Abstract: An apparatus for the dry treatment of a fabric in which the fabric passes repeatedly from a first chamber to a second chamber and back again through a passage in which air is blown in the appropriate direction. Within each chamber facing the port of the passage, there is a fabric receiving device which allows the air therethrough and receives the fabric without retaining it, whereby the fabric is piled in orderly fashion on a platform of the corresponding chamber. The device avoids irregular piling and entanglement of the fabric in the lengthwise direction. Adjustment of the control means of access of the air to the passage opposes a main current to a secondary current of air, producing compacting of the fabric.

Abstract: An improved kiln for seasoning lumber. The kiln includes an air treatment and circulating assembly adjacent the top wall. The air treatment and circulating assembly includes a series of fan assemblies for circulating air to the lumber stacked within said chamber and means for heating air within said chamber. An exhaust venting system located on the downstream side of the airflow from the lumber stack and on the upstream side of the air treatment and circulating assembly is operable to exhaust moisture-ladened wet air prior to the air passing through the air treatment and circulating system. The kiln also includes an intake air vent located downstream of the air flow from the air treatment and circulating assembly and upstream of the stacked lumber which adds additional outside air to make up that portion of air which is exhausted through the exhaust venting system.

Abstract: A pulse combustion energy system including a pulse combustor coupled to a processing tube for flowing material to be processed therethrough, the processing tube being coupled to a pair of cyclone collectors for receiving the material flowing therefrom. An optional recycling section is coupled to the cyclone collectors for flowing vapor from the cyclone collectors back to the upstream end of the processing tube. The pulse combustor includes a rotary valve, a combustion chamber, an inner tail pipe and an outer tail pipe. The combustion chamber and inner tail pipe are conical and tubular sections mounted in longitudinal compression, and the compressive forces are transmitted externally across the junction of the combustion chamber and tail pipe by a strongback assembly. The rotary valve includes first, second, and third closely adjacent cylinders defining an interior air chamber. The cylinders have radially oriented, substantially aligned apertures which define an air intake.

Abstract: Lumber is dried in a kiln by controlling the temperature and humidity of air within the kiln during a first cycle, followed by a second cycle allowing humidity to equalize between the coarse and dense lumber in the kiln without adding further energy. Air recirculates across the lumber in the kilm, and the drop in dry bulb air temperature across the lumber indicates the dryness of the lumber. The air temperature within the kiln is maintained at a predetermined setpoint, but no attempt is made to control the temperature drop across the lumber. Upon reaching a predetermined temperature drop across the lumber, corresponding to a relatively high amount of moisture in the kiln, no further energy is supplied to the kiln and air recirculation continues for a time to allow equalization of moisture in all lumber within the kiln. The process yields a desired uniform amount of moisture in the lumber while avoiding overdrying of the relatively coarse lumber in the kiln.

Abstract: A device for producing a continuous stream of dried gas supplied to a dryer for drying-up a particulate plastics material comprises a number of blowers and a number of adsorbent means-containing containers connected to heating arrangements which are inserted in the conduits leading to the drier. Each blower is immediately connected to an assigned adsorbent means-container and is switchable to operate for conveying dried-up gas and for regenerating adsorbent means in the container.

Abstract: Device for reversing an air flow in a drying chamber in which the air flow is created by at least one blower. A drum, rotatable about its longitudinal shaft is arranged about the blower or blowers. The drum has apertures on its casing surface to provide an air flow through the drum. The drum extends from the floor of the drying chamber to its roof, or is sealed in another way at its ends. By rotating the drum about its longitudinal shaft between two different positions, a reversal of the direction of the air flow in the drying chamber is achieved in a very simple way, although the blower is stationary and drives the air continuously in the same direction. A heat battery is arranged on the intake side of the blower.

Abstract: A baking oven has a baking chamber (2) which is at both of its sides separated from air channels (12) by partitions (11) being provided with air passage openings (30). The air channels (12) are connected to air supply channels (24) which are supplied with warm air by a blower (14) via a switching equipment (25) being centrally arranged relative to the cover wall (10) of the baking chamber (2), said switching equipment having preferably the shape of a flap (27) being swivellable around a horizontal axis. On account thereof, the baking chamber (2) is uniformly supplied with warm air which flows through the baking chamber (2) in horizontal and alternating direction (FIG. 1).

Abstract: In a process for fluidizing a bed of particles by passing a gas continuously through the bed, the improvement comprising dividing the bed into at least two sections, and introducing the gas sequentially into each section, one section at a time, the flow of gas and the sequence being at a rate sufficient to maintain the entire bed of particles in a fluidized state.

Abstract: Drying stacked cut wood in a drying chamber is accomplished by conducting air between the layers of cut wood. Before and/or during the drying, the air velocity profile in the plane of admission into the stack is adjusted to a modifiable theoretical value. The drying apparatus has at least two measuring sensors for the wood moisture level and/or the flow velocity of the air. The sensors are arranged at some distance from each other in the area of the stack. A flow control system is adjustable dependent upon the measured values obtained by the measuring sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly subjecting a flow-traversable heatable material, in particular a stack of plates, rods, tubes, pipes, or the like, to a fluid flow comprises a radial-flow fan which serves as flow drive and which is disposed above the plane of flaps which depending on the desired flow direction can be respectively opened or closed. The radial-flow fan comprises a spiral housing discharging on at least two sides, and the volume flow emerging from the discharge openings of said spiral housing is supplied alternately from the one side or from the other side to the heatable material simply by actuating the flaps.

Abstract: A method of molding expandable thermoplastic polymer beads in a mold to form articles of foamed material comprising: pulsing steam through at least one of the cavities to contact and expand the beads in the cavity for a finite period of time and drawing the steam amongst the beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the same period of time; and pulsing mist through the expanded beads by providing mist to at least one of the cavities and drawing the mist through the expanded beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the finite period of time of predetermined duration to form articles of foamed material.

Abstract: Into the baking chamber of a baking oven a carriage (7) carrying the baking goods (5) can be shifted in between two partition walls (13) having horizontal slots (14) through which hot air is blown into the baking chamber (4) in alternating directions. The carriage (7) carries channels (21) joining the slots (14) and being confined by guide sheet metal elements (20). By these channels (21) the air passing through the slots (14) is guided towards the center of the carriage and onto the baking good.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tumble dryer for cloth goods having a filter for collecting lint carried by heated air circulated through cloth goods contained within a rotatable drum, and a system for removing lint collected on the filter by causing air to be drawn through it in a direction opposite to that in which it passes during a drying cycle as well as to be swept across the upstream side of the filter and then out of the dryer for disposal.

Abstract: Various improvements in pulsating combustors for use in dehydration are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, gas is introduced into the combustion chamber through a fuel distributor providing a bluff body within the combustion chamber so that a striated charge having streaks of gas and air is produced. The tail pipe of the combustor has an enlarged outer portion provided with an inlet for material to be dehydrated so that an injector action occurs at the point of material entry. A valve may be associated with the material inlet so that the material is introduced in timed relation to the pulse combustion cycle. Other aspects of the invention concern a rotary mechanically driven air admitting valve for the combustion chamber and a gas supply arrangement designed to provide for low- and high-fire operating modes.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dry treatment of a fabric in which an open width fabric is caused to move alternately between an inlet pile and an outlet pile through a duct in which there are currents of air of an appropriate temperature causing the said alternate movements. The fabric is supplied gradually to the inlet pile and is gradually withdrawn from the outlet pile. The apparatus comprises chambers for the said piles and blower and heating means for the air currents.

