Abstrict A cap designed to provide a prolonged dehumidification of the contents
of an associated container, an indication of the condition of the
desiccant without exposing the contents, a rapid regeneration of
the desiccant and a permanent isolation of the desiccant, by means
of an inert, high isolation fiber, self-forming hermetic seals,
and a high thermal conductivity case.
Claims Having described my invention, I claim:
1. A desiccant cap comprising:
(a) a case of high thermal conductivity material having a cylindrical
opening which passes completely through the case,
(b) a first internal annular flange located adjacent a first end
of said opening and concentrically oriented with said opening,
(c) a second annular flange located adjacent the second end of
said opening and concentrically oriented with said opening,
(d) a first set of thread located within said opening and extending
from the first flange to the first end of said opening,
(e) a first washer shaped gasket having the approximate outside
diameter of said opening and an inner diameter approximately equal
to the inner diameter of said flange, said washer being supported
by the outer side of said first annular flange,
(f) a disc shaped transparent member having the approximate outside
diameter of case opening positioned on said first washer,
(g) a disc shaped retaining ring having a concentric opening and
threads on its outer curved surface to mate with said first set
of threads, said ring being threaded into said first set of threads
to place pressure against and secure in place transparent member,
and said disc shaped gasket,
(h) a disc shaped filter supported by the outer side of said second
flange, said filter being of ceramic with fine pores to provide
a means of passing humidity while preventing interaction or commingling
of the desiccant or the filter with the container contents,
(i) a high temperature silicon rubber sealant around the outer
edge of said filter and on the surface in contact with said flange,
(j) a second washer shaped gasket, with a concentric opening, positioned
about the periphery of said filter on the side opposite the second
flange, said second gasket having a diameter exceeding that of the
opening, requiring a force fit to place it against said filter,
said forced fit aiding in securing said filter to said second flange,
(k) a second set of threads located within said opening extending
from said second gasket to the second end of said opening, said
second set of threads accepting threads about the outside of the
mouth of a container, whereby the lip about the container mouth
exerts pressure against said second gasket to create a hermetic
seal to the container, and
(l) a desiccant, which indicates moisture content by color, located
in a chamber formed by the opening in said casing, and bounded at
either end by said transparent member and said filter.
2. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein
(a) said gaskets are of teflon to provide for cold flow sealing
under the pressure applied by said ring and container.
3. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein
(a) said case is of aluminum to provide high thermal conductivity
and minimize corrosion and interaction with the container contents.
Description BACKGROUND
1. Field
This invention pertains to dehumidification and, in particular,
to dehumidification by means of a cap containing a desiccant.
2. Prior Art
There are many and varied applications for desiccant caps intended
to provide a low humidity atmosphere within an associated container.
Material requiring such protection include pharmaceuticals, seeds,
food and machinery. The need for a reliable, long lasting cap can
be exemplified by the effect of moisture on special seeds, such
as ornamental cactus seed. A relatively small bottle of these seeds
may cost as much as $500. A short period of exposure to a moist
atmosphere results in the sprouting and eventual destruction of
the seeds. Damage is similarly incurred with many expensive pharmaceuticals
when exposed to a humid atmosphere for a relatively short period
of time.
An equally large number of desiccant caps have been designed to
overcome these problems as indicated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1425790
1637656 1655248 2317882 2446361 2487620 2548168
and 2676078. These devices usually include a perforated metal
holder for a desiccant which is either held together by a binder,
such as asbestos, or separated from the container contents by a
fiberglass sheet. In some cases the fiberglass is eliminated and
only the perforated shield is used to isolate the desiccant from
the container contents.
Sealing of the container is usually accomplished by merely tightening
the cap without a gasket. The results of these approaches has been
inadequate. The dehumidification is short lived and the desiccant
and carcenogenic materials, such as asbestos and fiberglass commingle
with the container contents. The contents are often food or pharmaceuticals,
making the use of such devices a serious health and product liability
problem.
In a number of these prior art devices, an indication of the state
of the desiccant cannot be determined by visual inspection or the
cap must be removed to determine the desiccant state, which results
in exposing the contents to moisture merely to perform an inspection.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide means for prolonged
dehumidification of the container. It is another object to provide
high isolation and quick regeneration of the desiccant. It is another
object to entirely eliminate carcinogens from the cap. It is another
object to provide a filter which does not react with or otherwise
affect the contents of the container. It is another object to provide
an indication of the moisture content of the desiccant without removal
of the cap.
In the present invention, an aluminum case, with a cylindrical
opening passing completely through the case, contains within the
opening a glass lens at one end and a porous ceramic filter at the
other. A desiccant which provides an indication of its moisture
content by a color change is placed in the chamber, formed by the
opening and bounded at the ends by the filter and lens.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 2 the present invention comprises a case 1
a glass lens 2 a retaining ring 3 a first teflon washer 4 a first
internal flange 5 a second internal flange 6 a high temperature
silicone seal 7 a second teflon washer 8 a ceramic filter element
9 a first set of threads to accept the retaining ring 10 a second
set of threads 11 to accept the mouth of a container 13 and a desiccant
12.
The glass lens 2 which rests on the first washer 4 is secured
in place by the retaining ring 3. A seal is obtained by threading
the retaining ring into the first set of threads a sufficient distance
to apply pressure on the lens which in turn applies pressure on
the first teflon washer. The washer, which rests on the first internal
flanges, is deformed by the pressure to produce a hermetic seal.
Typically, this is a thin washer with a thickness of only 0.0015
inch.
The ceramic filter rests on the second flange and is secured in
place by the silicone seal. The silicone surrounds the sides of
the filter and an extremely thin layer, not shown, covers the upper
surface only in the area where contact is made with the second flange
to perform the same function as the first washer. The second teflon
washer, which is nominally 0.125 inch in thickness, is press fitted
into the case to secure it in place and also aid in securing the
filter in place.
Pressure is applied against the first teflon washer by the retaining
ring and against the second washer by the lip of the container.
The teflon flows under pressure to fill minor void and accept minor
protrusions in the imperfections of the surrounding surfaces, thereby
providing a superior seal. The flat portion of the washer provides
a seal over a wider surface than more conventional "O"
ring gaskets which generally make contact at three points. The teflon
also serves to cushion the lens and filter against over pressure
from such sources as the retaining ring, container and shock due
to normal handling of the cap.
A desiccant which changes color as a function of its humidity content
such as silica gel is employed. The glass lens provides a window
to view the desiccant color when the cap is secured to a container,
thus avoiding the need to open the cap to determine the state of
the desiccant.
The case is preferably made of aluminum to provide for high thermal
conductivity. A heating period as short as 10 minutes is often sufficient
to regenerate the desiccant, whereas other types of caps have required
over an hour. Aluminum which is widely used in cooking utensils
is known to generally not to corrode as steel does and not to adversely
react with most food or pharmaceuticals. In addition, during normal
use, the aluminum does not usually come in contact with the container
contents. The lip of the container presses against the second teflon
washer exposing the contents to only the teflon washer and the ceramic
filter. Ceramic and teflon in most instances may be considered as
inert materials.
The ceramic filter contains pores which are so fine that neither
the desiccant nor the container contents may pass; however, moisture
is easily passed through the pores and absorbed by the desiccant.
The improved sealing method and the external viewing of the desiccant
state has provided a means for prolonging the period of use of the
cap by a factor of as high as ten over more conventional approaches.
The case is a simple surface of revolution with all components
being concentrically located about the axis of revolution of the
case. This construction not only reduces cost, but provides a sturdy
device not subject to warping or distortion from use or temperature
changes, thus aiding in maintaining the seal over prolonged periods. |