Method and apparatus for hand drying

• US 7,039,301 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Excel Dryer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Excel Dryer Incorporated
• Inventors: Aisenberg, Sol, Freedman, George, Hed, A. Ze'ev, Pavelle, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,096
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 392380-383, 392/384, 392/385, 392/379, 34/96, 34/97, 342/02, 342/01
• US Class Current: 392/380
• 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

After washing, the hands are dried rapidly and comfortably by using a shaped high speed flow of heated air. The air flows in a direction controlled by an air outlet shaped to retain much of the exiting forceful air flow and temperature at a distance where the hands are dried. The air entrainment is controlled so that the properties of the air flow are not diluted by the air entrainment to a point where the drying performance is degraded. The forceful air flow blows off most of the loose water on the hands. The forceful air flow also reduces the stagnation boundary layers in the hands so that the evaporation removal of the remaining film of water is improved. These result in reduced drying time and comfort during and after drying.

Claims

1. An apparatus for driving hands, comprising:

a blower for generating an air jet,

where is blower is driving by an electric motor, and

a heater for increasing temperature of said air jet, and

an air outlet for outputting said air jet, where said air jet flow is no less than 18,000 linear feet per minute, wherein;

where said dryer is mounted on the wall, and said air jet is angled towards the wall so that said water blown off is blown away from the user.

2. An apparatus for drying hands, comprising:

a blower for generating an air jet,

where the blower is driven by an electric motor, and

a heater for increasing temperature of said air jet, and

an air outlet having a longitudinal axis, the air outlet outputting said airjet, and,

where said outlet is tubular with an open end for said air jet to exit along the longitudinal axis, and

where said air outlet is circular, and

where said air outlet has a diameter between 0.5 inches to 1.25 inches, and

where said air outlet has a length 3 to 5 times as large as said air outlet diameter, and

where said air jet flow is no less than 18,000 linear feet per minute, and

where said air jet at said air outlet has a pressure force of about 50 inches of water pressure height at said outlet, and has 20 inches of water pressure height at a distance of 6 inches from said air outlet, and

where said air jet is heated, and is at a temperature of approximately 135 deg. F at 4 inches from said air outlet, and

a sound absorbing portion including an array of sound absorbing projections, said projections having a height of about 0.25 inches and spaced apart by ⅓

of the height, and

whereby said airjet blows off at least 75% of the water from said hands in less than 3 seconds, and

whereby said airjet breaks up a stagnation boundary layer on said hands and aids in evaporation of remaining water, and

whereby said hands are dried in less than 15 seconds, and

whereby when dried, said hands have less 0.3 grams of water remaining on said hands, and

whereby immediately after drying, said hands do not cool due to evaporation of remaining water.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where the blower is a two stage blower.

4. An apparatus for drying hands, comprising:

a blower for generating an airjet,

where the blower is driven by an electric motor, and

a heater for increasing temperature of said air jet, and

an air outlet having a longitudinal axis, the air outlet outputting said airjet, and,

where said outlet is tubular with an open end for said airjet to exit along the longitudinal axis, and

where said air outlet is circular, and

where said air outlet has a diameter between 0.5 inches to 1.25 inches, and

where said air outlet has a length 3 to 5 times a large as aid air outlet diameter, and

where said air jet flow is no less than 18,000 linear feet per minute, and

where said air jet at said air outlet has a pressure of about 50 inches of water pressure height at said outlet, and has 20 inches of water pressure height at a distance of 6 inches from said air outlet, and

where said air jet is heated, and is at a temperature of approximately 135 deg. F at 4 inches from said air outlet, and

where said dryer is mounted on the wall, and said air jet is angled towards the wall so that said water blown off is blown away from the user, and

whereby said airjet blows off at least 75% of the water from said hands in less than 3 seconds, and

whereby said air jet breaks up a stagnation boundary layer on said hands and aids in evaporation of remaining water, and

whereby said hands are dried In less than 15 seconds, and

whereby when dried, said hands have less than 0.3 grams of water remaining on said hands, and

whereby immediately after drying, said hands do not cool due to evaporation of remaining water.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 where the blower is a two stage blower.

6. An apparatus for drying hands, comprising:

a blower for generating an air jet,

where the blower is driven by an electric motor, and

where said motor is a brush type motor with a themistor resistor in series with the bmshes to limit the starting current in order to extend said brush life, and

a heater for increasing temperature of said airjet, and

an air outlet having a longitudinal axis, the air outlet outputting said air jet, and,

where said outlet is tubular with an open end for said air jet to exit along the longitudinal axis, and

where said air outlet is circular, and

where said air outlet has a diameter between 0.5 inches to 1.25 inches, and

where said air outlet has a length 3 to 5 times as large as said air outlet diameter, and

where said air jet flow is no less than 18,000 linear feet per minute, and

where said air jet at said air outlet has a pressure force of about 50 inches of water pressure height at said outlet, and has 20 inches of water pressure height at a distance of 6 inches from said air outlet, and

where said air jet is heated, and is at a temperature of proximately 135 deg. F at 4 inches from said air outlet, and

where said dryer is mounted on the wall, and said airjet is angled towards the wall so that said water blown off is blown away from the user, and

a sound absorbing portion including an array of sound absorbing projections, said projections having a height of about 0.25 inches and spaced apart by ⅓

of the height,

whereby said airjet blows off at least 75% of the water from said hands in less than 3 seconds, and

whereby said airjet breaks up a stagnation boundary layer on said hands and aids in evaporation the remaining water, and

whereby said hands are dried in less than 15 seconds, and

whereby when dried, said hands have less than 0.3 grams of water remaining said hands, and

whereby immediately after drying, said bands do not cool due to evaporation of remaining water.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 where the blower is a two stage blower.