Patents Examined by S. Gravini
  • Patent number: 7040037
    Abstract: A diffuser for a handheld electric hairdryer, includes a base from which a plurality of fingers extend, each finger having a longitudinal through-passage through which hot air passes from the base. There is attached to the base a thermal-capacitance element to moderate changes in temperature of air exhausted through the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Kenford Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Michael Wai Ho Keong
  • Patent number: 7040890
    Abstract: A gas burner, for example, for domestic cooking appliances, includes a bowl-shaped body associated with a gas injector, a toothed crown with a plurality of flame ports placed over the body, and an upper cap to close the burner top. The burner also has a peripheral grove that is formed on at least a part of the external surface of the toothed crown in order to increase the flame stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corp. N.V.
    Inventors: Silvano Todoli, Stefano Strada, Marco Starnini
  • Patent number: 7036242
    Abstract: An apparatus for a dryer section of a paper or board machine has a drying group (R) and an impingement drying unit (10) which is placed above and/or below a row (DSR) of drying cylinders (3). A drying fabric (1) supported paper or board web (2) is conducted past the impingement drying unit (10) having at least one impingement surface (IP1, IP2) the side profile of which is straight, changeably curved in its radius of curvature, in the shape of a broken line or a selectable combination of these, and that the impingement surface or a tangent line to the impingement surface or a line passing via the beginning and the end of the impingement surface or an extension of the line forms on the impingement side an angle with a horizontal plane parallel to the machine level, which angle is ?120°, advantageously 120°–60°, most advantageously about 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Komulainen, Matti Kurki, Martti Salminen, Kari Juppi, Juha Kaihovirta, Antti Kuhasalo
  • Patent number: 7036243
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a base, a condenser receiving unit formed in the base, and a condenser inserted in the condenser receiving unit and provided with an insertion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Doh, Soon Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 7032322
    Abstract: A processor and method for treating infectious waste utilizes a processing chamber having an inlet for delivering processing water at an elevated temperature and under pressure into the processing chamber, an opening in the processing chamber for receiving of infectious waste and for removing treated waste, an agitator for opening the waste material to the action of the water at elevated temperature and pressure. A basket and/or a sieve may be carried in the processing chamber to facilitate drainage of spent processing water, and an apparatus may be included for removing neutralized waste through the opening in the processing chamber either by inverting the processor or by removing and inverting the basket and/or sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sterassure Solutions, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Donald L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7032325
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed for controlling gas flow in a gas dryer such as a twin tower regenerative gas dryer. The device has a housing in which is mounted an electronic control circuit. At least two electrically operated valves (e.g. solenoid valves) for controlling functions of the dryer are provided with plugs or sockets and adapted to co-operate with corresponding sockets or plugs in a wall of the housing electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The valves are mounted on, externally of, the housing and are electrically connected to the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Walker Filtration Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian Walker
  • Patent number: 7032323
    Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for compacting a continuously conveyed fiber composite (V) by means of heat (W) impingement. A heated treatment medium (L) is blasted towards the fiber composite (V) by means of at least one nozzle arrangement (2a, 2b). Said nozzle arrangement (2a, 2b) comprises a plurality of adjacent blasting nozzles (4) which are disposed at a distance (a) from each other. An intermediate space (5) is formed between two adjacent nozzles (4). Said intermediate space (5) between blasting nozzles (4) is essentially closed to the fiber composite (V) counter to the conveying path (F) such that an overpressure (P) can be created in a pressure chamber (6) located between the nozzle arrangement and the surface (O) of the fiber composite (V), whereby the treatment medium (L) can be blasted through the entire thickness of the fiber composite (V) even when said fiber composite has a great thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Solipat AG
    Inventor: Paul Süss
  • Patent number: 7032326
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a drum of a clothes dryer having a drum for accommodating clothes to be dried in a cabinet, the apparatus comprises: a driving motor for generating a driving force to rotate the drum; and a roller connected to a rotational shaft of the driving motor and contacting an outer circumferential surface of the drum, for transmitting a driving force of the driving motor to the drum. According to this, a reliability of an operation for rotating the drum can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung-Seop Hong
  • Patent number: 7029272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pre-mix burner with a main burner and a pilot burner, for stabilization of the main burner. The pilot burner comprises a fine-pored burner material, which permits a combustion with low nitrogen oxide content, which is not susceptible to combustion variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karsten Jordan, Holger Streb
  • Patent number: 7029270
    Abstract: An igniter (or lighter) having a safety lock includes a housing; a gas supply in the housing and having an outlet valve; a combustion nozzle fluid connected to the outlet valve; a conventional igniter for igniting gas at the outlet nozzle; a finger-operable slider for opening the outlet valve and activating the igniter to ignite the gas when the slider is moved from its rest position; a finger-operable thumbwheel having a lock position for blocking movement of the slider from the rest position, and a spring biasing the thumbwheel to the lock position, wherein movement of the thumbwheel from the lock position is by finger operation in a direction opposite to finger operation of the first movable member from the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Chi Lam Wong
