Abstract: An apparatus for continuously drying unpackaged food products, in particular vegetables, comprises conveyor means for conveying the products to be dried and circulating means for feeding dry air on the product to be dried and for collecting wet air coming from the products, and being characterized in that the apparatus further comprises means for dehumidifying the wet air, said means comprising an adsorption dehumidifier device.

Abstract: In a gas dryer for use in a gas transmission line in which a bed of desiccant tablets is suspended in the flow of gas, making an aqueous solution of the desiccant salts from the moisture taken from the gas, the solution is inhibited from generating solids and precipitates in a sump area by conducting the heat of hydration from the bed area to the sump area.

Abstract: A rotary particle dryer has a shaft extending along an axis and a hollow drum coaxially and spacedly surrounding the shaft and rotatable about the axis in a direction. A set of axially extending inner baffles fixed to the shaft extend radially outward therefrom and each form at least one angularly open inner pocket. A set of axially extending outer baffles fixed to the drum extend radially inward therefrom and each form at least two angularly open outer pockets. Structure mechanically connects the inner baffles directly with the outer baffles.

Abstract: A system for drying sludge includes a shaftless spiral feed screw for moving sludge through a drying chamber. An high energy inductor is located at a output of the drying chamber for drawing hot gases through the chamber to dry the sludge as it advances from the input end to the output end of the chamber. The high energy inductor also aspirates the dried sludge from the chamber. The drying system can be used in conjunction with a waste-to-energy furnace for incineration of sludge and municipal waste. In such an arrangement, the dried sludge can be aspirated from the drying chamber directly into a combustion zone of the furnace. Hot gases from the furnace can be used in drying the sludge.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular objects comprises, from the top of the apparatus, a holding section; a heating section for heating the granular objects flowing down from the holding section, the heating section being provided beneath the holding section and having a plurality of air ducts to which heated air is introduced; a drying air producing section connected to the air ducts, in which the heated air from the air ducts is mixed with air taken-in from the outside of the apparatus to produce a drying air; and a drying section for drying the granular objects by directly exposing the granular objects to the drying air. The dried granular objects are taken out from a taking-out section and returned to the holding section through a bucket elevator. The apparatus further comprises a detector for detecting the temperature of the drying air. Based on the detected temperature, a control device controls the temperature of the heated air so as to keep the temperature of the drying air to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A vent system has a rotatable connection between flexible conduits, which carry heated air from the dryer to an external location, such as the atmosphere. The vent system consists of a swivel coupler rotatably connecting a pair of flexible exhaust conduits, one of which is readily attachable to a dryer exhaust outlet, which discharges exhaust air from the dryer, and the other of which is readily attachable to an outlet pipe, which carries exhaust air from the flexible exhaust conduit through a wall and to the atmosphere. Each flexible exhaust conduit, which is laterally flexible and axially extensible, includes a segmented elbow allowing bending up to approximately a right angle in one direction. The swivel coupler includes a rotatable joint wherein an annular extension on one half of the connector travels in an annular indentation in the other half so as to enable rotation therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer apparatus for fiber webs (10), such as webs of natural fiber, synthetic fiber and the like. The apparatus comprises a rotating dryer cylinder (1), the interior of which is provided with elements (8) for injecting hot heat-transfer fluid against the inner cylinder surface and for discharging if from the cylinder interior. The invention relates also to a method for heating a cylinder by injecting hot heat-transfer fluid against the inner surface of the heating cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for cooling and de-steaming hot calcined stucco used in the production of gypsum boards or bagged plaster. The apparatus is a fluid bed stucco cooler and comprises a cooler housing having a plenum with two chambers, a first chamber having a stucco inlet and a second chamber having a stucco outlet. The stucco cooler includes cooling coils that are located within the plenum and a fluidization pad positioned through the fluidization pad help to mix the air and the stucco powder to insure fluidization, prevent channeling, and prevent the stucco powder from building up on the cooling coils. The air also forces steam from the hot calcined stucco out through an air outlet located at the top of the stucco cooler, thereby de-steaming the stucco. The stucco flows through the plenum and passes over the cooling coils, thereby cooling the stucco as it reaches the stucco outlet.

Abstract: A drying machine includes a hot air blower, a housing divided horizontally into plural long chambers having an open upper side, a closed bottom and two longitudinal sides bored with through holes, a screw conveyor respectively positioned in each long chamber, and a motor to rotate all the screw conveyors, and a sending-out screw conveyor positioned on the bottom of the housing. Each screw conveyor has an inner screw and an outer screw twisting in opposite direction for conveying, squeezing, mixing and stirring material at the same time dried by hot air coming from the blower. Material falls down from a funnel on the upper side of the housing and gradually falling down through the through holes and an outlet in an end of the bottom of the highest long chamber and then into a second highest long chamber and so on to the lowest portion of the housing to be conveyed by the sending-out screw conveyor to an exit through which dried material falls down through for collected.

Abstract: The field of the invention is food drying apparatus and methods. In particular, the invention discloses a rotary dryer which dries food granules, such as rice, by rotation within a perforated cylindrical barrel, to prepare the rice for packaging. The dryer provides high velocity drying zones along its length, and high temperatures may be used.

Abstract: A rotating vacuum kiln for heat treating solid particulate material under vacuum conditions uses a rotating refractory metal cylindrical vessel with a cool inlet zone, hot intermediate zone, and cool exit zone, with a first series of inner radiation shields provided at the hot intermediate zone adjacent to the cool inlet zone and a second series of inner radiation shields provided at the hot intermediate zone adjacent the cool exit zone to protect those two zones from the high temperatures in the hot intermediate zone. Heat for the hot intermediate zone of the cylindrical vessel is provided indirectly by electrical resistance heaters that surround the vessel and outer radiation shields are provided about the heaters to direct heat to the cylindrical vessel.

Abstract: An adapter for a clothes dryer provides for venting exhaust air from a drying chamber outlet within the clothes dryer cabinet to an exhaust opening in the cabinet wall. The adapter provides for alternative dryer vent exhaust locations without the need for custom cutting of the dryer vent conduits. The invention comprises an angled portion having two legs that are slidably adjustable in their lengths. The adapter can then be configured to fit any dryer cabinet regardless of the position of dryer chamber outlet relative to the exhaust opening.

Abstract: A continuous drying system for flake-formed or granular solid, of which bottom inside surface is semi-cylindrical and arranged almost horizontally, comprises drying system main body having a supplying means of a drying object at one end thereof and having a discharging means at the other end thereof, and a coil-formed sending apparatus arranged rotatably inside the main body, and a bar-formed or blade-formed stirring member arranged between the sending apparatus transversely. The drying object is transferred by said coil-formed sending apparatus, and a part of the drying object is retreated while stirring by scooping up the drying object with the stirring member along the inside surface of the main body of the drying object. The transfer of the drying object is delayed in comparison with the rotation of the sending apparatus.

Abstract: A dehydrating apparatus includes a chamber for receiving wet material to be dehydrated. A rotatably-mounted agitator is provided with the chamber. The agitator is adapted to agitate material in the chamber when the agitator rotates in a first direction and convey the material out of the chamber when the agitator rotates in the other, second direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for removing volatile components from a composition utilize a dryer having an inlet chamber and a plurality of channels. A flow restriction is disposed immediately upstream of the inlet of each channel with respect to a direction of flow of the composition through the dryer. The process includes the step of heating the composition at a location upstream of the flow restriction to a temperature above the flashing temperature of at least one of the components at a pressure of the channel inlet and applying a pressure to the heated composition to avoid such flashing. The process further includes the step of passing the pressurized, heated composition through the dryer inlet chamber, the flow restriction, and through the channels.

Abstract: An aeration-type rotary dryer injects air into or onto a flow of materials a rotating cylinder. The air is supplied to an air duct (21) axially passing through the cylinder (10) from the outlet box (11) to the inlet box (12). The axial duct (21) is composed of a plurality of longitudinally, successively connected tubular members (22, 23, 24) each nearer to the inlet box being smaller in diameter than other. The most inlet-sided member (24), located in a central opening (32) of an inlet partition (31) of the cylinder, has the smallest diameter, so that the inlet partition has the central opening reduced and its threshold height increased. This results that the materials are prevented from returning to the inlet box out of the cylinder. The most outlet-sided member (22), located in a central opening (34) of an outlet partition (33) of the cylinder, has the largest diameter, so that a void space in the central opening (34) may be too small to exhaust air.

Abstract: A dryer duct assembly for connecting directing the exhaust air flow from a clothes dryer to an exhaust area, such as the exterior of a building. The dryer duct assembly comprises a rigid duct connected at one end to the rear of the dryer by an elbow connector and connected at another end to a flexible duct by a swivel sleeve connector. The rigid duct is of sufficient length such that its upper end is easily accessible to a worker standing at the front of the dryer, permitting the connection of the flexible duct to the rigid duct from the front of the dryer.

