Recirculation Of Treating Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 34/77)
  • Patent number: 4370357
    Abstract: An improved process and/or system for coating of a metal strip includes means for continuous travel of the strip and a chamber for substantially completely enclosing the strip beyond an area for application of a mixture of coating and solvent. In that chamber is at least one induction coil for induction heating the strip to drive off the solvent, means for introducing substantially pure nitrogen near opposite ends of the travel of the strip therein and in between the places of introduction of the substantially pure nitrogen means for removing the resultant mixture of nitrogen and solvent which mixture is then at least largely separated into its components and reclaimed nitrogen brought back into the chamber at locations between the location of removal of the mixture and the respective locations of introduction of substantially pure nitrogen. The temperature of the interior atmosphere of the chamber is automatically maintained at a predetermined temperature preferably within the range between about 300.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Cleveland Gear Company
    Inventor: LeRoy O. Swartz
  • Patent number: 4348818
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for recovering heat from an appliance which provides an exhaust of warm moist air, comprising an appliance exhaust duct connectable between the exhaust outlet of the appliance and a condensing chamber which is adapted to be supported on an exterior wall of a building, the chamber having means for draining condensate therefrom, and a return duct adapted to allow recovered warm dry air to flow from the condensing chamber into the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Inventor: Robert C. Brown
  • Patent number: 4343096
    Abstract: A system for controlling the emission of solvents from a printing press having a plurality of printing stations characterized by the solvents being evaporated from the ink solution in a drying hood or section of each of the printing presses and the volatile organic compound of the solvents being converted into harmless gases by heating in an oxidation chamber. The exhaust from the oxidation chamber is recirculated back to the drying hoods so that the amount of fresh air being brought into the system is minimized to reduce the amount of exhaust gases being discharged back to the atmosphere to minimize the amount of the volatile organic compounds being discharged to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Bobst Champlain, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Bergland
  • Patent number: 4339883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for drying materials such as wood chips and removing condensable and/or precipitable substances from the resulting waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Inventor: Gunter Waldmann
  • Patent number: 4337582
    Abstract: The degree of saturation of a vapor in a chamber such as a curing oven is controlled by sensing the vapor dew point and varying the rate of removal of such vapor from the oven in response to a comparison of the sensed dew point with a predetermined dew point. This comparison may also be effected by comparing the difference between the actual dew point and oven temperature with a predetermined difference and controlling the rate of vapor removal in response to variations between the actual and predetermined differences. Alternately, a predetermined ratio between dew point and oven temperature may be maintained. By controlling the dew point of the vapor, i.e. degree of saturation, condensation in the oven is precluded while still permitting high solvent vapor concentrations which in turn facilitate recovery of solvent exhausted or removed from the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4337584
    Abstract: Structure is provided defining a flow path for granular materials to be dried and laterally through which drying air may be passed. The flow path includes inlet and outlet end portions and supply means is provided for supplying granular material to the inlet end portion and discharge means is provided for discharging granular material from the outlet end portion. Air passage structure is provided including means for passing heated drying air laterally through the inlet end portion of the flow path and cooled drying air laterally through the outlet end portion of the flow path. The air passage structure includes a substantially closed loop circuit and pump structure for pumping air through the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4329788
    Abstract: A process is provided for the separation of a gas and a condensable vapor present in the gas. The vapor-containing gas is contacted in a condensation zone with a heat-exchange fluid to cool the gas whereupon the vapor condenses and is collected as condensate. The condensate is then contacted with the heat-exchanger fluid to cause it to vaporize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: CEM Compagnie Electro-Mecanique
    Inventor: Jacques Sterlini
  • Patent number: 4326343
    Abstract: It has been known that volatile organic compounds evaporated in a substantially closed drying oven may be recovered by condensing part of the vapors in a cooler and recycling the mixture of the non-condensed vapor and inert gas back to the oven. However, non-steady state conditions tend to cause volume and pressure variations resulting in an out-breathing of oven atmosphere through the oven's entrance and exit ports, and an in-breathing of outside atmosphere. The invention provides a flexible expansion-contraction chamber to temporarily receive excess gas volume return it to the oven with minimal change in pressure. This reduces the loss of vapor, minimizes the need for inert gas addition, and conserves energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventor: Richard K. Rathmell
  • Patent number: 4324052
    Abstract: The hot, saturated air is moved from a drying oven chamber through a substantially closed circuit first in a heat extraction path through a series of cooling stages to condense the solvent from the air, and then in a heat collection path in a cross-flow heat exchange relationship through some of the cooling stages to recover some of the heat, and the dried air is moved back into the drying oven. The heat extraction path extends generally in a downward sloped direction toward a solvent storage tank, and the solvent is condensed as it reaches the lower end of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Inventor: John L. Bosher
  • Patent number: 4321757
    Abstract: A drying apparatus for drying material treated with liquid by heating and circulating a drying gas and for recovering vaporized liquid absorbed by a drying gas comprises at least one chamber unit which is essentially completely closed to the external atmosphere, a heating system in the chamber, a condensing system located in the chamber lowermost portion, means for guiding the material, in the form of a web, through the chamber through slot-like inlet and outlet openings such that the web is maintained free of contact at its wet surface, and a drying gas circulation system which divides the drying gas into several streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Oce-van der Grinten N.V.
    Inventor: Laurens van der Blom
  • Patent number: 4295282
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of heat and/or condensable liquid from a gaseous environment utilizing an open cycle heat pump system. The open cycle heat pump system is employed to alter the temperature of a gas by compression, expansion, heat exchange, and combinations thereof, to condense selected vapors carried in the gaseous environment for removal from the gas. The open cycle heat pump system can also be used to extract the heat from a gas for use as desired.The invention also relates to means for recovering condensable solvent and/or heat from gas streams employed in drying ovens used in processing solvent-laden materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Bryce J. Fox
  • Patent number: 4292744
    Abstract: A separation apparatus for a condensation-drying plant is disclosed wherein in an autoclave the material to be dried is heated by the heat of condensation of a readily volatile fluid and where this material contains a less volatile fluid (e.g. oil). Two evaporators are provided to separate this less volatile fluid during the drying process. Thermal energy is conserved by feeding the steam of the more volatile fluid from the first evaporator to the autoclave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Micafil AG
    Inventor: Hans U. Nabholz
  • Patent number: 4290908
    Abstract: A radioactive waste discharged from a radioactive substance handling equipment is dried and powdered, and the powder is pelletized. The resulting pellets are stored in an inner vessel of a store vessel having a double structure for a predetermined period to attenuate the radioactivity of the pellets. Then, the pellets are taken out from the store vessel and packed into a sealing vessel. A binder is injected into the sealing vessel to effect solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Horiuchi, Takashi Taniguchi, Masaki Takeshima, Mikio Hirano, Hideo Yusa
  • Patent number: 4287672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying pieces in bulk, such as metal screws being electrolytically galvanized. The pieces are charged in a rotating perforated barrel through which drying air is passed. The barrel is positioned in a drying chamber which also contains a ventilator for circulating the air, an air heater and a dehumidifier. These components are arranged so that dry air is drawn through the barrel and the charge by vacuum from the portion of the barrel not filled by the charge. Flexible seals between the barrel outer casing and a suction box direct the flow of air substantially completely through the charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Inventor: Hans Henig
  • Patent number: 4281465
    Abstract: In a process for recovering solvents from the circulating air and exhaust air of a drycleaning machine by drying the circulating air and by fresh air drying with condensation and adsorption, the volume of air stream per unit volume is controlled in accordance with temperature and/or solvent concentration and heating and cooling energy reduced to achieve drying and recovery of the cleaning solvent with relatively low expenditure of energy and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: AMEG Verfahrens-und Umweltschutz-Technik AG
    Inventors: Martin R. Zimmermann, Walter Oettli
  • Patent number: 4270281
    Abstract: A washing and drying machine comprises a perforate drum 14 rotatable with a liquid container 11 having, in its upper portion, a recess 12 in which is disposed a heat-register or heating element 18 and a reflector 13 providing for direct irradiation of the drum 14. Drain opening 20 from the container 11 connects to a condensor arrangement 17 supplied with cold water 23 and an impeller in the form of a turbine 27 serves to recirculate air from the opening 20 back to a heat-exchange space 30 in the recess 12, between the heating element 18 and the container 11, from which it emerges by way of nozzles 31 along the periphery of the reflector 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: August Lepper Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Muller
  • Patent number: 4268247
