Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
A dryer comprising: an enclosed housing including an air inlet and an air outlet; opposed first and second flow desiccant bed ducts on each side of said inlet and outlet; an inlet plenum located between said inlet and said opposed flow ducts and an outlet plenum located between said outlet and said opposed flow ducts; said inlet and outlet plenums communicating through said flow ducts; a valve door pivotally supported within said housing having one end extending across said inlet to direct air received from said inlet into one of said flow ducts in a first pivotable position and into said opposite flow duct in a second pivotable position; door actuating means intermittently pivoting said valve door between said first and second positions to alternately and intermittently direct air into one of said first and second flow ducts; blower means directing air into said inlet; said flow ducts each comprising perforated baffle assemblies of loosely packed desiccant material having a low pressure drop across each baffle assembly; a heater means, positioned within said outlet plenum in the air path therein, adapted for heating the dehydrated air passing through said outlet plenum rendering said dry air more hygroscopic for increased drying of the air passing through said outlet and the air returning through the other of said flow ducts for rapid regeneration of said baffle assemblies; valve means in said inlet plenum; said valve means alternately directing air received from one of said flow ducts out of said housing; said blower means directing air into said inlet; said valve door and door actuating means alternately and intermittently directing said air into one of said flow ducts, into said outlet plenum, and a large portion of said air out of said outlet; said outlet being a restricted opening and creating a back pressure in said outlet plenum directing a portion of air received from said opposed flow duct into the opposite flow duct; and said valve means directing said portion of air received from said opposed flow duct out of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
A dryer comprising: an enclosed housing including an air inlet and an air outlet; opposed first and second flow desiccant bed ducts on each side of said inlet and outlet; an inlet plenum located between said inlet and said opposed flow ducts and an outlet plenum located between said outlet and said opposed flow ducts; said inlet and outlet plenums communicating through said flow ducts; a valve door pivotally supported within said housing having one end extending across said inlet to direct air received from said inlet into one of said flow ducts in a first pivotable position and into said opposite flow duct in a second pivotable position; door actuating means intermittently pivoting said valve door between said first and second positions to alternately and intermittently direct air into one of said first and second flow ducts; blower means directing air into said inlet; said flow ducts each comprising perforated baffle assemblies of loosely packed desiccant material having a low pressure drop across each baffle assembly; a heater means, positioned within said outlet plenum in the air path therein, adapted for heating the dehydrated air passing through said outlet plenum rendering said dry air more hygroscopic for increased drying of the air passing through said outlet and the air returning through the other of said flow ducts for rapid regeneration of said baffle assemblies; valve means in said inlet plenum; said valve means alternately directing air received from one of said flow ducts out of said housing; said blower means directing air into said inlet; said valve door and door actuating means alternately and intermittently directing said air into one of said flow ducts, into said outlet plenum, and a large portion of said air out of said outlet; said outlet being a restricted opening and creating a back pressure in said outlet plenum directing a portion of air received from said opposed flow duct into the opposite flow duct; and said valve means directing said portion of air received from said opposed flow duct out of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dryer defined in claim 1, wherein said heater means includes an electric resistance heater coil selectively adjustable for producing heat in the range of 200 to 700 watts, approximately.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dryer defined in claim 1, wherein said heater means provides drying air through said air outlet in a temperature in the range 80° to 90° F., approximately.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
In the dryer defined in claim 1, wherein said baffle assemblies contain a desiccant material being alumina.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dryer defined in claim 1, further comprising an air diffusing bonnet connected to said dry air outlet for directing dry air onto a persons wet hair.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The dryer defined in claim 5, wherein the connection of said bonnet to said air outlet includes an outlet sleeve at one end connected to said outlet plenum in communication with said dry air outlet, and at its other end connected to and supporting said bonnet for delivering dehydrated air therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The dryer defined in claim 1, wherein each of said baffle assemblies includes a hollow enclosure of wire mesh screening, a desiccant material being of particular form and loosely netted in each of said baffle assemblies.