Abstract: A bulk material dryer includes a cabinet with material inlet and outlet openings and air inlet and outlet openings. A conveying system is located in the cabinet for conveying the bulk material therethrough from the material inlet opening to the material outlet opening. An air handling system includes a supply duct subsystem communicating with the air inlet and a return duct subsystem communicating with the air outlet. A blower provides an airstream through the supply duct subsystem and draws air from the return duct subsystem for recirculation through a separator and a heater.

Abstract: A device for the uniform application of gas on a plane surface comprises several slot-like openings which are at least approximately in one plane; the longitudinal axes of the nozzle openings are radially arranged, whereas the direction of the flow exiting from the slot-like openings is inclined towards the plane in which the openings are located. This allows an extremely uniform application so that the difference between the maximum and the minimum values of the heat-transfer coefficient is only very small.

Abstract: A shelf structure for drying sacked matter is disclosed which is capable of uniformly and effectively drying particulate matter while leaving it charged in an air-permeable sack. The shelf structure comprises a hollow support and hollow shelf boards communicated with the hollow support and each having at least one carrier section for supporting sacked matter thereon. The shelf structure is airtightly constructed except the carrier section and vent ports to permit drying air to be forcedly introduced through the carrier section in the structure and discharged from the vent ports.

Abstract: A warm-air hand drying installation has a floor-mounted pedestal with several drying apparatus around its periphery. A single fan supplies air to each apparatus via a central duct when any one of the apparatus is switched on. Each apparatus has a flap valve and a heater. The valve covers either the outlet of the apparatus or a side opening into the pedestal. When any one of the apparatus is switched on, the heater is energized and its valve opens to allow air flow to its outlet and onto the hands of the user. The heaters of other apparatus are not energized and their valves remain positioned such that air flow to the apparatus is directed internally between the pedestal casing and the duct, to the fan inlet. In this way, air flow can be maintained constant regardless of the number of apparatus in use. The fan remains on for a time longer than the heater.

Abstract: A pin oven is disclosed for curing coated or decorated can bodies travelling in a serpentine path wtih jets of a curing medium. The pin oven chamber is divided by an interior louver wall into a curing medium supply plenum chamber and a curing chamber. The cans move through the oven on a pin conveyor and jet nozzles in the louver wall are arranged in a pattern for instantaneously confronting moving can bodies with substantially the same number of nozzles for immersing the can bases in a substantially uniform air stream in order to minimize can flip-flopping on the pin conveyor in order to achieve oven speeds in excess of 1000-1200 cans per minute. The louver wall is provided with chambers for uniformly distributing the pressure and velocity of air jets to reduce the tendency of cans to pulsate as they pass through the oven. The louver walls are of modular construction for application of the oven to a variety of can sizes and decorating or coating technologies.

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.

Abstract: A shrinkage tunnel (11) for heat treatment of shrinkable films has a hot air unit, which can be inserted as a standard unit in a tunnel wall and contains a radial fan (22), which is surrounded by a fan casing (26) formed from two sheet metal half-shells (27, 28). Between them they form a ring nozzle (30) with an axial outflow direction with respect to fan shaft (25), while air return flow opening (32) is centrally and directly positioned below the fan wheel (22). The heating system is integrated into the fan casing, so that the complete hot air unit (20) is an independently functional and preassemblable component.

Abstract: A temperature control system is disclosed which supplies a fluid which acts as a temperature effecting agent for the system. The fluid is conveyed through the system with a temperature control means regulating the temperature of the fluid and a fluid control means regulating flow of the fluid through the system. The temperature control means includes a helix of electrically resistant tubing which the fluid passes through. Optimally, the helix is responsive to the application of electrical current such that temperature of the fluid passing through the helix is controlled as a function of the applied current. Preferably, a distribution network forms part of the system and uniformly distributes the fluid in a desired area and/or around an object. The fluid control means can also include a diverting means for diverting fluid not at a desired temperature from the system and an additional means to vary the temperature of the fluid distributed by the system.

Abstract: Solvent-treated objects are dried in a drying chamber having a drying zone and at least one transfer zone for introducing into and/or removal from the drying zone of the object. The drying zone is created by recirculating drying air at high air flow rate by selectively sucking air from and blowing air into the drying zone and by removing recirculated solvent-carrying air from the drying zone by suction to provide a negative pressure in the drying chamber with greatest negative pressure in the drying chamber in the drying zone. Removed drying air is preferably passed through a solvent recovery carbon filter.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing and collecting continuous glass filaments is provided comprising: feeder means for supplying a plurality of streams of molten glass to be drawn into filaments; means for applying a liquid to said filaments; a rotatable member adapted to wind said filaments in layers therearound and to draw said streams into said filaments; distribution means for supplying a plurality of streams of gas to at least partially dry the filaments wound around said member, said streams being directed into contact with the layers along the length thereof and over a portion of the arcuate periphery of the layers; and collection means for removing the moisture containing air from around the periphery of said layers of filaments, said collection means extending along the length of said layers and over a portion of the arcuate periphery of the layers.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a system for at least partially drying or curing wet glass strand as it is being wound into a package wherein streams of heated gas, such as air, are directed into contact with the outer layer of strand being collected on a rotating collet. Preferably, the streams of gas have a specific orientation with respect to the layers of strand and are supplied at predetermined temperatures and velocities to maximize the drying effect.

Abstract: A food processing unit and method of processing food uses a housing which receives vertically disposed layers of food product. The temperature of the fluid within the housing is controlled to process the food product. A pressurized fluid is supplied into the housing and the fluid within the housing is then induced to circulate by directing a flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid in a substantially horizontal direction through spaces between layers of the food product. The directed fluid flow may be distributed within the housing so that heat transferred in zones from the fluid throughout the layers of food product or the directed fluid may be redirected to flow in those spaces adjacent spaces through which the fluid is initially directed so that the flow of ambient fluid within the housing is induced to circulate around each layer of food product.

Abstract: A preheater suitable for a laboratory furnace provides improved furnace temperature uniformity and atmosphere control. The preheater comprises a rectangular chamber which is adapted to be placed in the bottom of the furnace chamber. The preheater includes a pair of longitudinal passageways on opposite sides of the preheater chamber. There is a plurality of perforations in the top wall at one end of the preheater and along each passageway for distributing preheated air or other gas into the furnace chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the preheater is made of stainless steel, and the preheater chamber contains stainless steel wool which aids in heat transfer.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for curing of wet resin-coated articles in a curing chamber by means of a vaporous curing agent. The vaporous curing agent is circulated through distribution members having nozzles or openings which are adapted to disperse the curing agent in an angular direction cocurrent with the direction of travel of the articles being passed through the curing chamber. The exhaust is provided near the exit end, and thus a gaseous flow is induced from the inlet through the chamber to the exhaust thereby minimizing the escape of vaporous curing agent through the inlet opening.

Abstract: An oven for curing coatings on articles removes the volatile components of the coating by a heated circulated atmosphere directed at high velocity at the coated articles and increasing in temperature between the entrance and the exit of the articles from the oven. Prior to their exit from the oven, the coated articles are exposed to infrared radiation in relatively still air to effect the final curing of the coating. The oven enclosure includes an open portion and a ducted portion. The ducted and open portions of the oven enclosure and the heating means are arranged to contribute to the effective use of energy. Within the ducted portion is a removable fan means supported and driven from outside of the oven enclosure. The ducted portion of the oven communicates with an exhaust opening in the oven enclosure having a damper valve that can be automatically controlled to permit exhaust when the level of the volatile coating material components in the oven atmosphere exceeds a preset amount.

Abstract: A tube for an impinging jet air drier for wood veneer has a circular cross-section throughout 270 degrees of its circumference, the remaining 90 degrees comprising two planar portions, one disposed perpendicularly to the direction of travel of a sheet of material through the drier, the other generally facing the sheet of material but forming an obtuse angle with the first portion at a line of juncture disposed in the downstream direction of sheet travel. A plurality of round holes are punched in the planar portion facing the sheet of material. The holes are disposed in rows parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The shape of the tube serves as a guide for the sheet material while discharging air thereacross. The configuration permits the upper tube in each pair to be disposed about 5/8 inch above the plane of travel of the sheet material and the lower tube to be disposed about 3/8 inch therebelow.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating in a continuous manner webs of textile goods in a sealed container, especially in a suspended loop damper or steam box with a fresh air or fresh steam supply and with a supply of circulated air or steam. The old air or old steam supply and the fresh air or fresh steam supply together lead into an injector-like slot nozzle which extends nearly over the entire length and width of the container and is located in the upper section of the container. In the injector-like slot nozzle the fresh air or steam is intermixed with old air or steam and passed over the webs of textile goods passed through the container.