Patents Examined by Steve M Gravini
  • Patent number: 8893400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hair dryer including a tapered plastic shell between a rear end and a front end through which flows out the air set into motion and heated by the hair dryer, this plastic shell defining at least one air inlet and an air outlet and being intended to accommodate at least one motor and one fan, the shaft of which is borne by an attached internal structure in the central portion of the fuselage. According to the invention, the plastic shell is conformed in order to receive the air between the air inlet and the internal structure bearing the fan, on a longer acoustic path as compared with the length of the acoustic path between the rear end and the internal structure bearing the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Technofirst
    Inventor: Christian Carme
  • Patent number: 8893402
    Abstract: A method for controlling the atmosphere in a protective gas chamber for the continuous treatment of metal strips. A metal strip is guided into and out of the protective gas chamber via locks. At least one lock has at least two sealing elements for the metal strip which runs through it, with the result that a sealed chamber is formed between the two sealing elements. The gas pressure (P2, PD) is measured in the protective gas chamber and in the sealed chamber of the lock and the pressure (PD) in the sealed chamber is regulated, to be precise in such a way that, during operation, the differential pressure between the protective gas chamber and the sealed chamber is kept as far as possible to an optimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hamman, Jerome Vallee
  • Patent number: 8893399
    Abstract: A lint catching system is provided for a clothes dryer. The lint catching system filters lint from exhaust air expelled from the clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: ADR Products, LLC
    Inventors: David George Gregory, Adrienne Francesca Szabady
  • Patent number: 8881424
    Abstract: A drying installation (1) and method for drying of products (3). More in particular, the invention relates to a drying installation (1) and a method for drying sludge or mud, as e.g. the drying of wastewater and industrial sludge possibly contaminated with toxic or corrosive components. The dryer installation (1) comprises infrared emitters (5) which are protected and/or insulated from the evaporation products (7) exiting the drying product (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Solaronics S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Lenoir, Jerome Bellou
  • Patent number: 8875412
    Abstract: A dryer burner apparatus includes a gas supply line that is fluidly coupled to a gas supply. A burner tube is fluidly coupled the gas supply line and has a top side and a bottom side. The burner tube has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and the apertures are positioned in the bottom side. An air mixer is positioned below the burner tube. The air mixer has a plurality of air openings extending therethrough. A blower directs air upwardly to the burner tube so that the air can be heated by the burner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Allan Anderson
  • Patent number: 8875416
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance treats a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation. A rotatable drum defines a treating chamber and includes an open face through which access is provided to the treating chamber. An air system supplies air to and exhausts air from the treating chamber and includes an airflow portal adjacent the open face and in fluid communication with the treating chamber. A door includes a panel with a flat surface, the door selectively movable to prevent access through the open face, and the flat surface facing the treating chamber when the door closes the open face. A deflector extends away from the flat surface and at least partially overlies the airflow portal when the door closes the open face. The deflector deflects items in the laundry load away from the airflow portal when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Colin T. Anderson, Michael K. Lindquist, Robert J. Messersmith
  • Patent number: 8875414
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher W. Blomquist
  • Patent number: 8869424
    Abstract: A method and an associated apparatus for drying moisture-laden air from a working chamber of a water-bearing machine, in particular a dishwasher, comprises: setting the temperature of the moisture-laden air in the working chamber to between 40° C. and 50° C., setting the temperature of a cooling medium in a heat exchanger to less than 20° C., and conducting the moisture-laden air, of which the temperature has been adjusted in this way, out of the working chamber through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Etimex Technical Components GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Hermann, Adalbert Kasper
  • Patent number: 8869422
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a Marangoni vapor knife assembly. The assembly includes a base having a channel extending longitudinally through the base and a plurality of passages extending laterally from the channel toward an outer face of the base; a top plate adapted to be removeably coupled to the base with an outer face flush with the outer face of the base; and a shim adapted to be disposed between the base and the top plate and further adapted to form a plurality of spray orifices in the assembly. Numerous additional features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Velazquez, Allen L. D'Ambra, Jim K. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 8869420
    Abstract: This invention presents a versatile and continuous drying technology that utilizes controlled heat combined with forced air supply for drying a feedstock. The dryer virtually divided top-down into different zones, each having definite heated air distribution rate to secure desired condition for drying of the feedstock. The heat source of the dryer is waste heat, either provided by the feedstock itself through exothermic heat generated by the feedstock or reclaimed waste heat or solar heat. The discharge system of the dryer is a fail-safe discharge system, which ensures equal residence time for the feedstock through all the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Mousa Mohammad Nazhad
  • Patent number: 8869425
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for processing waste material is provided which comprises a heat proof chamber (102), a hot gas inlet (106, 112) for heating the interior of the heat proof chamber (102), and a rotatable drum (118) for containing waste to be processed. The drum (118) has gaps (120) therein, is located within the heat proof chamber (102), and separated therefrom around its edge by a gap. The apparatus (100) is also provided with a drive (126, 128) for rotating the drum (118) at a speed such that, in use, waste material that is heat softened is centrifugally separated from the remainder of the waste and passes through the gaps (120) in the drum (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Chinook End-Stage Recycling Limited
    Inventors: Ophneil Henry Perry, Rifat Al Chalabi
  • Patent number: 8869426
