For Diverse Operations On Treated Material Patents (Class 34/60)
  • Patent number: 5546678
    Abstract: A dryer has an internal drying chamber for accommodating articles that are subjected to heated circulating air to remove moisture from the articles. An air mixing chamber contains a first fan for moving air through a heater into the drying chamber. A second fan draws air out of the drying and mixing chambers and discharges air back into the mixing chamber through a filter into the external environment. The heated air in the drying chamber is mixed with fresh air and recirculated through the drying chamber to minimize heat losses and increase drying effectiveness. Ultraviolet lamps within the drying chamber destroy contaminants in the air and articles within the chamber. A boot dryer, located in the drying chamber, has fans that move air through tubes used to support boots, shoes, skates and socks. Ultraviolet light in the boot chamber destroys contaminants in the air in the boot chamber. One modification of the dryer has a bench to permit the dryer to be used as a dry sauna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Gregory L. Dhaemers
  • Patent number: 5456024
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for treating household refuse are disclosed. Household refuse or garbage is comminuted, dried and mixed with granular mineral substance, preferably sand, at a temperature of up to 1000.degree. C. and the mixture is homogenized and degassed by the contact of the refuse with the hot sand until the garbage and refuse has been reduced in volume to a desired degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventors: Hans Klausmann, Ralf Klausmann
  • Patent number: 5438773
    Abstract: To attain this, the present invention essentially relates to a fiber declumper device for use in conjunction with a fiber-filled construction such as a down-filled sleeping bag during treatment of such construction in a rotary drum dryer which comprises a solid foot-shaped structure formed of dense heat-resistant plastic, rubber or the like. This device is placed in the dryer along with the fiber-filled construction to be dried and, as the dryer drum rotates, the device preferably in the shape of a foot, beats on the fiber-filled construction preventing clumping of the fiber contained therein. A cavity within the beating member device contains heat-activated scent material which will impart a pleasant odor to the construction being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Rebecca J. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 5433017
    Abstract: An intake filter for a hair dryer connectable to the housing of the hair dryer comprising a screen and a retaining element in the form of a cage structure adapted to fit in a ring. The retaining element forms at least one chamber, air-permeable in an axial direction, into which fragrant spheres can be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: RBI Distributors, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Brauchli, Ernst Brauchli, Theophil Meier, Gerhard Meier
  • Patent number: 5425183
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing and recovering solvent vapor for cleaning the interior surfaces of substantially sealed vessels and the exterior surfaces of structures contained therein]. In the illustrated embodiment, a transportable vessel cleaning system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of solvent vapor producing chambers, each having a solvent vapor outflow port and a solvent vapor inflow port coaxially arranged along a vapor flow axis extending through each chamber along flow channels associated with the solvent vapor outflow and inflow ports. When operationally configured with a substantially sealed vessel, each solvent vapor producing chamber of the present invention produces a solvent vapor stream which is recirculated through the vapor delivery tube, vessel interior, vapor recovery tube and the solvent vapor producing chamber along the direction of its vapor flow axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Vacon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5416983
    Abstract: A clothes dryer is adapted to reduce residual static in clothing items. The sidewall of the drum carries conductive tumbling vanes and a conductive projection. The vanes engage clothing items at the periphery of the dram interior. The projection penetrates further into the drum to contact clothing items that tend to locate there when the dryer is very full. The projection curves in the direction of drum rotation to avoid trapping clothing against the drum side wall. The vanes and projection are coupled to the ground terminal of an electrical main to dissipate static charges gathered from the clothing. To enhance electrical coupling to the rotary drum, a copper ring is mounted around the drum and a copper contact plate is supported from the dryer housing and spring-biased to engage the copper ting. Residual static is further reduced with a grounded conductive plate located near the bottom of the dryer opening that accesses the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Stat-Tech Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Scott A. Moser
  • Patent number: 5400570
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking an envelope of heat shrinkable film into close conformity to a product enclosed within the film envelope includes a housing; a first assembly disposed within the housing for directed heated air to at least a first portion of the film envelope; a second assembly disposed with the housing and operable subsequent to the first assembly for directing heated water onto at least a second portion of the envelope, both causing the envelope to shrink into conformity with the product; an arrangement for drying the product after water has been applied thereto; and an arrangement for circulating the hot water into heat transfer relation with a moving stream of the hot air for enhanced water heating prior to its application to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Charles J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 5373647
    Abstract: A method and a system serve to completely or partially dehydrate sludge by evaporation which originates from e.g. sewage. The sludge is dried with addition of heat in a drying chamber (2), the sludge being transported on an endless travelling grate (3) from an inlet opening (8) in the drying chamber (2) to a discharge opening (9) in it. The sludge is deposited on the grate in a plurality of juxtaposed sludge strings (18) by means of an extruder (6), in which the sludge is preheated to almost 100.degree. C. prior to extrusion. The extruded strings (18) are then heated with such an intensity that the water in the sludge immediately begins to boil, and that a zone of preferably saturated water steam is formed at any rate in the immediate vicinity of the sludge. This provides a light and porous, dried sludge product which is in no way either burnt or scorched, and which constitutes excellent fuel as well as excellent compost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: FLS Industries A/S
    Inventors: Steen Bernes, John R. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5369892
    Abstract: A dryer has an internal drying chamber for accommodating articles that are subjected to a heated circulating air to remove moisture from the articles. An air mixing chamber contains a first fan for moving air through a heater into the drying chamber. A second fan draws air out of the drying and mixing chambers and discharges air through a filter into the external environment. The heated air in the drying chamber is mixed with fresh air and recirculated through the drying chamber to minimize heat losses and increase drying effectiveness. Ultraviolet lamps within the drying chamber destroy contaminants in the air and articles within the chamber. A boot dryer, located in the drying chamber, has fans that move air through tubes used to support boots, shoes, skates and socks. Ultraviolet light in the boot chamber destroy contaminants in the air in the boot chamber. One modification of the dryer located within a locker room is used to remove moisture and odors from the air in the locker room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Gregory L. Dhaemers
  • Patent number: 5361512
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying herbicide to the interior of sewer lines. The invention includes a heating assembly which is capable of raising the temperature of the herbicide such that it enters a gaseous state. This gaseous herbicide is then forced through flexible tubing and into the sewer line where it attacks flora infestations therein. A highly saturated atmosphere is maintained within the sewer line by a pair of inflatable inner-tube type devices which entrap the gaseous herbicide within the area of sewer line to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: General Chemical Co.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Tobiason
  • Patent number: 5359785
    Abstract: A deck movable between cassettes arranged on a base for storing a plurality of substrates in multiple stages and a substrate cleaning section for cleaning the substrates, supports a substrate fetching arm for fetching the substrates from the cassettes, and a cleaned substrate depositing arm for depositing treated substrates. The depositing arm is vertically movable between a position in which a substrate supporting surface thereof is situated below a substrate supporting surface of the substrate fetching arm to render the latter operative, and a position in which the supporting surface of the depositing arm is situated above the supporting surface of the fetching arm to render the depositing arm operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Fukutomi, Masami Ohtani, Takeo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5355591
    Abstract: An attachment is provided for converting a table top steamer into an apparatus for steam treatment of the body. The attachment comprises an approximately cylindrical conduit having open ends and a plurality of holes located between the first and second ends. The conduit divides the steam jet discharged from the steamer into three streams and diffuses and cools the steam in each of these streams, thereby allowing the face and both hands of the user may be simultaneously steam treated. The attachment is locked onto the steamer by a pair of flexible tabs extending from the sides of the conduit. The tabs have holes formed therein that secure them to retainers extending from the steamer by means of a snap fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Richard Caruso
  • Patent number: 5351415
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for maintaining articles to be processed clean, having an airtight transportable container with an inlet valve for admitting ionized gas and an outlet valve for venting gas, a purger with an interface to the container inlet valve and a vacuum pick-up and ionized gas spray wand is disclosed. A purger rack for storing multiple containers is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Convey, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray G. Brooks, Timothy W. Brooks, C. James Corris
  • Patent number: 5343629
    Abstract: An air cooled ultraviolet dryer comprises a lamp (6) mounted within a reflector (1) and supported within a housing (2). The mouth of the reflector is closed off with a tubular heat barrier comprising contiguous tubes (10) which are transparent to UV light. Cooling is effected by passing cooling air into space (3) between the housing (2) and the reflector lamps along tubes (10), preferably by applying suction to the outlet at one end of the housing and causing air to flow transversely over the lamp and through the tubes (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: G.E.W. (EC) Limited
    Inventor: Malcolm C. Rae
  • Patent number: 5337497
    Abstract: In order to provide a vacuum degreasing-drying method by which extremely small, precision metal products can be degreased and dried quickly and completely without using organic solvents, according to the present invention, an object 112 to be rinsed is put in a vacuum drier 110 after being rinsed with a hydrocarbon cleaning agent and then the air in the vacuum drier 110 is evacuated so as to degrease and dry the object thus rinsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuichi Sato, Akira Kikuchi, Hiroshi Saito, Shinichi Takaira
  • Patent number: 5276979
    Abstract: A mesh tubular basket is arranged for mounting about a support tube and secured at each end of the mesh basket by strap members to position canvas type shoes and the like within a clothes dryer during a drying procedure. The support tube is arranged with a spring-biased sleeve, having a collar member to secure the sleeve if desired in a biased orientation against an interior wall of a drying machine drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Martin C. Gordon, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5269073
    Abstract: A vacuum structure arranged for mounted securement to an associated hair clipper assembly is provided in operative communication with a vacuum pump to direct severed and trimmed hair into an associated container. The apparatus includes a rigid air inlet housing arranged for mounting to the hair clipper assembly having a downwardly canted inlet nozzle to include a nozzle valve plate mounted to effect air flow into the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: Lenard E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5257464
    Abstract: A system for curing concrete products resident in a kiln, in particularly for producing high strength building blocks from relatively dry green concrete, controls temperature and humidity in the kiln as a function of time in the curing cycle from a water pool heated by underwater grates near the upper water surface. Heated air and air/CO.sub.2 mixture also is circulated in the kiln during relevant portions of the curing cycle. Accelerated evaporation from the water well is induced by ruffling the water surface with the circulated air with enough intensity that the grates are uncovered to quickly evaporate water films wetting the grate surfaces. A baffle structure thus directs circulating air into the water surface. Individual grates are heated at critical times during the heating cycle in a manner to control temperature of different zones within the kiln by means of circulating hot liquids, such as oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Inventor: Francisco Trevino-Gonzales
  • Patent number: 5257465
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously receiving two or more guide ropes, separately stretching those ropes and returning them to be joined for guiding purposes; the apparatus including a sliding carriage for each rope, a pulley on each carriage, a cable attached to each carriage with adjustable means to apply tension to the cable and thereby to the rope, and pulleys to lead the ropes into and out of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Inventor: Edmund N. Marx, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5254263
    Abstract: A sludge powder and sealant are prepared from paint sludge. A sludge powder is generated from a paint sludge having a volatiles content of 0-50% by weight by adding a processing filler thereto. A sealant composition is prepared by thereafter or concurrently therewith adding sealant ingredients including polymer, plasticizer, curative, and other sealant ingredients such as an adhesion promoter and sealant filler materials to the sludge powder. Alternatively, a sealant composition may be prepared by adding a paint sludge having a volatiles content of 0-50% by weight to the sealant ingredients, which may include a processing filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Aster, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Gerace, Sevilla C. Gamboa, Yasminka S. Landaburu
  • Patent number: 5236132
    Abstract: An improved comminuter/dehydrator apparatus and method includes a body having an inverted, coaxially shaped cavity with an open truncated lower end and an open upper end connected to a cylindrically shaped chamber. A sleeve, which extends through the chamber and into the cavity, is adjustable axially by a pair of jacks. A damper is adjustable relative to the sleeve to control air escaping from the cavity into the ambient atmosphere. A manifold with a velocity-enhancing venturi mechanism directs air from a blower tangentially into the chamber to create cochleated and resonating, oscillatory cyclonic air-flow activity. A portion of the air from the blower to the chamber is diverted through a feeder containing the material being comminuted and dehydrated. The comminuted and dehydrated material is gravitationally discharged through the cavity lower end. The body has a removable nozzle tip to extend the operational characteristics of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Vortec, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank F. Rowley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5231772
    Abstract: A solvent recovery apparatus, in particular, for manufacturing apparatus of web-like materials, preferably sound tapes and video tapes, is equipped with a heat exchanger which returns a preferably larger portion of a gas prepurified of solvents downstream of a solvent separator via a line and heats it against the flow of the solvent-charged gas from the drier in order to return the preheated larger portion into the drier; a preferably smaller portion of the prepurified gas is freed from remaining solvent residues downstream of the solvent separator in a cryogenic apparatus, supplemented with a thereby vaporized part of inert gas in order to subsequently be supplied to transfer chambers of the drier to produce there a positive gas flow directed both into the drier and to the outside. The proposed method can be carried out on the apparatus describe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignees: Herco-Kuhltechnik Hermans & Co., Air Products GmbH, Werk Hattingen
    Inventors: Klaus Hermanns, Gerhard Kusenberg, Norbert Hagenbruck, Michael Karthaus
  • Patent number: 5230165
    Abstract: A web guiding structure in a drying section downstream from a coating device, and having suspension and infrared dryers and with a directly preceding coating device for paper or board. A rigid beam-like chest-like web bend device with blowing elements is adapted to produce a pressurized gas cushion for the web for contact-free bending of the web in its direction through an angle between 50.degree. and 120.degree., so that with an increase in its distance from the bending device, the web also moves away from the coating device. Following the bend device a heating device or a suspension device having beam-like, chest-like blowing air guide devices in each case produces a course of the web undulating in the direction of movement of the web (web valleys and crests extending in the transverse direction) on the upper and lower sides of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Beisswanger
  • Patent number: 5230164
    Abstract: A raw sewage disposal apparatus, such as a portable toilet. The apparatus has a vessel with a first introduction pipe for feeding raw sewage into the vessel. The vessel is externally heated and contains heat holding bodies and an agitator so that the sewage can be heated to evaporate liquid therefrom while being agitated to break down nonevaporable substances into powder. A second introduction pipe is provided to circulate air through the vessel to remove the vapor and later the power therefrom. A deodorizing means including a catalyst, and a preheater for preheating the catalyst, are provided to treat the vapor to make it substantially odorless. A third introduction pipe is provided for supplying fresh air to the preheater. A dust collector is provided to collect the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Japanic Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kishi
  • Patent number: 5228206
    Abstract: A cluster tool module for dry process cleaning of substrates. A substrate process reactor body assembly includes a gas inlet and gas outlet on opposing sides of a ceramic reactor body. A linear xenon flash lamp in a light bar provides a UV source for uniform distribution over a substrate by use of a light filter. Infrared heating is also provided by a plurality of infrared lamps in the light box. A moisturizer is provided for safe introduction of water vapor into the gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: SubMicron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Grant, Richard E. Novak
  • Patent number: 5228213
    Abstract: An attachment is provided for converting a table top steamer into an apparatus for steam treatment of the body. The attachment comprises an approximately cylindrical conduit having open ends and a plurality of holes located between the first and second ends. The conduit divides the steam jet discharged from the steamer into three streams and diffuses and cools the steam in each of these streams, thereby allowing the face and both hands of the user may be simultaneously steam treated. The attachment is secured to a cover on the steamer by a compression fit. Baffles formed on the open ends of the conduit serve to direct condensate to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Richard Caruso
  • Patent number: 5210957
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and methods are described for the treatment of fibrous materials and, in particular, works of art on paper, with aqueous treating fluids introduced to a treatment chamber by means of an ultrasonic humidifier creating contact between the fibrous materials being treated and an absorbent material beneath it through air pressure, and drawing filtered air through the material being treated to dry the material by means of an underlying vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Marilyn Kemp Weidener
  • Patent number: 5199185
    Abstract: A process for removing moisture from coal comprises transforming the coal to coal fines, polarizing the coal fines to produce an electrical charge differential between the relatively non-conductive water and the relatively conductive coal particles, and removing the water by admixing the coal fines in a drying chamber with a dry gaseous mixture having a different electrical state from the moisture, such that the moisture is selectively attracted to the gaseous media, and then separating the moisture laden gaseous media from the coal fines and collecting the fines. The admixture is accomplished with a vertically oriented cylindrical drying chamber wherein the fines are introduced at the top of the chamber and settle downwardly and the dry, gaseous media is directed upwardly through the chamber in a swirling helical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Western Dry, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5195250
    Abstract: An electronic device for devolatilizing agricultural and other products. The device utilizes an electrode (100) enclosed in a helium filled insulating sheath (110) suspended above a vessel (150) containing the product to be devolatilized. A high voltage power supply (140) is connected to electrode (100) by a high voltage cable (130). High voltage power supply (140) is switched on while a fan (70) blows air over the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Richard R. Zito
  • Patent number: 5193291
    Abstract: The portable soil remediation unit includes, on a wheeled flatbed truck, a rotary drum having a burner at one end and an inlet at its opposite end for flowing contaminated soil in counterflow relation to the hot gases of combustion for volatilizing the contaminants. Also mounted on the vehicle is a baghouse. The hot remediated soil is discharged into the baghouse for screw conveyance along the bottom of the baghouse to a baghouse discharge. The particulate-laden gases from the drum enter the baghouse at the opposite end and are separated into particles and clean exhaust gas. The hot remediated soil is in heat transfer contact with the particles and the particles release residual contaminants. The particles flow to the bottom of the baghouse for combination with the remediated soil in the screw conveyor. The hot remediated soil is additionally screened in the baghouse for large and small gradations, the large gradations being discharged from the baghouse for reprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Gencor Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David F. Brashears
  • Patent number: 5193290
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided to shrink a heat shrinkable film wrapped around a product so as to produce a neat, wrinkle free finished package. As the product is transported along a conveyor path, first a bottom portion of the shrinkable film is shrunk by hot air; second, both side portions of the shrinkable film are shrunk by hot air; and third, the top portion of the shrinkable film is shrunk by warm water. The warm water employed is maintained at a temperature which is lower than that of the hot air so as to avoid wrinkles or damage to the film while efficiently shrinking the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignees: Ossid Corporation, Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5191724
    Abstract: An adjustable temperature gas feed is available that feeds firstly the grinder and secondly pre-drying means. At the outlet from the grinder, the gas that has passed through the grinder is combined with the gas that has passed through the pre-drying means to convey the ground material. The total gas flow rate Q.sub.A at the oulet lies between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate, and the flow rate Q.sub.1 of the gas passing through the grinder (1) is proportional to the quantity Q.sub.c of material placed in the grinder. According to the invention, a temperature T to be reached by the gas outlet temperature is set (optionally as a function of the moisture content of the material), and the gas feed is adjusted in such a manner that the feed gas is as hot as possible with the quantity of gas passing through the pre-drying means being limited to as little as possible. The method adapts to the material having different moisture contents and improves efficiency while leading to combustion with low NO.sub.x.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Stein Industrie
    Inventor: Daniel Fontanille
  • Patent number: 5191723
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to recover spent lime from various manufacturing processes, such as sugar manufacturing from sugar beets and sugar cane, for use as a nutritional flowing agent for poultry and animal feeds, comprises a first holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from a lime lagoon, a second holding bin for receiving expended lime cake from dewatering stockpiles, a rotary kiln dryer, a cyclone dust collector, a negative-air-pressure dust collector, and a product storage bin. As the lime cake is processed through the rotary kiln dryer, the lime cake is dried at a temperature having an upper limit such that the nutritive value of the lime cake is not destroyed. In the kiln, a substantial portion of the lime cake is converted to dust particles suspended in air, which air is directed through one or both of the collectors to collect and remove the suspended particles therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Herzog
  • Patent number: 5176445
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is capable of efficiently decontaminating soil, and which has several common components with a conventional asphalt production plant. This feature permits a conventional asphalt plant to be retrofitted by the addition of a relatively small number of additional components, so as to permit the apparatus to selectively produce asphalt, or to decontaminate soil. When operated in the configuration for decontainating soil, the soil is initially heated to a temperature above the vaporization temperature but below the autoignition temperature of the contaminants, so as to volatilize the contaminants. The volatilized contaminants are then delivered to an incinerator, wherein the volatilized contaminants are heated to a temperature sufficient to be converted to non-toxic products, such as carbon dioxide and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: E. Gail Mize
  • Patent number: 5175944
    Abstract: A device for displaying cyclically heating an article of clothing placed thereover to a temperature at which color-changeable ink imprinted on the clothing either changes color or becomes invisible. The preferred embodiment simulates an upper torso and is formed of transparent plastic panels to snugly receive a shirt thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Inventor: William L. Fruehauf
  • Patent number: 5167079
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating components used in the manufacture of piezoelectric crystals having a very stable oscillating frequency includes an oven with infrared heating lamps and a tray with a removable glass cover. The tray is fitted in the oven so radiant energy from the lamp heats the components in the tray. Nitrogen is continuously flowed through the interior of the tray during the heating to remove oxygen and water vapor together with contaminants driven from the components during heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Precision Quartz Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis E. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5163235
