Abstract: A sheet material, a production method therefor and a drying apparatus is provided wherein a heating gas comprising mainly superheated steam is blown directly to reach the sheet internal water content via a permeable belt for restricting free shrinkage of the sheet, to give instantaneous evaporation (pressure flow) and form a porous sheet. A wet sheet 35 is clamped between an externally heated rotor 1 having heated gas blowing ports 19 for blowing heated gas from an outer peripheral direction, and a permeable endless fabric belt 36 which moves in synchronous with the rotor under a tension capable of restraining dry shrinkage of the sheet material, to thereby give rapid direct moisture evaporation and form a porous sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for energy effective regulation of temperature and ventilation of one or more ventilation units of buildings, where one or more heat-pumps are used to exchange thermal energy between outdoor air and an indoor heat carrying fluid medium and where the heating and/or cooling of each ventilation units are achieved by distributing the indoor heat carrying fluid medium in each ventilation units, in such a manner that the natural short term variations in outdoor temperature due to passages of weather systems and the day/night variations is utilized to give the one or more heat-pumps optimized conditions such that they are only turned on for extracting outdoor heat which is delivered to the indoor heat carrying and distributing fluid medium at the relative warm periods in the case of warming the buildings, or only in the relative cold periods for cooling the heat carrying and distributing fluid medium for removal of indoor heat in the case of cooling the buildings, and

Abstract: Liquid for prevention of substrate drying is supplied into a processing chamber so that a pool of the liquid is created as an anti-drying atmosphere in advance inside a processing chamber, and substrates, as they are dipped in the pool, are kept on stand-by in a substrate board. In this manner, air drying of the substrates which are kept on stand-by is prevented. When the number of the substrates in the substrate board reaches a certain number, the anti-drying atmosphere is removed from the processing chamber, which is followed by introduction of an SCF into the processing chamber and supercritical drying (high pressure drying) of all of the plurality of substrates inside the processing chamber, namely, batch supercritical drying.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roll and press lighter which is rendered child resistant by a fixed extension of the body which surrounds or bisects the lever so as to impede the user's thumb. The adult user must operate the lighter in such a way that the flesh of the user's thumb is able to depress the lever below the level of the fixed extension.

Abstract: A separator for removing contaminants from compressed air, the separator including an elongate enclosure having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, the inlet end of the separator being in flow communication with a source of compressed air, the separator defining a first air flow path between the inlet and outlet ends of the separator and a second air flow path between the outlet end of the separator and a wall member positioned adjacent outlet end of the separator for being contacted by air exiting the outlet end of the separator, wherein air traveling in the first flow path undergoes a volumetric expansion and substantial change of direction as it exits the separator and enters the second air flow path and further undergoes a change of direction as it impacts the wall member.

Abstract: A heated airflow dryer system for drying granular, crushed, and in particular, sliced fruit and other crops and materials where granules are of at least about one quarter inch diameter or slices are about one quarter inch or more thickness. An integral or removable materials holding container has multiple removable airflow plates configured with airflow channels extending through the container interior connecting an inlet high pressure plenum to a lower pressure outlet plenum of a primary heated airflow circuit. The airflow plates are parallel and uniformly spaced to form vertical or horizontal bays of sufficient width to hold the granules or slices. The primary airflow is directed through the container. An air dryer removes excess moisture in the primary airflow or a secondary airflow circuit, which may incorporate a heat exchanger, exhausts moist air and provides make up air to the primary airflow.

Abstract: An injector device for delivery of liquid from a high pressure, the device comprising a housing, a pressure chamber 2 comprising a pressure barrel 4 for accommodation of at least one piston therein and having a front end opening 6 for ejection of the liquid, the pressure chamber being of sufficient strength to sustain the liquid pressure. The device further comprises a storage chamber 16, separate from the pressure chamber, for the liquid or the liquid precursor components, and a conduit 22 between the pressure chamber and the storage chamber. A pressurizing mechanism 26 in the housing is arranged to apply force, directly or indirectly, on the piston in the pressure barrel to create said liquid pressure.

Abstract: A drug administration system includes a cradle attached about an intravenous injection port having a flange extending therefrom. The cradle supports first drug administration information in the nature of machine and human readable code, for example, barcode. A syringe including a needle includes a flange extending from the syringe. The syringe supports second drug administration information in machine and/or human readable form. A scanner module is constructed to slidably receive the flange of the cradle and syringe whereby the syringe needle is aligned with the intravenous injection port. The module may be provided with an electronic scanning system for identifying the first and second drug administration information, as well as determining the amount of the drug being administered from the syringe to the injection port by monitoring movement of the syringe plunger. The information and data may be stored within the module for uploading to a remote location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lyophilization method which comprises the following steps: reducing the pressure in the drying chamber until the onset of a visible crystallization of the solvent at a temperature in the drying chamber which is above the solidification point of the preparation; reducing the temperature in the drying chamber to a temperature which is below the solidification point of the preparation or is identical to it, until completion of the crystallization of the solvent, resulting in a frozen solvent; and sublimation of the frozen solvent by means of reduced pressure.