    Abstract: A washing and/or drying appliance includes a heating circuit (140) for heating a washing liquid and/or a drying air flow, connected to voltage distribution lines (105a,105b) distributing power inside the appliance. The heating circuit includes at least one heating resistor (205) in series to switch means (210a,210b) controlled by an appliance control unit (125) for selectively energizing the heating resistor when required. The switch means of the heating circuit includes a first and a second switch (210a,210b) in series to the heating resistor, the heating resistor being interposed between the first and second switches. A monitoring circuit arrangement is provided, which includes a first resistor (R1) in shunt to the heating resistor and having a resistance substantially higher than that of the heating resistor, and a pull-up network connected between a first terminal (215b;215a) of the heating resistor and one of the voltage distribution lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Marco Lorenzi, Paolo Driussi
  • Patent number: 8869421
    Abstract: In a general aspect, an apparatus for treating clothes includes a filter unit and a substance removal unit. The filter unit is positioned to filter substances from air discharged from an accommodating space and the substance removal unit is configured to move substances remaining on a portion of the filter unit. A method for controlling the apparatus for treating clothes includes detecting a condition related to the apparatus for treating clothes. The method further includes controlling, based on detection of the condition and without user input after detection of the condition, the substance removal unit to start removing substances remaining on the portion of the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Donghyun Kim, Hyojin Ko, Sangik Lee, Jeongyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8863404
    Abstract: A dryer performance optimization system comprising a dryer having an inner wall and being adapted to rotate at variable speeds and a variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer. The preferred system also comprises a baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end and a controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer. A method for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas in a baghouse comprising providing a dryer performance optimization system as described herein and varying the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer by varying the rotational speed of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Astec, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm Swanson
  • Patent number: 8857074
    Abstract: A thermal method for stabilizing a load of wood, in particular timber, including: a phase of treatment of the load of wood in a treatment kiln by a gaseous treatment flow; generation of a gaseous treatment flow at high temperature from a heat generator independent of the treatment kiln and recovery of the loaded gaseous flow after treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: HOLCOP
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bernon, Alain Dulac, Raymond Guyomarc'h
  • Patent number: 8857073
    Abstract: Vacuum concentrator, comprising a vacuum chamber with a closure which may be sealed in an airtight manner, a centrifuge rotor arranged in the vacuum chamber with at least one receiver for at least one vessel for samples to be dried, a drive motor arranged outside the vacuum chamber for driving the centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber, a tempering device associated with the vacuum chamber for tempering the at least one sample in the vacuum chamber, a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum chamber for detecting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and an electrical control and evaluating device which is connected to the drive motor, the vacuum pump, the tempering device and the pressure sensor, for detecting the end point of the vacuum concentration by means of the pressures detected by the pressure sensor in the vacuum chamber and terminating the vacuum concentration when the end point is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eppendorf AG
    Inventors: Frank Ramhold, Klaas Van Den Berghe, Bert-Olaf Grimm, Wolfgang Goemann, Rebecca Hess, Felix Francke
  • Patent number: 8850712
    Abstract: A vacuum drying apparatus and method to dry and cure paint is disclosed. The method provides a substantially particle free environment that shortens drying time, reduces cost and improves surface finish. The apparatus includes an enclosed drying tunnel that is maintained at a reduced pressure relative to ambient conditions. Heat lamps with the drying tunnel aid in curing and provide the desired particle free environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Brian Laviolette, Jessica Lynn Laviolette
  • Patent number: 8850713
    Abstract: A hand drying device includes: a drying chamber; a nozzle; a supply unit; a hand detection sensor; a control unit; and an illuminating unit. The drying chamber includes: an opening; a first inner wall surface; and a second inner wall surface facing the first inner wall surface. A hand is inserted from the opening into a space between the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. The nozzle is arranged on the first inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the second inner wall surface. A center axis of the nozzle and an optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a proper position in the drying chamber where a hand is supposed to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nakamura, Takaki Kobayashi, Tsukasa Sakane
  • Patent number: 8850715
    Abstract: What is described is a process and an installation for drying articles, in particular painted vehicle bodies, in which the articles are moved through a drying zone in which they are hardened in an inert-gas atmosphere. Inert gas is taken from the drying zone constantly or intermittently and is first of all conducted along a first face which is at a first temperature at which higher-boiling contaminants condense out. The condensate that forms in the process is discharged. After that, the inert gas which has been pre-cleaned in this way is conducted along at least one second face which is at a lower temperature than the first face. Lower-boiling contaminants are precipitated at this point. These condensates, too, are then discharged. This process and installation work more favorably, energy-wise, and with higher cleaning efficiency than known processes and installations of a similar type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Eisenmann AG
    Inventors: Werner Swoboda, Andreas Keller
  • Patent number: 8844155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hopper of an injection molding machine, which comprises a combined hopper, an electric heating air-blasting system and a temperature control system, wherein the combined hopper comprises two or more than two sub-hoppers; each sub-hopper is provided with an independent sub-feed inlet, an independent sub-discharge outlet and a branch air-blasting port capable of being controlled independently; all the sub-discharge outlets of the sub-hoppers are communicated with a thermostatic chamber arranged below the sub-discharge outlets; a main discharge outlet and a main air supply port are arranged at the lower part of the thermostatic chamber; and the thermostatic chamber and each sub-hopper are provided with independent temperature control systems respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Zhengrong Lou