Flat material dryer

• US 6,151,795 A
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mmats Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mmats Incorporated
• Inventors: Gunn, David, Hoffman, Karl H., Pastore, Michael W, Glowacki, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Pamela
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mattera, Michelle A.
• Application Number:
  US09/153,694
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 34/92, 34/605, 34/73, 34/77, 34/86, 34/595, 34/599, 34/601, 34/606
• US Class Current: 34/92
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/10 expressed as capacitance or resistance
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/30 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/206 Heat pump arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/24 Condensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/48 Control of the energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/086 by condensing the moisture in the drying medium, which may be recycled, e.g. using a heat pump cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/04 by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum F26B11/049 and F26B17/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/044 for drying materials in a batch operation in an enclosure having a plurality of shelves which may be heated F26B5/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A material drying apparatus having a sealable chamber for receipt of wet material, such as clothing. Material placed into the chamber is dried upon the evacuation of air from the chamber wherein moisture drawn from the material is condensed on a condensate coil placed in the chamber. Heating coils placed around the chamber or beneath a drawer elevate the temperature to enhance condensate operation providing an energy efficient material dryer requiring no make-up air. Drum or thermal blanket enhances temperature elevation. Condensed water is purged after the drying process although provisions provide for an interim purge should excess liquid be drawn from the material.

Claims

1. A material dryer device comprising:

a housing;

a hermetically sealed chamber mounted within said housing, said chamber further defined by an interior and an exterior;

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 inside said interior;

means for elevating the temperature of said chamber defined as a plurality of aluminum strips through which hot water is circulated;

a condensate coil for condensing moisture contained in the material placed in said interior; and

a container for storing condensed moisture;

including a means for circulating water vapor past said condensate coils;

including at least one drawer slidably inserted into said interior for holding the material and including a tubular blanket positionable above said drawer.

2. The material dryer according to claim 1 including a neoprene membrane positionable above said tubular blanket.

3. The material dryer device according to claim 1 including a 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.

4. The material dryer device according to claim 3 including a hot water preheating tank.

5. The material dryer device according to claim 4 wherein said hot water preheating tank is maintained at a temperature of about 175 F.

6. The material dryer device according to claim 1 wherein said pump has a drawdown vacuum of approximately 28 inches Hg.

7. The material dryer device according to claim 1 including a means controlling the operation of said material dryer according to the moisture contents of the clothing placed within the chamber.

8. A material dryer device comprising:

a housing;

a hermetically sealed chamber mounted within said housing, said chamber having an interior and an exterior surface;

at least one drawer slidably insertable into said chamber for receiving wet material;

said drawer including a tubular blanket positionable above said interior of each said drawer;

a pump in fluid communication with said interior for drawing a vacuum in said chamber;

a plurality of spaced apart aluminum strips through which hot water is circulated for elevating the temperature of said chamber;

a condensate coil for condensing moisture contained in said wet material placed in said drawers;

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 coil; and

a container for storing condensed water vapor.

9. The material dryer device according to claim 8 including a thermal blanket positionable above said drawer.

10. The material dryer device according to claim 9 wherein said thermal blanket is a neoprene membrane.

11. The material dryer device according to claim 8 wherein said pump has a drawdown vacuum of approximately 28 inches Hg.

12. The material dryer device according to claim 8 including a means controlling the operation of said material dryer according to the moisture content of the clothing placed within the chamber.

13. The material dryer device according to claim 8 including a means for spacing hot and cold fluid tubes.