A fluid extraction apparatus includes a first chamber within which waste material is configured to be disposed and a second chamber having a vacuum source interface. The first chamber may be in selective fluid communication with the second chamber. In various embodiments, the fluid extraction apparatus further includes an intermediate valve disposed on a conduit extending between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the intermediate valve is selectively actuatable to control the selective fluid communication. In various embodiments, the selective fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber is exclusively via the intermediate valve and the conduit.

A dual drying apparatus having respective dryers arranged up and down, which includes a lower dryer, and an upper dryer arranged on an upper side of the lower dryer, where the dual drying apparatus includes a partition configured to partition an interior of the lower dryer from an interior of the upper dryer.

An infrared (IR) light source drying apparatus (10, 100, 120) is disclosed as including a body (123), an airflow output device (14, 104, 122) for outputting an airflow from the body, and an IR lamp (108, 124) for emitting an IR light ray, the apparatus being without any heating element in the path of movement of the airflow through the body. The airflow outputted by the drying apparatus (10, 100, 120) and directed towards a target (T) is at the ambient temperature, and serves to cool the target. The present invention can provide waterproof functions when drying the target, operate with batteries and use significantly less power for powering the drying apparatus.

A heat exchanger and dehumidifier apparatus for use in grain drying operations or other applications. The heat exchanger and dehumidifier apparatus includes a shroud having an air inlet end and an air discharge end. First, second, third and fourth heat exchangers and dehumidifier assemblies are positioned in the shroud which define an air passageway extending therethrough having an inlet end and a discharge end. A blower is positioned at the discharge end of the shroud for blowing heated and dehumidified air therefrom.

A method for measuring the humidity of a laundry mass contained in a laundry treatment chamber of a laundry appliance. The method includes: providing a capacitor in the laundry appliance, said capacitor having, as part of the capacitor dielectric, the laundry mass; measuring a capacitance of said capacitor by means of an electronic circuitry electrically supplied by a supply voltage and a reference voltage. Providing a capacitor comprises: providing in the laundry appliance at least one conductive plate which forms a plate of said capacitor, and exploiting, as a second plate of said capacitor, routing lines distributing inside the laundry drying appliance said reference voltage.

A wafer drying equipment includes a base, a casing and an electrostatic generator. The base is configured to support a wafer. The casing has an inner wall. The inner wall defines a chamber. The chamber is configured to accommodate the wafer. The electrostatic generator is electrically connected to the casing and is configured to generate an electrostatic charge to the inner wall.

An RF laundry dryer includes, amongst other things, an RF generator, an RF applicator having a perforated body and anode and cathode elements, a fan arranged relative to the perforated body to flow or draw air through the perforated body and an electromagnetic shield protecting the fan from the e-field. Both anode and cathode elements are operably coupled to the RF generator to generate an e-field between the anode and cathode upon the energizing of the RF generator.

A solution for controlling mildew in a cultivated area is described. The solution can include a set of ultraviolet sources that are configured to emit ultraviolet radiation in an ultraviolet range of approximately 260 nanometers to approximately 310 nanometers to harm mildew present on a plant or ground surface. A set of sensors can be utilized to acquire plant data for at least one plant surface of a plant, which can be processed to determine a presence of mildew on the at least one plant surface. Additional features can be included to further affect the growth environment for the plant. A feedback process can be implemented to improve one or more aspects of the growth environment.

The present application provides a cap drying apparatus and a method for drying a cap. The apparatus includes a base console having an inlet and a fan. The inlet receives an air stream from outside of the base console. The apparatus also includes an air supply conduit that is fluidly connected to the inlet and receives the air stream via operation of the fan. The apparatus further includes a mounting head having a distribution chamber and an outer portion comprising a plurality of air channels. The distribution chamber receives the air stream from the air supply conduit and disperses the air stream through the air channels and out of the mounting head. A cap securely fits on the outer surface of the mounting head, and the air stream dispersed through the air channels dries the cap.

The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.