US3643402A

US3643402A - Method and apparatus for supplying dehydrated air to air-operated mechanisms

Info

Publication number: US3643402A
Application number: US9336A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wallace H Wireman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-06
Filing date: 1970-02-06
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

The apparatus supplies thoroughly dehydrated super-clean air to an air-operated mechanism in a closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system. In the operation of the apparatus, dehydrated air, under pressure supplied to an airoperated mechanism, is exhausted from said mechanism as spent dry air at a lowered pressure, but without substantial reduction in volume, and is then without loss of any volume utilized to reactivate one or the other of a pair of dehydrators incorporated in the system. The entire exhaust from the air-operated mechanism is utilized to reactivate one dehydrator, while the other dehydrator gathers moisture from the air supplied to the airoperated mechanism. The arrangement eliminates the need for heat in effecting reactivation of the dehydrators.

Description

United States Patent Wireman 5] Feb. 22, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING DEHYDRATED AIR TO AIR-OPERATED MECHANISMS [72] lnventor: Wallace H. Wireman, 3514 Handman Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 [22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1970 21 App]. No.: 9,336

[52] US. Cl. ..55/33, 55/275, 55/62 [51] Int. Cl ..B0ld 53/04 [58] Field of Search ..55/33, 62, 74, 75, 179, 387, 55/275, 18; 23/253 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,291 4/1963 Jackson et al. ..55/62 3,206,918 9/1965 Robinson ..55/179 3,306,011 2/1967 Dvorkin ..55/275 3,022,858 2/1962 Tillyeretal .55/18 Primary Examiner-Charles N. l-lart Att0rney.l. Warren Kinney, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The apparatus supplies thoroughly dehydrated super-clean air to an air-operated mechanism in a closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system. In the operation of the apparatus, dehydrated air, under pressure supplied to an airoperated mechanism, is exhausted from said mechanism as spent dry air at a lowered pressure, but without substantial reduction in volume, and is then without loss of any volume utilized to reactivate one or the other 011' a pair of dehydrators incorporated in the system. The entire exhaust from the airoperated mechanism is utilized to reactivate one dehydrator, while the other dehydrator gathers moisture from the air supplied tO the air-operated mechanism. The arrangement eliminates the need for heat in effecting reactivation of the dehydrators.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 46 L W q /4 L AIR /8 MOTOR /6 TsT 2ND- 26 DESICCANT DESICCANT Z5 CONTAINER CONTAINER 4 WAY AIR COMPRESSOR 3 PAINI0FEB22 I972 3,643 A02 J 'TsT 2ND 26 DESICCANT DESICCANT 25 CONTAlNER CONTAINER 6 4- 32 4 WAY 34 AIR EXE )VALVE COMPRESSOR 3 l/Vl/E/VTOR WALLACE H. WIREMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING DEHYDRATED AIR T AIR-OPERATED MECHANISMS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying dehydrated air to air-operated mechanisms. The airoperated mechanisms referred to may be machines, apparatus, or equipment widely varied as to class or category, but having in common an air intake port, and a port for exhaust of the air taken in at the intake port. Air motors, airoperated clutches, air braking systems and the like, are common examples of air-operated mechanisms the performance of which may be benefitted by the method and apparatus of the present invention.

The presence of moisture in air, under various circumstances and conditions, has been recognized heretofore as a major source of difficulty, and oftentimes failure, in the operation of air-operated mechanisms of various kinds. At freezing temperatures, for example, moisture in the air supply lines of braking mechanisms or control systems can result in icing, with disastrous consequences. The resultant loss of control is particularly hazardous in the operation of aircraft, road vehicles, and even certain classes of stationary machinery the failure of which might endanger lives or property. Even in the absence of freezing temperatures, moisture present in various operating or control systems encourages corrosion, which may eventually disable the system or seriously affect its operating efficiency or dependability.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved highly efficient method and apparatus for supplying dehydrated air to air-operated mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to achieve high operating efficiency in connection with the aforesaid method and apparatus, with substantial savings of power, maintenance expense, and equipment costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide operating air for various types of mechanisms, which is characterized by a high degree of cleanliness, and a total absence of foreign particles, in addition to extreme dryness.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawing, in which:

The drawing is a schematic drawing of apparatus for supplying dehydrated air to an air-operated device or mechanism, in accordance with the teaching of the present invention.

The apparatus herein disclosed may comprise an air compressor 6 to deliver air under pressure to a valve 8, which valve may be manipulated for directing the pressured air alternately to a first dehydrator l0, and a second dehydrator 12, either of which dehydrators may supply dry air to a machine, device, or mechanism 14 to be air-operated. The air-operated mechanism 14, whatever its nature, is to have an air intake port 16 and an air exhaust port 18. The volume of air discharged from mechanism 14 through exhaust port 18, may approximate the volume of air admitted to said mechanism through intake port 16. At exhaust port 18 however, the pres sure of air leaving the mechanism 14 will be substantially less than the pressure of air entering said mechanism at intake port 16, as is usual where pressured air performs work in driving, actuating or energizing an air-operated mechanism.

Air under pressure may be delivered to mechanism 14 through a feedline or pipe 20, and may be exhausted therefrom through an exhaust line or pipe 22. Movement of air through the mechanism 14 may be controlled manually or by automatic means, and may be either continuous or intermittent depending upon the nature ofsaid mechanism.

Each of the dehydrators l0 and 12 may have a first port 24 and a second port 26 communicating with the interiors of the dehydrators. Each dehydrator is packed with a suitable desiccant or drying agent for removing moisture from air delivered thereto by compressor 6 through valve 8. As was previously explained, valve 8 may be manipulated for directing pressurized air to one dehydrator, while exhausting air from the other dehydrator, in alternation. Dehydrator exhaust may be effected through the valve exhaust port 28. Valve 8 may be actuated either automatically, or manually by means of a suitable hand lever 30, to control the direction of airflow through the dehydrators.

The

ports

26, 26 may communicate with valve 8 through

pipes

32 and 34, the arrangement being such that in one position of the valve, pressurized air from compressor 6 is delivered to dehydrator 10 while the other dehydrator is exhausting air through

pipes

34 and 28. Conversely, by changing the position of the valve, pressurized air from compressor 6 may be delivered to the second dehydrator 12 while the other dehydrator 10 is exhausting through

pipes

32 and 28.

The

ports

24, 24 of

dehydrators

10 and 12 may be rendered communicable with the air operated mechanism 14 as follows. Both of the ports 24 may have connection with feedline 20 through

branch pipes

36 and 38 which intersect the feedline at 40. Between the intersection 40 and each of the

ports

24, 24 the branch pipes are provided with one-

way check valves

42 and 44 which act to preclude back-flow of air from feedline 20 to the

dehydrator ports

24, 24.

One of the branch pipes, such as 38, may be connected to exhaust line 22 by way of an exhaust shunt pipe 46 which communicates also with port 24 of the second dehydrator l2; and into the shunt pipe 46 is incorporated a one-way check valve 48 precluding flow of pressurized air into exhaust line 22 from the port 24 of dehydrator 12 when said dehydrator 12 is pressurized.

A second exhaust shunt pipe 50 connects exhaust line 22 with the port 24 of the first dehydrator 10, said shunt pipe 50 incorporating therein a one-way check valve 52 precluding back-flow of air into exhaust line 22. Shunt pipe 50 communicates also with branch pipe 36, between check valve 42 and the port 24 of first dehydrator 10, as shown.

In the light of the foregoing explanation, it will be understood that valve 8 in one position will direct pressurized air from compressor 6, into pipe 32 and dehydrator 10. The air having been dried by the action of desiccant within dehydrator 10, then passes upwardly through branch pipe 36, valve 42, and feedline 20 which supplies the dried air to the airoperated mechanism 14. From the mechanism 14, the used but still dry exhaust air travels under reduced pressure through exhaust pipe 22, shunt pipe 46, and check valve 48, to and through the port 24 of dehydrator 112.

Since the exhaust air in pipe 22 has lost much of its pressure in performing work at mechanism 14, said exhaust air will not unseat the

valves

44 and 52, which

valves

44 and 52 are firmly seated by pressure of air emanating from dehydrator 10. Therefore, said exhaust air passes through valve 48 and port 24 of dehydrator 12, to enter said dehydrator l2 and pass onward to pipe 34, valve 8, and exhaust pipe 28 which releases the spent air to atmosphere.

The air so passed through dehydrator l2 ordinarily will be very dry air, and will therefore have the ability to absorb any moisture that may be present in the desiccant of dehydrator 12, and to carry said absorbed moisture to atmosphere through exhaust pipe 28. By removing the moisture from dehydrator 12, the spent dry air exhausted from mechanism 14 performs the highly desirable function of reactivating said dehydrator 12, or preparing it for use as an efficient air dryer. While dehydrator i2 is thusly undergoing reactivation, the other dehydrator 10 is gradually accumulating moisture from the air supplied by compressor 6, until finally, the desiccant of dehydrator 10 reaches or approaches the saturation point.

Before the dehydrator 10 reaches a state of saturation, valve 8 should be manipulated either manually or automatically, to reverse the direction of compressed air flow through the apparatus, so that said air may pass upwardly through the reactivated dehydrator 12, which will thereupon dry the air and release the dried air through branch pipe 38, check valve 44, and feed line 20 supplying dry air to mechanism 14. The air spend in mechanism 14 leaves through port 18 under reduced pressure, and enters exhaust line 22 whence it is conveyed via shunt pipe 50 and check valve 52, to the port 24 of the previously saturated dehydrator 10. Said exhaust air so entering port 24 is usually very dry, and will therefore eagerly absorb moisture from the desiccant of dehydrator 10, and reactivate the latter. The moisture-laden air from dehydrator leaves the apparatus through pipe 32, valve 8 and exhaust pipe 28, at pressure approximating atmospheric.

During the period that dehydrator l0 undergoes reactivation as above explained, the other dehydrator 12 is collecting moisture from the compressed air fed thereto. At a proper time, preferably before complete saturation of the desiccant of dehydrator 12, the valve 8 is to be manipulated either automatically or by means of hand lever 30, to once more reverse the flow of air through the dehydrators.

It should readily be understood that with every reversal of airflow through the dehydrators, one dehydrator acts to dry the air while the other dehydrator undergoes reactivation with the use of dry air exhausted from the air-operated mechanism 14. By the method disclosed, pressurized dehydrated air is continuously available for operating the mechanism 14, without a noticeable pressure drop occurring during operation of the apparatus.

It is important to note that all of the spent dry air exhausted from the air-operated mechanism 14, is utilized for reactivating one or the other dehydrator when ever reactivation becomes necessary. By this method, the desiccants of the dehydrators are demoisturized rapidly and thoroughly during each cycle of apparatus reversal, without the aid of heat or other supplemental power, all of which results in simplification of the apparatus and a highly desirable reduction in size and weight thereof.

In the foregoing description, reference was made to actuation of valve 8 manually, as by means of handle 30, whenever a dehydrator required reactivation. If the apparatus is to be operated manually, each dehydrator may desirably be provided with a dew point indicator or the like, illustrated conventionally at 54 and 56, affording the operator of the apparatus a visual indication of the condition of the dehydrator desiccant with respect to its moisture content. When the indicator displays an indication that the desiccant is approaching saturation, the operator may manipulate the valve manually to reverse the airflow and thereby place in service the reactivated dehydrator.

If the changeover of dehydrators is to be effected automatically, various means may be devised for the purpose. The drawing suggests by way of example a photoelectric device or scanner head 58, whose beams 60 may be sensitive to changes in color or density of the desiccant material within the dehydrator. Thus, when the photoelectric apparatus senses a change in the desiccant which indicates approaching saturation, the photoelectric apparatus may initiate operation of a drive mechanism within the casing 62, for actuating the control valve 8, it being understood that the photoelectric device or scanning head may be sensitive not only to changes in moisture content of the desiccant but also to changes in color resulting from moisture changes.

The reference characters 64 indicate translucent windows in the side walls of the dehydrators, through which changes in the character of the desiccant may be rendered changeable in color in correspondency with changes in moisture content, by dispersing therein a quantity of blue jel or equivalent moisture-indicating material.

The apparatus of the invention operates satisfactorily with a relatively small air compressor, for example, one which may deliver 100 c.f.m. of air with capacity to compress at 100 p.s.i., or about seven atmospheres. Higher or lower air pressures may be employed, however, depending upon the demand of the air-operated mechanism 14. Especially to be noted is the absence of the use of heat in operating the apparatus of the present invention, whereby operating and maintenance costs are greatly minimized.

