Abstract: A combination bow hoist and arrowhead wrench comprising a flexible cord securely attached to a substantially rigid body having means to compactly and securely store the flexible cord, means for securely holding a bow for raising the bow to an elevated position and wrench means for attaching arrowheads to arrow shafts.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a screw gun used in the drywall installation industry. The improved screw gun has a conventional screw driving head at the forward end of the gun. A rear drive shaft extends from the motor of the gun, and an access member is provided at the back of the screw gun to provide access to the distal end of the drive shaft. An adapter member is adapted to be received in and withdrawn from the access member. The adapter member has a rotatable cutting tool associated therewith. Rotational motion is transmitted from the drive shaft to the rotatable cutting tool by the adapter member when the adapter member is received in the access member and the rear drive shaft is driven by the motor.

Abstract: A folding bridge comprising the two sections (27 and 28) hinged together about a hinge pin (43). The hinge being arranged such that when the bridge is folded together for transportation the sections (27 and 28) at least partially nest inside one another in order to reduce the overall height of the folded bridge. The invention also provides a folding bridge in combination with a vehicle for launching and recovering the bridge.

Abstract: An arrangement for laying a bridge, in which a vehicle carries a plurality of track support sections of a bridge to be laid. The vehicle has a laying device which includes a laying support with cantilevering rails traveling on rollers. Telescoping stays are located at ends of the laying support, and a left-side track-laying device and a right-side track-laying device are mounted on telescoping shafts. The telescoping shafts are displaced hydraulically across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Each of the track-laying device on the laying support has provision for placing the track support sections. A piston-and-cylinder is located on arms mounted at ends of a horizontal one of the shafts, whereas piston-and-cylinder is mounted on ends of a rear one of the shafts.

Abstract: Improvements to a manually operated, rotary bristle toothbrush. A thumb actuated mechanism is slidably and longitudinally mounted in an essentially hollow, elongate handle and a part of the mechanism, a rack, is caused to engage at least one compound pinion/spur gear in order to convert longitudinally reciprocative motion to rotary motion that is shunted toward the head of the toothbrush. The head contains therein one or more rotary bristles that project orthogonally from the head of the toothbrush and off the major longitudinal axis of the device. Rotary motion is conducted by a drive shaft into the head of the brush and transferred via a crown gear to bases of the brush(es) by interface between the crown gear of the drive shaft and at least one brush base comprising a capstan device adapted for rotation.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine includes a cylindrical brush mounted in the machine for rotation about a generally horizontal axis extending transverse to the direction of machine movement. A recirculation flap is attached to the machine and extends generally coextensively with the brush and parallel thereto. The recirculation flap is normally yieldingly urged toward the brush, with contact between the flap and a floor obstacle causing the flap to move, against the force of its mounting springs, away from the brush.

Abstract: A drain clearing device and method comprising an elongated flexible member for positioning in a blocked drain line with the working end of the tool located beyond the blockage and having means for enlargement or deployment of the working end after the tool is positioned in the drain line so that the blockage in the line is removed by withdrawal of the tool. The method comprises the steps of positioning an enlargable or deployable tool in a drain line beyond the point of blockage, deploying the tool, and withdrawing the deployed tool from the drain line to remove the blockage.

Abstract: A medicament containing dental brush includes a plurality of parallel fibers having a medicament such as tetracycline, chlorhexidine, or sodium fluoride disposed between or within the individual fibers. The medicament is released during brushing to provide direct contact of the medicament with the areas in the mouth receiving treatment, including those areas both above and below the gum line. The brush is disposable and contains a sufficient dosage for one use and is preferably used with a rotary toothbrush. Utilizing a dental brush as a means for delivery of the medicament to a treatment area, increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

Abstract: Paper chaff consisting of confetti, paper dust fibers or crimp lugs are scrubbed from continuous, edge-perforated computer paper between the paper supply and a printer by stationary brushes and are then captured in a collector chamber for subsequent removal. The collector chamber may be removed, emptied and reinstalled without severing the continuous paper web between the printer and the supply or retracting the paper from the printer. When in operative cleaning position, the chamber essentially confines the area where scrubbing takes place except for inlet and outlet slots through which the paper passes, in order to minimize dust particles from becoming airborne and migrating outside the confined area. In its preferred form, the collector chamber includes materials which electrostatically attract and collect such airborne particles.

