Surface drying apparatus and method

• US 8,296,968 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Hensley
• Original Assignee: Charles Hensley
• Inventors: Hensley, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/865,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,062 Days
• Field of Search: 344/08, 344/25, 34/96, 34/97, 341/07, 343/81, 344/13, 344/97, 345/24, 34/80, 34/90, 342/10, 34/78, 392/384, 392/385, 392/301, 166/60, 347/62
• US Class Current: 34/381
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure

Abstract

An apparatus and method for quickly and effectively drying ground surfaces are disclosed and claimed. The invention has particular utility in the drying of a race track surface. The invention consists of a means for blowing air upon the surface, a means for heating the air and a means for moving the apparatus with respect to the surface to provide flexibility and control in the degree of drying/heating performed. The apparatus and method may be applied to a variety of surfaces including earthen (dirt) surfaces, concrete and asphalt. One of the objectives of the device is to enable the drying of a track surface such that the surface will not be damaged by overheating which can otherwise occur with other track drying devices applied to an asphalt surface in particular. The design of the invention makes specific use of enhanced turbulent air flow at the surface in order to improve performance over a purely laminar air flow.

Claims

1. A ground surface drying apparatus, comprising:

a) a fan for blowing non-recirculating air, said fan being driven by an internal combustion engine;

b) a heater for heating said non-recirculating air;

c) a duct for directing said non-recirculating air to a section of said surface, and;

d) a wheel for moving said apparatus along said surface;

e) wherein, said heater burns fuel directly in the flow of said non-recirculating air.

2. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 1, wherein;

the controls for said heater are powered by an onboard generator.

3. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 2, wherein;

said onboard generator is driven by an internal combustion engine.

4. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a trailer chassis having wheels and a hitch for attaching to a towing vehicle.

5. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 4, wherein;

the other elements of said apparatus are built upon said chassis.

6. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a structural frame upon which the other elements of said apparatus are built, said structural frame fitting into, or upon a self-propelled vehicle.

7. The ground surface drying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a self-propelled vehicle upon which the other elements of said apparatus are built.

8. A method of drying a ground surface, comprising;

a) taking air into a blower;

b) passing said air through a heater which heats said air by burning fuel directly in the flow of said air, wherein the controls for said heater are powered by an onboard generator;

c) directing said air through a duct toward said surface without recirculating said air, while

d) moving said blower, heater, and duct along said ground surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein;

said generator is driven by an internal combustion engine.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein;

said ground surface is asphalt.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein;

the temperature of the asphalt is kept below the temperature at which asphalt loses its structural rigidity.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein;

said ground surface is earthen material.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein;

said blower is driven by an internal combustion engine.

14. A mobile hot air generating apparatus comprising:

a structural frame;

a first reservoir of a first fuel mounted on said structural frame;

a heater mounted on said structural frame and capable of receiving and burning said first fuel;

electrical controls mounted on said structural frame, said electrical controls controlling the reception and burning of said first fuel by said heater;

a generator mounted on said structural frame, said generator providing electricity to said electrical controls;

a second reservoir of a second fuel mounted on said structural frame;

an internal combustion engine mounted on said structural frame and receiving and consuming said second fuel, said internal combustion engine driving said generator;

a blower mounted on said structural frame, said blower blowing non-recirculating air through said heater, said blower being driven by said internal combustion engine;

a duct for directing said non-recirculating air blown through said heater by said blower as said non-recirculating air exits said heater; and

,

means for moving said structural frame, said means comprising at least one wheel attached to said structural frame and a hitch extending from said structural frame, said hitch being adapted to connect to a self-propelled vehicle propelled by its own internal combustion engine.

15. A mobile hot air generating apparatus comprising:

a structural frame;

a first reservoir of a first fuel mounted on said structural frame;

a heater mounted on said structural frame and capable of receiving and burning said first fuel;

electrical controls mounted on said structural frame, said electrical controls controlling the reception and burning of said first fuel by said heater;

a generator mounted on said structural frame, said generator providing electricity to said electrical controls;

a second reservoir of a second fuel mounted on said structural frame;

an internal combustion engine mounted on said structural frame and receiving and consuming said second fuel, said internal combustion engine driving said generator;

a blower mounted on said structural frame, said blower blowing non-recirculating air through said heater, said blower being driven by said internal combustion engine;

a duct for directing said non-recirculating air blown through said heater by said blower as said non-recirculating air exits said heater; and

,

means for moving said structural frame, said means comprising a self-propelled vehicle, said structural frame being carried by said self-propelled vehicle, said self-propelled vehicle being propelled by its own internal combustion engine.

16. The mobile hot air generating apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

said self-propelled vehicle has a cargo bed, said structural frame being dimensioned to fit in and be carried in said cargo bed, the elements mounted on said structural frame operating to generate hot air while said structural frame is carried in said cargo bed.

17. A mobile hot air generating apparatus comprising:

a structural frame;

a first reservoir of a first fuel mounted on said structural frame;

a heater mounted on said structural frame and capable of receiving and burning said first fuel;

electrical controls mounted on said structural frame, said electrical controls controlling the reception and burning of said first fuel by said heater;

a generator mounted on said structural frame, said generator providing electricity to said electrical controls;

a second reservoir of a second fuel mounted on said structural frame;

an internal combustion engine mounted on said structural frame and receiving and consuming said second fuel, said internal combustion engine driving said generator;

a blower mounted on said structural frame, said blower blowing non-recirculating air through said heater, said blower being driven by said internal combustion engine;

a duct for directing said non-recirculating air blown through said heater by said blower as said non-recirculating air exits said heater;

wherein,

said structural frame is dimensioned to fit in the cargo bed of a self propelled vehicle, said self-propelled vehicle being propelled by its own internal combustion engine.