Compact integrated forced air drying system
First Claim
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1. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
- an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing; and
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing, said heater being elongated along an axis, and said internal cavity and said housing configured to channel pressurized air through said internal cavity in directions substantially perpendicular to said axis.
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Abstract
A fully integrated drying or heating system utilizes forced air and electrical heaters. A solid cartridge heater is enclosed within a compact air plenum with a circuitous air path arranged within the plenum in heat transfer communication with the heater. The plenums are shaped and configured to be used in banks of plural plenums, with the operating controls and all the components of the air distribution system and air heating system fully integrated into a modular package.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing; and
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing, said heater being elongated along an axis, and said internal cavity and said housing configured to channel pressurized air through said internal cavity in directions substantially perpendicular to said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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5. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing;
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing;
wherein said heater comprises a heating element and a heat transfer body that includes heater fins, said heat transfer body having a contact surface that is in heat transfer communication with said heating element; and
wherein said internal cavity is partly defined by undulating side walls of said housing that form circuitous air paths with said heater fins.
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10. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing;
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing, wherein said housing includes opposing side walls that in part define said internal cavity, wherein each said side wall comprises sidewall fins extending toward said heater, and said heater comprises heater fins extending toward said side walls, at least one of said heater fins interposed between two adjacent sidewall fins, said sidewall fins and said heater fins together forming circuitous air flow paths on opposite sides of said heater. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing;
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing; and
wherein said heater is configured to have variable power density to provide a substantially constant air temperature of air exiting said plurality of air outlets along the length of said housing.
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13. A forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an elongated housing with an air inlet and an internal cavity, said air inlet open into said internal cavity to allow pressurized air to enter said internal cavity, a plurality of air outlets arranged spaced apart along a length of said internal cavity to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing;
a heater mounted within said internal cavity of said housing;
wherein said housing comprises an elongated, substantially hollow body having open ends and two end plates which substantially close said open ends, wherein said body comprises a substantially rectangular outside profile along a length thereof;
wherein said heater comprises an elongated, solid cartridge heating element and a heat transfer body that includes heater fins, said heat transfer body having a contact surface that is in contact with said heating element, wherein said heater is mounted to one end plate and extends into said internal cavity; and
wherein said hollow body includes opposing side walls that in part define said internal cavity, wherein each said side wall comprises sidewall fins extending toward said heating element, and said heater fins extend toward said side walls, at least one of said heater fins interposed between two adjacent sidewall fins, said sidewall fins and said heater fins together forming circuitous air flow paths on opposite sides of said heater.
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14. A forced hot air drying unit for drying inks, paints or other coatings, comprising:
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a means for receiving pressurized air;
a means for receiving electrical power;
a plurality of drying units that each receive, heat, and disperse said pressurized air, each of said diving units comprising an electric heater for heating the air;
a means for controlling the flow of said pressurized air passing through said drying units, said means for controlling the flow includes an air flow regulator; and
a means for controlling the temperature of the air passing through said drying units, said means for controlling the temperature includes a modulating power electronic temperature controller, wherein said drying units, said means for controlling the flow, and said means for controlling the temperature are located in a single enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An air distribution system for a forced hot air drying unit, comprising:
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an enclosure;
at least one housing, said housing having an air inlet to allow pressurized air to enter said housing, an internal cavity, and an outlet to allow air to pass from said internal cavity to the exterior of said housing;
an electric heater mounted within said internal cavity of each said housing;
at least one control for influencing the amount of forced air drying; and
wherein said at least one housing and said control are contained within said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification