Abstract: In a dry kiln, a plurality of in-tandem air control compartments and a fan between each pair of adjacent compartments. The fans are rotated in one direction only. The compartments have lateral air flow ports in which air valves are mounted. The fans are of opposite pitch and the valves are so alternately operated that although the fans blow the air unidirectionally, the air can be controlled to flow in one direction through the drying chamber of the kiln, or optionally in the opposite direction, for uniform drying purposes.

Abstract: An industrial oven having a housing defining a work chamber into which products to be treated by the oven may be placed includes a duct system communicating with a blower wheel mounted in the work chamber for communicating air blown by the wheel to the work chamber. The industrial oven further includes the improvement of a blower scroll consisting of a plurality of plates mounted about the blower wheel in an involute configuration. The blower plates define a plurality of outlets for uniformly directing air from the wheel to the duct system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dryer particularly suitable for particulate matter having an endless conveyor in the form of a polyester fabric screen wherein the endless conveyor is normally flat but is given a trough-shape as it passes within the dryer to contain the particulate matter. Means are provided for moving the fabric screen through the dryer including an open support disposed beneath the fabric screen. Stationary, elongated trough-forming means within the dryer pick up the sides of the fabric to form and maintain the trough-shape, and stationary baffle plates within the dryer engage the trough-forming means to direct the flow of drying air through or against the matter being conveyed.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for simultaneously subjecting the inside and outside surfaces of a procession of containers to a gaseous treatment, such as the hardening by heating of a previously applied liquid coating. The containers each provide a closed end and another open end by which it rests on a conveyor which carries a procession of the cans through a treatment region. Structure is provided for the creation of a difference in air pressure as applied to different portions of the open ends of the containers to induce air currents interiorly of thereof.

Abstract: An improved method for batch drying grain and the like utilizes a plurality of separate batch bins having hot, drying air inlets, transfer air outlets and inlets, and return air outlets. The hot, drying air inlets are connected by a common duct as are the transfer air outlets and inlets. The return air outlets are also connected with a common duct or ducts. The common return duct or ducts connect the outlets to a fan chamber. Air in the fan chamber is dehydrated and heated by a heat pump before being directed into the common hot, drying air supply duct. Air is circulated among the batch bins by arranging various combinations and permutations of supply, transfer and return inlet and outlet openings before it is recycled through the fan chamber and heat pump coils.

Abstract: The air flow in one zone of a gypsum wallboard dryer involves removal of the air from the wallboard drying section at one end of the elongate wallboard drying section, followed by directing a major portion of this air through fans to accelerate the air flow, next heating the air in an elongate plenum, through which the air passes, by directing high intensity flame angularly into the air flow from the periphery of the elongate section, thus creating agitation within the air flow to create uniformity of temperature therethroughout prior to directing the heated, thoroughly mixed air back into the wallboard drying section, at an end of the section opposite to the end from which it was originally removed.

Abstract: A tunnel oven for bakery purposes has a plurality of horizontally- and vertically-spaced hot air supply orifices in each of its vertical walls. At least some and preferably all such orifices are individually adjustable slots. Each wall also has air extraction orifices connected to suitable ducting.

Abstract: A drying kiln for lumber. The kiln comprises a drying chamber having two spaced drying sections each to receive a stack of lumber. There is a second chamber above the drying chamber and drivable, reversible, circulating means in the second chamber. The kiln also has heating means for air circulated by the circulating means. A first passageway permits the circulating means to force heated air across the drying sections, across the space between them and back to the circulating means. A second passageway extends downwardly into the space between the dryer section. There is a first and a second closable inlet for the second passageway. Each inlet is positioned on a side of the circulating means to receive a proportion of air forced towards it by the circulating means. A plurality of outlets to said space are in said second passageway. Means control the first and second inlets whereby if one is open the other is closed.

Abstract: An oven for drying an applied coating material having volatile properties characterized by an arrangement of components which minimize the effects of air pollution and, at the same time, satisfies governmental regulations in this regard.

Abstract: A container for receiving and retaining loose bulk grain from point of harvest to destination comprises a generally rectangular box-like receptacle having side and end walls, a bottom wall, and an open upper end with a closure. First airflow port means is provided in at least one side wall and second airflow port means is provided in an end wall. Bulk grain is loaded into a multitude of such containers and the closures are secured in place. A fan is connected to one of the port means to force a stream of atmospheric air in through one port means and out through the other, the air flowing through substantially all of the body of grain in the receptacle and removing a excess moisture. The grain is stored in the receptacles as long as necessary and then shipped in the original receptacles to any desired location for processing. Means are provided to interlock groups of containers on the transport means to prevent any inadvertent displacement of individual containers.

Abstract: A device for tempering and/or sterilizing objects which must be kept free of contamination by foreign particles, such as for example, ampules sterilized in pharmaceutical preparations, has a housing and means for supporting the objects in the housing. A pair of gas distribution plates are mounted in the housing in spaced relationship to each other, on either side of the support means, and cooperate with means for supplying conditioned air to produce a laminar flow of the conditioned air downwardly over the objects being treated. The conditioned air has a substantially different temperature than the objects being treated and can be either heated or cooled depending upon whether the device is used for sterilizing or tempering. Because of the maintenance of laminar flow in the housing, the number of contaminating particles per space unit which can come into contact with the objects being treated is decreased.

Abstract: A tobacco leaf curing system comprising an air tight curing house divided by a porous floor plate into an upper curing barn and a lower blast chamber, the curing barn being provided at its upper portion with a circulation port and an outlet port; a circulation duct passageway containing duct fan means and heating means, said circulation duct passageway communicating with the circulation port for drawing air from the curing barn, said air being compressed by said duct fan means and heated by said heating means and then reintroduced into the blast chamber through a blast port; an automatic temperature regulator associated with the burner of the heating means for automatically igniting or extinguishing said burner according to variations appearing on a wet-bulb temperature sensor so as to regulate the temperature and humidity of the air to be sent to the blast chamber; an inlet control system comprising a cylindrical damper provided with openings and located in said circulation duct system, said inlet control sy

Abstract: Storage of grains and other vegetable products in a large-capacity silo having air-tight walls, bottom and roof and air conditioning means, which is arranged to supply air of controlled moisture content and temperature. The silo has double walls defining a space and said air supplying means is connectible either to the storage space of the silo through aeration openings in the silo bottom or to said space between the silo walls.