Abstrict A desiccant bundle is disclosed herein having front and back sheets
of porous fabric material joined about edge marginal regions and
across the middle to define a plurality of sealed compartments.
A multiplicity of multiple surface desiccant granules are situated
in each compartment for absorbing moisture in the fabric material
or passing through it. Hangers are provided for detachably securing
the desiccant bundle to supporting structure in a humid or wet environment.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. In combination with a walk-in refrigerator having a heavily
laden moisture environment, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of overhead supporting structure arranged in parallel
spaced-apart relationship across the top of said refrigerator.
a plurality of moisture absorbing pouches carried on said overhead
support structure so as to downwardly depend therefrom;
each of said pouches composed of a porous fabric having an internal
enclosed compartment;
a quantity of desiccant particles disposed in said pouch compartment
substantially occupying the entire volume thereof;
said desiccant particles being of a multiple exposed surface exterior
of a diameter larger than 1/32 of an inch;
attachment means releasably connected to each of said pouches for
suspending said pouch from said supporting structure in said moisture
environment;
said attachment means includes a plurality of spaced-apart hangers
detachably secured along the edge marginal region of said pouch;
said pouch includes reinforcement means integrally carried about
the edge marginal regions thereof;
said pouch includes a plurality of compartments arranged side-by-side
in rows and columns having each of said compartments defined by
linear stitching integrally joining a pair of porous fabric sheets
together so that opposing surfaces of said sheets enclose said quantity
of desiccant particles;
said fabric sheets are pervious to moisture so as to absorb and
retain moisture; and
said fabric sheets and said particles are regenerated and adapted
to be ambient heat dried for reuse.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dehumidification apparatus, and
more particularly to a novel regenerative desiccant bundle adapted
to absorb moisture from a surrounding environment and further being
adapted to be dried and reused.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been the conventional practice to employ a
variety of desiccant materials for absorbing moisture present in
rooms, boat interiors, instrument packages and the like. In some
instances, dehumidifiers take the form of electric devices, such
as lights, which generate heat in order to effect drying of a moisture
environment. In other instances, crystals, such as silica gel, are
employed in elastomeric webs. In the latter instance, the silica
gel is of micron-size similar to a powder.
In the majority of instances cited above, the removal of moisture
is limited to a small amount of water and such devices are not useful
in an extremely wet environment, such as freezers or the like. In
instances where silica gel is employed, the desiccant becomes readily
saturated with moisture and cannot be dried for subsequent use.
Therefore, in the latter instance, the desiccant package must be
discarded.
Therefore, a long standing need has existed to provide a moisture
absorbing packet or bundle which may be placed in an extremely wet
environment, such as a walk-in freezer where wetness generally forms
into ice and provides an unsafe condition. Such a bundle or packet
must include a desiccant, such as in crystalline form, which offers
high capacity of moisture accumulation and which is suitable for
heat drying, such as in an oven, so that the packet or bundle can
be reused.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are obviated by
the present invention which provides a novel regenerative desiccant
bundle or packet comprising porous material sheets which are placed
together so that their edge marginal regions can be joined and wherein
attachment means are further crisscrossed across the joined sheets
in order to define a plurality of pockets or compartments. Each
pocket or compartment includes a desiccant in the form of multi-side
or surfaced crystals having high capacity of moisture absorption
and storage capabilities. Means are employed for detachably mounting
or holding the packet or bundle to supporting structure which is
located in an extremely wet environment. The fabric material is
characterized as being highly porous so as to conduct moisture therethrough
from the surrounding environment into the desiccant crystals. The
packet or bag is reinforced about the attachment or securement means
so that the accumulated weight of moisture within the desiccant
crystals in each of the respective pockets or compartments will
not tear or unduly fatigue the sheet material.
Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention
to provide a novel regenerative desiccant packet or bundle having
the ability to absorb moisture in the ratio of one pound of moisture
for nine pounds of desiccant material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel desiccant
bundle having a plurality of desiccant crystals or granules offering
multi-sided surfaces in order to absorb the maximum amount of surrounding
moisture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel regenerative
desiccant pack or bundle that employs desiccant material adapted
to be heatdried, such as in an oven, so that the packet or bundle
may be reused time and time again.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel
dehumidifying bundle or packet presenting a greater area of exposed
desiccator surface than in conventional use so that maximum moisture
absorption and retention is assured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The
present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be
understood with reference to the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical walk-in freezer offering
an extremely wet environment in which the novel regenerative desiccant
pack or bundle is used;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the novel regenerative
desiccant package incorporating the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the regenerative
desiccant pack or bundle shown in FIG. 2 as taken in the direction
of arrows 3--3 thereof; and
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pack or bundle
illustrated in FIG. 2 as taken in the direction of arrows 4--4 thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1 the novel regenerative desiccant pack or bundle
of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction
of arrow 10 and is being illustrated as downwardly depending or
suspended from a support rod 11. The support rod is in a humidity
or moisture environment, such as a walk-in freezer or the like.
In such an instance, a room is provided having an access door 12
incorporating a window 111. Normally, because of the extreme low
temperature, moisture collects at the ceiling, indicated by numeral
13 which turns into icicles, frost or similar moisture-laden elements
which then fall, drip or otherwise rest on the floor 14 of the room.
However, by suspending the inventive desiccant pack or bundle 10
near the ceiling 13 moisture in the air is drawn or sucked into
the pack or bundle and absorbed by the enclosed desiccant contained
therein.
In one form of the invention, a pack is indicated by numeral 15
which includes an edge marginal region 16 joining adjacent regions
together by stitching or the like of a pair of sheets. Also, additional
attachment means for joining the pair of sheets together is indicated
by lines 17 and 18 whereby a plurality of compartments are defined,
such as compartment 20. A quantity of granular or crystalline desiccant
particles is captured within each of the pockets or compartments
and the pair of sheets is of porous material so that surrounding
moisture will be drawn through the material into the desiccant particles.
Hangers, such as loop 21 downwardly suspend each of the desiccant
packs or bundles from the support rod or pipe 11. It is to be understood
that the packs or bundles may be supported by an suitable structure
located in the room.
Referring now in detail to FIG. 2 the desiccant package or bundle
10 is illustrated wherein the edge marginal regions of a pair of
sheets 22 and 23 are illustrated as being the same shape or overall
configuration so that they are conformal when placed against one
another and joined about the edge marginal regions in order to provide
an enclosed pouch. In the present instance, the edge marginal regions
are stitched together, such as by stitching 24 and preferably,
the stitching goes around the entire peripheral edge marginal region.
Inasmuch as absorption of water into the desiccant will cause an
increase in weight, the stitching is reinforced so that the added
weight can be accommodated.
Additionally, attachment means such as stitching is passed through
the midsection of the pouch, as indicated by numeral 25 and other
stitching is introduced in spaced vertical arrangement, such as
stitching 26 which is normal to the stitching 25 so that a plurality
of compartments or individual pockets are defined. Each of the pockets
is employed for enclosing a quantity of desiccant particles which
may be of granular or crystal formation. Such a crystal is indicated
by numeral 27 and it is to be understood that the particle size
is substantially large, such as an average of 1/32nd in thickness.
Each of the granules or particles is considered multi-sided so as
to provide a greater area for exposure to atmosphere for the collection
or absorption of moisture in the surrounding air.
It is to be understood that the sheet material is fabric, such
as cotton canvas, and preferably, of a 7 ounce weight so that the
fabric may "breathe" which draws moisture into the chemical
desiccant. Because of the porousness of the fabric, a powdered desiccant
or any type of desiccant which is of micro size is totally unsuitable.
Furthermore, the bundle or pack of the present invention is suitable
for reuse by drying of the desiccant in a heated environment such
as in an oven. Powder or desiccant of small micro size is not adaptable
for drying in this manner and would only form a sticky mass.
In order to reuse or dry the bundle or pack, the bundle or pack
is subjected to oven temperature at approximately 250 degrees in
temperature. Powder would normally break down under such circumstances
and this would reduce the life use of the desiccant. Therefore,
the large size granules and particles offer long shelf life and
long reusability for the inventive desiccant bundle.
In some instances, a coloring such as dye may be put into the fabric
and at times, graphic representations or other indicia can be carried
on the exterior face of the fabric.
Referring now in detail to FIGS. 2 3 and 4 it can be seen that
the upper edge marginal region, as identified by numeral 30 is
reinforced by stitching and includes eyelets, such as eyelet 31
for releasably retaining a fastener, such as a hanger 21. Other
means of suspending or supporting the package or pack is envisioned
and the present invention is not limited to hangers. FIGS. 3 and
4 show the horizontal stitching 25 and the vertical stitching 26
serving as attachment means or securing means for defining the respective
pockets between the opposing surfaces of the fabric sheets 22 and
23.
In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the inventive regenerative
desiccant pack or bundle of the present invention is suitable for
absorbing a substantial quantity of moisture from the surrounding
environment and that once fully absorbed to its capacity, the pack
or bundle may be dried out, utilizing a conventional oven or the
like so that reuse is available. The bundle may consist of a single
compartment or may be defined as having a plurality of compartments
such as illustrated.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made without departing
from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim
in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention. |