# US 10,309,722 B1 · Microwave and vacuum drying device, system, and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,722 B1 - Document ID: US10309722B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/154,968 - Filed: 2018-10-09 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Applicants: International Research Institute Inc. - Inventors: Robert Ernest Troxler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309722B1 ## CPC - F26B 5/048: {in combination with heat developed by electro-magnetic means, e.g. microwave energy} - F26B 3/347: Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy - F26B 9/06: in stationary drums or chambers - 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 25/22: Controlling the drying process in dependence on liquid content of solid materials or objects - 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) ## Abstract A method for drying at least one sample of material is provided. The method includes placing the at least one sample of material into a chamber and then sealing the chamber. The method includes applying a vacuum to the chamber in order to reduce the pressure therein. The method includes heating the at least one sample using electromagnetic energy while applying the vacuum to the chamber. The method includes measuring at least one condition of the chamber and determining that the sample is dry based on the at least one monitored condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for drying at least one sample of material, the method comprising: placing the at least one sample of material into an interior of a sealable chamber, wherein the sample is a construction material from a road surface or material for use as a road surface; sealing the sealable chamber; applying a vacuum to the interior of the sealable chamber; heating the at least one sample using electromagnetic energy while applying the vacuum to the interior of the sealable chamber; electronically monitoring at least one condition in the interior of the sealable chamber; and determining that the at least one sample is dry based on the at least one monitored condition; and wherein the heating is carried out by automatically adjusting the electromagnetic energy delivered or duty cycle of the heating to maintain the sample at a substantially constant temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising heating the at least one sample using microwave energy so as electromagnetic waves penetrate the volume of a respective sample in the sealed chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the constant temperature is above or about room temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising filtering moisture from air evacuated from the chamber during at least a portion of the applying the vacuum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sample of material is at least one compacted asphalt sample. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sample of material is at least one loose asphalt mix loose aggregate, or soil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sample of material comprises a plurality of samples of material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one condition comprises monitoring pressure of the sealed chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring the at least one condition comprises monitoring infrared radiation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the at least one sample is dry based on the at least one monitored condition is based on a rise in the monitored infrared radiation and a corresponding substantially concurrent drop in the monitored pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising filtering the infrared radiation below a first predetermined wavelength. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising filtering the infrared radiation below first and second predetermined wavelengths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising collecting residual water on a thermal energy element under a respective sample in the sealed chamber and evaporating the residual water during the heating step. ### Claim 14 A system for drying at least one sample of material, the system comprising: a sealable chamber including an interior sized and configured to house the at least one sample of material, wherein the sample is a construction material from a road surface or material for use as a road surface, the chamber including an outlet; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the chamber to evacuate air from the interior of the sealable chamber through the outlet of the chamber; an electromagnetic energy source in communication with the sealable chamber; and at least one controller configured to: operate the vacuum pump and the electromagnetic energy source; start and stop a drying operation using the vacuum pump and the electromagnetic energy source; monitor pressure and infrared radiation in the interior of the chamber; and determine that the at least one sample of material is dry based on the monitored pressure and infrared radiation; and wherein heating is carried out by automatically adjusting the electromagnetic energy delivered or duty cycle of the heating to maintain the sample at a substantially constant temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a first valve positioned between the vacuum pump and the chamber and a second valve in fluid communication with the chamber and configured to introduce atmospheric air to the interior of the chamber when open, wherein the controller is configured to open and close the first and second valves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein, during the drying operation: the vacuum pump is on; the first valve is open; the second valve is closed; and the electromagnetic energy source is operated to maintain the interior of the chamber at about room temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a lid for sealably closing the sealable chamber during the drying operation, wherein the first valve is closed and the second valve is open after the drying operation to allow the lid to be removed and the at least one dry sample to be accessed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a moisture trap positioned between the vacuum pump and the chamber to filter moisture from the evacuated air during the drying operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one evaporator plate positioned below the at least one sample and configured to provide thermal energy to evaporate residual water within the chamber during the drying operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure inside the chamber and an infrared radiation sensor configured to detect the infrared radiation inside the chamber.