A siphon elbow for pivotally connecting a first pipe and a second pipe in fluid communication. A first elongated body has a bore extending therethrough and a partially spherical indentation within the bore. A second elongated body has a bore extending therethrough and a generally spherical extension on a first end that pivotally engages the partially spherical indentation of the first elongated body. An internal locking system is disposed in at least one of the bores and locks the second elongated body into an operating configuration in which an angle formed between the first elongated body and the second elongated body is less than 180-degrees. Pivoting of the second elongated body from an installation configuration in which the angle is approximately 180-degrees to the operating configuration activates the internal locking system.

Embodiments provide a conveyor for conveying loads of lumber through a lumber kiln or other structure without the use of lumber carts or pushers. The conveyor may include a plurality of rollers arranged to form a flow path through the lumber kiln. Groups of the rollers may be driven by separate drives that are configured to rotate the rollers in opposite rotary directions and/or at variable speeds. Some or all of the drives may be operable independently of the other drives to transport loads of lumber at different speeds/directions in adjacent areas of the lumber kiln. In the event of a fire or a shut-down, the rollers in the proximal half of the kiln and those in the distal half of the kiln can be rotated in opposite directions to evacuate loads quickly from both ends.

Embodiments provide a conveyor for conveying loads of lumber through a lumber kiln or other structure without the use of lumber carts or pushers. The conveyor may include a plurality of rollers arranged to form a flow path through the lumber kiln. Groups of the rollers may be driven by separate drives that are configured to rotate the rollers in opposite rotary directions and/or at variable speeds. Some or all of the drives may be operable independently of the other drives to transport loads of lumber at different speeds/directions in adjacent areas of the lumber kiln. In the event of a fire or a shut-down, the rollers in the proximal half of the kiln and those in the distal half of the kiln can be rotated in opposite directions to evacuate loads quickly from both ends.

A cylindrical drum having a plurality of vanes which extend radially into the drum and extend axially substantially the length of the drum rotates about its axis such that the plurality of vanes convey vegetable material from a lowest point in the interior of the drum to a highest point in the interior of the drum, there, to drop the vegetable matter downward within the interior of the drum. A plenum feeds air through a nozzle opening in a rectangular slot extending in its longest dimension substantially the length of the drum. The plenum and nozzle being housed to form a Coand{hacek over (a)}-effect nozzle body having a tear-shaped housing. Two Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces are situated in opposed relation terminating at the nozzle. The Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces to guide air into a combined flow. A hopper plate cooperates with the housing to form a hopper directing vegetable matter to collide with the combined flow.

A drying apparatus can include a wet end portion, a dry end portion, and a drying chamber. The wet end portion can include a spray apparatus configured to apply a product puree to a belt, and the dry end portion can include a knife portion configured to remove a dry product from the belt. The drying chamber can extend between the wet end portion and the dry end portion and can include one or more table sections. Each table section can include a basin portion and one or more temperature control elements. The drying chamber can further include an air inlet and an air outlet such that air can flow through the drying chamber in a direction opposite a direction of the belt.

A drying apparatus can include a wet end portion, a dry end portion, and a drying chamber. The wet end portion can include a spray apparatus configured to apply a product puree to a belt, and the dry end portion can include a knife portion configured to remove a dry product from the belt. The drying chamber can extend between the wet end portion and the dry end portion and can include one or more table sections. Each table section can include a basin portion and one or more temperature control elements. The drying chamber can further include an air inlet and an air outlet such that air can flow through the drying chamber in a direction opposite a direction of the belt.

A method of drying a substance, the method comprising the steps of distributing the substance on a first belt having a side adapted to receive the substance; urging the substance via the side of the first belt towards at least two adjacent sections of an exterior circumferential surface of at least one drum rotatable about a central axis; heating the substance on the first belt via a plurality of heating devices arranged proximate to and about each said section of the drum to heat the substance to remove fluids from the substance; and separately controlling the heating devices proximate to each said section of the drum to heat the substance at different heating temperatures at each section thereof while traveling on the first belt around the drum.

A method of drying a substance, the method comprising the steps of distributing the substance on a first belt having a side adapted to receive the substance; urging the substance via the side of the first belt towards at least two adjacent sections of an exterior circumferential surface of at least one drum rotatable about a central axis; heating the substance on the first belt via a plurality of heating devices arranged proximate to and about each said section of the drum to heat the substance to remove fluids from the substance; and separately controlling the heating devices proximate to each said section of the drum to heat the substance at different heating temperatures at each section thereof while traveling on the first belt around the drum.

A dielectric drying method for ceramic formed bodies includes drying a plurality of ceramic formed bodies placed side by side in an arrangement direction Y perpendicular to a conveying direction X on an upper surface of a drying table by conveying the ceramic formed bodies between electrodes of an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and applying a high frequency between the electrodes. The upper electrode includes: a central region; and two end regions between which the central region is located, in the arrangement direction Y. The central region has a flat surface portion parallel to an upper end surface of the ceramic formed body. Each of the two end regions has an inclined portion inclined toward the lower electrode side

A dielectric drying method for ceramic formed bodies includes drying a plurality of ceramic formed bodies placed side by side in an arrangement direction Y perpendicular to a conveying direction X on an upper surface of a drying table by conveying the ceramic formed bodies between electrodes of an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and applying a high frequency between the electrodes. The upper electrode includes: a central region; and two end regions between which the central region is located, in the arrangement direction Y. The central region has a flat surface portion parallel to an upper end surface of the ceramic formed body. Each of the two end regions has an inclined portion inclined toward the lower electrode side