Patents Examined by Steve Gravini
  • Patent number: 5966837
    Abstract: The device relates to a wood drying plant comprising a wood drying device and a purifying device which is arranged to receive a drying gas from the wood drying device, the drying gas comprising water steam and volatilized organic components such as terpenes, and to purify the drying gas from organic components and to recover the latter. The purifying device comprises at least one condenser which is arranged to separate relatively difficultly volatilized components containing organic components and relatively easily volatilized components. The purifying device also comprises a separating device which is arranged to separate said organic components and a rest material from the relatively difficultly volatilized components. The purifying device also comprises a transferring device which is arranged to transfer organic components present in the rest material to the drying gas introduced in the purifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Flakt AB
    Inventors: Stefan Backa, Ulf Persson
  • Patent number: 5966835
    Abstract: A web to be heat-treated bears against a rotary cylinder containing a stationary complement of IR burner modules in an assembly that is axially removable from the cylinder. The IR burner complement extends all along--but only partway around--the cylinder, leaving an arcuate gap. An exhaust manifold in the gap has a configuration that precludes localized accumulation of high-temperature exhaust. The cylinder is heated primarily by radiant transfer from the IR burner modules and from heat shields, which fill any arcuate spaces not occupied by either the exhaust manifold or the IR burners. The arcuate extent of the IR burners is proportioned for developing prescribed heat output when the air/fuel mixture is supplied at maximum rate. The cylinder heat output may be reduced over a wide range, notably when the cylinder speed is adjusted during start-up and slow-down of operations. The IR burner modules heat annular bands around the cylinder to develop a temperature profile along the cylinder, i.e., across the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Sharon F. Bakalar
  • Patent number: 5968590
    Abstract: An after-dryer and method for drying a surface-treated paper web in an after-dryer of a paper machine in which the web is first finished in a finishing section, i.e., surface-sized or coated, by a finishing device and then dried. In the after-dryer, the paper web is dried in at least one dryer group that makes use of single-wire draw and at the same time, the paper web is dried by an impingement-drying equipment arranged in connection with at least one cylinder or roll in the single-wire dryer group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Pasi Ahonen, Juha Kaihovirta
  • Patent number: 5966831
    Abstract: A device and method for use with an automatic laundry dryer for conditioning laundry articles during the drying cycle. The device comprises a carrier impregnated with microencapsulated fluid, for use with an automatic laundry dryer for dispensing said fluid during the drying cycle thereby conditioning laundry articles. In the preferred embodiment, a polyurethane foam carrier is impregnated with a microencapsulated active agent fluid for rendering the laundry articles substantially static-free and/or for dispensing fragrance to provide the articles with a desirable scent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Vision International Production, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5966832
    Abstract: An improved apparatus, and related method of operation, is described for rapidly drying large monoliths of glass, ceramic and/or composite material, under subcritical conditions, while minimizing the risk of cracking the monolith during the drying process. The apparatus incorporates a pressure chamber for carrying the monolith to be dried, with no significant limitation on the size of the monolith relative to the size of the chamber. The monolith is initially immersed in a suitable drying solvent, and the temperature of the pressure chamber is raised to a predetermined value below the solvent's critical temperature, which raises the pressure to a predetermined value, likewise below the solvent's critical pressure. At a selected time during the drying process the pressure chamber is connected to a diffusion chamber, to draw away and condense solvent vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Fikret Kirkbir, Satyabrata Raychaudhuri, Douglas Meyers, Hideaki Murata
  • Patent number: 5964045
    Abstract: In a method for the cleaning of oil- and water-containing roll scale sludge, the roll scale sludge is introduced to a heatable treatment region 10 for a first drying step. In addition to the first drying step, a second drying step is provided for with which the roll scale sludge is subjected to a vacuum drying 14, 15. For this reason, the purification of the oil- and water-containing roll scale sludge is improved without additional auxiliary materials using only pure thermal energy in an effective manner which is applicable to large-scale commercial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Gebruder Lodige Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Reiner Numrich
  • Patent number: 5960560
    Abstract: A thermal solar dehydrator (16) comprising en enclosure (18) having a plurality of drying chambers (20) therein. A plurality of perforated trays (22) are provided. A plurality of runners (24) support the perforated trays (22) in vertically spaced apart relationships within the drying chambers (20) of the enclosure (18), so that food can be placed upon the perforated trays (22). A structure (26) is for forcing air into and out of the drying chambers (20). An assembly (28) is for allowing sunlight (30) to penetrate the enclosure (18) and heat up the air passing through the drying chambers (20), so that the food placed upon the perforated trays (22) will dehydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Fedna Stoll
  • Patent number: 5960557
    Abstract: A steam distribution and condensate recovery system for pulp dryers has a plurality of steam heat exchangers. The system includes a steam feed conduit adjacent one end of each heat exchanger. A condensate conduit is adjacent the one end of each heat exchanger. A first connecting conduit is positioned adjacent the one end of each heat exchanger and connects each heat exchanger to the steam feed conduit. A second connecting conduit is placed adjacent the one end of each heat exchanger and connects each heat exchanger to the condensate conduit. Preferably the connecting conduits includes expansion loops. The expansion loops extend away from heat exchanger and away from access doors adjacent each heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Stanley H. Sather
  • Patent number: 5960562
    Abstract: A processing apparatus of the invention includes a rotary processing part for rotating and drying plural sheets of objects to be processed collectively in order to allow the object to be rotated immediately after they are accommodated in the rotary processing part and a balance adjusting mechanism for adjusting balance of the rotary processing part by moving counterweights in accordance with the number of the objects. Further the processing apparatus further includes a counter for counting the number of the objects accommodated in the rotary processing part and a control unit for controlling the balance adjusting operation of the balance adjusting mechanism in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the number of objects and the respective positions of the counterweights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nishida, Kenji Miyachi, Syujiro Oka
  • Patent number: 5960564
    Abstract: An assembly for blowing liquids from a vehicle in a car wash which is characterized by the pair of first 24 and second 26 side bags extending from each of side supports 14, 16, 114 and 116 with each pair 24 and 26 of side bags being coextensive and extending vertically along the associated side support 14, 16, 114 or 116 and outwardly therefrom to elongated generally vertical nozzles 32. The first side bag 24 is disposed to direct the output flow therefrom along a first plane (A) directed forwardly twenty degrees (20.degree.) and the second side bag 26 is disposed to direct the output flow therefrom along a second plane (B) directed rearwardly twenty degrees (20.degree.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Proto-Vest, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Patrick McElroy, Christopher Patrick McElroy, Lucian G. McElroy
  • Patent number: 5960563
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for condensing moisture from an air stream. The condensing comprises an outer container, a middle container within the outer container, and an inner container within the middle container. The outer container contains a cooling material, such as water, and upon contact therewith, the air stream is cooled and moisture contained therein is condensed. The inner container also can contain a cooling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Big Beans Holding, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 5960556
    Abstract: An improved system is disclosed drying interior layers of sheathing by reducing moisture in narrow wall spaces, particularly between layers of sheathing and/or insulation board. The method involves inserting a special nozzle into a hole drilled into the wall. The nozzle has a depth gauge in the form of a shoulder, calibrated screw threads or other equivalent means to control the placement of a drying substance into the space without damaging the insulation board or blocking the outlet for the drying substance which may be warm, low humidity air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Phillip E. Jansen
  • Patent number: 5956859
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for processing a surface of a substrate wherein, when a nitrogen gas is fed to a nozzle, a jet of the nitrogen gas spouted through a jet hole is generated. The jet becomes film-shaped and is projected upwardly along an inner surface of a side wall of a processing vessel. Then, the jet is collected into an outside through a suction port formed in an upper portion of the processing vessel. The inner surface of the side wall of the processing vessel is covered with the jet. Therefore, an IPA vapor can be prevented from condensing uselessly on the inner surface. As a result, the IPA vapor is effectively utilized for condensation on a surface of the object to be processed which is mounted on a pan. Thus, defective dryness of the object can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignees: Ryoden Semiconductor System Emgineering Corporation, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Matsumoto, Takeshi Kuroda, Cozy Ban, Toko Konishi, Naoki Yokoi
  • Patent number: 5956858
