Method and apparatus for drying industrial barrels

An apparatus for drying hollow bodies having an access opening, comprising:

• an inclined support having holding means for tilting and holding said hollow bodies with said access opening pointing upwardly, wherein a residual quantity of liquid within said hollow body collects at a lowermost point of said hollow body when tilted;
• a vacuum chamber, moveable between a first position proximate to said inclined support and a second position remote from said inclined support;
• a suction pipe affixed to said vacuum chamber and adapted to be introduced into said access opening;
• displacement means secured to said vacuum chamber for moving said vacuum chamber in a vertical direction between said first and second positions, said displacement means moving said vacuum chamber in a downward direction to said first position at which said vacuum chamber encloses said hollow body in a pressure-tight manner and at which said suction pipe is received within said access opening with a lower terminal end of said suction pipe being located at said lowermost point, said displacement means moving said vacuum chamber in an upward direction to said second position at which said suction pipe is completely withdrawn from said hollow body;
• a vacuum pipe communicating with said vacuum chamber for generating a vacuum in said hollow body;
• and
• heating means communicating with said suction pipe for heating said suction pipe.