Abstract: An electrostatic spray dryer for drying liquid into powder including an elongated body defining a drying chamber, a spray nozzle assembly at one end of the drying chamber and a filter element housing and powder collection chamber at an opposite end. A non-structural non-metallic liner is disposed within the elongated body in spaced relation to an inner wall surface for defining an internal drying zone. The liner is releasably supported within the body for enabling selective removal and replacement following a particular usage. The illustrated elongated body has a modular construction comprising a plurality of modules, with at least one being selectively removable and replacement for altering the length of the drying chamber for a particular spray application. The liner also is replaceable with a liner of a length corresponding to the altered length of the drying chamber or with a different diameter for a particular usage.

Abstract: A modular spray gun manifold having a plurality of spray gun modules arranged in a lateral array each separated by an adjacent support assembly. Each spray gun module has a central liquid passage communicating with a spray nozzle and a transversely oriented liquid inlet port communicating through an outer side of the spray gun module for connection with an independently controllable liquid supply. The spray gun modules further include a recirculation port communicating between the central passageway and a recirculation conduit in an adjacent support assembly. A control valve of each module is operable when in open spraying position for blocking communication of liquid from the central passageway to the circulation port and when in a valve closing position blocking the liquid flow to the spray nozzle while redirecting liquid from the liquid inlet to the recirculation port for recirculation through the manifold array.

Abstract: A fluidized bed coating apparatus for coating liquid onto the surfaces of particles directed into a coating chamber. A liquid spray nozzle assembly disposed below a hollow separator within the coating chamber includes an ultrasonic atomizer for atomizing coating liquid into a fine liquid particle cloud and a pressurized air directing air cap for forming the ultrasonically atomized fine liquid particle cloud into a cone shaped spray pattern and propelling the liquid particles through the separator into an upbed region of the coating chamber for recirculation in an outbed region, and through the separator. A cooling air passageway system is provided within the spray nozzle assembly for cooing the ultrasonic atomizer during operation.

Abstract: A powder processing system having a processing vessel into which powder is pneumatically supplied and an exhaust plenum that communicates with the processing vessel through an exhaust port. A filter is located at the exhaust port for filtering air borne powder from the air flow exiting the processing vessel, and a reverse pulse air filtering device is provided for selectively removing accumulated powder from the filter. The cleaning device includes a nozzle having a first portion within the air plenum and a second portion within the air filter, and a plunger is mounted on the first filter portion for movement to an exhaust port closing position as an incident to the direction of pressurized air through the first portion of the nozzle for enabling pressurized air from the second portion of the nozzle to thereupon be directed through the filter without hindrance of air exiting the processing vessel.

Abstract: A powder processing system having a processing vessel into which powder is pneumatically supplied and an exhaust plenum that communicates with the processing vessel through an exhaust port. A filter is located at the exhaust port for filtering air borne powder from the air flow exiting the processing vessel, and a reverse pulse air filtering device is provided for selectively removing accumulated powder from the filter. The cleaning device includes a nozzle having a first portion within the air plenum and a second portion within the air filter, and a plunger is mounted on the first filter portion for movement to an exhaust port closing position as an incident to the direction of pressurized air through the first portion of the nozzle for enabling pressurized air from the second portion of the nozzle to thereupon be directed through the filter without hindrance of air exiting the processing vessel.

Abstract: A key leveler and method of use for leveling keys on a musical instrument keyboard. A horizontal guide rail holding a gauge holder and height indicator is leveled over the keyboard. The gauge holder includes a downward-extending push rod for contacting each key. An index cylinder and spring adjustment screw adjust the spring force applied to the push rod. The index cylinder is selectively positionable in park, rest, and depressed positions for each key. The system also includes an electronic height indicator, a laptop computer, and a software program for simultaneously calculating the optimal shimming for each key.

Abstract: A key leveler for leveling keys on the keyboards of musical instruments, a computerized key leveling system, and methods of use thereof. The key leveler includes a guide rail horizontally disposed above the keyboard supported by a pair of mounting clamps at opposite ends that grip the musical instrument. The guide rail is leveled over the keyboard using pairs of swing arms and draw devices. A bearing block is slidably connected to the guide rail to which a tubular gauge holder support of a gauge holder mounts. A longitudinal bore extends through the gauge holder support that slidably receives a mounting stem with stylus of a height indicator retained by a thumbscrew. A push rod closely slidably fits within the longitudinal bore extending downwardly past the gauge holder support having a top end that engages the stylus and a convex bottom end that contacts the keys. An index cylinder is slidably disposed about the gauge holder support and push rod.

Abstract: An improved Wurster coater in which conditioned fluidizing gas, drawn through a coating chamber bowl from a plenum by a vacuum fan, is directed through a perforated gas distribution plate through one or more Wurster tubes. The perforated gas distribution plate defines three concentric gas flow zones: a central high-flow up-bed zone beneath the Wurster tube, a surrounding annular lower-flow down-bed zone, and an outer peripheral bypass zone defining a bypass cavity underlying the outer lower wall of the bowl. A controlled bypass flow of conditioned fluidizing gas is directed into the bypass zone, either around the edge of the distribution plate or through relatively larger holes in its plate's outer periphery, which causes that portion of the fluidizing gas to flow radially inward across the distribution plate, thereby sweeping particles away which would otherwise stagnate at the inner corners of the bowl due to low gas velocity in that region.

Abstract: An improved Wurster coater in which conditioned fluidizing gas, drawn through a coating chamber bowl from a plenum by a vacuum fan, is directed through a perforated gas distribution plate through one or more Wurster tubes. The perforated gas distribution plate defines three concentric gas flow zones: a central high-flow up-bed zone beneath the Wurster tube, a surrounding annular lower-flow down-bed zone, and an outer peripheral bypass zone defining a bypass cavity underlying the outer lower wall of the bowl. A controlled bypass flow of conditioned fluidizing gas is directed into the bypass zone, either around the edge of the distribution plate or through relatively larger holes in its plate's outer periphery, which causes that portion of the fluidizing gas to flow radially inward across the distribution plate, thereby sweeping particles away which would otherwise stagnate at the inner corners of the bowl due to low gas velocity in that region.