Abstract: The invention relates to a device for intensifying or reversing a geo-gravomagnetic field having a certain frequency in order to add moisture to or remove moisture from moist capillary-capable masonry or such floors, to transport dissolved salts in the capillary water or to colloidally plug the capillaries after the drying out, and to reduce or suppress and to intensify a gravomagnetic disturbance field of a certain frequency by means of at least one electrical conductor, which is arranged in a housing (6) and is wound into a spiral or conically spiral coil (100, 101, 102, 103, 101a, 102a, 103a), wherein the winding diameter of the coil becomes smaller from the outer end to the center of the coil in the manner of a spiral, wherein the largest coil radius (R1) between the outer end of the coil and the coil axis is an integer multiple of half of a grid line width having a permissible deviation of one eighth of a grid line width of the grid network of the gravomagnetic field.

Abstract: A laundry treating applicator for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a baffle on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in the baffle and a cathode element spaced from the anode element, wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the anode element and cathode element to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within laundry disposed within the e-field.

Abstract: It is to provide a mechanism where a sterilization process using a concentrated sterilizing agent and a sterilization process using a sterilizing agent that has not been concentrated can be switched without changing the sterilization process. In the case where the concentrated mode is received by receiving means the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber is controlled according to a first timing, and in the case where the non-concentrated mode is received by the receiving means, the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber is controlled according to a second timing, wherein the first timing is different from the second timing.

Abstract: Macroscopic volumes of fluid can be moved across a surface, including windshields, without mechanical assistance. Insulated electrodes, which for windshields and windows are preferably transparent, are embedded in the surface of the windshield. Varying voltages are supplied to the electrodes to generate intense surface fringe electric fields moving in a given direction across the surface. The intense surface fringe electric fields exert strong electrical forces on the polar molecules of the fluid. These forces move the fluid in specific directions dependent on the geometry of the electrode array and the manner in which voltage is applied to each electrode within an array of electrodes.

Abstract: The invention provides a honeycomb formed structure drying method including causing undried honeycomb formed structures 10 placed on stands 12 to pass through a drying apparatus 1, thereby drying the undried honeycomb formed structures through high-frequency heating, to thereby form dried honeycomb formed structures 11; removing the dried honeycomb formed structures 11 from the stands 12; cooling the stands 12 which have been heated dried in the drying apparatus 1 are cooled to a temperature lower than the gelation temperature of the undried honeycomb formed structures 10; placing newly formed undried honeycomb formed structures 10 on the cooled stands 12; drying the undried honeycomb formed structures by passing through the drying apparatus 1; and repeating these operations. The honeycomb formed structure drying method prevents deformation such as warpage of partition walls of honeycomb formed structures during drying thereof.

Abstract: An RF heating system for generating precision stray RF fields that can be used to heat materials. The RF heating system includes an RF power supply for generating RF signals and an electrode apparatus that is coupled to the RF power supply. An electrode apparatus according to the present invention has many advantages over existing electrode apparatuses. For example, the electrode apparatus is easier to manufacture, easier to duplicate, easier to control the manufacturing tolerances on the electrode system, and easier to correctly place and design the resulting RF stray field.

Abstract: A liquid crystal polarization rotator device is able to rotate polarization fast enough to compensate polarization mode dispersion. The amount or degree of rotation is rapidly reconfigurable. The device includes a cavity filled with a nematic liquid crystal material. The cavity has electrodes on a first face, e.g., a first substrate, and electrodes on a second face, e.g., a second substrate, opposite the first face. The electrodes are shaped and positioned to produce an electric field across the cavity capable of rotating the alignment direction of the molecules of the liquid crystal material in the cavity. The electrodes are patterned on the ends of optical fibers. Aligning and positioning of the electrodes on the ends of the optical fibers with a predetermined spacing forms the cavity that is filled with the nematic liquid crystal material. The filled cavity is a so-called liquid crystal microcell wave plate.

Abstract: An RF heating system for generating precision stray RF fields that can be used to heat materials. The RF heating system includes an RF power supply for generating RF signals and an electrode apparatus that is coupled to the RF power supply. An electrode apparatus according to the present invention has many advantages over existing electrode apparatuses. For example, the electrode apparatus is easier to manufacture, easier to duplicate, easier to control the manufacturing tolerances on the electrode system, and easier to correctly place and design the resulting RF stray field.

Abstract: A system for dying material, in which system the material to be dried is located in a drying space isolated from its surroundings, in which space drying is done by way of negative pressure and a high-frequency electromagnetic field generated by electrodes. The drying space used is a drying batch-specific film package that is substantially separate from the rest of the equipment and that can be brought to an electromagnetic field generated by external electrodes. The film package serving as the drying space comprises nozzles, and for the period of drying, the package can be connected by tubes from the nozzles to equipment for removing moisture released from the material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for curing a curable material within a dimensionally restricted space, wherein the curable material is configured to be cured by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a grip, an elongate portion extending from the grip, and a curing element coupled with the elongate portion at a location spaced from the grip. The curing element is configured to produce electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength suitable for curing the composite material.

Abstract: For the treatment of surfaces of substrates of organic or inorganic materials, reactive fragments—especially radicals or ions—are produced by ultraviolet radiation; the ultraviolet radiation is performed by at least one ultraviolet radiator disposed at a given distance, with a gas-filled, elongated discharge chamber whose walls are formed by a dielectric, which is provided on the side facing away from the discharge chamber with at least one electrode; during the irradiation a translational and/or rotatory relative movement is performed between the substrate and the ultraviolet radiator at a comparatively slight distance between radiator and substrate surface, in order to achieve, in a simple manner, an intense and uniform illumination of the surface being irradiated.

Abstract: A method and system for in-situ cleaning of a reticle. Ionized gas is directed onto the reticle by a delivery device. The ionized gas neutralizes electro-static attraction between the reticle and particulate contaminants on the reticle and thereby dislodges them from the reticle. The ionized gas and particulate contaminants are then removed from the reticle by a vacuuming pump and transported from the system by a contaminant collector. As a result of the in-situ cleaning method and system, the overall risk of chip defects due to reticle particulate contaminants is reduced, and chip and wafer yield is improved.

Abstract: A clothes dryer including a housing having a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical tumbler open at one end only. The wall of the cylinder is reticulated, and is formed of galvanized steel. The end of the bucket opposite to the open end is provided with a stainless steel sheet backing having a substantially mirror-like finish as viewed from the forward or open end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught for preheating of glass batch materials by direct contact with glass furnace exhaust gases. Furnace gases 15 flow through a batch hopper 1 in horizontal tunnels formed by open bottom tubes 6, with a free surface of batch forming the bottom portion of the tunnel. The tubes are electrically grounded and a high voltage discharge electrode 18 is located axially in each tunnel. The corona discharge from the electrode acts to retain batch and prevent it's entrainment into the flowing gases. Particulate matter from the gases is simultaneously precipitated onto the batch surface. Acidic gas components such as SO2, HCl, and HF are chemically reacted with batch constituents, thereby removing them from the gas stream. Heat is transferred from the gases to the batch by direct contact. Cooled gases 16 exit the hopper, cleaned of pollutants to levels in compliance with strict environmental regulations.

Abstract: A dielectric heating or drying system incorporating an electrode structure, which is provided with wings that projects toward the opposite electrode along each side of a planar central portion of the electrode and function to improve electric field uniformity through the load being dried.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particles from a surface of an article, such as a semiconductor wafer in a clean room. The particles are supplied with an electric charge. Subsequently, an ultrasonic wave or a gas stream is applied onto the surface of the article while an electric field is applied for driving away the electrically charged particles from the surface, thereby removing particles having a dimension smaller than 1 micrometer from the surface. The presence of a collecting member allows the removal of resulting, floating particles.

Abstract: A dielectric drying kiln material handling system includes a bottom electrode incorporating a conveyor system for moving material along said bottom electrode for moving material on and off of the electrode. Conveyors are built into the electrode in a manner so that the electrode surface of the bottom electrode, i.e. the surface contacting material to be dried is configured with gaps having dimensions so that the gaps do not significantly affect the uniformity of the power distribution over the electrode surface. Various types of conveyors may be used such as slat conveyors, roller conveyors, belt conveyors and the like provided the gaps, i.e. between the slats receiving the rollers or for accommodating the return rollers belt type conveyor are configured with dimensions so that the gaps do not significantly affect the uniformity of electromagnetic field and power distribution over the effective surface of the bottom electrode.

Abstract: A dielectric drying kiln having a moveable electrode permanently electrically connected with a source of power via an electrical connector formed by a plurality of discrete interconnected electrically and mechanically interconnected conducting element that permit relative movement between the elements. One end of the electrical connector is connected to the moveable electrode and moveable therewith while said electrical connector maintains electrical connection with the source. The electrical connector has a minimum curvature on its outside surface having a radius of at least r to prevent arcing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying, by heating, a continuous supply of dielectric material. A terminated, quarter-wavelength transmission line is used as a "traveling wave" applicator for transferring electromagnetic energy from a radio-frequency generator to the dielectric material as the material passes through the transmission line, preferably by gravity feed. The transmission line applicator is directly connected to the output of the radio-frequency generator, without any intervening feeding transmission line, so that the transmission line applicator becomes the resonant output tank circuit of the generator and thus determines the oscillation frequency of the generator. Forced air may be blown through the dielectric material as it flows through the transmission line so as to sweep moisture, driven to the surface of the dielectric material by heating, from the flowing dielectric material.

Abstract: A clothes dryer is adapted to reduce residual static in clothing items. The sidewall of the drum carries conductive tumbling vanes and a conductive projection. The vanes engage clothing items at the periphery of the dram interior. The projection penetrates further into the drum to contact clothing items that tend to locate there when the dryer is very full. The projection curves in the direction of drum rotation to avoid trapping clothing against the drum side wall. The vanes and projection are coupled to the ground terminal of an electrical main to dissipate static charges gathered from the clothing. To enhance electrical coupling to the rotary drum, a copper ring is mounted around the drum and a copper contact plate is supported from the dryer housing and spring-biased to engage the copper ting. Residual static is further reduced with a grounded conductive plate located near the bottom of the dryer opening that accesses the drum.