (12) and at least one removal opening (13) for the cooling medium (K), wherein between the at least one supply opening (12) and the at least one removal opening (13) a flow section (14) for the cooling medium (K) is formed between the outer wall (11) and the air supply channel (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Binder + Co AG
    Inventor: Franz Anibas
  • Patent number: 8800164
    Abstract: In a washing machine, a power management apparatus and a method of controlling the same, washing operation and drying operation commands are input by a user, power rate information for each time period is received from an EMS, a drying operation execution time is confirmed, and power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are determined based on the power rate information for each time period. Then, the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are compared with the standard power rates to determine whether the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation is adjusted if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sook Kim, Eun Suk Bang