Abstract: A shoe preserver having a wicking portion and an absorbing portion retained within a flexible porous covering. The preserver is sized to substantially fill the volume defined by the interior of the shoe. A pair of preservers is interconnected by a flexible strap attached to the forward portion of the preserver such that upon insertion into the shoe, the shoe and preserver may be carried by the strap.

Abstract: The device consists of a Portable Dryer for drying the interior of articles, such as ski boots, ski gloves, etc. It includes articulated tubing that can be forced all the way into the toe portion of the ski boot. At the other end of the articulated tubing is a distribution connector for connecting to a suitable means of forcing air through the tubing and into the interior of the ski boot for drying purposes.

Abstract: A new apparatus for treating substrates with fluids, as well as a corresponding fluid treatment method, is disclosed. The new apparatus includes a new configuration of fluid jet injectors which substantially overcomes the problem of dragout, in which fluid impinged upon an area of a substrate is retained on that area, preventing fresh fluid from reaching the impinged area. This new configuration also avoids imposing torques on substrates, and substantially reduces the need for rollers and guides for transporting substrates.

Abstract: An air diffuser for attachment to a handheld hairdryer includes a diffuser neck and an angled diffuser head. The diffuser neck is provided with air vents. If a back pressure builds up in the diffuser with a consequent risk of overheating the hairdryer, then air escapes through the vents relieving the back pressure. In the absence of a back pressure substantially all of the air flows along the diffuser and out through the mouth of the diffuser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing vaporizable components from polymeric products effects uniform distribution of heat over such products contained within a chamber. The apparatus includes a heated chamber having support means for supporting the products within the chamber. Omnidirectional multi-point gas dispersion means located within the chamber uniformly disperse heated gas over the product. The vaporizable components are evacuated from the chamber along with the gas. The product can be rotated during treatment to ensure uniform exposure of the product to heat and gas.

Abstract: The dryer comprises a plurality of extendible air conducting tubes each of which is independently pivotally connected to the hot air supply, in order to dry footwear while the footwear is resting on the floor and being partly supported by the tube, and the tubes may be directed upwardly to support handwear. The tubes are provided with air flow controlling nozzles which adjust the flow of air by rotating a cap member. The cap member has air outlet slits on diametrically opposed sides with more slits blowing air towards a toe of the footwear than towards a heel. Turning the cap to block the air flow is done when any given tube is not required for footwear or handwear drying.

Abstract: A spindrying apparatus for removing retained rinse water from leafy product such as lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and spinach which includes a basket of wire mesh or perforated metal and a trapdoor in its floor. A liftbar extends across the top of the basket with a centrally located hole for attachment to the chain of a conveyor hoist providing that the basket may be filled with leafy product at a loading station then conveyed to a spindryer tank where it is lowered onto the rotatable platform within the tank. The platform and basket are spun to force the rinse water out of the leafy product. The chain is reattached and the basket is conveyed to an unloading station. A latch mechanism in the bottom of the basket is operated to release a trap door forming the floor of the basket thereby allowing the trapdoor to fall open and the leafy product to fall out of the basket. The trapdoor is then manually snapped shut and the basket is ready for the next drying cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is to define an enclosed space by covering a holder which can hold numerous minute particles, and introduce a fluid into the enclosed space to stir up the numerous minute particles within the enclosed space with a turbulent flow of the fluid so that the minute particles are placed in and held by the holder After stirring up and loading the minute particles in the holder, the fluid is introduced into the enclosed space again to recover the remaining minute particles which have not been held by the holder. The number of minute particles required for one cycle of the loading operation are taken out by moving a particle push-up shaft vertically, having a recess at the distal end thereof, within a stocker which stores a large number of minute particles, and then delivered to the enclosed space with the fluid.

Abstract: A mesh tubular basket is arranged for mounting about a support tube and secured at each end of the mesh basket by strap members to position canvas type shoes and the like within a clothes dryer during a drying procedure. The support tube is arranged with a spring-biased sleeve, having a collar member to secure the sleeve if desired in a biased orientation against an interior wall of a drying machine drum.

Abstract: The process for low-emission drying of a substance in a drum-type drying installation is suitable in particular for sewage sludge, fish meal and sludges from starch factories, soap factories and paper mills, which substances are preferably to be converted into granules. The process is likewise very suitable for drying biomass products such as wood chips, grass, sugar beet chips and the like, since the emissions are very greatly reduced by means of this process. The drying process is carried out in such a way that no unpleasant odors and dusts are emitted to the outside, because the actual drying circulation is closed. Fossil fuels are used as the heat source for the burner for heating this air stream.

Abstract: Novel method and apparatus are disclosed for dielectrically drying green ceramic or wet honeycomb structures, by rotating such structures about their longitudinal axis between a pair of parallel dielectric electrodes and simultaneously blowing heated air through the longitudinal cells of the honeycomb structure. Preferably the dielectric electrodes are oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis of the honeycomb structure, and the rotation thereof between the electrodes accordingly results in a more uniform energy transfer to the honeycomb structure by leveling out the non-uniformities and variations in the dielectric field.

Abstract: Apparatus for the non-contact drying of a web of material with a combination of infrared radiation and heated air. The apparatus includes a dryer enclosure in which is mounted a plurality of air bars in air-receiving communication with upper and lower headers both above and below the web for the contactless convection drying of the web. Mounted between the air bars are infrared gas fired burners. In order to accommodate the infrared burners between the air bars, spacers are fitted on the header system supplying air to the air bars. The drying surface of the web is thus alternately heated by infrared radiation and then scrubbed by high velocity air to remove the moist boundary layer. Since the burners are completely enclosed, all heat energy is captured in the exhaust system of the dryer assembly and a portion can be used to supply hot convention air back to the dryer.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus having a downwardly opening filter housing and including multiple processing gas outlets and a partition structure dividing the interior of the filter housing into individual downwardly-opening open-bottom compartments equal in number to the gas outlets. The partition structure extends into an expansion chamber below the filter housing. The partition structure that divides the housing not only extends the full height of the filter housing portion, but projects appreciably downwardly therefrom into the upper portion of the expansion chamber disposed below the filter housing. Each gas outlet is associated with a filter cartridge mounted on a tubular fitting. The gas filter cartridge is tubular and filters the gas passing through each of the divided filter housing compartments.

Abstract: Drying bulk materials such as wood shavings or wood fibers by contacting the bulk materials with a circulating stream of hot vapor produced by the bulk material drying process, the hot vapor being produced by indirect heat exchange with combustion gas from a fuel-burning combustion chamber, and excess vapor as fuel whereby pollutants are burned before the vapor is discharged into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A vertical dryer for granular materials the dryer having a substantially vertical chute into which granular material is deposited, the chute having walls that are at least in part air pervious for passing heated air through the chute, the chute having incline baffles for intercepting and redirecting the granular material during its descent in the chute.

Abstract: A raw sewage disposal apparatus, such as a portable toilet. The apparatus has a vessel with a first introduction pipe for feeding raw sewage into the vessel. The vessel is externally heated and contains heat holding bodies and an agitator so that the sewage can be heated to evaporate liquid therefrom while being agitated to break down nonevaporable substances into powder. A second introduction pipe is provided to circulate air through the vessel to remove the vapor and later the power therefrom. A deodorizing means including a catalyst, and a preheater for preheating the catalyst, are provided to treat the vapor to make it substantially odorless. A third introduction pipe is provided for supplying fresh air to the preheater. A dust collector is provided to collect the powder.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for energy efficient drying of moist material, for example washed garments, using superheated steam as the drying medium. Apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a casing 10 which is thermally insulated and gas-tight apart from an outlet vent 11. The air initially within the casing is circulated by a fan 13 through a heat source 16 and through moist garments 17. The heated air produces steam from the moisture in the garments which, due to the resultant increase in pressure in the casing, eventually displaces the air from the casing. Continued recirculation of the steam through the heat source 16 causes it to become superheated. As the process continues, and more moisture is evaporated from the garments, a portion of the superheated steam is continually discharged through the vent 11 where it passes into a condenser where its thermal energy is recovered and is transferred by heat exchange to, for example, water which may be used for other purposes.

Abstract: A hair dryer hood conduit is arranged for mounting to a lower annular end of a hair dryer hood, with the hood conduit having a cylindrical body formed with a lower elastomeric band arranged for securement about an individual's head to direct heat thereto. A modification of the invention includes window members arranged through the body to modulate heat directed onto an individual's head.

Abstract: A filtering system for inhibiting the intake of clogging material into the air inlet of a portable blow dryer includes a filter and a fastener, such as straps, connected to the filter for positioning the filter over the air inlet of the blow dryer in a removable fashion. The straps can be elastic to stretch during mounting and retract to snugly secure the filter to the air inlet openings. A pair of opposing filters can be interconnected by the straps for filtering air to dual lateral air inlets, or the filtering straps can be connected to a ring for mounting to a rear axial air inlet.

Abstract: A cast drying system is disclosed for drying a cast. The cast drying system includes a cast drying device including an inflatable bladder made of a flexible material, the bladder having an outer wall and an inner wall jointed together to define an enclosed expansion chamber. The inflatable bladder further includes first air passage means for permitting air to pass into the inflatable bladder which communicates with the expansion chamber. The inner wall preferably includes second air passage means for permitting air to pass out of the expansion chamber such that air originating from the source of forced air can be directed against a cast when the cast is engaged with the inner wall of the inflatable bladder. The system further includes coupling means for conveying forced air originating from the source of forced air into the expansion chamber. The process for drying a cast is also disclosed.