Abstract:
A transportable or hand carriable forced air dryer for boots, gloves and facepieces such as gas masks and other headpieces with attached drinking tubes. A pair of manifolds having spaced parallel tubes extend in opposite directions from a blower housing/plenum structure. Each manifold has plural spaced upstanding air discharge tubes. Each air discharge tube has attached thereto a form expander in looped form extending in spaced parallel arrangement and terminating beyond the air discharge to prevent air blockage by the article to be dried. One manifold is permanently connected and the other is quick connected and quick disconnected, without tools for field reassembly. For transport, the released manifold is inverted and nested on the permanently connected manifold for compact installation in a tote bag. The air discharge tubes are provided with a nipple sized and threaded to receive thereon a standard military canteen cap having a reduced size nipple thereon for connection to a drinking tube of a gas mask disposed for drying on an adjacent air discharge tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to electrically operated forced air dryers of the type which are transportable or hand carriable and intended for use in remote locations for drying gloves, boots and facepieces and particularly, gas masks of the type utilized by military personnel. In military usage, particularly for training exercises, it is necessary to dry such articles immediately after usage in order to prevent growth of bacteria and mold within the articles. Heretofore, it has been necessary to transport the articles to be dried to a facility having drying racks. However, rack type dryers for boots, gloves and gas masks due to their size and weight are not practical for field use. Thus, it has been desired to provide a way of drying articles at remote locations and particularly for military field exercises where typically a portable generator set is available for providing electrical power. Thus, it has been desired to provide an easy to carry dryer for boots, gloves, and facepieces, such as gas masks and other headpieces, which may be readily transported by hand carrying in order to enable on site drying to prevent bacterial growth and formation of mold within the articles. It has further been desired to provide a lightweight portable hand carriable dryer for boots, gloves, and facepieces which can be easily hand carried in a container or bag and readily assembled on site without the need of any tools and powered by a portable generator set. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A transportable, e.g. hand carried, forced air dryer which is electrically operated and suitable for operation from a portable generator set which may be easily transported in a container or tote bag and assembled quickly on site without the need for any tools. The dryer of the present disclosure employs a blower housing containing a blower with an attached structure defining a plenum chamber having a heater therein provided with discharge outlets on opposite sides thereof. On one side of the plenum structure, a first manifold comprising a pair of parallel tubes each attached at one end to a mounting plate is secured permanently over the discharge outlets by fasteners. The tubes have an end support plate permanently attached to the opposite ends thereof. Each of the pair of parallel tubes has a plurality of spaced air discharge tubes attached thereto and communicating interiorly therewith and extending upwardly from the manifold tubes for discharging air therefrom. Each of the air discharge tubes as provided attached thereto a form expanding member which extends upwardly and in spaced generally parallel arrangement and terminating beyond the end of the air discharge tube for preventing articles to be dried from blocking discharge from the discharge interior of the article. 
         [0003]    A second manifold comprising a pair of generally spaced parallel manifold tubes has an attachment plate permanently secured to one end of the manifold tubes; and, the attachment plate is configured for quick connect to and quick disconnect from the side of the plenum structure opposite the permanently attached first manifold. The second manifold tubes are provided with a second end plate permanently attached to the end of the parallel tubes distal the plenum. A second end support plate has stepped slots engaging lugs provided on the ends of the second end plate for quick connect and quick disconnect. Each of the parallel tubes has a plurality of spaced air discharge tubes attached thereto and communicating interiorly therewith and oriented for vertically upward air discharge. Each of the discharge air tubes has a form expanding member provided attached thereto extending upwardly and spaced generally parallel thereto and terminating beyond the upper end air discharge tube for preventing the article to be dried from blocking air discharged from the discharge tube to the interior of the article to be dried. 
         [0004]    In one version, the quick connect and quick disconnect second manifold has stepped slots in the end plate for engaging a pair of lugs provided on one side of the plenum structure. In another version, quick connect and disconnect second manifold mounting plate has a hooked flange along one edge which engages an upwardly extending edge of the side of the plenum structure for quick assembly thereon. 
         [0005]    The upstanding air discharge tubes are sized to receive thereon a nipple configured for receiving thereon a standard NATO military canteen cap with a drinking tube nipple. When a facepiece, such as a gas mask with a drinking tube attached, is placed over one of the air discharge tubes for drying, a nipple is provided on the adjacent discharge tube and a canteen cap is placed over the nipple and the drinking tube connected to the nipple on the canteen cap for forced air drying of the drinking tube. 
         [0006]    For transportability, the dryer of the present disclosure has the quick connect and disconnect manifold removed, inverted and stacked in superposed nested arrangement on the permanently attached manifold with the form expanding members and air discharge tubes of the two manifolds interdigitated in compact arrangement. This enables the nested blower housing and manifolds to be assembled into compact container or tote bag along with the power cord, the disconnected end support plate, air discharge tube nipples and lengths of flexible tubing to provide a dryer kit which can be readily removed from the container and quickly reassembled for operation in the field without the need for tools. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the assembled dryer of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled dryer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an outboard end view of the left hand or permanently attached manifold of the dryer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an inboard end view of the manifold of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an inboard end view of the right hand or quick connect and disconnect manifold of the dryer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an outboard end view of the connect and disconnect manifold of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the quick connect and disconnect end support plate for the manifold of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the lower housing and plenum structure showing the quick connect and disconnect lugs for the right hand manifold; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a portion of the dryer of the present disclosure having an alternate version of the arrangement for the quick connect and disconnect of the right hand manifold to the plenum; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the disassembled dryer with the manifolds nested for positioning in a container; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the arrangement of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the dryer of the present disclosure with boots and gloves disposed thereon for drying; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the dryer of the present invention with gas masks having drinking tubes disposed thereon with the drinking tubes connected to canteen caps disposed on adjacent air discharge tubes; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the disassembled dryer of the present disclosure disposed in a tote bag for transportability; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is an elevation view of a nipple for the air discharge tubes for receiving a canteen cap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a view similar to  FIG. 15 , of another version of a nipple for the air discharge tubes; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the dryer of the present disclosure utilizing the flexible tube for off manifold drying. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a dryer according to the present disclosure is indicated generally at  10  and includes a blower housing  12  having therein blower  14 ; and, the blower housing  12  is attached to a plenum structure  16  which has therein a heater  18  with electrical leads  20  which are connected as will hereinafter be described. The blower housing  12  is offset from center on the plenum structure  16  to provide a shelf or ledge  17  on one side of the structure  16 . The blower housing  12  has air inlet ports  13 , which may include a filter (not shown). Additional louvers  15  are provided in blower housing  12 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the plenum structure  16  has a pair of spaced air discharge ports  15 ,  21  provided on one side thereof; and, a similar set of unshown ports is provided on the side of the plenum structure opposite the side illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a first or left hand manifold assembly is indicated generally at  22  and has a pair of manifold tubes  24 ,  26  which have a mounting plate  36  formed, with correspondingly spaced apertures  38 ,  40  therein, attached to the inboard ends of tubes  24 ,  26  such that the ends of the tubes  24 ,  26  are received in the apertures  38 ,  40  respectively and the ends of tubes  24 ,  26  are open. In the present practice, the manifold tubes are attached to the mounting plate  36  by suitable expedient such as weldment. Mounting plate  36  has another set of spaced apertures  42  provided therein as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  which apertures are intended to receive fasteners therethrough such as, for example, threaded fasteners in threaded engagement with internally threaded fasteners (not shown) provided on the side wall of the plenum structure  16 . Such internally threaded fasteners may comprise clinch nuts or weld nuts attached to the inner surface of the manifold plenum structure  16  in a manner well known in the art. The ends of the manifold tubes  24 ,  26  distal the mounting plate  36  have an end support plate  44  permanently attached thereto as, for example, by weldment. The end support plate may have a flange  46  formed on the lower edge thereof. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the manifold tubes  24 ,  26  for the manifold assembly  22  have provided on the upper surface thereof a plurality of spaced air discharge tubes ascending upwardly therefrom denoted, respectively,  28 ,  30  in generally spaced parallel upstanding arrangement. The lower end of each of the air discharge tubes  28 ,  30  is attached over apertures (not shown) on the upper surface of each of the tubes  24 ,  26  such that the interior of the air discharge tubes  28 ,  30  communicates with the interior of the respective manifold tubes  24 ,  26 . In the present practice, the tubes  28 ,  30  are attached to the upper surface of the manifold by a suitable expedient, such as, for example, weldment. 
         [0028]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the manifold assembly  22  has a form expanding member attached to each of the air discharge tubes  28 ,  30  denoted respectively  32 ,  34  in the drawings. In the present practice, the form expanding members  32 ,  34  comprise loops with their ends attached to the lower portion of the respective discharge tube  28 ,  30 ; and, the looped portion extends upwardly so as to terminate a significant distance above the end of the respective air discharge tube. This arrangement maintains the article to be dried, whether it is boots, gloves or facepieces, spaced above the upper ends of the air discharge tubes  28 ,  30  so as to prevent blockage of air discharge from the end of the tubes from the drying article disposed thereover. In the present practice, it has been found satisfactory to form the manifold assembly  22  components of aluminum material. In the present practice the form expanding members  32 ,  34  are formed of aluminum wire having a diameter of about 6 mm; however, other sizes may be employed. The components of the manifold  22  may be alternatively of other suitable materials, as, for example, stainless steel or suitable structural plastic. In the present practice in the illustrated version, the combined blower housing  12  and plenum structure have a width of about 22.9 cm, a depth of about 23.8 cm and a height of about 34.6 cm. However, other sizes and configurations may be employed. In the present practice in the illustrated version, manifold tubes  24 ,  26  have a square cross-section of about 38 mm on a side and a length of about 495 mm; and, the air discharge tubes have an outside diameter of about 25 mm. However, other dimensions may be employed for the tubes. 
         [0029]    In the present practice, the air discharge tubes  28 ,  30  are provided with a nipple, as will be hereinafter described, for receiving thereon a standard NATO military canteen cap thereon for attachment of a drinking tube. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 - 8 , the dryer of the present disclosure has a second or right hand manifold indicated generally at  48  in the drawings disposed in oppositely directed arrangement on the plenum structure from the manifold  22 . However, the right hand manifold  48  is designed for quick connect and quick disconnect from the plenum structure  16  without the aid of any tools. The manifold  48  has a pair of spaced generally parallel manifold tubes  50 ,  52 , each having the inboard end thereof attached to a mounting plate  62  through aperture  50 ,  52  in plate  62  such that the ends of tubes  50 ,  52  are open through the mounting plate  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The mounting plate  62  also has formed therein, between the tubes  52 ,  50 , a pair of spaced stepped slots  64  which serve to provide the quick connect and quick disconnect of the mounting plate  62  of the manifold  48  to the plenum structure  16 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a pair of spaced lugs are provided on the side wall of the plenum structure  16 , intermediate the air discharge ports  19 ,  21  as denoted by reference numeral  66 . The manifold  48  is, thus, connected to the plenum structure  16  by engaging the slots  64  over the the lugs  66  such that the narrower portion of the stepped slots  64  engage the reduced diameter portion of the lugs  66  and retains the manifold tubes in place over the air discharge ports  19 ,  21 . 
         [0032]    Manifold  48  also has spaced along the tubes  50 ,  52  a plurality of upwardly extending air discharge tubes  54 ,  56 , respectively. The manifold  48  also has form expanding members  58 ,  60 , respectively, attached to each of the air discharge tubes and arranged in a looped spaced parallel manner similar to the members  30 ,  32  of the manifold  22 . 
         [0033]    The manifold  48  has an end plate  68  attached, as, for example, by weldment to the ends of the tubes  50 ,  52  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Plate  68  has provided thereon a pair of spaced attachment lugs  70  which have reduced diameter portion, shown in dashed line in  FIG. 6 , attached to the end plate  68 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , and end support plate  72  for manifold  48  has provided therein spaced stepped slots as shown in  FIG. 7  which are configured to slidingly engage the lugs  70  on manifold end plate  68  and quick connect and disconnect arrangement for supporting the ends of manifold tubes  50 ,  52 . In the present practice, the components of the manifold  48  are formed of the same materials and configuration as those of the manifold  22 ; and, the air discharge tubes  54 ,  56  and support forms  58  are similarly configured. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an alternate version  100  of the quick connect and quick disconnect of the right hand manifold to the plenum structure is shown, wherein a blower housing  102  is attached to a plenum structure  104  which has a side  112  thereof extending upwardly from the upper surface  105  of the plenum structure. A manifold mounting plate  108  is shown with a portion of one manifold tube  106  attached thereto and has the upper edge thereof formed in a hooked configuration as denoted by reference numeral  110 . The hooked portion of the mounting plate  108  is registered over the upwardly extending edge  112  of the side of the plenum structure to permit quick connect and quick disconnect of the manifold mounting plate  108  therefrom. It will be understood that, if desired, the arrangement of the quick connect and disconnect of the manifold mounting plate  108  shown in  FIG. 9  may also be employed for connect and disconnect of an end supporting plate for the manifold; however, such connection has been omitted for brevity of description. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  10  and  11 , the plenum structure  16  is provided with electrical leads through cord  78  which may be wired through the back of the plenum structure  16 , through aperture  21 , shown in  FIG. 4  in solid outline and in dashed line in  FIG. 10 . The power cord is connected internally to switch  80  provided on the plenum shelf  17  of the plenum structure  16 . The switch is connected to the heater  18  and through power cord  20  to the blower and wired for selectively energizing the blower  14  and both the blower  14  the heater  18 . In the present practice, switch  80  is a double throw center position OFF switch with movement in one direction from center providing blower ON; and, movement of switch  80  in an opposite direction from center providing both blower ON and heater ON. Switch  80  may be a toggle switch as shown. Thus, the dryer of the present disclosure may provide ambient forced air or forced heated air to the manifolds  22 ,  48 . If desired, a heater ON lamp  82  may be provided as shown in  FIG. 11 . If desired, a temperature limiting sensor switch (unshown) may be incorporated in the plenum to cut off power in the event the plenum temperature exceeds a predetermined value. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the assembled dryer  10  is shown in  FIG. 12  as having boots  90  mounted on the air discharge tubes of manifold  22  and gloves  83  mounted on the air discharge tubes of manifold  48  and positioned for being dried upon energization of the blower. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the dryer  10  is shown as having facepieces in the form of gas masks  84  with drinking tubes  86  disposed on alternate air discharge tubes. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 ,  15  and  16 , the alternate air tubes adjacent the air discharge tubes with facepieces  84  thereon have a nipple  83  provided thereon which is provided with external threads  85  thereon which threads are configured for receiving thereon the standard NATO military canteen cap  82 . In one version of the nipple  83  shown in  FIG. 16 , a reduced diameter portion  87  is formed on the nipple  83  and is sized to interfit the inner diameter of the air discharge tubes  54 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , it is indicated at  83 ′ and has external threads  85 ′ configured for engaging the internal threads in a standard NATO military canteen cap. The nipple  83 ′ has reduced diameter external threads  89  provided on the end thereof opposite the external threads  85 ′ for engaging internal threads (unshown) in the upper end of the air discharge tubes  54 . The version of the nipple  83  shown in  FIG. 16  is employed with the dryer of the present disclosure where the dryer is intended to be used for drying any of gloves, boots or or facepieces or other headpieces. Nipple  83  has the lower portion  87  sized for slip fitting into the inner diameter of the air discharge tubes  54 . 
         [0041]    Where the dryer of the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated for facepiece drying, the nipple  83 ′ of  FIG. 15  may be permanently installed with the threads  89  into the end of the air discharge tubes. 
         [0042]    Standard NATO military canteen caps  82  are disposed over the nipples on the air discharge tubes adjacent each gas mask; and, the drinking tubes  86  connected to the nipple provided on the canteen cap  82 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , the disassembled dryer is shown installed as a kit in a tote bag or carrier  92  with the manifold  48  nested on manifold  22  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The end support plate  72  and nipples  83 ,  83 ′ are in a separate pouch or bag  97 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , if desired, lengths of flexible tubing  114 , such as commercially available plastic tubing, may be provided in the kit. The tubing  114  is sized for insertion in the ends of air discharge tubes  54  for providing forced air from the dryer air discharge tubes for off-manifold drying, such as boots  118 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , other types of headpieces denoted  116  may be positioned over one or more of the air discharge tubes for drying. The tote bag  92  may have a spacer pad  94  provided on the corner or closure  96  for acting as a stuffer to hold the dryer components in position in the carrier  92  which is provided with carrying straps/handles  98 . In the present practice, the illustrated version of the disassembled dryer components and carrier  92  have a combined weight of about 13.2 kilograms and are, thus, easy to carry. 
         [0045]    Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary versions described herein be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.