Abstract: A drying device for a coating machine equipped with a rotary pan (1), in which the products to be coated are introduced, includes air injecting means (5) for supplying air to dry the products inside the rotary pan (1), and an exhaust air pipe (7), equipped with perforated hollow head pieces which can be removed, adapted to be immersed in a heap of products to be coated. The pipe (7) is supported by sliding means (21) which are moved in a direction longitudinal to the same pipe between a working position, in which the exhaust pipe (7) is operated, and an advanced position, so as to allow maintenance operation on the exhaust pipe (7) performed from outside through the front opening (3a) of the pan (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for roasting vegetable bulk material, in particular coffee beam is disclosed, in which essentially all of the cooling waste air of a cooler which cools the bulk material after the roasting operation is heated to roasting-gas temperature in a heat-exchanger stage and fed to the roaster. Essentially all of the roasting waste gases are heated, in a heating stage, to an extent which is necessary for increasing the temperature of the cooling gases to the roasting-gas temperature. Since the roaster operates with a higher roasting-gas throughput than hitherto, it is possible, with comparable roasting capacity, for the roasting-gas temperature to be reduced, this resulting in a more uniform roasting result. The apparatus has reduced harmful-substance emission along with increased thermal efficiency. Also disclosed is a method of roasting and cooling bulk material by utilizing the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: A heating chamber is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and contains a number of heating tubes orientated parallel to each other. Solid material which is lifted up during the rotation can become detached from the heating tubes and upon impact can lead to damage to heating tubes which are situated below. In order to prevent such an occurrence, baffle shells are provided on the heating tubes. The baffle shells are formed of a resistant material and offer protection against surface damage. The heating tubes are preferably disposed in radially orientated rows.

Abstract: A quick connector assembly having a conical end section, a collar, and a cylindrical sleeve section attached to an external vent system for easy and quick connection of a dryer vent exhaust system employing rigid tubing and an external vent.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the manufacture of activated carbon wherein a carbonaceous raw material impregnated with a chemical activating agent is treated by controlling the rate of heat transfer to the particles via indirect heating of the activation furnace and simultaneously introducing a flow of independently controlled sweep gas at spaced intervals along the path of travel of the particles through the furnace to more precisely control the activation reaction and the level of densification of the particles during certain stages of treatment. In a more preferred embodiment, the particles are processed in a plurality of treatment stages related to the rate of evolution of water and/or the evolution of water and the chemical activating agent and the rates of heat transfer and the volume flow rate of sweep gas are closely controlled relative to achieving predetermined levels of densification of the particles during each treatment stage and selected levels of activation properties in the end product.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the manufacture of activated carbon wherein a carbonaceous raw material impregnated with a chemical activating agent is treated by controlling the rate of heat transfer to the particles via indirect heating of the activation furnace and simultaneously introducing a flow of independently controlled sweep gas at spaced intervals along the path of travel of the particles through the furnace to more precisely control the activation reaction and the level of densification of the particles during certain stages of treatment. In a more preferred embodiment, the particles are processed in a plurality of treatment stages related to the rate of evolution of water and/or the evolution of water and the chemical activating agent and the rates of heat transfer and the volume flow rate of sweep gas are closely controlled relative to achieving predetermined levels of densification of the particles during each treatment stage and selected levels of activation properties in the end product.

Abstract: An asphalt plant which includes a drum having an axis of rotation, a mechanism for introducing materials into one end of the drum, a mechanism for discharging the materials from a second opposite end of the drum, and a heater for establishing a relatively high temperature zone through which the materials travel during drum rotation. A sinusoidal heat transfer tube is defined by opposing loops and conducts heat from the high temperature zone to the discharge end of the drum. The heat transfer tube thereby increases the efficiency of the asphalt plant by burning less fuel and more uniformly distributes heat throughout the drum, particularly at the discharge end thereof.

Abstract: A brush including a laminate having a handle end portion adapted for manual engagement, and an opposite head end portion; and a plurality of rows of bristles having end portions adhered between adjacent plies in the head end portion of the laminate and projecting outwardly. The brush is formed from pieces of oriented polymeric film, portions of which are adhered to individual plies to be incorporated in the laminate and have portions projecting from the plies separated into bristles before the plies are laminated to form the brush. Lamination is done by driving moisture out of pasteboard layers coated with dried water activatable adhesive by exposure to radio freqeuncy energy which activates the adhesive to form the laminate.

Abstract: A rotary dryer for drying and mixing particulate material, includes a shell having a pair of conical portions and provided with a jacket to which a hot fluid may be fed, the shell defining a chamber for the material to be dried and mixed. An air-tight closure for the chamber is provided with a jacket to which hot fluid may be fed and through which the material is charged and discharged. A rotary tube shaft extends horizontally from one end of the shell and along the horizontal axis of the shell, the rotary tube shaft being sheathed by a rotary joint pipe equipped with a bearing rotatably supporting the rotary tube shaft. The rotary tube shaft is provided with a plurality of communication paths which communicate with charge/discharge ports located on the rotary joint pipe during rotation of the rotary tube shaft in the rotary joint pipe, the communication paths connecting the jackets of the shell and the closure for feeding the hot fluid.

Abstract: Solid materials are easily washed with liquified gas by placing the solid terial to be washed in a dry vessel under an inert atmosphere, evacuating the vessel, introducing the low temperature liquified gas solvent into the vessel, allowing the washing of the solid by the liquified gas solvent, and removing the solvent by the application of vacuum.

Abstract: Parts for a wooden casing, in particular in the form of a telephone apparatus case, are manufactured as follows. A piece of timber is dried inside an oven to a moisture content of about 4-5% with sufficient moisture content being left to avoid cell collapse in the timber. At the end of the drying period the temperature is raised causing the resin in the timber to flow out and seal the pitch fibers of the wood preventing the wood from reabsorbing moisture. A blank is taken from the dried timber and worked into the final shape of a casing. Any weak points in the casing are reinforced with a reinforcing material in the form of wood or some other material. The pores of the wood are then sealed with varnish.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying and heating lime sludge in a rotary kiln by means of regenerative heat transfer. The apparatus is preferably formed of round or rounded rods which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. The rods are disposed in the kiln in an annular region adjacent the housing wall so that lime sludge flows freely between the rods while the kiln is rotating.

Abstract: An improved clothes dryer characterized by a diffuser located inside the dryer drum for receiving heated air flow and directing the same towards and into intimate contact with wet clothing in the drum at a plurality of locations spaced along the axial length of the drum. Also provided is a dryer temperature control system operative to control the temperature in the dryer drum by maintaining a desired preselected temperature on a steady state basis and/or by varying the rate of air flow through the dryer drum; a clogged filter detector operative to generate an output signal indicating a clogged filter in response to the rate of forced air flow through the dryer dropping below a predetermined minimum acceptable level, and a laundry system wherein hot dry attic air is supplied to the dryer while the hot dryer exhaust and drain water from a washer is used to preheat water in a storage tank prior to such water being supplied to a hot water heater.

Abstract: A vertical progressive lumber dryer has a plurality of vertically spaced functional zones through which lumber formed into units pass. Each unit rests atop a base and each layer of boards in the stack is separated by sticker means. Predetermined appropriate operating conditions are selected for the drying medium as well as other parts of the process. After a car has completed the last step within the dryer, it is removed and the dryed lumber sent for further processing.

Abstract: A direct heat rotary dryer having a single-wall rotating cylinder (10), an axial duct (20) connected to a hot-air source to axially extend inside the cylinder, a plurality of radial ducts (21) branched from the axial duct, each radial duct extending slantingly downwardly near to the inner surface of the cylinder and being formed with a nozzle, whereby hot air flows through materials so that an efficient heat-transfer is made between the materials and the hot air. A plurality of pins (25) are provided on the inner surface of the cylinder (10) along a circle between two adjacent radial ducts (21) to prevent materials from forming lumps.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for drying particulate material. The apparatus comprises a rotatable drum positioned in an oven. Conduit means positioned in the drum offset from its axis of rotation form flow paths isolated from the inside of the drum leaving from a first portion of the oven to a second portion of the oven. In further aspect, lifting vanes are attached to the inside of the drum and extend generally longitudinally along the interior surface of the drum protruding generally radially inwardly. Catching vanes can be attached to the conduit means to extend generally longitudinally therealong protruding generally radially from the conduit means in a direction generally normal to a radius of the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying particles in an air flow, the air inlet of which opens freely into a rotating drum. Air is removed from the particles through one or more perforated hollow bodies immersed in the mass of rotating particles, as near as possible to the external periphery of the drum. Preferably, the hollow bodies are two in number and are arranged on either side of blades provided on the rotating drum. Each hollow body is of elliptical shape in cross section. Preferably, it is also provided to adjust the angular position of the hollow body or bodies relative to a vertical plane through the drum axis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tumble dryer wherein the drum in which the goods are to be tumbled has perforations formed in its cylindrical wall at opposite sides of an imperforate annular portion, and a means is proved for circulating heated air into the drum through the perforations on one side of the annular portion, and then axially through the drum and thus the goods, and then radially out of the drum through the perforations on the other side of the imperforate annular portion. Melted plastic articles which may be co-mingled in the batch of goods to be dried are collected on a heat sink which comprises strips including a metal body of high thermal capacity and heat conductivity removably secured to the inner surface of the annular imperforate portion of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing particulate material charged into a rotary cylindrical vessel (12) having its axis inclined to the horizontal so that one end thereof is raised relative to the other end, and having a respective annular cover plate (16,18) at each end defining a central opening at its end (17,19), the material being charged through the opening (17) at the one end thereof and caused to progress along the vessel (12) and discharge therefrom through the opening (19) at the other end by rotation of the vessel (12).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for drying coking coals to be charged in coke ovens utilizing a heating medium which recovers the sensible heat contained in the gas generated in the coke ovens as a heating source for drying coking coals to a desired moisture content. Chiefly based on the moisture of coking coals before drying, the flow rate of the heat medium to the coke dryer is controlled or a hot blast generated in a separate heating system is used for the drying.

Abstract: Improved method for internal heating of rotary driers consisting in the use of an unique snorkel (placed inside the rotary drum) made by two opposite snorkels connected by any type of joint. This unique snorkel extends from feed end to discharge end of the rotary drum along its axial line. Part of the heating gases of the fire box flow (equicurrent or countercurrent to the flow of the material being dried) inside the snorkel-controsnorkel system.

Abstract: A breakdown hoist is located in a timber processing operation between a direct-fired ash-producing combustor for generating the heated gas stream for kilning a pile of lumber and the feed for a downstream operation such as sorting, grading, trimming and/or packaging, with or without planing. At the hoist, the kilned lumber is progressively destacked in a tilting, sliding and tumbling operation which results in the shunting-aside of spacer sticks, and conversion of the pile into a single layer of lumber progressing along on a feeding deck toward the downstream operation. A fog cloud of water droplets is sprayed obliquely downwards towards downstream from about 3 to about 9 feet above where the breakdown hoist adjoins the upstream end of the feeding deck, at approximately parallel to the top course on the pile. The fog cloud spreads out to envelope the feeding deck.

Abstract: In a drum which is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, inlet and outlet lines for a gas, for drying a material contained in the drum, are connected to an immersion body. The immersion body has inlet and outlet openings for the gas and is disposed within the drum to be immersed in the material. The immersion body contains a tunnel through which the material can flow and has arranged in its interior at least some of the inlet and outlet openings for the gas.

Abstract: A continuous stream of tobacco particles is conveyed through a conditioning zone wherein the stream is agitated and is directly contacted by a current of hot air. The moisture content of the thus dried tobacco particles is measured downstream of the conditioning zone and the temperature of hot air is changed when the measured moisture content of dried tobacco particles deviates from a desired value. A second parameter of hot air (e.g., its initial moisture content) is varied when the temperature of freshly dried tobacco particles deviates from a preselected temperature. This ensures that the moisture content of tobacco particles does not fluctuate subsequent to cooling which follows the drying operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for indirectly drying and preheating fine material, in particular, moisture containing coal or the like, comprises, providing a rotary drum which is mounted for rotation and has a plurality of heating tubes extending therethrough, supplying heated cooling gas from a dry coke cooling system to the heating tubes, supplying the moist material to the drum, adjacent the bottom thereof, removing the material from the drum after it has been predried and preheated, and returning or recycling a portion of the predried and preheated material to the rotary drum. The method and apparatus utilizes the heated cooling gas used to cool dry coke in a dry coke cooling plant from high temperatures to below 200.degree. C. It has been found that such heated cooling gas for a selected amount of dry coke is useful either in a series of more than one rotary drum or, to process moist material in a single rotary drum and also generate steam as a byproduct.

Abstract: A method for using comminuted lignocellulosic waste material such as flake-like wood and bark chips which have been stored outside includes placing the material in a filter bed by movement in a first direction, and thereafter passing polluted effluent gas from a boiler furnace, for example through said filter bed in a direction generally perpendicular to said first direction to filter pollutants from said effluent gas and simultaneously dry the comminuted lignocellulosic waste material. During drying of the material a portion of the material on the gas outlet side of the filter bed, toward which the effluent gas proceeds, is maintained at a moisture content which is greater than the average moisture content of the lignocellulosic material at the time it is placed into the filter bed. The lignocellulosic waste material is thereafter used as furnace fuel or as a furnace for an industrial process.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for drying of materials such as wood chips or lacquers. A stream of hot gas is provided, the hot gas passes over the material to be dried, the now waste gas is removed from the material to be dried, the volatile substances are deposited from the waste gas and the deposited substances are moved to a collector location. Dust and similar materials can be also bonded during the depositing step. The deposited volatile substances can be removed by intermittent evaporation and/or sublimation and the volatile substances can be collected at a predetermined collector location, or by continuously washing out the volatile substances, or by compressing before cooling down and expanding after cooling down the volatile substances. Removing of deposited volatile substances may be triggered in response to a certain degree of dirtying or soiling and to passing predetermined threshold values of temperature and/or pressure and in accordance with a predetermined time plan, respectively.

Abstract: The thermal efficiency of a dryer is improved by affixing to the shell of the dryer that contains the material to be dried projections which contact a heating medium surrounding the shell of the dryer and protrude into the interior of the shell. Heat is transferred from the heating medium by the projections to the material to be dried that is inside the shell of the dryer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for indirectly drying and preheating fine material, in particular, moisture containing coal or the like, comprises, providing a rotary drum which is mounted for rotation and has a plurality of heating tubes extending therethrough, supplying heated cooling gas from a dry coke cooling system to the heating tubes, supplying the moist material to the drum, adjacent the bottom thereof, removing the material from the drum after it has been predried and preheated, and returning or recycling a portion of the predried and preheated material to the rotary drum. The method and apparatus utilizes the heated cooling gas used to cool dry coke in a dry coke cooling plant from high temperatures to below 200.degree. C. It has been found that such heated cooling gas for a selected amount of dry coke is useful either in a series of more than one rotary drum or, to process moist material in a single drum and also generate steam as a byproduct.

Abstract: An improved, fuel efficient crop drying system and method is disclosed which makes use of the waste heat from a primary rotary drum dryer in order to predry the crop in a two-pass, indirect heat exchange dryer. The predryer and primary dryer are coupled in a pneumatic (negative pressure) conduit loop so that crop is conveyed in serial order through the dryers. The predryer includes respective, adjacent, two-pass air and crop paths disposed within a tubular shell, and the entire predryer is axially rotated during operation thereof. The ultimate volumetric air discharge from the system is significantly reduced as compared with conventional rotary dryers, and the saturated wet scrubbing which occurs in the predryer displaces a high percentage of particulate matter from the gaseous discharge to the water discharge, thereby reducing atmospheric pollution.

Abstract: At the breakdown hoist located in a timber processing operation, between a direct-fired ash-producing combustor for generating the heated gas stream for kilning a pile of lumber and the feed for a downstream operation such as planing, at which hoist the kilned lumber is progressively destacked in a tilting, sliding and tumbling operation that results in the shunting-aside of spacer sticks and the conversion of the pile to a single layer of lumber progressing on a feeding deck toward the downstream operation, the exposed upper face of the pile is sprayed with a fog of water sufficient to wet-down the ash so that it does not become an airborne irritant. As to each course in the pile, this wetting-down is completed before that course slides or tumbles from the pile. Preferably the spraying utilizes a bank of full cone fog nozzles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a product moisture control system for use in a product steam dryer of the type which removes moisture from wet product material, wherein the wet product material is contacted with steam tubes for heating the material and evaporating the moisture therein. The control system includes a first control loop which senses the moisture content of the dried material and establishes at predetermined times corrections to the steam pressure within the steam tubes to provide processed material having a desired moisture content. The system also includes a second control loop which continuously detects the steam pressure and maintains the steam pressure substantially constant during the time intervals between the predetermined steam pressure correction times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying timber stacked in a vertical kiln in spaced apart layers. The timber being continuously moved from the top to the bottom of the stack to be passed through various stages of treatment including a drying in which the timber is subjected to reverse process of heated air. The bottom layer is periodically removed from the stack and a new green layer added to the top.