Recirculation Of Treating Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 34/212)
  • Patent number: 11940212
    Abstract: A kiln for drying and processing lumber packages is provided. The kiln generally includes at least one end chamber, a drying chamber adjacent to the end chamber, a first lumber conveying line configured to transport the lumber packages in a first direction through the end chamber and the drying chamber, and a second lumber conveying line configured to transport the lumber packages in a second direction through the end chamber and the drying chamber. The conveying lines may be countercurrent or uniflow. The kiln may further include a heat distributor in the end chamber to distribute heat into the end chamber in addition to heat from the drying chamber along the first and second lumber conveying lines. The heat distributor may include a distribution duct receiving heat from a drying chamber distribution duct or a heater inlet duct, a heat exchanger, a radiative heating element, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Murray Nichols, Gregory Keith Ralston, Luiz C. Oliveira, Philip John Latos
  • Patent number: 11653600
    Abstract: An air conditioning system and methods of use regulate a moisture content of an agricultural product in a grain bin. The system receives headspace air from the headspace of the grain bin, which generally has a higher moisture content than ambient air. The system further receives ambient air and mixes the headspace air and the ambient air into a ratio comprising a target moisture content. The air mixture is provided into a grain bin plenum, where it then permeates through to agricultural product, thereby regulating the moisture. The system and method can be used to bring the agricultural product to a target moisture content that is preferred when storing the agricultural product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AGI SureTrack, LLC
    Inventor: Johnselvakumar Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11287184
    Abstract: The invention involves an apparatus and a method for drying and/or curing impregnated wood. The apparatus includes a chamber comprising a stack containing space for containing a plurality of elongated wood planks arranged in a stack of a height Hs, width Ws and length Ls, a heating element arranged within or adjacent to the space, a flow generating device arranged outside the space and configured to generate a circulating flow (F) of curing fluid within the chamber and a fluid flow restrictor arranged between the space and the flow generating device. The flow generating device and the fluid flow restrictor are further configured such that the circulating flow (F) of curing fluid is guided through the heating element generating a homogeneously heated and distributed flow (F) of curing fluid in the space. At least one motor is arranged outside the chamber, the at least one motor being configured to operate the flow generating device via a connecting shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Kebony AS
    Inventors: Per Brynildsen, Karl Christian Kristiansen
  • Patent number: 11226157
    Abstract: A paint drying device where leakage of air between a drying chamber and a driving section accommodating chamber is prevented reliably. In the paint drying device in which the drying chamber and the driving section accommodating chamber communicate with each other via a through hole through which a power transmission tool extends, there are provided an air feeding passage for feeding air present outside the drying chamber to the driving section accommodating chamber by an air feeding fan and an exhaust passage for discharging air in the driving section accommodating chamber to the outside of the drying chamber by an exhaust fan. An air amount adjustment device is provided for adjusting a ratio between an amount of air to be fed to the driving section accommodating chamber via the air feeding passage and an amount of air to be discharged from the driving section accommodating chamber via the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Goto, Toshihiko Koike, Hisao Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11125501
    Abstract: A dryer for a web of textile material having at least one dryer compartment, in which at least one air-permeable cylinder is rotatably disposed, around which the web of material may partially loop so that heated drying air may flow through the web of material. At least one fan is provided by which humid drying air from the inside the at least one cylinder may be suctioned off from a front-sided opening of the at least one cylinder and discharged as discharge air through a duct. The dryer includes at least one sensor for determining the humidity of the discharge air flow, the data thereof being processed in a control with the initial humidity of the web of material and the humidity of the fresh air flow for closed loop control of the evaporative capacity of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: TRUETZSCHLER GMBH & CO. KG, REFENHÄUSER GMBH & CO. KG MASCHINENFABRIK
    Inventors: Markus Böhn, Andreas Rösner
  • Patent number: 10696438
    Abstract: A shrink tunnel for shrinking shrink films on packages includes a transport path that passes through the treatment chamber. Arrays on opposite sides thereof have nozzles for dispensing hot gas. Each array has an associated guide plate and a lifting device for adjusting the guide plate. Adjusting the guide plates covers up certain nozzles, thus controlling the flow of air on the packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Schilling
  • Patent number: 10427969
    Abstract: An optical fiber manufacturing method includes: melting and drawing an optical fiber preform to form a glass fiber; cooling the glass fiber while inserting the glass fiber into a tubular slow-cooling device from an inlet end toward an outlet end thereof; and lowering an inner wall temperature of the slow-cooling device below a temperature of the glass fiber and providing a pressure gradient in which a pressure increases in a direction from the inlet end toward the outlet end inside the slow-cooling device when cooling the glass fiber, wherein the average pressure change dP/dL in a moving direction of the glass fiber inside the slow-cooling device satisfies the following Formula (1) when the tube inner diameter of the slow-cooling device is defined as D [m] and the length of an internal space of the slow-cooling device in the moving direction of the glass fiber is defined as L [m]. (?D2/4)×dP/dL?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Akihito Imase
  • Patent number: 10125986
    Abstract: A flare pilot assembly has inner and outer tubes, defining inner and outer passages. A manifold delivers air and fuel to the outer passage. A bleed off passage directs a portion of the fuel and air entering the manifold to the exterior of the manifold. A diversion port in the inner tube diverts into the inner passage a portion of the air and fuel flowing through the outer passage. An electrical sparking device ignites air and fuel flowing through the inner passage. An evacuating tube extends from the manifold through the inner passage to the distal portion of the inner tube. The evacuating tube conveys moisture that may accumulate at the distal portion of the inner passage through the bleed off passage to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Stackmatch Flare Ignition, Inc.
    Inventor: Romeo E. Guerra
  • Patent number: 9862903
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for capturing the hot humid gases from a gypsum board dryer and utilizing those gases in the production of a synthetic gas (referred to as “syngas”). The syngas produced can then be utilized within a gypsum board plant to reduce the amount of natural gas needed. The method utilizes the heated water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) found within the flue gas of a board dryer. The H2O and CO2 are used in a gasification process to yield the syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CertainTeed Gypsum, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. College
  • Patent number: 9848629
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for the monitoring and control of apparatus designed to remove moisture from an initially wet product, such as a continuous dryer (14). The net rate of water removal from the wet product (16) is determined during drying thereof, preferably on a real-time basis. A control assembly (20) is operatively coupled with the dryer (14) and includes sensors (24, 26, 28, 34), which are operatively coupled with a digital controller (38). The controller (38) has a PID controller operable to continuously determine the average net rate of water removal from the product (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian L. Strahm, Keith A. Erdley, Scott E. VanDalsem, Adam S. Hinton, Douglas S. Clark
  • Patent number: 9848628
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved apparatus and methods for the monitoring and control of apparatus designed to remove moisture from an initially wet product, such as a continuous dryer (14). The net rate of water removal from the wet product (16) is determined during drying thereof, preferably on a real-time basis. A control assembly (20) is operatively coupled with the dryer (14) and includes sensors (24, 26, 28, 34), which are operatively coupled with a digital controller (38). The controller (38) has a PID controller operable to continuously determine the average net rate of water removal from the product (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian L. Strahm, Keith A. Erdley, Scott E. VanDalsem, Adam S. Hinton, Douglas S. Clark
  • Publication number: 20140259733
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Blomquist
  • Patent number: 8726533
    Abstract: An baking case body of tunnel type sterilization dryer comprises a case body (1), an air intake cavity (24) which is disposed in the case body (1), a conveyor mesh belt (7), and an air return channel (22). The conveyor mesh belt (7) is located between the air return channel (22) and the air intake cavity (24). The air intake cavity (24) is divided into two or more than two independent air intake chambers (21) by one or more than one air intake partition boards (11). A heater (9) is disposed in each air intake chamber (21), and a hot air generator (2), a diffuser fan cover (3), a high temperature and high efficient filter (4) and a temperature probe (5) are disposed sequentially in each air intake chamber (21) from top to bottom. Air return partition boards (15) are arranged in the air return channel (22), corresponding to the air intake partition boards (11). The air return channel (22) is divided into two or more than two air return cavities (23) by the air return partition boards (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Truking Technology Limited
    Inventors: Dayu Cai, Zhigao Ning, Bo Yi, Zanming Zhu, Zhen Liu, Yue Tang
  • Patent number: 8371038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: CertainTeed Gypsum, Inc.
    Inventors: John College, Felipe J. Yanes, David Corbin
  • Publication number: 20130014404
    Abstract: A continuous flow grain dryer includes airflow paths such that air passes through a grain column twice prior to exiting the grain dryer or being recirculated. The dual pass airflow defines a preheat zone in an upper portion of the grain flow paths adjacent an exhaust plenum. A heat zone is defined in the grain flow paths adjacent a high heat plenum and below the preheat zone. The dual pass airflow defines a temper zone in the grain flow paths adjacent a return plenum and below the heat zone. A cooling zone can be defined below the temper zone and adjacent the return plenum. A recirculating airflow path can provide fluid communication from the return plenum to the fan and back to the heat plenum. The burner is positioned outside the airflow path to feed ambient air into the recirculating airflow path, without recirculating airflow passing through the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CTB, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent J. BLOEMENDAAL
  • Publication number: 20120216417
    Abstract: An baking case body of tunnel type sterilization dryer comprises a case body (1), an air intake cavity (24) which is disposed in the case body (1), a conveyor mesh belt (7), and an air return channel (22). The conveyor mesh belt (7) is located between the air return channel (22) and the air intake cavity (24). The air intake cavity (24) is divided into two or more than two independent air intake chambers (21) by one or more than one air intake partition boards (11). A heater (9) is disposed in each air intake chamber (21), and a hot air generator (2), a diffuser fan cover (3), a high temperature and high efficient filter (4) and a temperature probe (5) are disposed sequentially in each air intake chamber (21) from top to bottom. Air return partition boards (15) are arranged in the air return channel (22), corresponding to the air intake partition boards (11). The air return channel (22) is divided into two or more than two air return cavities (23) by the air return partition boards (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TRUKING TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dayu Cai, Zhigao Ning, Bo Yi, Zanming Zhu, Zhen Liu, Yue Tang
  • Patent number: 8176651
    Abstract: A method of drying articles within a washer comprising: creating an airflow from an upper compartment of a chamber to a lower compartment of the chamber through a gap such that a curtain of air is formed along side walls of the chamber; creating an air flow from the lower compartment to the upper compartment through an opening therebetween wherein a portion of the curtain of air is drawn in a first direction over articles in the lower compartment and a portion of the curtain of air continues along the side walls and is redirected in a second direction over the articles in the lower compartment; heating the air in the upper compartment to a temperature sufficient to vaporize fluid in the chamber; venting a portion of the air in the lower compartment; and introducing clean filtered air into the upper compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Steris Inc.
    Inventors: Maxime Robert, Ghislain Parent, Louis Martineau
  • Patent number: 8176655
    Abstract: A vapor atmosphere spray dryer can include a closed-loop circuit having a dryer, a bag house filter system, a fan, and a heater system which are fluidly connected together for circulating a mass of superheated vapor therethrough. A centrifugal atomizer is disposed within the dryer. A feed system delivers a supply of feed slurry to the centrifugal atomizer which discharges a supply of atomized feed slurry in the dryer for combination with the circulated mass of superheated vapor within the dryer. The closed loop circuit is constructed such that the circulated mass of superheated vapor has an operating pressure of at least 1 psi which is generated by the evaporation of the fluid in the atomized feed slurry in the dryer resulting from the combination of the supply of atomized feed slurry and the circulated mass of superheated vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: SPX Flow Technology Danmark A/S
    Inventor: Stewart Gibson
  • Patent number: 8046932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a dryer used to reduce the moisture content of sheet material. A drying chamber is provided and includes a plurality of drying sections and a single point exhaust system. A seal section located at the input end of the dryer includes an exhaust passage through which a gas sample is drawn by a sampling fan. Gases within the seal section are a combination of ambient air drawn through restricted passages at the entry to the seal section and exhaust gas that bleeds into the seal section from the drying chamber. A controller monitors the temperature of the sampled gases and ambient air and adjusts the rate of exhaust flow from the main exhaust system as a function of the temperature differential. A heating system is also provided for heating the seal exhaust gases above the pitch condensation temperature for the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: USNR/Kockums Cancar Company
    Inventor: Bryan Wolowiecki
  • Patent number: 7975502
    Abstract: In a heat pump apparatus of the invention, a refrigerant is circulated through a compressor 31, a radiator 32, a first throttle apparatus 33, a heat exchanger 34, a second throttle apparatus 35 and an evaporator 36 in this order. The heat exchanger 34 can be utilized as both a radiator and an evaporator by operating the first throttle apparatus 33 and the second throttle apparatus 35. Therefore, even if the outside air temperature is high, discharge pressure and suction pressure of the compressor do not rise, the heat pump apparatus can be operated in a stable refrigeration cycle, and energy can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoichiro Tamura, Yuuichi Yakumaru, Masaya Honma, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 7908765
    Abstract: A continuous granulating and drying apparatus comprises a granulator and a fluid bed dryer. The fluid bed dryer comprises at least two separate processing compartments forming part of a common vessel being provided with radially extending partition walls separating the processing compartments from each other. Each processing compartment has a product inlet and a product outlet. The fluid bed dryer comprises a granulated product supply conduit arranged rotatably to selectively communicate with the product inlet of each separate processing compartment, respectively, and a product discharge conduit arranged rotatably to selectively communicate with the product outlet of each separate processing compartment, respectively. The granulator and the fluid bed dryer are closely coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Collette NV
    Inventors: Michel Simon Waldron, Trevor Gordon Page
  • Patent number: 7770305
    Abstract: A portable collapsible clothes dryer kit including two clothing article dryer units for engaging and spreading different articles of clothing, one of the units being supported by spaced, elongated flexible elements and the other of the units being supported by a coat hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Leonard Krauss
  • Patent number: 7726040
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for the uniform drying of boards, such as gypsum wallboards. The apparatus includes a dryer through which a series of boards are conveyed in a side-by-side relationship. While in the dryer, heated air is delivered over the boards via a series of separate air channels. A bypass duct delivers a portion of or a totality of unreheated air to the outermost channels where the cooler air displaces a volume of the warmer air. As a result, the air in the outermost channels is cooler than the air in the interior channels. Air from the outermost channels is then directed over the exposed longitudinal edges of the boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: CertainTeed Gypsum, Inc.
    Inventor: Felipe J. Yanes
  • Publication number: 20100126037
    Abstract: An energy-efficient method and apparatus for drying pelletized, moist organic material is described. The method consists of a rapid, high temperature static drying process in a shallow bed, followed by traditional vertical static drying in a deep bed. Hot exhaust gas from the shallow-bed, hot-temperature static dryer is then recirculated to provide thermal energy to the deep-bed, warn-temperature static dryer. This invention can be used to convert wet, organic waste materials such as animal and poultry waste, municipal wastewater sludge, urban post-consumer food waste, or manufactured food byproducts and residuals into solid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: William H. Moss, Richard J. Romanek, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090217546
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for using heat energy in a gypsum board plant. More specifically, the method contemplates taking heat from a gasifier, or other alternative heat source, and using it to dry gypsum boards. In order to control humidity levels, this heat is delivered to one or more board dryers via a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: John College, Felipe J. Yanes, David Corbin
  • Patent number: 7581334
    Abstract: A drying apparatus is provided with a gas burner indirect heat exchanger wherein a turn down ratio thereof maybe controlled. In a housing of the gas burner indirect heat exchanger, a gas burner and a heat exchanger are contained. Combustible gas in the gas burner is supplied to the heat exchanger. The air having entered the housing is heated as passing around the gas burner and, furthermore, passing through the heat exchanger. The housing is connected to the dryer booth by a blowing duct. A blower provided in a middle of the blowing duct supplies the hot air heated in the gas burner indirect heat exchanger to the dryer booth. In the dryer booth, an aluminum web coated with coating liquid is transferred. The hot air is blown to the coated surface of the aluminum web so as to dry the coated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Majima
  • Patent number: 7526877
    Abstract: An operation method for a drying device is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new type of a drying device which enables air in a drying drum and a cabinet for drying the laundry to circulate continuously, as well as capable of getting a suitable output of power based on each drying cycle due to a various structure of a drying heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Soo Kim, Soung Bong Choi, Byung Hwan Ahn, Deug Hee Lee, Hung Myong Cho
  • Publication number: 20080282575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the drying of water-containing, preferably plate-shaped products in a throughflow dryer in multi-level construction, and such a dryer for carrying out the method. The invention aims to suck away moist air stagnated under the housing (2) in a dyer of the above mentioned type and to transport this moist air into the suction area (12) of the axial blowers (9) arranged in the lower levels, and thereupon to differentially admix moist air into a quantity of drying air and deliver it to the nozzle boxes (5) of the dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: LINDAUER DORNIER GESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Alfred Dotzler, Anton Hecht
  • Publication number: 20080184589
    Abstract: A drier for drying wet material includes a drying chamber with a plurality of heating region regions and a plurality of drying regions, alternatively located along the path of the material through the drier. Each of the heating regions is heated with heating fluid by a heating recirculation system wherein the heating fluid overall flows in heat exchange with the material in the chamber, but wherein the heating fluid can flow in various ways within each heating region. A fluid circulation system flows drying fluid through each of the drying regions generally in countercurrent flow relative to the flow of material through the drier, although the drying fluid can flow in various ways within each drying region. The drying fluid exiting the drier is used to preheat the heating fluid exiting the drier prior to the heating fluid reentering the drier. Makeup heat is supplied to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: The Shivvers Group, Inc., an Iowa Corporation
    Inventor: Steve D. Shivvers
  • Patent number: 7377052
    Abstract: A low temperature clothes dryer having a drying chamber provides removable horizontal screens supporting clothing items and a hanging bar for hanging clothes to be dried. A timing control allows setting the time of operation of the drying cabinet. An electric heater with thermostat is provided to initially raise and maintain the air temperature within the drying chamber to at least about 90 degrees F. The dehumidifier is then operated, providing for circulation through the ducts and drying cabinet by an internal fan. The dehumidifier has an evaporator through which warm, humid air is passed, thereby cooling the air and condensing water therefrom, the water being collected in a removable container or drained through a drain hose. The fan forces the cooled, dried air through a condenser which heats the dried air for recirculation through the drying chamber by means of ducts, thereby drying the clothing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Robert E. Maruca
  • Patent number: 7363728
    Abstract: A shrink wrap machine has a shrink wrap tunnel with an entrance and an exit. A conveyor transports products to be shrink wrapped from the entrance through the tunnel to the exit. A source of gas is coupled to the inside of the tunnel and bathes the products. A heater controls the gas temperature in the tunnel. A pump controls the gas volume and/or velocity in the tunnel. An input device receives product identification information. A memory stores different process parameters, namely gas volumes, gas velocities, conveyor speeds, and/or temperatures applicable to the product identification information. A computer selectively retrieves process parameters from a memory responsive to the input device and sets the pump, the heater, and/or the conveyor to match the retrieved process parameters. The computer and memory are preferably a programmable logic controller (PLC). A machine readable product code such as UPC is as the product identifier and a code reader as the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Belco Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave McNeil, Michael Misik
  • Patent number: 7191546
    Abstract: A low temperature clothes dryer having a drying chamber provides removable horizontal screens supporting clothing items and a hanging bar for hanging clothes to be dried. A timing control allows setting the time of operation of the drying cabinet. An electric heater with thermostat is provided to initially raise and maintain the air temperature within the drying chamber to at least about 90 degrees F. The dehumidifier is then operated, providing for circulation through the ducts and drying cabinet by an internal fan. The dehumidifier has an evaporator through which warm, humid air is passed, thereby cooling the air and condensing water therefrom, the water being collected in a removable container or drained through a drain hose. The fan forces the cooled, dried air through a condenser which heats the dried air for recirculation through the drying chamber by means of ducts, thereby drying the clothing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Robert E. Maruca
  • Patent number: 7024799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating products with air in order to enable the conservation, storage and use thereof. Said invention also relates to a device for treating such products and the products obtained using said treatment method. The products (P) to be treated, such as a hay drier or other similar agricultural products, are loaded into a closed space (20) that is connected to a thermodynamic machine (21) which is controlled using a programmable automaton (22) and which is powered by an electrical cabinet (25). Three mass of water in air sensors (Q1, Q2 and Q3) determine the operation of the machine according to the desired treatment objectives both in terms of moisture in relation to the product treated and power consumption. The invention is suitable for treating diverse products such as agricultural products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Oddeis S.A.
    Inventor: Maurice Perret
  • Patent number: 6922910
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus is provided for performing exposure processes with high accuracy by accurately performing pressure control inside a chamber having a plurality of air-conditioning chambers. The inside of the main chamber which accommodates the exposure apparatus is divided into a plurality of air-conditioning chambers, and a pressure detection device which detects the pressure is provided with each of the plurality of air-conditioning chambers. Also, among the plurality of the air-conditioning chambers, the pressure inside a main column which accommodates an exposure stage on which a wafer in mounted and subjected to an exposure process, is set to be higher than the pressure of the other air-conditioning chambers based on detection results obtained from the pressure detection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuji, Yoshitomo Nagahashi, Takaaki Kimura, Shinichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6880545
    Abstract: A dual conveyor jet impingement oven having a blower box with at least one air inlet opening and at least two air outlet openings and a heating space adjacent to and in fluid communication with the blower box. Disposed within the heating space are two spaced apart pairs of spaced apart heated air distribution plenums, which form a central return air conduit therebetween. The central return air conduit has a return air outlet end in fluid communication with the blower box and the spaced apart heated air distribution plenums have a heated air inlet opening in fluid communication with the at least two air outlet openings. A horizontal heating surface is disposed between each pair of spaced apart heated air distribution plenums, each of which has a perforated heated air distribution plate facing the horizontal heating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Albert J. Heber, Laxminarasimhan Vasan, James T. Cole
  • Patent number: 6760981
    Abstract: The invention provides a compact drying chamber for drying printed circuit boards and electronic connectors and components mounted thereto by enhanced evaporation to remove residual water and completely dry printed circuit boards. The compact drying chamber comprises features that help maximize a velocity at which heated air impacts printed circuit boards to significantly enhance evaporation from surfaces of printed circuit boards and to raise the temperature of electronic connectors and components to allow evaporation therefrom, while maintaining low power consumption with respect to heating and circulating air. The compact drying chamber also comprises features that help maximize a dwell time of printed circuit boards in high velocity heated air within practical conveyance speeds, while maintaining overall dimensions that allow a compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Leap
  • Patent number: 6735882
    Abstract: A concentration of a gas introduced into a circulation blower and an exhaust blower is reduced with a simple apparatus configuration. In an exhaust system, exhaust gases from a plurality of drying chambers are joined to a joining duct to be then exhausted by an exhaust blower. A plurality of exhaust ducts having inlets at different positions in each drying chamber are provided, and the exhaust duct having the inlet in the lowest gas concentration area is used as a duct for an exhaust gas circulated to a circulation blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6601317
    Abstract: A high-efficiency drying kiln, particularly for wood-like material, constituted by an internal chamber, which is covered with thermally insulating material and is provided with at least one opening for loading and extracting the material to be treated; two flues for recirculation of the air inside the chamber by aspirating and delivering air respectively from and into the outside environment; an air heating device; an air acceleration duct and air acceleration elements located inside the acceleration duct; the air acceleration duct has, at least at its output section, elements for orienting in an axial direction the air stream that is forced by the acceleration elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Nardi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renzo Nardi
  • Patent number: 6484416
    Abstract: It is required with respect to the production of cement clinker from wet slurry raw materials that are calcined to cement clinker in a drying-rotary pipe furnace, which is preceded by a cyclone suspension type heat exchanger system, after the materials have been processed—to initially mechanically dewater the raw meal slurry up to a moisture of approximately 20% and to subsequently thermally dry the materials up to a residual moisture of approximately 0.5 through 1.0%. It is inventively proposed to carry out this thermal drying in a static cascade-step drier, whereby hot gas from the cyclone heat exchangers, in cross current, is led through the step drier for the drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: KHD Humboldt Wedag AG
    Inventor: Klaus Rawe
  • Patent number: 6345450
    Abstract: A process for drying or curing green wood including the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure to a predetermined temperature over about 120 F while maintaining the moisture content of the wood close to the original moisture content of the felled wood, and then immediately cooling the heated wood with a cooling fluid at a temperature and humidity substantially less than the temperature and relative humidity of the heating enclosure for a time period sufficient for the wood to reach substantially the reduced temperature of the cooling fluid for normally removing at least about 5% of moisture from the green wood. The green wood is conditioned by the cooling step for subsequent drying steps in which moisture removal rates are substantially higher than moisture removal rates under prior conventional drying steps. The green wood process as set forth is effective to minimize staining of the wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventor: Danny J. Elder
  • Patent number: 6289606
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for control of moisture content of material such as thermoplastic pellets (80) in a hopper (30) is controlled by supplying dehumidified air from a dessicant bed (90) to the hopper (30) and returning air from the hopper (30) to the dessicant bed (90). A dew point sensor (10) in the return air path determines the moisture content of the material (80) in the hopper (30), and when the dew point drops to a pre-set level, a diverter (134) causes the return air flow to bypass the dessicant bed (90) and to be re-supplied to the hopper (30) without dehumidification. Two dessicant beds are provided, one of which is on-process while the dessicant in the other is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Novatec, Inc.
    Inventors: W. John Gillette, Paul M. Frank
  • Patent number: 6185835
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the conditioning of a commodity (12) such as clothing suitable for vacuum packing in which there is provided a conditioning tunnel (2) including a floor (4), a ceiling (6) and two side walls (8), through which tunnel runs a conveyor system (10) for transporting the commodity. The tunnel is provided with air inlets (14) for directing streams of air into tunnel, and means for extracting and transporting air from the tunnel to apparatus for dehumidifying the air. There is further provided means for conveying the dehumidified air to the air inlets. Means are provided on at least one side wall for influencing the flow path of the air passing from the inlet to the outlet. Use of the apparatus conditions the commodity so that when vacuum packed, the commodity does not crease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Qualpak UK Limited
    Inventors: Sven Äke Enbom, Alex Tin Sing Lee, John Anderson Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6119364
    Abstract: A process for drying or curing green wood including the heating of green wood in a heating enclosure to a predetermined temperature over about 120 F while maintaining the moisture content of the wood close to the original moisture content of the felled wood, and then immediately cooling the heated wood with a cooling fluid at a temperature and humidity substantially less than the temperature and relative humidity of the heating enclosure for a time period sufficient for the wood to reach substantially the reduced temperature of the cooling fluid for normally removing at least about 5% of moisture from the green wood. The green wood is conditioned by the cooling step for subsequent drying steps in which moisture removal rates are substantially higher than moisture removal rates under prior conventional drying steps. The green wood process as set forth is effective to minimize staining of the wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Danny J. Elder
  • Patent number: 6112426
    Abstract: A thermal compression plant with heat recovery for vacuum dryers of industrial leathers and similar products with one or more drying chambers (4) each one composed of a heated table (2), on which the products to be dried are laid, and a hermetic cover (3). A circulating fluid in a first closed circuit (6, 7) heats each table and each drying chamber (4) is connected to a second open circuit (14) for the suction and the condensation of the steam generated by the products. The second steam circuit (14) includes at least one vacuum pump (16) of relatively low capacity placed downstream from a condenser and compression means made up by at least one blower (19) with a higher capacity of the one of the vacuum pump (16) able to compress and superheat the steam to a higher temperature to that of the heating fluid of the working tables at continuous running. The condenser (21) uses for refrigeration the heating fluid circulating in the first circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Emilio Buttazzi
  • Patent number: 6076274
