Patent EP0020933A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0020933A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of relative humidity in disk files
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1980-04-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2000-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Relative humidity within a machine enclosure (11) is controlled by means of a desiccant and a circulatory breather flow through the enclosure walls. The desiccant absorbs moisture during power off periods to keep the relative humidity down. During power on periods the enclosure temperature rises which drives off the absorbed moisture from the desiccant. Operation of the machine also creates a pressure differential between two breather orifices (36, 37) in the enclosure walls so that there is a circulatory exchange of air between the enclosure and atmosphere. If the desiccant has absorbed a significant amount of moisture during power off periods, the moisture concentration within the enclosure will exceed that outside and there will be a net expulsion of moisture to partially recharge the desiccant.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivor William Bolton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:51
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A machine comprising a substantially sealed enclosure, operation of the machine creating a rise in temperature within the enclosure, the machine further comprising a rechargeable desiccant within the enclosure for absorbing water vapour therein, two breather orifices communicating between the interior and exterior of the enclosure, and means for creating a pressure differential between the breather orifices during machine operation to produce a circulatory exchange of air between the enclosure and its surrounding atmosphere through the breather orifices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A machine comprising a substantially sealed enclosure, operation of the machine creating a rise in temperature within the enclosure, the machine further comprising a rechargeable desiccant within the enclosure for absorbing water vapour therein, two breather orifices communicating between the interior and exterior of the enclosure, and means for creating a pressure differential between the breather orifices during machine operation to produce a circulatory exchange of air between the enclosure and its surrounding atmosphere through the breather orifices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 including a shallow tray for containing the desiccant and a retaining cover for retaining the desiccant therein through which cover air may pass freely.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which includes mechanical components rotatable about an axis within the enclosure, these components constituting the means for creating a pressure differential between the breather orifices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the rotatable mechanical components include a fan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the two breather orifices are located at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the rotatable mechanical components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine as claimed in any preceding claim including a breather filter associated with both the breather orifices which lie on substantially the same radial line, through which filter air must pass when entering the enclosure via the breather orifices, the filter comprising two chambers both divided by a common filter sheet, each chamber being associated with a respective breather orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as claimed in claim 6 as dependent on claim 2 in which the breather filter and desiccant tray are part of a common unit comprising upper and lower halves between which a common filter sheet is retained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the rotatable mechanical components include a shaft passing through a wall of the enclosure and being supported for rotation by at least one bearing in the enclosure wall, the bearing providing a path for gas leakage between the interior and exterior of the enclosure which path constitutes at least a portion of one of the breather orifices.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1072528A
Cited
US3631423A
Cited
US3740735A
Cited
US3700855A
Cited
GB1486070A
Cited
US4130845A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.