Abstract: A covered sample plate with wells holding samples to be dried. The cover has through holes that communicate with only a portion of each well. The covered plate is inserted into a cradle of an assembly of cradles that is rotated. The cradle assembly fits into a tub and when rotated the cradles present a sold wall that functions as a centrifugal fan that drives air out through an opening in the tub. The air is dried of solvent and re-circulated back through the through holes in the cover to the sample wells.

Abstract: An improved method for the treatment of wood in preparation for manufacture of wooden items comprising the steps of first heat treating the wood and then fashioning the wood into a finished item, whereby the resulting wooden item is darker, harder, more weather and rot resistant, and more stable than items fashioned from untreated wood.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting a root moisture content of clothing in a clothes dryer. The dryer has two conducting bars situated in the dryer bin. A pulse generator circuit is coupled to the conducting bars. A microcontroller is coupled to an output of the pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit generates a pulse when wet clothing contacts the conducting bars in the dryer bin. The microcontroller receives the pulses and counts the pulses that are longer than a threshold length. The microcontroller issues a termination signal based on the number of counted pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of drying laundry in a treating chamber with a partially dry laundry load determination.

Abstract: A method for producing a fog of ice nuclei by introducing a cryogenic fluid and a humid gas stream into a freeze dryer. The cryogenic fluid and humid gas stream will form ice nuclei having a preferred size for introduction into vials contained in the freeze dryer.

Abstract: A method for torrefaction of water containing cellulosic materials is performed in an inert atmosphere. The cellulosic material is cascaded through the apparatus between a plurality of rotatable trays vertically stacked within multiple processing zones. Steam being generated from heating of the cellulosic material is recycled back to the apparatus to provide an inert atmosphere. The steam may be superheated in a heat exchanger. Exhaust from the torrefaction zone of the apparatus has some moisture and other volatiles removed prior to being reheated in a burner. The heated exhaust is used in the heat exchanger to superheat the recycled steam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a clothes dryer and a control method thereof in which a drying time is adjusted according to wool content during a drying cycle of a wool course. Wool content of woolen textiles is judged by sensing a dryness of the woolen textiles during a drying cycle of a wool course, and a drying time is adjusted according to the wool content, thereby minimizing contraction or deformation of the woolen textiles while satisfying the range of a target dryness set by wool mark standards. Further, only a high-capacity heater is driven during the drying cycle of the wool course, thereby allowing an internal temperature of a rotary drum to keep the optimum temperature without contraction or deformation of the woolen textiles.

Abstract: A machine for the production of a fibrous web. The fibrous web being a paper web, a cardboard web or a tissue web. The machine including a hot air hood, an upstream drying zone, a downstream dryer cylinder and a dryer hood. The upstream drying zone has an area in which the moving fibrous web is treated with hot air from the hot air hood, the hot air hood being allocated to the upstream drying zone. The downstream dryer cylinder is a Yankee-Cylinder. The dryer hood is associated with the downstream dryer cylinder for further drying of the fibrous web. The hot air for the hot air hood is at least partially recovered from the dryer hood which is associated to the downstream drying cylinder.

Abstract: A device for supporting at least one vessel containing a target material to be lyophilized generally includes a support panel, a central region, a perimeter region, a thermal shield, and at least one shielding cavity. The support panel has a support surface. The central region is defined by the support panel for supporting the at least one vessel. The perimeter region is also defined by the support panel and surrounding the central region. The thermal shield is positioned about the perimeter region and extends transverse to the support surface of the support panel such that the thermal shield and the support panel define a storage space for accommodating the at least one vessel. The at least one shielding cavity is defined by the thermal shield and contains a shielding material during a lyophilization process. The shielding material is distinct from the target material.

Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.

Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus is disclosed. The clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet comprising an accommodating space formed therein to accommodate clothes, an air supply device configured to supply air or heated air to the accommodating space, a duct configured to guide the air or the heated air supplied by the air supply device toward the accommodating space, the duct comprising a communication part configured to draw external air into the accommodating space and a circulation fan configured to flow air along the duct, wherein the communication part is located in a rear portion of the circulation fan.

Abstract: A brake assembly for reducing the rotational velocity the spinning basket of a food spinning device applies a frictional force to an annular ridge on the lid of the spinning basket. A brake button movably disposed in a cover of the spinning device includes flexible pinching arms having cam surfaces. The cam surfaces of the flexible pinching arms extend through a guide aperture, thereby causing the pinching arms to flex toward each other when the brake button is depressed and to apply the frictional engagement to the annular ridge.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems that are used for reclaiming components of wellbore cuttings material. In one illustrative embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes, among other things, a dryer that is adapted to receive a drill cuttings mixture that includes drilling fluid and cuttings material, the dryer being further adapted to treat the drill cuttings mixture by drying the cuttings material below a preselected moisture content level. The system also includes a moisture sensor that is adapted to sense a moisture content of the cuttings material after it is dried by the dryer, and a cuttings reinjection system that is adapted to reinject the dried cuttings material into a well bore. Additionally, the system includes a conveyor system that is adapted to convey the dried cuttings material to the cuttings reinjection system, wherein the conveyor system includes, among other things, a positive pressure pneumatic conveying apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a drum to receive clothes, a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over the evaporator, condenser and through the drum, a sensor located to sense parameters, a working fluid accumulator, and a controller coupled to the sensor, accumulator and/or compressor. The controller is operative to control collection of refrigerant during a run cycle when pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value, control retention of the collected refrigerant when the run cycle is completed, until a subsequent run cycle, control discharge of the retained refrigerant to an evaporator or condenser when the subsequent run cycle is started, and control use of discharged refrigerant to elevate the refrigeration cycle by modifying a start condition of the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material.

Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.

Abstract: A method of operating a heat pump clothes dryer operating on a mechanical refrigeration cycle is disclosed. The method includes partitioning all energy available in the heat pump clothes dryer into a first amount of energy and a second amount of energy; using the first amount of energy to attain a standard parameter performance for the heat pump clothes dryer; and using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer, wherein using the second amount of energy to accelerate a dry cycle of the heat pump clothes dryer comprises using the second amount of energy to energize an auxiliary heater during a start transient phase of the dry cycle to decrease the start transient phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

Abstract: Described is a system and apparatus for stripping fluids from the surface of a passing vehicle. The apparatus includes an inflatable blower bag for attaching with a duct structure. The inflatable blower bag includes an entrance for receiving air from the support structure and an exit for directing air onto a passing vehicle. A flexible water stripping blade is positioned proximate the exit such that as the bag falls onto a passing vehicle, the flexible blade engages with the passing vehicle and strips water from the passing vehicle.