    Abstract: A vacuum drying cabinet has nozzles on a pipe body which can be removable from but attached to a pipe fitting mounted in the roof of the cabinet and which, when in place, can be coupled to the shaft of a motor for driving the cleaning unit and to the cleaning liquid supply. When the vacuum drying cabinet is used for vacuum drying, the cleaning unit is removed and replaced by a cap which is hermetically sealed to the pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Bernd Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 6055742
    Abstract: A reticle cleaning apparatus for a wafer exposure system includes a chamber enclosing the reticle, a door opening and closing at least one side of the chamber, a door switching member opening and closing the door coupled to the chamber including the door, a gas injection nozzle at an upper portion of the chamber, a nozzle transport member moving the gas injection nozzle in a vertical direction, a gas supply member supplying a cleaning gas into the gas injection nozzle, an ion injection nozzle over the gas injection nozzle, an ion supply member supplying ions into the ion injection nozzle, and a drain member draining the cleaning gas outside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Beom-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6029367
    Abstract: A grain drying apparatus uses the heat of an engine to aid in the evaporative process. The grain drying apparatus provides an engine 20 which is used to power a fan 40. Waste heat generated by the engine is transferred to air driven by fan 40 through air duct 70 by three principle means. Air is initially warmed by contact with the engine and its radiator prior to entering the air duct 60. An exhaust pipe 50 and catalytic converter 52, carried by the engine, extends a part of the length of the elongated air duct 70, warming the air flow within the duct by contact. A finned heat exchanger tube 60, also carried within the elongated air duct, transfers heat to the air flow within the duct. An air intake pipe transfers air under pressure into a fuel tank, where the air mixes with fuel vapors. The air and fuel vapor mix is then transferred to the exhaust pipe, where combustion takes place, thereby increasing the heat flow from the finned heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Underbalanced Drilling Systems Limited
    Inventor: Gene Moody
  • Patent number: 5966832
    Abstract: An improved apparatus, and related method of operation, is described for rapidly drying large monoliths of glass, ceramic and/or composite material, under subcritical conditions, while minimizing the risk of cracking the monolith during the drying process. The apparatus incorporates a pressure chamber for carrying the monolith to be dried, with no significant limitation on the size of the monolith relative to the size of the chamber. The monolith is initially immersed in a suitable drying solvent, and the temperature of the pressure chamber is raised to a predetermined value below the solvent's critical temperature, which raises the pressure to a predetermined value, likewise below the solvent's critical pressure. At a selected time during the drying process the pressure chamber is connected to a diffusion chamber, to draw away and condense solvent vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Fikret Kirkbir, Satyabrata Raychaudhuri, Douglas Meyers, Hideaki Murata
  • Patent number: 5960560
    Abstract: A thermal solar dehydrator (16) comprising en enclosure (18) having a plurality of drying chambers (20) therein. A plurality of perforated trays (22) are provided. A plurality of runners (24) support the perforated trays (22) in vertically spaced apart relationships within the drying chambers (20) of the enclosure (18), so that food can be placed upon the perforated trays (22). A structure (26) is for forcing air into and out of the drying chambers (20). An assembly (28) is for allowing sunlight (30) to penetrate the enclosure (18) and heat up the air passing through the drying chambers (20), so that the food placed upon the perforated trays (22) will dehydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Fedna Stoll
  • Patent number: 5940983
    Abstract: A hydrating device includes a food processing chamber and a control unit which communicates with the chamber via two connecting pipes. The control unit has an inclined separating board inclinedly disposed therein and a water exit located corresponding to an upper surface of the inclined separating board. A compressor having an evaporating pipe and a condensing pipe is disposed in the control unit, wherein the condensing pipe and a first section of the evaporating pipe are located in the control unit, and a second section of the evaporating pipe is located outside the control unit. A heating member is disposed in the control unit and located above the first section of the evaporating pipe. A first set of ventilators is disposed below the heating member for sucking dry air to the chamber and a second set of ventilators is disposed beside the second section of the evaporating pipe for cooling the evaporating pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Shun-Tsung Lu