Distinct Blowers Or Blower Discharge Ports Along Path Patents (Class 432/145)
  • Patent number: 9475721
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass optical element includes: a heating unit that heats a glass material; a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the glass material; a cooling unit that cools the glass material; a molding room in which the heating unit, the pressurizing unit, and the cooling unit are located; an inert-gas supplying unit that forms a plurality of flows of an inert gas within the molding room by blowing the inert gas in a plurality of directions crossing each other; and an inert-gas emitting unit that emits, from within the molding room, the inert gas supplied into the molding room by the inert-gas supplying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyomi Yamada, Takashi Watanabe, Masato Nakahama
  • Patent number: 9423176
    Abstract: An apparatus that employs dual air ducts is described for balancing the return air flow between forward and reverse fan directions in a direct-fired lumber kiln. As freshly heated air enters the kiln, this system forces the air to pass through the stacks of lumber at least once before returning to be reheated. The disclosed apparatus and methods enable more efficient use of energy, reduce drying time and improve the uniformity and precision of the lumber drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kiln Drying Systems & Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Girardi
  • Publication number: 20150125800
    Abstract: A grate carriage for receiving bulk material includes a plurality of grate bars arranged, parallel to each other from a first side to a second side of the grate carriage. The grate bars are movably held in lateral receptacles of the grate carriage and a gap is provided between each adjacent pair of the grate bars. A force application device is arranged on each of the first and second sides of the grate carriage and configured to elastically press the grate bars against each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Andrej Schulakow-Klass, Thomas Holzhauer, Sergej Ekkert
  • 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: 8535054
    Abstract: An oven assembly for baking coatings applied to an object includes a housing with a header receiving pressurized air from a ventilator disposed outside the oven. A heater provides heat to the pressurized air received from the ventilator raising the temperature of the pressurized air to between about two and four times curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coatings applied to the object. The header extends from the heater into the housing. The header has nozzles disposed at spaced locations directing pressurized air at the temperature being between about two and four times the curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coating applied to the object toward predetermined locations on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, James L. Pakkala, Guang Yu
  • Patent number: 8322162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating glass panels for tempering. The horizontal glass panels are heated in a lehr by upper and lower convection blast and by upper and lower radiation heating, information representing a load of the glass panels and used for the control and/or regulation of heating is read, the upper radiation heating is controlled and/or regulated in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto. At least the upper convection blast is controlled and/or regulated in various sections of the lehr in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto, and the relative blast effects of convection blowing elements successive in the conveying direction are regulated for a profiling in the conveying direction. The invention relates also to an apparatus applying the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Glaston Services Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Janhunen, Tarmo Pesonen
  • Patent number: 8210844
    Abstract: An air impingement conveyor oven incorporating a baking case having an interior space bordered by opposing longitudinal walls, opposing lateral walls, a ceiling, and a floor; an air plenum partitioning the baking case's interior space into an air impingement space and an air return space, the air plenum having at least a first intake port opening at the air return space, the air plenum further having a plurality of air impingement ducts extending into and opening at the air impingement space; a passive flow conduit opening the baking case, the passive flow conduit having an output end positioned at the return air space; a combustible fuel injector and igniter connected operatively to the passive flow conduit; and an air impelling fan mounted operatively within the baking case's interior space for recirculating impingement air from the air impingement space into the air return space, for drawing outside combustion air through the passive flow conduit, and for driving the air through the at least first intake p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wolfe Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Wolfe, Frederick Hausler, Brent Staver
  • Patent number: 8084717
    Abstract: The suction ports of a hot air blowing heater are arranged in a zigzag shape crossing the direction of travel of a printed circuit board, and hot air discharge nozzles project from inside or alongside the suction ports. Accordingly, in the reflow furnace according to the present invention, hot air discharged from the hot air discharge nozzles does not collide with hot air sucked into the suction ports, and turbulence does not take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Atsushi Obara
  • Patent number: 7980851
    Abstract: With regard to a heat treatment furnace (a solution furnace 1 and an ageing furnace 3), a furnace chamber 15 comprises a furnace body 12 opening downward and a floor body 14 closing the lower opening of the furnace body 12 and rotatably driven, and one or plural stages of mounting shelves 16 on which work pieces 8 are mounted are provided in the furnace chamber 15. Hot-air circulation equipments 20A and 20B circulating hot air in the furnace chamber 15 along the peripheral direction when viewed in plan are provided in the furnace body 12. The mounting shelves 16 are fixed to a prop 17 standingly provided on the floor body 14 and are rotated integrally with the floor body 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nihon Kohnetsu Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Takano, Shinji Goto
  • Publication number: 20090017408
    Abstract: A radiant convection oven for baking a coating on an article which includes an oven enclosure receiving coating articles, a fan receiving fresh air and directing the fresh air to a burner or burners, a plurality of heat radiators each having an internal chamber receiving heated fresh air from the burner. The radiators are located within the oven opposite a coating article, radiating heat energy to the coated article, and a plurality of nozzles connected to the internal chamber of the radiators directing fresh heated onto the article, transferring convection heat energy to the coated article. In the disclosed embodiment, the radiators include radiating side and bottom walls having a relatively shallow depth, increasing the flow rate through the radiators, reducing the size and cost of the radiators and the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Pakkala, Joseph M. Klobucar, Guang Yu
  • Publication number: 20070292815
    Abstract: An oven assembly for baking coatings applied to an object includes a housing with a header receiving pressurized air from a ventilator disposed outside the oven. A heater provides heat to the pressurized air received from the ventilator raising the temperature of the pressurized air to between about two and four times curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coatings applied to the object. The header extends from the heater into the housing. The header has nozzles disposed at spaced locations directing pressurized air at the temperature being between about two and four times the curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coating applied to the object toward predetermined locations on the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, James L. Pakkala, Guang Yu
  • Patent number: 6901773
    Abstract: A semi-convective forced air system for heating glass sheets during a heating cycle comprises a heating chamber having a length and a width, at least one heating element located within the heating chamber, a conveyor having a length and a width, the conveyor extending lengthwise through the heating chamber, a compressed air source, a plurality of air manifolds positioned within the heating chamber and in fluid connection with the compressed air source, each of the air manifolds having a length, and each of the air manifolds being oriented parallel to the length of the conveyor, and a plurality of nozzles mounted on each air manifold and in fluid connection with the air manifold for mixing together and directing toward the conveyor a combination of compressed air and over air to convectively heat a sheet of glass on the conveyor, the plurality of nozzles on each air manifold being spaced along the length of the air manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Tamglass Ltd. OY
    Inventors: Ernie Thomas, Lawrence Betz
  • Patent number: 6783358
    Abstract: A furnace (12) and a method for heating coated glass sheets by radiant heating also provides convective heating by hot air jets that entrain hot air within the furnace so the combined flow of hot air heats an upwardly facing coated glass surface in addition to the radiant heating, and a control (89) increases this convective heating during the conveyance to balance the heating and the resultant temperature of the upwardly facing coated surface and a downwardly facing uncoated surface of each conveyed glass sheet. A hot air distributing system (86) includes an array (90) of hot air distributors (92) constructed to effectively supply the convective heating. The hot air distributors (92) have heat exchangers (96) that heat pressurized air that provides the hot air jets. The furnace (12) conveys the glass sheets either in an oscillating manner or a continuous one direction manner during the heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy R. Lewandowski, Donivan M. Shetterly
  • Patent number: 6769425
    Abstract: A fuel-fired, forced draft air heating furnace has a draft inducer fan disposed in a vestibule chamber having an exterior wall with an air intake opening therein. During operation of the draft inducer fan its motor is cooled by combustion air drawn inwardly through the air intake opening. To enhance the combustion air cooling of the draft inducer fan motor, a deflection plate is supported within the vestibule chamber in an inwardly spaced apart, facing relationship with the air intake opening. A portion of the combustion air flowing inwardly through the air intake opening impinges on and is redirected by the plate toward the motor via a substantially unenclosed flow path within the vestibule chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Seung-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6712064