Abstract: A device for the continuous and tension-free treatment, such as drying, shrinking, finishing and the like, of textile fabric sheets has a transport belt on which a fabric sheet is conveyed from one treatment zone to another so that the sheet is supported on the belt in a gathered condition. Upwardly directed lower nozzles are located below the transport belt and include closing members selectively opening and closing the nozzles. The nozzles extend transversely of the transport direction of the belt and are connected to a compressed air source. A baffle arrangement is associated with each nozzle and is located above the transport belt. A baffle arrangement has an upwardly extending separating wall and a generally horizontally extending perforated plate extending from the separating wall in the transport direction and inclined upwardly relative to the transport belt.

Abstract: An improved valveless pulse jet combustor having an air inlet pipe connected to a combustion chamber having ignition means and fuel supply means is disclosed. The combustion chamber is further connected to an exhaust pipe. The combustion chamber is connected to the air inlet pipe via tapered fitting means adapted to receive relief port means, fuel injection means and compressed air inlet means directed towards the center of the chamber. Adjustable orifice flanges are positioned between the combustion chamber and an extension of the exhaust pipe. The inlet pipe and the tapered means have diverging interior diameters, the combustion chamber a converging interior diameter and the extension and exhaust pipe have diverging interior diameters such that in operation, backward thrust is directed through the release port means thereby reducing back flow through the inlet pipe.

Abstract: First and second ported ducts are associated with a drying chamber. A flow control housing has first and second compartments communicating respectively with the first and second ducts. These compartments also have openings which communicate with atmosphere. A fan is employed which draws air from the drying chamber into one of the ducts and through one of the compartments to atmosphere. At the same time a fan on a common shaft draws in make-up air from the atmosphere and forces it through the other of the compartments and into the other duct for discharge into the dryer. The fans are reversible, and the flow control housing is combined with a double acting heat exchanger which extracts heat from exhaust air in one compartment and transfers it to the other compartment for preheating make-up air. A damper is provided in the flow control housing on the atmosphere side thereof for precise control of exhaust and make-up air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reversible cross flow drying or curing oven including first and second ducts on opposite sides of the heated oven chamber. A fan forces heated air through a main supply passage into one or the other of the first and second ducts for transmission into the oven chamber. The air in the oven chamber is returned to a main return passage through the other of the first and second ducts thereby establishing a cross flow of heated air in the oven chamber from one duct to the opposite duct. The main return passage communicates with the main supply passage for recirculation of the heated oven air. Flow control devices are provided in the supply and return passage to alternate the direction of the flow of air across the oven chamber between the ducts to provide for even drying or curing of the articles in the oven chamber.

Abstract: A food processor (20), such as a smokehouse, cooker, dryer or the like, includes a food receiving chamber (22) having left and right ports (24 and 26) closed and opened by air flow control means provided by pivoted perforated louvers (44 and 46). For rightward horizontal air flow across flat-lying food products, the left set of louvers is closed such that air flow is restricted to passage only through the perforations or orifices (48) as an input port. The right set of louvers are open to provide lower resistance to and a higher volume of output air flow. This enables the discharge of th extra volume of water vapor due to moisture evaporating from the food in the chamber and in turn enables uniform air flow circulation and food processing without the accumulation of water vapor and consequent increased humidity in the chamber which would otherwise retard drying.

Abstract: A method for removing residual solvent dissolved in non-sticky crumb particles produced by solution polymerization that have been treated substantially to remove solvent from the polymer surface. Particles are transferred into a closed storage zone under inert atmosphere conditions and are maintained for a period of time sufficient to allow diffusion of solvent from the particles as free solvent. Inert gas is then passed through the storage zone to remove the free solvent. The processes of allowing diffusion followed by purging of the free solvent is repeated as necessary.

Abstract: The dryer includes at least one vessel, means for heating the outside of the vessel to dry wet material in the vessel and a gas inlet in the lower section of the vessel.The pressure of the gas fed to the gas inlet is predetermined and transports the material through the vessel in the form of a loose material bed. The dried material is removed from the vessel.A high pressure gas pulse generator feeds pulses into the vessel to agitate the material in the loose bed to prevent compaction of the material, and avoid channeling through the loose material bed. The motion of the loose material destroys vapor film on the inside shell of the vessel to maintain good heat transfer through the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treatment of food products, in the form of a product bed consisting of solid particles, includes a container with a perforated bottom for the product bed. Gas is adapted to be supplied to the product bed in the container of this apparatus generally from below upwards through the perforated bottom at such a velocity that the product bed will form a fluidized bed. The gas, which is caused to circulate in the apparatus by means of a fan and to flow through the container as well as through a heat exchanger, is adapted to pulsate through the product bed in the container. According to the invention the apparatus is provided with a conduit passing by the container and being situated before the container with the perforated bottom, as counted in the flow direction, said conduit being provided with a rotatable damper which is adapted during its rotation to raise and lower the pressure under the perforated bottom for the pulsation of the gas through the product bed.

Abstract: A portable unit for heating packages containing pre-cooked cold food, the unit acting to rapidly heat up the food to a service temperature level and to thereafter maintain this level. The unit includes a case having a rack therein divided by shelves into a series of compartments, each adapted to receive a food package. Standing vertically behind the rack is an air modulator including a stationary outer tube having a series of longitudinally-aligned ports communicating with the respective compartments. Rotating within the outer tube is an inner tube having a series of angularly-displaced holes which successively register with the ports in the course of a rotary cycle. Air drawn from the free region in the front of the rack is conveyed through a heater station and from there blown into the inner tube to create a pressure differential between the free region and the inner tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing meat products in a controlled environment, in which chambers are arranged in pairs, side by side with one another, and defined by outside walls, and a common median wall, with meat support means arranged on facing surfaces of the walls and having air ducts provided in the walls and openings provided over the extent of the inside surfaces of the walls whereby air may flow from side to side across the chambers and air supply ducts connected to distribution ducts in the walls, and a fan for forcing air therearound, and means whereby flow through the various ducts may be reversed at periodic intervals so that air flow will take place across the chambers in opposite directions, reversing at predetermined intervals during the treatment.

Abstract: A textile fabric dryer of the alternating flow type is provided with an improved damper arrangement in which rotatable damper elements are mounted for rotating movement between open and closed positions to direct the flow of heated air alternately on opposite sides of the fabric.

Abstract: A fluid bed dryer includes a tank with an upright wall, a top, and a floor which rotates under a plurality of blades adjacent the floor and fixed to an inner annular baffle. A gas manifold is defined between the tank wall and the baffle, and opens under the baffle into a drying space in the tank.A pulse jet engine pumps pulsating hot gas and sonic waves to the gas manifold to fluidize a bed of moist particles which are introduced into the drying space above the blades. There is a time average uniform exposure of the bed to the fluidizing gas effected by continuously changing the exposure of the particles to the gas. Pulsating hot gas and sonic energy waves flow from the periphery of the tank toward the center of the dryer. The pulse jet engine also supplies an auxiliary gas inlet at the side of the tank to maintain a swirl of gas above the fluidized bed. An adjustable bypass diverts the flow of gas from the auxiliary inlet to the gas manifold for adjusting the strength of the gas swirl.

Abstract: A lumber kiln is controlled by a digital computer which periodically changes the wet bulb set point so that the rate of change of moisture content is maintained approximately constant. Reversible fans which circulate air through the lumber are periodically reversed. When they are reversed, the signals from the temperature sensors are reversed so that the temperature from the sensor at the high pressure end of the circulating air path is always used. A plurality of kilns may be controlled by the same digital computer because the computer is insensitive to variations in the operating parameters of the kilns.