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing out photopolymer printing plates by means of solvents, drying the printing plates and recovering the solvents, a conventional washout station and a conventional drying station being connected to a solvent recovery means integrated in the drying station, which consists of the following parts:a hermetically sealing drying chamber for the printing plates, having an adjustable hood (15) and stationary panel (16), with panel heaters (18a, 18b) inserted in the hood and panel,a system which is connected to the interior space formed when the drying chamber is closed and which consists of a heat exchanger (25) for cooling the solvent vapor/air mixture, formed by drying the printing plates in the drying chamber, and condensation of the solvents,a solvent separator (26) for separating off the liquefied solvents,a vacuum pump (27) and a buffer vessel (33) for sucking up the solvent vapor/air mixture and compressing the solvent vapor/air mixture,a heat exchanger (28) for increasing the temperature
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Hoffmann, Norbert Holl, Rolf Schwan
  • Patent number: 5160628
    Abstract: A method for making a filler from automotive paint sludge is provided. Paint sludge containing water, solvent and uncured polymer resin is treated by removing a first portion of the water by mechanically drying the sludge to produce a concentrated sludge, and a second portion of the water is removed by treating the sludge with a chemical drying agent to produce a dried powder. Alternatively, the second portion of the water may be removed by agitating the concentrated sludge under a vacuum to produce a dehydrated putty. The resulting dried powder or putty can then be used as a filler in sealants and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Aster, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Gerace, Janet M. Gerace
  • Patent number: 5152075
    Abstract: A clothing drying apparatus using electrolysis to remove moisture from the clothing where there are cathode and anode electrodes mounted in a rotating drum. Air is circulated through the drum to remove moisture and hydrogen and oxygen gases produced by the electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: George D. Bonar
  • Patent number: 5148613
    Abstract: A closet drier including a container having an upper portion and a lower portion divided by a normally stretched elastic diaphragm having perforations therein and retaining deliquescent material in the upper portion of the container, a membrane at the top of the container for permitting only water-vapor, but not liquid water, to pass therethrough into the deliquescent material which forms a solution with the deliquescent material which passes through the perforations into the lower portion of the container, the elastic diaphragm contracting as the deliquescent material is consumed so that the space previously occupied by the deliquescent material can be occupied by the resulting solution, and the perforations in the elastic diaphragm also contracting as the elastic diaphragm contracts to reduce the ability of liquid from underneath the diaphragm in the container from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Multiform Desiccants, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5147715
    Abstract: Applicant's invention relates to a rectangular shaped pad composed of a heat retentive, hydrophobic textile material encapsulating a heat retentive vinyl-like material together performing a desiccating function by wicking water away from wet drying clothes onto the adsorptive surface of the textile material and facilitating the drying mechanism of a clothes dryer by raising the ambient temperature in the dryer drum which expedites water vaporization for removal from the dryer drum by the exhaust vent. The rectangular shape and stabilizing units further coordinate to maintain the structural integrity of the entire drier pad unit by preventing the pad from collapsing-in upon itself which maximizes the surface area of the pad which communicates with the drying clothes, thus decreasing the standard drying time required for removing water vapor from the dryer drum and thereby conserving valuable energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Robert B. Thurman
  • Patent number: 5144756
    Abstract: A blow dryer appliance adapted with roller or non-roller accesories for contacting a surface and facilitating combined dryer and roller/non-roller type tasks on a surface. The roller and non-roller accessories are provided in the form of an attachments for the blow dryer member and are designed to accommodate heated air treatment with the appliance on a variety of selected personal or industrial tasks. As a personal care appliance, the roller element's structural features are in the form of a flexible body that conforms to a person's body parts to allow a sponge, or the like, roller surface to collect water particles after bathing. The drying task is enhanced by dispersement of moisture from the person's body facilitated by the combination of heated air evaporating moisture from the absorbent roller. The roller element is completely detachable, washable and/or disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Robert B. Miscione
  • Patent number: 5140756
    Abstract: In conventional fluidized granulators whose housing is made of a steel plate, a powder tends to cause blocking if it is highly hygroscopic, and the bag filter used therein causes clogging. These problems have been solved in the present invention by forming the housing of a fluidized granulator with a porous membrane in place of the conventional steel plate. This fluidized granulator produces granules or a coated powder by spraying powder with water, a binder fluid or a coating fluid while maintaining the powder in a fluidized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignees: TDK Corporation, Ohkawara Kakohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Iwaya, Hitoshi Masumura, Hiroki Takahashi, Masaaki Ohkawara, Katsumi Kobayashi, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 5134786
    Abstract: A pressing and drying machine, of the type comprising an arcuate transverse trough and a hot fluid flow chamber disposed beneath the trough to evaporate the water, by boiling, from the wet fabric material characterized in that it increases the production rate drastically, i.e. the pressing speed, and comprises to this end a second chamber (5) with an air flow, which is forced perpendicularly upwardly through appropriate passages (8) opening into the trough (1), against the wet fabric materials (r), said forcing taking place while the fabric material (r) is being drawn along through the said trough (1) at the same time as the hot fluid of the first chamber is effecting the evaporating action thereof, the air supplied to the second chamber (5) being provided by air producing means driven by appropriate mechanisms or devices and may be hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Carbonell Compania Anonima
    Inventor: Ramon J. Sanz
  • Patent number: 5131168
    Abstract: The product is frozen and freeze-dried in a freeze-drying apparatus (1) containing a freeze-drying chamber (2) with shelves (6) for performing the freeze-drying and a condenser (11), the cooling surfaces of which are formed by a coiled tube (14) in a number of tube coil turns (15), and where the low temperature created by the condenser (11) is used to freeze the product. To carry out the freezing quickly and simply the product is put into trays or dishes (21) and these trays or dishes are positioned on the tube turns (15) of the condenser (11) already in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Finn-Aqua Santasalo-Sohlberg GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Rilke, Manfred Steiner
  • Patent number: 5129993
    Abstract: A method for treating manure including the drying of manure by displacing water out of the manure by a carrier liquid, extracting the carrier liquid by evaporation and purifying the carrier liquid vapor for re-use, wherein fats originally present in the manure are released as manure fat, by burning the manure fat in a controlled manner and at least partially using energy thereby released in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: MeMon B.V.
    Inventor: Erik D. J. Bleeker
  • Patent number: 5122633
    Abstract: In order to obtain a more homogeneous energy absorption and preset maximum temperatures in an apparatus for radiating microwave energy into water-containing material or material mixed with water, which is introduced into a cavity resonator subjected to microwaves by one or more microwave generators, a pressure and/or temperature sensing device being included, the proposal is put forward that a sealable container be provided for receiving the material to be treated, which should be transparent to microwaves and resistant to gases and pressures, and whose interior should be enclosed by the cavity at a given distance, and that the pressure and/or temperature sensing device be connected with the interior of this container, and further that a device be provided for control of the energy output of the microwave generator, which device should control and maintain constant a preset interior pressure deviating from atmospheric pressure, and which should be connected to the pressure and/or temperature sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignees: Wolfgang Moshammer, Erwin Berger, Johann Freissmuth
    Inventors: Wolfgang Moshammer, Erwin Berger, Johann Freissmuth, Helmut Freiberger
  • Patent number: 5122233
    Abstract: An apparatus including a device 1 for separating organic components from a process mixture, a vacuum evaporation device 4 for partially drying the mineral salts or mixtures thereof, a device 5 for thermal treatment of the partially dried mineral salts or mixtures thereof from the vacuum evaporation device 4, a condenser 7 for condensing the humid vapors from the vacuum evaporation device 4 and a device 9 for reverse osmosis treatment of the condensate as well as suitable conveying devices between the parts of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Inventor: Charles Zampieri
  • Patent number: 5117562
    Abstract: A radiant energy ink drying device for drying ink on paper exiting a printer includes a lightbox, cooling fans for cooling the light box, and a processing unit. The processing unit controls the operation of the cooling fans based on signals received from a temperature sensor located in the drying area of the lightbox. The processing unit also deactivates the printer based on signals from a paper sensor located on the light box. In addition, an overtemperature sensor deactivates the printer when the light box housing exceeds a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Robert C. Dulay
    Inventors: Robert C. Dulay, Andrew K. Miraldi, Joseph A. Lafrenz, Robert T. Seaberg
  • Patent number: 5108531
    Abstract: A method of highly accurate printing using a web offset press, particularly suited for stereographic printing. Consistent reproductions of a composite image are produced on a paper web, and registry between the image and an embossed screen is maintained, by preshrinking (e.g., reducing the moisture content of) the paper prior to printing the composite image on the paper web. Preshrinking the paper prevents the subsequent ink drying operation from causing shrinkage of the paper and concomitant variations in the image, permitting inline formation of a screen in accurate registry with the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Quadracci