Moisture removal system

• US 6,886,271 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Injectidry Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Injectidry Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Storrer, Ernest J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ragonese, Andrea M.
• Application Number:
  US10/605,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 343/06, 344/39, 344/43, 344/87, 345/07, 34/92, 341/04, 342/37, 342/38, 344/42
• US Class Current: 34/92
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/00 Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects F26B9/10 takes precedence; systems for vehicle body drying B60S3/002 ; air conditioning or ventilation in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/004 Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes F26B3/082, F26B13/104, F26B13/108, F26B21/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 23/10 using tubes or passages containing heated fluids , e.g. acting as radiative elements; Closed-loop systems for combustion gases F26B3/305

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides an improved method of drying wet or water damaged surfaces. The method uses a vacuum source, a manifold, and a plastic sheet covered grid. The grid includes a lattice formation with spaces to permit moisture and air to pass from and beneath the surface to the vacuum source.

Claims

1. A surface drying system having a vacuum source comprising:

a water-impermeable membrane having an upper side, a lower side, and a perimeter, the lower side being configured to be positioned proximate to the surface to be dried;

a port within to membrane, the port configured to allow water and air to pass from the lower side to upper side of the membrane and the vacuum source; and

a grid associated with the lower side of the membrane, the grid further comprising a lattice-work formation, the lattice-work formation being created from a plurality of superimposed strands, such that when the grid is applied to the surface, a plurality of passageways is provided that permit the travel of air and water between the surface and the membrane from locations distant from the port toward the port when the membrane is placed adjacent the surface,

wherein the vacuum source creates an enclosure of negative pressure within the perimeter of the membrane and urges water to flow trough the passageways towards the vacuum source to effect moisture removal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the grid is formed separately from the membrane.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the membrane is a plastic sheet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the port includes a manifold, the manifold having at least one nozzle, the first end of the nozzle connectable in fluid communication with the vacuum source and the second end of the nozzle in fluid communication with the port.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the membrane is sealed to the surface with tape.

6. A surface drying system having a vacuum source comprising:

a grid placed over a surface to be dried, the grid including a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, the first plurality of strands being superimposed over the second plurality of strands to create a lattice-work formation;

a manifold having a nozzle, the nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the nozzle being connectable in fluid communication with the vacuum source, the second end in fluid communication with the grid and the vacuum source; and

a water-impermeable membrane sealed around the first end of the nozzle, the manifold and the grid, the membrane further having a perimeter being sealed to the surface,

wherein when the manifold is exposed to the vacuum source the vacuum source creates an enclosure of negative pressure within the perimeter of the sealed membrane and urges the membrane toward the grid, further urging water to flow through the grid toward the second end of the nozzle to effect moisture removal.

7. A surface drying system having a vacuum source comprising:

a grid placed over a surface to be dried, the grid having a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, the first plurality of strands being superimposed over the second plurality of strands to create a lattice-work formation;

a manifold placed over the grid, the manifold having at least one nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected with a vacuum source, the second in fluid communication with the grid; and

an impermeable membrane sealed around the first end of the at least one nozzle, the manifold and the grid, the perimeter of the impermeable membrane being sealed to the surface,

wherein the manifold is exposed to the vacuum source to create an enclosure of negative pressure within the perimeter of the sealed plate sheet and causes the sheet to collapse onto the grid, whereby the negative pressure causes water to flow through the lattice-work formation to the second end of the nozzle to effect moisture removal underneath end from the surface.

8. A method for removing moisture from a moisture-laden surface using a vacuum source, the method comprising:

connecting the vacuum source to a first end of a flexible hose, the flexible hose having a second end;

placing a grid having a plurality of strands over the moisture-laden surface, the plurality of stands being superimposed and creating a lattice-work formation;

placing a manifold having a port and an orifice, the orifice positioned into the grid;

connecting the second end of the flexible hose to the port of the manifold;

placing an impermeable membrane over the surface and around the manifold;

sealing the manifold to the impermeable membrane;

sealing the perimeter of the impermeable membrane to the surface; and

engaging the blower to apply the vacuum, creating within the sealed impermeable membrane an enclosure of negative pressure, the enclosure of negative pressure being restrained from completely collapsing onto the surface by the grid, the enclosure of negative pressure causing water to flow through the spaces in the lattice-work formation and towards the orifice of the manifold and to the blower, thereby effecting moisture removal underneath and from the surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the impermeable membrane assumes the form of the lattice-work formation by pressing against the grid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the impermeable membrane is a plastic sheet.

11. A surface drying system having a vacuum source comprising:

a grid placed over the surface to be dried, the grid including a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, the first plurality of strands superimposing over the second plurality of strands to create a lattice-work formation, the lattice-work formation providing spaces;

a manifold placed over the grid, the manifold having at least one nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected with the vacuum source, the second end pointed toward the grid; and

an impermeable membrane placed around the first end of the at least one nozzle, the manifold, and the grid, the perimeter of the impermeable membrane being sealed to the surface,

wherein the manifold is exposed to the vacuum source to create an enclosure of negative pressure within the perimeter of the sealed impermeable membrane and causes the membrane to collapse onto the grid, whereby the negative pressure causes water to flow through the spaces within the lattice-work formation to the second end of the nozzle to the vacuum source to effect moisture removal underneath and from the surface.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the impermeable membrane assumes the shape of the lattice-work formation by pressing against the grid.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the impermeable membrane is a plastic sheet.

14. A surface drying system having a vacuum source comprising:

a grid placed over the surface to be dried, the grid having a first plane of strands and a second plane of strands, the first plane of strands being superimposed over the second plane of strands to create spaces between the strands and between the planes to create a lattice-work formation;

a manifold placed over the grid, the manifold having at least one nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end connectable with the vacuum source, the second end in fluid communication with the grid; and

an impermeable membrane sealed around the first end of the at least one nozzle, the manifold and the grid, the perimeter of the impermeable membrane being sealed to the surface, wherein the manifold is exposed to the vacuum source to create an enclosure of negative pressure within the perimeter of the sealed impermeable membrane and causes the membrane to collapse onto the grid, whereby the negative pressure causes water and air to flow through the spaces to the second end of the nozzle to the vacuum source to effect moisture removal underneath and from the surface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the lattice-work formation provides spaces between the impermeable membrane and the surface whereby negative pressure causes air and moisture to pass between the first and second planes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the impermeable membrane assumes the form of the lattice-work formation by pressing against the grid.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the impermeable membrane is a plastic sheet.