Plural Gas Or Vapor Forcing Means Patents (Class 34/223)
  • Patent number: 11959703
    Abstract: A modular industrial energy transfer system includes a shell and at least one energy transfer unit coupled to the shell. The shell includes a plurality of sidewalls, a ceiling member coupled thereto, and a plurality of mounting structures disposed along the shell. The plurality of sidewalls and the ceiling member cooperate to define an interior volume to accommodate a work product. The at least one energy transfer unit is coupled to the shell via at least one of the plurality of mounting structures and is partially disposed through the shell to generate an airflow pattern through the interior volume of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WESTRAN THERMAL PROCESSING LLC
    Inventor: Zach Robinson
  • Patent number: 11740016
    Abstract: A low profile design air tunnel system and method for providing uniform air flow in a refractance window dryer are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a conditioned air supply manifold that provides air into a drying chamber. The system has a drying belt directed through the drying chamber. A feed application tray at a first end of the drying belt applies a liquid to the drying belt. The system has an exhaust manifold located at the first end of the drying belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: E. & J. Gallo Winery
    Inventors: Jorge Ortiz, Ernesto Rios Delao, Dan Burgess
  • Patent number: 11543147
    Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a climate control system for an indoor space are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes increasing a speed of a fan of the climate control system, and determining a first fitted external static pressure (ESP) function from a first plurality of airflow values and a first plurality of ESP values. Additionally, the method includes obtaining a baseline ESP from the first fitted ESP function, and determining a second fitted ESP function from a second plurality of airflow values and a second plurality of ESP values collected at least one week after the first plurality of airflow values and the first plurality of ESP values are collected. Further, the method includes comparing the first calculated ESP obtained from the second fitted ESP function to the baseline ESP to determine a condition of an air filter of the climate control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Walter Rite
  • Patent number: 11226155
    Abstract: A multi-chamber dryer using adjustable conditioned air flow is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a drying belt configured to receive a product to be dried on a first surface of the drying belt and a heat medium in contact with a second surface of the drying belt. The heat medium is configured to heat the product and is maintained at a pre-determined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: E. & J. Gallo Winery
    Inventors: Joseph Rossi, Richard Magoon, Steven J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11084616
    Abstract: A heat shrink tunnel with width adjustment includes a pair of opposing side wall assemblies, each including an outer wall and an inner perforated wall defining a plenum therebetween. The opposing side walls define a product path with the side wall assemblies being movable toward and away from each other. A heater/blower assembly disposed in each of the opposing side walls and has an outlet directed into the product path. A shroud extends over the side wall assemblies and an open top space between the side all assemblies. The side wall assemblies extend upwardly toward an inside of the shroud so as to define a small gap between tops of the side wall assemblies and the inside of the shroud. The shroud has a bottom wall. A conveyor is configured to convey items through the heat shrink tunnel. A tunnel includes a side wall assembly width adjusting assembly to move the side walls toward and away from one another by actuation of a single actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Arpac, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Smith
  • Patent number: 10701017
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel overlay attachment system disclosed herein provides for wheel overlays, or wheel skins, that are readily installable over existing wheels by securing directly to a wheel center cap. The center cap is adapted to be inserted into the center hub portion of the wheel, much like a traditional center cap, but also contains a system for securing a wheel overlay to the center cap. When properly installed on the center cap, the wheel overlay will be snugly positioned over the wheel thereby changing the appearance of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell Nunes, Kurt Kruse
  • Patent number: 10506817
    Abstract: A filtration system is arranged to safely vent a storage room into which a fog mixture is introduced. Venting the storage room reduces and/or prevents a substantial increase in the internal pressure of the storage room. To control the pressure differential between the storage room and the ambient air pressure, a venting manifold with an in-line duct fan is used, for example, to exhaust storage room air into the atmosphere. The exhausted storage room air is filtered to reduce the exfiltration of chemicals and/or other contaminants from the environmentally sealed storage room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PACE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Fassel, Scott Aaron Christie
  • Patent number: 10449096
    Abstract: An absorbent article manufacturing apparatus includes: a first conveying route that is arranged in a straight line along a first direction in plan view; a plurality of processing devices that process an intermediate product of an absorbent article that is conveyed along the first conveying route; and a heating unit that restores bulk of a non-woven fabric through heating the non-woven fabric by blowing hot air onto the non-woven fabric while conveying the non-woven fabric along a direction in which the non-woven fabric is continuous, the non-woven fabric being a strip shape and serving as a part of the absorbent article. In a case where a direction that intersects the first direction in plan view is set as a second direction, the heating unit is arranged in one of a position that is directly above the first conveying route and a position that is displaced from the first conveying route to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hayashi, Hidetaka Oyama, Jun Okuda, Satoshi Mitsuno
  • Patent number: 10258056
    Abstract: A filtration system is arranged to safely vent a storage room into which a fog mixture is introduced. Venting the storage room reduces and/or prevents a substantial increase in the internal pressure of the storage room. To control the pressure differential between the storage room and the ambient air pressure, a venting manifold with an in-line duct fan is used, for example, to exhaust storage room air into the atmosphere. The exhausted storage room air is filtered to reduce the exfiltration of chemicals and/or other contaminants from the environmentally sealed storage room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PACE INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Fassel, Scott Aaron Christie
  • Patent number: 9961913
    Abstract: A filtration system is arranged to safely vent a storage room into which a fog mixture is introduced. Venting the storage room reduces and/or prevents a substantial increase in the internal pressure of the storage room. To control the pressure differential between the storage room and the ambient air pressure, a venting manifold with an in-line duct fan is used, for example, to exhaust storage room air into the atmosphere. The exhausted storage room air is filtered to reduce the exfiltration of chemicals and/or other contaminants from the environmentally sealed storage room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Pace International, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Fassel, Scott Aaron Christie
  • Patent number: 9885134
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering bulkiness of a nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air and heating the nonwoven fabric transferred in a transfer direction, includes a case member that has both end portions in the transfer direction opened; an entrance and an exit provided to openings on opposite end sides, in the transfer direction, of the case member to transfer the nonwoven fabric; a wall surface along the transfer direction and located between the entrance and the exit; a blast opening in the wall surface for blasting hot air inside the case member in a blasting direction being the transfer direction or opposite to the transfer direction; and a discharge opening provided to the case member and downstream in the blasting direction. Hot air flows from the blast opening toward the discharge opening while coming into contact with one of two faces of the nonwoven fabric inside the case member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hayashi, Hidetaka Oyama, Jun Okuda, Satoshi Mitsuno
  • Patent number: 9809913
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering bulkiness of a nonwoven fabric by blowing hot air and heating the nonwoven fabric transferred in a transfer direction, includes a case member that has both end portions in the transfer direction opened; an entrance and an exit provided to openings on opposite end sides, in the transfer direction, of the case member to transfer the nonwoven fabric; and a blast opening provided on the entrance side of the case member for blasting hot air inside the case member toward the exit. Inside the case member, a sectional area at a first position downstream of the blast opening is wider than at a second position located between the blast opening and the first position. Hot air blasted from the blast opening flows downstream through the first and second positions while coming into contact with one of two faces of the nonwoven fabric inside the case member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Satoshi Mitsuno
  • Patent number: 9638463
    Abstract: An air circulation system adapted to dry floors that is segregated and separately controllable from the building's HVAC system. The system includes an air duct having an inlet and an outlet, a fan, and a heater. The inlet is adapted to drawn air in from either the surrounding environment or is connectable to the building's existing air circulation ductwork. The system is designed so that the outlet is positionable adjacently to a floor surface when the system is installed in a wall or to the exterior surface of a wall, thereby allowing the fan to blow air directly over the surface of the floor, increasing the efficiency with which the floor is dried. The present system further comprises a wireless transceiver for wirelessly controlling the functionality of the present system and various other activation mechanisms for separately controlling the fan and the heater without requiring direct user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventor: Eddie Cross
  • Patent number: 9433227
    Abstract: A filtration system is arranged to safely vent a storage room into which a fog mixture is introduced. Venting the storage room reduces and/or prevents a substantial increase in the internal pressure of the storage room. To control the pressure differential between the storage room and the ambient air pressure, a venting manifold with an in-line duct fan is used, for example, to exhaust storage room air into the atmosphere. The exhausted storage room air is filtered to reduce the exfiltration of chemicals and/or other contaminants from the environmentally sealed storage room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Pace International, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Fassel, Scott Aaron Christie
  • Patent number: 8677648
    Abstract: An aeration system for aerating particulate materials disposed in a storage bin is provided. The aeration system comprises a plurality of elongated hollow aerators and a supply conduit connected to each of the plurality of aerators. The supply conduit is connected to a blowing mechanism for receiving air there from and for providing the air to the aerators. Each aerator is disposed inside the storage bin having a substantially vertical orientation and mounted to an inside surface of a wall of the storage bin such that the aerator is structurally supported by the wall. Each aerator has at least an opening for transmitting air from inside the aerator to the particulate materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Gatco Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20130167396
    Abstract: A system for heating, drying or curing an object, the system comprising a housing having a first wall and at least one second wall adjacent the first wall. The first wall and at least one second wall define an interior for holding an object to be heated, dried or cured. The system also includes an air plenum adjacent to, covering and disposed inward from the first wall, and at least one air plenum opening in the air plenum to supply air into the interior. A fan is disposed in the one air plenum opening. The system also includes a ductwork assembly adjacent to, covering and disposed inward from the second wall. The ductwork assembly is in air-communication with the air plenum, and has a ductwork opening so that substantially all air circulation in the interior is between the air plenum opening and the ductwork opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20130167397
    Abstract: An improved oven (1) comprising a conveyor configured and arranged to move a product (11) to be processed through an oven, a primary air delivery system (45) configured and arranged to provide a heated primary air flow (47), a secondary air delivery system configured and arranged to provide a heated secondary air flow (48), a processing enclosure (21) configured and arranged to receive and contain the product and the primary air flow, an insulated enclosure (2) configured and arranged to receive the heated secondary air flow, the processing enclosure configured and arranged to extend through the insulated enclosure and the heated secondary air flow and to separate the primary air flow from the secondary air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Harper International Corporation
    Inventors: Renee M. Bagwell, William J. Stry
  • Patent number: 8028438
    Abstract: A moisture control system generally comprising a collector element is configured to be incorporated into a structure to control moisture condensation on the interior and exterior of the structure. The collector element encourages condensation on its surface. The control system includes a channel in fluid communication with the collector element to direct the condensed liquid away from the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aqualizer, LLC
    Inventor: William Scott Pedtke
  • Patent number: 7818894
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Ronald T. Noyes, Vitaly G. Danchenko
  • 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.
  • Patent number: 7637030
    Abstract: A fully passive-type solar lumber drying house classified into two models, one is an east-west model configured as a half Quonset hut that lumber's axis loaded is parallel to the east-west direction, and another is a north-south model configured as a Quonset hut that lumber's axis loaded is parallel to the north-south direction and the house is fully surrounded by a triple transparent film and a carbon fiber sheet and is available to be used through all year in which stacked lumber can be dried due to solar energy being assisted by auxiliary heat for one or two weeks under leaving the dry process controlled automatically, and besides moist air inside the house is exhausted through an insulated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Marusho-Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Sugawara, Kimio Kanayama, Shoshichi Sotoda, Kazuhiko Sotoda, Hiromu Baba, Hidehiko Seto, Shinya Koga, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7316080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing fuel consumption in conveyor ovens by creating a barrier to the infiltration of heated air from a heating section of the oven into a cooling section of the oven thereby reducing the loss of heated air and reducing consumption of fuel otherwise required to maintain the selected oven temperature. The barrier is formed by directing a stream of pressurized air into a transition section between the heating and cooling sections of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Solution Dynamics, LLC
    Inventor: Rick L. Woolsey
  • 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: 6553686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grain roasting apparatus in which a blower is installed at one side of a body having a support at a lower portion of the same, a heated air flow path is installed in the blower, a heater is provided, a peel collecting port and a discharge port are installed at the other side of the body, rotation portions are installed in an upper portion of the heated air flow path and an upper portion of the discharging port, respectively, a rotary drum is installed in the rotation portions, rotation members are rotated together with the rotary drum, the rotary drum is inserted into the rotation members, the rotary is installed eccentrically about a rotation center, support portions are installed opposite each other at both ends of the same, a heated air flow port having a net and connected with the heated air flow path is protruded from one side of the support, the heated air inlet is inserted into an insertion portion of the rotary port, respectively, and is supported therein, a ring gea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Innotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Ji, Sang-Joon Yoon
