Abstract: Individual charges of silicon steel are passed through a tunnel type furnace provided with charge and discharge vestibules. The annealing takes place in a hydrogen atmosphere and the vestibules are purged with nitrogen and then with hydrogen. The hydrogen used for purging is taken from the hydrogen in the annealing atmosphere and additional new hydrogen is added to the annealing atmosphere at the same time to maintain the pressure constant.

Abstract: A dishwashing apparatus including a washing chamber having an access door. An air inlet is located in the bottom wall of the washing chamber and includes a motor driven blower for forcing ambient-temperature air into the washing chamber. The air is directed over a heating element to pick up heat, rises through the dishes and flows out of the washing chanber through a vent in the access door. Valves are located in the air inlet and in the vent which are sequentially opened by the forced airflow into the washing chamber. These valves automatically gravitationally close when blower operation ceases.

Abstract: In an oven for drying paints on metal strips or bands travelling continuously therethrough, several incinerators are mounted directly on the oven, and an external incinerator is also provided for incinerating the gases released during the drying operation, each incinerator receiving the same mixture to be incinerated.

Abstract: Vapor degreasing apparatus comprising a tank having in its lower part a heatable reservoir for a solvent for fats, oils, lubricants or the like, and having, above said reservoir, a vapor space adapted for introducing therein metal articles or machine parts to be degreased. Cooling water piping is provided in the upper part of the tank, said piping comprising a section which functions as a heat exchanger for incoming heat released during the vapor-liquid conversion of the solvent while forming a vapor escape barrier for retaining, through condensation, the solvent vapor, said piping also comprising a section which functions as a heat exchanger for outgoing heat to the ambient air.

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 The vaporized solvent is withdrawn from the chamber and passed through a chiller to recover a portion of the vapor.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.

Abstract: A dryer for particulate material combines the drying effect of a stream of heated gas circulated by a blower in a closed duct system with that of a radiator structure which is in the drying chamber and is in a heat pump circuit. The condenser of the heat pump circuit is in the duct system where it condenses moisture from the gas which has passed through the particulate material. The heat pump compressor is driven by an internal combustion engine which is in a compartment in heat exchange relationship with the duct system. The engine cooling system radiator is immediately downstream from the condenser and the engine exhaust system includes a heat exchanger which is in the duct downstream from the engine cooling radiator.