Patents Examined by Steve M Gravini
  • Patent number: 9057560
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nozzle part for a hand dryer. The nozzle part has a nozzle body and an air outlet aperture in the nozzle body, and the method includes molding the nozzle body from plastic as a single part and then post-machining the air outlet aperture in the molded plastic nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: James Dyson, Leigh Michael Ryan, Robert Michael Cox
  • Patent number: 9052142
    Abstract: A dryer includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, a duct that defines a flow passage for air exiting the drum, and a filter assembly located at a position relative to the flow passage and contacting air that has exited the drum. The filter assembly includes a case defining the filter assembly, a filter portion configured to filter foreign substance from the air contacting the filter assembly, a brush frame configured for rotational movement relative to the case about a rotational axis, and a brush that is supported by the brush frame and configured to separate the foreign substance from the filter portion. A first distance from a first side of the case to the rotational axis of the brush frame is longer than a second distance from a second side of the case to the rotational axis of the brush frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Kim, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 9051727
    Abstract: A reversible portable moisture removal system for drying a structure or wall cavity without creating holes in the structure or wall cavity. The system has a moisture removal housing, which comprises an intake means, a blower, an air heater, a pressure controller and an outlet port. The system also has a docketing station connected to a flexible conduit for flowing pressurized heated air at a targeted location and for creating a vacuum to withdraw moist air from the structure or wall cavity to the moisture removal housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ADVANCED MOISTURE SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Clyde Carlton, David Laurence Green
  • Patent number: 9046304
    Abstract: An air dryer for supplying a decontaminated air stream. The air dryer includes a housing comprising a handle and an air frame body, a fan assembly structured and arranged in the air frame body, and an air filter arranged in the air frame body downstream of the fan assembly, wherein the air filter is structured and arranged to filter an incoming air stream to supply the decontaminated air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Paula Gulak
  • Patent number: 9046303
    Abstract: A freeze-drying method by a far infrared heater including the steps of: mounting the frozen objects to be dried prior to heating in the containers in which an absorption power of the radiant heat from the far infrared heater and a thermal conductivity are high, respectively; mounting the said objects which are contained in the containers into the reduced pressure tank under an atmospheric pressure; heating the containers by the radiant heat from the far infrared heater disposed in the reduced pressure tank; and sublimating the frozen water contents of the objects in a reduced pressure state where sublimation of the objects occurs in the reduced pressure tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: SANWA ENGINEERING CO., LTD., FUTAMI SEIKA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunichi Yagi
  • Patent number: 9046300
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus and system for controlling the delivery of liquid additives is disclosed. In one aspect, liquid additives are delivered to a beverage preparation system through a multiple inlet pump for preparing a finished beverage. In another aspect, additives from liquid additive containers are delivered to a beverage preparation system through a multiple inlet and pumping section pump for preparing a finished beverage. Other additives are communicated through the beverage dispensing system for maintaining and cleaning the system and the multiple inlet pump for ensuring the hygienical integrity of the system throughout its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin M. Chase
  • Patent number: 9032641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for underwater pelletizing and subsequent drying of crystallizing polymers to crystallize the polymer pellets with out subsequent heating is shown in FIG. 5. High velocity air or other inert gas is injected into the water and pellet slurry line (120) toward the dryer near the pelletizer exit (102) at a flow rate from about 100 to about 175 m3/hour, or more. Such high-speed air movement forms a vapor mist with the water and significantly increases th speed of the pellets into and out of the dryer such that the polymer pellets leave the dryer with sufficient latent heat to cause self-crystallization within the pellets. A valve mechanism in the slurry line (150) after the gas injection further regulates the pellet residence time and a vibrating conveyor after the dryer helps the pellets to achieve the desired level of crystallinity and to avoid agglomeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Eloo, Roger B. Wright, Robert G. Mann
  • Patent number: 9027257
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a grain dryer screen includes a grain dryer screen supported within a grain bin and having a grain contacting surface opposing a grain debris contacting surface. A drying airflow path through the grain dryer screen is defined sequentially by the grain debris contacting surface and the grain contacting surface. A cleaning assembly includes a first cleaning arm mounted within the grain bin and disposed along the grain debris contacting surface. A cleaning assembly powering system is configured to move the first cleaning arm along a predetermined cleaning path relative to the grain debris contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Harry Harker
  • Patent number: 9027256
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine, including an air supply unit for supplying air, a tub for having the air supplied thereto from the air supply unit to treat the laundry, the tub having an air recovery opening formed in an outside circumferential surface thereof for recovery of the air to the air supply unit, a lint filter mounted to an inside of the air recovery opening for filtering the lint from the air, a filter cleaning unit for spraying cleaning water to separate the lint from the lint filter, and a flow passage member for guiding the cleaning water dropping from the lint filter to an inside of the tub to an inside surface of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngsuk Kim, Junghoon Lee, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 9015955
    Abstract: The present document describes a container for storing and drying garments or sport equipment, the container comprising an external envelope comprising a resistant material; and a ventilation structure through which air can be blown for drying the garments or sports equipment, the ventilation structure supporting the external envelope, the ventilation structure comprising hanging elements for hanging the garments or sports equipment thereon, the ventilation structure capable of adopting a retracted position and an extended position in which the ventilation structure occupies more space than in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-François Vezina, Pierrot Lebel
  • Patent number: 9016085
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerating appliance having an evaporator area and at least two cooling areas partitioned off from one another inside the housing of the refrigerating appliance. A wall has a solid inner skin, a solid outer skin and a layer made of expanded insulating material located between the inner and outer skin. A cold air supply channel in the wall extends from the evaporator area past the first cooling area to the second cooling area. A shaped part made of an insulating material extends between the cold air supply channel and the inner skin of the wall. The cold air supply channel is separated from the expanded insulating material by a partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Görz, Ralf Spiller
  • Patent number: 9015960
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for temporary location within a damp or waterlogged room is disclosed. The apparatus includes sensors to sense the level of temperature and humidity within the room, a heater to provide heat for the room, an air circulation fan for selectively circulating heated air within the room or selectively exhausting warm and humid air from the room and for allowing outside ambient air into the room. The apparatus being adapted to cyclically continue until the sensed humidity reaches a required level, the apparatus thereafter indicating, directly or indirectly, the completion of the drying process. A method of drying a room using such apparatus is also disclosed which employs a technique whereby the rate of change of the temperature increase is used to determine when humid air should be exhausted from the room. A time limit can also be use to determine when said exhausting takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: DBK David+Baader GmbH
    Inventors: Ian David Hopkin, Jonathan Robert Jayne
  • Patent number: 9016201
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying a water-based emulsion of silicone fluid to a printed web required to be cooled, such that evaporative cooling of the web is promoted in addition to coating of said web with a silicone material. Water evaporated following the application of the silicone fluid to the web is recovered by condensation on the applicator(s) and reapplied to the web, thus economizing the amount of silicone fluid mixture necessary to provide both cooling and enhanced slip characteristics necessary for further handling and processing of the web. The condensation step is effected by containing the evaporated water from the web within a compact enclosure enveloping both the applicator(s) and the web, and optionally chilling said applicator(s) with a cooling medium, preferably water, by means of said cooling medium flowing through at least one of the applicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: MegTec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Zagar, Paul Seidl, Mike Rocheleau, Alain Grandjean
  • Patent number: 9009987
    Abstract: A clothing dryer capable of effectively drying a small amount of substance, and a control method thereof by changing an algorithm of a sensor-dry course, which is configured to control an operation rate, a degree of drying or a temperature of drying, to be adapted to the small load of substance in a case where the substance to be dried has a small load when compared to the entire volume of the clothing dryer, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced regardless of the load of the substance, and a separate option button is provided for a sensor-dry course, so that a small load of substance is dried adaptively to the material characteristic of the substance for a respective dry course, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Woo Lee, Hee Beom Park, Ja Young Kim, Sang Oh Yoo
  • Patent number: 8997372
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has a cabinet forming a drying chamber and a drying rack slidably mounted to the cabinet and movable between a retracted position where the drying rack is within the drying chamber and an extended position where the drying rack is exteriorly of the cabinet. A removable dividing panel is retained by the drying rack and divides the drying chamber into two horizontal and vertically extending drying chambers. A control system associated with the dryer has selectable modes to operate the divided drying chambers independently or concurrently as a single large drying chamber. A recycle system associated with the dryer permits recycling of heat air to increase drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Stan Cennon
  • Patent number: 8997377
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus and a method for controlling a clothes treatment apparatus are provided. The clothes treatment apparatus may include a drying duct, a first blower fan located in the drying duct that circulates interior air within the drying duct, and a filter located in the drying duct. The method may include sensing clogging of the filter, and switching a flow of air passing through the filter from a first direction to an opposite second direction if clogging of the filter is sensed. The method may further include a washing cycle for washing clothes, and a drying cycle for drying the clothes. An implementation time of the washing cycle may be less than an implementation time of the drying cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngsuk Kim, Hyojun Kim, Sangwook Hong, Naeun Kim
  • Patent number: 8997376
    Abstract: A process of drying moisture containing material having a tendency to create dust when dried, said process including the steps of providing said material in a heated chamber having a steam containing atmosphere at a temperature above the dewpoint of the steam, recirculating a hot gas including a portion of the steam through said chamber in order to evaporate moisture from the material to a predetermined level of dryness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Pacific Edge Holdings Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Roderick Howard Carnegie, Brendon Gerrard Cooper, William John Stevens
  • Patent number: 8997374
    Abstract: A drying furnace (20) for drying an object (11) by hot air is provided with a heater (36, 38, 43, 45) that applies radiant heat to a hard-heating region (35, 42) having a larger heat capacity than the other region (37, 44) in the object (11) so as to heat the hard-heating region (35, 42) to a temperature approximate to a temperature of the other region (37, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Sato
  • Patent number: 8997371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the flow-through treatment of web-shaped, gas-permeable material, in particular for drying woven or non-woven fabrics, having the following characteristics: a sieving drum (5), which is rotatably supported and which is connected to a vacuum generator and which has a permeable outer circumference, wherein the material web (M) to be treated rotates around part of the outer circumference of the sieving drum (5); a treatment chamber (BH), which accommodates the sieving drum and to which the gas to be treated, preferably heated air, is supplied; inside the treatment chamber (BH), a sieving cover (SD) or corresponding flow-conducting elements, which surround the sieving drum (5) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound and by means of which the gas flowing into the treatment chamber (BH) is conducted in the direction of the sieving drum surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Trützschler Nonwovens & Man-Made-Fibers GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Böhn
  • Patent number: 8984766
    Abstract: A rack of the type for circulating air interiorly for drying multiple pairs of boots and/or gloves, where the articles to be dried are sprayed with a liquid sterilizing agent while on the rack. The blower housing, manifold and hollow members of the rack have no exterior horizontal surfaces to prevent pooling of the sterilizing agent. In addition, drain holes are provided in the blower housing, rack tubes and manifold to prevent interior trapping of sterilizing agent or moisture from condensation. In one version intended for sterilizing with power connected, a conduit in the manifold drains any liquid in the blower housing directly into the rack tubes. Another lower cost version is intended for sterilizing after electrical power has been externally disconnected and has liquid/moisture drain holes in the blower housing. Either version may be wall mounted or arranged as portable free standing single or double sided rack drying systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Williams Boot & Glove Dryers Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Williams