GB756554A - A new or improved drying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

756,554. Drying hands. BROUGHTON & SONS (ENGINEERS), Ltd., J. April 29, 1954 [May 9, 1953], No. 13003/53. Class 81(2). [Also in Groups XXXVII and XL(c)] Drying apparatus for objects or parts of the person comprises a body extending around a drying zone and having an aperture for 'the insertion of hands or articles into this zone, means for delivering heated air into the zone and a sensitive primary control element initiating and controlling the operation of these means, this element being mounted in such a position that it responds to and becomes activated only by the presence of hands or articles within the body and is shielded from activation by members outside the body. A hand drier comprises a casing 10 secured to a wall or pedestal and provided with an aperture 17 for the insertion of the hands. The drying zone is enclosed by a cylindrical shell 18 of insulating material within the casing 10 and is provided with air through a duct 13 from an electrically operated fan within a housing 12. An electric heating element is disposed within the duct 13. A housing 14 in the casing 10 contains an electronic control unit (see Groups XXXVII and XL(c)). The electronic control unit comprises an oscillator circuit which is normally operative and which is connected with a relay circuit including a normally de-energised relay which controls heater and fan motor circuits for the air supply. The oscillator circuit is connected with a ring 24 arranged so that when the hands are introduced into the drying zone the capacity between the ring 24 and earth is altered sufficiently to stop or change the oscillations so that the relay is energised and the heater and fan motor circuits are closed. On removing the hands the oscillator operates normally and the relay circuit is de-energised to cut off the heater and fan motor current supply. The casing 10 shields the ring 24 so that the heater and fan motor circuits are energized only when the hands enter the drying zone. An additional air supply duct may be provided for drying the face. According to the Provisional Specification the operation of the air delivery means may be delayed after energisation of the heater by a bimetallic strip to exercise control over the starting time of the motor. The insulating cylindrical shell may be formed from material known, under the Registered Trade Mark " Texolex."