DRYING APPARATUS

• US 3,603,002 A
• Filed: 07/08/1969
• Issued: 09/07/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theodore L. Spierer
• Original Assignee: Theodore L. Spierer
• Inventors: Spierer, Theodore L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matteson, Frederick L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramey, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US04/839,860
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 34/54,97,99,100,243 219/364,369-372
• US Class Current: 34/202
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal-responsive device for a forced air hand dryer which permits the control of the hot air emanating from the drying apparatus and the velocity of the forced air impinging upon the object to be dried.

Claims

1. Apparatus adapted for intermittent operation for drying the hands of a user, having a casing, heat storage means disposed within said casing comprising a body of material having a substantial heat storage capacity, air inlet being provided through said casing and forming an air inlet from the atmosphere, said air passages being in close proximity to said body of material and in good heat transferring relation therewith to a downwardly directed outlet through which air will flow toward a drying area where the hands of the user may be located to be dried, an air blower located in said air passage, an electric motor for driving said blower, an electric heating element in good heat transferring relation to said body of material for heating air to a drying temperature as air is moved by said blower, an electric circuit adapted for substantially continuously supplying energy to said heating element thereby supplying heat to said heat storage means at a relatively slow rate, a thermostatic switch connected to said heating element for turning the same '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' maintaining a predetermined temperature of said heat storage means, and means responsive to the temperature of the heated air for controlling the speed of said blower controlling the rate of flow of heated air when the temperature of said heated air falls below a predetermined temperature resulting in a slower withdrawal of heated air from said heat storage means and permitting lowered temperature of heated air to be elevated.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a rheostat is connected in series with said motor, a thermally responsive switch connected across said rheostat and adapted to introduce said rheostat into the motor circuit when the temperature of heated air falls below a predetermined level.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rheostat may be manually set for providing a fixed reduction of heated air flow when said heated air falls below a predetermined level thereby providing a warmer feeling of heated air impinging upon the hands of a user.