Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating selected portions of an article include transport means for moving the article into a heating compartment. Shroud means, which are disposed within the heating compartment and located adjacent to limited portion of the article, direct a stream of heated gas toward a marginal portion of this article. Supply means deliver a volume rate flow of heated gas to the shroud means, and discharge means remove a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment. The discharge means is constructed and arranged to provide a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment which is greater than the volume rate of heated gas flow supplied into the shroud means.

Abstract: An improved paint bake oven (10) of a modular construction is disclosed as including a convection heating module (12), exhaust modules (64), and a radiant drying module (80). The heating module (12) includes outer and inner housings (14) and (16) as well as an upper central supply plenum (20) and a central upper return plenum (28) that cooperate to provide efficient gas flow to painted products being baked upon passage through the heating module. Each exhaust module (64) is connected to an associated heating module so as to receive and exhaust gas therefrom to the environment. The radiant drying module (80) is located upstream from the heating module (12) and includes an outer insulated housing (84), an inner housing (86) having side passages (92) located on opposite sides of a product passage of the drying module (80), and a heater (96) that supplied heated gas to the side passages (92) to provide radiant heating that initially dries the painted products.

Abstract: Apparatus for the drying and sterilizing of fabrics, the apparatus comprising a drier cabinet provided with means for suspending therein fabric articles, and with means for generating, distributing and circulating warm air for drying purposes and hot air for the sterilization of the fabric articles.

Abstract: An incubator for neonatology has a chamber to receive a baby and to maintain it under aerated and heat-controlled conditions; the chamber is enclosed by a bottom shell and a transparent topy casing; heating and aerating means as well as an air distribution system are provided; passage of heat-controlled air through the chamber is optimized by a pair of superimposed horizontal trays that define two air-conducting spaces, one between the lower tray and the bottom shell and the other between the lower and the upper tray; the upper tray includes an insert that supports the baby; the lower tray is about as long as the chamber; the upper tray is shorter but less wide than the chamber; longitudinal air-passing gaps are formed between the lower tray and the bottom shell and communicate with the lower air-conducting space; transverse air-passing gaps are formed between adjacent end walls of the trays and communicate with the upper air-conducting space.

Abstract: A shrink oven which limits loss of heated air by controlled movements of the load and the door at the opening through which the load enters or leaves the oven. By automatically stopping the load in a flow-blocking relationship to the opening as it approaches and leaves the opening, and moving the door only when the load is in such a flow-blocking relationship, loss of heated air can be substantially reduced. Preferably further arrangements enable the air volume of the oven to be maintained constant as heated loads are removed and new loads are introduced. In an oven in which loads are introduced through a side entry door, move on a conveyor through the oven, and exit through another door, exiting and entry loads are synchronized in spacing and movement so that the rate of load displacment out of the oven at the exit is compensated by the rate of load displacement into the oven at the entry. Special arrangements prevent hot air loss around the sides of the oven during the exit and introduction phases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reversible cross flow drying or curing oven including first and second ducts on opposite sides of the heated oven chamber. A fan forces heated air through a main supply passage into one or the other of the first and second ducts for transmission into the oven chamber. The air in the oven chamber is returned to a main return passage through the other of the first and second ducts thereby establishing a cross flow of heated air in the oven chamber from one duct to the opposite duct. The main return passage communicates with the main supply passage for recirculation of the heated oven air. Flow control devices are provided in the supply and return passage to alternate the direction of the flow of air across the oven chamber between the ducts to provide for even drying or curing of the articles in the oven chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing containers such as bottles and vials for the pharmaceutical industry, in the form of a tunnel continuously traversed by a conveyor belt for said containers, comprising a sterlization chamber which utilizes a hot air stream in the laminar flow regime and is provided with air filters, characterized in that in said sterilization chamber the heated air is fed to a pressure chamber communicating in a sealed manner with said filters, and from these latter on to said containers to be sterilized, between said pressure chamber-filter system and walls of the sterilization chamber there being defined a jacket for recirculation of the air, in which the pressure is kept at a lower value than the pressure present in said pressure chamber-filter system.

Abstract: A shrinkage tunnel (11) for heat treatment of shrinkable films has a hot air unit, which can be inserted as a standard unit in a tunnel wall and contains a radial fan (22), which is surrounded by a fan casing (26) formed from two sheet metal half-shells (27, 28). Between them they form a ring nozzle (30) with an axial outflow direction with respect to fan shaft (25), while air return flow opening (32) is centrally and directly positioned below the fan wheel (22). The heating system is integrated into the fan casing, so that the complete hot air unit (20) is an independently functional and preassemblable component.

Abstract: For applying heat to groups of articles disposed within a wrapper of shrink film whose ends are overlapped and disposed below the articles, a tunnel is provided including a conveyor through the tunnel having air passages therethrough and on which the groups of articles are disposed while being moved through the tunnel, a heater disposed below the conveyor, a primary fan for driving air through the heater and into a conduit which directs heated air through the passages in the conveyor and directly to the overlapped ends of the wrapper together with a fan and conduit for directing heated air at a lower temperature to the ends and sides of the groups of articles.

Abstract: A drying device has a blower, a motor for driving the blower, a switch for actuating the blower motor unit, and the heating elements in the duct supplying the blower. The air supplied is received by an air towel having an open upper edge, a back wall, a front wall, and tapering side walls. Air exits the air towel from a slot disposed in the front wall of the enclosure member. The rear wall of the enclosure member also tapers gradually toward the bottom-most portion of the slot, as do the side walls of the enclosure member, so that, with diminishing volume enclosed by the enclosure member, a generally uniform air velocity of air flow outward from the slot along the vertical length thereof. The air is directed downwardly generally at a 45.degree. angle. Also, a flexible hose having a nozzle has an end in communication with the air supplied; the end in communication with the air supply penetrates a side wall of the enclosure member to receive air from the enclosure member.

Abstract: An improved air delivery system is provided for an impingement food preparation oven including a plurality of air ducts disposed in a cooking chamber, a plenum connected to the air ducts, and a scoop-type fan disposed in a backwall opening of the plenum to provide a flow of heated air smoothly and uniformly through the plenum into the air ducts. The fan device includes a plurality of tear-drop shaped blades, wherein each blade has a leading edge portion that tapers to a point in the direction of rotation and a trailing row portion at a given pitch angle for forcibly moving the flow of air in an axial direction toward the plenum front wall. The plenum front wall has a plurality of openings connected to the duct members, and a centrally disposed conical surface projecting outwardly toward the fan so that the axially directed flow of heated air from the fan is smoothly and uniformly directed by the conical surface the plurality of air ducts so as to provide a uniform cooking temperature in the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerated trailer 10 which is subject to having a restricted normal return air flow path back to the refrigeration unit 24 through the suction space 46 in communication with the return air inlet 34 of the unit, due to volume and arrangement of the load 42, is provided with secondary air return ducts 48 and 50 which are also in communication with the suction space 46 to ensure an adequate return air flow to the unit and thereby also assuring an adequate discharge of air to the rear 22 of the trailer.

Abstract: A shrink oven whose air volume is maintained constant as heated loads are removed and new loads are introduced, to prevent loss of heat and to improve performance. In an oven in which loads are introduced through an entry opening, move through the oven, and exit through another opening, exiting and entering loads are moved so that the rate of load displacement out of the oven at the exit is compensated by the rate of load displacement into the oven at the entry. Special arrangements prevent hot air loss around the sides of the load during the exit and introduction phases. These include close-lying passage walls above and on both sides of the openings, for limiting the air conductance of the gaps about the loads, stacking adjacent loads close together at entry and exit to minimize air leak gaps between the loads, and close positioning of the loads next to doors during opening and closing of doors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a countertop food dehydrator including moisture sensing mechanism which controls the on-off operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for thermally treating food products by impingement heating or cooling, comprising a plenum having a plurality of inwardly inclined front wall panels adapted to direct the flow of a temperature-controlled gas through at least one elongated plenum outlet port in fluid communication with a duct assembly comprising an elongated manifold coextensive with the elongated plenum outlet port and providing substantially unobstructed fluid communication between the elongated plenum outlet port and a plurality of tapered ducts having at least two inwardly inclined walls, including at least one inwardly inclined side wall.

Abstract: A tobacco curing bin for use in a tobacco curing kiln is provided, the said bin comprising a box-like structure with opposing ends, a top, a front, a back, a floor, and having tynes adapted to pierce and support the tobacco leaves therein; each said end being adapted to be impervious to the flow of curing air; the said front being adapted with holes to receive said tynes and having at least one gate to permit loading and unloading of the bin; the said back being adapted to provide a support for the tobacco leaves in the bin when the bin is being loaded or unloaded and further adapted to receive said tynes; the said tynes being adapted to pass through the holes in the front, to pierce the tobacco leaves and to engage with the said back to support the tobacco leaves within the bin; the said floor being adapted to be pervious to the flow of curing air and being characterized in that said floor is adapted to slope upwardly from the ends to a middle portion in said floor to permit an improved flow of curing air th

Abstract: A tunnel refrigeration device includes frame members mounted substantially adjacent to an endless conveyor belt which is utilized to pass products to be refrigerated through the tunnel. The frame members are provided with apertures therein and fan means are mounted in one or more of the apertures so as to pass the tunnel atmosphere into the space between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt. Apertures are juxtaposed with each frame mounted fan to enable the tunnel atmosphere passed into this space to be removed therefrom and recirculated upwardly in the tunnel by means of the top mounted fans. Refrigeration is provided to the underside of products on the conveyor belt and the effective capacity of the tunnel may be increased by increasing the capacity of the top mounted fans.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus comprising an enclosure which contains a drying chamber for receiving articles, such as clothes, to be dried, an air heating passage and an air cooling passage. The heating passage is situated underneath the drying chamber and has inlet means and outlet means communicating therewith on opposite sides of said chamber, respectively. Air heating means are provided in the heating passage between the inlet and outlet means threof to heat air flowing through said heating passage. The cooling passage is situated beside the drying chamber and has inlet means which are situated at the top of both the drying chamber and the cooling passage, and outlet means at the bottom of the cooling passage, which outlet means communicate with the heating passage near the inlet means thereof. Air cooling means are provided in the cooling passage, between the inlet and outlet means thereof to condense moisture from air flowing downwardly in the cooling passage.

Abstract: An oven for preparing food comprising an enclosure having a conveyor received therethrough for conveying food to be prepared through the enclosure. Positioned within the enclosure and about the conveyor portion therein are duct devices for impinging heated air against the food product, a plenum adapted to the duct devices for supplying heated air to the duct devices, and an impeller assembly for recirculating the air within the enclosure for reheating and subsequent passage to the plenum and duct devices. A heating source is provided within a heating chamber on the opposite side of the plenum from the duct devices, and control components are provided for regulating the temperature of the heat source. The impeller assembly and the plenum are unique in that air drawn from the heating chamber by the impeller assembly is axially and radially urged into the plenum for substantially uniform distribution to the duct devices communicating with the plenum.

Abstract: The description is of a method for drying vehicles in washing establishments in which after the washing or clear rinsing step and before the drying step water containing a wetting agent is applied to produce a substantially uniform thin water film on the vehicle, wherein the drying is achieved through infrared ray generators or by means of other heat ray generators, and the moist air is withdrawn. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also described. The thin water film guarantees a rapid evaporation of the water from the outer surface of the vehicle with reasonable energy consumption and at the same time serves as an overheating protective device for the vehicle surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the shrinking of foil, which is wrapped around an article, and comprises a frame 1, which along its inner edge is provided with a means of heating. The apparatus is characterized by the frame 1 being hollow, that there are means for blowing air into the hollow part, and means in the form of slots or ports 27 and 28 for leading the air out along the inner edge of the frame 1 close to the means of heating. The means of heating can, for example, consist of gas burners 20 or electric heating elements. The frame 1 can be arranged to move up and down around the article around which the foil is to be shrunk.

Abstract: A housing having propeller type fans in the housing adjacent to an object or objects to be dried. Shafts, carried by sleeves projecting through the side walls or top wall, rotate the fans. Motors externally of the housing drive the shafts.In one form of the invention, the air circulated by the fans is heated by steam coils adjacent to the periphery of the blades of the fans. In another embodiment, an open flame gas or oil burner, disposed in a combustion chamber, heats air, which is subsequently directed by ducts to the fans. Exhaust blowers and exhaust ducts exhaust the fume laden air from the chamber. Still another embodiment shows pairs of juxtaposed oppositely blowing fans carried by shafts protruding through the walls of the oven and spaced heaters between the fans. Still another embodiment shows opposed fans for drying a cylindrical member passed through the chamber.

Abstract: An improvement to a grain drying and storage structure which reduces moisture condensation on the inside of the walls of the grain drying structure by forcing heated air out through a peripheral opening at the top of the wall of the drying structure into a space between the wall and an external shell, thus heating the wall, and which allows moisture that condenses under the roof of the grain drying structure to drain to the outside of the grain drying structure so that it does not drain down onto the drying grain.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing meat products in a controlled environment, in which chambers are arranged in pairs, side by side with one another, and defined by outside walls, and a common median wall, with meat support means arranged on facing surfaces of the walls and having air ducts provided in the walls and openings provided over the extent of the inside surfaces of the walls whereby air may flow from side to side across the chambers and air supply ducts connected to distribution ducts in the walls, and a fan for forcing air therearound, and means whereby flow through the various ducts may be reversed at periodic intervals so that air flow will take place across the chambers in opposite directions, reversing at predetermined intervals during the treatment.

Abstract: A temperature control system is disclosed which supplies a fluid which acts as a temperature effecting agent for the system. The fluid is conveyed through the system with a temperature control means regulating the temperature of the fluid and a fluid control means regulating flow of the fluid through the system. The temperature control means includes a helix of electrically resistant tubing which the fluid passes through. Optimally, the helix is responsive to the application of electrical current such that temperature of the fluid passing through the helix is controlled as a function of the applied current. Preferably, a distribution network forms part of the system and uniformly distributes the fluid in a desired area and/or around an object. The fluid control means can also include a diverting means for diverting fluid not at a desired temperature from the system and an additional means to vary the temperature of the fluid distributed by the system.

Abstract: An inlet grating (11) is constituted by a thin corrugated sheet having rounded corrugation tops (15) facing incident gas flow (25) arriving at an oblique angle. The corrugations are parallel and regularly spaced with perforations at the bottoms thereof (23). Suitable choice of dimensions, together with optional auxiliary openings (24), can ensure a uniform flow perpendicular to the plane of the trough bottoms at a suitable distance therefrom. This is of particular application to drying apparatus.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for carrying out steaming or similar operations in a double-wall chamber opened at the bottom with steam passing from the bottom to the top through gaps. The apparatus, comprises operating assemblies including fans and radiators effective to cause the air treating means to circulate at intermediate levels with respect to the height of the chamber, and steam and water and power supplying means capable of being selectively operated to allow the apparatus to operate by different air treating means or media.

Abstract: A fruit dryer comprising a roller conveyor passing through an elongate drying chamber is disclosed. An air plenum having a plurality of transverse nozzle openings is disposed above the conveyor and directs a series of curtain-like air streams on the fruit below. The major portion of the air within the dryer is recycled by a fan while a smaller portion of said air is exhausted by a second fan. A heater heats both the recycled air and fresh air introduced as make-up for the exhausted air. A means is provided to rotate the individual rollers of the roller conveyor as the conveyor is advanced in order to expose all sides of the fruit to the air streams.

Abstract: This invention relates to a kiln for drying timber comprising:an elongated housing having a base, two side walls and a top wall and two end walls defining a timber treatment zone;a gas circulation passageway having a top passageway portion extending over said timber treatment zone, a side passageway portion extending down one side of said timber treatment zone, a treatment passageway portion extending through said timber treatment zone, and a side passageway portion extending up the other side of said timber treatment zone merging with said top passageway portion, each said side wall being sloped whereby each of said side passageway portions is broad at the top of the kiln and narrower at the bottom of the kiln thereby to provide a substantially even rate of flow of gases at various levels within said treatment zone; and,reversible gas circulation means within said top passageway for maintaining the circulation of treatment gas in said other direction through said gas passageway thereby the direction of gas f

Abstract: A tube dryer is illustrated wherein a plurality of spaced tubes extend outwardly from a plenum to direct heated air against material passing thereby on a conveyor. The tubes are connected by inverted substantially channel-shaped members transversely disposed across the material being heat treated. The channel-shaped members have a web portion in a plane parallel to the conveyor with the tubes extending through the web member. The web member affords support for the tubes insuring their proper positioning to direct air for accurate impingement upon the material such as fabric or a layer of particulate material passing thereby and prevents snagging of the conveyor or the material carried thereby against the ends of the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the shrinking of foil, which is wrapped around an article, and comprises a frame 1, which along its inner edge is provided with a means of heating. The apparatus is characterized by the frame 1 being hollow, that there are means for blowing air into the hollow part, and means in the form of slots or ports 27 and 28 for leading the air out along the inner edge of the frame 1 close to the means of heating. The means of heating can, for example, consist of gas burners 20 or electric heating elements. The frame 1 can be arranged to move up and down around the article around which the foil is to be shrunk.

Abstract: A hot air recirculation oven for baking products of bakeries, Viennese bread bakehouses, pastry bakehouses and the like comprises a baking chamber (2), an open trolley (8) disposable in the baking chamber and having shelves (15, 16) for supporting products to be baked, and means (46, 47) for admitting heated air to the baking chamber so as to sweep over products on the trolley. The baking chamber (2) has at each corner a continuously rotatable cylindrical distributor (52, 53, 54, 55) connected into ducts (46, 47) which direct hot air from a fan (30) to the interior of the cylindrical distributor (52, 53, 54, 55) in order to be diffused into the baking chamber (2) by way of a vertical jet through a slot (62) located in the circumference of the cylindrical distributor.

Abstract: In the field of grain ventilation, grain bins are constructed to allow air circulation from a plenum chamber through the grain floor and the grain to an exhaust. The invention relates to a panel for improving grain bin design so as to more effectively practice grain ventilation.An aspirating panel is formed to include a cylindrically shaped rib along both its longer sides. In constructing a grain bin floor, sidewall, or roof, panels are fastened together such that a slit remains between the ribs of adjacent panels. The slit allows air freely to pass through. In the case of a sidewall or roof, the panel design allows the wind to aspirate air from inside the grain bin by creating low pressure regions near the slits which enhance air exhaustion.

Abstract: The drying device comprises a working tunnel and a drivable conveying member extending therethrough. Articles of clothing to be dried are suspended from the conveying member transversely to the direction of conveyance, by means of hangers. Hot air and steam are supplied to the working tunnel. The articles leave the tunnel without wrinkles. For this purpose, the hot air is directed into the tunnel by means of vertical nozzles which direct the air only from above. At least in the inlet section of the tunnel, steam is introduced. The downwardly air jets thus produced, sweep the articles suspended from the conveying member in the downward direction. Due to the steam content or the air jets, even polyester containing fabrics thereby become plastic enough to be swept smooth of wrinkles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of monitoring air flow in a bulk tobacco curing and drying structure wherein the system and method is designed to actuate an alarm device in response to the air flow within the bulk tobacco curing and drying structure falling below a preset level. In particular, the system and method entails providing an air flow monitoring device in the path of a system of air that is circulated vertically through the mass of bulk tobacco contained within the curing and drying structure. The air flow monitoring device is operatively associated with a master "on-off" switch and is operatively connected to a main control panel or unit that is in turn operatively associated and connected to an alarm device such as a siren.

Abstract: A system for minimizing manual handling of tobacco leaves for bulk cure comprises a container for use in forced air curing of tobacco in bulk, a kiln having a floor arrangement to effect better control of air flow in achieving forced air cure in such containers and apparatus to facilitate handling of containers from the field, placement in and removal from a kiln. The bulk cure container sidewalls have a plurality of projections to define internally of the container a plurality of obstructions which impede the flow of air along container sidewall interior filled with tobacco in bulk form. The kiln has a floor arrangement which provides a plurality of cavities adapted to sealingly engage container bottoms. The apparatus for handling the containers includes a mobile frame supporting a pair of spaced-apart rails. Such rails cooperate with corresponding pairs of rails in kiln so as to be interconnectable therewith.

Abstract: A commodity dryer for removing or providing moisture and controlling atmosphere which surrounds stored commodities such as grain is provided which reduces the growth of bacteria, fungus and minimizes other deleterious conditions encountered such as in the storage of moist commodities which generally render them unfit for subsequent consumption. The commodity dryer maintains the integrity of stored commodities by creating a controlled atmosphere conducive to the removal or the addition of water by capillary action from the pores of the commodity and for controlling the moisture and temperature around the skin of the grain to achieve optimum storage conditions for the specific commodity stored.

Abstract: An improved grain drying apparatus of the type having a bin with a perforated floor through which hot air is blown upward for grain drying purposes, and a rotary sweep assembly employing a wet grain distributing auger on its lag side and a dried grain retrieving auger on its lead side. One improvement includes an inclined elongate plate forming an overflow dam which extends along the floor on the lead side of the retrieving auger and which is connected to the sweep assembly for rotation therewith so as to build up the thickness of dried grain on the floor ahead of the retrieving auger to increase the resistance of the dried grain to the upward flow of hot air on the lead side such that a greater proportion of hot air will flow upwardly through the floor on the lag side through the wet grain being deposited thereon.

Abstract: A compost mixture for growing Agaricus birporus mushrooms is placed within a perforated fence surrounding a perforate portion of a floor in an enclosed space, and warm moist air is circulated up and out through the compost throughout the pasteurization process thereby maintaining the pressure in said space above that of the ambient while controlling the temperature and moisture content of the compost throughout a Phase II pasteurization process.

Abstract: Subject of the invention is drying equipment suitable for reducing the moisture content of fragmentary materials, mainly clay. The drying equipment contains drying space developed as a ring of circular, or polygonal base, surrounded with latticed surfaces. The drying space includes a channel developed as a ring of circular, or polygonal base, surrounded with latticed surface, carrying drying medium. The device, feeding the material to be dried is connectible to and turnable around the central shaft. Conveyance of the material takes place with the aid of a rotary worm or scraper device fixed to the central shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for circulating high temperature air at approximately 20,000 cubic feet per minute through an enclosed room in which fruit are stacked in sweat boxes on pallets. A fan draws the heated air from a heat source into a plurality of inlet ports at the bottom of the housing. A damper position at each of the inlet ports deflects the hot air entering the drying room upwardly between the stacks of containers in the drying room and the corresponding side wall of the housing towards said top, the hot air passing between the top of the stacks of containers in the room and the top of the housing, and down between the stacks of containers in the room and the opposite side wall of the housing. A recirculating port in the first-named side wall through which the fan draws the air from the opposite side wall between the individual containers in the stacks and across the fruit within the containers and back to the inlet of said source.

