Abstract: An apparatus for removing water from the ground comprises at least one ground-engaging drum including a hollow cylinder mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and a plurality of recesses substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the cylinder formed in the outer surface of the cylinder around the periphery thereof. A non-porous sheet of resilient material covers the outer surface of the cylinder, and a plurality of slits are cut in the covering sheet over the recesses in the cylinder. The slits are normally closed but are capable of opening under the pressure of water built up in front of the drum, as the latter is moved across the ground, to permit such water to enter the recesses in the region of ground contact.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling and/or withdrawing moisture from, or for admitting moisture to, a running web of paper or textile material has rolls which define one or more nips for the running web and at least one of which has a stack of washer-like funnel-shaped absorbent discs compressed between two end walls one of which has an outwardly bulging frustoconical surface and the other of which has an inwardly bulging frustoconical surface. The discs surround a core of stainless steel and their density in the region of the core is highest due to the provision of funnel-shaped elastomeric inserts which surround the core and whose thickness decreases in a direction from the core toward the external surface of the roll. Such roll renders it possible to operate with a stack of discs whose hardness at the periphery of the roll is relatively low in spite of a substantial nip pressure, or to operate with a very pronounced nip pressure at a given hardness in the region of the peripheral surface.

Abstract: A water absorbant sheet, consisting essentially of wood pulp cellulose fiber and no more 15% by weight of water, is used to maintain problem areas particularly in marine and recreational vehicle applications, dry and to prevent mildew. Bedding is maintained dry by cutting the sheets to a size to conform to the bedding and placed under the bedding. The sheets can also be used to maintain cushions dry in a similar manner. After cutting the sheets to conform to the inside dimensions of a drawer, the sheets may be placed in the drawer to maintain the contents of the drawer dry. The sheets can also be cut to size and be placed on cupboard shelves to maintain cupboards dry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a dried material from a mixture of solid particles colloidally suspended in a liquid, for example, for the production of fruit leather from a pulp and fruit juice mass, include floating an infrared-transparent film on the surface of a body of heated water and placing the material to be dried, such as the pulp and juice mix, on top of the film to absorb heat from the water and thereby cause drying of the material. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes a reservoir of water, a film floated on the water, and a heater for maintaining the temperature of the water at a predetermined level. In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir is in the form of an elongated trough and the film comprises an endless strip of polyester material, such as Mylar, to form a conveyor belt that floats on the surface of the water in the trough and carries the material to be dried on it.

Abstract: A method for removing liquid from the surface of a plate-shaped material, for instance, as applied to removing surface treatment liquids from metal plates of photographic film. While the plate-shaped material is being conveyed, a larger part of the liquid is removed from its surface by a first liquid removing device having a solid scraping surface positioned adjacent the surface of the plate-shaped material. This first liquid removing device may be a scraper blade or a pair of rollers. Subsequently, liquid remaining on the surface of the plate-shaped material is removed by a second liquid removing device, specifically, an air knife. The air flow rate and air pressure used with the air knife are sufficiently low that there is no significant scattering of liquid from the surface of the plate-shaped material.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with an improved apparatus system and method for removing liquid coolant from the side marginal edges of a continuously moving metal strip or sheet after it exits from a rolling mill and subsequent to the prior diversion and collection by a suitable device of the liquid rolling mill coolant that may otherwise contact and deleteriously rewet the top and bottom surfaces of the moving strip as it exits from the mill. The invention in its preferred embodiment involves use of a pair of improved combination strip edge wiping or contacting roller and vacuum creating units that are located adjacent the path of travel and each of the opposing side marginal edges of the moving strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for dewatering and drying plastic granulate comprising a multistage dewatering rotor having conveyor and aerating blades and surrounded by a screening member located within a housing between a product inlet and a product outlet. In order to simplify the handling of a wide variety of plastic granulate with only a small amount of space being required, a collection container which is open at its top coaxially surrounds the first stage of the dewatering rotor and accumulates separated water in a reservoir region for discharge by a suction pump. The product inlet discharges into a feed vessel secured in the collection container. The first stage of the dewatering rotor is provided on its circumference with worm segments of increasing pitch in the direction of granulate conveyance.

Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of water from the ground comprises at least one ground-engaging drum including a hollow cylinder mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of apertures distributed around the circumference of the cylinder, and a layer of open cell resilient material covering the outer surface of the cylinder. Valves in the drum are arranged to close the apertures except under the inward pressure of water passing through the resilient layer when the latter is compressed, and a plurality of troughs are provided on the inner surface of the cylinder for carrying water which enters the apertures in the area of ground contact upwardly away from the ground by rotation of the cylinder. A non-rotating water tank (not shown) mounted within the cylinder collects the water discharged from the troughs when each reaches a certain height.

Abstract: A method for dewatering an aggregate solid substrate is disclosed which comprises placing the substrate between two moving permeable belts, compressing the substrate between the belts, contacting the substrate with a displacement fluid while it is still compressed between the belts such that the substrate and the fluid remain in plug flow while in contact with each other, removing relatively pure water which is expressed by the displacement fluid, further compressing the substrate between the belts to remove excess displacement fluid, and collecting the dewatered substrate. In a preferred embodiment, both the relatively pure water and the excess displacement fluid are collected for recycling, direct disposal, or other use.

Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering aggregate solid substrates is disclosed which is comprised of a frame, two moving permeable belts, means mounted on the frame for guiding the movement of the belts, roller means mounted on the frame for positioning the belts such that the substrate is guided and compressed between them, means for contacting the substrate with a displacement fluid while it is compressed between the belts such that the fluid collects between the top belt and the roller means before permeating through the top belt and contacting the substrate, means for removing relatively pure water which is expressed by the fluid through the bottom belt, means for further compressing the substrate to remove excess displacement fluid, and means for removing the dewatered substrate from the apparatus.

Abstract: An egg drying apparatus is disclosed incorporating an improved laminar air flow for more effectively drying eggs. The orifices for discharging and directing air towards the eggs to be dried have a coefficient of discharge of at least about 0.8. The orifices are disposed in the bottom of a chamber and are formed by adjacently spaced elongated members having curved air contacting surfaces along the longitudinal axis of each member. A fan draws air into the chamber which is directed towards the eggs via the orifices. In the preferred embodiment, the coefficient of discharge of the orifices is about 0.9 and curved portions of the elongated members are U-shaped channels with the exterior of adjacent channels forming the orifices.

Abstract: Scrubbing and drying apparatus particularly suited for use in scrubbing and drying printed circuit boards is disclosed. The apparatus is characterized by single knob precision adjustment of the scrubbing rollers incorporated therein and quiet operation at noise levels well within employee noise safety limits by the elimination of high pressure air nozzles typically employed in such scrubbing and drying apparatus according to the prior art. A novel anti-sway mounting is employed in conjunction with the scrubbing rollers to affect the single knob adjustment capability. A chamois covered roller is used to blot the surface of the board of substantially all its water content prior to final drying by low pressure airstreams.

Abstract: A method of drying a cardboard or a paper web by passing the wet web supported by a drying band between two moving, nonpermeable surface elements having good heat conducting properties. The surface element contacting the web is subjected to heating and the surface element contacting the drying band is subjected to cooling. Due to the heating of the web the water contained therein is caused to evaporate and the evaporated water is caused to condense into the drying band due to the cooling of the drying band. The water is removed from the drying band after the web and the drying band have left the surface elements and have been separated from each other.

Abstract: Pasty materials are mechanically dried by passing them through a pressing zone established between conjugate elements for subjecting the material to be treated to the action of pressure in direct contact with the free surface of a layer of open and communicating cell foam which serves as a sponge and is supported by its surface opposite to said free surface against a wall for the application of pressure in such a manner that the spongy layer becomes impregnated in the said pressing zone with liquid previously contained in the said material to be treated. The liquid is caused to pass right through the spongy layer up to its opposite surface while filtering through the open communicating cells. It then issues from the supporting wall -- which is porous to this end -- so as to be finally evacuated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the liquid content of a layer of material formed on a belt filter where a differential gas pressure is produced across the layer of material with a maximum pressure at the exposed surface thereof and a minimum pressure at the filter belt and the layer of material is mechanically compressed against the filter by a gas permeable pressure surface.

Abstract: Fresh cut flowers and foliage are preserved by drying with a material composed of ground, harvested crop residues sprayed with oil.

Abstract: A process for the drying of textile material, preferably made from hydrophobic fibers, which comprises bringing the textile material to be dried into contact with an absorbent material and, after the two materials have been separated, continuously squeezing off the absorbent material to regenerate its absorptivity, and a device for carrying out this process.

Abstract: Drying rollers for use in the dryer section of an automatic X-ray or other film developing machine which incorporates a pair of tangentially contacting, thermoplastic, micro-porous rollers which form a nip therebetween to receive the developed film from the wash tank. The rollers serve to dry the film surface by absorbing the moisture into the roller pores by capillary action. The usual dryer section heater continuously dries the rollers as they are rotated in the dryer section when the film travels through the developing apparatus.