US2479388A

US2479388A - Apparatus for drying hair

Info

Publication number: US2479388A
Application number: US9155A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude L Matthews; John L Turner
Original assignee: MATTHEWS SPECIALTY CORP
Current assignee: MATTHEWS SPECIALTY Corp
Priority date: 1948-02-18
Filing date: 1948-02-18
Publication date: 1949-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1966-08-16

Description

s- 16, 1949. c. L. MATTHEWS EIAL 2,479,388

APPARATUS FOR DRYING HAIR Filed Feb. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /3/@ FIG I.

37 2. Q i a I /7-% /9 I l v as 7 7 0M 1..7 J amL-Tm a, g T

Au 16, 1949. c. MATTHEWS ETAL 1 2,479,338

APPARATUS FOR DRYING HAIR Filed Feb. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZ.

FIGS.

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 APPARATUS FOR DRYING HAIR Claude L. Matthews, St.'Louis, Mo., and John L. Turner, East St. Louis, 111., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments,

Corporation, Missouri to Matthews Specialty St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,155

1 14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for drying hair, and more particularly to such apparatus for use in beauty shops and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an improved hair drying apparatus, particularly for beauty shops, adapted to dry the hair in less time than heretofore possible with maximum consideration to the user's comfort; the provision of apparatus of the class described wherein air for drying purposes is dried by being passed through a desiccant adapted to be reactivated by heating, and including improved means for reactivating the desiccant; and the provision of apparatus such as described which is economical, safe and sanitary. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter;

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the hair drying apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse horizontal section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sections; and,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

This invention is an improvement upon the apparatus for drying hair disclosed in our copending application entitled Apparatus for drying hair, Serial No. 747,296, filed May 10, 1947. That application discloses an apparatus for drying hair wherein air is dehydrated by causing it to flow through a porous,'solid desiccant, such as activated alumina or silica gel, and the dehydrated air is brought to a dry bulb temperature such that ithas a comfortable effective temperature according to its rate of flow before flowing out upon the users'head for drying the hair. The desiccant is one that may be reactivated by heating, and the apparatus includes means for heating the desiccant to reactivate it. This invention embodies improvements for more closely controlling the temperature of thedehydrated air to enhance the user's comfort; and for facilitatingthe reactivation of the desiccant.

Referring'to the drawings, an embodiment of the apparatus of this invention is shown generally to comprise a portable hair drier I having an air distributor 3 carried by a base 5. The apparatus is supported on casters I so that it may be wheeled from place to place. The base 5 comprises a vertical cylindric casing 9. The casters I are located within the lower end of the casing. The casing has a circular bottom plate II supported at I3 above its lower end. A tube I5 extends upward from bottom plate I I centrally of the casing to the open upper end of the latter. Casing 9, tube I5 and bottom plate II define an annular desiccant chamber i1, open at its upper end. The interior vertical walls of this chamber are preferably heat-insulated as by means of linings of spun glass insulation l9.

Within the chamber I! and spaced above bottom plate I I is a flat. annular perforated plate 2I forming a false bottom for the chamber. On this false bottom is a screen 23. Chamber I1 is filled with particles of a solid desiccant D, such as silica gel, from screen 23 up to its upper end. The screen 23 is of sufliciently fine mesh as to prevent passage of the particles of the desiccant. The bottom plate II is provided with a number of ports 25 communicating with chamber l1 and a central port 21 communicating with the interior of the central tube It. Three ports 25, spaced around the plate at 120", are herein illustrated. These ports open into the space 29 between bottom plate I I and false bottom 2|.

The air distributor 3 is fixed upon the upper end of a hollow standard 3| in fluid communication therewith. The standard extends downward into the tube I5. It slides through a central aperture in the top of a dome 33 for-casing 9. The dome is removably mounted on the casing as by having its lower margin removably telescoped over the upper end of the casing as indicated at 35. The dome is formed with a plurality of air intake louvers 31 for passage of air into or out of the dome. The outside diameter of the standard 3| is substantially less than the inside diameter of the tube. The standard is guided for vertical sliding movement concentrically of the tube by means of a slide bearing 39 within the dome. The hearing has a plurality of angularly spaced arms 40 extending outward and downward and fixed at their lower ends to the casing 9. The standard is also rotary in the aperture in the dome, in bearing 39, and in the tube l5.

Suitably mounted within dome 33 at the upper end of the tube I5 is a spring counterbalance ll.

The cable 43 of this counterbalance extends downward in the tube in the space between the interior wall of the tube and the standard 3|. Its lower end is connected to a sealing ring 45 carried by the lower end of the standard 3| (Fig. 3). The sealing ring has a slidable sealing fit in the tube i5. To avoid twisting Of cable 43, the ring is prevented from rotating by means of an elongate verticalkey 41 fixed upon the interior wall of tube l and engaging in a keyway 49 in the periphery of the ring. The hollow standard 3| is rotary in the sealing ring. Its lower end is open to the tube i5 for fluid communication therewith. The arrangement is such that the air distributor 3 may be adjusted vertically to any desired position by sliding standard 3| up or down within its range of movement. The weight of the air distributor and standard is counterbalanced in any adjusted position by the spring of counterbalance 4|. The sealing ring seals 011 the space within tube l5 below the ring from the space within tube l5 around standard 3| above the ring in any vertical position of the standard.

Mounted exteriorly of the casing 9 is a motorblower unit 5| for causing a flow of room air downward through the desiccant D in chamber l1 and thence through hollow standard 3| and air distributor 3 for distribution upon the user's head of hair. As the air flows through the desiccant it is dehydratedby adsorption of moisture therefrom by the desiccant. The air is also heated because of an exothermic action resulting from adsorption. This exothermic action may heat the air to a temperature too high for the user's comfort particularly if the humidity of the room air is high. To dissipate the exothermic heat, the dehydrated air is passed through a heat exchange radiator 53 before it is delivered to standard 3 Radiator 53 comprises intake and outlet manifolds 55 and 51, respectively, and a plurality of cooling tubes 59 connecting the manifolds. Dehydrated air is dellvered to the intake manifold 55, from which it flows through the cooling tubes 59 to the outlet manifold 51. As it flows through tubes 59 it is cooled by heat exchange through the tubes with the ambient atmosphere. The radiator 53 is mounted on the exterior of casin 9 adjacent the upper end of the latter as by means of brackets 8| (Fi 2), with the radiator manifolds extending vertically. The tubes 59 are curved in horizontal planes around the casing 9 so that the radiator may be mounted close to the casing to reduce the overall space taken up by the apparatus. The motor-blower unit 5|, the radiator 53 and other parts to be described are concealed by a cover 53.

The motor-blower unit 5| comprises an electric motor 65 driving a blower 61. The motor and blower are enclosed in a housing 59 having an air inlet 1| and an air outlet 13. The inlet H is in communication with desiccant chamber through a valved elbow fitting 15, a manifold 11 and air ducts I9. Ducts 19 lead from ports 25 in bottom plate II to the manifold 11. The latter is disposed within casing 9 beneath bottom plate The fitting leads from manifold 11 to the blower inlet TI and is coupled to the latter by means of a short length of flexible hose 93. The blower outlet 13 is coupled to the inlet of radiator intake manifold 55 by means of a short length of flexible hose 85. The motor blower unit 5| is supported in vertical position only by the flexible hose couplings 93 and 85 and any vibration thereof is thus isolated from the remainder of the apparatus. The radiator outlet manifold 51 is .4 in communication with the lower end of the tube l5 through a duct 81 connected at one end in the central port 21 in bottom plate I and at its other end through a length of flexible hose 89 to the outlet of the outlet manifold.

A two-way valve 90 includes butterfly valve member 9| pivoted in the elbow fitting 15 for movement between an open position (Fig. 1) and a closed position (Fig. 4) blockin off the blower inlet 1|. Any suitable means for operating this valve may be provided. As illustrated, the valve has an operating arm 93 extending from its pivot 95. A link 91 is pivoted to the free end of the arm and extends upward loosely through the top of cover 63. The upper end of the link has an operating knob 99 thereon. An overcentering spring IN is connected to the arm 93 to bias the valve and its operating linkag toopen or closed position upon overcentering. The arrangement is such that link 91 may be pulled upward by knob 99 from the Fig. 1 position to swing arm 93 upward to close the valve member 9|, pushed downward from its raised position to open the valve member.

With butterfly valve 9| open, and motor-blower unit 5| in operation, airis drawn through louvers 31 into dome 33, thence downward through desiccant D in chamber ll. As it passes through the desiccant it is dehydrated and heated. From chamber I! it flows through ducts 19 to manifold I1 and thence through elbow fitting 15 to the blower inlet H. The blower delivers air through radiator 53, thence through duct 81 to tube I5, and through hollow standard 3| to air distributor 3.

The desiccant D may be one of several porous, solid types of desiccant in granular form which will adsorb and hold moisture without substantial change in form or properties including resistance to air flow; that is, it will not liquefy or obstruct the flow of air therethrough. Between the desiccant granules are ample voids for air flow. Also. the desiccant is one which may be reactivated or dried by heating it without impairing its dehydrating efiiciency so that it may be used over and over again. A particularly suitable desiccant for use in the apparatus of this invention is silica gel. Other suitable desiccants having the desired properties, such as activated alumina (essentially a porous form of aluminum oxide, A1203) may be used.

For regenerating desiccant D when it has adsorbed its capacity of moisture, there is provided means for causing a flow of heated air through the desiccant in reverse direction to that of the flow for air dehydration purposes' Since blower 61 is preferably of the centrifugal type, it is not used to reverse the flow of air. Consequently, a second motor-blower unit I05 is employed for this purpose. Unit I05, which may be of smaller capacity than motor-blower unit 5| is disposed exteriorly of casing 9 under cover 63. The outlet I01 of unit I05 is coupled by means of a short length of flexible hose |09 to an air duct I I leading into fitting-15 between the manifold 1'! and the valve 90. The unit I05 is supported only by hose |09 so that vibrations are isolated from the remainder of the apparatus. The butterfly valve member 9| carries an auxiliary valve member M3 for movement therewith in position to block flow of air from fitting I5 into duct when valve member 9| is open (Fig. 1). Valve member I I3 opens to permit flow of air from duct into fitting 15 when valve member 9| is closed (Fig. 4).

With two-way valve 90 set to close valve memher SI and open valve member I I3, and with motor-blower unit I05 in operation, air is delivered through duct III to fitting and manifold 11. Flow of air upward to the inlet H of motorblower unit 5I is blocked by valve member 9|, now closed. In manifold 11 is an electrical resistance heating coil I I 5 for heating air for desiccant drying purposes. Heated air flows from manifold 11 through ducts 16 to chamber I1 and slowly rises through the desiccant D in the chamber to dry it, ultimately passing out through louvers 31 in dome 33. The motor-blower unit I05 and heater I I5 are under control of a manual reset thermostatic switch III, which may be of any suitable conventional type, mounted within dome 33 at the upper end of casing 9 in heat-exchange relation to the desiccant. This switch is manually closed to initiate operation of unit I05 and heater II5 to regenerate the desiccant. It cuts out unit I 05 and heater II5 when the temperature of the desiccant has risen to a value at which drying is complete. In the case of silica gel, this is about 200 )5. Switch I I 1 has a manual operating knob I I9 extending out of the dome for resetting it, also for opening it before it trips out due to heating if desired.

The air distributor 3 includes a manifold I2I connected at its lower end to and in communication with the upper end of the hollow standard 3|. away from the standard and carries a drying hood or helmet I23 of any suitable type on its outer end. Within the manifold I'2I adjacent the hood I23 is a two-stage electrical resistance heater I comprising a pair of'heating coils I21 and I23 (Fig. 5). This heater is for the purpose of warming dehydrated air flowing through the manifold to the drying hood to a comfortable efiective temperature prior to its emission from the hood upon the users hair, if any warming is necessary. A manually operable selector switch I 3I for controlling heater I25 is carried at the end of an electrical extension cord I33 so that the user may conveniently personally operate the switch to suit her convenience while seated with her head in the hood. Switch I3I may be set selectively to energize one of coils I21 or I23 for low heat, both coils for high heat, or to deenergize both coils completely. The heater I25 is under control of a manual reset thermostatic safety switch I35 for automatically deenergizing the heater if the air should inadvertently become too hot. The motor-blower unit 5I is under control of a main control switch I31 mounted on manifold I2 I.

Fig. 5 illustrates the electrical connections for the apparatus of this invention. The motor of motor-blower unit 5I and the motor I06 of motor-blower unit I 05 are connected in independent circuits Ill and I63 across power supply line P. Circuit I4I includes the main control switch I31 in series with motor 65. Circuit I43 includes the manual reset thermostatic switchI I1 in series with the motor I06. Heater H5 is connected in parallel with motor I06 so that when switch I"- is closed both the heater and motor are energized. Heater I25, selector switch I3I and safety switch I 35 are of the same types as fully disclosed in our aforesaid copending application. They are connected in series'in a shunt circuit I65 around the main control switch I31 so that the heater I 25 may be energized only when switch I31 is closed. Heater I25 and switches I3I and I35 are of the same types and are connected in cir- The manifold curves upward and outward 6 cult III in the same manner as disclosed in our aforesaid copending application.

In using the hair drier, the drying hood I23 is adjusted by raising or lowering the standard 3I to a convenient height to accommodate the users head. The weight of the assembly comprising the hood, manifold I2I and standard 3| is counterbalanced in any adjusted position by spring counterbalance II, and such adjustment may therefore be made with little manual efiort. The main control switch I31 is closed to energize the blower motor 65. This also energizes air heater I25, assuming selector switch I3I to be in position for either high or low heat. Regenerating control switch H1 is open so that blower motor I06 and regenerating heater II5 are deenergized and not functioning. Butterfly valve 9| is open, auxiliary valve H3 is closed (Fig. 1).

Motor 65, being energized, drives blower 61 to draw room air through desiccant D in chamber I1 to the space 29 between false bottom 2| and bottom plate II. The desiccant adsorbs almost all the moisture from the air as it flows therethrough so that the air drawn into space 29 has a very low relative humidity. The air drawn into this space is also heated above room temperature by the heat of adsorption. The higher the relative humidity of the room air, the higher is the temperature of the dehydrated air. The dry heated air is drawn from space 20 through ducts 19, manifold 11, fitting 15 and blower inlet 1|, and is delivered through radiator 53 wherein it is cooled. The cooled dehydrated air flows from the radiator through duct 81,. tube I5 and hollow standard 3I to air distributor manifold I2I. Air flowing through manifold I2l is warmed by heater I25 to a dry bulb temperature such that it has comfortable effective temperature prior to its emission from the drying hood so that it is pleasantly warm upon the head. This warming of the air is most desirable, particularly in the initial stage of the hair-drying period, as the flow of dry air upon the wet hair has a substantial cooling eifect. The temperature of the air may be manually controlled by means of selector switch I3I so that the person whose hair is being dried may regulate the effective air temperature to a value suitable for her comfort at any stage of the drying period.

When the supply of dessiccant has adsorbed its capacity of moisture, it may be reactivated by closing valve 3|, opening valve H3, and closing the manual reset thermostatic switch II1. This energizes the blower motor I06 and also the heater II 5. Main control switch I31 is now open so that motor 65 is deenergized. Motor I06 drives the blower of unit I05 to cause a flow of air through duct III and fitting 15 to manifold 11. Heater II5 heats air flowing through the manifold to a temperature suitable for drying the desiccant. The heated air flows from the manifold through ducts 19 to chamber I1 and rises therein to heat and dry the desiccant. The temperature of the desiccant increases until the thermostatic element of switch II! is heated toits trip-out temperature and opens to deenergize the motor I06 and heater I I5. This occurs when the entire mass of desiccant has been heated to its reactivation temperature.

From the above, it will be clear that dehydrated air at a comfortable effective temperature is discharged from the air distributor 3 upon the users hair for rapidly and comfortably drying it. with all of the advantages disclosed in our aforesaid copending application. This invention provides 7 for a closer control or the effective temperature of the air by inclusion of the radiator 53 for dissipating the heat of adsorption. This is a most important feature, inasmuch as the temperature of thci dehydrated air from the desiccantchamher may be too high for comfort, particularly \i'hen the room air is humid and the heat .ibmated by the adsorption of moisture is relatively high. With radiator 53. the dehydrated air is cooled to or below a comfortable effective temperature and, if cooled below such temperature. may be warmed by heater I25 under control of the user to a comfortable effective temperature.

Reactivation or regeneration of the desiccant is effected simply by pulling out the Knob '35 and closing switch H1. The latter remains closed to energize blower motor ms and heater H until the desiccant reaches the temperature at which it is completely dried, then automatically opens.

No other attention is required. The arrangement for now of heated air in reverse direction for desiccant-drying purposes is advantageous in that no moisture-laden air from the heated desiccant flows through the motor-blower unit 5!, radiator 53, duct 81, tube l5, 3, and there can parts.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope oithe invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense We claim:

1. A hair drier comprising a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant adapted to be reactivated be no condensation in these by heating, a motor-blower unit including a centrifugal blower, an air connection between the chamber and the inlet of the blower, an air distributor for distributing a flow of air upon a head of hair in communication with the outlet of the blower, an auxiliary blower having its outlet connected into said air connection, a valve in said air connection movable between a hair-drying position permitting flow to the motor-blower unit and blocking flow to the auxiliary blower and a. reactivating position permitting flow from the auxiliary blower into the air connection and thence into the chamber and blocking flow to the motor-blower unit, and a heater in the air connection for heating air flowing into the chamber through the connection.

2. A hair drier comprising a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant adapted to be reactivated by heating, said chamber being open to the ambient atmosphere at its top, a motor-blower unit including a centrifugal blower, an air connection between the bottom of the chamber and the inlet of the blower, a radiator for cooling air flowing therethrough by heat exchange with the ambient atmosphere having its inlet connected to the outlet of the blower, an air distributor for distributing a flow of air upon a head of hair in communication with the outlet of the radiator. an auxiliary blower having its outlet connected into said air connection. a valve in said air connection movable between a hair-drying position permitting flow from the chamber to the centrifugal standard 3| or air distributor blower and blocking flow to the auxiliary blower and a reactivating position permitting flow from the auxiliary blower into the air connection and thence into the bottom of the chamber and block- I "-1.2 n: flow. to the centriiucfl blowerljiida heater in the air connection for heating air flowing' ;intq the bottom of the chamber.

3. A hair drier as set forth in claim 2, furfli including a temperature-responsive devic in heat-exchange relation to the desiccant at th top of the chamber controlling the auxiliary blower and heater automatically to discontinue operat on thereof when the desiccant has been heated to the temperature required for reactivation.

A hair drier comprising a portable base including a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant, a vertical tube on the base open at both ends, a hollow standard in slidable sealing relation in the tube, a motor-blower unit mounted on he base outside the chamber and tube. an air connection between one end of the chamber and the inlet of the blower of said unit, the other end of he chamber being open to the ambient atmosphere, an air connection between the outlet of the blower and the lower end of the tube, and an air distributor mounted on the upper end of the standard in communication therewith.

5. A hair drier comprising a portable base including a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant, a vertical tube on the. base open at both ends. a hollow standard in slidable sealing relation in the tube. a motor-blowerunit mounted on the base outside the chamber and tube, an air connection between one end or the chamber and the inlet 01 the; blower of said unit, the other end or the chamber being open to the ambient atmosphere, a radiator mounted on the base new ing its inlet connected to the outlet of the blower and its outlet connected to the lower end or the. tube. and an alrdistributor mounted on the upper end 01' the. standard in communication therewith.

6. A hair drier comprising a. portable base including a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant adapted to he reactivated by heating, a vertical tube on the base open at both ends, a hollow standard in slidable sealing relation in the tube, a motor-blower unit mounted on the base outside the chamber and tube, an air connection between one end of the chamber and the inlet of the blower of said unit, the other end of the chamber being open to the ambient atmosphere, an auxiliary blower connected into said air connection. a valve in said air connection movable between a hair-drying position permitting flow from the chamber to the inlet of the centrifugal blower and blocking flow to the auxiliary blower'and a reactivating position permitting flow from the auxiliary blower into the air connection and thence into the chamber and blocking flow to the centrifugal blower, a. heater in the air connection, an air connection between the outlet of the motor-blower unit and the lower end of the tube, and an air distributor mounted on the upperhend of the standard in communication therewit 7. A hair drier as set forth in claim 6 wherein the last-named air connection includes a radiator for cooling air flowing therethrough by heat exchange with the ambient atmosphere.

8. A hair drier having a portable base comprising a vertical casing having a ported bottom and open at its top, a vertical tube within the casin extending from its bottom to its top, the space between the tube and the wall of the casing constituting a desiccant chamber, a hollow standard in slidable sealing relation in the tube, an air distributor mounted on and in communication with the upper end or the standard, a motorblower unit mounted on the outside of the casing, an air connection between the ported bottom of the casing and the air inlet of the blower of said unit, and a radiator mounted on the outside of the casing with its inlet connected to the outlet of the blower and its outlet connected to the lower end of the tube through the bottom of the casing.

9. A hair drier as set forth in claim 8 wherein the motor-blower unit is resiliently carried between said air connection and radiator inlet to isolate its vibrations from the other parts of the drier.

10. A hair drier as set forth in claim 8, wherein the standard is of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the tube and is rotary in a sealing ring mounted on the lower end of the standard, the sealing ring having a sliding sealing fit in the tube, and wherein the standard is suspended by a cable from a spring counterbalance carried at the upper end of the tube, the cable extending downward between the tube and standard and being connected at its lower end to the sealing ring.

11. A hair drier comprising a portable vertical casing having a ported bottom and open at its top, a vertical tube within the casing extending from its bottom to its top, the space between the tube and the wall of the casing constituting a desiccant chamber for containing a desiccant adapted to be reactivated by heating, a hollow standard in slidable sealing relation in the tube, an air distributor mounted on and in communication with the upper end of the standard, a motor-blower unit including a centrifugal blower mounted on the outside of the casing, an air connection between the ported bottom of the casing and the inlet of the blower, a radiator mounted on the outside of the casing with its inlet connected to the outlet of the blower and its outlet connected to the lower end of the tube through the bottom of the casing, an auxiliary motorblower unit including an auxiliary blower having its outlet connected into said air connection, a valve in said air connection movable between a hair-drying position permitting flow of air from the chamber to the inlet of the centrifugal blower and blocking flow to the auxiliary blower and a reactivating position permitting flow from the auxiliary blower into the air connection and thence into the chamber and blocking flow to the centrifugal blower, and a, heater in said air connection.

12. A hair drier as set forth in claim 11 wherein the auxiliary motor-blower unit is resiliently carried by said air connection to isolate its vibrations from the other parts of the apparatus.

13. A hair drier as set forth in claim 11 further including a louvered dome on the upper end of the casing, the standard being slidable through the dome, and a temperature-responsive device within the dome controlling the auxiliary motorblower unit and heater automaticall to discontinue operation thereof when the desiccant in the chamber has been heated to the temperature required for reactivation.

14. A hair drier comprising a desiccant chamber containing a desiccant adapted to be reactivated by heating, a radiator for cooling air flowing therethrough by heat exchange with the ambient atmosphere, an air distributor for distributing a flow of air upon a head of hair, and a blower, all connected in fluid series communication in such manner that the blower causes a flow of air serially through the desiccant chamber, radiator and air distributor, a heater for warming the air from the radiator prior to its emission from the air distributor, an auxiliary blower for causing a flow of desiccant-reactivating air into the desiccant chamber, a heater for heating the latter flow of air, and valve means for blocking the flow of desiccant-reactivating air to the radiator, air distributor and first-mentioned blower when the auxiliary blower is operated.

CLAUDE L. MATTHEWS. JOHN L. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,038,709 Abernethy Sept. 17, 1912 1,667,316 Hartman et al Apr. 24, 1928 1,986,814 Hartman Jan. 8, 1935 2,066,847 McShea Jan. 5, 1937 2,190,168 Armistead Feb. 13, 1940 2,278,854 Hunsicker Apr. 7, 1942 2,290,259 Vose July 21, 1942 2,445,516 Dickey July 20, 1948