Patents Examined by Bao D Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10309723
    Abstract: An object is to provide a freeze-drying system and a freeze-drying method which can improve cleanliness and productivity. The present invention relates to a freeze-drying system in which freeze-drying is performed by sublimating moisture frozen by cooling an object. The system includes a cooling device (3) which generates cold with an air cycle in which air is used as a refrigerant, a freeze-drying chamber (2) accommodating a heat exchange unit which causes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the object, and a control unit (11) which controls a cooling capacity of the cooling device. The control unit adjusts the temperature in the freeze-drying chamber to a predetermined target temperature by controlling an amount of the cold generated in the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MAYEKAWA MFG.CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Tsubata, Shigeru Iwami, Youichi Hiraga, Nobuya Ishitsuka
  • Patent number: 10253981
    Abstract: A controller for a gas furnace, a computer-usable medium for implementing a method and a gas furnace are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a processor configured to enable an inducer of the gas furnace at a low speed based on the heating call and ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation when determining a low fire pressure switch of the gas furnace is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Darcy Q. Easterling
  • Patent number: 10247474
    Abstract: Microwave drying of ceramic honeycomb logs using a customizable cover that can take the form of a flexible wrap or a rigid cover is disclosed. The cover can be in the form of a wrap disposed directly in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. The cover can also be a rigid cover disposed adjacent but not in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. At least a portion of the trailing edge of the log can remain uncovered either by having windows in the wrap or by the rigid cover only covering the leading edge of the log surface. The customizable cover can be configured to compensate for log shape deformities as well as or in addition to the adverse effect on log shape cause by the drying differential created by passing a log through a microwave drying station leading-edge first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Colby William Audinwood, Brett Alan Terwilliger, David Robertson Treacy, Jr., Chauncey James Watches
  • Patent number: 10234201
    Abstract: A complex type dryer includes a rotational cylinder, a drying material, a hot air provider, a hot air chamber and a scraping unit. The drying material provider is disposed over the rotational cylinder and coats a drying material on a surface of the rotational cylinder. The hot air provider is connected to both sides of the rotational cylinder, and includes first and second hot air tubes. The first and second hot air tubes alternately provide a hot air into the rotational cylinder or alternately exhaust the hot air passing through the rotational cylinder. The hot air chamber is disposed along an outer surface of the rotational cylinder outside of the rotational cylinder. The scraping unit is disposed at a side of the rotational cylinder, and removes the drying material from the surface of the rotational cylinder after dried by the rotational cylinder and the hot air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Korea institute of energy research
    Inventors: Sung-il Kim, Jong-Won Choi, Sang-Hyun Oh, Kye-Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 10215492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying salts with a water of crystallisation content in convective apparatuses that can additionally be indirectly heated. The invention is primarily characterised in that the drying process takes place with a moisture content of the drying gas above a determined level. The gas surrounding the salt particles during the drying process therefore has a specific humidity. In this way, the rate of drying is positively influenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Bernhard Krohl
  • Patent number: 10196772
    Abstract: A condensing type clothes dryer having a heat pump cycle and a method for controlling a condensing type clothes dryer having a heat pump cycle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongju Lee, Daeyun Park, Byeongjo Ryoo
  • Patent number: 10190820
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Omya International AG
    Inventors: Olav Bergset, Alain Cremaschi, Robert Gutsche, Ludovic Hautcoeur
  • Patent number: 10184205
    Abstract: A laundry dryer (2) includes a rotatable drum (6); a drying air fan for blowing air into the drum (6); and an electric motor (10) configured for rotating the drum (6) and/or the drying air fan. A shaft (30) of the electric motor (10) extends towards the drying air fan and/or a drum transmission system. A seat (80) which is at least partially concavely formed is positioned at least partially below the motor shaft (30). A draining device (82) is provided which is configured to allow liquid entering the seat (80) to be drained off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Alberto Bison, Daniele Solerio, Piercarlo Novelli
  • Patent number: 10168097
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plant for continuously drying a coated film including a cavity (3) with a first open end (3a) through which a film (F) enters and a second open end (3b) through which the dried film exits, a plurality of rollers (7) for supporting the film inside the cavity (3), a feed and extraction system (10) adapted to feed a flow of air to a first blowing element (9), adapted to direct a flow of air onto the surface of the coated film (F), and to extract a flow of air from the cavity (3) through a suction element (27, 28), characterized in that it includes a second blowing element (11) fed by the feed and extraction system (10), adapted to direct a flow of heated air onto the opposite surface of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: NORDMECCANICA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Cerciello
  • Patent number: 10161078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method for a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer is a heat-pump type laundry dryer and a compressor of the laundry dryer is a variable-frequency compressor. The control method includes setting a minimum running frequency of the compressor according to an amount of clothes to be dried, where the more the clothes are, the larger the set minimum running frequency is. Specifically, when laundry drying is started, the amount of the clothes being dried is detected. According to the detected information, a minimum running frequency of the compressor, corresponding to the information, is invoked, and the minimum running frequency of the compressor in the current laundry drying process is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: HAIER GROUP CORPORATION, QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng Xu, Huacheng Song, Shujun Tian, Shiqiang Shan
  • Patent number: 10151060
    Abstract: A dryer apparatus is disclosed comprising a container having a container inlet and outlet, a pump that is configured to motivate a first air-vapor mixture flow via the container inlet and via the container outlet, a heating device configured to heat the first air-vapor mixture, a selector with at least two states, a compressor that is configured to compress and motivate a part of the first air-vapor mixture flow as a second air-vapor mixture flow, to flow through a first heat exchanger and to flow through a second heat exchanger and a pressure reducing device that is configured to reduce the pressure of said second air-vapor mixture downstream said first heat exchanger. The selector is configured to direct most of the first air-vapor mixture to flow in a closed cycle through the container, or configured to exchange most of the first air-vapor mixture with air located outside the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: WATER-GEN LTD
    Inventors: Sharon Dulberg, Arye Kohavi
  • Patent number: 10094612
    Abstract: A coat drying device dries a wet-coated film that is coated on a continuously transported coating object having first and second parts, where the second part has a greater heat capacity than the first part. The coat drying device includes a heat source and a heat source moving device. The heat source provides thermal energy primarily to a coating surface of a second part. The heat source moving device moves the heat source to the second part such that a spacing between the second part and the heat source is maintained within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Natsume
  • Patent number: 10087571
    Abstract: Dryer appliances and methods are provided. A method includes receiving during rotation of a drum of the dryer appliance a voltage signal which corresponds to a moisture level within a chamber of the drum, and determining whether the voltage signal corresponds to a predetermined drying profile of a plurality of predetermined drying profiles. The method further includes applying a drying sequence which corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined drying profiles when the voltage signal corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined drying profiles. The method further includes determining whether the voltage signal corresponds to a wet patch indicator, and reversing a direction of rotation of the drum when the voltage signal corresponds to the wet patch indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashutosh Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10072375
    Abstract: The power P of the heater of a dryer is regulated in order to heat up the air used to dry washed articles placed in the drying chamber to a temperature close to a set point temperature TSET. The output signal of the regulator of the heater is used to estimate the moisture content of the fabrics and to terminate the drying cycle when a predefined moisture level is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Colombo, Daniele Martinello
  • Patent number: 10039406
    Abstract: A steam cooker with a first pot and a second pot is provided. The second pot may fit within the first pot and may be suspended above the bottom of the first pot. The bottom of the first pot may be filled with water. Food may be placed within the second pot. A lid may cover the first pot, sealing the water and the second pot within. The first pot may be heated by a fire or stove. The steam from the heated water may sufficiently cook the food. Further, condensation may be collected and water may drip into the second pot. The water is purified due to the boiling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: George Carson
  • Patent number: 10024599
    Abstract: A drying device includes a first compartment configured to removably receive a drying chamber. The drying chamber includes a tray capable of receiving one or more racks that are configured to hold a plurality of laboratory consumables. The first compartment includes one or more pistons capable of displacing the tray to agitate the laboratory consumables. A second compartment is attached to the first compartment. The second compartment includes one or more air flow sources for directing a flow of air to the plurality of laboratory consumables and an air filter located proximate to the one or more air flow sources. A method of drying laboratory consumables is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GRENOVA, LLC
    Inventor: Ali Safavi
  • Patent number: 9989308
    Abstract: A hand dryer comprising a jetting nozzle comprising a duct in fluid communication with a slot which forms a nozzle outlet, and a blower which blows air through the jetting nozzle to produce an air jet. The jetting nozzle is configured such that the angle of inclination of the air jet with respect to a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slot varies in the longitudinal direction of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Farrar Smith, Philip Jonathan Stephens
  • Patent number: 9951990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for freeze-drying injectable compositions, in particular pharmaceutical compositions, comprising: A) storing a quantity of a dispersion of an injectable composition in an aqueous dispersion medium in at least one ready-to-use vial, B) rotating the vial at least for a period of time to form a dispersion layer at an inner surface of a circumferential wall of the vial, C) during rotating of the vial according to step B) cooling the vial to form ice crystals at the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the vial, and D) drying the cooled composition to sublime at least a portion of the ice crystals formed in the dispersion by substantially homogeneously heating the circumferential wall of the vial. The invention also relates to a freeze-dried composition obtained by the method according to the invention and a system for freeze-drying injectable compositions, in particular pharmaceutical compositions, in particular by making use of the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: RHEAVITA B.V.
    Inventor: Jozef Antonius Willem Maria Corver
  • Patent number: 9879911
    Abstract: A coat drying device dries a coated film that is coated on a continuously transported coating object having first and second parts, where the second part has a greater heat capacity than the first part. The coat drying device includes a drying furnace, a hot air supply device and a control unit. The coating object is conveyed inside of the drying furnace main body. The hot air supply device heats the coating object by blowing hot air to the drying furnace. The control unit controls the hot air supply device based on a heat capacity of the coating object. The control unit controls the hot air supply device such that, when heating the second part, hot air with a greater amount of heat is supplied to the second part than an amount of heat in the hot air that is supplied to heat the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Natsume
  • Patent number: 9856597
    Abstract: A drying system embodying a method and glove dryer mountable to an outlet of an already-running furnace when in use so as to safely and efficiently dry out articles, and that dissembles into stackable elements when stored is provided. The glove dryer may include a base providing a plurality of detachable nozzles. The base may form a volumetric enclosure for both safely mounting the outlet of an already-running furnace as well as for storage purposes. The plurality of detachable nozzles may be stacked in a nest configuration when removed from the base for storing in the volumetric enclosure. When in use, the plurality of detachable nozzles each provide a plurality of holes through which heated air from the outlet reaches to tops of articles of clothing slidably received thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Karen Smoots