Gas Or Vapor Flow Directing Or Control Patents (Class 34/487)
  • Patent number: 11662143
    Abstract: A cosmetic sponge drying and storage container has a plurality of components, including at least a first component and a second component, the first component being moveable with respect to the second component to position the container in at least an open condition and a closed condition. At least one of the first component or said second component is perforated with perforations. A cosmetic sponge may be placed within the container when in the open condition and the perforations provide at least 10% ventilation when the container is in the closed condition. Preferably, both the first and second components are perforated to provide for cross-ventilation. In addition, a base may be provided to support the first and second components, and most preferably the base may be perforated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NYC Designed Inspirations LLC
    Inventor: Samantha Palmer
  • Patent number: 11094564
    Abstract: A processing liquid supplying apparatus supplies a processing liquid to a processing unit which processes a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Shota Iwahata, Ayumi Higuchi, Eri Fujita, Yoshiyuki Fujitani, Masako Mano, Yusuke Takematsu, Yosuke Okuya
  • Patent number: 9982664
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for metering a dose volume of fluid that may be used to treat microelectronic substrates. The system enables precision dispensing of relatively small amounts of a liquid chemical into a chemical bath or processing chamber for microelectronic substrates. The dispensing device may include a fluid conduit with a plurality of actuation devices that may limit fluid communication between the actuation devices and store a portion of the fluid in expandable membrane. The actuation devices may push or pull the fluid within the fluid conduit when the expandable membrane expands or contracts. The configuration and operation of the actuation devices may enable the collection, isolation, and dispensing of the dose volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TEL FSI, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Inhofer, Lance Van Elsen
  • Patent number: 9752785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor unit (2) for a suction hood (1), wherein the sensor unit (2) controls the suction hood (1), wherein the sensor unit (2) comprises a, preferably first, sensor operated mode, wherein the operation of the suction hood (1) is dependent on the measured values of at least one sensor (21, 22) and to a suction hood with a sensor unit according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N. V.
    Inventor: Francesco Corleoni
  • Publication number: 20150128664
    Abstract: A garment steamer (1) comprising a base body (10) accommodating a liquid water tank (26); a liquid water pump (32), having a water inlet (32a) and a water outlet (32b), wherein the water inlet (32a) is fluidly connected to the liquid water tank (26). The garment steamer also comprises a steam head (50) that is moveable with respect to the base body (10) and that accommodates a steam chamber (70), having a liquid water inlet and a steam outlet, wherein said steam outlet includes at least one steam nozzle (76); a heating element (72) that is provided in or adjacent said steam chamber (70), and configured to evaporate liquid water passing through said steam chamber. A liquid water tube (38b, 38c) fluidly interconnects the water outlet (32b) of the water pump (32) and the liquid water inlet of the steam chamber (70) in the steam head (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Milind Vishwas Date, Yong Jiang, Nicholas Lee, Maarten Theodoor Henric Pelgrim
  • Publication number: 20150107131
    Abstract: A drying system and method with a container such as a bucket, a small electrical fan mounted to the container such that when it is powered it draws air into the container, and a plurality of tubes coupled to the container such that they each fluidly communicate with the interior of the container. The tubes are constructed and arranged to be placed into items of clothing such as footwear and gloves, so that when the fan is energized air will be directed through one or more of the tubes into such item of clothing, to dry the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. Barnes
  • Publication number: 20150101209
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus including a drum, an air suction duct forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an auxiliary fan introducing air into the air suction duct, an air exhaustion duct forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a main fan exhausting air to the air exhaustion duct from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction duct, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion duct, and a compressor and an expander forming a heat pump together with the condenser and the evaporator. The method includes measuring a discharge side pressure of the compressor, and comparing the measured discharge side pressure with a maximum allowable pressure, and determining that the auxiliary fan does not operate when the discharge side pressure is more than the maximum allowable pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Hyuksoo LEE, Sungmin Ye, Seonghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8978270
    Abstract: A method for drying or removing water from a wall cavity or structure without the need to tear to make holes, tear apart the structure, or use suction cups. The method uses a reversible portable moisture removal system for flowing pressurized heated air at a targeted location and for creating a vacuum to withdraw moist air from the wall cavity or structure a the moisture removal housing. The method dries wet walls in less time than current systems while also being reversible to remove moist air from wall cavities and structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Moisture Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Clyde Carlton, David Laurence Green
