Patents Examined by Jiping Lu
  • Patent number: 8291610
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a paint applied onto a bodywork of a motor vehicle, which apparatus is provided with a radiating assembly equipped with at least one catalytic panel fed with hydrocarbon gas for generating a first infrared radiation emission spectrum in the short-wavelength infrared band, in virtue of a catalytic reaction between the hydrocarbon gas and the oxygen present in the air, and arranged so as to emit the infrared radiations towards the bodywork to dry the paint, and is further provided with at least one air supplying device for blowing compressed air onto the catalytic panel so as to affect the catalytic reaction and generate a second infrared radiation emission spectrum distributed on the entire short-wavelength infrared band and broader than the first emission spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Symach S.R.L.
    Inventor: Osvaldo Bergaglio
  • Patent number: 8286368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for rationalizing the allocation of the heat energy generated from catalytic combustion process for enameling machines wherein a circulating fan is installed above the oven body in a position close to its middle portion; above the front area of the oven body is an organic waste-gas inlet and above which is a primary catalytic chamber. A hot-air allocation chamber is located on the side of the said primary catalytic chamber. The said circulating fan connects the said primary catalytic chamber and the hot-air allocation chamber, delivering the circulating hot air resulting from catalytic combustion into the hot-air allocation chamber which is further connected to the front area, middle area and back area of the oven body via the front air flue, middle air flue and back air flue. With rationalized distribution of heat energy, this invention accelerates the baking speed, thereby improving productivity by 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Dongguan Zelong Wire and Cable Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhide Ye, Benneng Chen, Junkai Sheng, Zhifang Chen, Guozhu Tang
  • Patent number: 8281498
    Abstract: Disclosed are an evaporator, an evaporation method, and a substrate processing apparatus, which can increase the concentration of generated vapor of an organic solvent and efficiently heat the organic solvent. The evaporator includes a fluid tube, a liquid organic solvent supply device for supplying the organic solvent liquid to one end of the fluid tube, and heating units for heating the fluid tube. The fluid tube has a cross section that increases from the one end to the other end. When the organic solvent liquid supplied to one end of the fluid tube is heated, the organic solvent vapor is discharged from the other end of the fluid tube. The substrate processing apparatus includes the above-described evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mikio Nakashima, Yuji Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8281500
    Abstract: A drying container insert that manages the evaporation rate of liquid solutions when subjected to blow-down gas flows. Certain gas flow separator baffles or framed inserts with vanes may be especially effective to enhance evaporation when combined with aggressive blow-down flow rates and centrifugal force. The centrifugal force applied to the evaporating liquid protects sample integrity by preventing the solution(s) from splashing out of the drying container. Such splashing, when high blow-down gas flow rates are directed into the sample containers, affects yield and purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Modular SFC, LLC
    Inventors: Herbert J. Hedberg, Brian A. Kangas, Michael A. Burns
  • Patent number: 8281499
    Abstract: A mobile surface drying apparatus includes a vacuum and blower assembly. The vacuum and blower assembly includes a vacuum head and a blower head. The vacuum head suctions moisture through an inlet of the vacuum and blower assembly, and the blower head communicates airflow through an outlet of the vacuum and blower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: John Friesen, Jacob Friesen, Rob Brush
  • Patent number: 8272144
    Abstract: An electric household appliance (1) having a casing (2); a rotary drum (3) housing laundry to be dried and mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (L) inside the casing (2); a door (4) which rotates to and from a work position closing an opening (2a) in the casing (2) to close the drum (3); a hot-air generator (5) for circulating hot air inside the drum (3); a steam generator (15) for circulating a steam jet inside the drum (3); an exhaust manifold (11) communicating with the drum (3) to allow outflow of air/steam from the drum (3); and a shutter device (30) for selectively opening/closing the exhaust manifold (11) to permit /prevent free outflow of air/steam from the drum (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Luigi Arreghini
  • Patent number: 8266823
    Abstract: A system and method for drying cavities loaded with high level waste (“HLW”) is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with HLW comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; and a source of non-reactive gas. The system further flows the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and repetitively measures the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Krishna Singh
  • Patent number: 8266822
    Abstract: An improvement for drying crushed cane or other bagasse for briquetting or other processes includes a drying unit (1) with a humid bagasse dosing hopper (2) having a screw conveyor feeding inclined screw conveyor (5) and a latter rotary dosing valve (6) discharging into hot air funnel (7) into drying tank (8), bagasse being lifted and exposed to the hot air in front chamber (9) and in final drying chamber (17) by tumbling blades (10) through the action of geared motor (15), almost-dry bagasse in suspension being sucked out by pair of centrifugal blowers (18) dropping it into separator filter (19) and falling into hopper (20), being cooled in open-trough screw conveyors (21) and (22), screw conveyor (22) including screen (23) for separation of powder to be conveyed by screw conveyor (25) to inclined screw conveyor (26) for discharge into feeder hoppers (28) to the burners (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Carlos Fraza
  • Patent number: 8256133
    Abstract: A dryer exhaust duct alarm detects the presence of lint or other obstructions in an exhaust duct or vent. A thin lever is suspended within the duct and is slightly cupped in shape to more effectively capture air flow. In the presence of uninhibited air flow, the lever is substantially displaced from its initial substantially-vertical position toward a substantially horizontal position. But when airflow is inhibited, the lever is not sufficiently displaced. A detector detects operation of the dryer. If the dryer operates for a determined period of time but the lever is not sufficiently displaced, the user is alerted of the problem. Other data may also be presented to the user, including real-time data over a communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Safety First Appliance Protection, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Asciolla, Lawrance J. Paterno
  • Patent number: 8256138
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic dryer is disclosed, which can determine a dryness level based on information relating the laundry by an initial average value of a sensing means, to thereby achieve stability and reliability in a drying process, the method comprising sensing whether the amount of laundry is small or large by using an average output value in a preset time period of an initial drying stage; detecting a saturation voltage generating point of the sensor; and performing a drying cycle based on each dryness level by using information for the amount of laundry and the saturation voltage generating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ja In Koo, Sun Cheol Bae, Jin Seok Hu, Yang Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8240065
    Abstract: A freeze-dryer and method of controlling the same is provided. The disclosed freeze-dryer includes a chamber adapted to hold material or product to be freeze-dried; one or more depressurization orifices; a gas pressurization circuit having a source of gas to pressurize the chamber to a prescribed pressure; a depressurization circuit coupled to the chamber via the one or more orifices and having a depressurizing control valve; and a control unit adapted to pressurize the chamber with the source of gas and actuate the depressurizing control valve to depressurize the chamber upon command. The ratio of total depressurization orifice area to the chamber volume is preferably between about 6×10?2 and about 4×10?4 m2/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce Mark Rampersad, Robert Rex Sever, Balazs Hunek, Theodore Hall Gasteyer, III
  • Patent number: 8240062
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a grain dryer having a framework and a number of wipers secured to the framework. The framework has a number of primary supports that extend radially outwardly from the central axis and a number of secondary support members connected to the end of the primary support members and positioned to engage the shelf floor of the grain bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sukup Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Eugene G. Sukup
  • Patent number: 8234795
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying produce in a centrifugal drier is described. The drier includes a housing and a drum configured to receive a multi-volume basket. The method includes loading produce into a first volume and a second volume of the multi-volume basket. The basket may include perforated walls, a closed lower end, and an open upper end. The interior volume of the basket is divided into at least a first volume and a second volume by a perforated inner divider that is oriented concentrically to the basket walls. The first volume is disposed inside the inner divider. The second volume is disposed between the inner divider and the basket walls. A drive assembly rotates the drum and the basket, loaded with produce in the first and second volumes, to cause fluids to drain out of the produce to yield dried produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Jay Dull, Jerry Lynn Crawford, Frank Edward Davis, Jose Emilio Villarreal Lozoya, Yuki Mikoshiba
  • Patent number: 8234796
    Abstract: A method of controlling a tumble laundry drier (1), the method including the steps of: starting a drying/ironing cycle and feeding drying air into the drum (5) from a drum input to a drum output; continuously measuring the electrical resistance/conductivity between two electrodes (25) located on the inside of the door; estimating the weight of the laundry inside the drum (5); measuring a temperature of the drying air at the drum output; stopping the drying/ironing cycle, if the weight of the laundry is above a weight threshold, when the electrical resistance/conductivity between the two electrodes (25) is above/below a resistance/conductivity threshold; and stopping the drying/ironing cycle, if the weight of the laundry is below a weight threshold, when the electrical resistance/conductivity between the two electrodes (25) is above/below a resistance/conductivity threshold and also when the temperature of the drying air at the drum output is above a temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Dreossi, Maurizio Ugel
  • Patent number: 8230616
    Abstract: The removal of moisture from an object to be sterilized is provided through at least the steps of placing the load in the chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the load, monitoring over a predetermined period of time the increase in the quantity of vapor within the chamber resulting from evaporation of moisture from the load, admitting gas into the chamber and repeating the steps following placing the load into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sterilucent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jami McLaren, Steven J. Olson, Kent Larson
  • Patent number: 8230614
    Abstract: A configurable hoof drying apparatus. The drying components of the apparatus are selectable, configurable and inter-changeable for desired drying needs and change a pressure, speed and temperature of an original drying air source. Therefore it can be used with a hot/warm/cool/cold air drying source. The hoof drying apparatus is portable and specifically designed, but is not limited to, drying hooves for the purposes of: hoof wall repair, preparation for medication for hoof diseases and preparation of the hoof for application of hoof dressings and hoof shoes. The hoof drying apparatus can also be used for drying non-hoofed animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Donald R. Tritz
  • Patent number: 8225526
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying porous materials. A sealable chamber is connected to a cold trap which is connected to a vacuum pump. A sample is placed inside the sealable chamber. The vacuum pump is turned on and air is evacuated through the cold trap to the vacuum pump. Because evaporation may lower the temperature inside the sealable chamber, an infrared lamp may be used to heat the chamber and sample therein directly or heated air may be allowed to enter the sealable chamber in response to the vacuum created by the vacuum pump. Air may be drawn directly from the sealable chamber to the vacuum pump bypassing the cold trap. A load cell may be placed in the bottom of the sealable chamber to monitor the weight of a sample to determine if the drying process is complete. Other parameters could be used, including the degree of vacuum achieved in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: InstroTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianqing He, Ali Regimand, Lawrence H. James, Peter D. Muse
  • Patent number: 8220180
    Abstract: An air injection nozzle has an air injection face with a number of air injection holes arrayed at an interval (Py) in first and second staggered rows. The first row and the second rows are positioned at an interval (Px). The air injection face and the sheet running face confront each other at a distance (L). The air injection holes in the air injection face have a diameter (D). The interval (Px), the interval (Py), the distance (L) and the diameter (D) satisfy Formula (1): 6?(L/D)/(Px/Py)?9, and Formula (2): 4?L/D?8. This air injection nozzle is employed as a resin film heat treating apparatus in a tenter oven to be used for manufacturing the resin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Inoue, Takanori Nishida, Hiroyuki Aso
  • Patent number: 8220179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disc drying device and a disc drying method that allow simultaneous and quick drying of plural discs by a batch process and realize miniaturization of the device. In the present invention, plural discs arranged along a single axis are simultaneously chucked at outer peripheries thereof so that central openings of the discs internally form a space; plural nozzles are disposed in the space so as to supply hot water from inner peripheral surfaces of two sides of each of the discs to heat the discs with the hot water; and the discs are simultaneously rotated to thereby move the hot water from inner peripheries to outer peripheries of the discs and discharge the hot water outwardly of the outer peripheries by centrifugal force. The discharged hot water flows through valley grooves provided in inner wall surfaces of a water receiving cover to the lower side of the discs to be discharged to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Maruyama, Brian Rattray
  • Patent number: 8220178
    Abstract: A liquid solid separator utilizing inductive heating. An electrically conductive scroll conveyor is contained within a non-magnetic and non-conductive housing under vacuum. A moveable alternating electric coil is disposed around the housing. The scroll pulls the solids through the housing. Operation of the coil heats the scroll which heats the solids. The vacuum lowers the boiling point of the liquids, and they are vaporized at a relatively low temperature. The vapors are condensed and collected. Because of the low temperatures, the separated liquids are less likely to deteriorate during separation, facilitating recycling. Thermocouples and a computer track the internal temperature of the separator and coordinate the position of the coil to maintain the desired temperature. The housing is provided with a heat insulating outer layer and the interior of the scroll is pressurized with nitrogen. The separator surfaces exposed to the atmosphere are maintained at or below 150° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Herman J. Schellstede