Upright vacuum dryer
First Claim
1. 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. 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;
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A material dryer device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification