Treating Solid Material Patents (Class 34/350)
  • Patent number: 11097137
    Abstract: A dryer appliance that includes a fire extinguishing system is provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying. The dryer appliance includes a water inlet valve in fluid communication with a nozzle to which a breakaway cap is mounted. The breakaway cap defines a steam outlet and the nozzle defines an extinguisher outlet. When a fire is present in the dryer appliance the water inlet valve is controlled to allow water to flow downstream to the nozzle so that the breakaway cap breaks away from the nozzle and water flows through the extinguisher outlet into the chamber of the drum to extinguish the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Austin Robert Fischer
  • Patent number: 10632645
    Abstract: A method of treating an elongate wood member is provided, the wood member having an outer surface and a cross-section. The method includes (1) forming a plurality of holes into the outer surface of the wood member; (2) introducing a treatment composition which includes a boron-containing compound into the plurality of holes; and (3) steam treating the wood member for a duration of from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours, the steam having a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 150° C. The steam treatment causes the boron-containing compound to diffuse from the formed holes into the cross-section of the wood member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nisus Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10273585
    Abstract: A cathodic protection system for use with a wood veneer dryer is provided. The system includes a DC power supply and an anode mounted inside the dryer in a position to be electrolytically coupled to metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer when an electrolytic medium is present inside the dryer. The electrolytic medium comprises a high-humidity atmosphere. A method for reducing the corrosion of metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer is further provided. The method comprises mounting an anode inside the dryer in a position to be electrolytically coupled to the metallic structures or surfaces inside the dryer when an electrolytic medium is present. Wood veneer is conveyed through the dryer and heated to a temperature sufficient to produce a high-humidity atmosphere inside the dryer. A controlled amount of current is supplied by the DC power supply to electrolytically couple the anode to the metallic structures or surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Westmill Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Crondahl, Christian Gollmann
  • Patent number: 8997375
    Abstract: An operating method for a laundry drier which has a rotatable drum mounted inside a main body, a heater for heating the air flowing into the drum; and a scent supply module for spraying scent into the drum, comprising: a drying step of drying the laundry by supplying hot air heated by the heater; a pre-treating step of tumbling the drum while supplying air with the heater off; and a scent treating step of spraying scent onto the laundry which has passed through the pre-treating step. Since the scent is sprayed on after the pre-treating step, the scent can be effectively deposited on the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Bae, Sung-Ho Song, Min-Ji Kim, Yong-Cheol Jin
  • Patent number: 8832963
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a city media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventor: Sarjit Johal
  • Patent number: 8479409
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a dry media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventor: Sarjit Johal
  • Patent number: 8365433
    Abstract: A technique by which various types of organic waste can be easily treated so as to obtain a reusable material. An apparatus is provided which comprises a vessel (20) for introducing organic waste (18) therein, the vessel being equipped with: stirring means (82), (92), and (98) for stirring the organic waste (18); steam supply means (62), (64), and (66) which supply high-temperature high-pressure steam to the vessel (20); evacuation means (77), (78), and (80) which evacuate the vessel (20); and heating means (24), (68), (64), and (66) which heat the organic waste (18) present in the vessel (20). The apparatus has such constitution, in which the organic waste (18) in the vessel (20) is decomposed by hydrolysis and pyrolysis and vacuum dried using those means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kunitomo Kankyo Plant Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Ogura
  • Patent number: 8133327
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing method that prevents generation of watermarks on a substrate and can be performed at a low cost. The method controls the ambient humidity around the substrate depending on the kind of the chemical liquid, when the substrate is processed with the chemical liquid. The control of the humidity is performed at least in a drying step that dries the substrate W. In one embodiment, the ambient humidity around the substrate is controlled when a fluid containing IPA as a drying fluid is supplied to the substrate W after processing the substrate W with the chemical liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yoshichika Tokuno, Hiroshi Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 8020315
    Abstract: A substrate processing method which can reduce the number of particles to be left on each substrate is provided. In the substrate processing method, substrates W to be processed are dried, by using a fluid heated by a heating apparatus having one or more heating mechanisms. The substrate processing method comprises a first step of supplying a mixed fluid containing a gas and a processing liquid and heated by the heating apparatus, into a processing chamber in which the substrates to be processed are placed, and a second step of supplying the heated gas into the processing chamber. The output of at least one of the heating mechanisms is kept at a preset constant value for a period of time during which a predetermined time passes after the start of the first step. In the second step, the output of the heating mechanism is determined under a feed back control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Nishimura, Mikio Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7665227
    Abstract: A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises directing a flow of air through a chamber while tumbling the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; removing particulates from the air flowing through the chamber; directing a treatment fluid into the chamber and onto the fabric; and tumbling the fabric while at least intermittently contacting the fabric with a low absorbency textured surface. In another embodiment, a method comprises placing the fabric in a chamber having a low absorbency textured surface; extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; inserting treatment fluid into the chamber to apply the treatment fluid to the fabric; and extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tremitchell Wright, Karl D. McAllister, LD Metcalfe, Janice M. Kaeding