    Abstract: A cooking oven manifold system includes a conveyor extending through a housing and a plurality of air manifolds positioned above and below the conveyor, each air manifold having a pair of sidewalls extending between a back wall and an inlet. A pair of outlet nozzles extend along a length of each air manifold. An angled surface between each pair of outlet nozzles extends along a length of the air manifold. Each air manifold is additionally spaced apart from each adjacent air manifold to create an air gap between sidewalls of adjacent air manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: FMC Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Stacy, Scott M. Kane, Charles McVeagh, Ramesh M. Gunawardena
  • Patent number: 6619953
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflow furnace for heating a carried circuit module to perform reflow soldering. The reflow furnace has a nozzle 60 for performing an operation of spraying the inert gas on a soldering portion for the circuit module carried into the furnace while the nozzle is moved, maintaining high mounting reliability and high productivity, even if apertures of the carrying inlet and the carrying outlet are large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yamaoka, Kouichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6592364
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for distributing air to different regions of a conveyor oven. The apparatus has comprising one or more blowers to distribute the air. A lower plenum is connected to a blower. The lower plenum directs air to the lower side of a conveyor within the oven. An upper plenum is connected to a blower. The upper plenum directs air to the upper side of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventors: David Zapata, Charles Kingdon, John Gilleland
  • Patent number: 6539934
    Abstract: The multiconveyor convection oven comprises a baking chamber, at least two spaced-apart conveyors mounted transversally one over the other in the baking chamber, a heating chamber behind the baking chamber. A convection system is provided for allowing a circulation of the air from the baking chamber to the heating chamber and back to the baking chamber to cook the food. The convection system comprises air return passages providing a fluid communication between the baking chamber and the heating chamber, a blower housing extending vertically outside the heating chamber on a side thereof, at least two centrifugal blower chambers, one for each conveyor, mounted one over the other within the blower housing. Each centrifugal blower chamber has an air inlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber for drawing air from the baking chamber and an air outlet for throwing back heated air at high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Zesto Food Equipment Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Georges Moshonas, Chuck Czajka
  • Patent number: 6394794
    Abstract: A modular furnace is fabricated from at least one module having a frame, a removable cover mounted to the frame, exterior cover panels on the frame, and an insulated case fastened to the interior of the module. A conveyor assembly extends through the module. A plurality of process zones, such as heating and cooling zones, are disposed within the module. Field replaceable universal blower assemblies are associated with each process zone. The motor shaft in each blower assembly is provided with a sealed bearing in the motor housing. Insulation within each module is held in place by gas permeable fabric covering large vent openings in cover panels to allow oxygen to diffuse out of the insulation rapidly upon start up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bloom, Robert Bouchard, David S. Harvey, Geoffrey C. Neiley, III, Donald A. Seccombe, Jr., Terrance Wong, Richard Tarczon, Stephen J. Parrott, Paul Edgington
  • Patent number: 6352431
    Abstract: A furnace includes a main blower housed in an inlet plenum that circulates temperature controlled air through the furnace and an inducer fan that circulates combustion gases through the furnace. The inducer fan is driven by an inducer fan motor with a housing that defines a hollow interior and surrounds the motor. The inducer fan motor housing is in communication with the inlet plenum and operation of the main blower draws cooling air through the interior of the motor housing to cool the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Jakel Incorporated
    Inventor: William Stuart Gatley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020018977
    Abstract: A continuous pusher furnace includes a product carrier assembly incorporating a traveling gas barrier. The product carrier assembly comprises a plate disposed to receive product thereon and a gas barrier extending upwardly from the plate. The perimeter of the gas barrier is sized and configured to fit within a vestibule between heating chambers in the furnace with a clearance gap with the vestibule selected to increase a gas flow velocity through the vestibule sufficient to overcome a gas diffusion velocity through the vestibule in a direction opposite to the gas flow. In this manner, gas is unable to diffuse into an upstream heating chamber. In an alternative embodiment, an exhaust outlet may also be provided in the vestibule or chamber to exhaust gas from upstream and downstream heating chambers from the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Orbeck
  • Patent number: 6267588
    Abstract: A longitudinal continuous furnace applicable to construction ceramic material, including a main body (1) lined inside with refractory brick provided internally with a row of nozzles (2) intended to diffuse hot air generated by coaxial gas burners (4), air blowers (3) arranged on the opposite wall which inject pressure air at room temperature from the outside, rails (7) placed on the ground provided for the circulation of wagons (6) which transport the bricks to be burnt (5), and a skirt (8) arranged inside at the height at which travels the horizontal top surface of the wagons (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Joaquin Plana Querol
  • Patent number: 6267587
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for curing coatings on ophthalmic lenses is disclosed. The apparatus includes an oven that is continuously supplied with lenses. A vertically oriented conveyor having multiple carrier bars for supporting the lenses is positioned within the oven. The conveyor moves the lenses through a series of positions within the oven where the lenses are subjected to heat. Ambient air is filtered and forced into the oven by an intake blower which keeps the air pressure within the oven above the ambient air pressure. Air is recirculated and filtered within the oven by recirculation blowers. Air is exhausted from the oven by an exhaust blower which effects air exchange with the ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bishop, Gary Marcau, Venkatramani Iyer, Brian McCrady
  • Patent number: 6250296
    Abstract: A convection oven with a filtration system for recirculated convection gas. The oven includes an interior chamber, a product support in the interior chamber and a blower in fluid communication with at least one duct (preferably a plurality) for circulating air into the interior chamber. The duct has a plurality of orifices positioned to direct temperature controlled gas toward the product support. At least one perforated filter plate with a plurality of bends is disposed within the interior chamber separating the interior chamber into a cooking chamber and an air return chamber. In leu of the filter plate the filtration system includes a plurality of louvers disposed in the interior chamber separating the interior chamber into a cooking chamber and an air return chamber, the louvers being downwardly inclined toward the cooking chamber and positioned such that the temperature controlled gas passes through the louvers before returning to the blower for recirculation into the air delivery duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Patentsmith Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: John R. Norris, Michael J. Dobie, Linda J. Talley, Jarald E. High, Carl J. Dougherty, Neal S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6192877
    Abstract: A blown air distributor for use in a convection oven having a blower that draws air from the baking chamber, a heat source to heat the drawn air and a plenum downstream from the blower to recirculate the heated air in the baking chamber. The blown air distributor has a plurality of finger ducts mounted in parallel on a single plate, which is removable from the baking chamber. Each finger duct has an air inlet to receive the heated air from the plenum and a plurality of air outlets to dispense the heated air in the baking chamber. The single plate has opposite side edges each slidably receivable in a guide way provided on a corresponding sidewall of the chamber. The single plate also has a plurality of air inlets that receive the air from the baking chamber and drawn by the blower. The blown air distributor is easily and rapidly installable without incorrectly placing each finger duct in the baking chamber. The blown air distributor is also easily dismantled for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Zesto Food Equipment Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Georges Moshonas, Waldo Silva, Georges Vatista
  • Patent number: 6183242
    Abstract: A method for producing a lightweight aggregate by treating flyash and sewage sludge. The flyash and sewage sludge are mixed together and agglomerated into pellets. The pelletized agglomerate is fed into a rotary kiln in a direction that is co-current with the flow of fuel and air through the kiln. The rotary kiln includes at least one port air zone near the infeed end of the rotary kiln to introduce port air beneath the bed of pelletized agglomerate feed stock flowing through the rotary kiln. The introduction of port air beneath the material bed causes the volatized combustible matter to burn in the bed of material, which oxidizes the outer shell of the pelletized agglomerate. As the pelletized agglomerate continues to travel through the rotary kiln, bloating occurs within the interior of the material and results in the formation of the lightweight aggregate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Svedala Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Heian