    Abstract: To dry wet fabrics, a hot drying gas is introduced into a drying chamber containing the fabrics. The drying chamber is maintained at a sufficiently high pressure greater than atmospheric pressure so that a portion of the gas in the drying chamber can be discharged directly to the atmosphere. The remainder of the gas in the drying chamber is withdrawn, and at least a portion of the withdrawn gas is used to produce the hot drying gas introduced into the drying chamber. This is effected by increasing the pressure of the withdrawn gas, heating the withdrawn gas, and combining it with a dilution gas. The amount of the dilution gas which is combined with the withdrawn gas comprises from about 5 to about 20% by volume of the hot drying gas introduced into the drying chamber. Before the withdrawn gas is heated, preferably it is filtered by a lint screen for removal of lint and other contaminants. Novel lint screens capable of self-cleaning during a cooling mode of operation are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Challenge-Cook Bros., Incorporated
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Freze
  • Patent number: 4262430
    Abstract: A solvent reclaiming dryer having an endless duct system including an evaporating chamber, fan, heater, condenser and condenser bypass duct in its circuit and having means to alternately pass heated solvent-laden gas through the condenser and through the bypass duct to increase the vapor pressure of the solvent that is passing through the condenser, thereby increasing solvent reclamation efficiency. Also shown are an explosion hatch and an automatic fire extinguishing system for use in tumblers evaporating inflammable solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Hoyt Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Harry W. Janson, Jung W. Kim, Richard R. Manzone
  • Patent number: 4257169
    Abstract: A commodity dryer for removing or providing moisture and controlling atmosphere which surrounds stored commodities such as grain is provided which reduces the growth of bacteria, fungus and minimizes other deleterious conditions encountered such as in the storage of moist commodities which generally render them unfit for subsequent consumption. The commodity dryer maintains the integrity of stored commodities by creating a controlled atmosphere conducive to the removal or the addition of water by capillary action from the pores of the commodity and for controlling the moisture and temperature around the skin of the grain to achieve optimum storage conditions for the specific commodity stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Inventor: Jack Pierce
  • Patent number: 4250629
    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: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Inventor: Donald C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4245399
    Abstract: Apparatus for drying products of various types including particulate materials having varying degrees of moisture content including those moistened throughout, as by organic solvents, and which may be tacky in nature; the apparatus including a generally cylindrical vessel with a downwardly conical lower portion terminating in a dried product discharge opening, and a gas inlet conduit arranged to deliver a drying gas to the vessel in the region of and slightly above the discharge opening at relatively low pressure but with auxiliary screw or propeller arrangements for preventing access of the product, particularly if tacky, to the gas inlet conduit and also serving to assist in distribution of the drying gas throughout the product as it is agitated and distributed in the vessel and in countercurrent as it tends toward the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Schering Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Muller, Hans-Jurgen Radeklau, Harald Doefke, Detlef Krieger
  • Patent number: 4240453
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of at least one surface of an article conted therein is disclosed. The treatment apparatus comprises a treatment enclosure which includes at least one inlet lock-chamber and at least one outlet lock-chamber with an article transport device extending therebetween. The treatment enclosure includes a solvent dispenser which is positioned with an outlet thereof adjacent the article transport device. Included within the apparatus is a vapor extractor for extracting air-solvent vapors from the treatment enclosure. The vapors extracted from the treatment enclosure are directed through a condenser positioned between the inlet lock-chamber and the outlet lock-chamber. Recycling ducts, communicating with the treatment enclosure and the vapor extractor, are also provided for recycling air, from which the solvent vapors have been substantially removed, toward the inlet of the inlet lock-chamber and the outlet of the outlet lock-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Generales d'Electricite et de Mecanique SAGEM
    Inventors: Jean Vial, Gerard Sauvan
  • Patent number: 4233901
    Abstract: Apparatus for drying printed web material comprises a chamber housing a fan disposed within a casing, the casing having a fan inlet open to the interior of the chamber. An outlet duct is provided for discharging drying flow of air from the fan to outside the chamber. A heater is provided for heating said flow, and means are provided for directing the heated air on to the printed web. A collector hood is provided for collecting the solvent mixture resulting from the web-drying operation. First and second outlet ducts allow outflow of the collected solvent mixture from the collector hood, the first outlet duct being connected to the inlet of the fan by way of the chamber interior. A fresh air inlet duct is also connected to the chamber interior, and separate valves in the form of louvres are provided for controlling flow through the first and second outlet ducts as well as the fresh air inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: Baker Perkins Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Leonard B. Mallinson
  • Patent number: 4209914
    Abstract: A method and a device for drying machine parts, e.g. balls or rolls for roller bearings, upon washing the parts in a washing liquid containing a solvent, especially a polluting solvent. Upon washing, the wet parts are fed into a chamber, and a dry, hot gas is injected into the chamber and evacuated therefrom. The evacuated humid gas is recirculated in a circuit and, upon being compressed and cooled, the gas is freed from its solvent contents in a liquid separator and is heated before re-injection into the chamber. A reduced gas pressure is maintained in the chamber by controlling the gas flow in the recirculation circuit, and the gas in the chamber is cooled, so that the partial pressure of the solvent in the chamber is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Projectus Industriprodukter Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Berth U. Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 4205456
    Abstract: A mechanical refrigeration system is arranged to function as a heat pump for the purpose of drying material, such as shelled corn for example, with ambient air being first passed through the refrigerant condenser to be heated, then passed through the material to be dried, and then passed through the refrigerant evaporator and discharged back to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David L. Ayers, Mark R. Hogan
  • Patent number: 4204339
    Abstract: An improved cloth-handling machine in which the energy input necessary for evaporating and conducting away water from clothes being dried is minimized. The machine is a tumbler drying or a combination washing/drying machine and includes a casing having a radiant heater disposed adjacent a reflector in its upper portion adapted to heat a tumbler drum rotatably mounted within the casing. Air is withdrawn from the drum and moisture is condensed from the air which is then recirculated back to the interior of the drum. A condenser arrangement, positioned outside the casing, is comprised of an air turbulator portion connected to a drain opening at the bottom of the casing. A spray or mist of cooling water is supplied by way of a nozzle 22 mounted between the turbulator and the drain opening. The turbulator is followed by a filter and a tranquillizing duct leading through a sump to a pump having a syphon-type outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: August Lepper, Maschinen-U. Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Muller
  • Patent number: 4196526
    Abstract: A timber drying plant has a drying chamber through which air may be circulated by a fan in a circuit which includes a refrigerating unit. The refrigerant fluid circuit of the unit includes a dehumidification evaporator for outlet air and a condenser in the recycle air flow for returning to the latter least part of the heat extracted by the evaporator. The refrigerant fluid circuit also includes an auxiliary evaporator with control valve means whereby the auxiliary evaporator can be inserted in said fluid circuit so that the refrigerating unit operates as a heat pump absorbing heat from the external atmosphere through the auxiliary evaporator. A supplementary evaporator may also be included in the refrigerating unit and is connectable in parallel with the auxiliary evaporator to increase the heat pump effect. In another position of the control valve means the auxiliary evaporator acts as a condenser in circuit with the dehumidification evaporator to reduce the heating of the recycled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: CEAF S.p.A.
    Inventor: Furio Berti
  • Patent number: 4194296
    Abstract: A vacuum drying kiln has a drying chamber in which, in use, is placed timber to be dried and around which is a surrounding water jacket through which is circulated a heat exchange fluid which derives its heat by flowing through the secondary circuit of a heat exchanger through the primary circuit of which is pumped a mixture of air and water vapor drawn by a vacuum pump from the interior of the drying chamber. The kiln is operated cyclically through successive heating and evacuation phases and the vacuum pump is one utilizing a secondary fluid to effect pumping, the characteristics of this secondary fluid being that it is immiscible with water and has a low specific heat so that it encourages the condensation of the water vapor in the primary circuit of the heat exchanger by undergoing large temperature variations for small changes in heat content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Inventors: Vincenzo Pagnozzi, Ernesto G. Pagnozzi
  • Patent number: 4185397
    Abstract: The arrangement for the drying of solvent at a drying channel with a hot inert carrier medium, under application of compression and adiabatic expansion for the condensation of the solvent, and under reheating of the solvent to the channel temperature is provided in such a manner that a heat exchanger is arranged to follow a compressor for the nitrogen, containing solvent vapor, taken from the drying channel, which heat exchanger is passed through by the carrier medium, drawn from the drying channel and flowing through a pipeline loop, that a condenser arranged follows the compressor for the solvent vapor, on the one hand, feeds the expansion stage, and, on the other hand, is cooled by the nitrogen, cooled in the expansion stage, same being heated to the channel temperature, and that the heated nitrogen is fed into the drying channel. Thereby an energy application as economical as possible in the drying channel is achieved, under general avoidance of external heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Inventor: Armin S. P. Hutzenlaub
  • Patent number: 4173830
    Abstract: A dryer for automated washing and drying of mesh or perforated bottom trays such as those used for bakery goods, which includes a source of air under relatively low pressure and has a means to direct air at a relatively high velocity through the mesh or open bottom tray as it is carried on a perforated or open conveyor, and vacuum means connected to the suction side of the same fan to collect and receive moisture laden air and water droplets that pass through the tray and the conveyor. The fan includes a water-air separator on the inlet side so that the inlet air carrying the water is processed to remove water droplets and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Inventor: Douglas R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4154002
    Abstract: Dry cleaning of goods using perchloroethylene as solvent, in which during drying and deodorizing operations a flow of air is created by a fan in a closed circuit, vapour of the solvent is condensed solely by a refrigerated condenser, and during deodorizing the flow of air created by the fan is directed through a passage which restricts the flow, whereas during drying, the air is permitted to flow more freely, whereby during deodorizing the flow of air over the condenser is a minor fraction only of the flow of air through the goods during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Neil and Spencer Limited
    Inventor: William F. Moore
  • Patent number: 4154003
    Abstract: An improved combination washer-dryer comprised of an inner and outer container which are spaced apart so as to form a condensation chamber therebetween. A cooling medium and moist air withdrawn from the inner drying container are simultaneously forced through that chamber which cools the air and causes moisture contained therein to be condensed and thus separatable from the air. Additional condensation and water separators can be employed to further treat the circulating air prior to that air being reheated and returned to the inner drying container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: August Lepper, Maschinen-und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Muller
  • Patent number: 4150494
    Abstract: methods and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbon solvents evaporated during the curing of solvent borne coatings in an oven include supplying an inert gas to the vicinity of the oven entrance and exit to substantially exclude oxygen therefrom while safely maintaining a solvent vapor partial pressure within the oven of at least 75% of the lower explosive limit of such vapor in air. The oven atmosphere is exhausted and passed to a condenser to enable recovery of at least 85% of the solvent vapor as a liquid. Preferably, condensation of the solvent vapor is effected by heat exchange with liquid nitrogen which is effective to vaporize the liquid nitrogen to produce nitrogen gas which may then be utilized to exclude oxygen from and to inert the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Rothchild
  • Patent number: 4145818
    Abstract: Air is passed through the product being processed, thus absorbing solvent. The air stream is then split into a main stream and a subsidiary stream. The main stream is heated by a heater. The subsidiary stream passes through a condenser which cools it, condensing out the solvent. The main and subsidiary streams are then combined and recycled to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Inventor: Hanspeter Kulling
  • Patent number: 4137646
    Abstract: A drum-type drier for fabric in which the drying drum has a perforated periphery and is mounted in a housing for rotation about a horizontal axis. The housing has, opposite an end wall of the drum, at least one door or flap. The fabric web is guided over the periphery of the drum. According to the invention, the cooler for the drying gas, generally air, is mounted within the housing on this door or flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1979
    Assignee: Bowe Bohler & Weber KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Fuhring
  • Patent number: 4134216
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing moisture from a moisture containing product in which the improvement consists of removing latent heat from the moisture removed from the product and reintroducing the latent heat as sensible heat to heat the air stream which is used to remove the moisture from the product, thus providing a continuous closed cycle drying process which includes its own heat supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Inventor: Robert D. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4122611
    Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous thermal treatment of a product within an atmosphere made up of steam (saturated or superheated) of pure water or of a mixture of air and water vapor is disclosed. The product moves through an enclosed or confined space for its thermal treatment by the steam. The space is provided with entry and exit air-locks for the conveyance of the product into the space and for its removal. There are also means for guiding the product through the air-locks and the space. Additional means is provided to encourage thermal treatment and hence the space is provided with convection, radiation or conduction means to bring heat to the product. A first condensor receives vapor or humid air which is preferably extracted from the enclosed space via the adjacent air locks; it provides heat recovery of the purged vapor from the space. A second condensor is placed within the enclosed space and communicates with the high pressure discharge port of a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Air Industrie
    Inventors: Paul Marchal, Pierre Alvarez
  • Patent number: 4121350
    Abstract: A dryer apparatus is disclosed for drying sheet materials by contact with a drying fluid which is deflected towards the opposite surfaces of the sheet by deflector members spaced longitudinally along such sheet. A major portion of the drying fluid consists of internally generated superheated drying steam above 212.degree. F, to vaporize the water in the sheet material and remove it to produce the steam used for drying. A minor portion of steam is removed from the drying fluid and discarded to maintain pressure equilibrium. The drying steam is produced within the drying chamber from water evaporating from the material being dryed and is either heated to form the superheated steam within the drying zone where it is in contact with the sheet material or is removed from the drying zone, heated to form superheated steam and returned to the drying zone for contact with the sheet material during drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Inventor: Adolf Buchholz
  • Patent number: 4112590
    Abstract: An improved combination washer-dryer comprised of an inner and outer container which are spaced apart so as to form a condensation chamber therebetween. A cooling medium and moist air withdrawn from the inner drying container are simultaneously forced through that chamber which cools the air and causes moisture contained therein to be condensed and thus separatable from the air. Additional condensation and water separators can be employed to further treat the circulating air prior to that air being reheated and returned to the inner drying container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: August Lepper, Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Muller
  • Patent number: 4086705
    Abstract: Petroleum solvent vapors which discharge from a dry cleaning dryer in a heated gaseous mixture of vapors and air are condensed and recovered, and heat energy is recovered for productive use elsewhere. The gaseous mixture of vapors and air is sprayed with relatively cool water to condense the solvent vapors. The resulting liquid mixture of water and solvent is withdrawn from the spray chamber and is subjected to gravitational separation. Water reclaimed in the separation process is reused in the spray chamber. Recovered solvent is reused in a dry cleaning washer. The gravitational separation process is preferably carried out in a series of gravitational separators, and heat is withdrawn from at least one of the separation units for productive use in a heat consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Inventor: Robert L. Wehr
  • Patent number: 4085518
    Abstract: Process of drying water-wet solid materials, which process comprises, in a system,A. forcibly contacting the water-wet solid material with circulating vapor of a fluorocarbon having a fluorine to carbon atom ratio of at least 1.0 and a boiling temperature of less than about 80.degree. C at atmospheric pressure, said fluorocarbon vapor being at a temperture above about 100.degree. C and said contacting being carried out in the absence of a substantial amount of a noncondensable gas, such as air or nitrogen,B. passing the resulting mixture of fluorocarbon vapor and water vapor from step (a) through a zone maintained at a temperature less than 100.degree. and at least 1.degree. C above the atmospheric pressure boiling temperature of the fluorocarbon to condense a substantial portion of the water vapor but not a substantial portion of the fluorocarbon vapor and, preferably, so that the partial pressure of the water in the remaining vapor mixture is less than about 25 cm of mercury,C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Harold L. Jackson, Frederick W. Mader
  • Patent number: 4075765
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying separate units of moist fibrous material. The method may include the steps of flowing under a pressure greater than one atmosphere in a closed circuit a gaseous medium through both units of material, such that the gaseous exhaust from one unit is the gaseous intake of another unit, and heating the gaseous medium subsequent to its passage through the units of fibrous material by compressing the gaseous medium. The apparatus may include two containers each of which has a support for the fibrous material to be dried, the material being positioned on the support to divide the interior of each of said containers into an inner and an outer chamber which communicate with each other via the material, and a circulation system having a gaseous drying medium therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Karrer System AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Wilhelm Johann Karrer, Per Gustaf Mellgren
