DRYING APPARATUS

• US 3,643,346 A
• Filed: 05/29/1969
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Lester
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Lester
• Inventors: Lester, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US04/829,005
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 34/202,212,219,243 126/261 219/366-371,400
• 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

An improved electric hand dryer which provides a partially enclosed chamber within its housing so that the user'"'"''"'"'s hands can be inserted into the chamber during the drying cycle. Warm dry air is directed in a circular flow path within the chamber so that a major portion of it is recirculated through the heater and dryer while it dries the user'"'"''"'"'s hands on all sides so that the drying cycle and the power requirements of the apparatus are significantly reduced. The dryer can also be adapted for use as a face dryer, food warmer, hair dryer, and as a room heater, and as a clothes dryer.

Claims

1. An electric hand drying apparatus for connection to an electrical power source comprising;

a dual housing, each housing having a first chamber, and a second chamber open on the front face of said housing for receiving a person'"'"''"'"'s hands, an electric tangential air blower, including a blower motor having an output shaft on each end and a tangential blower connected to said shaft on each end of said motor, and one mounted within each said first chamber and disposed adjacent to its respective said second chamber for directing its output into its respective chamber and for receiving its input from its respective said second chamber in a closed air loop, a pair of electrical heater elements, one disposed adjacent to said blower within each of said first chamber and disposed in the path of said moving air loop so that a substantial portion of the air is recirculated from said second chamber through said first chamber so as to establish an air curtain across the hand receiving opening of said second chambers during the operation of the electric tangential blower, and means responsive to the insertion of hands in the opening of one of said second chambers for electrically connecting said tangential blower and said heaters to the electrical power source.

2. An electric hand drying apparatus for connection to an electrical power source comprising:

a housing having a first chamber, and a second chamber open on the front face of said housing for receiving a person'"'"''"'"'s hands, an electric tangential air blower mounted within said first chamber and disposed adjacent to said second chamber for directing its output into said second chamber and for receiving its input from said second chamber in a closed air loop, including a motor having a first cowl disposed between one end of said motor and said housing, said first cowl surrounding a plurality of ventilating holes disposed in said housing and said motor end, and a second cowl disposed at the end of the fan of said tangential blower adjacent to said motor and enclosing the other end of said motor end, said other motor end including a plurality of ventilating holes communicative with said second cowl so that said fan will pull air through said housing, ventilating holes and motor in order to cool said motor, an electrical heater mounted within said first chamber and disposed in the path of said moving air loop so that a substantial portion of the air is recirculated from said second chamber through said first chamber so as to establish an air curtain across the hand-receiving opening of said second chamber during the operation of said electric tangential blower, and means responsive to the insertion of hands in the opening of said second chamber for electrically connecting said tangential blower and said heater to the electrical power source.

3. An electric hand drying apparatus for connection to an electrical power source comprising;

a housing having a first chamber, and a second chamber open on the face of said housing for receiving a person'"'"''"'"'s hands, including a pushbutton disposed on the front of said housing, a door for exposing an opening on the front of said housing, said door being pivotably connected to said pushbutton, a lever connected to said pushbutton, and a plurality of shutters for controlling the airflow between said chambers, an electrical tangential air blower mounted within said first chamber and disposed adjacent to said second chamber for directing its output into said second chamber and for receiving its input from said second chamber in a closed air loop, said shutters being disposed in the output path of said blower for closing off said blower output into said second chamber and redirecting said blower output through said front opening, an electrical heater mounted within said first chamber and disposed in the path of said moving air loop so that a substantial portion of the air is recirculated from said second chamber through said first chamber so as to establish an air curtain across the hand-receiving opening of said second chamber during the operation of the electric tangential blower, and means responsive to the insertion of hands in the opening of said second chamber for electrically connecting said tangential blower and said heater to the electrical power source.

4. An electric hand drying apparatus for connection to an electric power source comprising;

a housing having a first chamber, and a second chamber open on the front face of said housing for receiving a person'"'"''"'"'s hands, a cover slidably engaged in front of said housing for disposal over the opening of said second chamber, an electric tangential air blower mounted within said first chamber and disposed adjacent to said second chamber for directing its output into said second chamber and for receiving the input from said second chamber in a closed air loop, an electrical heater mounted within said first chamber and disposed in the path of said moving air loop so that a substantial portion of the air is recirculated from said second chamber through said first chamber so as to establish an air curtain across the hand-receiving opening of said second chamber during the operation of the electric tangential blower, means responsive to the insertion of hands in the opening of said second chamber for electrically connecting said tangential blower and said heater to the electrical power source, and switch means disposed adjacent to the entrance of said second chamber for contact with the edge of said cover, said switch means being electrically connected to said blower, and said heater for decreasing said blower and said heater to one-half power when said cover contacts said switch means.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said cover is constructed from a transparent material.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means includes a trip lever disposed adjacent to the entrance of said second chamber adjacent to the front of said housing, and, switch means in contact with said trip lever and connected to said motor for operating said motor and heater responsive to actuation of said trip lever.