Upright vacuum dryer
OwnerKarl H. Hoffmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A material drying apparatus having a sealable chamber for receipt of wet material, such as clothing, and in particular fire-fighting outfits. In this embodiment clothing placed into the chamber is dried upon the evacuation of air from the chamber wherein moisture drawn from the clothes is condensed on a condensate coil placed in the chamber. Heating coils placed around the chamber elevate the temperature to enhance condensate operation providing an energy efficient material dryer requiring no make-up air. Condensed water is purged after the drying process although provisions provide for an interim purge should excess liquid be drawn from the material.
Claims18
A mobile unitary dryer device for rapid drying of speciality clothing having at least one polymeric layer comprising a housing operatively connected to a low pressure chamber, said housing enclosing mechanical components a hermetically sealed cylindrically shaped chamber mounted within said housing, said chamber having an interior and an exterior surface;
- a pump in fluid communication with said interior for drawing a vacuum in said chamber;
- a door hingedly coupled to one end of said chamber, said door allowing a resealable access to said interior for placing wet material along an inner surface of said interior;
- means for elevating the temperature of said chamber;
- means for rotating the material along said inner surface of said interior;
- a condensate coil for condensing moisture contained in the material placed in said interior;
- and
- a container for storing condensed moisture.
A material dryer device comprising:
- a housing;
- a hermetically sealed cylindrically shaped chamber mounted within said housing, said chamber having an interior and an exterior surface;
- a pump in fluid communication with said interior for drawing a vacuum in said chamber;
- a door hingedly coupled to one end of said chamber, said door allowing a resealable access to said interior for placing wet material along an inner surface of said interior;
- means for elevating the temperature of said chamber;
- a conveyor assembly causing placement of said wet material along an interior surface of said chamber;
- a condensate coil for condensing moisture contained in said wet material placed in said interior;
- means for pressurizing and heating fluid directed through said means to elevate chamber temperature, said pressurized and heated fluid drawn through an expansion valve juxtapositioned to said condensate coil;
- means for circulating water vapor past said condensate coils;
- and
- a container for storing condensed water vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.