Solar Drying Patents (Class 34/522)
  • Patent number: 9015956
    Abstract: A solar drying tunnel having a low-profile and which is transportable includes a bottom portion, a frame, a cover, and externally controlled rolling mechanism for turning grain over. The tunnel may also include a fan at one end and a chimney at another end to provide enhanced air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Grainpro, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom de Bruin, Lewis Donovan Strickland
  • Publication number: 20150020408
    Abstract: A system for drying or heating product using solar energy including an enclosure defining a kiln chamber in which a charge of the product is placed, the enclosure having at each side of the chamber at least one passage through which air from the kiln chamber can pass to be heated by solar energy impinging on the enclosure, and an air flow system having at least one fan for generating a circulating air flow within the kiln chamber whereby air passes from one side of the charge to the other, and an air supply for drawing air into each passage from the bottom part of the kiln chamber at opposite sides of the charge to move through the passage into an upper portion thereof for discharge into an upper part of the kiln chamber through one or more outlets leading into the upper part of the kiln chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: SOLARKILNS HOLDINGS PTY LTD
    Inventor: Gregory Weir
  • Patent number: 7681326
    Abstract: In application of a green-house effect, under such a concept as to collect solar energy passively into the house and to exhaust moist air passively from the house, an all weather passive-type solar Ogako drying house which is available for all day through a year was made up improving an agricultural vinyl-house in which Ogako is dried continuously during carriage on the belt conveyors due to solar energy and auxiliary heat, and then moist air yielded when drying Ogako is exhausted through an insulated cylinder. In this case, Ogako means sawdust or tipped small particles of wood which is raw material in order to produce a woody pellet fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Marusho-Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Sugawara, Kimio Kanayama, Shoshichi Sotoda, Kazuhiko Sotoda, Hiromu Baba, Hidehiko Seto, Katsuhiko Shibuya, Toshiyuki Tachi, Shinya Koga, Masahiro Nakajima, Akira Yaegashi, Zenbei Komiyama
  • Patent number: 7676953
    Abstract: A moisture metering calibration method and system for, e.g., determining the moisture lumber within a lumber drying kiln is disclosed. Calibration of moisture indicative electrical signals obtained from, e.g., moisture sensing capacitive plates spaced apart within a stack of drying lumber is performed, wherein long lengths (e.g., up to 1000 linear feet or more) of coaxial cable can be used for transmitting the signals, and effectively removing signal anomalies induced in such cabling so that accurate lumber moisture measurements result. Such extended cable lengths provides flexibility with respect to placement of electronic moisture metering equipment. This flexibility allows such equipment to be placed in an environmentally-controlled enclosure, rather than on the weather exposed exterior of a kiln whose lumber is being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Magill
  • Publication number: 20090126221
    Abstract: A tray, for example, a drying tray, a method for drying, and a structural member engagement system are provided. The drying tray includes at least one perforated panel; and a frame adapted to support the perforated panel. The frame may include a plurality of interconnecting plastic support members adapted to receive the perforated panel. The tray may be used to dry fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat. A method of using the tray and a structural member engagement system are also disclosed The member engagement system includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and a plug and pin adapted to engage the first member with the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Warren R. HARTWELL, Paul E. BARTLEY
  • Publication number: 20090013596
    Abstract: A method of drying comprises placing a moist material inside a substantially enclosed solar greenhouse. The greenhouse comprises at least one light transmission roof and/or wall panel that is substantially transparent to solar radiation, but resistant to convective and conductive heat transfer. The interior temperature and humidity of the greenhouse are maintained within their pre-determined ranges while the interior moisture of the greenhouse is effectively reduced to allow a controlled drying of the material. A solar greenhouse for the drying process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Yin Wang
  • Publication number: 20080244924
    Abstract: A drying method for use of latent heat includes the following steps: A. installing a heating plate and a latent heat device having wax in a dry environmental space; B. placing an article to be dried in the dry environmental space; C. absorbing outside heat energy with the heating plate for drying process; D. utilizing the latent heat device to accumulate heat energy; and E. releasing the heat energy from the latent heat device for drying process. A drying apparatus for use of latent heat includes a box, a heating plate provided on the box, and a latent heat device provided in the box. The box has an entrance and a vent. The entrance is provided with a door to seal the entrance. The latent heat device comprises wax therein to do heat exchange through for drying purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Chang-Ren Chen, Juh-Ping Chang, Huann-Ming Chou, Rong-Fang Hong, Atul Sharma
  • Patent number: 6167636
    Abstract: In a process for thermally utilizing wet spent grains (1), the wet spent grains (1) are mechanically predried in a first drying stage (2), thermally dried in a further drying stage (4) and finally thermally utilized by burning or gasification. In order to be able to realize a process of this kind economically, the mechanically dehydrated spent grains (15) in the further drying stage (4) are heated by the aid of a smoke gas occurring within the energy system of a brewery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Brau-Union {umlaut over (O)}sterreich Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Leopold Werner Kepplinger, Dieter Pelz, Gerald Zanker
  • Patent number: 5992048
    Abstract: A drier with a curvalinear chamber having a heat transfer surface at one end and baffles at the other end. A fan is provided to circulate air within the chamber. In the process for drying, the product to be dried is positioned within the chamber and air circulated across the heat transfer surface, toward the baffle, past the product, and back to the heat transfer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Jack B. DeVore, James E. Snow
  • Patent number: 5809663
    Abstract: A portable, solar powered clothes dryer comprising a dark-colored portable hamper which is perforated; a hamper shaft journaled in the center of the dark-colored portable hamper which serves the dual functionality of (1) handles for facilitating the portability of the dark-colored portable hamper, and (2) a spinning axis for spinning the dark-colored portable hamper; and, a solar power motor system for spinning the dark-colored portable hamper about said spinning axis. The drying process of the solar powered clothes dryer utilizes, in combination, maximized attraction of the heat energy from the sun by a dark-colored portable hamper for collecting heat energy therein, wherein the drying process does not utilize artificially produced heat, and the air draft from the spinning motion of the solar powered motor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Allen J. Perque
  • Patent number: 5584127
    Abstract: A system for drying fruits, spices, vegetables and the like comprises a heating compartment having an inlet for introducing a flow of drying gas and heating arrangement for elevating the temperature of the drying gas. A drying compartment is connected to and in communication with the heating compartment for holding the material to be dried. A driving arrangement is disposed in the heating compartment for directing heated drying gas through the heating compartment and into drying relationship with the material to be dried in the drying compartment. An exhaust arrangement is provided in the drying compartment for withdrawing a portion of the spent drying gas and recirculating another portion of the spent drying gas back onto the drying compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Robert T. Johnson
    Inventor: Trevor L. Sutherland