Recirculation Of Treating Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 34/77)
  • Patent number: 4882851
    Abstract: A mechanism for batch drying of a powdered or particular product with a microwave vacuum system is disclosed along with a method of controlling the drying process. The mechanism includes a chamber for drying the product. The product is contained in an internal product container. The product container and chamber are coordinated to allow easy opening on a rail system. The mechanism includes a means for inducing a vacuum in the chamber that can also with draw solvent vapor from the chamber. A source of microwaves for the chamber is provided, and the product container has an agitation mechanism for the product. A means for controlling the drying operation is also disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the mechanism include a solvent recovery system. The method of controlling the drying process allows for the selective halting of the drying operation upon achieving selectable parameters. The control systems also allows selectable parameters to be maintained during the drying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Fitzpatrick Co.
    Inventors: Scott Wennerstrum, Albert Kircher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4869872
    Abstract: A process for drying and sterilizing items, such as laundry articles, bed clothing, leather goods, hair care instruments, medical instruments, etc., in a cabinet having an internal air circuit and an external air circuit which are in contact with one another through a condensation and refrigeration unit thereby permitting drying of an article at a warm air temperature not exceeding 100.degree. C. followed immediately by sterilization of the article in a temperature range of 121.degree. C. to 135.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: Hans Baltes
  • Patent number: 4850119
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovery of a solvent gas involved in the drying of goods treated with an organic solvent with the aid of an air stream in a dry-cleaning machine. In this machine the goods are dried by an air flow circulating in a closed circulation loop which is heated before contact with the goods and after contact is again cooled for condensation of solvent vapor. In a second stage of the recovery, the socalled reduction stage, the goods are cooled by shutting off the heat. For recovery of the residual solvent vapor still remaining in the air after cooling the air stream is subsequently fed through an adsorption unit. During the cooling only a portion of the cooled air is supplied for adsorption and after that is fed back in the air circulation loop circulating over the goods. This has been accomplished by providing a circulation branch having an adsorption unit substantially parallel to a portion of the circulation loop and an additional blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Bowe Reinigungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Fuhring
  • Patent number: 4837945
    Abstract: A dryer having a drying chamber and an inlet housing structure wherein a heating device is located in the inlet housing structure. An outlet structure is provided with a main chamber and a secondary chamber wherein the flow of gas exiting the drying chamber is divided into a main flow of gas passing from the main chamber to the inlet housing structure and a secondary flow of gas passing from the secondary chamber past a condenser which is located in the secondary chamber to the inlet housing structure. Side chambers located in the housing have side walls which are formed from a perforated sheet of metal. The dryer will function in a recycled-air operation as well as a fresh-air operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Hermann Waldner GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gunter Wulf, Heinz Geisenhof
  • Patent number: 4817296
    Abstract: The machine of the invention comprises the following components interconnected through air conduits; a cage drum rotatably mounted in a housing, an air cleaner for intercepting mechanical impurities, an air cooler, an air heater with a steam heating element, an adsorber with respective inlet and outlet connections for steam admission and discharging a mixture of steam and adsorbed solvent. The machine comprises also a system of directional valves for changing the direction of air flow therethrough and a means for cooling and separating a mixture of condensates of steam and solvent, which is connected, through a device for condensate separation and discharge, to the outlet of the steam heating element of the air heater.The inlet of steam heating element is connected to an outlet connection for discharging a mixture of steam and desorbed solvent vapors from the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Kabakov, Ivan E. Razinkov
  • Patent number: 4800655
    Abstract: A solvent recovery system in a low temperature dryer constructed so that hot air is blown into a tumbler housing from a heater, and through a tumbler drum to a cooler in a condenser compressor, a gas evaporator, a gas condenser coil, an expansion valve, and valves and piping provide the circulation of cooled and pressurized refrigerant between the heater and the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Elze Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Mori, Hitoshi Tamazumi
  • Patent number: 4776104
    Abstract: A balanced extraction system including a decompressed space and a pressurized space connected to form a decompression/pressurization balanced circuit. Atomized corpuscles are generated from a liquid such as water in the pressurized space. The atomized corpuscles are held at an appropriate vapor pressure and temperature and fed to the surface of a matter to be extracted, in the decompressed space. Foodstuffs fragrance and other matter to be extracted are coated with dew-like droplets which are the vaporized and extracted and then condensed within the circuit to recover the matter to be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kuoyama
  • Patent number: 4769921
    Abstract: A process for recuperation of organic solvents in dry-cleaning machines comprising circulation of air first through a cleaning drum of a machine containing textile articles treated with an organic solvent and squeezed, a filter, an air cooler and a heater, and then through a cleaning drum with the articles, filter, air cooler and an absorber. The circulated air recovers the solvent from the articles which solvent is first condensed in the air cooler and then adsorbed in the adsorber. Simultaneously with circulation of air through the cleaning drum, filter, air cooler and heater effected first is desorption of the solvent adsorbed in the previous process cycle of the dry-cleaning machine operation from the adsorbent by means of steam which together with vapors of the desorbed solvent is condensed in the heater, followed by the removal, from the adsorber to the heater, of the remaining steam and its condensate due to the pressure drop in the adsorber-heater system by means of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Tsentralny Naucho-Issledovatelsky Institut Bytovogo Obsluzhivania Naselenia
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Kabakov, Ivan E. Razinkov
  • Patent number: 4761896
    Abstract: An apparatus for perfectly processing dry-cleaned clothes such as suits, trousers, skirts, for example by sequentially executing drying, smoothing creases of dry-cleaned clothes, and collection of solvent evaporated from dry-cleaned clothes. More particularly, the apparatus related to the invention first dries the dry-cleaned clothes by causing hot air current from heating means and air-circulation path to circulate itself from the upper portion of the drying chamber downward, while the apparatus simultaneously collects solvent from the dry-cleaned clothes, and then smoothes out creases by effectively combining steaming effect from steam-supply means together with provision of swinging movement and downward tension against the dry-cleaned clothes before eventually cooling the dry-cleaned clothes by introducing atmospheric air for preventing the smoothed creases from restoring themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Inventor: Yukio Miyata
  • Patent number: 4729177
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is an equipment provided with a fabric deodorization loop and a fabric cooling loop, both of which are connected in closed loop to the container into which the fabric is delivered, and an activated charcoal cooling loop, it too being a closed loop, connected to the filters of the deodorization loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Sperotto Rimar S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gino D. Vecchia
  • Patent number: 4715965
    Abstract: A method for separating volatilizable contaminants from soil by introducing the soil into a rotary aggregate dryer through which a working gas indirectly heated to between 750.degree. F. and 1800.degree. F. is drawn to vaporize the contaminants, and for recovering the contaminants for environmentally sound disposal or recycling by downstream treatment of the effluent drawn off from the dryer. The downstream treatment includes cooling the effluent to condense and precipitate out a substantial portion of the contaminants and passing the effluent through activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Inventors: Adam L. Sigerson, James E. Shirk
  • Patent number: 4694588
    Abstract: The dry cleaning machine according to the invention comprises: a rotating drum (1) disposed in an enclosed chamber (2); an air flow duct (3) in the form of a closed loop in association with the chamber (2); and a cooling circuit having a condenser (6) disposed in the air flow duct (3) downstream of an evaporator (10) and is characterized by a control circuit (11) comprising: an internal heat exchanger (12) interlaced at least to some extent with the condenser (6); and means (13) for controlling the flow of a fluid in the control circuit (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Frimair S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Bagolin, Joel Gay
  • Patent number: 4682990
    Abstract: A method of cleaning watery i.e. humid, ventilating air containing liquids which have been gasified during cooling or lubrication of converting machines, particularly rolling mills, comprises cooling of the ventilating air in one or several stages to a temperature below the condensing point of the gasified substances in the ventilating air, so that these substances condense. In connection with the condensation, the larger portion of the condensed cooling or lubricating liquids is separated from the water and reused. The condensed water mixed with the rest of the condensed cooling and lubricating liquids is returned to the cleaned and dried ventilating air and is caused to be absorbed by the ventilating air. By dividing the cooling operation into two steps, the cooling and lubricating liquids can be caused to condense in the first stage without condensation of any water and water can be caused to condense substantially only in the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Granges Aluminium Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Per-Olof Kagstrom, Lars Abrahamsson
  • Patent number: 4644666
    Abstract: In the method for drying moist agricultural products, the relative humidity of fresh air inducted from the environment is reduced by heating it so that the fresh air can take up moisture from the products to be dried. A portion of the thermal energy contained in the moist exhaust air is extracted by the evaporator of a heat pump before the moist exhaust air exits to the environment. At temperature below 10.degree. C. a portion of the moist exhaust air is mixed with the cold fresh air before being heated by the condenser of the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Getag AG
    Inventors: Heini Eberle, Josef Huber
  • Patent number: 4634000
    Abstract: A vapor phase processing system includes a vessel providing a processing chamber in which a two-phase treatment fluid bath is present. A conveyor for moving flat circuit boards on horizontal pallets down into, through and up out of the vapor phase of this treatment fluid includes two pairs of parallel rails. A first pair of rails supports a front end portion of each pallet and a second pair of rails supports a rear end portion thereof. Downward sections of each pair are parallel with downward sections of the other pair; and upward sections of each pair are parallel with upward sections of the other pair. These mutually parallel sections are spaced apart by the distance between the front and rear pallet supports. This results in the pallets and the circuit boards on them remaining horizontal while passing through the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Centech Corporation
    Inventors: Nile E. Plapp, Ray W. Willett
  • Patent number: 4621438
    Abstract: An energy efficient heat pump dryer for clothes and other washables having a sealed rotatable clothes tumbling drum and means for circulating a stream of heated drying air in a substantially closed path through the tumbling drum. The drum is journaled upon a combined bearing and air seal means at each end. A heat pump is incorporated as the source of heat for the drying air, as a means for recirculating heat from the drying air exhausted from the tumbling drum, and as a means for removing entrained moisture from the exhausted drying air. The dryer is adapted to operate from a 110 volt household power supply and requires no air vent to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Donald M. Thompson
    Inventor: Francis Lanciaux
  • Patent number: 4621437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of drying a solid wetted with a solvent or solvent mixture by causing superheated vapour of the solvent or solvent mixture as a carrier medium to flow through the material to be dried in an evaporation room, the solvent or solvent mixture evaporating and being carried along with the carrier medium, and by then causing the evaporated solvent or solvent mixture to condense from the carrier medium, if desired after compression thereof, in a cooling device. During this drying process a sub-ambient pressure is provided in the evaporation room and the temperature in the evaporation room is controlled by adjusting the sub-ambient pressure, if desired, in combination with an additional temperature controlling means. The inventiona also relates to a device for using the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignees: Duphar International Research B.V., Glatt GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Grande, Cornelis J. de Kluizenaar, Dietmar C. Naunapper, Karlheinz J. Wehrle
  • Patent number: 4603489
    Abstract: A dryer includes a rotating drum having an inlet and an outlet. A blower withdraws air from the outlet. A heat pump has an evaporator and condenser interconnected by a compressor and an expansion valve. The outlet of the condenser is connected to the inlet of the rotating drum. The water collection tray drains into a sump having a sump pump. In a closed loop form the outlet of the rotating drum is coupled to the inlet of the evaporator and is thermally coupled to a wet air heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Inventor: Michael Goldberg
  • Patent number: 4602438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying low-rank coals, such as lignite, where the coal is passed through a sealed vessel in a plurality of heated fluidized beds, with fluidization effected by superheated steam flowing countercurrent to the coal flow. A composite steam is exhausted from the sealed vessel and passed to a vessel where water is sprayed therein to cool the same and remove occluded solids. A first portion of the steam is then reheated and returned to the sealed vessel as fluidizing steam, while a second portion of the steam is heated and passed through heat exchange tubes in the sealed vessel to heat the fluidizing coal, with the second portion, after passage through the heat exchange tubes discharged from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Draper, Robert W. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 4601113
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying of low-rank coals, such as lignite, where the coal is passed through a sealed vessel in a plurality of heated fluidized beds with fluidization effected by superheated steam flowing counter-current to the flow of coal. A composite steam is exhausted from the sealed vessel, partially condensed, to remove an amount of water about equal to that removed from the coal, and the steam reheated and recycled to the sealed vessel. The heating of the fluidized beds is by means of heat exchange tubes passing through the beds, with a fluid, such as methanol, heated for flow through the tubes, collected and in a cooled state used in the partial condenser, and then compressed to reheat the same for reuse in the heat exchange tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Draper, Robert W. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 4601115
    Abstract: Low-rank coals, such as lignite, are dried by evaporating interstitial water therefrom in a superheated steam flow countercurrently passed through a sealed rotary cylindrical vessel. A composite steam discharged from the vessel is partially condensed to remove an amount of water therefrom substantially equal to the amount of water removed from the coal, with a resultant flow of residual steam reheated and returned to the cylindrical vessel for further drying of low-rank coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Draper, Robert W. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 4585463
    Abstract: A system for recovering resources from sludge in which sludge containing water in the amount of 90 to 70 percent is first supplied to a sludge concentrator through a forced supply equipment where the sludge is concentrated to contain a water content of a maximum of about 60 percent; then is sent to a drying furnace having a fluidized sand bed. The product obtained in the drying furnace is separated to gas and solid. After the separated gas is pressurized by a fan and is heated by a heat exchanger through a circulator passage, a portion thereof is supplied to the drying furnace as gas for drying and the remainder is sent to the sludge concentrator. The water content is then removed from the concentrated gas and the gas obtained from the sludge concentrator is used in the system as gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Furnace Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 4545134
    Abstract: A vapor component of a gas mixture is separated by condensation and is recovered for further use. A solvent vapor mixed with inert gas is condensed in a multistage heat exchange system in a manner which utilizes a first refrigerant to condense a portion of the vapor in a first heat exchange device, a second refrigerant, typically cold inert gas, for condensing a further portion of the vapor in a second heat exchanger and a third heat exchange device wherein chilled liquid is utilized to condense a still further portion of the vapor. In a fourth heat exchange device, a cryogenic liquid is passed in heat exchange relation with the liquid passed thereto from the third heat exchange device. The cryogenic liquid is vaporized to form an essentially pure inert gas which is supplied to the vicinity of the oven exit and entrance, but exteriorly of the oven to form inert gas barriers. The fourth heat exchange device may effect direct or indirect heat exchange with the cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit K. Mukerjee, Patrick J. Kearns, Davis J. Rieman
  • Patent number: 4532720
    Abstract: A drying process and its apparatus utilizing a refrigeration cycle. The drying apparatus is constructed to interpose a heat exchanger between an evaporator and a heater so that air in a drying chamber may be dried and heated in a cycle of introducing hot air in the drying chamber into the heat exchanger to pre-cool hot air, guiding pre-cooled air to the evaporator to dry it due to dehumidification by cooling, introducing cooled and dried air into the heat exchanger again to increase the temperature, introducing the air to the heater to further heat it and returning dried and heated air to the interior of the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Shonetsugaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiichiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 4530165
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Vico Kemisk Tekniska Fabrik AB
    Inventor: Wolfgang O. Tiedemann
  • Patent number: 4521977