  • Patent number: 4043051
    Abstract: The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a method and apparatus for drying grain. A refrigerating system is mounted within the closed-loop air duct structure which extends from an outlet to an inlet of a grain storage bin. The evaporator of the refrigerating system dries warm moisture-laden air as it passes through the closed-loop air duct. The air is then preheated by the compressor of the refrigeration system and finally heated by the condensor thereof. This heated air is then returned to the grain storage bin where it flows through a distributor for uniformly drying grain. An air flow bypass is provided at the inlet of the evaporator to take in outside air and vent off the warm moisture-laden air to atmosphere should the evaporator temperature increase beyond a predetermined point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Inventor: Delbert Lussenden
  • Patent number: 4037330
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is addressed to a method and means of dry cooling bluk material within a closed system in which said material is usually supplied intermittently to a cooling station. The method comprises directing a substantially continuous stream of cooling gas through the bulk material to thereby cool it and at the same time heat the stream of cooling gas. The heated stream of cooling gas is removed from the bulk material and directed through a mixing zone where it is mixed with a stream of cold cooling gas. Preferably, the hot mixed gas is cleaned and thereafter cooled by passage through a heat exchanger means. A selected portion of the cold cooling gas is diverted from the main stream to the mixing zone for mixing with the heated stream from the bulk material. The nondiverted portion of the cold cooling gas is directed to and through the bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Kemmetmuller
  • Patent number: 4026037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for drying materials by contact with a drying gas consisting essentially of internally generated superheated drying steam above 212.degree. F., to vaporize the water in the material and remove it to produce the steam used for drying. A minor portion of steam is removed from the drying gas and discarded to maintain pressure equilibrium. The drying steam is produced within the drying chamber from water evaporated from the material being dryed and is either heated to form the superheated steam within the drying zone where it is in contact with the material or removed from the drying zone, heated to form superheated steam, and returned to the drying zone for contact with the material during drying. A wood veneer dryer employing the invention is described as well as an apparatus for drying particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Inventor: Adolf Buchholz
  • Patent number: 4026035
    Abstract: The low temperature heat recovery system is used in combination with apparatus for drying a moving web of paper or the like and comprises a steam circuit, a gas circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The steam circuit recovers condensed steam from the rotary cylinders of the paper dryer, reheats the steam and injects the steam back into the rotary cylinders or back into the steam main. The gas circuit removes the wet air from the dryer housing, extracts the moisture and the latent heat from the air, reheats the air and injects the air back into the housing. The refrigerant circuit functions as a heat pump to heat the steam and air prior to injecting the steam and air into the cylinders and housing, and cools the air to condense and extract the moisture from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Inventors: David F. Dyer, Glennon Maples
  • Patent number: 4012847
    Abstract: Solvent is vaporized from a work product as the product moves through a process which may be a heated chamber. The vaporized solvent is withdrawn from the chamber and passed through a chiller to recover a portion of the vapor. The output from the chiller is then passed through an adsorber to remove the remainder of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1977
    Assignee: Autosonics Inc.
    Inventor: Burton Rand
  • Patent number: 3997977
    Abstract: In a copying machine, especially of the liquid development type, a developing liquid recovery device includes heating means for heating wet-developed copy mediums to dry and fix them, wherein developing liquid vapor is produced from the copy mediums. Condenser means is provided for cooling the developing liquid vapor by means of a heat exchanger to thereby form the vapor into mist. Mist collector means for electrically charging the mist-like developing liquid vapor collects the vapor in an electric field. Circulating means is provided for circulating an air flow through the heating means, the condenser means and the mist collector means in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hajime Katayama, Koichi Miyamoto, Shoji Ohashi
  • Patent number: 3934355
    Abstract: Storage of grains and other vegetable products in a large-capacity silo having air-tight walls, bottom and roof and air conditioning means, which is arranged to supply air of controlled moisture content and temperature. The silo has double walls defining a space and said air supplying means is connectible either to the storage space of the silo through aeration openings in the silo bottom or to said space between the silo walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Claes Martin Weibull
    Inventor: Claes Martin Weibull