  • Patent number: 6715216
    Abstract: A clothes dryer is provided with a fire detection and suppression system which releases a fire suppressing substance into the dryer chamber upon detection of a fire condition. The fire detection and suppression system includes, a controller, at least one temperature detector which is in communication with the controller and sends a signal to the controller when a temperature set point has been reached and/or exceeded, a source of fire suppressing substance (preferably water) which is delivered to the chamber over a pathway; and a valve in the pathway controlled by the controller. The controller opens the valve when a fire condition is detected, and closes the valve after a time sufficient to introduce a predetermined volume of the fire suppressing substance has passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cissell Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Naom Salameh, Stanley T. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6684526
    Abstract: An improved process for removing trace solvent from a material comprises rewetting the product with water during the drying process. Finished products such as suramin are produced efficiently to a high quality on a factory scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pfizer Science and Technology Ireland, Limited
    Inventor: William Tully
  • Patent number: 6634117
    Abstract: The method serves for drying an active part containing at least one winding and solid insulations. The active part is arranged in a vacuum-tight housing and is heated there to a final temperature value (Tfin) by means of warmed oil and by means of a current (I) carried in the winding. The warmed oil is sprayed in the housing at reduced pressure (p) and with the current (I) switched on. At the same time, water is extracted from the active part. The sprayed oil is collected on the housing bottom, after discharging heat to the active part, and, after rewarming, is sprayed once again in the housing at reduced pressure and with the current switched on. The active part is thus dried particularly quickly and carefully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Micafil AG
    Inventors: Paul Gmeiner, Peter Keller
  • Patent number: 6401353
    Abstract: A substrate dryer causing no water mark on a substrate having a refined·complicated structure and capable of suppressing increase of a cost required for a drying treatment is provided. Drying gas of low-molecular silicone generated in a drying gas generation part is heated by a heater and thereafter supplied from a drying gas supply nozzle. The drying gas is supplied to the main surface of a substrate being pulled up from de-ionized water stored in a cleaning bath as a stream. Silicone contained in the drying gas is condensed on the surface of the substrate, substitutes for moisture, and thereafter vaporizes. Silicone is excellent in permeability·dryability, and hence can suppress formation of a water mark also on a substrate having a refined·complicated structure. Further, silicone applies no load to the environment, and hence increase of a cost required for the drying treatment can be suppressed without requiring specific treatment for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6253462
    Abstract: A device and method for cleaning and drying workpieces in a treatment vessel in which a reduced pressure can be provided. During the cleaning process, a liquid bath is formed in the treatment vessel (1), said liquid bath at least partially surrounding the work pieces, and cleaning fluid and optionally a gaseous medium are introduced into the treatment vessel under excess pressure via a spray unit. The workpiece support moves up and down or rotates so that the work pieces are subjected alternately to different cleaning processes in the liquid bath and a gas space located above said liquid bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Mafac Ernst Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5914183
    Abstract: Porous semiconductor material in the form of at least partly crystalline silicon is produced with a porosity in excess of 90% determined gravimetrically, and voids, crazing and peeling are substantially not observable by scanning electron microscopy at a magnification of 7,000. The porous silicon is dried by supercritical drying. The silicon material has good luminescence properties together with good morphology and crystallinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Brittanic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Leigh Trevor Canham
  • Patent number: 5758434
    Abstract: A wood drying system to eliminate the discharge of liquid kiln water includes a kiln which is heated to dry a batch of wood, a basin to collect the water driven from the wood, and an evaporator in which the collected water is converted into steam. The steam is provided to the kiln to balance the drying and alleviate the splitting, warping, etc. caused by over drying. The steam is ultimately vented harmlessly into the atmosphere to effectively eliminate any discharge of the kiln water as a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Gipson
  • Patent number: 5569438
    Abstract: In an apparatus for treating, for purposes of sterilization, a continuous material web a first treatment station is provided and includes a device for bringing a material web into contact with liquefied hydrogen peroxide. A second treatment station is also provided in which the material web is simultaneously sterilized with hydrogen peroxide vapor and dried with heated air after treatment of the material web in the first treatment station. The second treatment station includes an elongate chamber having an inlet and outlet, the material web being dried and thereby generating hydrogen peroxide vapor as it is led through the elongate chamber from the inlet to the outlet. The second treatment station also includes an outer flow duct in flow communication with the inlet and outlet of the elongate chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Anders Hilmersson
  • Patent number: 5424034
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for treating, for purposes of sterilization, a continuous material web (16) by bringing the entire web or parts thereof intended for sterilization into contact with liquefied hydrogen peroxide and thereafter drying the web with the aid of a hot gaseous fluid.In order to improve the degree of destruction of micro-organisms present on the material web, the material web is dried, after contact with the liquefied hydrogen peroxide, with air which has been intentionally supplied with hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
    Inventor: Anders Hilmersson