Material dryer using vacuum drying and vapor condensation
AssigneeMMATS, Inc.
InventorsKarl H. Hoffman, Michael Pastore, Walter Glowacki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A material drying apparatus having a sealable chamber for receipt of wet material, such as clothing. 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.
Claims17
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;
- 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.