US3672066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave drying apparatus
Assignee: Bechtel International Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-30
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A device is provided for drying a continuous web or sheet of material passing through a drying zone. The device includes two air cushions which face each other and force the sheet of material passing through the drying zone to stay midway between opposite microwave drying units. Further, to prevent wrinkling of the sheet material, the air cushions are provided by spaced slots extending at an angle to the path of travel of the sheet to ensure that streaking of a coating on the sheet is obviated.
Inventors
- 👤 Erik W Stephansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78; D; D06; D06C; D06C7/00; F; F26; F26B; F26B13/00; F26B13/10; F26B13/101; F26B13/104; F26B3/00; F26B3/32; F26B3/34; F26B3/343; D06C2700/00; D06C2700/09; H05B2206/00; H05B2206/04; H05B2206/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of a sheet material moving in one direction through the apparatus, the apparatus including at opposite edges of the moving web and in spaced relation thereto opposite first and second end walls extending parallel to said direction, a top wall and a bottom wall extending between said end walls generally parallel to the plane of the web of sheet material and on opposite sides thereof, a third and a fourth wall extending from each said top and bottom wall toward said web of sheet material and between said end walls to provide a gas duct, means for supplying gas to said duct for discharging gas against said web, a fifth wall extending from said first end wall toward the second end wall and spaced therefrom to provide a waveguide, a sixth and a seventh wall extending from the first end wall toward the second end wall to provide a gas exhaust duct and an extension of the waveguide, and means for feeding microwave energy into said wave guide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of a sheet material moving in one direction through the apparatus, the apparatus including at opposite edges of the moving web and in spaced relation thereto opposite first and second end walls extending parallel to said direction, a top wall and a bottom wall extending between said end walls generally parallel to the plane of the web of sheet material and on opposite sides thereof, a third and a fourth wall extending from each said top and bottom wall toward said web of sheet material and between said end walls to provide a gas duct, means for supplying gas to said duct for discharging gas against said web, a fifth wall extending from said first end wall toward the second end wall and spaced therefrom to provide a waveguide, a sixth and a seventh wall extending from the first end wall toward the second end wall to provide a gas exhaust duct and an extension of the waveguide, and means for feeding microwave energy into said wave guide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of sheet material as in claim 1, an eighth wall extending from the second end wall toward and spaced from the first end wall between the fifth and sixth walls to continue the waveguide with the fifth wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of sheet material As in claim 2, wherein said sixth and seventh walls are spaced from the second end wall and are closed at their ends adjacent the second end wall, a top plate covering the sixth and seventh walls and having a plurality of apertures therein through which the gas is exhausted, said sixth wall defining a continuation of the waveguide with the eighth wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of sheet material as in claim 3, wherein gas distribution means comprising slot means is in said gas discharge duct between said third and fourth walls to evenly distribute gas against said web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of sheet material as in claim 4, wherein said gas distribution means comprises an upstanding flange extending longitudinally in equally spaced relationship between said third and fourth walls, a cover supported on said flange in spaced relation between the third and fourth walls and in the plane of the upper ends of the third and fourth walls to define longitudinally extending slots between the opposite edges of the cover and the adjacent edges of the upper ends of the third and fourth walls, a plurality of slots in said cover disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of said web and at an angle to the third and fourth walls so that gas is released angularly across the web of sheet material to prevent streaking or wrinkling of said web of sheet material as it is moved through said drying apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
In an apparatus for drying a moving web of sheet material as in claim 5, wherein a plurality of gas discharge ducts, waveguides and exhaust ducts are alternately arranged in said drying apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |