Patent Abstract:
A dryer and a drying apparatus attachable to a dryer are disclosed. A wheel having desiccant material is located in line and in close proximity with a heating element. The wheel includes a first portion positioned in an inlet air path and a second portion positioned in an outlet air path. The desiccant material removes water molecules from air within the inlet air path, and lowers the vapor pressure of the incoming air. In the outlet air path, heated air flows through the second portion to transfer energy to the desiccant material. The wheel rotates to change the desiccant material within the portions.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/797,941, filed on May 9, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a dryer using heated air to dry items. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dryer a structure to enhance moisture removal from the items in the dryer. The present invention improves drying efficiency using the structure. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Clothes dryers basically work in the following manner. The dryer sucks in air from the surrounding area. The dryer heats the air using an electric heating element, a gas burner and the like. The air passes into a tumbler housed within the dryer once it is heated. The hot air evaporates water from the clothes as they spin inside the tumbler. The dryer then forces the water evaporated from the clothes along with the hot air outside its assembly. Typically, a vent allows the air and moisture to exit the room. 
         [0004]    Articles, such as clothes, towels, rugs and the like, take a certain amount of time to dry. The amount of time varies according to the article being dried. Other factors to this time period are energy capacity of the heating element, efficiency of heat transfer, air flow capacity, vapor pressure and the like. Some of these factors may be beyond the control of the dryer, while others may be controlled or monitored to improved drying times and efficiency. 
         [0005]    Dryers use the vapor pressure of the air in the home, laundry room, basement and the like, which can be less than desirable for drying articles. The grains of moisture in a home may range from about 45 to about 110 grains of water vapor per pound of air. Grains of water vapor per pound of air (grains/lb) indicate the density measurement of water vapor in air. For example, 14 cubic feet of air is about 1 pound (lb) of air. Approximately 7000 grains of water vapor are in about one lb of air. By measuring the volume of air, an average number of grains of water vapor for the volume may be determined. 
         [0006]    The air sucked into the dryer is heated during the time period for drying the articles. The higher the grains/lb of water in the air, the longer the drying period. For example, air having about 110 grains/lb. may take twice as long as air having about 45 grains/lb. Thus, conditions for drying may be less than optimal when using damp air surrounding the dryer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a dryer apparatus that improves drying efficiency and reduces the amount of time needed to dry articles. The dryer removes moisture from the air prior to entering the drum, tumbler or housing with the dryer that holds the articles. The disclosed embodiments of the present invention seek to improve the condition of the air moisture prior to drying. 
         [0008]    If the grains per pound of water vapor of the air to be heated are low, then the articles within the dryer are dried faster. The relationship is established because the vapor pressure is reduced, which results in a quicker drying period. Thus, the time and energy to dry an article is reduced. Preferably, a grain count of about 10 to 40 grains/lb reduces the drying period to about a third of the normal drying period. 
         [0009]    Vapor pressure dictates how much energy is needed to evaporate the water from the drying article. A certain amount of energy, such as about 1060 British Thermal Units (Btus), is needed to evaporate 1 pound of air. Reducing the vapor pressure in that air would reduce the amount of energy needed to evaporate the pound of air. Vapor pressure may vary according to location and other conditions, but it can almost always be reduced to a lower value. The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relates to reducing the vapor pressure in air so as to generate better air for drying clothes and lower costs. Thus, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention reduces the grains/lb of the air flowing into the dryer from the outside to improve drying times and efficiency. 
         [0010]    The disclosed embodiments of the present invention achieve improved drying efficiency by using an intake to suck in air separate from the inlet air path of the dryer. In other words, air enters the dryer from two different locations. One air stream goes through the dryer as normal, while the other flows through a heating element. Both streams flow through a wheel that removes water from the water, except the heated air serves to regenerate the desiccant material within the wheel. Thus, the desiccant material held by the wheel is dried before being placed back into the path of the inlet air going into the drum of the dryer. 
         [0011]    Orientation of the airstreams according to the disclosed embodiments helps in the elimination of lint from the dryer. Lint may reduce drying efficiency within the dryer by reducing the removal of moisture from the air entering the dryer. Further, the disclosed embodiments disclose a structure that places a heating element where it can do the most good in the dryer. The disclosed configuration also reduces the vapor pressure of the air used for regeneration within the dryer. 
         [0012]    According to the disclosed embodiments, a dryer is disclosed. The dryer includes an inlet air path. The dryer also includes a heating element to heat an intake air stream separate from the inlet air path. The dryer also includes a wheel positioned to receive air from the inlet air path and heated air in the intake air stream. The wheel includes desiccant material. The dryer also includes an outlet air path to combine the heated air in the intake air stream with an outlet air stream. 
         [0013]    Further according to the disclosed embodiments, another dryer is disclosed. The dryer includes a desiccant wheel regeneration system that dries a desiccant material within the desiccant wheel including an air intake to allow an intake air stream to flow through a heating element to generate heated air that dries the desiccant material and then combines with air expelled from the dryer. 
         [0014]    Further according to the disclosed embodiments, a method for drying an article is disclosed. The method includes creating an intake air stream separate from an inlet air path. The method also includes heating air within the intake air stream. The method also includes flowing the heated air through a wheel including desiccant material. The method also includes removing at least one water molecule from air within the inlet air path with the desiccant material. 
         [0015]    Further according to the disclosed embodiments, a dryer is disclosed. The dryer includes an intake located on a side of the dryer to allow intake air to enter the dryer and heated with a heating element. The dryer also includes a fan positioned with the intake to draw the intake air into the dryer. 
         [0016]    Further according to the disclosed embodiments, a method for regenerating a desiccant wheel in a dryer also is disclosed. The method includes creating an intake air stream through an intake. The method also includes heating the intake air stream. The method also includes flowing the intake air stream through a portion of desiccant material. The method also includes combining the intake air stream with an outlet air path. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings listed below illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, as disclosed by the claims and their equivalents. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a dryer having a desiccant wheel according to the disclosed embodiments. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates another dryer having a desiccant wheel according to the disclosed embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart for drying an article according to the disclosed embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present invention and their equivalents are devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below are indicated by like reference numbers in the drawings. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts a dryer  100  having a desiccant wheel  140  according to the disclosed embodiments. Dryer  100  is a dryer using forced, heated air to remove moisture and wetness from articles, such as clothes, towels, fabric, dishes, household items, and the like. Article  102  represents one of such articles, or a plurality of articles, within dryer  100 . Preferably, article  102  is contained, or held, within a rotating drum  104 . Article  102  tumbles within drum  104  to allow the heated air to flow over its surface to remove moisture. 
         [0023]    Dryer  100  intakes outside air from its surrounding environment and expels the air after it has cycled through drum  104 . This process is disclosed in greater detail below. Dryer  100  also includes controls  106  to adjust settings and operations for drying articles. Controls  106  may be knobs, buttons, displays, and the like. Indicator  108  alerts a user that lint screen  110  should be cleaned. Preferably, indicator  108  is a light that comes on to alert the user. 
         [0024]    Dryer  100  also includes door  112 .  FIG. 1  shows door  112  on the front side of dryer  100 , but door  100  may be placed on any side or surface of dryer  100 . For example, door  112  may be located on the top of dryer  100  if that side is considered more convenient or accessible. Drum  104  holds articles  102 . Article  102  is placed into and removed from drum  104  via door  112 . Thermostat  114  controls the temperature in drum  104  and uses information provided by sensor  116  to determine whether to increase or decrease the amount of heated air forced onto article  102 . 
         [0025]    Belts  118  rotate drum  104 . Although  FIG. 1  shows two belts, the number of belts may vary according to the needs and size of dryer  100 . Moreover, other means for rotating drum  104  can be employed and dryer  100  is not limited to using belts. Belts  118  may be attached to a rotor  120 . Rotor  120  is controlled by motor  122 , which receives commands set by controls  106 . Again, rotor  120  and motor  122  may be any configuration or type commonly used in dryers. 
         [0026]    Power to dryer  100  is provided via power cord  124 . Preferably, power cord  124  includes a 220 volt plug that interacts with a wall outlet. Alternatively, power may be supplied through two 110 volt plugs  126  stored within dryer  100 . Plugs  126  provide an alternate power source should the 220 volt plug be unavailable. 
         [0027]    Dryer duct  130  couples vent  134  of dryer  100  to the outside. Preferably, duct  130  connects to a vent within a wall. Duct  130  is coupled to dryer  100  using clips  132 . Duct  130  may be comprised of rigid material that does not collapse during common use. The rigidity ensures that good air flow occurs at all times while dryer  100  is in use. 
         [0028]    Lint screen  110  separates drum  104  from vent  134 . Vent  134  allows air from drum  104  to exit dryer  100  through duct  130 . Fan  154  draws air filled with moisture from article  102  into vent  134 . If the air is saturated with moisture, then the removal of moisture from article  102  is compromised. Fan  154  sucks the air through lint screen  110 , which removes dirt, fluff and other materials from the air so that vent  134  does not become clogged. 
         [0029]    Dryer  100  also includes vents  136  that allow air to flow into drum  104 . Vents  136  may use small openings to keep foreign objects and materials out of dryer  100 . Wheel  140  is placed between vents  136  and drum  104 . Heating element  135  heats the air as it enters drum  104  in order to dry article  102 . Heating element  135  may be a heater or other device known in the art for heating forced air. Heating element  135  also may be referred to as the primary heating element of dryer  100 . Temperatures attainable by heating element  135  may vary according to the desired operation of dryer  100 , and may vary as set by controls  106 . 
         [0030]    Wheel  140  includes compartments filled with silica gel pellets  144 . Alternatively, other silica gel products may be used in conjunction with wheel  140 . Further, other desiccants may be used with wheel  140 . Silica gel pellets  144  act like salt in removing water or moisture from incoming air. The removal, in turn, reduces the vapor pressure of the incoming air, which increases the drying capability of the air. Each pellet includes a strong positive end and strong negative end in its silica molecules. Because the water molecule also acts like a polar molecule, the water in the incoming air is attracted chemically to the silica gel. Thus, the grains of water vapor are reduced in the volume of air coming into dryer  100 . 
         [0031]    The air flows through wheel  140  at portion  142 . Portion  142  includes those parts of wheel  140  having silica gel pellets  144  that remove water from air. Because some of the water vapor of the incoming air will attach to pellets  144 , the air flowing into drum  104  is lower in vapor pressure to dry article  102  in a more efficient and timely manner. Conventional clothes dryers use the vapor pressure of the air outside dryer  100 , which may not be very suitable for drying articles, such as clothes or towels. The moisture of air within a home, for example, may range from 45 to 110 grains/lb. The vapor pressure of the air being sucked into dryer  100  for heating by heating element  135  determines the time period for article  102  to dry. For example, air having vapor pressure of 110 grains/lb will not dry article  102  as fast as would air having grains of less than 45 grains/lb. 
         [0032]    If the vapor pressure of the incoming air is reduced, then article  102  dries faster. The drying process consumes fewer resources because less energy is needed to evaporate water from article  102 . For example, if the vapor pressure of the incoming air is reduced down to about 10 to 40 grains/lb, then article  102  would have a reduced average drying time. Thus, less energy needs to be supplied to heating element  135  and less power to rotate drum  104  according to the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , portion  142  of wheel  140  is positioned to receive the incoming air shown by inlet air path  150 . Inlet air path  150  represents all the incoming air through vents  136 . Inlet air path  150  also includes air from other parts of dryer  100 , such as the front or sides, and is not limited to air flowing through vents  136 . Inlet air path  150  also flows through portion  142  and heating element  135  into drum  104 . 
         [0034]    The air within inlet air path  150  reacts with pellets  144  housed in wheel  140  to remove moisture and water vapor, which, in turn, lowers the vapor pressure of the air prior to heating. Portion  142  houses these pellets. Preferably, portion  142  takes up over half the area of wheel  140  so that most of pellets  144  are reacting with the incoming air. More preferably, portion  142  represents about three quarters (¾) of the surface area of wheel  140 . 
         [0035]    Portion  146  of wheel  140  is positioned by vent  134  to be exposed to air flowing from drum  104  to duct  130 . Outlet air path  152  represents the air expelled from drum  104  via vent  134 . Outlet air path  152  flows through portion  146 . Preferably, portion  146  is a lower part of wheel  140 . 
         [0036]    The air within outlet air path  152  may regenerate pellets  144  within portion  146 . The pellets within portion  146  absorb the heat from outlet air path. Outlet air path  152  includes an air stream with hot air that flowed through heating element  135  and drum  104 . Outlet air path  152  bums off water vapor from pellets  144  within portion  146  that was absorbed in portion  142  from the air in inlet air path  150 . The hot air breaks the polar bond attraction between the silica pellet and water vapor molecule. Thus, outlet air path  152  dries out portion  142  of wheel  140 . By doing this procedure, pellets  144  can absorb more water vapor when they are moved back to position  142 . 
         [0037]    The desiccant used within wheel  140  also adds to the efficiency of the drying process by recouping or retaining heat within wheel  140 . A percentage of the hot air stream of outlet air path  152  used to burn water off pellets  144  in portion  146  is retained or stored in those pellets, which reacts with the air of inlet air path  150  going through portion  142  prior to flowing through heating element  135 . Thus, the disclosed embodiments deliver air having reduced vapor pressure to article  102  in drum  104  to evaporate more water or moisture. 
         [0038]    Dryer  100  also includes sensors or other information gathering devices to indicate temperatures, vapor pressure, parameter status, air flow and the like. This information may be forwarded to a processor  170 . Processor  170  controls operations of dryer  100  and is coupled to controls  106  and other features. Processor  170  may execute steps or commands within a memory coupled to the processor. 
         [0039]    Sensor  158  may be located in the vicinity of inlet air path  150  to determine the temperature of air flowing into drum  104 . Based on the need of drum  104 , processor  170  can adjust heating element  135  to a desired temperature so that the air in inlet air path  150  enters drum  104  at the desired temperature. Sensor  158  also may detect moisture in the air of inlet air path  150  to determine whether wheel  140  is absorbing water vapor from inlet air path  150 . 
         [0040]    For example, sensor  158  detects a high level of vapor pressure, or a large amount of moisture, in the incoming air, and this indicates more water vapor in the air than desired. Thus, processor  170  commands wheel  140  to turn to place the saturated pellets  144  into portion  146  for reducing the vapor pressure. Pellets  144  that are located in portion  146  are moved to portion  142  because they are dried out and more absorbent than those pellets in use. The move to position  142  allows the dry pellets to absorb the moisture from air within inlet air path  150 . Wheel  140  may be turned using a rotor coupled to a motor or power source that rotates an attached belt. This feature of the present invention is disclosed in greater detail below. 
         [0041]    Sensors may also determine status for other areas, such as door  112  being opened. The sensors may comprise any known device used to determine temperature, vapor pressure or other parameters from an environment, especially air. In a basic configuration, sensors  156  and  158  are thermometers that simply relay a temperature reading. Alternatively, sensors  156  and  158  determine vapor pressure, air speed, humidity, force and the like of the air flowing over the respective sensor. Sensors  156  and  158  provide valuable feedback on operating dryer  100  and preventing injury to a user or article. A blast of hot air through door  112  could harm a user, as well as ruining article  102  due to overexposure to heated air. 
         [0042]    For example, sensor  158  could indicate a start time to processor  170  for drum  104  to operate. After the time period, sensor  158  takes a reading at inlet air path  150  to make sure heating element  135  and dryer  100  are operating correctly. Sensor  156  is located in vent  134  and may serve the same purposes as sensor  158  by detecting vapor pressure, temperatures, air flow and the like. Sensor  156  may determine the vapor pressure or moisture in the outgoing air, and if it is saturated. If the air includes too much moisture or a high level of vapor pressure, then settings to dryer  100  and, specifically, wheel  140  may be adjusted accordingly. 
         [0043]    Dryer  100  also includes a small door  160  to opening  162 . Opening  162  accommodates dryer sheets, fabric softener, detergent, and the like placed into drum  104 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  depicts another dryer  200  having a different configuration incorporating desiccant wheel  140  according to the disclosed embodiments. Desiccant wheel  140  is similar to the wheel disclosed above, but is shown in dryer  200 , which is configured differently than dryer  100  of  FIG. 1 . Thus, desiccant wheel  140  performs the same function as disclosed above in removing moisture from incoming air and lower the vapor pressure of air entering dryer  200 . In this configuration, however, the lower part of wheel  140  receives hot air from heating element  212  instead of moist warm air within an outlet air path. Unless otherwise indicated, dryer  200  includes the same components as dryer  100  disclosed above. 
         [0045]    Dryer  200  differs from dryer  100  in several ways. For example, dryer  200  includes an incoming intake air stream  206  that flows into air intake  202 . Preferably, air intake  202  is located on the side of dryer  200 , and away from vents  136  that brings in inlet air path  150 . Air intake  202  may be any passage that allows air into dryer  200 , preferably with a screen or filter to keep out dust and debris. Once inside air intake  202 , air stream  206  is pulled by intake fan  210  to heating element  212 . Fan  210  is placed in dryer  200  in addition to fan  154 . Preferably, fan  210  is about ¼ th  to ⅓ rd  the size of fan  154 . Fans  154  and  210  may draw power from the same source. 
         [0046]    Heating element  212  applies heat to intake air stream  206  to generate heated air stream  214 . Heated air stream  214  flows through desiccant wheel  140 . The hot air of heated air stream  214  regenerates desiccant wheel  140 . Thus, dryer  200  differs from dryer  100  in that the moist, warm air from drum  104  is diverted to the outside through vent  134  and not to desiccant wheel  140 . Instead, drier, heated air in the form of heated air stream  214  is applied to desiccant wheel  140 . The heated air in air stream  214  removes moisture from, for example, the pellets in desiccant wheel  140 . The energy in the heated air is used to break the bonds of the water molecules from the desiccant material within wheel  140 . As desiccant wheel  140  rotates back into position with inlet air path  150 , its pellets are more moisture absorbent because the heated air from heating element  212  dried the pellets. 
         [0047]    After flowing through desiccant wheel  140 , heated air stream  214  joins an outlet air stream within outlet air path  152 . As disclosed above, outlet air path  152  carries moisture and air from article  102  and drum  104  to the outside. Moist heated air stream  220  flows into vent  134 . Fan  154  draws air stream  220  through vent  134 . Air stream  220  merges with the air coming from the regeneration of desiccant wheel  140 , or air stream  214 . Thus, the air streams for of drying article  102  and regenerating desiccant wheel  140  are kept separate from any intake air heading towards heating element  135 . This configuration results in enhanced drying efficiency for dryer  200 . 
         [0048]    By orienting the air streams as shown in  FIG. 2 , dryer  200  may eliminate lint flowing through desiccant wheel  140 . Lint going through desiccant wheel  140  would reduce efficiency of absorbing moisture from the air in inlet air path  150  that becomes air stream  230  flowing into heating element  135 . In this embodiment, lint within air stream  220  goes into outlet air path  152  and bypasses desiccant wheel  140 . This configuration prevents lint from entering the pellets or other water-absorbent material within wheel  140 . 
         [0049]    By separating heating element  212  and heating element  135 , dryer  200  places the heat and energy in the position to result in a more efficient process without increasing heating capacity. For example, a standard heating element having a capability of about 17,000-22,000 British thermal unit/hour (Btu/hr) may be split into two parts. The majority of the total heating capacity of about 12,000-16,000 Btu/hr will stay in the air stream going into drum  104 , or air stream  232 . A small portion of the heating capacity of around 5,000-6,000 Btu/hr will be used to regenerate desiccant wheel  140  as shown by heating element  212 . The higher the temperature to regenerate wheel  140 , then the better the conditions for drying article  102 . 
         [0050]    The creation of heated air stream  214  separate from moist air stream  220  also reduces the vapor pressure of the air used to regenerate desiccant wheel  140 . A lower vapor pressure facilitates drying within pellets  144 . Heating element  212  heats air stream  206  sucked into dryer  200  from the room or outside, and does not use moist air stream  220 . The hot air dries the pellets within desiccant wheel  140 , as opposed to moist air such as that from air stream  220 . Thus, the ggp of water will be reduced in air streams flowing into drum  104  because the water removal capabilities of desiccant wheel  140  are improved using heated air stream  214 . 
         [0051]    For example, the gpps used in the embodiment disclosed by  FIG. 1  may be around 150-200 gpp. Using the configuration disclosed by  FIG. 2  may result in using only 40-90 gpp to regenerate the pellets or applicable desiccant materials. Thus, the embodiments disclosed by  FIG. 2  may result in substantial savings in terms of energy needed to keep desiccant wheel removing water from the outside air efficiently. The embodiments disclosed by  FIG. 2 , therefore, reduce drying time and the energy needed to dry article  102  by using the configuration shown. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart for drying an article in a dryer according to the disclosed embodiments. The flowchart shows steps on drying an article using an intake air stream from outside the building housing the dryer and another air stream taken from the room or vicinity of the dryer. Reference is made to features of  FIG. 2  where appropriate. 
         [0053]    Step  302  executes by activating intake fan  210  to suck in air through intake  202 . Step  304  executes by creating intake air stream  206  from the air sucked into dryer  200 . As disclosed above, air stream  206  preferably comes from air in the vicinity of dryer  200 . Step  306  executes by heating air stream  206 . 
         [0054]    Step  308  executes by flowing the heated air from into desiccant wheel  140 , as shown by air stream  214 . Step  310  executes by regenerating the desiccant in wheel  140  using the hot air to remove moisture and water molecules. Because air stream  214  is hot, dry air, the water removal properties are greater than using outlet air stream  220 . Following step  310 , step  316  may execute, as disclosed in greater detail below. Step  312  executes by combining the air stream flowing from wheel  140  into outlet air stream  220  such that all the moist air is taken away from drum  104  and wheel  140 . 
         [0055]    Steps  314 - 26  disclose the general drying process for dryer  200 . These steps may execute in conjunction with steps  302 - 12  such that dryer  200  does not wait on either group of steps before executing the other. Further, both groups of steps may execute concurrently. 
         [0056]    Step  314  executes by generating air within inlet air path  150  from outside the structure housing dryer  200 . Preferably, the air stream within inlet air path  150  includes air from outside a house. Step  316  executes by positioning desiccant wheel  140  with desiccant best ready to absorb water molecules from the air flowing through wheel  140 . Wheel  140  may be moved according to a set time period, such as every 5 seconds, or upon instruction from dryer  200 . Thus, once the desiccant in wheel  140  is dried out, or regenerated, that portion of wheel  140  moves into alignment with inlet air path  150 . As disclosed above, wheel  140  may be moved by instruction, a sensor reading indicating conditions desire wheel  140  to be moved, or according to a time period. 
         [0057]    Step  318  executes by flowing air from inlet air path  150  through desiccant wheel  140 . Water molecules, or grains of water in the air, are removed by the materials in desiccant wheel  140 . Thus, step  320  executes by removing water from inlet air path  150  to generate dry air stream  230 . Step  322  executes by heating dry air stream  230  and generating heated air stream  232 . Because of the low water vapor provides better conditions for drying articles, such as clothes, the present configuration of the disclosed embodiments improves drying efficiency. 
         [0058]    Step  324  executes by cycling the air from heated air stream  232  through drum  104 . The air mixes and interacts with article  102  to remove moisture and water. Once the air is heavy with moisture, outlet air stream  220  is generated in step  326 . Outlet air stream  220  includes debris, moisture and air from drum  104 . Step  326  returns control of the flowchart to step  312  to combine the two outlet air flows shown in  FIG. 2 . Step  328  executes by expelling the combined air from dryer  200 . 
         [0059]    Thus, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention includes a dryer having different configurations to enhance moisture removal from incoming air. The disclosed embodiments include a wheel having a desiccant that rotates to different positions so that different portions of the wheel in the path of incoming and outgoing air. Further, the disclosed embodiments take advantage of the existing heating element in a dryer to enhance the incoming air and lower vapor pressure. 
         [0060]    The disclosed embodiments are preferably used in open system dryers that have air brought in from outside the dryer. Thus, the air from the environment surrounding the dryer may include saturated or air having a high vapor pressure. The disclosed embodiments help to lower the vapor pressure of the incoming air using the wheel and its desiccant. Thus, no matter what the air is like outside of the dryer, the disclosed embodiments can lower the vapor pressure to a specified, acceptable level. This level is maintained because the desiccant material within the wheel is dried out by a separate air stream, or the drying ability of the desiccant material is regenerated. 
         [0061]    The disclosed embodiments also are applicable to other drying processes beyond contemporary dryers. For example, a desiccant wheel may be set up to dry out a room or enclosed space of a building having severe moisture damage. Air is pumped, or forced, through an upper portion of the wheel prior to entering the room so as to lower the vapor pressure of the air within the room. Air also is forced out of the room to remove moisture or water that has evaporated within the room to an outside environment. Much like the outgoing air path disclosed above, this outgoing air serves to transfer heat or energy to the wheel and to regenerate the moisture removal capabilities of the wheel. 
         [0062]    The disclosed embodiments of the present invention, however, are applicable to dryers in a household or laundry setting, where air is drawn from and returned to the outside environment. The present invention, however, is not limited to these dryers and may be applicable to any situation where an article needs to be dried using forced air. The air is heated and the moisture removed by the desiccant wheel. The vapor pressure of the incoming air is lowered to enhance moisture removal. 
         [0063]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of the embodiments disclosed above provided that they come within the scope of any claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3