    Abstract: In order to ensure, in a method for extracting gases and vapors from plastics granules and powders which are being pre-heated and dried in a drying hopper by a stream of dry air flowing into the lower region of the hopper while the outlet air is extracted from the hopper above the granules, that also that part of the plastics granules which is in the lowermost region of the drying hopper is reliably dried and warmed, the method provides that a portion of the stream of dry air is guided in a direction opposite to that of the main stream and is extracted at the lowermost point of the hopper. A drying hopper for plastics granules is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention which has in its upper part a feeding opening for the granules and an air outlet pipe, and further has a lower outlet port for the granules and an air inlet pipe which ends inside the hopper in an air distributing opening, wherein a second air outlet pipe is mounted in the hopper near the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Inventor: Roderich W. Graff
  • Patent number: 4520577
    Abstract: There is described an apparatus for drying and cooling dry cleaned items and for recovering cleaning solvents therefrom, including a cleaning drum for receiving and treating the items with cleaning solvent, a circulating fan for drawing air through the drum, a heater for heating the air drawn through the drum during the drying cycle of the dry cleaning machine, a condenser for condensing solvent vapors entrained in the heated air during the drying cycle and a gas compresser to supply the heater and condenser with hot gas during the drying cycle of the apparatus. The compresser also supplies cold refrigerant to the condenser during the drying cycle. The compresser then supplies cold refrigerant both to the heater and the condenser during the cooling cycle of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Inventor: Moshe Suissa
  • Patent number: 4517751
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for drying moisture-laden feedstock of a wide variety in a continuous process stream which involves passing the feedstock to a fluid bed dryer which receives organic solvent vapors capable of forming an azeotrope with the water of the feedstock stream, passing thereafter into a residence dryer provided with the heat from superheated organic solvent vapors which are passed together with the feedstock stream into a cyclone separator, from which a dried and solvent free feedstock stream is recovered. The solvent vapors are returned to the fluid bed dryer, and means are provided for recovering the solvent from the formed azeotrope and returning the same to the system. Exemplary feedstocks and solvents are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Ross, Otto H. Tachovsky
  • Patent number: 4516331
    Abstract: The drying apparatus includes a drum rotatably arranged in an outer box with a certain distance spaced from the inner surface of the outer box and housing therein materials to be dried. An air supply device supplies heated air into the drum, and a moisture removing device cooles air discharged from the drum by means of air taken from outside of the outer box to remove moisture from air discharged. Air discharged from the drum is guided to the moisture removing device through a first path. A space defined by the inner surface of the outer box and the outer surface of the drum constitutes a second path through which air passed through the moisture removing device is guided to the air supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Yamauchi, Tsuneo Hibi, Kiyomi Sasano, Yoshiki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4497121
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating a process carried out on a moving web in which the web is held stationary while movement through a sequence of processing zones is simulated by means for rapidly changing the process conditions to which the web is exposed, and method and apparatus for rapidly changing the operative parameters in a processing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Choinski
  • Patent number: 4494317
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that comprises a refrigeration plant with two distinct evaporators, one parallel with the other, which can be supplied separately to suit the operating cycle of the dry cleaning machine on which the device is mounted and are housed in a corresponding first and a corresponding second jacket.The first jacket is placed in a closed circuit through which passes a forced circulation of liquid and in which is provided the nest of tubes belonging to the condenser mounted in the closed drying circuit of the machine. Heat is given to the said liquid by the solvent vapor and water which, as they pass across the condenser, are cooled and condensed, and the liquid is cooled by the evaporator housed in the first jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Firbimatic S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gino Biagi, Vincenzo Fini
  • Patent number: 4490926
