US1402306A

US1402306A - Dehydrator

Info

Publication number: US1402306A
Application number: US444006A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maus Frank
Original assignee: SIEBREN J SPOELSTRA
Current assignee: SIEBREN J SPOELSTRA
Priority date: 1921-02-10
Filing date: 1921-02-10
Publication date: 1922-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1939-01-03

Description

" F. MAUS.v

DEHYDRATOR.

` AlPLICATlON FILED FEB. l0, 192!- m.. QN MMM F. MAUS.

DEHYDRATOR.

APPLlcATioN FILED FEB. 10, 1921.

1,402,306, Patented J an. 3, 1922.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY F. MAUS.

DEHYDRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. Io, 1921.

Patented Jan. 35 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Il" 42 Q27/ INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNET FRANK MAUS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF To sIEBREN J.

SPOELSTRA, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

DEHYDRATOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

` Application led February 10, 1921. Serial No. 444,006.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MAUs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and.

State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dehydrators, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a dehydrator for nuts, prunes and other material which may be adapted to use any one of several dilferent processes of dehydration,

or certain combinations of said processes,

reference being made to my co-pending applications as follows Method of dehydration and apparatus therefor, Serial No. 438,713, filed Jan. 20, 1921. Y

Method of cooling and dehydrating materials, Serial No. 441,608, iled Feb. 1, 1921.

' Method of and, apparatus for dehydrating materials, Serialo. 441,609,1iled Feb. 1, 1921.

Method of and apparatus for dehydrating materials, Serial No. 441,610, filed Feb. 1, 1921.

Method of and apparatus for dehydrating materials, Serial No. 442,261, filed Feb. 3, 1921.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical and longitudinal section through a dehydrator embodying my invention, parts being broken away.

Figures 2 to 9 inclusive are diagrammatical illustrations showing the several adaptations of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l indicatesa dehydration chamber` or tunnel provided with doors 2 2 and a track 3 over which are moved trucks as 4 carrying trays\5 upon which are arranged the materials to be treated. Arranged overchamber l is a conduit 6 having heating elements 7 arranged therein supplied with steam or other suitable heating 'medium through a pipe as 8. A chamber is shown at 9'communicating with conduit 6 through valve y10 and with the atmosphere through valve 11, the said chamber also communicating with chamber 1 through passage 12 and fan 13, the fan 13 being operated in any suitable manner through the medium of pulley 14.

Arranged' over chamber 1 and conduit 6 and adjacent to` chamber 9 is shown a refrigerating chamber l5 fitted with baille plates 16 to form compartments 16a-16b-16c-16d- 16?, in the latter four of which are arranged suitable refrigerating coils as 17. Refrigerating chamber 15 is provided with a drain at 16f and air valves at 18 and 19 respectively, the former communicating with the atmosphere at the base of compartment 16a and the latter communicating with the atmosphere at the upper Vend of compartment 16e.

.At 20 is shown a conduit arranged at a shght incline and extending from refrigeratlng chamber 15 to thevopposite end of chamber 1 with which it communicates through passage 21, ay fan 23 being located therein as shown. An air passage is shown at 22 communicating with conduit 20 adjacent to fan23 and with conduit 6 through valve 24. A plurality of lpipes 25 are shown communicating .with the lower portion of compartment 16a in chamber 15 and extending through conduit 20 to a point adjacent to passage 22 where they terminate in a plate 26 lforming the upper end of passage 27 positioned adacent to passage 22 and communicating with conduit 6. The How of air lthrough passage 27 is controlled by valve 24 which is pivoted at 28 and operated in any suitable manner as by a rod 29. Conduit 20 discharges into the atmosphere through valve 30 and pipe 31, or intov compartment 16e of chamber 15 through valve 32.

At the end of conduit 20 adjacent to fan "23 is provided an airy valve 33 through land the latter communicating with the atmosphere through discharge pipe 39. Conduit 20 has a division wall mounted therein as at 40 extending above pipes 25 and forming opening 41 'which may be' closed by valve 38.

. Assuming the fansto be in operation and the several valves to be arranged as shown, the air is circulated through chamber 15, pipes 25, passage 27, conduit 6, chamber 9, fan 13, chamber 1, passage 21, fan 23, conduit 2() and through open valve 32 back into chamber thereby forming aclosed circuit dehydrator. In this arrangement the material treated .is passed through chamber When this temperature is not su'liciently high the heating elements in conduit 6 are used to provide the required additional heat.

In the embodiment` shown in Figure 2

valves

19 and 30 are open and valve 32 is closed so that air is drawn from the atmosphere through valve 19 into chamber 15, then passed through the dehydrator as above described and discharged therefrom through the open valve 30 into pipe 31 and thence to the atmosphere. In this arrangement the air is drawn directlyfrom the atmosphere, cooled and dried in chamber 15, and then passed through conduits 25 Where it picks up heat from the exhaust air from the dehydration chamber 1, the latter surrendering a large portion of its heat to the said air in pipes 25 and finally discharging into the atmosphere.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 valve 35 is lopen and valve 33 opened an the other valves arranged so that the air entering through valve 35passes through the conduit 20 around pipes 25, thence through valve 32, chamber 15, pipes 25, passage 27, conduit 6, chamber 9, fan 13, chamber v.1, passage 21, fan 23 and valve 33 to pipe 34 and thence to the atmosphere. In this arrangement of valves the air drawn from the atmosphere is utilized to raise the temperature of the cold dry air in pipes 23 to a point approaching atmospheric temperature. Any additional heat required is provided by heat- 'ing elements 7. In this as in all the other embodiments of the invention, the material being'treated moves through chamber 1 in a direction opposite to the direction of the air flovv therethrough.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, valve 41 4is closed and

valves

38 and 37 are opened and the other valves are arranged so that the air is drawn from the atmosphere throughv valve 37 into conduit 2O and passed around pipes 25, thence through valve 32,

chamber' 15, pipes 25, passage 27, conduit 6, chamber 9, fan 13, chamber 1, passage 21, fan 23 and again through a portion of conduit 2O and around pipes 25, thence through' valve 38 and pipe 39 to the atmosphere. In this arrangement the air at atmospheric temperature is utilized to partially raise the temperature of the air in pipes 25 and the same air after being 4exhausted from the chamber 1 is again utilized to still further raise the temperature of the air in pipes 25 before again being `discharged into the atmosphere.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 valve 18 is opened and thrown into the position 18a Where it closes off compartment 16a and permits air to be drawn directly from the atmosphere into pipes 25, the refrigeratin chamber not being used. The other va ves are now arranged so that the air now moves through pipes 25, passage 27, conduit 6, chamber 9, fan 13, passage 12, chamber 1, passage 21, fan 23 and conduit 20 around pipes 25 t0 valve 30, through which it passes into pipe 31 and thence to the atmosphere. In this arrangement the dehydration air is drawn directly from the atmosphere into pipes 25 and therein heated to a temperature approaching thaty ofthe exhaust dehydration airat its` oint of discharge into conduit 20, and by eat extracted from said exhaust dehydration air, before it is passed through conduit 6 to chamber 1. The heating elements 7 are used, of course, ifI additional heat is required to raise the temperature of the air discharged from pipes 25 to a suitable point. i

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 valve 11 is open and valve 10 closed and the other valves arranged so that air is drawn from the atmosphere intoV chamber 9, then passed through fan 13, passage 12, chamber 1, passage 21, fan 23, conduit 20, valve 33 and pipe 34 to' the atmosphere. In this arrangement dry atmospheric air is passed directly through the dehydration chamber and discharged therefrom Without the precooling and heating hereinbefore described.

In the embodiment shovvn in Figure 7, the valve 18 is opened to the position 18a to close off the refrigerating chamber 15, and the other valves' are arranged so that the air is passed through pipes 25,`passage 27, conduit 6, chamber 9, fan 13, chamber 1, passage 21, fan`23, conduit 20, valve 33 and pipe 34 to the atmosphere. In this arrangement the air is drawn directly from the atmosphere and passed into conduit 6 and chamber` 1 Without precooling and is heated only through the use of the heating elements 7.

