US4738692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas drying apparatus
Assignee: Atlas Copco Compressors LLC
•
Filing: 1987-05-26
•
Granted: 1988-04-19
•
Expires: 2007-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A twin tower gas drying apparatus in which the towers alternately receive moisture saturated air to be dried and then receive dry air to regenerate the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture from the saturated air includes purge valves which release the air used for regeneration of the desiccant into the atmosphere and controls for the purge valves that alternately open and close the purge valve during regeneration so that the tower being regenerated is alternately pressurized and depressurized during regeneration so that the amount of air released through the purge valve is limited without causing a dew point elevation of the dry air.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent P. Fresch
- 👤 Mashud A. Awad
- 👤 Anthony R. Rossi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:38
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; B01D53/261; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/047; B01D2251/00; B01D2251/60; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/104; B01D2253/25; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/80; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40007; B01D2259/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of drying gas in an apparatus having at least two desiccant containing towers which alternately receive moisture saturated air to be dried during a drying phase and then receive dry air during a regenerating phase to regenerate the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture from saturated air during the drying phase, said method comprising: introducing saturated air into one of the towers during its drying phase and passing the saturated air over the desiccant so that dry air exits the tower, introducing a portion of said dry air from said one tower into the other of said towers during the regenerating phase of said other tower and passing said dry air over the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture during its drying phase so that said dry air absorbs moisture from the desiccant and regenerates the desiccant, and alternately pressurizing and depressurizing said other tower in its regenerating phase so that the air in said other tower is periodically allowed to expand thus absorbing even greater moisture from said desiccant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of drying gas in an apparatus having at least two desiccant containing towers which alternately receive moisture saturated air to be dried during a drying phase and then receive dry air during a regenerating phase to regenerate the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture from saturated air during the drying phase, said method comprising: introducing saturated air into one of the towers during its drying phase and passing the saturated air over the desiccant so that dry air exits the tower, introducing a portion of said dry air from said one tower into the other of said towers during the regenerating phase of said other tower and passing said dry air over the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture during its drying phase so that said dry air absorbs moisture from the desiccant and regenerates the desiccant, and alternately pressurizing and depressurizing said other tower in its regenerating phase so that the air in said other tower is periodically allowed to expand thus absorbing even greater moisture from said desiccant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gas drying apparatus includes a purge valve for releasing the air used during regeneration and said pressurizing and depressurizing comprises alternately opening and closing the purge valve which releases the air from said other tower so that the amount of air released from said other tower is limited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising using less than ten percent (10%) of the total dry air generated by said one tower for introduction into said other tower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2434419A
Cited
US2625237A
Cited
US2535902A
Cited
US2712981A
Cited
US2975860A
Cited
US2979828A
Cited
US2944627A
Cited
US3155471A
Cited
US3078634A
Cited
US3024867A
Cited
US3138439A
Cited
US3164452A
Cited
US3552096A
Cited
GB1400536A
Cited
US4205967A
Cited
US4552570A
Cited
US4306889A
Cited
US4479815A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-19 | 1991-10-19 | 1992-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-19 | 1995-10-19 | 1996-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-19 | 1999-10-19 | 2000-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |