Abstract:
A air dryer uses high voltage direct current to cause moisture to condense out of an airflow in contact with a network of needles creating a high intensity electric field within grounded shields. The moisture is collected in a basin positioned below the needles.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the filing date of a previously filed provisional application having Ser. No. 09/551,333 and an assigned filing date of Apr. 18, 2000 and which contains subject matter substantially the same as that described and claimed in the present application. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to air dryers, and more particularly to a water vapor extractor using high strength electric fields.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    The prior art teaches the use of cold, adsorptive and absorption surfaces for dehumidification. However, the prior art does not teach that a high voltage may be applied in the manner of the present invention to produce such effective dehumidification. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.  
           [0007]    The present invention provides a water vapor extraction machine which uses high voltage to cause moisture to condense out of an airflow in contact with a series of needles. The needles are placed at a very high direct current voltage and the points of the needles are positioned in proximity to ground planes. An air flow is caused to move over these needles and through the high stress electric field. The effect is to extract moisture from the air flow which condenses on the needles and then drips downwardly so that it is taken out of the air circulation.  
           [0008]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an air dryer having advantages not taught by the prior art.  
           [0009]    Another objective is to provide such a device using high voltage electric fields to produce the drying effect.  
           [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side elevation section view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front view thereof; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The drawings provide illustration of the present invention, an air drying apparatus comprising an electrical buss made up of a plurality of electrically conducting rods  20  arranged in mutually parallel orientation. This is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Each of the rods  20  is a structural element with rigidity and provides plural spaced apart needles  30  extending outwardly from the rods  20 . The rods are preferably of a non-conducting material such as ceramic or such but the needles are interconnected electrically, possibly coaxially within the rods  20 . The needles  30  each terminate with a point at its end. A means for directing a high voltage direct current  50  to the electrical buss rods  20  and therefrom to the needles  30  is provided as shown. As best seen in FIG. 1, the HVDC directing means  50  is a structural network grid of conductors. This is best seen in FIG. 2. A means for directing a flow of moist air  60  over the rods  20  and past the needles  30 , preferably a fan, is used to assure the collection of moisture at a rate dependent on fan speed. A means for receiving water droplets  70  that are extracted from the moist air and formed at the points of the needles  30  for collection is provided as a basin or any similar container positioned appropriately (below) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Electrically conductive cylinders  80  are positioned as shrouds about the rods  30  which are positioned centrally or axially within the cylinders  80 . The cylinders  80  provide a conductive path to electrical ground and this may be constructed in accordance with the drawings by using rigid metal construction. Insulating supports  55  for the electrical directing means  50  are used to hold it in place.  
         [0017]    In operation, an intense electric field is set up at the needles  30 , and as shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the field is concentrated at the points of the needles  30  since these points are closest to the inside surfaces of the cylinders  80 , i.e., there is a concentration of electric field lines at the needle points, as is well known in the field of electrical engineering, at the tips of these needles. This very high electric field causes the extraction of moisture as liquid from the air in contact with the needle points. As moist air moves through the cylinders  60  it is subject to the intense electrical fields and moisture is thus extracted from the air and condenses onto the needles  30 , and more specifically at the points of the needles  30 . This moisture drops by gravity into the interior of the cylinders  80  and then flows in the direction of air flow to the rearward end of the cylinders  80  where it drips into the basin  70 .  
         [0018]    While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.