# US 10,246,240 B1 · Dry purge desiccator and method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,246,240 B1
- Document ID: US10246240B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/387,432
- Filed: 2016-12-21
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-22
- Assignees: Terra Universal, Inc.
- Applicants: Terra Universal, Inc.
- Inventors: Kamran Sadaghiani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246240B1

## CPC

- F26B 25/12: Walls or sides; Doors
- B65D 81/263: {for ventilating the contents (B65D5/4295, B65D51/1605 take precedence)}
- F26B 5/00: Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat (separating liquids from solids by straining B01D; replacing liquids in wet solids by other liquids, e.g. water by spirit, B01D12/00; drying by electrophoresis B01J)
- F26B 9/066: {the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack (F26B9/003 takes precedence; in combination with duct systems F26B21/00)}
- F26B 21/40: using gases other than air
- F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

My desiccator comprises a plurality of chambers in series communication with each other so a desiccating gas flows from one chamber into an adjacent chamber. A desiccating purge gas is introduced through an inlet into the desiccator's chambers at a predetermined flow rate, and a one-way bleed valve allows gas within the chambers to constantly flow from the desiccator while maintaining a positive pressure within the desiccator. A fan that constantly mixes and circulates the gas between the chambers as the desiccating purge gas is introduced into the desiccator, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh supply of the desiccating gas. My method employs my desiccator to store items, wherein a dry, pressurized desiccating gas is introduced into the desiccator's chambers in a manner that constantly circulates the gas between the chambers as gas is slowly bled from the chambers, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh supply of the desiccating gas. In my method the dew point of the desiccating gas is from −20 to −90 F°, the pressure of the desiccating gas is from 30 to 120 psi, and the average flow rate of the desiccating gas into the desiccator is from 0.25 to 4.0 cubic feet per minute.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A desiccator comprising
a plurality of chambers in series communication with each other so a dry, pressurized desiccating gas flows from one chamber into an adjacent chamber, and
a circulation structure that introduces said desiccating gas into at least one of said chambers and constantly circulates said gas throughout said chambers as said gas slowly bleeds from the chambers, said structure including
an inlet through which said fresh supply of desiccating purge gas is introduced into the chambers at a predetermined flow rate,
a one-way bleed valve that allows gas within the chambers to constantly flow from the desiccator while maintaining a positive pressure within the desiccator, and
a fan that constantly mixes and circulates the gas within the chambers as fresh desiccating purge gas is introduced into the said one chamber, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh desiccating gas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The desiccator of claim 1 where said positive pressure is 0.05 inches of water column.

### Claim 3

A desiccator comprising
a plurality of chambers in series communication with each other so a dry, pressurized desiccating gas flows from one chamber into an adjacent chamber, and
a circulation structure that introduces said desiccating gas into at least one of said chambers and constantly circulates said gas throughout said chambers as said gas slowly bleeds from the chambers, said structure including
an inlet through which said fresh supply of desiccating purge gas is introduced into the chambers at a predetermined flow rate,
a one-way bleed valve that allows gas within the chambers to constantly flow from the desiccator while maintaining a positive pressure within the desiccator, and
a fan that constantly mixes and circulates the gas within the chambers as fresh desiccating purge gas is introduced into the said one chamber, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh desiccating gas, and
a purge controller that regulates the flow rate of the desiccating gas through the inlet and into the chambers and introduces enough desiccating gas into the chambers so that the chambers are at a predetermined humidity,
said purge controller operating to provide purge gas at a low flow rate when the ambient humidity is equal to or less than a predetermined set point humidity within the desiccator while the doors of the chambers are closed, and a high flow rate when the ambient humidity is above said predetermined set point humidity or upon opening a door of a chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The desiccator of claim 3 where said positive pressure is 0.05 inches of water column.