    Abstract: A solar drying device for drying wet material. The device includes an air-filled drying chamber adapted to contain wet material to be dried. A solar collector heats the wet material and air contained within the drying chamber. A dehumidification system includes a dehumidification chamber defined in part by an outer panel and an inner panel, the outer panel being in contact with the ambient atmosphere. The dehumidification chamber forms at least part of a wall of one of the drying chamber and the solar collector. Means are provided for directing warm, moist air from the drying chamber through the dehumidification chamber so that water from the moist air condenses on the outer panel. The air is then directed to one of the drying chamber and the ambient atmosphere. Means are provided for removing the condensed water from the dehumidification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Inventor: Scott Stokes
  • Patent number: 4489507
    Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a drum rotatably arranged in an outer box and housing therein materials to be dried. An air supply device supplies heated air into the drum, and a heat exchanger cools air discharged from the drum by means of air taken from outside of the outer box to remove moisture from air discharged. The heat exchanger is formed by piling plural plates with plural pairs of first and second closing plates interposed therebetween and is provided with plural first and second passages which are arranged alternately and perpendicularly to each other. The heat exchanger is so arranged that the first passages are slanted inward the outer box by 45 degrees relative to the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuneo Kawai
  • Patent number: 4484396
    Abstract: A closed loop oxygen reduced gas recirculation system for an industrial dryer includes high volume primary and low volume secondary gas recirculation paths with a condenser apparatus in the secondary path for removing water and solvent. A natural gas burner produces both oxygen reduced gas for the system and the required energy for the dryer. An optional condenser apparatus removes water vapor from the oxygen reduced gas output of the burner prior to its reaching the dryer. The condenser apparatus may include a first heat exchanger and a pair of parallel alternately operating downstream output heat exchangers, such as refrigeration coils. The first heat exchanger condenses most of the water vapor from the dryer gas and vaporized solvent is condensed in one of the output heat exchangers while the other is being defrosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: United Air Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Darm
  • Patent number: 4483160
    Abstract: A dry cleaning apparatus for pieces of fabric such as clothing has a tumbler drum with a washing space within it in which the clothing is firstly washed with solvent and thereafter is dried and if necessary aired. To this end the drum space with the clothing therein is firstly joined up with a solvent circulation system and then with a hot air circulation system. The solvent circulation system has a filter unit within it for cleaning the solvent and the air circulation system has an air cooler with a condensate trap and furthermore an air heater. For drying the dirt in the filter unit air is branched off from the hot air circulation system at a point downstream from the air heater so that while drying is taking place part of the hot air makes its way through the filter unit and then comes out of the filter unit and by way of a second branch duct goes back into the hot air circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Walter Jost
  • Patent number: 4480393
    Abstract: Vapor recovery system comprising vapor source, vapor concentrating system and refrigeration condensation system. Method comprises accumulating condensable vapor in vapor accumulator, and subsequently removing vapor from accumulator using carrier gas to provide concentrated carrier gas stream. Vapor in carrier gas is condensed by refrigeration condensation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Leslie R. Flink, Bryce J. Fox, Mary K. Witzel
  • Patent number: 4475293
    Abstract: A chamber such as a curing oven or drier is inerted during the curing of solvent borne resin coatings with the solvent vapor formed therein being withdrawn together with inert gas at a substantially constant flow rate. The withdrawn gas stream is supplied to a condensation unit to enable recovery of solvent and the noncondensed gas discharged from the condensation unit is returned to the oven at a flow rate which may be varied so as to maintain a material balance with respect to the oven atmosphere. Appropriate adjustments are made in response to changes occurring in the oven solvent vapor and/or oxygen concentration without disturbing the material balance mentioned above while the oven atmosphere is withdrawn at a substantially constant flow rate. A plurality of ovens may be connected to a single condensation unit and upon detecting undesired conditions such as excessive oxygen levels in one oven, the same may be separately isolated from the condensation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ratan Banerjee
  • Patent number: 4471537
    Abstract: A dryer apparatus comprising an enclosure which contains a drying chamber for receiving articles, such as clothes, to be dried, an air heating passage and an air cooling passage. The heating passage is situated underneath the drying chamber and has inlet means and outlet means communicating therewith on opposite sides of said chamber, respectively. Air heating means are provided in the heating passage between the inlet and outlet means threof to heat air flowing through said heating passage. The cooling passage is situated beside the drying chamber and has inlet means which are situated at the top of both the drying chamber and the cooling passage, and outlet means at the bottom of the cooling passage, which outlet means communicate with the heating passage near the inlet means thereof. Air cooling means are provided in the cooling passage, between the inlet and outlet means thereof to condense moisture from air flowing downwardly in the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Indesit Industria Elettrodomestici Italiana S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Meda
  • Patent number: 4469720
    Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of solvents from coated parts during the drying step which consists of a means for heating the air used to dry the parts, an insulated drying chamber, a liquid spray scrubber, a refrigeration section to condense solvent and a cross-exchanger which allows air coming into the refrigeration section to be cooled by that exiting therefrom. The cooled solvent-lean air is then passed to the heating means before being recycled to the drying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Morris
  • Patent number: 4466202
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery and reuse of heat contained in the wet exhaust gases emanating from a solids dryer or liquor concentrator, particularly one in which drying or concentration is facilitated by purging the vapor with some noncondensable gas such as air or nitrogen. Water or solvent vapor in the moist exhaust mixture is separated from the noncondensable gas or gases by preferentially passing the vapor through a semipermeable membrane. The water or solvent vapor is then compressed and subsequently condensed in a heat exchanger, permitting recovery of its latent heat of vaporization for reuse in the evaporation process. In a drying process, this recovered energy is conveniently used to reheat the dry gases that exit from the membrane separator, permitting the hot, dry gases to be recirculated through the dryer. Alternatively, an indirect heat exchanger may be used to transfer this heat to the material being dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Ulrich Merten
  • Patent number: 4447965
    Abstract: Vapor laden effluent from a drying chamber is dehumidified by condensing the vapor through the acceleration thereof, and by subsequent condensate removal as through inertial separation. The resultant effluent is recirculated to the drying chamber after being heated and pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven C. Bray
  • Patent number: 4432147
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to control temperature and humidity in drying a material, for example green lumber, including a chamber to receive the lumber in stacked relation with air flow space between individual lumber pieces, a refrigeration system having a refrigerant compressor, evaporator and condenser where the condenser is disposed within the chamber, blower means to circulate air from the condenser over and through a stack of lumber, conduit means to communicate with the chamber for emission of air passing over the stack of lumber where the evaporator means is disposed to selectively receive the air flowing to the first conduit, solar cell means to receive radiant heat and having an inlet communicating with the first conduit and an outlet communicating with the chamber, third chamber means communicating with the first conduit and the chamber, damper means to selectively proportion air from the first conduit to the second and third conduits, controller means responsive to the temperature of the chamber to ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Peter Y. S. Chen, Wayne A. Helmer, Howard N. Rosen
  • Patent number: 4426791
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system exploiting the thermal energy of the atmosphere for the drying of wood or any other product or material, the humidity content of which has to be reduced to the humidity percentage normally required for the use of the product or material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Inventor: Ivo Coppa
  • Patent number: 4424633
    Abstract: Apparatus for heating and drying articles including an evacuable drying chamber for heating therein articles by condensation heat of the vapor of a first liquid supplied to the drying chamber, a vacuum pump for evacuating the boiler, a first vapor condenser and a second vapor condenser connected betwen the drying chamber and the vacuum pump, a thin film evaporator for receiving condensate from the drying chamber in the form of the first liquid and a second liquid having a higher boiling point than the first liquid, the second liquid being obtained from the articles within the drying chamber, a condensate collecting container for receiving from the evaporator liquid condensate which is not evaporated in the evaporator, a pressure barrier arranged between the evaporator and the collecting container and a re-evaporator arranged between the pressure barrier and the collecting container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Arthur Pfeiffer Vakuumtechnik Wetzlar GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bernhardt, Helmut Strzala
