Abstract: A technique for end-grain creation is employed for obtaining rapid and uniform drying of lumber while simultaneously reducing warp. The stability-kerfing responsible for the improved drying of the lumber decreases the edgewise bending strength by less than ten percent, a loss readily recovered due to the ability of stability-kerfing to achieve lower and more uniform moisture contents than those realized in the contemporary drying of lumber. The improved moisture condition provided by the stability-kerfing also fosters future dimensional stability at the time of entry into the marketing stream compared to that for contemporary lumber. The required stability-kerfing is easily accomplished by the specialized implementation of existing saw equipment and associated technology into the contemporary processing lines.

Abstract: A device for controlling dehydration during freeze-drying in an enclosure connected to a vacuum line includes an analyzer for analyzing the gases contained in the enclosure, the gas analyzer comprising a system for ionizing the gases comprising a plasma source in contact with the gases combined with a generator adapted to generate a plasma from the gases and a system for analyzing ionized gases comprising a radiation sensor situated in the vicinity of the area of generation of the plasma connected to apparatus for analyzing evolution of the radiation spectrum emitted by the plasma. The plasma source is preferably produced by inductive coupling and the analyzer for analyzing the evolution of the radiation spectrum is preferably an optical emission spectrometer.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus for use with a woven and knitted fabric is constructed such that a first drying rack is disposed at an upper portion of the frame, and at least one second drying rack is disposed at a lower. Each of the drying racks is formed of a ventilated drying surface. A first drying device is disposed above the first drying rack, and a second drying device is disposed above the second rack. Each of the drying devices is formed of a drying irradiation surface for irradiating a heat ray and/or heated air, and is constructed to be movable for reciprocation along the drying surface of the drying rack by means of a driving device. The second drying device is arranged so as to be pivotable between a position in which the drying irradiation surface of the second drying device opposes an upper surface of the at least one second drying rack, and a position in which the drying irradiation surface of the second drying device opposes a lower surface of the first drying rack.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a bio-mass processing system, and method of processing waste bio-mass, wherein one or more mixers mixes a bed of bio-mass material such as manure at substantially any and all locations in a defined length and width portion of the bed, in a dryer. Heated air percolates upwardly through the bed. Separation apparatus separates a relatively dryer fraction of the bio-mass material from the dryer. The separated finished product from the dryer is optionally fed to a boiler where the dried bio-mass material is burned. Heat of combustion from the boiler is used as dryer heat for drying the bio-mass feed material in the dryer. Excess heat is optionally used to produce steam, which powers a turbine, which powers an electrical generator. Residual ash from the combustion process comprises about 2% by weight of the solids content of e.g. a feed stream coming into the dryer.

Abstract: A conditioning system for a vehicle comprises an evaporator, positioned in an air conducting channel means, of an air conditioning unit, by means of which evaporator heat and/or moisture can be removed from the air to be introduced into a vehicle interior, a heating means being provided at the evaporator for at least local heating of the same.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a moisture absorbent hand-covering device that is in the form and shape of a glove for drying. In some embodiments, the drying glove of this invention has a first outer layer and a second inner layer. The outer layer comprises at least one layer of material with propensity to absorb at least one type of liquid. In some embodiments, the second inner layer comprises at least one layer of material with propensity to repel at least one type of liquid. The outer layer absorbs the liquid for the purpose of removing it. The inner layer resists passage of the liquid, and thus protects the hand of the user during operation. In some embodiments, the liquid absorbed is water, and the liquid repelled is water.

Abstract: An enclosure is provided. The enclosure includes at least one self-actuating valve assembly, incorporated within a wall of the enclosure, including at least one spring member, at least one pivot, attached to the at least one spring member, and at least two seal plugs, attached to the at least one spring member, wherein one of the at least two seal plugs actuates a gas purge and one of the at least two seal plugs actuates a gas fill. The enclosure also includes a retaining clip fastened to the at least one self-actuating valve assembly, wherein the retaining clip ensures that the at least two seal plugs do not unseat under dynamic environments.

Abstract: A drying system includes a drying cabinet having a plurality of horizontally heating plates, and a cleaning device which can be inserted into the interior of the cabinet. The cleaning device includes a carrier supported on the interior bottom of the drying cabinet and having a duct and a plurality of horizontal support arms with a cavity being fastened to the carrier, each cavity communicating with the duct. A support arm is arranged above each of the heating plates. Each of the support arms is outfitted with a spray arm which is rotatable horizontally around an axis A. Each spray arm has a quantity of nozzles. In addition, the carrier and the drying cabinet have means through which a cleaning agent can be supplied to the duct.

Abstract: A clothing dryer capable of removing impurities, such as dust, accumulated in a hot air outlet duct thereof. The clothing dryer includes a drying tub to dry laundry contained therein using hot air supplied thereto, a hot air outlet duct to discharge the hot air, coming from the drying tub, to the outside, and a connecting unit to connect an external suction device to the hot air outlet duct. Accordingly, impurities, such as dust, accumulated in the hot air outlet duct can be removed by a suction force of the suction device, thereby enabling the cleaning of the hot air outlet duct.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for eliminating wrinkles in clothes in a washing or drying machine using steam to eliminate the wrinkles in clothes, in a state in which the clothes are worn by a user or stored, as well as in a state in which washing of the clothes is terminated. The method includes determining whether or not a wrinkle-eliminating course is selected; supplying hot air to the clothes to eliminate dust from the clothes when it is determined that the wrinkle-eliminating course is selected; and supplying steam to the clothes, from which the dust was eliminated, to eliminate the wrinkles in the clothes.

