AU2005203363A1 - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S):: Veltek Europe, S.L.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia INVENTION TITLE: Hand dryer The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5102 -larObject of the Invention The present invention refers to a hand dryer of the type 1 comprising a casing containing air-propelling means responsible for propelling the air to the exterior of the casing so that the user can dry his or her hands.

Background of the Invention Hand dryers comprising a turbine motor and an electrical resistor generating a flow of hot air and propelling it to the 0 exterior of the casing through an outlet hole are currently known. This hot air slowly evaporates the water from the hands placed under the air flow. In the general scheme of conventional hand dryers the motor moves some blades and generates a flow of air passing through an electrical resistor which heats the outgoing air.

Part of the water may drip off the hands, by gravity or because the user rubs and shakes his or her hands to reduce the long drying time, in both cases getting his clothes or shoes wet.

These circumstances may generate discomfort and disgust in the user. Furthermore, the floor receives part of the water dripping from the hands producing cleanliness and safety problems, increasing maintenance requirements.

This conventional dryer design has the following disadvantages: The drying time is slow and is normally above 40 or seconds.

Part of the water from the hands drips off and gets the user wet, producing discomfort and disgust.

Part of the water contained on the hands also falls to the floor creating a non-recommended situation from the health, safety and maintenance point of view, especially in very busy public places.

Electric consumption is high, because apart from the turbine motor assembly, the electrical resistors heating the air for drying must be supplied with power.

Description of the Invention This invention refers to a hand dryer with features l intended for drying hands in a short time and preventing water from dripping on the user and the floor, all of this with less consumption than hot air dryers.

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This hand dryer comprises, at least: a box or casing; a drying chamber integrated in the casing for inserting the hands of the user; proximity sensors located in the drying S0 chamber, room temperature and high speed air generating means, N and air outlet groups arranged in the front and back surfaces of the drying chamber, each outlet being made up of a plurality of small openings forming rows or linear groups in the opposing surfaces of the drying chamber, the emerging air forming a type of high speed air "curtains" or "blades".

The angle of incidence of the air with respect to the hand surface has been studied to take advantage of the aid of gravity in the dripping of the water. The amount, speed and direction of the air generated drain the water from the hands quickly and cleanly.

In a first embodiment it has been provided that the outlet groups, located on each one of the sides of the chamber are arranged at the same height and connected by means of nozzles to a single turbine motor.

The user thus has only to insert his hands in the drying chamber and when the high speed air generation begins, draw his or her hands from the chamber so that the high speed air "curtains" may sweep the water from his or her hands. The water is very quickly drained assuring drying in less than 7 seconds.

The drained water falls inside the drying chamber where it is collected by means of an opening and guided by a duct to a recipient located inside the dryer.

As the water does not need to be heated, electrical consumption is less than 50% that of conventional hot air CI dryers.

In a second embodiment it has been provided that each group of nozzles comprises independent outlets, vertically 1 spaced and connected to the air-propelling means by means of an air distribution system driving the air in an orderly manner towards the nozzles of each group, coming out initially through the upper nozzles, and subsequently, in a sequential manner, from the lower nozzles; the propelled.air performing a sweeping action in a descending direction from the highest 0 area to the lowest area during a drying cycle.

The intervention of the user during the drying process is not necessary given that it is the air curtains which change positions.

In order to achieve the outlet of high-speed air in an orderly fashion through the successive outlets it has been provided that the dryer may incorporate a single turbine motor, the air outlet being controlled by means of opening and closing valves, or several turbine motors, the outlet of each one of said turbine motors being connected to those outlets located at a certain height, the turbine motors being sequentially actuated by a control card incorporated in the dryer.

In order to achieve propelling the air at room temperature and at high speed, turbine motors are used which work at a rotating speed exceeding 20,000 revolutions per minute and providing air at a speed ranging from 30 to metres/second.

The outlet groups may be optionally connected directly to high speed air-propelling means which are simultaneously actuated at the beginning of the drying cycle and which keep operating during the entire cycle, propelling air simultaneously through all the outlet groups at different heights.

In order to assure the simultaneous outlet of high speed air through all outlets, the air-propelling means are made up of two turbine motors, the outlet or propelling openings of which are directly connected to the outlet groups arranged on each of the opposite surfaces of the drying chamber.

I The dryer may optionally incorporate a device for evaporating the water coming from the drying chamber, said device including a low power electrical resistor controlled by

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the electronic card and a fan propelling the vapour produced outside the casing.

3 Description of the Figures D In order to complement the description being made and to N facilitate understanding the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the following specification in which, in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the following is shown: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the hand dryer object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a profile view of the hand dryer sectioned across a vertical plane.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the hand dryer sectioned across a vertical plane coinciding with the drying chamber.

Figure 4 shows an upper plan view of the hand dryer of the previous figures.

Figure 5 shows a schematic profile view of an embodiment variant of the dryer, provided with a single turbine motor the outlet of which is connected to the different exterior outlets by means of independent ducts provided with respective opening and closing valves, responsible for selecting the air distribution.

Figure 6 shows a profile view of an embodiment variant of the hand dryer provided in this case with several turbine motors operable in an independent manner and responsible for propelling the air at a high speed towards the outlets located at a certain height.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the hand dryer of Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 shows a front elevational view of the hand dryer of Figure 7 vertically sectioned through the drying chamber, with only the water drain duct and the lower C-i collection tray shown inside the casing.

Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment 3 variant of the hand dryer, sectioned vertically, provided with several air outlet groups arranged at different heights and O connected directly to the simultaneously operating turbine motors.

Figure 10 shows a front elevational schematic view of the dryer of Figure 9 sectioned through the vertical plane of the drying chamber.

Figure 11 shows a schematic front elevational view of the hand dryer provided with an evaporating device.

Figure 12 shows a schematic profile view of the hand dryer of Figure 11 sectioned through a vertical plane.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the water evaporating device without the vapour outlet duct.

Figure 14 shows an elevational view of an embodiment of the water evaporating device sectioned longitudinally through a vertical plane.

Figure 15 shows a profile view of the evaporating device in which the fan responsible for propelling the vapour towards the outside of the dryer can be seen.

Figure 16 shows an elevational view of an embodiment variant of the evaporating device, sectioned through a vertical plane and in which the electrical resistor is housed in a thermally conducting sleeve and has diffusing fins.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the hand dryer comprises a casing in which a high speed air generator (21) is housed, made up of a turbine motor the rotating speed of which exceeds 20,000 revolutions per minute.

Room temperature air, collected from the exterior through the filter is propelled at a very high speed and

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-6- (driven through nozzles (31) towards the outlets (41) located on the front and back surfaces of the drying chamber (14) Said drying chamber (14) is open on its upper portion in a A vertical direction and on its sides, said drying chamber (14) having a V-shape configuration from a plan view with the vertex or intermediate edge oriented towards the rear middle w area of the casing.

O The air outlet speed may be comprised between 30 and V metres per second.

When the user introduces his or her hands in the drying chamber (14) the presence detectors (11) are actuated and their signal is received by the electronic control card (12) which keeps the air generator (21) actuated while the hands are within the drying chamber (14).

For safety reasons, if the detectors (11) remain actuated for a certain time exceeding the time required for hand drying, the control card (12) assumes that an object may be located in the chamber and disconnects the air generator (21).

The nozzles (31) have an opening (30) for introducing air into the casing and creating an overpressure inside it for preventing the entry of particles and dust from the outside.

In normal drying operation, the user introduces his or her entire hands in the chamber (14) and the high speed air generation is actuated. At that moment he or she starts to slowly pull out his or her hands from the chamber and the air curtains are released and sweep the water to a tilted tray defined at the bottom of the drying chamber (14).

The water is drained by the drain opening (16) and the drain pipe to the collecting container or deposit In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 the opposing surfaces of said drying chamber (14) have air outlet groups made up of several vertically spaced outlets (41, 42, 43).

In the example of Figure 5 the air propelling means are -7made up of a single turbine motor (21) propelling the air at a high speed towards an inner chamber (13) connected to the outlets (41, 42, 43) by means of respective ducts (31, 32, 0\ 33). Said ducts (31, 32, 33) are provided with respective opening and closing valves (3a, 3b, 3c) which are selectively CC actuated by the electronic control card (12)

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In an initial phase the electronic card (12) opens the O valves the air passing through the ducts (31) to the if upper outlets (41) In a second phase of the drying cycle, the electronic (N card (12) closes the valves (3a) and opens the valves (3b), the air passing through the ducts (32) to the outlets (42) occupying the immediate lower position inside the drying chamber (14) In the final drying phase the electronic card (12) closes the valves (3b) and opens the valves the air passing through the ducts (33) to the lower outlets Once the drying cycle is finished the dryer stops.

