Dry suit dryer
OwnerMichael V. Rydeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for drying “dry suits”, HAZ MAT suits, cleanroom suits and the like utilizes a blower and heating elements mounted through a neck, wrist or ankle seal of the suit. The heated and compressed air is discharged into the suit to absorb moisture from the internal suit surfaces, then is discharged through the suit seals, rapidly drying the suit. Inserts for establishing a desired discharge rate from the suit seals are described. The inserts also serve to stretch the neck and arm seals to the proper diameter for maintaining comfortable wear.
Claims44
An apparatus for removing moisture from a water resistant or waterproof exposure suit which has a neck opening and at least one of wrist openings and feet openings between an interior and an exterior of the suit, the apparatus comprising:
- a blower for blowing drying air in a stream at an elevated pressure;
- conduit means connected to said blower and configured to pass through one of said openings into said interior, to discharge said drying air stream into the interior of said suit;
- flow-limiting means insertable into at least one of said wrist openings and foot openings;
- whereby said air stream is directed into the interior to absorb said moisture, be humidified thereby and to be discharged from openings including at least one of the wrist openings, and a neck opening.
A portable drying apparatus for drying an exposure suit having an interior and an exterior comprising a torso portion, arm portions, leg portions, foot portions, neck opening an wrist openings, said apparatus comprising:
- an electric blower for compressing a drying stream of air;
- a primary insert for plugging said neck opening of an exposure suit;
- two conduits attachable to said primary insert and extendable into leg portions of said suit;
- at least one conduit opening passing through said primary insert for attachment of conduits thereto;
- an inflation opening passing through said primary insert for enhanced airflow to said interior;
- means for directing airflow from said blower to said primary insert;
- and
- means for controlling airflow from said blower to alternately flow through one of said inflation opening and said conduit opening.
A portable drying apparatus for drying an exposure suit, comprising:
- a carrying case;
- air pressurization means in said case, comprising;
- a first plenum communicating with the atmosphere for providing input air;
- a centrifugal blower mounted on said first plenum and configured to draw air therefrom
- a motor for driving said blower;
- a second plenum for accepting compressed air from said blower;
- tube means for passage of compressed air from said second plenum to an exposure suit;
- and
- means for relieving excess pressure of compressed air from said apparatus to prevent overpressurization of said exposure suit.
An apparatus for drying an exposure suit having an exterior and an interior and a neck opening and at least one of wrist openings and foot openings between said interior and said exterior, said apparatus comprising:
- a blower for compressing air to an elevated pressure;
- an electrical heater in communication with said blower for heating the compressed air;
- conduit means having:
- a first end in communication with said blower;
- and
- a second end insertable through said neck opening;
- a primary insert sealingly attached to said conduit means and configured to be sealingly inserted within said neck opening;
- at least one secondary insert having a flow-restricting opening therethrough, said secondary insert sealingly insertable within at least one of said wrist openings and said foot openings to control discharge of humid air from said interior and form elevated pressure therein;
- and
- electrical means for operating said blower and heater for discharging warm air from said second end of conduit means into said interior.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.