Abstract: A method for contact-free drying of a paper or board web (W). Both in which both infrared radiation and drying air jets are used for drying, by means of which air jets the web (W) passing through the dryer (10,20) is, at the same time, supported free of contact. The web (W) is passed first into an infrared drying gap or gaps (10V.sub.A,10V.sub.B) and thereupon into a flotation web-drying gap (20V). The infrared radiators (105) in the infrared drying unit or units (10A,10B) are cooled by means of air currents (F.sub.Ain,F.sub.Bin). In the method, before the flotation dryer (20), and in such a way closed infrared drying unit or units (10A,10B) is/are used whose cooling air is not to a significant extent passed into the infrared drying gap (10V.sub.A,10V.sub.B). The dry cooling air heated in the infrared drying unit or units (10A,10B) is passed through the nozzles (25.sub.1,25.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus control firing rate in a heating system to compensate for thermal mass characteristics of the heating system. The thermal mass characteristics of the heating system are derived from heating system identification information. A weighted control response factor is selected which is representative of load characteristics of a load type affecting firing rate control and which is representative of desired control tightness. The firing rate is varied, based on the weighted control response factor and the thermal characteristics, to match the heating system, the load type being controlled and the desired control tightness for optimum control.

Abstract: Cohesive solids are fluidized in a chamber having a movable perforated wall through which the fluidizing gas flows by reciprocating the movable wall.

Abstract: A supplementary hot water heating system which transfers to a hot water tank heat from exhaust gas in the furnace stack which would otherwise be wasted. When the water in the supplementary heater core is heated to a desired temperature, normally closed valves, one connecting the heater core to the cold waterline and the other connecting the bottom of the hot water tank to a drain, are simultaneously opened and remain opened until the supplementary heater core is again filled with cold water from the cold water line.

Abstract: An equipment for surface treatment according to the present invention comprises a chamber capable of exhausting gas, a revolving stage disposed in said chamber for placing a material to be treated thereon, a quartz plate serving as a gap controlling means spaced from the material to be treated such that a gap between said revolving stage and said material to be treated is provided not to exceed 0.5 mm for forming a space of treatment, the quartz plate being provided with a gas supplying means for supplying a reactive gas containing oxygen into the space of treatment, and a gas exciting means provided on the a side of said quartz plate opposite that on which the material to be treated is located for exciting the oxygen contained in said reactive gas into metastable oxygen atoms.

Abstract: A hair dryer and steamer combination includes a handle housing mounting a fan blower producing a flow of air and a hair brush attachment having a hair engaging surface for seizing the hair to be styled. Included in the hair brush attachment is a heater which heats the water supplied from a water supplying tank at the end of the attachment to generate the steam. The attachment has its interior divided into an air flow chamber open rearwardly into the handle housing and a steam chamber accommodating the steam heater. The air flow chamber is provided with a number of air vents through which the air flow from the handle housing is discharged outwardly for drying the hair in engagement with the hair engaging surface. The steam chamber has a number of steam vents for discharging the steam outwardly for moistening the hair in engagement with the hair engaging surface.

Abstract: An improved gas-fired heater for supplying heat to a space, such as a vehicle cab, and simultaneously, heat to the engine block for running the vehicle. A heat exchanger simultaneously heats a coolant which supplies heat to the engine block, and air to the vehicle cab.

Abstract: Method and device in a drying of a moving web, in which the web is passed while being supported free of contact through various drying gaps in which the web is dried by infrared radiation and air blowing. The web is passed into an infrared treatment gap in which infrared radiation is applied to the same, preferably from gas-operated infrared-radiation elements. Cooling air of the infrared unit is blown into the treatment gap and towards the web. After the infrared treatment gap, the web is immediately passed into an air drying gap within which the web is dried by way of air blowings which, at the same time, support the web free of contact. The cooling air and possibly combustion gases from the infrared unit are passed through a web inlet opening of the airborne web dryer unit into an interior of the box of the airborne unit to constitute part of its circulating air. The cooling air required by the infrared unit is passed into the infrared unit out of a pressure compartment of the airborne unit.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler which for the purpose of cooling a fluid flowing within at least one duct (1) evaporates a substance on the outside of said duct, said substance being supplied in liquid form through at least one conduit, is characterized by at least one liquid connector (7) for controlled passage of the liquid from the conduit (6) onto the outside of said duct (1), wherein the outside of the duct (1) is covered by a porous capillary layer (2) into which the liquid connector(s) (7) open(s). The capillary layer (2) may be surrounded by a liquid barrier (3).

Abstract: Method and device in a drying group or groups provided with a single wire draw, in a multi-cylinder dryer of a paper machine for securing the threading of the web. The multi-cylinder dryer has drying cylinders heated by steam or equivalent, with the web to be dried being pressed by the drying wire into direct contact with cylinder faces of the drying cylinders. The multi-cylinder dryer also has leading cylinders or rolls on which the web remains outside the drying wire. In the area of single-wire draw, the leading cylinders or rolls are provided with a suction zone situated at a side of the service-side end of the rolls. The suction zone is provided by way of perforations passing through a mantle of the leading cylinders or rolls. The negative pressure present in an interior space in the leading cylinders is spread onto the outer faces thereof through the perforations and by way of grooves situated within the area of the suction zone and passing around the roll mantle.

Abstract: An arrangement of pressure nozzles intended for the treatment of webs comprises a nozzle box. The nozzle box has a carrying face (16) placed facing the web, two nozzle slots (17,18) that blow towards each other being provided in connection with the carrying face, these nozzle slots being placed in the outer part of the space defined by the inner walls (14,15) and the outer walls (20,21) of the nozzle box. The arrangement of nozzles is asymmetric relative to the perpendicular center plane (A--A) of its pressurized carrying face (16). The arrangement of nozzles has a first nozzle slot (18), which is placed relative the carrying face (16) in such a way that the gas jet (v.sub.1) blown out of the nozzle slot follows and remains in contact with the curved carrying face (16) up to the area between the nozzle slots (17,18). The arrangement of nozzles includes a second nozzle slot (17), which is placed within the area of the edge of the curved guide face (14,R.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for the conditioning of bulk material, in particular vegetable material such a wood chips, for the production of fibers or pulp is provided, comprising a silo, a plurality of steam nozzles distributed substantially uniformly over said silo and shielded against clogging with said bulk material, and a plurality of fittings disposed within said silo for relieving said bulk material. The apparatus provides substantially uniform conditioning of the bulk material.

Abstract: A heat pump is disclosed which includes a first packed bed of liquid desint for removing moisture from outside air in the heating mode of operation, and a pump for transferring the moisture laden desiccant to a second packed bed which humidifies condenser heated inside air by adding water vapor to the air. The first packed bed, by removing moisture from the outside air before it passes through the heat pump's evaporator coils, prevents frost from forming on the coils. In the cooling mode of operation the second packed bed of liquid desiccant removes water vapor from the air inside of the building. The moisture laden desiccant is then transferred to the first packed bed by a second pump where condenser heat transfers the moisture from the desiccant to outside air.

Abstract: A heating appliance particularly for a drier of a web of material comprising a combustion unit having a burner and a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber consists of an elongated first section extending away from the burner and merging into a second portion via a bend of 180.degree. said two portions defining an U-shaped path for the combustion gases and being approximately of equal lengths. The combustion chamber also being provided with one or more discharge openings for discharging part of the combustion gases, said opening(s) being controllable by means of a valve.

Abstract: A system for conditioning grain in a sealed container through the removal of liquid from a bushel of grain by sequentially evacuating high relative humidity air from the sealed container and thereafter allowing dry environmental air to reenter the sealed container. A sensor in the sealed container detects the relative humidity therein and supplies a controller with a signal to operate a pump which evacuates high relative humidity air from the sealed container. Thereafter, a pressure sensor detects a vacuum in the sealed container and supplies the controller with a signal which terminates the operation of the pump to allow dry environmental air to reenter the sealed container. The replacement of high relative humidity air with dry environmental air continues until the liquid content per bushel of grain is at a desired level.

Abstract: Device for removal of condensate from a revolving steam heated drying cylinder or the like. A condensate standpipe rotates with the drying cylinder and features a suction mouthpiece with a suction opening forming an inlet group with the inside wall of the cylinder shell. There is provided, in the area of the suction mouthpiece, at least one guide device which imparts to the steam/condensate mixture entering the condensate standpipe a rotation about the standpipe axis. This guide device enables a reduction of the amount of steam required for dewatering of a drying cylinder. The device is preferably used in dewatering the drying cylinders of a paper machine.

Abstract: A web dryer for floatingly suspending a running web and having a horizontal exit slot through which the web exits from the dryer, makeup air being drawn into the dryer through said slot and in a direction opposite to that of web exit movement. The running web is forced to move up or down based on the fluctuations in air movement and which cause the web to billow across its width, a rotatable roll arranged is in parallelism to the exit slot and located downstream from the web exit slot and around which roll the moving web is wrapped. The web, due to said tendency to billow across its width, thereby creates a tight side of the web around the roll and consequently transversely shifts to the tight side. An airfoil is located transversely across the web and adjacent and inside of the horizontal web exit slot, whereby the incoming makeup air is uniformly distributed transversely by the airfoil and across the web width to eliminate uncontrolled web billowing and consequent transverse shifting of the web.

Abstract: A door for sealing an aperture in a heated, pressurized chamber to prevent passage of gases through the aperture. A flexible door plate is sized to cover the aperture. A door frame is provided with frame members positionable around the circumference of one face of the door plate. Releasable fasteners are provided for releasably fastening the door plate and the door frame over the aperture to sandwich the door plate between the aperture and the door frame. A plurality of adjustable tightening members are disposed at intervals around the door frame for adjustably tightening the door frame against the door plate at each such interval.

Abstract: A hot water circulating system capable of decreasing energy loss, increasing the amount of hot water to be circulated per unit time and reducing time required for each circulating cycle. The system includes a valve opened at the start of emptying of water out of a water boiler to supply water from an open tank to the water boiler. The water boiler is divided into a heated section and a hot water receiving section arranged above and communicated with the heated section.

Abstract: A washing/dehydrating machine performing a centrifugal dehydration by rotating a washing/dehydrating tub having a plurality of discharging ports in high speed comprises a plurality of protrusions protruded toward inwardly formed on an inner surface of the washing/dehydrating tub. A total volume of the protrusions is determined in a range of 3% to 6% of capacity of the washing/dehydrating tub. A water saturated region in the wash is reduced by an amount of volume corresponding to the total volume of the protrusions.