Food Dehydrator

• US 6,085,442 A
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Metal Ware Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Metal Ware Corporation
• Inventors: Erickson, Chad S.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/263,416
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 34/380, 34/381, 34/413, 34/417, 34/443, 34/488, 34/196, 34/197, 34/211, 34/238, 99/467, 99/483, 219/385, 219/386, 219/387, 219/400, D 7/327, D 7/350
• US Class Current: 34/381
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 11/04 Appliances for aerating or de-aerating milk
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 13/00 Tanks for treating cream
• CPC Class Codes: A01J 15/14 Churns with arrangements for making butter by blowing-in air
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/0205 by contact of the material with fluids, e.g. drying gas or extracting liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/40 by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/066 the products to be dried being disposed on one or more containers, which may have at least partly gas-previous walls, e.g. trays or shelves in a stack F26B9/003 takes precedence; in combination with duct systems F26B21/00

Abstract

A modular food dehydrator utilizing a heater blower assembly located on a top surface of a dehydrator module is disclosed. The heater blower assembly includes a motor driven fan, a heating element and an air distribution portion for directing heated air across the support surfaces. The heater blower assembly is preferably releasably attachable to the dehydrator module. In a first embodiment, the dehydrator module has a central opening extending generally vertically through the support surfaces in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly for directing heated air radially outward across the plurality of support surfaces. The dehydrator module preferably includes outlet vents on an outer perimeter surface for exhausting the heated air. At least one outlet vent is preferably located between each of the plurality of support surfaces. In a second embodiment, the dehydrator module includes air ducts on an outer perimeter surface in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly for directing pressurized, heated air radially inward across the plurality of support surfaces. The dehydrator module includes a central opening extending generally vertically through the support surfaces in fluid communication with a space between each the support surfaces for exhausting or recirculating heated air. In a third embodiment, the heater blower assembly is housed within the cover to provide a more compact unit.

Claims

1. A food dehydrator, comprising:

a dehydrator module including an enclosure containing a plurality of generally horizontal support surfaces, and an opening extending generally vertically through the support surfaces;

a releasably attachable cover provided on a top surface of the dehydrator module; and

a heater blower assembly including a motor driven fan and a heating element, the fan operable to direct pressurized, heated air radially inward and generally horizontally across the support surfaces.

2. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the heater blower assembly is releasably attached to the cover.

3. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the fan is composed of a hub and a plurality of blades mounted in a housing, and the motor is positioned within the hub of the blower.

4. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the fan is a centrifugal fan.

5. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a brushless motor.

6. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises a flat, ring-shaped assembly of a plurality of interconnected, rectangular insulation plates, and a segment of coiled heating wire not having fiberglass yarn reinforcement mounted on each plate.

7. The dehydrator according to claim 1, further comprising a thermostat positioned in the cover, wherein air circulating through the dehydrator passes thereby.

8. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the dehydrator module provides a central opening extending generally vertically through the support surfaces in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly for directing heated air radially inward across the plurality of support surfaces.

9. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the dehydrator module comprises a base with an outlet vent for exhausting the heated air.

10. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes an inlet vent for passage of air therethrough.

11. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the dehydrator module includes air ducts on an outer perimeter surface in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly for directing heated air radially inward and generally horizontally across the plurality of support surfaces.

12. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes an air duct on an outer perimeter surface in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly and the air ducts of the dehydrator module.

13. The dehydrator according to claim 1, having a plurality of blower ports around the outer perimeter of the support surfaces to direct heated air radially inward across the support surfaces.

14. The dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the dehydrator module provides a central opening extending generally vertically through the support surfaces in fluid communication with a space provided between each of the support surfaces for exhausting heated air into the central opening.

15. A food dehydrator, comprising:

a dehydrator module comprising a base and a side wall forming an enclosure containing a plurality of support surfaces, the base having an outlet vent, the support surfaces having central openings defining a central cavity;

a top mountable cover having an air inlet vent; and

a heater blower assembly disposed in the cover, and including a motor driven fan and a heating element;

where, in operation, air is drawn in through the air inlet vent, through the fan and to the heating element, and pressurized, heated air is directed radially inward and generally horizontally across the support surfaces.

16. The dehydrator according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the heated air is exhausted to the atmosphere through the outlet vent.

17. A food dehydrator, comprising:

a dehydrator module including a base having an outlet vent; and

at least one food tray having a support surface with a central opening, the food tray capable of stacking vertically with the base;

a cover capable of stacking vertically with the food tray; and

a heater blower assembly including a motor driven fan and a heating element disposed in the cover, the cover having an air inlet vent through which air can be drawn toward the fan and the heating element;

wherein the fan is operable to direct pressurized, heated air axially inward across the support surface of the food tray, at least a portion of the heated air being exhausted to the atmosphere through the outlet vent.

18. The dehydrator according to claim 17, wherein the dehydrator module comprises:

a first blower port for directing heated air radially inward across a floor of the base and across a bottom surface of the support surface; and

a second blower port for directing heated air radially inward across a top surface of the support surface.

19. A kit for assembling a food dehydrator, comprising:

a base having an outlet vent;

a food tray having a support surface with a central opening, and capable of stacking vertically with the base;

a cover capable of stacking vertically with the food tray, and having an air inlet vent;

a heater blower assembly including a motor driven fan and heating element removably mountable in the cover;

wherein the food tray and the cover in an engaged arrangement, form a blower port around the perimeter of the support surface to direct heated air flow radially inward and generally horizontally across the support surface of the food tray.

20. The kit according to claim 19, wherein the food tray includes air ducts on an outer perimeter surface and, in an assembled arrangement, the air ducts of the food tray are in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly.

21. The kit according to claim 19, wherein the cover includes an air duct on an outer perimeter surface and, in an assembled arrangement, the air duct of the cover is in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly and the air ducts of the food tray.

22. A method of operating a food dehydrator, comprising the steps of:

vertically stacking at least one food tray onto a base, the food tray having a support surface with a central opening, and air ducts on an outer perimeter surface; and

the base having an outlet vent;

vertically stacking a cover on the food tray, the cover having an air inlet vent and an air duct on an outer perimeter surface, and a heater blower assembly removably mounted therein;

the heater blower assembly including a motor driven fan and heating element;

wherein, in a stacked arrangement, the outer perimeter air duct of the cover is in fluid communication with the heater blower assembly and the outer perimeter air duct of the food tray;

drawing air in through the air inlet vent of the cover to the heating element; and

directing heated air radially outward into the outer perimeter air duct of the cover, into the outer perimeter air duct of the food tray, and radially inward across the support surface of the food tray, and venting at least a portion of the air to the atmosphere through the outlet vent.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the motor driven fan is a centrifugal fan.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

using a brushless motor to drive the fan.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

heating the air with a heating element comprising a flat, ring-shaped assembly of a plurality of interconnected, rectangular insulation plates, and a segment of coiled heating wire not having fiberglass yarn reinforcement mounted on each plate.

26. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

measuring the temperature of the air by means of a thermostat positioned within the cover.