GB625703A - Improvements in drying plant - Google Patents

Abstract

625,703. Drying chambers. ANDERSEN, A. L. April 18, 1947, No. 10378. [Class 34(ii)] A drying plant comprises a cabinet or chamber divided into separate independent closable cells, each of which is connected by separate independent pipes with a source of vacuum and adapted to accommodate one or more drying trays which are subjected to heat. The chamber 2 is divided by hollow partitions 3 into several cells each of which is closed by a door 4 provided with a projection 5. One or more trays 6 having a jacket for the circulation of the heating medium is or are inserted in each cell, heating medium such as hot water or steam being also passed through the hollow partitions 3 of the chamber 2. Each tray is provided with an inlet and an outlet nipple 11, 12 which nipples, when the tray 6 is introduced into the cell and the door closed, are forced, by means of the projections 5, against packing rings 21, 36, Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. The cell is then connected to the source of vacuum and also with a nipple 25 on the inlet valve 18. This valve is provided with a valve body 22 carried by a membrane 23 which divides the casing 24 into two compartments, one of which is in communication with the atmosphere by port 27. When the vacuum in the cell is sufficient the valve body 22 is withdrawn from its seat and the heating medium from the boiler 30 passes through pipe 28 into the packet of the tray 6 past the non-return valve 33. The heating medium leaves the tray through the nipple 12, Fig. 5, past the non-return valve 37 and through pipe 35 back to the boiler. The non-return valves 33, 37 on the tray prevent the escape of heating medium when the tray is being removed from its cell. In a modification the nipple 12 is omitted and the heating medium after passing through the tray packet drains into the cell whence it is collected and drained into a collecting tank, a cooler being provided in the cell.