Abstract: This invention relates to a kiln for drying timber comprising:an elongated housing having a base, two side walls and a top wall and two end walls defining a timber treatment zone;a gas circulation passageway having a top passageway portion extending over said timber treatment zone, a side passageway portion extending down one side of said timber treatment zone, a treatment passageway portion extending through said timber treatment zone, and a side passageway portion extending up the other side of said timber treatment zone merging with said top passageway portion, each said side wall being sloped whereby each of said side passageway portions is broad at the top of the kiln and narrower at the bottom of the kiln thereby to provide a substantially even rate of flow of gases at various levels within said treatment zone; and,reversible gas circulation means within said top passageway for maintaining the circulation of treatment gas in said other direction through said gas passageway thereby the direction of gas f

Abstract: A perforated drum serves as a drying chamber into which moist particles are loaded. The drum is rotated about a horizontal axis to tumble the particles. Sonic energy and hot pulsating gas from a pulse jet engine are supplied to a plenum opening into the drum.The gas flows through the drum transversely to the axis and contacts the tumbling particles to dry them. A shroud encloses the drum. Moisture-laden gas exhausted from the drum is collected in the shroud and recycled to the pulse jet engine. Sonic energy escaping from the drum is reflected by the shroud back into the drum. The particles are continually exposed to pulsating hot gas and reflected sonic energy. Dried product is withdrawn from the dryer.

Abstract: An air flow reverser apparatus for use in association with an air flow system having air supply and return port means, said apparatus comprising a main supply duct, and a main return duct, said ducts being connectable to said respective supply and return port means of said air flow system, at least two branch supply ducts communicating with said main supply duct, at least two branch return ducts communicating with said main return duct, supply damper means for selectively shutting off at least one of said branch supply ducts, while leaving at least one said branch supply duct open, return damper means for selectively shutting off at least one of said branch return ducts while leaving at least one said branch return duct open, and means interconnecting said supply and return damper means whereby when a selected one of said branch supply ducts is closed, a selected one of said branch return ducts is open, and power operated means for moving the same from one position to another simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and a washing machine for cleaning of rugs or mats having a nap or pile side, whereby the rugs or mats are successively conveyed along a conveying path and are exposed to cleaning operations, at least one of which is a pulsating operation, during which each mat or rug is also exposed to a relatively abrupt change of direction of conveyance in order to open an area of pile at the pile side of the mat or rug. The change of direction preferably has a radius of curvature in a range between 1.5 cm and 15 cm during an angular change of direction of approximately 180 degrees. The cleaning fluid used in one operation is for saving of energy preferably used also in another earlier cleaning operation on the mats or rugs, possibly after having been conditioned for this earlier operation.

Abstract: An air flow reverser apparatus for use in association with an air flow system having air supply and return port means, said apparatus comprising a main supply duct, and a main return duct, said ducts being connectable to said respective supply and return port means of said air flow system, at least two branch supply ducts communicating with said main supply duct, at least two branch return ducts communicating with said main return duct, supply damper means for selectively shutting off at least one of said branch supply ducts, while leaving at least one said branch supply duct open, return damper means for selectively shutting off at least one of said branch return ducts while leaving at least one said branch return duct open, and means interconnecting said supply and return damper means whereby when a selected one of said branch supply ducts is closed, a selected one of said branch return ducts is open, and power operated means for moving the same from one position to another simultaneously.

Abstract: Steam curable agglomerates of particulate material are cured by passing steam at elevated temperature and pressure through a bed of such agglomerates in an autoclave. The flow direction of the steam through the bed is periodically reversed, at least during the temperature raising period of the autoclaving process, to reduce the autoclaving time and produce cured agglomerates of substantially uniform quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the drying of lumber and the like. During drying, the weight of a lumber charge is continuously monitored to indicate both total weight loss and rate of weight loss. These data are employed, either automatically or manually, to adjust drying action so as to control the moisture-removal rate, and to stop drying action when the desired terminal dryness is reached. Multi-point weight monitoring is used to provide localized moisture-content data. The latter data is used further to adjust drying action so as to promote uniform moisture levels throughout a charge during drying.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the continuous, tensionless treatment of textile material lengths and similar web-shaped flat materials wherein the material is conveyed in gathered form to at least one treatment zone of a material treating unit. A fluid stream impinges intermittently from below upon the length of material approximately at right angles to the conveying direction thereby straightening and compressing the material by an alternating lifting and falling of the material. An air permeable conveyor belt may be employed to convey the length of material through the treating units or a number of spaced individual rollers may be provided in the treating unit with the material forming a loop between adjacent rollers which loop is acted upon by the stream of fluid. A sensor arrangement is provided for determining and controlling the length of the loop so as to maintain such length within predetermined limits.

Abstract: In a dry kiln, a plurality of in-tandem air control compartments and a fan between each pair of adjacent compartments. The fans are rotated in one direction only. The compartments have lateral air flow ports in which air valves are mounted. The fans are of opposite pitch and the valves are so alternately operated that although the fans blow the air unidirectionally, the air can be controlled to flow in one direction through the drying chamber of the kiln, or optionally in the opposite direction, for uniform drying purposes.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus has a vessel with a floor on which is provided a support lining defining with the floor a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to the foil over the holes. A blower serves to inject gas into the space and suck it therefrom and means is provided for withdrawing fluent particulate material from the vessel adjacent the lining. The gas injected under the lining serves partially to fluidize the bed and also to flex the lining so that the bed of particulate material thereon is loosened and can be withdrawn from the vessel.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus has a vessel with a floor on which is provided a support lining defining with the floor a generally closed space and constituted as a gas-impervious foil formed with a multiplicity of throughgoing holes and a gas-pervious textile sheet bonded to the foil over the holes. A blower serves to inject gas into the space and suck it therefrom and means is provided for withdrawing fluent particulate material from the vessel adjacent the lining. The gas injected under the lining serves partially to fluidize the bed and also to flex the lining so that the bed of particulate material thereon is loosened and can be withdrawn from the vessel.

Abstract: A system for drying and/or transporting particulate material, including fluidizing the material by means of pulsed air flow in jets which oscillate parallel to the path of motion of a bed of the material in an assymetric sweeping fashion which applies a net transporting force in one sense or direction, or by applying such pulsed flow so that the net force in either sense is zero, to cause drying without transport. The system utilizes phase locked acoustic oscillators to provide sweeping jets of fluid moving in opposite directions for drying and in the same direction for transporting the particulate material. The fluid oscillators are fabricated from 2 groups of molded or extruded members with the members of each group being identical. Spacers are employed to position the parts whereby to provide the desired oscillator configuration.

Abstract: A convection oven of the rack type for treating goods, e.g., baking bread, including a rotating duct which sequentially delivers heated air to a series of ducts which distribute the heated air across the oven chamber according to a flow pattern which provides uniform treatment of the goods while maintaining the goods and the rack stationary with respect to the oven chamber.

Abstract: A drying kiln for lumber. The kiln comprises a drying chamber having two spaced drying sections each to receive a stack of lumber. There is a second chamber above the drying chamber and drivable, reversible, circulating means in the second chamber. The kiln also has heating means for air circulated by the circulating means. A first passageway permits the circulating means to force heated air across the drying sections, across the space between them and back to the circulating means. A second passageway extends downwardly into the space between the dryer section. There is a first and a second closable inlet for the second passageway. Each inlet is positioned on a side of the circulating means to receive a proportion of air forced towards it by the circulating means. A plurality of outlets to said space are in said second passageway. Means control the first and second inlets whereby if one is open the other is closed.

Abstract: An adsorption chamber is included into a conduit which further includes a blower and at least one heating arrangement; check valves are provided in the conduit which operate in dependence on the pressure conditions prevailing in the respective conduit sections. The blower may be operated in two mutually opposite directions, in one direction propelling the medium to be adsorption treated through the adsorption chamber, in the reversed direction propelling a regeneration medium through the adsorption chamber in counterflow. The adsorption chamber may be filled with two different adsorbents capable of adsorbing moisture in different temperature ranges. Thermostats may be provided for controlling the energization of the heating arrangement.