  • Publication number: 20150059202
    Abstract: A control method of a laundry treatment apparatus, the control method including a drying operation with a circulation process for resupplying air discharged from a tub back into the tub, an exhaust process for discharging some of the air supplied into the tub, a suction process for supplying air outside of the tub into air circulated via the circulation process, and a heating process for heating the air to be supplied into the tub. Furthermore, the control method may include a motion execution operation for rotating a drum based on first motion during implementation of the drying operation, the drum being rotatably mounted in the tub and storing laundry therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Taewan KIM, Gilnam LEE, Sanghee YOO, Kwanghyun KIM
  • Patent number: 8959793
    Abstract: An oven configured for drying a container. The oven includes a housing defining an interior space including a supply chamber and a return chamber. A conveyor is configured for movement within a portion of the interior space of the housing defined by a plurality of semi-circular shaped duct sections connected at each end of the semi-circular shaped duct sections to a straight duct section. Each duct section includes two side walls coupled to a back wall defining a continuous U-shaped duct path through which the conveyor moves. The oven is further configured to provide a temperature difference between any two points within the interior space of the oven housing controlled to plus or minus two degrees Fahrenheit, by a uniform air flow throughout the oven. The uniform air flow is facilitated by the sizing and spacing of various circular orifices and slotted orifices in the continuous duct path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Thermal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Zea, Yougui Zhao, Dan Bein
  • Publication number: 20150013179
    Abstract: A dryer dries particles, wherein the dryer comprises two circular decks mounted substantially horizontally and rotating in opposite directions relative to one another about a same vertical axis, Z, the surface of said decks being perforated and permeable to air, steam and water, a means for blowing hot gas in a flow substantially parallel to the axis Z, passing through the second deck before passing through the first deck, means for distributing said particles to be dried on the first and second decks and means for recovering the particles after a rotation of each deck, and a means for transferring the particles collected from the first deck by the recovery means to a second distribution means suitable for distributing said particles along a radius of the second deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Léon CROSSET
  • Patent number: 8893402
    Abstract: A method for controlling the atmosphere in a protective gas chamber for the continuous treatment of metal strips. A metal strip is guided into and out of the protective gas chamber via locks. At least one lock has at least two sealing elements for the metal strip which runs through it, with the result that a sealed chamber is formed between the two sealing elements. The gas pressure (P2, PD) is measured in the protective gas chamber and in the sealed chamber of the lock and the pressure (PD) in the sealed chamber is regulated, to be precise in such a way that, during operation, the differential pressure between the protective gas chamber and the sealed chamber is kept as far as possible to an optimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hamman, Jerome Vallee
  • Publication number: 20140331516
    Abstract: A method for drying includes positioning an exchanger snout of a portable heat exchanger assembly under an edge of a carpet or flexible barrier, removably coupling a snout of a portable centrifugal air mover with an inlet port of the portable heat exchanger assembly, and activating the centrifugal air mover so that air blown from the snout of the air mover passes through the heat exchanger assembly and exits out through the exchanger snout under the edge of the carpet or flexible barrier, the air being heated as it passes through the heat exchanger assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jeremiah S. Reets, Gordon K. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20140331515
    Abstract: A method for reducing dust emissions in a metal or slag casting apparatus, as well as a metal or slag casting apparatus allowing reducing dust emissions, comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of casting moulds with upper open tops and which endless conveyor is arranged to move said casting moulds in a first section from a casting station to to the casting station, the method comprising (a) providing a casing forming a bottomless box over at least part of the first section of the endless conveyor, (b) injecting within said casing a gas on the surface of the mould with an angle sufficient to blow off loose, solid particles, such as graphite flakes, formed at the surface of the metal, during early stages of the cooling down and to start the solidification of a superficial layer of metal or slag, (c) extracting the gas and the solid particles by suction from within said casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Hans Juergen Lessmann, Ingo Both, Michel Houbart, Klaus Peter Kinzel, Gilles Nouaille-Degorce
  • Publication number: 20140317952
    Abstract: A system and method for drying cavities containing spent nuclear fuel is devised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Holtec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Krishna P. SINGH