  • Patent number: 6045358
    Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin includes a housing (200) having an interior region, a conveyor for conveying the glass sheets through the interior region of the housing (200), a gas burner (204) operably associated with the housing (200) for producing hot combustion gases, thereby providing a heat input to the apparatus. An adjustor (210) is operably connected to, and controls, the inputs to the gas burner (204) to vary the heat input, and, thereby, maintain the temperature of the working fluid at a preselected set point. At least one velocity control for controlling the impingement velocity of the working fluid onto the top and/or bottom surfaces of the glass sheet is also provided. The impingement velocity, and thereby the rate of convective heat exchange between the working fluid and the glass sheet, is controlled independently of the heat input to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Kormanyos
  • Patent number: 5974833
    Abstract: A heat transfer method in a glass bending furnace, which has a top array of of successive heating sections (2) and under it a bottom array of successive cooling sections (3), and in which method glass sheets are conveyed on bending molds in mold carrying wagons on the top conveyor track from one heating section (2) to the next and on the bottom conveyor track from one section (3) to the next and the air heated by the bent hot glasses is sucked from cooling section (3) and blasted to the non-bent colder glasses in the heating sections (2). In order to intensify heat transfer, air sucked from the cooling section (3) is blasted as such, against the travel direction of the mold carrying wagons through the heating sections (2) to non-bent colder glass sheets in one of the heating sections (2) preceding the heating section (2) directly above the cooling section (3) from which the heated air is drawn as viewed in a direction of travel of the mold carrying wagons through the heating sections (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Glassrobots OY
    Inventors: Kari Vaha-Antila, Juha Karisola
  • Patent number: 5970857
    Abstract: In a baking oven comprising at least one hearth, a baking conveyor belt, which is guided over a deflection roller, is allocated to each hearth. The deflection roller is extended out of the baking oven through openings where it is lodged for displacement in the direction of the oven. A sealing arrangement is provided for this opening to be sealed, comprising a base plate and a sealing disk resting tightly thereon. The sealing disk is pivotally supported on the deflection roller and simultaneously lodged in a guiding groove in the base plate by means of a guide pin. The edge of the sealing disk is shaped such that on the one hand it covers the opening in all the positions of displacement and on the other hand is displaced in the direction of displacement only by a length which is considerably shorter than the length of displacement of the deflection roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitteltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Dollinger, Josef Hafner, Claudia Knost
  • Patent number: 5881636
    Abstract: An oven for baking food products includes a spiral conveyor having a wire mesh conveyor belt for transporting food products from a loading bin to a storage bin. The spiral conveyor is surrounded by a threaded cylindrical housing having apertures which communicate with the loading bin, heat source, plenum, and recirculation fan. Heated air is blown into the threaded housing such that a downward spiral or vortex of air is created which envelops the food products upon the spiral conveyor belt for efficient baking. The housing is partially removable for cleaning or maintenance of the conveyor. Heated air within the housing is drawn about the food products as it is suctioned into a recirculation tube for distribution to the storage bin and to the plenum for recirculation through the housing. In addition, the loading bin is mounted upon a vibration device such that food products are evenly distributed upon entry to the spiral conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventors: Dan Sweet, Sheila K. Sweet
  • Patent number: 5875705
    Abstract: A baking oven comprises several oven modules disposed one after the other in the longitudinal direction, each of which comprising independently controllable heating devices and at least one supply duct for vapor and/or fresh air which leads to the hearths and at least one discharge duct for vapor and/or waste air which leads away from each hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer Lebensmitteltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Knost
  • Patent number: 5683240
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a product which includes a plurality of tapered ducts in a cabinet above and below a conveyor to form streams which are directed toward the product. Spent air is drawn through return ducts which have intake openings centered between entrance and exit openings in the cabinet and centered between lateral edges of a conveyor and between the tapered ducts to provide a balanced flow of spent air in the cabinet to the return opening. Temperature controlled gas is delivered at an angle through an array of openings adjacent opposite edges of an opening through which a conveyor extends to cause most of the heated air to be drawn to the return duct opening and to maintain internal pressure in the cabinet to prevent ingress and egress of air through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Patentsmith Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald P. Smith, deceased, Jarald E. High, Michael J. Dobie
  • Patent number: 5603615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoke and heat source recycling device for a tunnel kiln in order to prevent smoke pollution. It has an exhaust fan in the preheating zone, the exhaust fan absorbing heat from the preheating zone and delivering such heat to a heat energy adjustment zone and waste gas treatment system for treating pollutants such as coal dust. Heat in the dry zone is delivered into the exhaust duct through an exhaust collector. A and pollution controller detects the pollution and enters signal into an electronic control to control gates for exhaust gas to enter either a gas treatment system or to be emitted into the air through the chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Wei-Wau Liaw
  • Patent number: 5567151
    Abstract: This invention discloses a furnace in which hot gases are discharged from heaters to provide uniform heating to printed circuit boards commonly used in the electronic industry. Outside air is prevented from flowing into the furnace, so as to reduce and to stabilize the concentration of oxygen. The furnace 1 is designed with an air tunnel 2 to separate it into upper and lower sections which are fitted with hot air blow type heaters 5a, 5b. The hot air discharged from the heaters in the upper and lower sections flow in opposite directions to create a counter-flow of gases. Each individual heater can produce its own hot air circuit. They are designed with the blowing outlet and suction inlet in the same structure with the blowing outlet fitted with a redirectional flow plate 18 which directs the hot air to the suction inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Company Limited
    Inventors: Naotake Mizoguchi, Tadao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5423248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a product which includes a plurality of tapered ducts in a cabinet above and below a conveyor to form streams which are directed toward the product. Spent air is drawn through return ducts which have intake openings centered between entrance and exit openings in the cabinet and centered between lateral edges of a conveyor and between the tapered ducts to provide a balanced flow of spent air in the cabinet to the return opening. Temperature controlled gas is delivered at an angle through an array of openings adjacent opposite edges of an opening through which a conveyor extends to cause most of the heated air to be drawn to the return duct opening and to maintain internal pressure in the cabinet to prevent ingress and egress of air through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Patentsmith Corporation
    Inventors: Donald P. Smith, Jarald E. High, Michael J. Dobie
  • Patent number: 5421316
    Abstract: A conveyor oven is described having increased efficiency from enhanced flow therethrough. The oven consists of an upper plenum, a lower plenum, and a return plenum. The upper plenum is disposed above the conveyor and dispenses heated air through nozzles downwardly. The lower plenum is disposed below the conveyor and dispenses heated air upwardly. The upper and lower plenums are tapered from a maximum width of 21/2 inches to a minimum of no more than 15% thereof across the path of travel of the conveyor. A blower having a vertical axis of rotation is located at a midpoint between the upper plenum and the conveyor and a burner is located below the inlet between the inlet thereto and the return plenum. The outlet from the blower directs air through scrolls onto a baffle plate having rounded edges and from there into the upper and lower plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: G. S. Blodgett Corporation
    Inventor: Albert J. Heber
  • Patent number: 5277105
    Abstract: A conveyor oven module has a very low profile so that more oven modules may be stacked to give a greater baking capacity in the same "foot print" without the top conveyor being higher than the five and a half feet from the floor, which is the generally accepted maximum height for people to reach. Almost all serviceable parts are in the front of the oven. The oven modules are self-contained so that an oven module may be serviced while the remainder of the oven modules in the stack continue to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Middleby Marshall Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian A. Bruno, Richard J. Casanzio, Thomas Diwisch, Hector Gonzalez, Bacigalupe Carlos, John R. Norris, Sushil Eapen, Loren Veltrop
  • Patent number: 5131841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a product which includes a plurality of tapered ducts in a cabinet above and below a conveyor to form streams which are directed toward the product. Spent air is drawn through return ducts which have intake openings centered between entrance and exit openings in the cabinet and centered between lateral edges of a conveyor and between the tapered ducts to provide a balanced flow of spent air in the cabinet to the return opening. Temperature controlled gas is delivered at an angle through an array of openings adjacent opposite edges of an opening through which a conveyor extends to cause most of the heated air to be drawn to the return duct opening and to maintain internal pressure in the cabinet to prevent ingress and egress of air through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Patentsmith II, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald P. Smith, Jarald E. High, Michael J. Dobie
  • Patent number: 4921422
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method for controlling the preheating zone of a tunnel kiln which includes firing and cooling zones. The method comprises forcedly blowing air from the entire ceiling portion of the preheating zone in the downward direction to diffuse hot combustion gas present in the upper portion and to reducing a difference in temperature between the upper and lower portions of the preheating zone. Air may be blown into the preheating zone at a flow rate determined from the quantity of the combustion gas within the preheating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Toto, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Kosugi, Takeshi Ogawa, Norio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4884969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunnel kiln for fine ceramic products comprizing a heating section, a firing section, and a cooling section, where by means of gas conveying means (10) gases are taken in from the region of said cooling section (140, 176, 182) and are conveyed to said firing section (41, 78, 80, 126, 128), whereby at least one additional burner (132) is arranged in a transition region (130) between said firing section (128) and said cooling section (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Ludwig Riedhammer Gmbh
    Inventors: Kolln Bernd, Rudiger Grun
  • Patent number: 4863377
    Abstract: A conveyance channel (76) connects an inlet valve (74) to a free outlet (82) whereby the conveyance channel (76) first passes through a sterilization zone (78) and then through a cooling zone (80). Within the cooling zone (80), the conveyance conduit contains resistor areas (94, 96). This makes it possible to reduce the conveyance pressure in the conveyance channel (76) against the outlet (82) to such an extent that packings sterilized in the conveyance channel (76) are able to exit the outlet (82) virtually pressureless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Neuweiler AG
    Inventors: Daniel Gaignoux, Herbert Sievi
  • Patent number: 4846678
    Abstract: The invention relates to means for heat treating green bodies comprising two mutually parallel kiln channels operated in opposite directions each having at least one heating section, firing section, and cooling section, where an offtake means leads from one kiln channel to a combustion chamber, from which a supply means runs into the one or other kiln channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Riedhammer GmbH und Co. KG
    Inventors: Gernot Albersdorfer, Reiner Swoboda
  • Patent number: 4834646
    Abstract: A process is provided for cooling fired products such as tiles in a kiln by repeating a cooling step to cool down said products, the cooling step comprising blowing a cooling gaseous fluid, e.g., cooling air, to the fired products in the kiln, alternately with a non-cooling step to moderate a sharp temperature gradient between the surfaces and the interior regions of the products, the non-cooling step comprising stopping or suppressing the blowing of cooling gaseous fluid between cooling steps. The process of the invention can achieve rapid cooling without giving rise to dunting due to thermal stresses and thus can increase the productivity of kilns. When the invention is applied to a tunnel kiln, the kiln can be considerably shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonari Terashima
  • Patent number: 4753215
    Abstract: A food preparation apparatus including a cooking chamber having a pair of openings in two opposite facing walls thereof. A conveyor extends through the side wall openings in the chamber for conveying a food product through the chamber. First and second pairs of impingement finger ducts are provided for forming a plurality of columnated air jets and for impinging the jets against discreet points of a food product supported on the conveyor. A first one of each of said pairs of finger ducts is disposed above the conveyor and a second one of each of said pairs of finger ducts is disposed below the conveyor. First and second plenums, each of which has a fan respectively associated therewith, supply air to the finger ducts. A single burner is associated with the plenums for simultaneously supplying thermal energy to both plenums. The burner includes a first adjustable baffle for apportioning the thermal energy between the two plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Kaminski, George L. Csadenyi
  • Patent number: 4717339
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high efficiency, non-polluting curing oven, having an internal curing chamber comprising forward and rearward regions, bottom located forward and rearward access openings to and from the forward and rearward regions, a plurality of trays for carrying material to be cured through the curing chamber, a conveyor for conveying the trays to and from the forward and rearward regions through the forward and rearward access openings, a tray moving system for lifting the trays upwardly through the forward region and for transferring the trays to and for lowering the trays downwardly through the rearward region, a burner providing heated gases in a combustion chamber above the curing chamber and a fan for blowing the heated gases downwardly into the curing chamber for curing of the material with the heated gases rising back upwardly, creating a negative pressure to draw a supply of fresh outside air into the curing chamber, through the bottom located access openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Inventor: Erik Kersting
  • Patent number: 4674975
    Abstract: The method comprises passing preformed bodies to be calcined, containing pyrolyzable substances, through a furnace having, arranged in succession, a first heating zone, a second or combustion zone wherein volatile substance released by said bodies are subjected to combustion, a third or calcining zone, and a fourth or cooling zone. Separation means between the first and second zones, and between the third and fourth zones, prevent the flue gases from flowing between such zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignees: Alusuisse Italia S.p.A., Italimpianti Societa Italiana Impianti p.A., Sirma S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renzo Corato, Giulio Ganapini, Hans-Anton Meier, Mauro Poggi, Antonio Rosso, Sergio Sanchioni
  • Patent number: 4626203
    Abstract: Disclosed is a furnace having a furnace chamber formed with a work inlet and a work outlet, and a work mount turntable rotatably provided within the furnace chamber, the furnace further comprising work carry-in means for carrying a work while mounting the work thereon into the furnace chamber through work inlet to transfer the work onto given one of work mount portions on the turntable, and work carry-out means for carrying a work mounted on one of the the work mounts out of the work outlet while mounting the work thereon. Each of the work mounts, the work carry-in means, and the work carry-out means is constituted by a plurality of strip members disposed at regular intervals. The respective strip members of each of the work carry-in means and the work carry-out means are arranged to move up and down passing through the gaps formed between the adjacent strip members of the work mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Furnace Juko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidesato Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4620840
    Abstract: A furnace for heating cylindrical charges, in particular billets, rods and tubes, features a transportation facility with a conveyance device which feeds the charges in the longitudinal direction through a treatment chamber, the cross-sectional shape of which is closely similar to that of the charge; the transportation device also features a jacking device which supports the charge such that, regardless of the charge diameter, the longitudinal axis of the charge is always at the same level in the treatment chamber. Situated in the walls of the treatment chamber are nozzle outlets which direct a heated jet of gas radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the charge and onto the surface of the charge. The feeding of circulating hot gas to the supply channel for the nozzles takes place from both ends of the treatment chamber. A ventilator is situated above the mid point along the length of the treatment chamber and blows out both inlets to the feed channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernhard Hilge, Carl Kramer, Martin Knoch
  • Patent number: 4616997
    Abstract: An ingot furnace pusher furnace includes a fixed baffle assembly suspended from a furnace top wall. The baffle assembly includes a horizontal top baffle plate and a bottom baffle sheet disposed below the top plate. The bottom baffle sheet consist of a center portion and a pair of first and second upwardly sloping end portions connected to the center portion. The center portion is positioned substantially parallel to an upper suface of a center portion of the ingot. A first deflection baffle is rotatably supported at its one end by a pipe to the baffle assembly adjacent the first sloping end portion. A second deflection baffle is rotatably supported at its one end by a pipe to the baffle assembly adjacent the second sloping end portion. Linkage devices are connected to the other ends of the first and second deflection baffles for moving the same between a horizontal position parallel to the upper surface of the ingot and an acute angle position relative to the horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Seco/Warwick Corporation
    Inventor: Robert H. Ross
  • Patent number: 4585412
    Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace includes a horizontal baffle assembly suspended from a frame member located above a furnace top wall. The baffle assembly includes of a center portion and a pair of first and second upwardly sloping end portions connected to the center portion. The center portion is positioned substantially parallel to an upper surface of a center portion of the ingot. A first upper horizontal baffle is connected by a first gusset to the first sloping end portion. The first upper baffle is positioned substantially parallel to and above a first end portion of the ingot. A second upper horizontal baffle is connected by a second gusset to the second sloping end portion. The second upper baffle is positioned substantially parallel to and above a second end portion of the ingot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Seco/Warwick Corporation
    Inventor: Robert H. Ross