  • Patent number: 7028415
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for use with many kinds of objects, but is particularly suited for use in drying most kinds of produce and vegetables including leaf vegetables. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a canted drum design which provides a number of benefits and advantages over prior art designs. The canted design allows the use of a spin drying method that breaks up clumps of material in the dryer and assists in the even distribution of material, thereby improving load balance. The canted design provides ergonomic advantages to the operator when loading and unloading the dryer, and, the canted design allows easy access to the drive system for maintenance and repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Alan Heinzen, Erick A. Davidson
  • Patent number: 7024800
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud, Brian N. Gorbell, deceased
  • Patent number: 7024796
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of manure to novel fertilizer and/or soil builder products useful as input for organic farming operations. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel. The dryer vessel receives the manure for contact with the turbine exhaust gases to convert the manure to a dry material, which is passed to the processing unit where it is formed into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final dry fertilizer product. The method comprises drying, heating and converting the manure to form novel self binding fertilizer and soil builder type products for organic farming and other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud, Brian N. Gorbell, deceased
  • Patent number: 7025590
    Abstract: A remote staged radiant wall furnace burner configuration includes placement of secondary fuel gas nozzles remote from radiant wall burners. This configuration brings about an increased mixing of secondary fuel with furnace flue gases. As a result, the temperature of the burning fuel gas is lowered and NOX formation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: John Zink Company, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Bussman, Richard T. Waibel, Charles E. Baukal, Jr., Roberto Ruiz, I-Ping Chung, Sellamuthu G. Chellappan
  • Patent number: 7024794
    Abstract: A centrifugal pellet dryer including a stationary cylindrical screen, a driven elevating rotor in said screen elevating wet pellets inside the screen and imparting radial forces to the wet pellets to impact them against the interior of the screen to enable moisture on the pellets to be separated and discharged through the screen, a housing enclosing the screen and rotor and including an inlet for a slurry of pellets, an outlet for dried pellets and an outlet for water removed from the pellets. The side walls of the housing are constructed of a plurality of relatively large, flat panels made of plastic sheet material are supported in a metal framework to attenuate noise of the dryer produced by rotation of the drier rotor and impact of the wet pellets against the screen. A dewaterer in advance of the dryer also has walls made of plastic sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Gala Industries
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Mynes
  • Patent number: 7024797
    Abstract: A horizontally extending hose cleaning and drying apparatus includes a plurality of rack sections connected at ends thereof to create an elongated rack having a slope. Each rack section includes an upper plate having apertures or mesh material to allow water to fall therethrough. Legs are detachably connected to each rack section, the shortest legs being attached to a rack section at one end of the rack and the longest legs being attached to a rack section at the opposite end of the rack to create the slope. Preferably, the rack is of a length of at least 50 feet to accommodate fire hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Angelo J. Bessa
  • Patent number: 7024801
    Abstract: In a drying apparatus having a drum and a front support mounting assembly, a front support is fixed directly to a cabinet using fixing brackets, to maintain a consistent distance between opposing surfaces of the drum and the front support. The front support mounting assembly includes a cabinet; a rotatable drum, horizontally installed within the cabinet as a drying chamber for holding an object to be dried, the rotatable drum having an open end; a front support for rotatably supporting the open end of the rotatable drum; and a fixing bracket for fixing the front support directly to the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Gi Hwang
  • Patent number: 7024802
    Abstract: Provided is an air flow structure for a dryer, which includes a drying fan, and an air guide having a bent and inclined shape so as to guide flow of a circulation air discharged by the drying fan. This air flow structure improves air circulation flow in the dryer, reduces noise generated in the drying procedure, and increases air volume introduced into a drying duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hwan Joo Myung
  • Patent number: 7020985
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has a heat source, preferably a heat pump, a rotating drum, and means to generate flow of air from the heat source to an inlet in the drum. At least two outlets are separated from each other in the drum to enable higher air flow rates without increase in pressure drop, resulting in reduced drying time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Michael Casey, David Michael Martin, John Thomas Dieckmann, Peter Francis Pescatore, Philip C. Carbone, Warren James Ellis, Jr., Frederick E. Chernetski
  • Patent number: 7020984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding a drying gas to a mixing granulator comprising a mixing chamber and a rotating agitator (3), on which mixer blades (4) are arranged in a radial position with respect to a drive shaft (5). The feeder line (6) for the drying gas is disposed inside the drive shaft (5) of the agitator (3). An exit line (7) is respectively connected in the region of each mixer blade (4), said line terminating in at least one outlet (8) arranged underneath and, in the direction of rotation, behind the mixer blades (s). The outlet (8) extends advantageously in at least partial manner along the mixer blades (4), embodied in the form of a slit or in a flat manner in the form of a porous element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Glatt Systemtechnik Dresden GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Knorr, Barbara Jaensch