  • Publication number: 20030009900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grain roasting apparatus in which a blower is installed at one side of a body having a support at a lower portion of the same, a heated air flow path is installed in the blower, a heater is provided, a peel collecting port and a discharge port are installed at the other side of the body, rotation portions are installed in an upper portion of the heated air flow path and an upper portion of the discharging port, respectively, a rotary drum is installed in the rotation portions, rotation members are rotated together with the rotary drum, the rotary drum is inserted into the rotation members, the rotary is installed eccentrically about a rotation center, support portions are installed opposite each other at both ends of the same, a heated air flow port having a net and connected with the heated air flow path is protruded from one side of the support, the heated air inlet is inserted into an insertion portion of the rotary port, respectively, and is supported therein, a ring gea
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Yong Ji, Sang-Joon Yoon
  • Patent number: 6499230
    Abstract: A golf club grip drying device includes one chamber for receipt of a golf club grip and an adjacent chamber for receipt of an aerosol gas dispenser with a transfer tube conveying gas from the aerosol gas dispenser chamber to the golf club grip chamber. An actuator is provided which is responsive to movement of the golf club grip within its chamber so that when the golf club grip is so inserted, it engages the actuator which in turn engages the aerosol gas dispenser to open a valve contained within the aerosol gas dispenser and cause dispensing of aerosol gas within the golf club grip chamber to remove moisture from the surface of the golf club grip and therefore dry it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Mark Eugene Fix
  • Publication number: 20020108266
    Abstract: A duct system includes an upper duct that supplies heated air to an upper plenum and a lower duct that supplies heated air to a lower plenum, and the upper and lower plenums provide the heated air to a kiln chamber. An intermediate plenum is between the upper and lower plenums and has outlets through which heated air supplied to the upper and lower plenums is discharged. A plurality of circulation passages extend generally laterally through the intermediate plenum. Fans positioned in the circulation passages circulate heated air that is external to the plenums. The outlets are nozzles defining discharge axes that are respectively directed generally parallel to, yet slightly toward, the rotational axes of the fans. Tips of the fans' blades extend into boundary layers adjacent the interior surfaces of the circulation passages. The fans operate in first and second modes to respectively force flow in opposite first and second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Robert T. Nagel, John Craig Holbert
  • Patent number: 6259064
    Abstract: An impingement heat transfer device for transferring heat between a stream of temperature controlled air and a product wherein an air supply duct and an air return duct have a common wall. A tube has one end communicating with the inside of the air supply duct and another end extending through an opening in the air return duct. Air is circulated to reduce pressure in the air return duct and increase pressure in the air supply duct such that a stream of air flows through and out of the tube and spent air is drawn through the opening encircling the tube into the air return duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: W. Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 6148539
    Abstract: A body drier system is provided including an enclosure having a pair of opposed side walls and a top face coupled between top edges of the side walls. The side walls and the top face are each defined by an outer wall and an inner wall being spaced to define a hollow interior. Also included is a channel positioned within the side walls and the top face of the stall. Next provided is a plurality of vent assemblies mounted on an interior of the side walls and remaining in communication with the channel. Also included is a blower assembly including a fan for directing air through the channel and out of the vent assemblies upon the actuation thereof and a plurality of heating elements mounted within a flow of the air the fan for heating the air upon the actuation thereof. A control panel is provided for actuating the fan and the heating elements upon the depression thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventors: Judith A. Hatfield, Mel E. Hatfield, III
  • Patent number: 6067725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a personal or communal drying cubicle (1), which comprises an outer wall (2) provided with an opening (3) which can be connected up to a duct for supplying drying air, and an inner wall (4) pierced with outlet orifices (7) for distributing the drying air inside the drying cubicle (1), the outer and inner walls (2, 4), which have the shape of a portion of a cylinder, are arranged one with respect to the other in such a way as to delimit between them an internal space (6) with a substantially crescent-shaped transverse section in order to obtain a uniform distribution of the drying air through the outlet orifices (7) with a minimum drop in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Michel Moser
  • 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: 6049066
    Abstract: An impingement heat transfer device for transferring heat between a stream of temperature controlled air and a product wherein an air supply duct and an air return duct have a common wall. A tube has one end communicating with the inside of the air supply duct and another end extending through an opening in the air return duct. Air is circulated to reduce pressure in the air return duct and increase pressure in the air supply duct such that a stream of air flows through and out of the tube and spent air is drawn through the opening encircling the tube into the air return duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: W. Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 5365676
    Abstract: A system for drying municipal sludge to reduce its moisture content and harmful pathogens to a level suitable for direct land application includes a cellular conveyor belt defining pockets which are filled with moist sludge and which is carried through multiple runs in a drying chamber over heat conducting supporting pans in a manner causing inversion of the sludge filled belt for at least one of the runs. Heated drying air is supplied directly to the sludge from above along each run and indirectly by conduction to the sludge from the supporting pans below along each run to provide uniform and rapid drying with maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Oven Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Bein
  • Patent number: 5222309
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring thermal energy between a temperature-controlled fluid and products to be treated comprises a tunnel having a plurality of openings through which extend duct members for supplying said tunnel with a temperature-controlled fluid from a supply plenum. A perforated metal conveyor belt within said tunnel is driven by a variable speed drive and supports the product to be treated. A return plenum is positioned between the supply plenum and the tunnel and communicates with the tunnel through the plurality of openings. Means to circulate the temperature-controlled fluid forces the fluid through the duct members which collimate the fluid and discharge it in the form of high-velocity jets against the product. The jets break up the boundary layer around the product to facilitate heat transfer and the fluid rebounds through the openings through which the ducts project into a return plenum without producing laminar flow across the treated product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Ross Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry M. Ross
  • Patent number: 5041312
    Abstract: Metal strip is coated with a coating material containing a volatilizable solvent and is heated in an enclosure for vaporizing the solvent. Condensation of vapors on the metal strip within the enclosure is avoided by providing an exhaust of sufficient capacity to withdraw all of the heated and vaporized solvent, after which it is burned, mixed with a gas having a temperature lower than its temperature, and returned into the enclosure and applied against the surface of the metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: LeRoy Swartz
  • Patent number: 4961271
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for treating furniture that has been wet cleaned or damaged by water or smoke. The apparatus is a tent having a floor, a plurality of sides, and a top, forming an enclosed chamber. The furniture is placed on the floor within the sides, and the top is attached to the sides. Air or ozone is then blown into the chamber to inflate the tent. A plurality of holes in the top of the tent or exhaust boots in the sides of the tent allow the air or ozone to escape from the chamber at a selected rate to maintain the inflation of the tent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Inventor: Christopher S. Butler
  • Patent number: 4757800
    Abstract: A food preparation apparatus including a cooking chamber having a pair of openings in two opposite facing walls thereof. A conveyor extends through the side wall openings and the chamber for conveying a food product through the chamber. First and second pairs of impingement finger ducts are provided for forming a plurality of columnated air jets and for impinging the jets against discreet points of a food product supported on the conveyor. A first one of each of said pairs of ducts is disposed above the conveyor and a second one of each of said pairs of finger ducts is disposed below the conveyor. First and second plenums, each of which has a fan respectively associated therewith, supply air to the finger ducts. One or more baffles in each of the plenums guides and streamlines the air as it flows out of the plenums and through the finger ducts. A single burner is associated with the plenums for simultaneously supplying heat energy to both plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Shei, Mitchell C. Henke, John W. Schindler
  • Patent number: 4753020
    Abstract: A dryer, especially for wood, has at least two drying chambers separated from each other by at least one partition wall, at least one fan in each of the drying chambers, and at least two connection passages for the reciprocal connection of the drying chambers. Each of the connection passages can be constricted or blocked off by blocking devices. To properly convey drying agent to where it is to be used, a fan is mounted in at least one of the drying chambers connected together by the connection passages, is associated with one connection passage, and is arranged directly adjacent to the connection passage. The blocking device includes a flap on one side only. When the flap is closed, it forms a part of the side wall of one connection passage. The flap is arranged directly in front of and in the conveying direction of the fan, such that, when it is open, it forms a deflector for the drying agent conveyed by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Hilderbrand Holztechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Brunner
  • Patent number: 4753215
    Abstract: A food preparation apparatus including a cooking chamber having a pair of openings in two opposite facing walls thereof. A conveyor extends through the side wall openings in the chamber for conveying a food product through the chamber. First and second pairs of impingement finger ducts are provided for forming a plurality of columnated air jets and for impinging the jets against discreet points of a food product supported on the conveyor. A first one of each of said pairs of finger ducts is disposed above the conveyor and a second one of each of said pairs of finger ducts is disposed below the conveyor. First and second plenums, each of which has a fan respectively associated therewith, supply air to the finger ducts. A single burner is associated with the plenums for simultaneously supplying thermal energy to both plenums. The burner includes a first adjustable baffle for apportioning the thermal energy between the two plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Lincoln Foodservice Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Kaminski, George L. Csadenyi
  • Patent number: 4640726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating selected portions of an article include transport means for moving the article into a heating compartment. Shroud means, which are disposed within the heating compartment and located adjacent to limited portion of the article, direct a stream of heated gas toward a marginal portion of this article. Supply means deliver a volume rate flow of heated gas to the shroud means, and discharge means remove a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment. The discharge means is constructed and arranged to provide a volume rate of exhaust gas flow from the heating compartment which is greater than the volume rate of heated gas flow supplied into the shroud means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Lorry F. Sallee, Robert L. Popp
  • Patent number: 4409744
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a means for isolating a fan drive means within a chamber from the fan driven fluid. An enclosure is provided which isolates the fan drive means from the driven fluid. The enclosure having multiple opening to the exterior of the chamber and allowing naturally occurring convection to help maintain ambient conditions around the fan drive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Proctor & Schwartz, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd F. Sturgeon, Paul E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4345386
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air agitation device that is positioned between two opposite sets of shelves on which the articles to be dried are placed.The device constitutes two identical crankshafts, oriented in the same direction, that rotate in synchrony with respect to axes perpendicular to the opposite surfaces of the said sets of shelves.To the crankpins of the said shafts are articulated, on opposite sides, two ventilation frames, each of which provided with a plurality of fins oriented suitably with respect to the said sets of shelves.The synchronous rotation of the crankshafts renders movable each frame, which oscillates with a harmonic motion in two inter-perpendicular directions, one of which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the passageway existing between the sets of shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Carra Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carra Gianni
  • Patent number: 4307519
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for drying products with a gas stream passing the product to extract moisture therefrom and a contacting device producing at least one desiccant liquid layer in the vicinity of the product to be dried, which liquid layer removes moisture from the gas. The gas stream is bubbled through a substantially horizontal liquid layer or can pass between liquid film conducting elements. The desiccant liquid is continuously regenerated. By means of several partial gas streams and a contacting device having more separated liquid film modules, a counter-current type of drying is possible. The product to be dried can be heated to a predetermined temperature by the desiccant liquid through the drying gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Energiagazdalkodasi Intezet
    Inventors: Laszlo Szucs, Andras Horvath, Emod Sigmond, Gyorgy Waermer
  • Patent number: 4295826
    Abstract: Disclosed is an infrared dryer which comprises (1) at least one infrared heater in a heating chamber, (2) a pair of mutually parallel air troughs which guide ambient air from an intake end of the dryer, along the top of the dryer, and empty air into a collector box of the air plenum at the downstream end of the dryer, (3) a header disposed above the heating chamber and ported to permit air from the header to be directed onto objects in the heating chamber, and (4) means for recirculating air from the heating chamber into the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Inventor: Michael Vasilantone
  • Patent number: 4137649
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of textile material comprises a plurality of nozzle boxes extending across the operating width at least on one side of the length of material. The nozzle boxes are fed from a front face and have openings discharging in a direction towards the length of material and a fan is disposed at the feed end of these nozzle boxes. The fan is a radial flow fan. It is arranged with its axis of rotation at right angles to the plane of the length of material on the long side of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1979
    Assignee: Vepa AG
    Inventor: Hans Fleissner
  • Patent number: 4123221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bulk tobacco curing and drying structure that comprises an elongated main housing having a cross sectional area substantially arcuate shaped and adapted to receive and support bulk tobacco or other crop material therein for curing and drying. In one embodiment disclosed herein, the elongated housing is of a generally cylindrical shape and supported by an underlying cradle support structure. Defined internally within the cylindrical housing is a drying chamber having laterally spaced supports for supporting a plurality of bulk tobacco containers or racks therein over a defined plenum area within the cylindrical housing. A forced air furnace system provided with the curing and drying structure acts to circulate air vertically through bulk tobacco contained within the drying chamber, and generally maintains a desired temperature level therein during the curing and drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Harrington Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Tiras J. Danford
  • Patent number: 4026036
    Abstract: In a box-type continuous hot air drying machine having a drying chamber through which yarn sheets are processed, the supply rate of thermal energy into the drying chamber is automatically controlled in accordance with the running condition of the drying machine, i.e., high speed running, low speed running and stoppage of the drying machine. Preferably cool air under pressure is introduced into the drying chamber when the machine stops running for accelerated cooling of the air and the yarn sheet in the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Tanaka