Abstract: The ablation catheter is comprised of a guiding catheter and an inner catheter. The guiding catheter is comprised of a shaft section which is attached to an articulating section at its distal end and a first handle at its proximal end. The inner catheter is comprised of an elongated central shaft, an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the central shaft, and a second handle attached to the proximal end of the central shaft. The electrode assembly is comprised of a flexible plastic catheter tube having an outer surface, a porous tip electrode, and at least one linear electrode carried on the outer surface of the catheter tube. The electrode assembly is articulated to better align the electrode assembly to the generally arcuate shape of the inner chambers of the heart.

Abstract: Known gas-heated infrared radiators for infrared drying units have a radiator housing (1) that is subdivided by a gas-permeable burner plate (5) in a distribution chamber (6) for the gas-air mixture and a combustion chamber (7), the front side of which emits the radiation. The radiator is held by mixing tube (9) that is affixed to the rear side. A gas-air mixture is supplied to the distribution chamber (6) via said mixing tube (9). The mixing tube (9) has a gas nozzle (11) with a gas inlet (12) and an air inlet (17) on the end opposite the radiator housing (1). The mixing tube is affixed to a holding frame of the drying unit. In order to disassemble the infrared radiator from the infrared drying unit and to mount said radiator on said unit as rapidly as possible, the rear side of the radiator housing (1) is connected to the holding frame by releasable fixing means (20, 33-36) that can be released manually from the front side.

Abstract: A drying tool for drying moisture present in cells of a honeycomb core. The tool includes an inflatable bladder compartment having a bendable exterior surface and a plurality of open-ended nozzles protruding from this exterior surface, with each nozzle having a passage in fluid communication with the bladder compartment. A connector element is connectible with a hot air source for delivering hot air into the bladder compartment for subsequent dispatch through the plurality of nozzles. Preferably, the nozzles are situated in a grid formation and are of a generally conical configuration. In use, the bendable exterior surface with the protruding nozzles is bowed or curved to generally configure to the exterior shape of the honeycomb core such that hot air is pinpointed in a grid pattern to drive heated air into the core and thereby cause circulation through the core cells for moisture evaporation.

Abstract: Spin drying of a stack of flats such as egg trays is performed within a housing by movement of a rotatable lifting head into engagement with the undersurface of the stack. A stack lifting device lifts the lifting head and the stack of flats positioned thereon vertically upwardly into engagement with a drive engagement device thereabove which is rotatably powered by a drive with an optional braking device. Operation of the drive will cause rotation of the lifting head, the stack of flats and the drive engagement device simultaneously. The stack of flats will be held between the lifting head engaging the lower surface thereof and the drive engagement device engaging the upper surface thereof for fixedly securing these three elements together during powered rotation thereof. The rotation will spin off any liquids remaining on the flats such as would be present after being washed.

Abstract: Method for controlling a washing and drying machine, for improving drying performance, and saving energy, the method having a drying cycle for supplying heated air into an inner tub to dry laundry in the inner tub, wherein the drying cycle includes a plurality of drying steps each having the steps of rotating a pulsator for a preset time period, and rotating the inner tub for a preset time period in regular and reverse directions, for enhancing flow of the laundry.

Abstract: A process for drying a polymeric material present on a substrate is provided. Temperatures of the polymeric material is measured and the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the substrate. A temperature of the substrate is also measured. A variation in the measured ambient temperature is detected. The substrate temperature, polymeric temperature, ambient temperature or a substrate drying spin speed is adjusted in response to the detected variation in the measured ambient temperature.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus which includes a conveyor structure for transferring a substrate from a substrate storage device held on a substrate storage device mount table. The apparatus further includes a vacuum loader provided with an additional conveyor structure and a vacuum processing chamber for sequentially loading substrate to be processed. The conveyor structures are each provided with a robot.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for in-vivo plasmapheresis utilizing a plurality of elongated hollow microporous filter fibers periodically interrupt diffusion of blood plasma from a patient, and, for a selected time, backflush fluid into the fibers at a pressure and interval sufficient to cleanse the fiber pores, after which plasma diffusion is resumed.

Abstract: The present invention is a rubber tire recycling process that does not require the inefficient procedure of cutting and shredding the rubber tires. The entire rubber tire enters the recycling process without ever being cut thereby maintains the integrity of the steel wires within the steel belted rubber tires. The present invention allows virtually every component of the rubber tire to be recycled and results in high quality recycled end products that include, among others, full strands of steel wires and high grade rubber.

Abstract: A flexible container in the form of a bag is described for use in a non-immersion dry cleaning process. Bag walls that are appropriately stiff and slick are preferred (preferred Kawabata Evaluation System stiffness and surface friction values are given), as are bag designs that are inherently three-dimensional and self-supporting. A preferred embodiment is a tetrahedral bag having a slick polymeric coating on the interior surface.

Abstract: In a drying section of a machine for producing a material web such as, in particular, a paper or cardboard web, a pick-up suction roll, in particular a larger pick-up suction roll, is provided between the last pressing nip of a pressing section and a subsequent impingement drying unit, which suction roll removes the material web from a pressing felt guided through the pressing nip or from a transfer belt and transfers it to the impingement drying unit.

Abstract: A control system for providing improved control over the combustion process of a multiple-intertube pulverized-coal burner that commonly forms a portion of a roof-fired boiler. The system utilizes actual mass fuel flow measurements to calculate corrected, optimal secondary and interjectory air demands. The corrected secondary and interjectory air demands are used by a proportional and integral control loop to regulate the respective supply of secondary and interjectory air to the combustion process of each in-service burner. The control system allows for optimal combustion of the fuel and a reduction in NOx emmissions.

Abstract: In a method for centrifugally dehydrating a pallet or the like, the pallet or the like is held on a diagonal line thereof, and is rotated in a state where the diagonal line is substantially aligned with an axis of rotation, thereby removing a liquid adhered thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing solvent droplets from falling on wafers during a solvent drying process of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus is constructed by a body having a cavity therein for holding a wafer, means for introducing a solvent vapor in the cavity, a plurality of condenser coils on an inside wall of the cavity, and a plurality of condensing plates attached to the plurality of condenser coils on a surface facing the wafer for condensing solvent vapor and flowing condensed solvent into a reservoir thus preventing solvent droplets from falling on the wafer surface.

Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a material which includes a process chamber, a process pan operatively connected to the process chamber and removable therefrom, a blower operatively connected to the process chamber and to a heat source, the blower adapted to force heated air into the process chamber through the material disposed on the process pan, the forced heated air adapted to vaporize hydrocarbons and other contaminants disposed on the material, and at least one condenser operatively connected to the process chamber and adapted to condense the vaporized hydrocarbons and other contaminants is disclosed. Further, a method for separating hydrocarbons from a material which includes passing a stream of heated air over the material to volatilize the hydrocarbons, passing the stream of heated air containing the hydrocarbons through at least one condenser to form liquid hydrocarbons, collecting the liquid hydrocarbons, and recirculating the heated air is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller belt drier. The drying of panel-shaped products often requires the drier to have considerable construction lengths in order to achieve a high capacity. Long roller belt dryers, which are usually equipped with chain drives and a motor for each chain, present the problem that very strong chains are required to transmit the necessary driving forces. When the drier reaches a certain length, it is no longer possible to provide chains that are able to accommodate these forces. According to known solutions, a chain is divided and the drives are located in the centre of the drier. This causes problem s in terms of sealing the drier, as well as extra expense for the driving and tension station. The aim of the invention is to create a drier which has a driving and tension system that is structurally simple and economical even for considerable construction lengths. A chain is equipped with two drives (15, 23), the second drive (23) being integrated in a tension device (24).

Abstract: A moisture indicator in an air flow drying process where hot gas is circulated over and around a granular material having an undesirable amount of moisture includes a detector located in the path of the exhaust gas to determine exhaust flow temperature, a valve control device associated with the temperature detector to control the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the hot gas intake and an indicator connected to the valve control device. A display is associated with the indicator to display the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the gas intake which indicates the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage of hydrocarbon gas needed in the intake is inversely proportional to the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage signals the loader operator whether the granular material loaded has an acceptable amount of moisture for successful operation of the drying process.

Abstract: An improved mass fuel combustion system can be designed in a variety of embodiments and alternatives, including designs which include independent gas feeds, independent gas pulsing, independently controllable vibration systems and an overall control system which can coordinate a host of parameters for optimal combustion. One design includes overlapping grate elements (50) through which combustion gas is introduced and may include apertures to introduce a pulsed mix gas as well as a separate temperature control gas. Efficient poppet designs (44) can be used to provide an economical and efficient combustion system.

Abstract: A drying system for drying a semiconductor substrate is provided. The drying system includes: a chamber for housing a vapor distributor and a fluid bath, said fluid bath being disposed in a lower portion of the chamber and said distributor being disposed in an upper portion of the chamber for distributing vapor for drying the substrate; and a fluid flow system for supplying fluid flow into said fluid bath for cleaning and drying the substrate and for draining said fluid from the fluid bath, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of exhaust vents disposed at the upper portion for venting the vapor.

Abstract: A fire arrester for use with a clothes dryer includes a fire detector at the dryer vent to detect fires starting in the dryer and provides an electrical power disconnect means to break the flow of electrical power being supplied to operate the dryer. Optionally, the signal is applied to release an extinguishing agent or fire suppressant into the interior of the dryer just prior to shutting off the dryer blower. The output signal from the fire detector can also be used to provide various alarms, including local visual and/or alarms, as well as a remote alarm, which can be accomplished by sending a signal to a remote monitoring facility such as a home intrusion service or to a local fire department. Optionally, the activation of any of the alarm signals, and/or the activation of any of the features or functions of the fire arrester can be accomplished by using wireless communications.