Abstract: A pressure increasing and warning aid for coupling to an automobile windshield wiper is provided. The device includes an opaque longitudinally extended wind pressure blade having a streamlined contour, and an illumination assembly disposed lengthwise therein. The light source of the illumination assembly is connected to the windshield wiper circuit. On a rainy day, as the windshield wiper operates, the wind pressure blade will be influenced by wind pressure, and will add to the wiper's action pressure, while simultaneously the illumination assembly will forwardly direct warning lights to other vehicles.

Abstract: A freon recovery workstation including a collection tray for collecting and recovering liquid freon from the work area, forced air passageways disposed above and below the work area for drawing and receiving freon vapor, a freon-adsorbing unit connected to the forced air passageways for adsorbing and recovering the freon vapor, and a freon applicator in the form of a hand tool for aiming and regulating the use of freon.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner has a main body with a blower and a dust-collecting chamber, a triac that controls the blower, a floor nozzle coupled to the main body, a sensor that senses the current in a motor in the floor nozzle that drives its rotary brush, and a microcomputer. At a predetermined interval, the sensor sends a representative value of the current for that interval, which may be the maximum value, to the microcomputer. The microcomputer determines the duty cycle of the triac by performing a fuzzy interference procedure on the values that sent. Thus the supply of current to the blower can be varied automatically according to the conditions of use of the floor nozzle and the kind of floor surface cleaned.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner train comprises a blowing device mounted transversely and two suction devices disposed downstream and upstream of the blowing device with respect to the direction of the train. It is provided with deflectors for transversely deviating the blowing and suction flows to effect to a non-homogeneous distribution of said flows. The blowing and suction devices comprise nozzles equipped with obturation systems and apparatus for controlling the obturation system in synchronization. Moreover, the end piece of the nozzles may be orientable laterally for cleaning overhanging platforms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for mounting a pair of casters to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller. The mounting device consists of a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a cushion. Generally, the first sleeve is securely attached to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller by means of a rivet or the like. The second sleeve pivotally receives the first sleeve, thereby permitting them to rotate relative to each other. The cushion consists of a cap-like element, a spring and a plug. The cap-like element has two slots longitudinally extending therein. The plug has a hole transversely extending therethrough. The cap-like element is securely connected with the second sleeve. The spring is received in the cap-like element. The plug is also received in the cap-like element. A shaft on which a pair of casters rotate is inserted through the slots in the cap-like element and the hole of the plug, whereby the spring is sandwiched-between the top in the cap-like element and the plug.

Abstract: A roller mechanism for supporting an article on a support surface for selective movement thereon. The roller mechanism including a support member rotatably connected to the article to be supported, a bearing for providing antifriction rotation between the support member and the article to be supported, an axle or axles connected to the support member, and a plurality of roller elements mounted about the support member in a generally circular pattern, each roller element being independently rotatable about an axle.

Abstract: A handle for a paint can suspends the can securely from a ladder rung in a stationary mode in either an upright position with the can full of paint and the bottom resting upon an adjacent lower rung, or in an inclined position for easier access with the can partially full and the front wall resting against an adjacent lower rung, and includes a transverse hand grip member connected between two side supporting members having elongated vertical elements, straight horizontal elements, and dependent vertical elements, forming a hook structure to engage the ladder rung, and being pivotally attached to the can so that the handle may be folded against the can for storage.

Abstract: A quick release hinge has a base plate, a pivot arm, a connecting plate assembly and a toggle segment, through holes, bolt, pins disposed thereon, can be released quickly.

Abstract: A buffering device used in a hinge structure of a lid or cover, such as stool lid of a toilet stool of Western style, which is pivoted on a horizontal axis and generally opened upwards by hand and closed downwards by gravity, comprising two members such as of coaxial cylinder type having mutually facing surfaces, respectively, and being combined coaxially to enable relative rotation, and at least one idle member disposed within a gap between the facing surfaces to roll with the relative rotation, and including no buffering fluid, in which the torque for closure is made large as compared with the torque for opening, so that the lid can be opened lightly when it is opened by hand, while it is automatically braked for preventing it from colliding against the stool body to produce an undesirable strike sound when it is naturally closed by gravity.

Abstract: In a multiple bale opener (1) comprising a transport device leading pressed fiber bales (14,16) to a horizontal reduction area (3), the transport device having a section (20) rising towards the reduction area, and a reduction device (5) moved back and forth in the reduction area, it is provided. The transport device has a plurality of adjacent independent transport tracks (2,4,6,8), and the transport tracks (2,4,6,8) are pivotably supported at the rear end of the reduction area (3), seen in the direction of transport. The distance of each of the transport tracks (2,4, 6,8) to the plane of reduction can be adjusted separately at the front end of the reduction area (3), seen in the direction of transport, and the transport velocity of each of the transport tracks (2,4,6,8) can be adjusted separately.

Abstract: A process for the transportation of cans between machines processing fiber slivers by means of a can conveying device. The latter is loaded and unloaded simultaneously in one position at a machine or storage facility. The cans are inspected during their transportation between two such machines. In this process, the cans in which fiber sliver remnants remain, are emptied. The route of the can conveying device constitutes a transportation system consisting of three interconnected can circuits, whereby a first can circuit comprises two such machines and the other two can circuits each comprise one of these machines and the can storage facility. The can shifting device, to load and unload the can conveying device is equipped with a grasping device to grasp the can and with a lifting device to lift up the grasped can.

Abstract: A button assisting tool having a bifurcated pronged section set at an angle to an intermediate section and joined thereto by a joinder section which establishes the angle; and a shank attached to the opposite end of the intermediate section and set at an angle opposite in direction of the angle of the bifurcated section.

Abstract: An improved mount for motion Picture Lighting and Rigging Equipment. A strong, light-weight mount that can be quickly and securely clamped to a variety of objects of different sizes and shapes. The clamping jaw (22) (23) faces are always parallel to each other and are padded to protect the objects being clamped. All major components (21) (22) (23) (24) are rust proof. The components of the mount can be rearranged to suit specific clamping situations.The shaft (21) of this mount will fit into existing support devices used in the motion picture industry. Thus, this mount can also be used to hold various objects on a movie set and serve as a connection between those objects and the existing support devices.

Abstract: A string zipper, with no mounting flanges, is welded to bag material for forming zipper bags. The zipper material is fed from a driven unwind and the bag material receives the zipper material. Guides place the zipper material wherever desired with respect to the bag material. The bag material, with the zipper material, is held between continuously moving belts. Stationary heaters are places against the belts, and provide heat through the belts sufficient to weld the bag material to the zipper material. The zipper material is then heated as a preseal before the material is contacted by the side welding blade which completes the seal and separates discrete bags.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for pulling the inner cylinder from a tubular lock that has become inoperative. The tool comprises a cylindrical housing carrying a threaded main shaft which has a front segment with resilient fingers. The fingers are radially compressible for insertion into the annular key passageway of the lock whereupon the fingers return to original condition and have tips that engage the inner rim of the lock cylinder. A second shaft is slidable within the main shaft and carries a locking cup that retains the inserted fingers in the rim-engaging condition. A threaded nut on the main shaft is rotatable manually and with a wrench or the like to withdraw the main shaft and forcibly pull the inner cylinder from the lock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of making coiled plate, sheet in coiled form or discrete plate. The apparatus is an intermediate thickness slab caster and inline hot strip and plate line. The apparatus includes a continuous strip caster forming a strand of between 3.5 and 5.5 inches thick; a shear for cutting the strand into a slab of desired length; a slab table including a slab takeoff operable transverse of the conveyor table; a slab collection and storage area adjacent to the slab conveyor table adapted to receive slab from the slab takeoff; a reheat furnace having an entry inline with both the slab conveyor table and the slab collection and storage area for receiving slabs from either; a feed and run back table at the exit of the reheat furnace; a hot reversing mill for reducing the slab to a thickness of 1 inch or less in no more than three flat passes; a pair of coiler furnaces located on opposite sides of the hot reversing mill; and a finishing line downstream of the pair of coiler furnaces.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for drilling dowel holes in a workpiece and then inserting dowels in the dowel holes is disclosed. The apparatus has a moveable carriage that moves along the side edge of the workpiece. A drilling tool and a dowel inserting tool are attached to the moveable carriage. A programable controller controls the movement of the carriage and the operation of the drilling tool and the dowel injecting tool. The controller is programmed to move the carriage to a plurality of positions for drilling dowel holes in the workpiece. The number of dowel holes, the spacing of the dowel holes and the depth of the dowel holes are entered into a control panel to program the controller. The controller is then activated to move the carriage and operate the dowel drilling tool and dowel inserting tool.

Abstract: A slide mounter where a photographic film transparency is advanced to an operation station and is cut from a photographic film web and punch holes are punched. The cut and punched film transparency is then inserted into a slide mount at an insertion station. The punch holes are designed to cooperate with pin registrations in the slide mount to lock the film transparency in place within the slide mount. The photographic film transparency is cut from a photographic web which is supported along a support axis. The film transparency is pushed from the operation station after it is cut and punched along a push axis into the slide mount M. The orientation of the push axis and the support axis is design to accommodate exposed film where the image is 90.degree. from the normal orientation of images recorded by a photographic camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing large area multilayer interconnects for electronic substrates and circuit boards uses high density area array interconnections that are created by solid state diffusion. Two or more pretested subsections are electrically and mechanically joined together to simultaneously form a multilayer substrate without employing a flow-type connection where the conductive interconnect material is entirely in a liquid phase at some point during the joining process. Each substrate is comprised of a planar dielectric substrate having a plurality of conductive layers. On at least one surface of the substrate a conductive pad lay is formed having a plurality of interconnect pads. The interconnect pads are positioned at a uniform height above the surface of the dielectric substrate and include a base metal layer, a top metal layer with at least one of the conductive pad layers have a donor metal disposed on top of the top metal layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for taking a plurality of terminals arranged in a first spatial configuration, and rearranging them into a second spatial configuration for insertion into a stator or other electrical component, is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of tubes, one for each terminal, which convey the terminals to new locations and, if necessary, twist along the way to change the orientations of the terminals.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for the automated assembly of parts such as plastic parts into assemblies wherein assembly pallets loaded with their corresponding assemblies are stored and vertically indexed in an accumulator station to allow a previously applied material such as an adhesive to cure. Consequently, the system takes up little floor space. Entrance, dispensing and assembly stations, together with the accumulator station each has an enclosed chamber which is pressurized with an ambient at subatmospheric pressure in order to evacuate the enclosed chambers so that fumes from the adhesive utilized in securing the parts together are not allowed to escape at the stations during assembly of the parts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric motor wherein pole pieces, made of pole laminations provided with outwardly extending projections are assembled into pole piece blocks, which are provided with stator coils premounted thereon. The pole piece blocks are secured to a stator ring made of stator laminations. The projections on the pole pieces are inserted into depressions formed in an inner wall of the stator ring and are then anchored thereto by means of anchoring rods inserted axially through passages provided in the stator ring and holes formed in the projections of the pole pieces. The projections and the corresponding depressions mating therewith are shaped by the step of forming the stator laminations which are formed such that the spaces of the projections and depressions receiving the same in assembly will occur as a result of a selective laying together of pre-assembled lamination packs.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes two substrates which are provided with magnetic cores of magnetic film on their surface and are bonded on a plane so that a magnetic gap is defined between the magnetic cores, an edge part of the magnetic cores with the magnetic gap facing to a track of a recording medium being thinned from opposite sides thereof, and the magnetic cores in any other part being thicker than the edge part. In a gap facing plane where a pair of the magnetic cores join together, the magnetic cores are registered with each other so that they can be opposed to each other in a larger width in the back gap than in the front gap. As a result, even if a tolerance of a process in manufacturing is considerably loosened, a magnetic head with high core efficiency can be obtained with a high yield.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of lead-acid batteries and associated apparatus and a lead-acid battery design resulting therefrom is disclosed. The method involves providing a battery grid and pasting the grid with a battery paste such that a profiled and tapered battery plate is formed. This battery plate is wrapped onto a coil and cured in curing apparatus. A battery element is formed using coils of the finished plate stock, separator material, and winged end plate. After this, several battery elements are then placed into a battery container.

Abstract: A Demountable Tape-Automated Bonding System for providing connections to a chip is disclosed. The chip is attached to or is held in place on a TAB frame that includes a generally flexible dielectric film which bears a pattern of conductive traces. A multitude of closely-spaced contacts which protrude downward from the chip contact the conductive traces on the TAB frame. The chip may be maintained in its proper location on the TAB frame by either a bonding agent or by compressive forces supplied by a cap which is fastened to the TAB frame and to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, below the TAB frame. The substrate carries an array of conductive traces around the edges of the substrate. These traces match the traces on the TAB frame. The conductor traces on the TAB frame and on the substrate are held in contact with each other by compressive forces supplied by the cap which is fastened to the TAB frame and to the substrate.

Abstract: For pressing the contact elements of multipolar plug-in connectors into boreholes on printed circuit boards, the contact elements are pressed-in in several steps, so that only some contact elements are pressed in during each step, while the remaining contact elements are pressed-in in other steps, such that the pressing-in force does not become excessively large and can be performed with conventional presses.

Abstract: A process for the formation of side metallization in ceramic sheets is provided by the present invention. The process includes the steps of forming a via within the ceramic sheet and splitting the via to expose the metallization contained therein. The process is particularly useful for forming wraparound metallization on feedthroughs utilized in hermetic packages.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density electronic connector system in which a plastic insulating body supports on one or more levels a plurality of conductive circuit traces. Output contacts to these traces are provided by small metal balls. The metal balls are driven into tight contact with respective ones of the conductive traces and captivated by the plastic body. The balls are covered with gold and provide miniature, wear resistant closely spaced output contacts in the connector system. A ball may contact conductive traces on two levels of the insulating body and thereby provide an electrical connection between conductive traces. A method of manufacture of the connector system includes the steps of heating the plastic body to an elevated temperature, and driving the small metal balls through or against a respective conductive trace and into the plastic body which thereby captivates it. The conductive traces may be solder plated.

Abstract: A method for deforming, splitting and chopping of contaminated, or potentially contaminated, heat exchanger tubes into short tubes segments that easily may transported to an off-site location for decontamination or disposal. The method has particular utility in dismantling potentially contaminated tubes from a tube bundle that is part of a condenser for a BWR or PWR nuclear power plant. The method involves first gripping and deforming the exterior periphery of a potentially contaminated tube with opposed transverse forces sufficient to travel the tube longitudinally out of the tubesheets in a deformed condition, and then splitting the deformed tube into first and second wall sections which are chopped into short length wall segments. The deformation preferably flattens the tube so that the short wall segments are substantially planar, with exposed inner and outer surfaces.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a studded flow channel (38) results in enhancing the heat transfer performance of a hydraulically expanded heat exchanger such as a coiled tube boiler (10). The studs are machined or rolled into a flat metal sheet (20) prior to forming a cylinder. One cylinder (28) is rolled so that the studs are located outside the cylinder while another embodiment positions the studs on the inside of a cylinder. The cylinders are positioned one inside the other and electron beam welded to form a helical weld path (16). A pressure fitting (34) is attached to the welded cylinder (36) and hydraulic pressure (P) is applied to deform the cylinders (28, 32) between the helical weld path thus creating a studded flow channel (38).

Abstract: A flexible, twin-blade razor unit employing a corrugated spacer for providing improved cutting effectiveness. The corrugations increase the rigidity of the blades, which, in turn, decreases the amplitude of any vibration introduced into the blades.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation with a rotatable head carrying a non-metallic cutting line extended into a cutting plane. As the line extension decreases from an established preset length an actuator in the head permits additional line to be extended automatically from a supply source within the head. The actuator imposes a back pressure against the line of magnitude correlated to the sensed pull tension wanting to extend the line outward of the head. After the cutting line length is extended to its restored original preset length, the actuator in response to the operational forces imposed thereon secures the cutting line against further extension until a subsequent decrease in line extension is incurred. In one embodiment an inertial drag brake is activated during the course of line feedout and is deactivated after the length of cutting line has been fully restored.

Abstract: A string trimmer provides a cutting head having a passage therethrough receiving a cutting element of fixed length. The cutting element includes a monofilament line and a resilient sleeve surrounds one end of the monofilament line. A rigid eyelet in one end of the resilient sleeve provides an external upset or abutment which cooperates with a shoulder or restriction in the passage to retain the cutting element in the passage during cutting. A groove in the periphery of the cutting head intersects the passage and provides a recess for wholly receiving the cutting element if the user positions the cutting head against an immovable obstacle.