Abstract: According to the invention, the installation for treating a product in a gaseous medium, particularly a heat treatment or drying installation, comprises at least one blowing box provided with at least one blowing wall opposite which is located the product to be treated, this blowing wall being supplied with treatment gas by supply means. The supply means comprises at least one fan disposed on one of the sides of the blowing box called "blowing side", this fan feeding a central duct supplying the central part of the blowing wall and extending perpendicularly to this blowing side as far as the opposite side called "open side", and two end ducts supplying respectively the two end parts of the blowing wall and extending parallel to the central duct from the open side as far as the blowing side, these two end ducts being fed by the central duct through two bends causing the treatment gas to make a half-turn.

Abstract: A machine for dehydrating food, as an aid toward preservation of food for extended periods of time. Intake air may be obtained from either the exterior of the machine or a combination of exterior and recycled air. Intake air is electrically heated and pressurized in a plenum chamber by a fan. The pressurized and heated air is released in a uniform laminer flow through a set of small openings, thence along horizontally disposed shelves containing the food to be dried. The air is then selectively discharged into the atmosphere or a portion thereof is recycled and combined with new intake air and again passed over the food to be dehydrated. The percentage of recycled air is selectively variable over a wide range. Removable frames support either solid sheets or screens having mesh openings of desired sizes which support the food to be dried. The choice of a solid sheet or the mesh size depends upon the type of food to be dried.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing comestibles for frozen storage in which pressurized freezing air is utilized in conjunction with a substantially flat conveyance surface, both to aid in or contribute to the conveyance of the packages or containers as well as to effectuate the rapid freezing of the comestibles therein during the course of such conveyance through the system. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated conveyance deck is of space saving substantially helical form with successive descending turns underlying one another and with the space surrounded by the turns forming part of a plenum chamber into which pressurized freezing air is blown for admission into a laterally open plenum duct underlying the deck throughout its length. Such elongated plenum duct is tapered transversely beneath the deck for uniform distribution of pressurized freezing air to the discharge apertures in the deck by means of a transversely inclined duct-forming panel cooperating with the deck.

Abstract: A drying chamber wherein photographic film is dried by non-turbulent recirculating conditioned air passing therethrough while the film is suspended from a conveyor system and foreign material is prevented from entering thereinto by an air curtain.

Abstract: A container for goods transport comprising a device for producing a ventilation stream across the loading space so that at any point in the loading space the same desired temperature and degree of humidity will prevail; the improvement is related to, a plurality of closed channels of variable length, one open end of which opens out in a conduit communicating with the ventilation device are arranged on part of the floor of the loading space and a plurality of upright partitions leading towards the other open end of the channels and having the same height as the channels are arranged on the remaining part of the floor.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of grain drying wherein grain is dried in a first drying bin and removed to a holding bin, the improvement comprising withdrawing hot air from the holding bin and circulating the hot air to the drying bin.

Abstract: A ball warming apparatus adapted to completely and effectively heat a cold ball, particularly a bowling ball, to a desirable room temperature. The apparatus may be adapted for selective stationary positioning within a bowling alley for coin-operation, or for selective portable use as a bowling ball bag. The inner wall of the appratus is adapted to closely encompass a bowling ball and to substantially heat the entire peripheral surface of the ball.

Abstract: A system for treatment of particulate material includes a conveyor for transporting particulate material through a treatment zone, a gas flow system for placing particles on the conveyor in fluidized condition as they move through the treatment zone, and means along the side of the treatment zone for projecting a gaseous stream inwardly along the transport surface of the conveyor to provide boundary sheath gas flow along the edge of the treatment zone, the boundary sheath gas flow containing particles on the conveyor and contributing to the fluidization of particles on the conveyor at the side boundary of the particle treatment zone.

Abstract: A single chamber type coating and baking apparatus which includes a chamber having one opening through the ceiling and two openings through the floor. A means for discharging the air within the chamber to the outside is connected to one of the openings through the floor. There are means for generating and directing hot wind toward the opening in the ceiling, and a means for recycling the air in the chamber to the hot wind generating means which is connected to the inlet side of the means for generating hot wind at one end and at the other end to one of the openings in the floor part of said chamber. Also, a means is provided for introducing fresh air into the system and is connected to the recycling means.