Patents by Inventor Irven J. McMahon

Irven J. McMahon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9995532
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20170059243
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 9494365
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20160102913
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 8667703
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan J. Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20120216420
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan J. Wolowiecki
  • Patent number: 8196310
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Publication number: 20080307669
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Patent number: 5603168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a dryer used to reduce the moisture content of sheet material such as a jet veneer dryer. A drying chamber is provided and includes a plurality of individual, juxtaposed drying sections. Each drying section circulates air in a path substantially transverse to the path of movement through the dryer. A single point exhaust system extracts the exhaust from the first drying section. A wet seal section located at the input end of the dryer includes an exhaust passage through which a gas sample is drawn by a sampling fan. Gases within the wet seal section are a combination of ambient air drawn through restricted passages at the entry to the wet seal section and exhaust gas that bleeds into the wet seal section from the drying chamber. A controller monitors the temperature of the sampled gases and ambient air and adjusts the rate of exhaust flow from the main exhaust system as a function of the temperature differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Coe Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Irven J. McMahon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4439930
    Abstract: A dryer for reducing the moisture content of material in sheet form comprising a drying chamber through which material to be dried is conveyed and through which heated air is recirculated being withdrawn from the material exit end thereof at less than atmospheric pressure and returned to the material feed end of the drying chamber by power driven fans. During its return to the material feed end of the drying chamber it is reheated. A supplemental gas chamber is provided at the feed end of the drying chamber for controlling the flow of gas from the material feed end of the drying chamber. A second supplemental gas chamber at the material exit end of the drying chamber has means for limiting the leakage of air at ambient temperature thereinto and is provided with an exhaust fan for withdrawing gas therefrom and in turn from the material exit end of the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: The Coe Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Irven J. McMahon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4215489
    Abstract: An elongated generally horizontal stationary housing having generally horizontal, continuous conveyors extending therethrough and including a material drying zone or chamber for reducing the moisture content of material conveyed therethrough and a gas seal zone or chamber having an exhaust fan connected thereto at the material discharge end of the drying chamber. Hot gases are circulated through the drying chamber from the material entrance end to the material exit end of the drying chamber by a fan located in a recirculating duct connected to the opposite ends of the drying chamber and which fan maintains a subatmospheric pressure in the material exit end of the drying chamber. During return of the drying gases to the material entrance end of the drying chamber the temperature of the gases being circulated is increased. Baffles are provided at the material exit end of the seal chamber to restrict the entrance of air into the seal chamber at the material exit end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: The Coe Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Irven J. McMahon, Jr.