The same result is obtained if the air is l closing 01T the refrigeration chamber, and a second portion 18b is opened a distance as shown thereby limiting the air inflow, and valve 24 is swung to the position shown to partly close off passage 22, the valve 30 being partly open and the other valves being arranged so that the air flows through pipes 25 to passage 27 thencethrough conduit/6, chamber 9, fan 13, chamber 1, passage 21, fan 23, and into conduit 20. Since the air inflow is throttled down by valve 18", and since valve 24 is partly opened a portion of the air Howing into conduit 20 is drawn through valve 24 into conduit 6 and recirculated through the dehydrator, the balance passing on to valve 30, pipe 31 and thence to the atmosphere. This arrangement is utilized, for instance, when the dehydration air discharged into conduit 2O does not carry sufficient moisture to warrant its entire discharge from the dehydrator, heat energy being conserved by recirculating a portion of the said dehydration air through the dehydration chamber.

In Figure 9 the valves are arranged in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure 8 except that the valves are arranged so that `the air is discharged from the dehydration chamber through the partly opened valve 33 into pipe 34 and thence t0 the atmosphere, this exhaust air not being used `for raising the temperature of the inlovving air.

It may now be seen that a dehydrator of this type may be adapted for use under every atmospheric condition as to temperature and humidity, and for various methods of heat recovery, and also throughout a wide variation in the treatment of the material introduced into chamber 1. `The treatment of the material varies of course', according to the nature of the dition and temperature when introduced into the chamber, and the result desired upon its discharge therefrom.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described the particular form of the invention deemed most practical, changes in form, construction and method of operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.r A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, -a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connec-ting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled port between said conduit and chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving' end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed bythe other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chami bers, a valve controlled air inlet port to the material and its con;4

refrigeration chamber, and a valve controlled air discharge port from the'irst mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent said refrigeration chamber.

2. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled port between said conduit and chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, a valve controlled air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled air discharge port from the first mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent to said refrigeration chamber, and air inlet and discharge ports at .the air receiving end thereof, and means for closing said conduit Iat a point between said inlet and discharge ports last mentioned. i

3. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of the re.

frigeration'chamber, a valve controlled port between said conduit and chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the Y refrigeration chamber, one conduit havin a portion of its length enclosed bythe other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, a Valve controlled air inlet port tothe refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled air discharge port .from the 'first mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent to said refrigeration chamber, and air inlet and discharge vports arranged intermediate the length thereof, and means for closing said conduit at av point between said last mentioned inlet and discharge ports.

4. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of thedehydration chamber with one end of the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled port between said conduit and chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed .by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, a valve controlled air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled air discharge port from conduit at the end thereof adjacent to said refrigeration chamber,' air inlet and ydischarge ports at the air receiving end thereof, means for closing said conduit loo 125 the first mentioned at a point between said inletand discharge ports, and air inlet and discharge ports arranged intermediate the length of said conduit, and means for closing said conduit at a point between said last mentioned inlet and discharge ports.

5. A dehydrator including' a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of therefrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed by the other conduit,

means lfor creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, an airdischarge port from vthe first mentioned `conduit at the end thereof adjacent to the said refrigeration chamber, air inlet and discharge ports at the air receiving end thereof, means for closing said conduit at a point between said last mentioned inlet and discharge ports, air inlet and discharge ports arranged intermediate the length of said conduit, and means for closing said conduit at a point between said last mentioned inlet and discharge ports.

6. A dehydratorincluding a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of the refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of' the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, an

air discharge port from the first mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent to said refrigeration chamber, air inlet and discharge ports at the air receiving end of said conduit, and means for closing said conduit at a point between said inlet and discharge ports.

7 A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with one end of the refrigeration chambeig'a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion' of its length enclosed by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers,

an air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, an air discharge port from the irst mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent to said refrigeration chamber, air inlet and discharge ports arranged intermediate the length of said conduit, and means forclosing said conduit at a point between said last mentioned inlet and discharge ports.

8. As dehydrator including a dehydration.

chamber, a Irefrigeration chamber, a conduit extending from the air discharge end of v v inlet port to the refrigeration chamber,i and a valve controlled air discharge port arranged in said first conduit at the air .receiving end thereof, and means for closing said conduit at a point adjacent to the said discharge prt to direct exhaust air therethrou h.

9. dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a'conduit extending from the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber to a point adjacent to said refrigeration chamber and discharging into the atmosphere, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the air discharge end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, and a valve controlled air discharge port arranged in said first mentioned conduit at a point intermediate its length, and, means for closing said conduit at a point adjacent to the said discharge port to direct exhaust air therethrough.

10. A dehydrator including' a dehydra- `circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, a valve controlled air discharge port arranged in said rst mentioned conduit at the air receiving end thereof, ayvalve controlled air, discharge port arranged in said conduit intermediate its length, and

I neans for closing said conduit at points adjacent to said discharge ports to direct exhaust air therethrough.

l1. A 'dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, a refrigeration chamber, -a conduit connecting the air discharge and nf the dehydration chamber with one end of said refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the other end of the refrigerationy chamber, one conduit having a portion of its length enclosed by the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, means for introducing air into said second conduit at a predetermined point in its length, a valve controlled air discharge port in said first mentioned conduit at a point in the air receiving end thereof, and means for closing said conduit at a point adjacent to said last mentioned port to direct air therethrough.

12. Ai dehydrator including a dehydra' tion chamber, a refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air discharge end of the dehydration chamber with the air receiving end of the refrigeration chamber, a conduit connecting the air receiving end of the dehydration chamber with the air discharge end of the refrigeration chamber, one conduit having a portion of its' length enclosed by the otherconduit, vmeans fory creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chambers, an air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber, a second air inlet port to the refrigeration chamber at a point adjacent to the connection of the second mentioned conduit thereto, means for closing said refrigeration chamber and opening said last mentioned port whereby said second conduit is supplied with air ldirect from the atmosphere, anl air discharge port from the rst mentioned conduit at the end thereof adjacent tothe air receiving end thereof, and ymeans for closing said conduit at a point adjacent Said last mentioned discharge port to exhaust air therethrough. v

13.- The structure provided with a between the said Set forth in claim 11 valve controlled by-pass conduits whereby a partial recirculation of the'air is effected.

14. The structure set forth in claim 11 provided with a by-pass between the said conduits and a valve operatively arranged with relation to both the by-pass and one conduit.

' 15. The structure set forth in claim'l provided withlheating elements arranged in they second conduit.

16.- A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating therewith, one of said,con duits passing through the other conduit, meansI for creating a circulation of air through said conduits and chamber, and a plurality of valve controlled air exhaust ports arranged at different points in said air exhaust conduit.v

communicating therewith, one of said conduits passing through the other conduit, means for creating a circulation of air through the said conduits and chamber, and a plurality of valve controlled air inlet ports arranged at different points in said air supply conduit.

18. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber,'an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust -co'nduit communicating therewith, one ofsaid conduits passing through the other conduit, means for circulating air through said conduits and chamber, a plurality of valve controlled air exhaust ports arranged at different points in the length of said air exhaust conduit, and a plurality of valve controlled air inlet ports arranged at different points in the length` of said air supply conuit.

chamber, an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating therewith, one of said conduits passing through the other conduit, means for circulating air through said conduits and chamber, a plurality of valve controlled exhaust ports arranged in said exhaust conduit, a plurality of valve controlled air inlet ports arranged in said supply conduit, and means for cooling and drying the air before admitting the same to said air supply conduit.

20. A dehydrator including a dehydration cham-ber, an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating therewith, one of said conduits passing through the "other conduit, means for circulating air through said conduits and chamber, a plurality of valve controlled air exhaust ports arranged at different points in said -air exhaust conduit, and air heating means arranged in said air supP ply conduit.

21. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, an air supply conduit communicating. therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating therewith, one of said co nduits passing ythrough the other conduit, means for creating a circulation 'of air throu h the said conduits and chamber, a plura ity of valve controlled .air inlet ports arranged at di'erent pointsI 1n said air supply conduit, 'and air heating'means arranged in said air supply conduit.

. 22. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating' therewith, oneof said conduits passing through the other conduit, means for circulating air through said conduits and chamber, a pluralityv of valve controlled air exhaust ports arranged at dit ferent points in the length of said air exhaust conduit, and a plurality of Valve controlled air inlet ports arranged at different points in the length of said air supply conuit, and air heating means arranged in said air supply conduit.v f

23. A dehydrator including a dehydration chamber, an air supply conduit communicating therewith, an air exhaust conduit communicating therewith, one of saidpconduitspassing through the other conduit,

air supply conduit, and air heating-means 20 arranged in Said air supplyi conduit.

F ANK MAUS.