Ejector device for vacuum drying

• US 6,470,593 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Medical Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Delta Medical Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Seo, Kyu Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RINEHART, KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US09/985,027
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 34/92, 342/87, 343/07, 343/08, 343/09, 343/51, 343/59, 343/61, 344/02, 344/03, 344/06, 345/41, 345/76, 345/82, 345/85, 346/05, 346/06, 346/41, 346/42, 239/318, 454/344, 137/893
• US Class Current: 34/92
• 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 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ejector device for vacuum drying having at least first and second passages for connecting a first chamber with a second chamber, wherein the chambers are arranged substantially at right angles with respect to each other, and the ejector is adapted to vacuum dry the inside of the second chamber by means of high speed air flow toward the first chamber. The flow toward the first chamber preferably travels through the second passage from the first passage, on the side opposite the first chamber, to induce a negative pressure in the first passage. This way, the change in kinetic energy draws the stagnant air and steam existing in the second chamber into the inside of the first chamber.

Claims

1. An ejector device for vacuum drying, comprising:

a first chamber with a first passage extending in a first direction, and a second chamber with a second passage extending in a second direction, wherein said first and second passages are adapted to communicate with each other;

an adjustable nozzle adapted to communicate with said first and second passages, and to control flow from said second passage to said first passage, and to eject high-speed air toward said first chamber through said first chamber in said first direction, wherein negative pressure can be formed in said first passage, and wherein stagnant air and steam existing in said second chamber can be drawn from said second chamber and into said first chamber, via said first and second passages, wherein the inside of said second chamber can be vacuum-dried thereby.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second chambers are connected to a body having said first and second passages extended therein, and said nozzle is adjustably connected to said body and has a hole or channel therein for ejecting air toward said first chamber.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a gap is formed between said nozzle'"'"'s outer surface and an internal surface of said first passage through which said stagnant air and steam can pass from said second passage into said first passage.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said gap is capable of being adjusted by adjusting the position of said nozzle relative to said internal surface.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said nozzle and body have threaded sections which allow said nozzle to be adjusted relative to said internal surface.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said nozzle'"'"'s outer surface has a substantial frusto-conical external shape, and said internal surface has a substantial frusto-conical interior shape, wherein said gap is formed therebetween.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein an air pump is attached to said body and a third passage is formed in said nozzle communicating with said hole or channel and said air pump.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said nozzle is located downstream from said second passage such that said nozzle can control the flow of said stagnant air and steam drawn from said second chamber and into said first chamber.

10. An ejector device for vacuum drying, comprising:

an ejector with at least first and second passages for connecting first and second chambers in mutual communication, wherein the ejector is adapted for vacuum-drying the inside of the second chamber by ejecting high-speed air toward the first chamber from the first passage'"'"'s side opposite the first chamber to induce a negative pressure in the first passage due to a change in kinetic energy so as to draw via the second chamber stagnant air and steam existing in the second chamber into the inside of the first chamber; and

wherein an air ejector nozzle is adjustably connected to said ejector at the first passage'"'"'s end opposite the first chamber, and provided with a third passage for connection with an air pump, and an air hole or channel to be in communication with the first and second passages, said air jet nozzle forming a gap between the nozzle'"'"'s front outer surface and a wall of the first passage beyond the position of the second passage.

11. The ejector device for vacuum drying according to claim 10, wherein said ejector comprises a body formed, at one end of the first and second passages, with first and second connecting sections for water-tight connection with the first and second chambers, the first and second passages being substantially perpendicular to each other.

12. The ejector device for vacuum drying according to claim 11 wherein said air jet hole or channel is formed tapered toward a front end of the air jet nozzle to result in the form of a cone frustum.