In the embodiment variant shown in Figure 6, the means used for propelling the high speed air are made up of three turbine motors (21, 22, 23) Turbine motor (21) is responsible for propelling high speed air through the ducts (31) to the upper outlets (41); turbine motor (22) is responsible for propelling high speed air through the duct (32) to the outlets (42) and turbine motor (23) is responsible for propelling high speed air through the ducts (33) to the lower nozzles (43) In this case the ducts (31, 32, 33) lack opening and closing valves, sequential outlet of the air through the outlets (41, 42, 43) being achieved by means of the selective actuation of the turbine motors (21, 22, 23) by the command of the control card (12) The arrangement of the outlets (41, 42, 43) provided with small air outlet openings can be seen in Figures 7 and 8.

There are several outlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) arranged at different heights at each side of the chamber in the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10. The means used to propel the high speed air to the outlets (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) are C-i made up of two turbine motors (21, 22) connected directly and S by means of as many collectors (34, 35) to the respective Soutlet groups (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) arranged on the opposing Ssurfaces of the drying chamber.

Said turbine motors (21, 22) are simultaneously N connected and disconnected by the control card which 0 acts by orders of the presence detectors, both continuously operating during the drying cycle in which the air comes out simultaneously from all the outlets (41, 42, 43, 44, Optionally, and as shown in Figures 11 and 12 instead of the collecting deposit the dryer may have an evaporating deposit for evaporating the water coming from the drying chamber (14) and expelling it outside the casing as vapour.

As can be observed in Figures 13, 14 and 15, said evaporator comprises a tubular body (91) in a horizontal position inside the casing and is provided with an upper opening (92) for connecting the tube responsible for conducting the water coming from the drying chamber (14) inside the evaporator.

An electrical resistor (93) connected to the control plate (12) is assembled inside the tubular body (91) Externally, assembled on the opposite ends of the tubular body (91) there is a fan (94) responsible for shifting the water evaporated by the resistor (93) towards the outside and a bent tube (95) for guiding the vapour outside.

Optionally, and as shown in the embodiment of Figure 16, the resistor (93) can be housed in a thermally conducting sleeve (96) provided with diffusing fins (97) in order to optimise performance of the resistor (93) It has been provided in this case that the upper opening (92) through which the water enters inside the body (91) has a grating or screen (98) for separating it into fine droplets, which will facilitate their evaporation when said droplets fall on the fins (97).

A Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention as well as a preferred embodiment thereof, it is stated that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the 1 elements described may be modified as long as this does not O mean an alteration of the essential features of the invention claimed below.

D The reference numerals in the following paragraphs do not in any way limit the scope of the respective claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (10)

11.- A dryer according to claim 10, characterised in that the tilted tray (15) has a drain opening (16) to which a pipe is connected taking the collected water to a lower container

12.- A dryer according to claim 11, characterised in that the lower container is housed inside the casing (1)

13.- A dryer according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the proximity detectors (11) are arranged on the inner surfaces of the drying chamber (14)

14.- A dryer according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one air filter inside the casing through which the air suctioned from the exterior by the high speed air generator or generators (21, 22, 23) passes.

15.- A dryer according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one air outlet valve or opening (30) directed towards the inside of the casing and generating a positive pressure inside said casing to prevent the entry of solid particles or moisture inside the casing (1) -13-

16.- A dryer according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises an evaporating device for vaporising the water coming from the drying said device including: a C' low power electrical resistor (93) controlled by the S electronic card (12) and a fan (94) propelling the vapour Cc outside the casing (1) NO

17.- A dryer according to claim 16, characterised in O that the electrical resistor (93) is housed inside a I horizontal tubular body (91) and has an opening (92 on its o upper portion) for receiving the drain duct for water coming from the drying chamber (14).

18.- A dryer according to any of claims 16 and 17, characterised in that the fan (94) is assembled on one of the end openings of the tubular body a vapour outlet duct i (95) for releasing the vapour outside the casing (l)being connected to the opposite opening of said tubular body.

19.- A dryer according to any of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the resistor (93) is housed inside a thermally conducting sleeve (96) having diffusing fins (97) A dryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples.

21.- The steps, features, compositions and compounds disclosed herein or referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. DATED this TWENTY NINTH day of JULY 2005 Veltek Europe, S.L. by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)