Abstract: An object is to provide a drying machine which can accomplish delicate drying and reduce burdens on a matter to be dried during drying while securing a predetermined evaporation temperature in an evaporator. In summary, a dry cleaner equipped with a heat pump device comprises a water-cooling heat exchanger which removes heat from a refrigerant entering a capillary tube; and a control device which variably controls a discharged heat amount in the water-cooling heat exchanger and capacity of the compressor, wherein the control device has at least two kinds of drying modes including a usual drying mode and a delicate drying mode, and in the delicate drying mode, a temperature of air discharged into a storage chamber is set lower than in the usual drying mode to control the capacity of the compressor and to increase the discharged heat amount in the water-cooling heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray-drying device (1) having a vertical drying chamber (2), material-atomization means (4) and drying-gas feed (6) means. Filter elements (11) are present in order to filter the fine particles out of the flow of drying gas (7). The fine particles are periodically removed from the filter elements (11) and collected in fine-particle collection means (10) in such a manner that they remain separate from the main flow of spray-dried material. In this way, it is possible to successfully control the properties of the spray-dried (main) material without it being undesirably influenced by the fine particles.

Abstract: A heater fixing unit of a drum-type washing machine is provided. The heater fixing unit more stably supports a heater installed in a dry duct to reduce vibration and a noise of the heater. For that purpose, the heater fixing unit includes a duct body, a heater, two or more fixing parts, and two or more clamp members. The duct body communicates with an inside of the drum. The heater is installed in an inside of the duct body to heat an air flowing in an inside of the duct body. The fixing parts protruded from two or more positions on an inner surface of the duct body. The clamp members fixedly support the heater.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter producing module and an air flow detection parameter module. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions used by the processor to modify or select an appropriate moisture target value. The load size producing parameter module generates one of a small load input parameter and a large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the processor selects one of four target moisture values from these conditions.

Abstract: A dehumidifying hanger includes a hanger frame having perforations formed therein, and a dehumidifying perforated crossbar formed as a hollow tube or pipe and transversely hung under the hanger frame, having desiccant or dehydrating agent filled in the perforated crossbar for absorbing moisture carried or existing in the clothes for drying the clothes in situ in the hanger, without requiring any costly electric drying apparatus or equipment.

Abstract: A pollution abatement apparatus comprises an electrified filter bed preceded by a cyclonic mix chamber to remove wood fines and fly ash in a flue gas stream from a wood chip dryer heated by hot gas from an energy system that includes a wood waste combustor. The cyclonic mix chamber has dual inlets, one supplied with flue gas from the dryer and the other supplied with hot gas from the energy system.

Abstract: A method of pasteurizing dewatered sludge into valuable soil conditioners is provided. Unpasteurized dewatered sludge is introduced into a first end of an dryer and maintained under vacuum pressure. Moisture is removed using a condenser and knock out tank while a boiler provides heat to treat the dewatered sludge. An auger moves the sludge to an outlet.

Abstract: A safety lighter includes a lighter body comprising a casing defining a liquefied gas chamber for containing a predetermined volume of liquefied gas therein, a supporting frame having an outer sealing surface engaged with an inner surface of the casing, a gas emitting nozzle mounted on the supporting frame to communicate with the liquefied gas chamber, and an ignition device supported by the supporting frame for ignition. A sealing arrangement includes upper and lower sealing rims spacedly and integrally provided along an opening portion of the inner surface of the casing in a step-shouldering manner wherein the upper and lower sealing rims are sealed with the outer sealing surface of the supporting frame to form two sealing lines along the upper and lower sealing rims respectively to sealedly mount the supporting frame on the lighter body for sealedly retaining the liquefied gas within the liquefied gas chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a substrate-placing mechanism to be provided in a processing container of a substrate-processing apparatus including: a stage having: a base body on which a substrate is placed, a heat-generating body for heating the substrate placed on the base body, and a feed terminal part for feeding electric power to the heat-generating body; a hollow supporting part fixed to a base of the processing container for supporting the stage; a connection terminal part fixed to the base of the processing container under the supporting part for being connected to an electric power source located outside the processing container; a feed member connected to the feed terminal part and extending in the hollow supporting part; and a spring member that connects the feed member and the connection terminal part.

Abstract: A fireplace afterburner is presented including a shell having a first open shell end for receiving fireplace emissions and a second open shell end for expelling fireplace emissions, a flue inside said shell having a first flue end which can be closed, and a second flue end which is open, wherein when the first flue end is closed fireplace emissions flow around said flue, and wherein when said first flue end is open fireplace emission flow through said flue, a heating element connected to said shell and encircling said flue, wherein said heating element heats emissions that pass in proximity to the element, and a catalyst bed connected to said shell and encircling said flue. A method for reducing products of incomplete combustion in fireplace emissions is presented including receiving fireplace emissions into a shell, heating said fireplace emissions to at least 1501° F. (816° C.), reacting said fireplace emissions with a catalyst substrate, and releasing the results of said reaction from said shell.