US3815375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure regulating refrigerative air dryer system
Assignee: Vortec Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-06
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1993-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A highly efficient and relatively simple refrigerative dryer system for removing moisture from pressurized air while simultaneously reducing the pressure of that air to a regulated level suitable for operating various instruments, such as control instruments used in heating and air conditioning equipment or other instruments incorporating fluidic elements. The system includes a vortex tube which utilizes the difference in line pressure and instrument (discharge) air pressure to cool the inlet air and, in conjunction with a conventional separator, to remove moisture from the cooled air before it enters the vortex tube. Air pressure downstream of the vortex tube is monitored and, if it exceeds a predetermined level, the flow of inlet air is interrupted by suitable valve means coacting with the pressure sensing device until the downstream pressure again drops below the predetermined level. In one embodiment, the system also includes a thermal sensor, operating in combination with a control valve near the vortex tube''s hot end, for insuring that the temperature of cooled air entering the separator will not drop below a minimum preselected level.
Inventors
- 👤 L Inglis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:40
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; F; F04; F04B; F04B39/00; F04B39/16; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/02; F25B9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
A system for converting a stream of compressed air saturated with water vapor into a stream of relatively dry air at lower regulated pressure suitable for instrument operation, comprising a vortex tube having a high pressure air inlet and having a pair of outlets for hot and cold air discharged at lower pressure, a heat exchanger having first and second air flow channels in heat exchanging relation, passage means connecting said cold air outlet of said vortex tube with the inlet of said second channel of said exchanger, passage means connecting the outlet of said second channel with the hot air outlet of said vortex tube to combine the streams of air therefrom for delivery to an instrument requiring pressure-regulated dry air, said first channel of said exchanger having an inlet receiving relatively high pressure air saturated with water vapor and having an outlet discharging air at substantially the same high pressure but cooled by the flowing air in said second channel, separator means for removing liquid water from pressurized air, passage means connecting an inlet of said separator with the cold air outlet of said first channel of said exchanger and connecting an air outlet of said separator with the inlet of said vortex tube, pressure sensing means connected along one of said passage means downstream of said vortex tube for sensing the pressure of air therein, and a non-modulating valve disposed in one of said passage means upstream of said vortex tube, said valve being operatively connected to said sensing means for interrupting said upstream flow when said sensing means senses a pressure above a predetermined maximum instrument-air pressure level and for restoring said upstream flow when the pressure detected by said sensing means drops below said predetermined level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
291 words
A system for converting a stream of compressed air saturated with water vapor into a stream of relatively dry air at lower regulated pressure suitable for instrument operation, comprising a vortex tube having a high pressure air inlet and having a pair of outlets for hot and cold air discharged at lower pressure, a heat exchanger having first and second air flow channels in heat exchanging relation, passage means connecting said cold air outlet of said vortex tube with the inlet of said second channel of said exchanger, passage means connecting the outlet of said second channel with the hot air outlet of said vortex tube to combine the streams of air therefrom for delivery to an instrument requiring pressure-regulated dry air, said first channel of said exchanger having an inlet receiving relatively high pressure air saturated with water vapor and having an outlet discharging air at substantially the same high pressure but cooled by the flowing air in said second channel, separator means for removing liquid water from pressurized air, passage means connecting an inlet of said separator with the cold air outlet of said first channel of said exchanger and connecting an air outlet of said separator with the inlet of said vortex tube, pressure sensing means connected along one of said passage means downstream of said vortex tube for sensing the pressure of air therein, and a non-modulating valve disposed in one of said passage means upstream of said vortex tube, said valve being operatively connected to said sensing means for interrupting said upstream flow when said sensing means senses a pressure above a predetermined maximum instrument-air pressure level and for restoring said upstream flow when the pressure detected by said sensing means drops below said predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 in which said valve is interposed in passage means for conveying relatively high pressure air to said first channel of said exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing means and said valve coact to interrupt the upstream flow of pressurized air to said vortex tube when the pressure of said downstream flow exceeds a preselected pressure within the range of 10 to 25 psig, and where said relatively high pressure air is supplied at a pressure within the range of approximately 80 to 110 psig.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1 in which said valve includes a pneumatic operating means and said sensing means includes a pneumatic line communicating with the operating means of said valve and tapping into said one of said passage means downstream of said vortex tube for transmitting pressure from said passage means to said pneumatic operating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 in which said valve is solenoid-operated and said sensing means comprises a pressure-operated switch electrically connected to said solenoid-operated valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 5 in which said solenoid-operated valve remains in open condition when the solenoid thereof is energized and in which said switch opens to deenergize said solenoid when the sensed pressure exceeds a selected level within the range of approximately 10 to 25 psig.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The system of claim 1 wherein temperature sensing means is interposed along said passage means between said first channel of said exchanger and said separator means, and a second valve disposed in one of said passage means downstream of said vortex tube adjacent the hot end of said tube, said second valve being operatively connected to said sensing means for controlling the flow of air from the hot end of said vortex tube when the temperature of air sensed by said tempErature sensing means exceeds or drops below a preselected level within the range of 33* to 36* F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 7 in which said second valve is a modulating valve which automatically increases the extent of flow restriction in relation to the extent to which the temperature detected by said temperature sensing means drops below said preselected level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 7 in which said second valve is an open-closed non-modulating valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said non-modulating second valve is solenoid-operated, said temperature sensing means comprising a thermostatic switch electrically connected to said solenoid valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 7 in which said temperature sensing means includes mechanical means responsive to temperature changes and operatively connected to said second valve for directing the same between open and closed positions as the sensed temperature rises above and falls below said preselected level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |