Patents Examined by Dinnatia Doster
  • Patent number: 5604993
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for drying the inside surfaces of gloves. The glove drying devices include a perforated hollow drying form in the shape of a hand. A tube is mounted to the inside of the drying form in order to improve the air flow into the interior of the form. A heating means is provided for mounting inside the tube in order to heat the air which flows into the drying form and to enhance the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Irmgard G. Auckerman
  • Patent number: 5603167
    Abstract: A pipe coil is heated in the furnace of a heat treatment apparatus, The oil adhered to the inside of the pipe is vaporized by this heating, In this state the oil removing gas is fed at one end into the pipe which gas is in the high temperature enough to maintain the vaporizing condition of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Daidotokushuko Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Katsumasa Toyoda, Takashi Miyajima, Yoshihiro Umeda
  • Patent number: 5600896
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying and sterilizing kitchen utensils including two door panels with axial compression means at two opposite ends respectively moved in sliding grooves on the apparatus base relative to respective roller means at the sliding grooves, clamps adjustably fastened to tracks on an utensil carrying rack inside the apparatus base for holding down kitchen utensils, supporting tubes connected to stub tubes on the rack for holding containers upside-down for drying and sterilizing, and air conduits with air outlets for guiding hot currents of ozone to the rack and the supporting tubes in all directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Yeong S. Lin
  • Patent number: 5600900
    Abstract: A system providing wrinkle-free drying of a liquid zone coating applied to a paper web includes a surface of high thermal conductivity heated to a uniform temperature above the boiling point of the coating liquid and over which the web is drawn with the uncoated face in contact with the surface. A vacuum is also drawn through the surface to hold the web in intimate contact therewith during drying. The method and apparatus of the invention are applicable to unitary webs as well as composite webs such as corrugated paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 5600898
    Abstract: The paper dryer section has a single tier of all top felted dryer rolls seven to nine feet in diameter. Air caps are employed over the dryer rolls to simultaneously dry both sides of the web to prevent curl and to increase drying rates. The air caps employ blown air at a temperature of 200-1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and air speeds of 8,000-40,000 feet per minute. The felt employed is foraminous with a permeability of between 300-1,500 cubic feet per minute per square foot and is designed to withstand peak temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and average temperatures of between 500-600 degrees Fahrenheit. A single dryer roll, or more advantageously, two vacuum rolls in a vacuum box are disposed between the dryer rolls to maximize the circumferential wrap of the web and, at the same time, support and transport the web between dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajendra D. Deshpande, Jeffrey H. Pulkowski
  • Patent number: 5598640
    Abstract: A hand-held blow dryer includes a barrel having concentric inner and outer cylinders. The outer cylinder is slidably mounted on the inner cylinder. Each of the inner and outer cylinder comprise a plurality of holes. A deflecting mechanism is positioned at the barrel opening of the barrel, and an actuating mechanism is operationally associated with the outer cylinder and the deflecting mechanism. The hand-held blow dryer can be utilized in a first mode in which the holes of the inner and outer cylinders are not aligned to block air flow through the barrel surface and thereby direct air to the barrel opening which is opened. In a second mode, the actuating mechanism is actuated so as to slide the outer cylinder with respect to the inner cylinder to align the holes on the inner and outer cylinder and permit air flow through the aligned holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Natale Schepisi
  • Patent number: 5596814
    Abstract: An vented vial stopper for use in processing freeze-dried products is provided. The stopper includes a vent passageway that is covered with a waterproof and moisture vapor permeable membrane to allow the venting of moisture during the freeze-drying process. The membrane also extends to cover most or all of the exposed surface of the stopper to protect the stopper from chemical attack during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Zingle, Nelson A. George
  • Patent number: 5596816
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for drying particulate material, particularly alumina, which comprises the steps of subjecting a first portion of a wet particulate material feed to pre-drying to produce at least partially dried particular material and moisture, heating the at least partially dried particulate material to a temperature higher than the temperature of the pre-drying to produce hot particulate material, water vapour and products of combustion, passing the water vapour and products of combustion to the pre-drier, mixing the hot particulate material with a second portion of the wet particulate material feed to cool the hot particulate material and further cooling the cooled particulate material and subsequent separation to produce a low temperature particular material product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Alcoa of Australia Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Mills, William S. Maley
  • Patent number: 5594999
    Abstract: Radiant emitting walls enclose opposite sides of a central combustion chamber in an oven where coated objects to be dried are placed or passed. The radiant emitting walls generate primarily infrared radiation and have a nonuniform temperature distribution so that the temperature of the lower portion of the oven can be selectively adjusted to be significantly higher than the temperature of the upper portion. An insulated outer housing surrounds the radiant walls and defines combustion chambers each having a linear burner which runs substantially the entire length of the radiant emitting walls. The lower portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy primarily from radiation from the linear burners and the upper portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy from primarily radiation from the interior radiant emitting surfaces of the insulated outer housing and convection from the linear burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
    Inventor: Willie H. Best
  • Patent number: 5594997
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for drying a fibre web between two tight bands that move in parallel and turn around turning rolls, wherein a fibre web is taken between heating wires through a drying zone defined by the bands, and auxiliary wires are arranged between the heating wires and the bands. The heating wires are permeable to steam, whereby the steam evaporating from the fibre web passes through the heating wires and the auxiliary wires toward the cooled bands simultaneously from both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventor: Jukka Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 5595067
