Patents Examined by S. Gravini
  • Patent number: 7185447
    Abstract: A drying device for drying a gas comprises parallel cooling branches, at least one of which is in its active state at any given time. A gas-coolant heat exchanger arranged in each of the cooling branches has a first channel through which the gas to be dried flows in the active state of this cooling branch and a second channel which, in the active state of this cooling branch, forms an evaporator for a coolant circulating in at least one coolant circuit. The drying device further comprises an ambient-air input line, an ambient-air output line and an ambient-air conveyor. In the passive state of a respective cooling branch, the ambient-air input line and the ambient-air output line are connected, at least for a time, with this cooling branch by the switching device and the ambient-air conveyor conveys ambient air through the first channel of the gas-coolant heat exchanger arranged in this cooling branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 7181862
    Abstract: Glassy articles are prepared by subjecting to hydrolysis and policondensation a solution or suspension of a suitable precursor, mainly comprising a silicon alkoxide, and by drying the obtained gel in a pressure chamber, the gel solvent having been substituted by a non-protic solvent, mainly acetone, under nitrogen flowing, at temperature and pressure conditions lower than the gel solvent critical values. The dried gel is then densified by a thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Degussa Novara Technology, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giulio Boara, Massimo Sparpaglione, Lorenzo Costa
  • Patent number: 7181864
    Abstract: As a metal assembly, which defines partially open voids in which liquid accumulates is conveyed through a heat-treating station, the hot air is blown across the open end of the void to produce a zone of low pressure at the surface of the liquid. The reduction in pressure and relatively high temperature promote rapid vaporization of the liquid while discouraging boiling of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chris Coss
  • Patent number: 7181863
    Abstract: A wafer dryer and method featuring a nebulizer which emits a pressurized drying liquid stream that converges with an opposed pressurized non-reactive carrier gas stream to produce a drying liquid fog. The pressurized non-reactive gas spray device is disposed partially within a tub and partially within a wafer bath vessel housing a wafer to be dried. The tub has a vent port for allowing the drying liquid fog to pass into the wafer bath vessel to adhere to exposed wafer surfaces and displace remaining liquid on wafer surfaces, thus drying the wafer. The tub may further include a drain for draining drying liquid not converted into the fog or which has condensed. The vent also may include means for retaining larger drying liquid fog particles which allows smaller drying liquid fog particles to pass into the wafer bath vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: SEZ America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Ferrell, Jagjit S. Ratra
  • Patent number: 7178262
    Abstract: An air dryer and process employs a jet engine for producing high quality dried products. A turbofan jet engine in an air-drying system uses both thermal and non-thermal air-drying. The turbofan jet engine is housed within an air distribution chamber for directing exhaust air and bypass air from the jet engine into a product drying tube, where it is dried through a combination of thermal drying from heat content in an engine exhaust, and by the kinetic energy of air flowing past the product traveling through the drying tube, that may include a physical impediment for retarding retard the speed of the product solids flowing in the air stream through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Wesley A. Staples
  • Patent number: 7171761
    Abstract: An increased air pressure forced hot air towel warmer comprising a substantially airtight enclosure configured to be more desirable and user friendly when placed in close proximity to a tub or shower whether mounted within cabinetry, on the wall or when permanently installed between existing standard 16 inch on center wall support studs while protruding as little as possible into the room. Intended for use with large area plush towels and bath sheets for which insertion in a limited width wall enclosure or shallow depth cabinetry leads to greater vertical depth of towel material to be penetrated and substantially increases the resistance to air flow, therefore back pressure, thereby necessitating increased supply pressure to maintain adequate hot air flow through the towel. Increased supply pressure is created without objectionable noise by use of low noise rotary blowers and associated pressure accumulator cavities arranged in tandem such that their respective pressure gradients are additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Barney Dean Hunts
  • Patent number: 7171762
    Abstract: A self-cleaning centrifugal pellet dryer and method for removing surface moisture from pellets and enabling complete removal of all pellets from the dryer after each drying cycle. By eliminating dried pellets retained in the dryer, contamination of different type pellets dried during a subsequent drying cycle is avoided. Air and water under pressure are discharged toward various pellet hang-up points in the dryer to remove retained pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Gala Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Roberts, Charles E. Aaron
  • Patent number: 7165340
    Abstract: Apparatus for vaporization of powdered material, includes one or more containers each containing possibly distinct powdered materials each having at least one component; a structure for fluidizing the powdered material in each container; a vaporization zone that is thermally isolated from at least one of the containers; a transporting structure for receiving fluidized powdered material from each container and delivering such fluidized powdered materials to the vaporization zone; and vaporizing the delivered powdered materials at the vaporization zone by applying heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael Long, Bruce E. Koppe, Thomas W. Palone
  • Patent number: 7155841
    Abstract: An improved rotary shell or drum dryer (10) is provided having an elongated, horizontally disposed, axially rotatable shell (12) with product and air inlets (14, 18) and an outlet (16) at opposite ends of the shell. Internally, the dryer (10) includes axially spaced apart first and second drying sections (26, 28) each having a turbulator (30, 32) and a downstream serpentine flow section (34, 36). The turbulators (30, 32) are designed to divert portions of a product/airstream in different directions respectively to achieve the intense mixing similar to that obtained in an impingement dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Earth Care Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Livingston
  • Patent number: 7153129
    Abstract: A remote staged furnace burner configuration includes placement of secondary fuel gas nozzles remote from burners. This configuration brings about an increased mixing of secondary fuel with furnace fuel gases. As a result, the temperature of the burning fuel gas is lowered and NOX formation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 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: 7150111
    Abstract: A paper or board mill includes a drying section, which includes at least one drying cylinder group and at least one impingement drying unit (PK). The method uses a turbine engine (10), the combustion gases (1) of which are conducted at least into the impingement drying unit (PK) as impingement air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Mika Viljanmaa
  • Patent number: 7146746
    Abstract: A method of decontamination includes generating a decontamination gas by evaporating an aqueous solution in which the decontamination gas with a higher boiling point than water is dissolved. The decontamination gas is charged into a hermetically sealed decontamination chamber, and then condensed therein. A condensed liquid layer is formed in a form of a thin film on an outer surface of a decontamination subject in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The condensed liquid layer is evaporated at least partially by supplying unsaturated gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The unsaturated gas does not saturate in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The decontamination gas is re-condensed after the evaporating step to re-form the condensed liquid layer, by closing supply of the unsaturated gas and re-charging the decontamination gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7146749
    Abstract: A fabric article treating apparatus for dispensing a benefit composition through a nozzle that directs the benefit composition as droplets or particles into the chamber of the fabric article drying appliance. The droplets or particles provide benefits to the fabric articles within the drying appliance. The treating apparatus includes one or more safety features, and/or it includes beneficial control concepts that enhance the effects of the benefit composition being dispensed through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bradford Scott Barron, Mary Jane Combs, Dean Larry DuVal, Keith David Fanta, Paul Amaat Raymond Gerard France, Christian Gerhard Friedrich Gerlach, Laura Lynn Heilman, Eugene Joseph Pancheri, Paul Joseph Russo, Christopher Lawrence Smith, Pedro Vincent Vandecappelle
  • Patent number: 7143527
    Abstract: A method of forming a dynamic liquid meniscus includes forming a meniscus at a first size, the meniscus being formed between a proximity head and a first surface and changing the meniscus to a second size by modulating a flow through at least one of a set of ports on the proximity head. A system for modulating flow through the ports in a proximity head is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Garcia, Fred C. Redeker, John de Larios
  • Patent number: 7143524
    Abstract: This invention relates to a desiccant cartridge (10) adapted for use in a canister (14) of an integrated receiver/dryer or accumulator assembly of an automotive air conditioning system wherein the canister (14) has an offset inlet port (16). The desiccant cartridge (10) includes a desiccant cup (18) having a center tube (36) and a desiccant cap (12) including a planar portion (44) having a recessed port area (46) provided with a first aperture (56), or first tube (72), for cooperation with a side tube (78) and/or the offset inlet port (16) of the canister (14). The cap (12) further includes a docking piece (80) provided with a second aperture (88), or second tube (92), for cooperating with the center tube (36) of the cup (18) when the cap (12) is retained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Flow Dry Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: David V. Flaugher
  • Patent number: 7143526
    Abstract: There is provided a method for drying a ceramic formed body by hot air, the formed body having a peripheral face and end faces constituting a columnar shape, and at least one through-hole extending in an axial direction and open at the end face, the formed body containing ceramics and a heat-gelling binder. The hot air is blown to the formed body in a direction at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction. The method can inhibit deformation such as a bending deformation or a torsional deformation generated in the ceramic formed body in the drying process and crack generation in the firing process after drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Katsu
  • Patent number: 7143525
    Abstract: A through-air dryer is disclosed. The through-air dryer includes a cylindrical deck made from a plurality of deck plates that support a throughdrying fabric. The deck plates are supported by opposing hubs. Each of the hubs is in communication with a bearing that is mounted to a stationary shaft for allowing the cylindrical deck and the hubs to rotate. The bearings are positioned so as to create a through-air dryer structure that remains stable during operation and allows for easy calculation of loads on the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hada, Michael A. Hermans, Ronald F. Gropp, Peter K. Costello
  • Patent number: 7140122
    Abstract: A method of treating a waste stream comprises a vacuum treatment to promote disintegration of the waste material by “flash vapor” production, causing a swiftly vaporizing fraction inside the material to literally explode or shred apart the matrix of the material as a whole. A main processor operates at a level of vacuum that determines a given boiling temperature for a vaporizing fraction, and one which lower than the fraction's boiling temperature for the local vicinity's barometric pressure (eg., atmospheric pressure). The input stream is pre-heated to above the given boiling temperature for that fraction as determined by the main processor's vacuum level without, however, going over the boiling temperature for the local barometric pressure. It is then introduced into the vacuum of the main processor whereby a minor percentage of the vaporizing fraction flashes into vapor, and this presumptively promotes destruction and/or disintegration of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micronics, LLC
    Inventors: Randall G. Adams, Marshall R. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7140123
    Abstract: A roller capable of easily absorbing impact transmitted thereto while maintaining a desired level of abrasion resistance, and a clothes drying apparatus provided with the roller. The roller is provided with an impact absorption enhancer capable of causing the roller to be easily elastically deformable while maintaining a desired hardness of the roller. Accordingly, it is possible to absorb intensive impact transmitted to the roller while maintaining a desired abrasion resistance of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7140873
    Abstract: A processor system and method for pretreating ALL FUELS prior to combustion of a any combustion device such as an engine in which fuel in a liquid state is contained in a high pressure chamber and superheated to a state of elevated temperature and pressure.super heated fuel is then injected into the combustion chamber for burning as demanded by the combustion device. This process holds true for ALL FUELS, Liquids, Gaseous, Pulverized Solids and Solids. Making it an Ideal UNIVERSAL self contained process that can be adapted to existing needs as well as new needs for total energy use. This Process will allow ALL FUELS to burn more cleanly and efficiently and will promote optimum combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Michael J. House