    Abstract: Coal or other mineral slurry is dewatered by establishing a bed of the slurry and injecting a gas stream such as air into the bed to establish turbulent flow to strip moisture. This slurry may use particles in the range 0.5 mm to 30 mm with air injected at about 10 m/sec, and suitable novel apparatus includes a centrifuge or a vibratory conveyor with a closed tunnel and transverse air flow for stripping moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Christopher John Veal, Stuart K Nicol, Barry Kenneth Johnston
  • Patent number: 5956864
    Abstract: A dryer section is proposed, which is part of a machine for producing a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, with at least one dryer group that has a number of heatable dryer cylinders around which the material web is guided in a meandering path. The dryer section is distinguished by virtue of the fact that at least one pressing device (31) is provided inside the dryer section (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Egelhof, Markus Oechele, Hans-Jurgen Wulz
  • Patent number: 5956860
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for deacidifying cellulose based materials, especially books, magazines, and other bound or folded cellulose materials having a spine. The method includes contacting the materials with a treating medium and producing relative movement at a predetermined velocity between the materials and the treating medium in a direction generally parallel to the spine of the materials and, preferably simultaneously, directing the treating medium by means of a spray toward the materials in a direction generally perpendicular to the spine of the material for a period of time effective for the treating medium to contact substantially all of the material. Following treatment, any excess treating medium is removed from the material and directing any such removed treating medium to a holding tank for reuse later. The movement in a parallel direction is achieved by reciprocating the materials through a tank filled with treating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Preservation Technologies, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee H. Leiner, James E. Burd
  • Patent number: 5953833
    Abstract: A dryer system for drying a coating applied to a substrate includes a thermally conductive roll having a length and a peripheral surface for supporting the substrate and a plurality of energy emitters disposed within the conductive roll along the length of the conductive roll. The plurality of energy emitters are controlled to selectively emit energy along the length of the conductive roll. The conductive roll is at least partially surrounded by at least one convection unit. The convection unit includes a blower assembly, a heater assembly and a vacuum passageway. The blower assembly includes an inlet and directs a current of air towards the substrate. The heater assembly heats the air being directed towards the substrate. The vacuum passageway extends between the substrate and the inlet of the blower assembly for returning the heated air to the blower assembly once the air has impinged upon the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Research, Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul D. Rudd
  • Patent number: 5953831
    Abstract: The present invention is categorized into the technical field of structural design of a clothes dryer, especially relating to the improvement of heating component in the clothes dryer. The present invention includes a stationary housing, a rotatable drum, and components of heating, ventilation transmission, and control installed within said housing. The heating system is formed by several special infrared lamps installed on the interior wall of said drum. The present invention optimizes the structure of a clothes dryer so that the clothes dryer has the advantages of lower power consumption, timesaving, adjustability of temperature, and lower temperature within said drum, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Regentech Limited
    Inventor: Shinan Yu
  • Patent number: 5953827
    Abstract: A vacuum processing system has a process chamber with a rotating member, such as a magnetron in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber, disposed near a surface, such as a target in a PVD chamber. The rotating member and the surface are cooled by a cooling fluid. The rotational motion of the rotating member induces the cooling fluid to circulate around the rotating member and between the surface and the rotating member, thus efficiently cooling the rotating member and the surface with a quickly flowing fluid.The rotating member has a fluid conduit extending from the rotational center of the rotating member to the outer edge of the rotating member. The cooling fluid inside the fluid conduit is subject to a centrifugal force under the action of the rotational motion, so that the cooling fluid is induced to flow from the rotational center to the outer edge, thus forcing the cooling fluid to circulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Or, David Huo, J. Darrel Stickler
  • Patent number: 5953832
    Abstract: A method of drying a coated monolithic substrate by imposing a vacuum at one end of the substrate to draw volatilized constituents out of the channels and by delivering a gas stream through the other end of the substrate during the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Rosynsky, Paul J. Takacs