Abstract: A controller is coupled to a plurality of moisture sensors positioned within the grain bin at various spaced-apart locations. The controller determines a grain moisture level adjacent each moisture sensor and compares the grain moisture level to a predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a grain spreader that is configured to selectively distribute incoming grain into the grain bin and operates the spreader to distribute incoming grain to create a shortened airflow path through the grain that encompasses the moisture sensors having determined grain moisture levels above the predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a fan that is coupled to the grain bin and configured to provide airflow through the grain in the grain bin. The controller operates the fan to provide greater airflow through the grain along the shortened airflow path than is provided along airflow paths outside the shortened airflow path.

Abstract: A locking/unlocking mechanism for a contactless gesture detection system of a device is described herein. The locking/unlocking mechanism can facilitate automatic locking, manual locking, and/or manual unlocking of the contactless gesture detection system. The contactless gesture detection system can implement the locking/unlocking mechanisms described herein to control a contactless gesture-based user interface state of the device. In various implementations, the controlling can include detecting gestures associated with a user in a contactless space associated with the device; detecting a defined gesture sequence over a defined time period from the detected gestures; and transitioning the device to a contactless gesture-based user interface locked state or a contactless gesture-based user interface unlocked state based on the defined gesture sequence.

Abstract: A grain aeration assembly is provided for a hopper bottom bin, and includes a plurality of curved wall segments sized to pass through the manhole of the bin. The wall segments are assembled inside the bin to form a cylindrical tower extending upwardly. The wall segments include an internal frame and inner and outer screens. The tower is supported above the sloped floor of the bin by a plurality of legs. An air conduit extends between the tower and an exterior fan, which provides forced air into the space between the inner and outer screens of the wall segments. The air flows outwardly through the screens, while grain or stored material is prevented from passing through the screens into the wall segments.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved continuous vertical feed pistachio nut dryer that has an inner compartment defined by bulkhead walls formed of smooth and seamless outer walls of perforated sheet stock, and has an infeed chamber with a batch hopper used in conjunction with an auger to provide a structure configured to operate in a batch fill mode wherein the inner compartment is filled evenly along the length of the dryer.

Abstract: This process embodies forcing air through grain and granular biological products using a high volume horizontal airflow from a central vertical pervious tube to one or more plenum chambers near the structure sidewall to dry or cool products. Cross-flow air movement can be supplied by either suction or pressure. This conditioning and drying method has advantages over conventional storage structures, especially where product depth is much greater than diameter. In this process, horizontal air typically moves only ? to ? of vertical distances. Horizontal airflow resistance through elongated seeds is 50-60 percent of vertical airflow. Power for horizontal airflow is typically 8-15% that of vertical airflow. Grain and seed drying costs will be 15-30% of high temperature drying. To enhance germination, storage and grain and seed quality, and to kill or exclude insect pests, ozone is applied to drying or aeration airstreams for treating stored products and storages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow disrupter within the flow path of a slurry comprising a desired particulate matter and a transport fluid so as to impart a force angularly disposed to an otherwise obtained direction of travel, thereby preventing the formation of a sheet of aggregated particulates against the screen surface. In a method in accord with the present invention a force is imparted to the desired particulate matter in an angular direction to the direction of travel.

Abstract: An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and an exhaust vent. The component has an inlet and outlet. The dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet have a standardized diameter. The elbow comprises a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air through the body. A first end of the body terminates in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage. A second end of the body terminates in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage.

Abstract: A grain turner (101)of the present invention is adapted for use with a grain dryer having an inner dryer wall (7) and an outer dryer wall (9) spaced therefrom and defining a vertically extending grain path (11) therebetween. A grain turner (101) of the present invention is disposed within the grain path for exchanging (turning) grain from the inner portion of the grain path to the outer portion of the grain path and vice versa and for exchanging grain widthwise within the grain path. The grain turner comprises a vertical wall (109) disposed between the inner and outer dryer walls. The grain turner further has at least one pair inclined plates (119, 125) with one of the plates (119) being on the inside of the vertical wall and with the other of the inclined plates (125) being on the outside of the vertical wall. Plate (119) is inclined downwardly in a first widthwise direction and the other of the inclined plates is inclined downwardly in the opposite widthwise direction.