    Abstract: A rotary vane/expansion device having a housing, a rotor with a shaft having an axis, a plurality of telescoping vanes extending radially outwardly from the axis to rotationally contact the inner wall of the housing. There is a movable housing which rests on a track. There are two sets of drive pistons. One drives the piston (and housing) in one direction which is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The second drive piston drives the housing along the track in the opposite direction so that the amount of compression can be controlled. The outer edges of the vanes are provided with pin rollers to reduce wear. Telescoping vanes are also disclosed. The cross-section of the housing in a plane perpendicular to the axis has an ovoidal shape. This can also be used to obtain fresh water from salt water. Salt water is placed in a tank with heating coils in it. The tank has an overhead dome with a trough to catch condensed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Inventor: James E. Maness
  • Patent number: 5590477
    Abstract: A dryer vent box and method is provided which addresses the problems inherent in conventional dryer vent assemblies. The dryer vent box includes upper and lower mating substantially rectangular housings which are dimensioned to be received within the confines of a conventional 2.times.4 studded wall. Each of the upper and lower rectangular housings have a protruding cylindrical flange with an opening into the housing to provide for the intake and exhaust of dryer exhaust gasses. The upper housing section includes at least one tab extending from one of the sides thereof to provide for the attachment of the upper housing to the wall. The lower housing includes cutoff markings or indicators which provide for the correct placement of the cylindrical flange of the upper housing relative to the dryer outlet. Thus, the dryer vent box of the present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing, effective, efficient and improved dryer venting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Michael B. Carfagno, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5590476
    Abstract: A dryer section in a paper machine which comprises a number of dryer groups, each having drying cylinders, reversing cylinders arranged between adjacent pairs of drying cylinders and a wire which presses the web against heated cylinder faces of the drying cylinders whereas the web remains at the side of the outside curve on the reversing cylinders. The dryer groups are arranged in two or more stories. Some of the dryer groups in the dryer section are placed in the basement spaces underneath the machine hall level, and some of them are placed on the machine hall level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Markku Alakoski, Antti Ilmarinen, Martti Tissari, Kyosti Uuttana
  • Patent number: 5584126
    Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Ensign, Michael G. Stelljes, Jr., Paul D. Trokhan
  • Patent number: 5584128
    Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Ensign, Michael G. Stelljes, Jr., Paul D. Trokhan
  • Patent number: 5581906
    Abstract: limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Ensign, Michael G. Stelljes, Jr., Paul D. Trokhan
  • Patent number: 5581907
    Abstract: An article to be dried is transferred and pressed and held between a wire endless conveyor and a flexible conveyor. The wire endless conveyor is placed between a nozzle, including a sucking-out nozzle and a blowing nozzle, and the cushion conveyor to press, hold and transfer the article to be dried. The nozzle dehydrates/dries the article to be dried. When an article to be dried is narrower than the width of the nozzle, the area where the article to be dried does not cover the sucking-out nozzle or the blowing nozzle is automatically shut by the flexible conveyor. The article to be dried is dehydrated/dried while it is pressed, held and transferred so that a high speed air jet stream and high speed negative pressure air stream do not flow out/in to outer air. While the article to be dried is transferred, pressed and held by the flexible conveyor, water adhering to it is formed into minute water drops by the high speed air jet stream and the high speed negative pressure air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seibu Giken
    Inventors: Toshimi Kuma, Toshihiro Masuzaki
  • Patent number: 5581902
    Abstract: A rotary drum dryer is provided which will dissipate heat from the drum and which will allow the drum to expand. The rotary drum dryer includes an elongate cylindrical drum which rotates on a base and a tire assembly mounted to the drum. The tire assembly includes a band extending circumferencially around the drum and being radially spaced from the drum and a circumferential tire mounted on the band. A plurality of linkage assemblies are spaced around the drum to physically connect the tire assembly to the drum and a plurality of gussets which maintain a desired spacing between the tire assembly and the drum to allow the drum to move relative to the tire assembly. The gussets each include a gusset body having a top edge and a notch formed in the top edge. The gussets act as vanes to dissipate heat from the drum before the heat reaches the tire assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Didion, Michael S. Didion
  • Patent number: 5579590
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for a strip of material or web, including a conditioning zone immediately following but fully integrated with the dryer, to lower the bulk temperature of web. The web of material can be introduced to conditioned air which is substantially free of contaminants being evolved from the coating on the web. The temperature of the conditioned air is low enough to absorb heat from the web, effectively lowering the solvent evaporation rate, and can be controlled such that it is greater than the dew point of the contaminants being evolved from the web, thereby mitigating condensation that normally forms and visible vapors that form outside of the dryer enclosure. Pressure control is provided in the conditioning zone so that solvent vapors will not escape and so that ambient make-up air can be regulated as required. Gas seal between the conditioning zone and the dryer prevents hot, solvent vapor laden air from the dryer from escaping into the conditioning zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Paul G. Seidl, Steve J. Zagar
  • Patent number: 5579588
    Abstract: A method for metering solid present in the gas/solid stream of a fluidized-bed apparatus, in which gas and solid are present as a prehomogenized, free-flowing mixture in a fluidized bed and in which at least one outlet orifice for removal of the gas/solid stream is provided in an outflow pipe. The method provides for feeding a particulate phase and a gas phase, homogenizing the two phases in a fluidized bed, discharging the two-phase flow via a discharge pipe and injecting gas into the discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Lothar Reh, Marc Tesch, Beat Hani, Arthur Ruf