Abstract: A paint drying system for drying a painted body (4), such as a painted motor vehicle, includes a spraybooth (1) having an enclosure (2) through which air flows from an air inlet (6) to an air outlet (16, 18). The spraybooth (1) may also have columns of air jets (34) mounted in respective corners of the enclosure (2) to direct air obliquely at surfaces of the vehicle body (4). The system includes ionization members (33) for electrically charging this air supply. In a preferred embodiment the air is negatively charged by ionization members comprising one or elongate rods (33) mounted parallel with the columns of air jets (34). The spraybooth (2) may also have a control system (210) for controlling the paint drying system (4). The control system (210) has user-operable controls (234) to pre-select a predetermined parameter/combination of parameters and thus control the characteristics of a respective drying stage or cycle which parameters, e.g. temperature, vary with time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an apparatus for removing particles from a substrate surface, wherein the apparatus includes a substrate support member configured to support a substrate thereon, and a broadband actuator in mechanical communication with the substrate support member. Additionally, an air knife assembly may be positioned proximate a perimeter of the substrate surface, and is configured to deliver a laminar stream of air across the substrate surface in order to remove the dislodged contamination particles therefrom. Alternatively, a plasma source may be used to remove dislodged particles from the area proximate the substrate surface.

Abstract: A wheel includes a peripheral outer wall onto which are sequentially loaded veneer panels. The panels are held in place by cable runs against a heated outer surface of the wheel outer wall. Drying of the veneer panels occurs during wheel rotation. A heated fluid medium such as hot oil flows through an annular chamber of the wheel. A series of inlet conduits supply the annular chamber with the heated medium while return conduits return same to a heat source. Multiple tensioned runs of cable confine each panel in place during wheel rotation. A modified form utilizes a continuous screen for panel retention. A drive system imparts rotation to the wheel by powered components in contact with the wheel periphery. A panel pre-heater and jet dryers are supplemental heat sources.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum drying of contact lenses on a gripper, while at the same time minimizing interruptions in operations. This is achieved by a convex shape of the end face of the blast nozzle.

Abstract: A lighter that includes a safety mechanism for preventing its ignition. A piezoelectric lighter ignition unit has a plunger that is movable into a main casting to generate sparks for igniting a stream of flammable gas. A safety mechanism includes a plunger which includes a notch at one side to define an open surface that extends transversely to the direction of motion of the plunger. A latch has a stop portion that makes contact with the transverse open surface to obstruct the motion of the plunger. An arm moves the latch.

Abstract: A bearing for supporting the drum of a clothes dryer which includes an interior structural layer of high coherency felted fibrous material and an exterior surface covering for contact with the dryer drum formed of fibrous material including a wool constituent. The felted interior provides support and noise damping character while the exterior surface covering provides friction reduction and enhanced flame retardancy.

Abstract: A ureteral drainage stent is designed to be placed in a patient's ureter and extend into a patient's bladder. An elongated tubular segment includes a distal region for placement in the renal cavity, and a proximal region for placement in a urinary bladder. A central lumen connects at least one opening in the distal region to at least one opening in the proximal region. The elongated segment is constructed such that the wall surrounding the lumen is thinner in the proximal region than in the distal region. The thin-walled portion of the elongated segment extends along at least part of the ureter, across the ureteral vesicle junction, and from there into the bladder.

Abstract: A regenerative dehumidifier includes: a housing having perforations formed through the housing for directing moisture-laden (or moisture-free) air therein (or therefrom), a moisture-absorbable dehydrating agent including silica gel filled in the housing for absorbing moisture as laden in the air entering the housing for dehumidification or dehydration, and a heating device sandwiched in a first layer and a second layer of the dehydrating agent disposed on opposite sides of the heating device for heating the moisture-saturated dehydrating agent for vaporizing water from the dehydrating agent in order for regenerating the water-absorbed dehydrating agent for its re-use.

Abstract: A combined washer and dryer that automatically moves laundry from the washer to the dryer thereby allowing the operator to avoid manually moving wet laundry and eliminating a step requiring the operator's presence. The invention includes an automatic load-feeder that automatically loads laundry into the washer.

Abstract: An earth wellbore heat loop system has been developed which has, in certain aspects, a heat loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a heat loop disposed in the heat loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the heat loop including a heat loop comprising pipe and a bottom member, the pipe extending down to the bottom member on one side thereof and up from the bottom member on another side thereof, the bottom member comprising a body, a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of a heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least a one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing.

Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and directing member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and directing member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and directing member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.