Abstract: A vertical processing vessel includes an upper feed zone, an intermediate treatment zone and a lower removal zone, with the treatment zone including an improved system for distributing treating fluids uniformly across the cross-section of the vessel. The system provides for mutually perpendicular fluid distributing tubes which, in the preferred embodiment, has one set of tubes that extend completely across the vessel and a second set of perpendicular tubes that merely penetrate the wall of the vessel to deliver treating fluids along the perimeter of the vessel. The degree to which the delivery tubes in the second set penetrate the vessel is determined by the size of the vessel so that optimal conditions are attained for the delivery of the treating fluids.

Abstract: A grain moisture regulating system includes a grain bin with a perforated grain supporting floor and a fan for blowing outside ambient air into the grain bin through the grain mass set thereupon, and through an air outlet at the top of the grain bin. A humidistat fan control system measures ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and compares it to ambient moisture in the air inside the grain bin for controlling the fan. A fan operation control system includes a plurality of moisture content sensors which measure ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and ambient moisture in the air above the grain mass in the grain bin to produce a signal for the humidistat fan control system.

Abstract: A dryer for drying dental models includes a solid base member, a top member, a variable plurality of modular drying units, each of which includes a frame and a slidable, foraminous tray, an air blower and an articulated support arm. In use, the modular drying units are positioned in an over-and-under stacked relation, such that the slidable trays therein form a column of trays. Each slidable tray contains a central aperture and a duct extending upward from the perimeter of the central aperture. The aperture and duct in the center of each tray collectively form a channel running through the center of the column of trays. The base member is fixedly connected to the articulated support arm, which supports the dryer. The top member, which is positioned on top of the uppermost modular drying unit, includes a central aperture with an inlet tube inserted therein and exhaust vents around the perimeter of its top surface for the release of air.

Abstract: A method for providing higher yielding seed corn comprising a single-pass, reversing, high air velocity process. Another aspect of the invention concerns a conversion panel for converting a dual-pass seed corn drying system into a single-pass system.

Abstract: The specification relates to a gas distributor for an inlet gas plenum comprising a plurality of spatially separate gas deflectors, each deflector arranged and positioned to successively cut diagonally across a gas flow path in a gas flow direction from an inlet end of the distributor to a terminal end of the distributor. The deflectors configured to direct gas flow exiting the distributor in an essentially perpendicular direction to the direction of gas flow entering the distributor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging food or feed product from a cooler. Food or feed product may be introduced in a cooler formed of a large bin. The product is cooled by drawing a low volume of air having a high static pressure drop through the product. Trough-shaped gates are positionable beneath discharge openings in a lower portion of the bin to inhibit discharge of product. Product is intermittently discharged from the openings by selectively moving the gates at least partially away from the openings to permit product to flow through the openings. In preferred embodiments, a driver moves the gates intermittently in first and second directions by causing the gates to swing about a pivotal mounting point.

Abstract: The grain moisture sensor of the present invention includes a plurality of conductors for communicating a variable voltage between two points. The conductors are mounted on the continuous flow dryer wall between the exterior and interior walls, in the heat plenum and oriented such that the grain flows between the conductors in response to the action of the variable discharge means. The sensor further includes electrical circuitry for measuring the capacitance of the conductor, calculating the percent moisture content of the grain and controlling the speed of a discharge means so as to control the discharge of grain from the dryer in response to the moisture content of the grain being lowered to a predetermined level.

Abstract: A hopper dryer for drying pelletized or granular resin material comprising a heat source at its center and double concentric cylinders which comprises an inner and an outer cylinder with many apertures to permit passing of heated gas respectively so as to form a doughnut-like material storing space therebetween. The gas is fed into the heat source to be heated, then passes through the apertures of the inner cylinder and discharged through the apertures of the outer cylinder so that the pelletized or granular resin material stored in the doughnut-like space formed between the inner and outer cylinder are preheated and dried.

Abstract: A vertical drying chamber, for the continuous drying of finely divided solids at temperatures in the range of 800.degree. to 1000.degree. C. by the evaporation of moisture adhering thereto, is formed by the interstice between an inner tube and an outer tube. The outer tube is surrounded by a heat source (electrical resistance heating, infrared radiator) and is composed of a plurality of tube sections plugged one into the other, each tube having a funnel-shaped upper end into which the bottom, plain end of the tube section above it extends. Between the interconnected tube ends spacers are provided. The tube sections are made of a material that is permeable to infrared radiation.

Abstract: This application discloses several components relating to a heating apparatus which preferably are used in conjunction with each other in an apparatus for heating solid granular or particulate material, such as aggregate used to make asphalt concrete. One component of the present invention includes a heater-condenser unit which indirectly heats the material by circulating heat transfer fluid within hollow plates contained in a housing holding the material. The material is heated, the heat transfer fluid is condensed and a condensate removal means associated with the hollow plates removes the condensate from the housing. The heat transfer fluid used in the heater-condenser preferably is supplied in the form of a vapor or gas evolved from liquid contained in material heated by another type of heater. In this other type of heater, the material to be dried enters a chamber containing hollow heat exchange plates through which a primary heat transfer fluid is circulating.

Abstract: A centrifugal pellet dryer including an exhaust fan mounted on the upper end of the dryer in direct communication with the interior of the dryer for removing moisture laden air therefrom. The exhaust fan impeller is connected directly to the upper end of the rotor shaft so that a single motor drives the rotor and exhaust fan. A unique rotor with a larger length to diameter ratio is included in the dryer for increased pellet drying efficiency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in drying biomass particles provide a dryer having a chamber for a predetermined volume of biomass particles with apertures distributed throughout one boundary of the chamber enabling hot gas to be introduced and forced through the particles to exit from the opposite boundary. The gas stream to the chamber is so regulated that a layer of particles adjacent the opposite boundary functions as a relatively cool filter bed operable to prevent, to a desired extent, noxious liquids, gaseous, or particulate emissions from exiting from the dryer.

Abstract: A combustion heater for oil shale heats particles of spent oil shale containing unburned char by burning the char. A delayed fall is produced by flowing the shale particles down through a stack of downwardly sloped overlapping baffles alternately extending from opposite sides of a vertical column. The delayed fall and flow reversal occurring in passing from each baffle to the next increase the residence time and increase the contact of the oil shale particles with combustion supporting gas flowed across the column to heat the shale to about 650.degree.-700.degree. C. for use as a process heat source.

Abstract: On the bottom surface of a store or silo for granular material is placed a system of air channels, which are at one end connected both with an outlet sluice for the grain material and with a blower housing, which is also connected with the free atmosphere. The blower housing is switchable between blowing drying air into the grain through the channels and through wall openings therein and sucking out air from the channels for outlet conveying the grain inwardly through the wall openings and further through the channels to the outlet sluice. By this suction emptying arrangement dust problems in the store are eliminated, and the necessary motor effect is surprisingly low.

Abstract: In order to ensure, in a method for extracting gases and vapors from plastics granules and powders which are being pre-heated and dried in a drying hopper by a stream of dry air flowing into the lower region of the hopper while the outlet air is extracted from the hopper above the granules, that also that part of the plastics granules which is in the lowermost region of the drying hopper is reliably dried and warmed, the method provides that a portion of the stream of dry air is guided in a direction opposite to that of the main stream and is extracted at the lowermost point of the hopper. A drying hopper for plastics granules is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention which has in its upper part a feeding opening for the granules and an air outlet pipe, and further has a lower outlet port for the granules and an air inlet pipe which ends inside the hopper in an air distributing opening, wherein a second air outlet pipe is mounted in the hopper near the outlet port.

Abstract: The grain dryer of the present invention includes a housing having two spaced apart vertical partitions therein which divide the housing into a central compartment, a front compartment and a rear compartment. Air intake openings are provided in the two vertical partitions so as to provide communication from the central compartment to the two front and rear compartments through the two partitions. The front and rear walls of the housing are also provided with exhaust openings which permit air to exit from the front and rear compartments outwardly through the front and rear walls respectively. A first group of ventilator members are located within the front and rear compartments and are connected to the inlet openings within the partitions for guiding air into the front and rear compartments from the central compartments.

Abstract: A grain drier system is disclosed which includes means for collecting heated air which has passed through grain and conducting it to the inlet of the burners which supply the heated gas to dry the grain. The collected air is introduced into the inlet of the burner at the periphery of the air stream to the burner in an area where the contact between the collected air and the flame of the burner is minimized. This procedure enables the heat of the collected air to be utilized without the likelihood of subjecting any entrained material to the action of the flame of the burner.In order to further minimize the possibility of fire, prior to being conducted to the burner, the collected air is passed into a plenum where the velocity of the stream of collected air is decreased and its direction of movement changed so that a substantial portion of entrained dust and organic material is caused to fall out of the air stream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the slow cooling of grain in which warm grain is introduced into the upper end of a silo and cooling air is introduced at the lower end and is evacuated at an intermediate point between the upper and lower ends of the silo. The warm grain descends through the silo in a non-ventilated space above the intermediate point where the internal moisture is removed, then into a ventilated space where it is cooled by the cooling air and finally to the lower end of the silo from which the cooled grain is extracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a carbonaceous material to produce a gas in which the carbonaceous material and a heated inert heat exchange medium are passed into a reactor vessel for mixing and for transferring the heat from the heat exchange medium to the carbonaceous material to produce gas. An outlet opening is provided through the reactor vessel for discharging the gas and an impingement plate is disposed in the interior of the vessel and extends across the outlet opening in a spaced relation thereto in the path of the gas. As a result the gas impinges against the plate before discharging from the outlet opening to separate solid particles from the gas.

Abstract: A continuous grain drying and conditioning apparatus of a type including a burner and blower, or a multiplicity of burners and blowers, surrounded by a plenum chamber, air pervious grain holding walls positioned outwardly with respect to the plenum chamber is characerized by having a plenum divider which is selectively adjustable in position to divide the grain holding walls into a heating section and a cooling section. Grain turning apparatus is disposed in the grain column for separating the grain mass into two separate divisions and then turning the cooler-wetter grain inwardly as it moves downwardly and turning the hotter-dryer grain outwardly as it moves downwardly in the grain column. Grain is constantly removed from the bottom of the apparatus at a rate governed by the average temperature of the air exiting the grain at a point adjacent the position of the plenum divider and a point closer to the input of the grain.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying seed corn using cobs and unusable seed corn as fuel for heating the drying medium for drying the seed corn. Products of combustion from an incinerator for incinerating cobs is supplied to a heat exchange medium circulating apparatus having a first heat exchanger and a series of second heat exchangers connected in parallel with each other and in series with the first heat exchanger, and a means for circulating a heat exchange medium through the circulating apparatus for heating the heat exchange medium. A plurality of ear corn dryers for drying seed corn in the form of ear corn each have a gaseous drying medium circulating apparatus control system for alternately circulating a gaseous drying medium in opposite directions through the dryers. Each drying medium circulating apparatus is connected to one of the second heat exchangers for recirculating said gaseous drying medium through the second heat exchanger after it has been circulated through the dryer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing form coke that is coke having pieces of substantially identical form comprises a heated shaft furnace comprises mixing fine coke with a caking coal and pressing the mixture at temperatures at which the mixture is plastic in order to form briquettes. The briquettes are permitted to harden and degasify and thereafter they are exposed to a high temperature after hardening for example to a temperature of from 400.degree. to 900.degree. C. from 60 to 120 minutes. Thereafter the briquettes are cooled. A first mixing substance is prepared by permitting a fine coal to fall in a non-compressed stream in the shaft furnace while heat is transferred thereto substantially by radiation. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes a regeneratively fired shaft furnace which is provided with heating flues and which has a clear height of approximately 35 meters, a width of approximately 1 meter and a length of approximately 5 meters.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying seed corn on the ear or shelled seed corn or other seed. A cylindrical housing has a roof thereon with an aperture at the center of said roof and closable openings therein, one of which is a discharge opening in the side of said housing. A downwardly directed conical wall fills the entire internal cross-section of the housing and has a plurality of perforations distributed evenly therein and an opening at the bottom thereof. An open sided pan is positioned beneath the bottom opening of the conical wall and is inclined toward the open side, and a vibrator is operatively associated with the pan for vibrating it. A discharge conveyor has one end beneath the open side of the pan and the other end at the discharge opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for drying grains in situ immediately after harvesting without having to remove the moisture-containing grain from the truck or bin in which it was collected in the field during harvest. Perforated duct means are located longitudinally throughout the bin near the substantially air impervious floor of the bin, and this, in conjunction with perforated side panels within the bin, allows for heated air under pressure within the duct to be forced laterally outwardly through the grain and through the perforated side panels wherein the moisture-containing hot air is then allowed to exit upwardly through a flue space defined by the perforated side panels and the normal side panels of the bin or the like.

Abstract: A dryer for particulate material combines the drying effect of a stream of heated gas circulated by a blower in a closed duct system with that of a radiator structure which is in the drying chamber and is in a heat pump circuit. The condenser of the heat pump circuit is in the duct system where it condenses moisture from the gas which has passed through the particulate material. The heat pump compressor is driven by an internal combustion engine which is in a compartment in heat exchange relationship with the duct system. The engine cooling system radiator is immediately downstream from the condenser and the engine exhaust system includes a heat exchanger which is in the duct downstream from the engine cooling radiator.