  • Publication number: 20140310979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for drying wet particulate matter, wherein at least one feed stream (1) of wet particulate matter is contacted with superheated steam (6) within at least one drying chamber (40) with a mixing system, and the dried particulate matter is discharged as at least one product stream (10) to obtain the dried particulate matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Olav Bergset, Alain Cremaschi, Robert Gutsche, Ludovic Hautcoeur
  • Publication number: 20140310978
    Abstract: A steam distributor includes a front screen equipped with steam perforations wherein the output area of at least some of the perforations can be adjusted to enable active control of the steam jet velocity. The steam velocity can be controlled independently of steam flow. The front screen is includes (i) a first plate that has a first set of apertures and (ii) a second plate that has a second set of apertures, wherein the second plate covers the first plate, and wherein the means fir varying the size of at least one of the perforations moves the first plate, the second plate, or both the first and the second plates in order to change the position of the first set of apertures relative to the second set of apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Honewell ASCa Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Crawford
  • Publication number: 20140310977
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drying device for a wall structure, the device comprising an inflatable drying mat (1) of lightweight plastic sheeting and generally comprising a floor engaging portion (2), a wall engaging portion (3), an outwardly facing portion (4) that extends between an outer edge portion (5) of the floor engaging portion (2) and an upper edge portion (6) of the wall engaging portion (3) to define a triangular cross-section when in use and connected to an air mover. The drying mat 1 also comprising opposite end portions (7, 8) that closes the mat (1) to form an inflatable configuration when in use. The floor engaging portion (2) and the wall engaging portion (3) are both provided with a multiplicity of apertures whereby, when the mat (1) is deployed against a wall structure and an air mover is attached to the mat (1) air passes through the multiplicity of apertures to dry the wall structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Direct Air Dryers Limited
    Inventors: Jack Bernard Elliott, David Kenneth Elliott
  • Publication number: 20140259731
    Abstract: An oven configured for drying a container. The oven includes a housing defining an interior space including a supply chamber and a return chamber. A conveyor is configured for movement within a portion of the interior space of the housing defined by a plurality of semi-circular shaped duct sections connected at each end of the semi-circular shaped duct sections to a straight duct section. Each duct section includes two side walls coupled to a back wall defining a continuous U-shaped duct path through which the conveyor moves. The oven is further configured to provide a temperature difference between any two points within the interior space of the oven housing controlled to plus or minus two degrees Fahrenheit, by a uniform air flow throughout the oven. The uniform air flow is facilitated by the sizing and spacing of various circular orifices and slotted orifices in the continuous duct path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: International Thermal Systems, LLC
    Inventors: JOHN ZEA, YOUGUI ZHAO, DAN BEIN
  • Publication number: 20140259732
    Abstract: In a method for reprocessing wet waste materials containing organic components, in particular sludges in a cement clinker production plant, in which raw meal is preheated in a preheater (3) in countercurrent flow to the hot exhaust gases of a clinker furnace (2), and calcined in a calciner (4) fired with alternative fuels, the wet waste materials are dried in a drying unit (18) using a hot gas produced from the preheater waste heat and the dried waste materials and the drier exhaust gases are discharged from the drying unit (18), wherein the drier exhaust gases are introduced into the calciner (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Urs Gasser
  • Publication number: 20140250717
    Abstract: A controller is coupled to a plurality of moisture sensors positioned within the grain bin at various spaced-apart locations. The controller determines a grain moisture level adjacent each moisture sensor and compares the grain moisture level to a predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a grain spreader that is configured to selectively distribute incoming grain into the grain bin and operates the spreader to distribute incoming grain to create a shortened airflow path through the grain that encompasses the moisture sensors having determined grain moisture levels above the predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a fan that is coupled to the grain bin and configured to provide airflow through the grain in the grain bin. The controller operates the fan to provide greater airflow through the grain along the shortened airflow path than is provided along airflow paths outside the shortened airflow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: CTB, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent J. BLOEMENDAAL
  • Publication number: 20140245630
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying clothes or other solids that includes a rotating drum with microwave generator inside and rotating piping connections for energy recovery via drum jacket while sealing microwaves and pressure (vacuum), and selectable controls that provide conventional heating at a preset drum outlet moisture content, or not, depending upon the potential for metal in the load, to avoid arcing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventor: Dennis Eugene McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140230269
    Abstract: A lavatory system includes a hand dryer with at least a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor to detect an object for drying. A controller is communicatively linked to the first and second proximity sensors. The controller activates a drying operation after a first delay period if the first proximity sensor first detects the object for drying and activates a drying operation after a second delay period if the second proximity sensor first detects the object for drying. A filter flow sensor may also be provided to ensure proper filtering of the dryer's air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Btadley IP, LLC
    Inventors: Graeme S. Bayley, Mark A. Figurski
  • Publication number: 20140208607
    Abstract: Apparatus for directing air to media. The apparatus including an impinging plate having an array of orifices. The orifices are arranged in a plurality of rows oblique to the direction of motion of the media, and are also arranged to provide air to the media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Valero Navazo, Fco Javier Pérez Gellida, Emillio Angulo Navarro, Antonio Monclus Velasco
  • Patent number: 8778092
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing method including cleaning a substrate by immersing the substrate in a cleaning solution in a longitudinal direction while the cleaning solution is supplied to a cleaning tank; transferring the substrate picked up from the cleaning tank to a drying chamber while holding the substrate in a longitudinal direction; and drying the substrate in the drying chamber communicating with an upper area of the cleaning tank by alternately supplying a first drying gas containing vapor of a solvent for removing a liquid and a second drying gas without containing the vapor of the solvent for removing the liquid to an area where the substrate is exposed between the upper area of the cleaning tank and the drying chamber after an upper end of the cleaned substrate is picked up from a liquid surface of the cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hironobu Hyakutake, Takashi Uno
  • Patent number: 8763273
    Abstract: A hopper for dehumidification of granular plastic material by a dehumidifying fluid includes a main body, having a top wall with an opening for the granular plastic material; at least one discharge opening for the dehumidifying fluid provided on the main body or the top wall, a tapered lower section with a discharge opening for the dehumidified granular plastic material, a fluid-sealed insert member delimiting an annular air space with the main body and the tapered lower section, and at least one dehumidifying fluid feed duct to the annular air space, the lower tapered section comprising at least one pair of walls to delimit at least one chamber that is outside the annular air space and in fluid communication therewith, the at least one chamber being feedable with dehumidifying fluid from the at least one feed duct oriented tangentially or parallel to an enclosing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Moretto S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Moretto
  • Patent number: 8756827
    Abstract: The current invention discloses a novel spray booth containing a plurality of spacers disposed on the walls or ceiling, and a plurality of fans attached to the spacers. A spacer allows a fan to be disposed at an angle and at a certain distance away from the wall or ceiling, allowing sufficient airflow for spraying or curing an object within the housing. Having fans emit airflow toward both the top and the sides of an object allows optimal coating and heating of the object. A ceiling fan may also be disposed within a plenum in the ceiling of the spray booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The Paint Booth Guys, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Calabro, James P. Calabro
  • Patent number: 8756826
    Abstract: A coalescing dryer passes air downwardly through items to be dried in a container. The air can be diverted to change direction following passage of the air through the items to be dried. The moving air causes liquid on the surface of items to be dried to coalesce and travel downwardly and from the items being dried. A vacuum dryer applies a vacuum to the container of items to be dried when placed in a vacuum chamber after pre-drying by the coalescing dryer so as to evaporate liquid in the items to be dried that has not been removed by the coalescing dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MEI, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Gibbel
  • Patent number: 8701309
    Abstract: A dryer and a control method thereof, in which load of an object to be dried is detected using a sensor which has less risk of contamination and an anticipated drying time based on the detected load is accurately determined and displayed. The dryer includes a rotatable drum to accommodate the object, a front support installed at an entrance of the drum to support the drum, a rear support installed at an opposite side of the entrance of the drum to support the drum, an exhaust hole formed in the front support, through which interior air of the drum is discharged, and a humidity sensor installed to the front support at a position adjacent to the exhaust hole, the humidity sensor being located upstream of the exhaust hole in a rotating direction of the drum to detect humidity of the air to be introduced into the exhaust hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Beom Park, Phil Soo Chang, Hyung Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20140026436
    Abstract: A cross flow aeration system for aerating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin. The aeration system comprises a plurality of elongated hollow aerators. Each aerator is disposed inside the storage bin in proximity to an inside wall thereof having a substantially vertical orientation and has at least an opening for transmitting air from inside the aerator to the particulate materials. At least a blowing mechanism is in fluid communication with the plurality of aerators for providing the air thereto. At least an aerator air flow control mechanism may be disposed in each of the plurality of aerators for controlling flow of the air between a bottom section and a top section thereof. An elongated perforated venting tube is disposed approximately centrally within the storage bin. The venting tube extends generally upwardly to the bin roof for transmitting the air from the particulate materials to the bin roof and venting the same therefrom to a location external the storage bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Gatco Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20140013615
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying produce and small parts or pieces utilizing a fluid flow, typically air, through passages in a treatment member, and that is well suited for use in association with the drying of small fruit (i.e. blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, etc.). The dryer apparatus includes a frame, a treatment member, and a fluid supply member. The treatment member holds the items while the fluid supply member directs fluid through the treatment member and into contact with the small parts or pieces. The treatment member may be a flexible belt which is passed along a plurality of rollers. Advantageously, the fluid supply member can be controlled so that the small parts or pieces rotate or lift off the treatment member thereby exposing multiple surfaces thereof to the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Randy Miedema, Kurt Palmbos
  • Publication number: 20130318816
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle bottom device and to a method for operating the latter. The nozzle bottom arrangement has a nozzle group with first nozzles and a further nozzle group with second nozzles. The two nozzle groups can be supplied independently of each other with a fluidizing medium. The respective volumetric flow can be switched on and off or can be adjusted variably. The first nozzles and the second nozzles are uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the nozzle bottom arrangement. As a result, a homogeneous fluidized bed is produced in the fluidized bed dryer irrespective of whether only one of the nozzle groups or all of the nozzles is or are operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology LTd
    Inventors: Bernd THALER, Hans Peter SCHOMMER
  • Publication number: 20130318815
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for treating a substrate using a supercritical fluid. The substrate treating apparatus includes a housing, a support member disposed within the housing to support the substrate, a supercritical fluid supply unit in which the supercritical fluid is stored, a supply tube connecting the supercritical fluid supply unit to the housing to adjust an amount of supercritical fluid supplied from the supercritical fluid supply unit into the housing, and a vent tube branched from the supply tube to discharge the supercritical fluid remaining in the supply tube. A switching valve opening or closing the vent tube is disposed in the vent tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: KiBong KIM, Boong KIM, Gil Hun SONG, Oh Jin KWON
  • Publication number: 20130318814
    Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is intended for drying wet clothing by using heat emitted through the louvers of an air conditioner in a vehicle or a wall-mounted room air conditioner. The apparatus comprises a sealable container that has an inlet port and an outlet port. The apparatus is provided with a flexible inlet hose, one end of which has a cup-shaped adapter for attachment to the air conditioning vent on the dashboard of the vehicle. The adapter is made from a soft and transparent plastic and contains inside its body two hooks that can be engaged with the racks of the louvers of the air conditioner vent. Transparency of the adapter body facilitates connection to the air-conditioner vent. Wet air exhausts to the outside of the vehicle through the outlet hose that connects to the outlet port of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Sergey Anikin
  • Patent number: 8595954
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus includes a drum, an air suction unit forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an air exhaustion unit forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction unit, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion unit, a compressor compressing refrigerant introduced from the evaporator, and a variable expander expanding a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable open degree. An operation method includes measuring a temperature of a refrigerant into the evaporator, and a temperature of a refrigerant into the compressor, and decreasing an open degree of the variable expander when a temperature difference between the two measured temperatures is less than a predetermined first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyuksoo Lee, Sungmin Ye, Byeongjo Ryoo
  • Publication number: 20130305559
    Abstract: A method for controlling the atmosphere in a protective gas chamber for the continuous treatment of metal strips. A metal strip is guided into and out of the protective gas chamber via locks. At least one lock has at least two sealing elements for the metal strip which runs through it, with the result that a sealed chamber is formed between the two sealing elements. The gas pressure (P2, PD) is measured in the protective gas chamber and in the sealed chamber of the lock and the pressure (PD) in the sealed chamber is regulated, to be precise in such a way that, during operation, the differential pressure between the protective gas chamber and the sealed chamber is kept as far as possible to an optimum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ANDRITZ TECHNOLOGY AND ASSET MANAGEMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Hamman, Jerome Vallee