  • Patent number: 4421158
    Abstract: A coolant recirculating system permits water from a municipal source to be circulated continuously in a dry cleaning plant in order to perform necessary cooling and condensing operations. The water is permitted to be dumped from the closed system only upon exceeding a temperature at which its cooling function has reduced efficiency. An additional benefit of the inventive closed circulating coolant loop is that the preheated water may be employed to supply a boiler in the dry cleaning plant and also that the loop water may be utilized in the lavatory facilities of the dry cleaning plant and in the laundry facilities of such dry cleaning plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventor: Robert D. Kirchner
  • Patent number: 4411075
    Abstract: A process for drying solvent containing material is disclosed. The solvent containing material is passed through a drying chamber containing an inert gas. Inert gas is introduced into at least one lock chamber preceding and/or following the drying chamber. An annular flow of inert gas is produced in the lock chamber. A minor amount of the inert gas required for drying the material is jetted into the lock chamber proximate to the inlet and/or outlet opening of the drying chamber and a mixture of inert gas and sucked-in external air being discharged from the lock chamber in the peripheral region of the annular flow. The major portion of the inert gas is introduced directly into the drying chamber. An apparatus for practicing the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Blaudszun
  • Patent number: 4385450
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for reducing the liquid content of a porous material by means of superheated vapor from said liquid. The apparatus comprises, in order: a vapor generator 1; a circulation fan 2; a vapor superheater 6; a closed, sealed chamber 7, and an assembley 22-26 to provide in the chamber 7 a passage for fluid and for supporting textile material 9 such that it is interposed in the path of the vapor; a vapor condenser 13; a valve for regulation of pressure 16; a conduit for recycling vapor 17, and a device 32, 32a to measure the temperature prevailing in the fluid passage upstream of the porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Institut Textile de France
    Inventors: Jean Thomas, Jacques Laneres, Jean P. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4378388
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying tire cord fabric dipped in a liquid coating containing a vaporizable solvent. The drying chamber of the apparatus includes a boiling sump for filling the chamber with solvent vapor, and a plurality of vertically elongated plenums mounted in side-by-side relation, each plenum having a number of horizontally elongated nozzles in vertically spaced relation. The tire cord fabric is passed adjacent the nozzles and super-heated solvent vapor is forced through the nozzles against the moving fabric to flash off or vaporize the solvent carried by the fabric, thereby drying the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1983
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Theodore F. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4370816
    Abstract: The gaseous discharge from a dry cleaning machine containing dry cleaning solvents is purified by passage through a gas/gas heat exchanger from which the gaseous flow enters a gas/liquid heat exchanger after having been cooled and partially dehumidified in the gas/gas heat exchanger. An accumulation cooling circuit acts on the gas/liquid heat exchanger to further cool and purify the gaseous flow coming from the gas/liquid heat exchanger, such flow then being returned into the gas/gas heat exchanger, where it is warmed therein by the incoming flow to be purified before returning into the dry cleaning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: VE.DA. S.r.l
    Inventor: Alessio Zambelli
  • Patent number: RE31633
    Abstract: A lumber conditioning kiln comprising an enclosure defining a closed chamber for receiving a stack of lumber so positioned as to provide space at the top and at the ends, a dehumidifier in said chamber containing an evaporator, said dehumidifier defining a flow path through the evaporator and a bypass passage around the evaporator, a blower for inducing air flow into the flow path of the dehumidifier for dehumidifying air and discharging dry air therefrom, fans for effecting a circulation of air within the chamber in a direction such that dry air from the dehumidifier is conducted across the top of the stack to the far end and from there reversely through the stack to the one end where the moisture-laden air from the stack is induced into the flow path of the dehumidifier and wherein there are dampers for reducing the air flow over the evaporator and increasing the air flow through the bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Inventor: Donald C. Lewis