Apparatus for controlling atmospheric conditions in storage compartments

Claim 1

IN A DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM FOR A SHIP HAVING A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE HOLDS, A LIKE PLURALITY OF DEHUMIDIFIER DEVICES, ONE FOR EACH HOLD, EACH BEING LOCATED ADJACENT ITS RESPECTIVE HOLD AND HAVING A CONDUIT SYSTEM FOR INTERCONNECTING SAME THERETO FOR RECIRCULATING THE AIR THEREIN; EACH OF SAID DEVICES INCLUDING FAN MEANS FOR MOVING THE AIR THROUGH SUCH HOLD AND CONDUIT SYSTEM TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH RECIRCULATION; MEANS FOR BYPASSING VIA SAID DEHUMIDIFIER DEVICE A SELECTED FRACTION OF THE TOTAL AIR FLOW MOVED BY SAID FAN MEANS; MEANS FOR SENSING THE DEWPOINT TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR OF EACH OF SAID HOLDS, THE DRY BULB TEMPERATURE OF THE WEATHER AIR, AND THE SEA WATER IN WHICH SUCH SHIP FLOATS; AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INITIATING THE OPERATION OF ANY ONE OF SAID DEHUMIDIFIER DEVICES IN RESPONSE TO THE OCCURRENCE OF A SELECTED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEWPOINT TEMPERATURE OF SUCH A HOLD AND ONE OF SAID DRY BULB TEMPERATURES.