  • Publication number: 20130298421
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically drying wet floors includes a controller, a moisture detector that is operable to detect the presence of moisture at a first location and transmit a moisture detection signal to the controller in response to detecting the presence of moisture at the first location, and a blower. The blower is operative to turn on and off for drying the wet floors by directing moving air toward the first location in response to an operating signal from the controller. The controller outputs the operating signal to the blower based on the moisture detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Norgren Automation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. McCallum, Timothy John Key, James R. Kalb, Richard Daniel Koski, John D. Begin
  • Patent number: 8567099
    Abstract: A system and process for removing an inorganic salt from a catalyst roaster belt is disclosed. The system includes an apparatus with a drying vessel having a catalyst roaster belt inlet, a catalyst roaster belt outlet, a heating medium inlet, and a heating medium outlet, wherein the catalyst roaster belt inlet and the catalyst roaster belt outlet are spaced apart along a first direction, the heating medium inlet and the heating medium outlet are spaced apart along a second direction, the heating medium inlet is spaced apart from the catalyst roaster belt inlet in the second direction, and the catalyst roaster belt inlet is between the heating medium inlet and the heating medium outlet along the second direction. The system includes an acid bath and a moveable catalyst roaster belt extending from the acid bath through the catalyst roaster belt inlet and through the catalyst roaster belt outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Technology Investments LLC
    Inventors: Hua Bai, Ralph S. Kruska
  • Patent number: 8518278
    Abstract: A method of drying a substrate comprises: supplying a first air flow 4 downwardly in an inclined direction onto the substrate; supplying a second air flow 5 upwardly in an inclined direction onto the substrate, while moving relatively the substrate and the upper and lower blowing portions so that the substrate, from the end area as a front of the substrate, passes between the upper blowing portion and the lower blowing portion; and controlling the first and second air flows such that a velocity component of the second air flow in an upward direction perpendicular to the virtual plane is smaller than a velocity component of the first air flow in a downward direction perpendicular to the virtual plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushige Utsumi
  • Publication number: 20130139403
    Abstract: Provided are a fabric dryer and a method of controlling the fabric dryer. The fabric dryer includes a drum, a driving unit, a steam supply unit, a radical supply unit, a contamination removal function selector, and a controller. The drum is rotatably disposed and receives laundry. The driver rotates the drum. The steam supply unit supplies steam into the drum. The radical supply unit supplies radical into the drum. The contamination removal function selector selects a water-soluble contaminant or a fat-soluble contaminant. The controller controls the steam supply unit to supply steam in response to selection of the water-soluble-contaminant by the contamination removal function selector, and controls the radical supply unit to supply radical in response to selection of fat-soluble contaminant by the contamination removal function selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Deughee Lee
  • Publication number: 20130125413
    Abstract: A method for controlling supply of heat energy from a furnace to multiple dryers includes: determining a preset temperature, a preset humidity and a drying time for each of the dryers; calculating heat energy demand of each of the dryers according to the preset temperature, the preset humidity and the drying time of a respective one of the dryers, and calculating a fuel amount to be supplied to the furnace, and a volume of hot air to be supplied to each of the dryers; detecting a drying temperature in each of the dryers; and for each of the dryers, comparing the drying temperature and the preset temperature of the dryer, increasing the volume of hot air when the drying temperature is lower than the preset temperature, and decreasing the volume of hot air when the drying temperature is higher than the preset temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SUNCUE COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Jung-Lang Lin
  • Patent number: 8393091
    Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate processing apparatus including a processing chamber housing a substrate, pipes for supplying gas into the processing chamber, and heaters provided in the middle of the pipes, and heating the gas. In the substrate processing apparatus, the heaters heat the gas to a temperature lower than a temperature at which exhaust gas is generated from the pipes to dry the substrate in the heated gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kawamoto
  • Publication number: 20130047458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a biomass product drying system having a fluidized bed for mixing, drying and transporting the biomass product through one or more stages in order to sufficiently dry the biomass product for commercial markets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Northern Arizona University
    Inventors: Bridget Bero, Alarick Reiboldt
  • Publication number: 20130042498
    Abstract: A road dryer delivers heated air to a surface through an adjustable-width nozzle assembly having nozzle boxes designed to provide turbulent flow of drying air. The road dryer includes a combustion system having a high-pressure atomized fuel burner supplied with diesel fuel by a variable frequency drive fuel pump and a closed-loop air temperature control to limit the temperature of the drying air. The combustion system includes a combustion chamber having a cylindrical inner shell housing the burner and a cylindrical outer shell defining an annular space around the inner shell for the flow of process air. The inner shell has an axially elongated exhaust port aligned with an axially elongated outlet opening of the outer shell to achieve mixing of high temperature exhaust gas with process air. The nozzle assembly is vertically adjustable relative to a chassis of the road dryer between a stowed position and an operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: ROAD DRYER, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin S. Muse, Brian M. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20130042499
    Abstract: A dishwashing machine is provided having a washing compartment, a drying unit that includes an absorption column with a reversibly dehydratable drying agent, and having an air circulation loop through the washing compartment and the drying unit. A temperature sensor is arranged in front of the drying unit and to the rear of the washing compartment with respect to the direction of the flow of air circulating in the air circulation loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventor: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GM
  • Patent number: 8356496
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading items to be washed with an air flow, comprising a substantially closed first channel system for guiding an air flow which loads the items to be washed. A treatment chamber for receiving the items to be washed, a blower for driving the air flow, a heater for heating the air flow before the items to be washed are loaded, and a cooler for cooling the air flow after the items to be washed have been loaded are arranged in the first channel system. Here, the first channel system has outside the treatment chamber and the blower, two branches and which are connected to one another in parallel and can be flowed through in parallel by corresponding parts of the air flow. Here, the heater is arranged in a first branch and the cooler is arranged in a second branch of said branches. The invention likewise relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Moschütz
  • Publication number: 20120279081
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method, wherein the process conditions can be kept constant in a device for processing tobacco. The device comprises a combining device for combining the tobacco to be processed and a process gas and which is connected to a discharge device for discharging a first quantity of the process gas and a supply device for supplying a second quantity of the process gas; the device having at least one control device for controlling the first quantity of the discharged process gas and/or the second quantity of the supplied process gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: JI INTERNATIONAL, S.A.
    Inventors: Noel John Totten, Marc Billette, Elmar Schloeder, Takuji Harai, Oleg Fediushin, Johannes Maerz, Andreas Otto
  • Patent number: 8286368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for rationalizing the allocation of the heat energy generated from catalytic combustion process for enameling machines wherein a circulating fan is installed above the oven body in a position close to its middle portion; above the front area of the oven body is an organic waste-gas inlet and above which is a primary catalytic chamber. A hot-air allocation chamber is located on the side of the said primary catalytic chamber. The said circulating fan connects the said primary catalytic chamber and the hot-air allocation chamber, delivering the circulating hot air resulting from catalytic combustion into the hot-air allocation chamber which is further connected to the front area, middle area and back area of the oven body via the front air flue, middle air flue and back air flue. With rationalized distribution of heat energy, this invention accelerates the baking speed, thereby improving productivity by 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Dongguan Zelong Wire and Cable Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhide Ye, Benneng Chen, Junkai Sheng, Zhifang Chen, Guozhu Tang
  • Publication number: 20120216420
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan J. Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20120144692
    Abstract: A dryer and a control method thereof, in which load of an object to be dried is detected using a sensor which has less risk of contamination and an anticipated drying time based on the detected load is accurately determined and displayed. The dryer includes a rotatable drum to accommodate the object, a front support installed at an entrance of the drum to support the drum, a rear support installed at an opposite side of the entrance of the drum to support the drum, an exhaust hole formed in the front support, through which interior air of the drum is discharged, and a humidity sensor installed to the front support at a position adjacent to the exhaust hole, the humidity sensor being located upstream of the exhaust hole in a rotating direction of the drum to detect humidity of the air to be introduced into the exhaust hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Beom PARK, Phil Soo Chang, Hyung Woo Lee