Abstract: A graduated, highly tensioned metallic codestrip is used in a large-format automatic image-related device such as a D-size or larger plotter, yielding positional precision even better than those of prior small-format devices. Preferably perforations in the strip are the graduations, used in determining position of a carriage that holds image transducers (e. g., pens). The strip passes through a slot (open along one edge, closed at the other) in a perforation sensor. The image transducers are very close to the slotted sensor and the strip, to minimize the effect of disturbances arising between the strip and transducers. Two unperforated portions of the strip--one relatively broad, and another relatively narrow border portion--provide very good structural stability for the tensioned strip. Stability under tension is enhanced by wrapping the strip partway around a stanchion at each end.

Abstract: The thread gauge permits the user to determine the pitch diameter of tapered threads at the intersection of the pitch cone and the end face of the object being measured. A pair of opposed anvils having lines of threads which match the configuration and taper of the threads on the part being measured are brought into meshing engagement with the threads on opposite sides of the part. The anvils are located linearly into their proper positions by stop fingers on the anvils that are brought into abutting engagement with the end face of the part. This places predetermined reference points of the pitch cone of the thread anvils in registration with corresponding points on the end face of the part being measured, resulting in an accurate determination of the pitch diameter at that location. The thread anvils can be arranged for measuring either internal or external threads.

Abstract: An apparatus which can be carried to a field sight to locate current and future positions of geosynchronous satellites orbiting the equator in the Clark Belt Altitude. The apparatus corrects the error in viewing angle by providing corrections in longitude and latitude deviations caused by the location of the antenna. The apparatus will provide the user a means of accurately locating a satellite with regard to existing terrain and the obstacles which would interfere with signals between the ground position and the satellite.

Abstract: This is a height/width gage element for use with an adjustable square; the square has a head portion which is slidable engaged to a base and the base is a straight edge having a side surface with a first engagement slot formed on the side surface extending longitudinally thereon, the height/width gage element has a lower side with a front side edge and a first angle side extending from the back side edge, when the head portion and the height/width gage element are slid together along the base portion, the first angle side and lower side of the height/width gage element abut the angle side and the bottom side of the head portion.

Abstract: A unit for measuring shape defects of a part includes an installation plane (1), a presentation unit (2) receiving part to be measured, a measuring machine (10) mobile along three axes (X,Y,Z) and equipped with a sensor (17), and a computer (20). The sensor continuously follows the shape of the part, the variations recorded by the sensor determining a fourth axis (W). Shape deviations are displayed based upon the instantaneous acquisition of the four measuring displacements.

Abstract: An edge finder held on the end of a spindle of a milling machine is provided with a flat on the outer cylindrical surface of the working end member thereof. When the edge of a work piece mounted on the table of the milling machine is slowly advanced by a machinist to contact the rotating end member, the flat thereon produces an audible clicking sound each revolution of the spindle. Moreover, upon contact, the flat on the rotating working end member causes it to vibrate radially thereby enhancing the sidewise jump thereof and making it easier for the jump to be observed by the machinist.

Abstract: An interchangeable indicator tip device for a dial indicator gauge features a rotatable turret having a plurality of indicator tips. Each indicator tip is rotatable to position a selected indicator tip into a measurement position where the selected tip functions as the indicator tip for the dial indicator gauge.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for drying microalgae/microalgal products which have been harvested and strained of excess water by a spray drying process. The method comprises, obtaining drying gas from a burner in which metered input air for combustion is mixed with fuel at or before a dryer gas heating burner and which does not require oxygen in the drying gas that is heated; using the drying gas to dry the microalgae/microalgal products in a spray dryer; separating dryed microalgae/microalgal products from moist drying gas in a cyclone; scrubbing and dehumidifying the moist drying gas; recycling the scrubbed and dehumidified drying gas to the dryer gas heating burner; and, venting a portion of the drying gas equivalent in volume to combustion gases generated in the burner. Scrubbing and dehumidifying is accomplished by spraying the moist drying gas with sea water at a temperature below 60.degree. F.