By utilizing the full charge of air exhausted from the airoperated mechanism 14 in reactivating the dehydrators, without the use of heat, very substantial economies are effected. Moreover, the efficiency of the apparatus is so enhanced as to make possible a substantial reduction in size and weight of the apparatus, with no loss of capacity.

Since all of the dry air supplied to and exhausted from the air-operated mechanism is reused for for dehydrator reactivation, the present apparatus may properly be considered a closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in structural details of the apparatus, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The specific kind of desiccant employed in the dehydrators, and the nature of the indicator utilized for revealing the wetness of the desiccant during operation of the apparatus, as well as the particular character of the means employed for automatically actuating the control valve 8 as the dehydrators approach saturation, are matters of immateriality to the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system comprising, a compressor, two dehydrators and an airoperated mechanism, a first conduit connecting the compressor and the two dehydrators, a valve in the first conduit directing the flow of moisture-laden air under pressure from the compressor to a selected dehydrator, a second conduit connecting the dehydrators and the air-operated mechanism, valve means in the second conduit allowing flow of dry air under pressure from the selected dehydrator to the airoperated mechanism but preventing flow in the opposite direction, a third conduit connecting the exhaust opening of the air-operated mechanism and the dehydrators, valve means in the third conduit allowing flow of dry air exhaust under reduced pressure from the air-operated mechanism to the dehydrators but preventing flow in the opposite direction, dehydrating means in the dehydrators to remove and hold moisture from the pressurized moisture laden air, the second conduit passing the pressurized dry air to the air-operated mechanism and the third conduit passing the exhaust dry air from the air-operated mechanism to the nonselected dehydrator, the exhaust dry air removing the moisture held by the nonselected dehydrator to reactivate the dehydrating means therein, the moisture laden air then passing to atmosphere.

2. The system as set forth in claim I wherein the valve in the first conduit is operated in response to changes in the moisture content of one of the dehydrators.

3. The system asset forth in claim 1 wherein the valve in the first conduit is manually operable.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve means in the second and third conduits are one-way check valves.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dehydrating means is subject to change under varying moisture conditions and means responsive to such change operating the valve in the first conduit to change the selected dehydrator.

6. The method of dehydrating moisture laden air in a closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system, comprising, compressing moisture laden air, causing the compressed air to flow through a controlled conduit to a selected dehydrator, dehydrating means in the dehydrator, removing the moisture from the pressurized air, causing the dehydrated pressurized air to flow in one direction through a second conduit to an air-operated mechanism, causing the exhausted depressurized dry air from the air-operated mechanism to flow in one direction through a third conduit to a nonselected moisture laden dehydrator, causing the depressurized dry air to flow through the moisture laden dehydrator to remove the moisture therefrom and reactivate the dehydrating means therein, the then moisture laden air flowing to atmosphere.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pressurized air is caused to flow through the dehydrator in one direction and the depressurized air is caused to flow in a reverse direction.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the controlled conduit is controlled in response to changes in the moisture content of one of the dehydrators.

9. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the moisture content of the selected dehydrator causes the control of the flow of the compressed air to shift to the reactivated dehydrator.

Claims

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve in the first conduit is operated in response to changes in the moisture content of one of the dehydrators.
3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve in the first conduit is manually operable.
4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve means in the second and third conduits are one-way check valves.
5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dehydrating means is subject to change under varying moisture conditions and means responsive to such change operating the valve in the first conduit to change the selected dehydrator.
6. The method of dehydrating moisture laden air in a closed dehydration, pressure differential reactivation system, comprising, compressing moisture laden air, causing the compressed air to flow through a controlled conduit to a selected dehydrator, dehydrating means in the dehydrator, removing the moisture from the pressurized air, causing the dehydrated pressurized air to flow in one direction through a second conduit to an air-operated mechanism, causing the exhausted depressurized dry air from the air-operated mechanism to flow in one direction through a third conduit to a nonselected moisture laden dehydrator, causing the depressurized dry air to flow through the moisture laden dehydrator to remove the moisture therefrom and reactivate the dehydrating means therein, the then moisture laden air flowing to atmosphere.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pressurized air is caused to flow through the dehydrator in one direction and the depressurized air is caused to flow in a reverse direction.
8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the controlled conduit is controlled in response to changes in the moisture content of one of the dehydrators.
9. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the moisture content of the selected dehydrator causes the control of the flow of the compressed air to shift to the reactivated dehydrator.