AIR VALVE AT SOURCE IN DRYING SYSTEM IN
BUILDINGS
The following specification describes the nature of this invention:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of drying of moist objects. More specifically the invention relates to drying of hands and other parts of human body and other moist objects.
BACKGROUND - PRIOR ART AND NEED OF THE INVENTION
Hitherto hand driers have been commonly fitted next to wash points in community wash rooms. These are low hydraulic and electric efficiency, noisy machines. In lieu of these hand driers, scattered in variously located wash rooms in a building, I had suggested a centralized, efficient and low cost, low noise, air pressure generating system in my patent application no. 183 9/DEL/2012 date of filing 14/6/2012, and now describe my invention in better detail in the following.
Further, in my said previous application for grant of patent the solenoid valve 29 controlling the release of the pressurized air for purpose of drying was located near to air exit at point of drying 19. In the therein proposed layout of equipment the pressurized air has tendency to leak in the long length of the secondary piping 16 carrying said pressurized air from source primary pipe 15 to remote exit drying point 19.
In the present application the air releasing solenoid valve 29 has been relocated from vicinity of exit 19 at delivery point of secondary pipe 16 and instead placed at root of the long secondary pipe 16 near to the source primary main pipe of compressed air 15.
OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES
Object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in functioning of the device of my patent application no.l839/DEL/2012 date. 14/6/2012 and reduce costs of said device.
Disadvantages of system proposed in my said previous patent application are:
1. Pressurized air leaks in secondary pipe 16 carrying said air from source
primary pipe 15 to exit point 19.
2. Costs in secondary pipe 16 carrying pressurized air in my previous application is higher than cost of low pressure secondary piping 16 in present application.
Advantages of the device of present invention are:
Compressed air is restricted to source areas comprising tank 21 and pipe 15.
Air is carried at low pressure in secondary pipe 16 to exit 19.
Pipe 16 carrying air from pipe 15 to exit 19 in present patent application is lower in cost than the high pressure pipe 16 in my said previous patent application.
Leaking of air in carrier secondary pipe 16 is minimal.
Noise at releasing of air through solenoid valve 29 is remote from the user at 19.
Installation and maintenace of secondary piping 16 and of plumbing fittings lying between primary pipe 15 and exit 19 are simpler and less expensive.
DRAWING FIGURES
In the accompanying drawing figures device of the invention has been illustrated by way of a non-limiting example.
Figure 1 shows schematically in sectional plan view a preferred embodiment of drying device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows external front elevation view of device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows layout plan of the system of the present invention.
Page 4 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
Air purifier
Compressor
Control panel
Motor
Main primary pipe
Distributor secondary pipe
Heater
Sensor
Air exit
Air inlet

Tank
Air pressure gauge cum regulator
1st Local drier line
2nd Local drier line
3rd Local drier line
4th Local drier line
5th Local drier line
28 6th Local drier line
Solenoid valve
Throttle
Wall
Wash room
Washbasin
Floor
Watts control
Tertiary exit pipe or hose
DESCRIPTION
In cited example an air compressor 12 is placed at a cenral location such as basement in the building. The compressor 12 is driven by electric motor 14 working on 240 volts, 3 phase AC supply, and is a reciprocating type compressor in cited example but could be a rotary type compressor, drawing atmospheric air through air inlet 20, passing through carbon granules in purifier 11, and delivering compressed air at 100 psig in cited example into storage tank 21. Pressure of compressed air is indicated on and controlled by regulator 22 through switchgear and controls in the panel 13 so as to switch off the motor
14 when the full pressure of 100 psig has been reached in tank 21 and restart the motor 14 when the pressure of air in tank 21 falls below a preset value of 80 psig.
The compressed air is delivered from tank 21 into primary pipe 15 delivering the air into therewith linked secondary pipes 16 through respective solenoid valve 29 fitted at root of secondary pipe 16 namely at or near the junction of pipe 16 with pipe 15. Each pipe 16, embedded in walls 31 of the building carries the air towards the respective remote outlying drying point 19 near the wash-basin 33 in respective wash-room 32 in the building. Secondary pipe 16 delivers air to respective local drier points 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23 in various wash rooms 32. The pressure of air can be further attenuated manually through throttle 30. Heater 17 in pipe 16 is optional and may be dispensed with, so too its wattage control 35. Retroreflective infrared emitter detector pair 18 is located in wall next to drying point 19. near to wash-basin 33, and is electrically linked to valve 29 through wiring and circuit, the wiring baing laid in a pipe or conduit embedded in wall 31.
OPERATION
Sensor detector 18 detects presence of object which is to be dried upon said object approaching within 15 cm of said air exit 19 for purpose of drying, thereby electronic
circuitry linked to sensor 18 gives command to solenoid valve 29 to open up, compressed air is released from primary pipe 15 through solenoid valve 29 and the released air at lower pressure travels through secondary pipe 16 towards exit point 19. The drying process begins at 19, by means of evaporation and ejection of moisture adhering to the object to be dried by means of the rapidly flowing air emanating at 19.
After the drying is completed said dried object moves away from exit 19. Sensor 18 senses the absence of said object, and gives command to solenoid valve 29 to shut, thereby stopping flow of the drying air.
CONCLUSIONS, SCOPE AND RAMIFICATIONS
The reader will see that the air at high pressure is restricted to tank 21 and primary pipe 15, and after release through respective solenoid valve 29 only lower pressure air travels through the long secondary transit pipe 16 to the respective remote drying point 19. Pipe 16 carrying air from source to exit 19 is lower in cost and chances of leakage of air in it are lesser than in case of the high pressure pipe 16 in my said previous patent application and also plumbing and maintenance of low pressure pipes 16 is simpler and less expensive. Noise at releasing of air through solenoid valve 29 is remote from user at drying point 19. Many variations are possible in the device. Air may be dried after the compression in 12. The stream of drying air is released through said solenoid valve 29 automatically for drying, or the release is controlled manually. Speed and pressure of drying air can be regulated through a throttle valve to suit the comfort of the user. The drying air may be cold or may be heated by passing through adjustable wattage electric heating coil 17 placed near the drying point 19. A pipe or flexible hose 36 can be appended at exit point 19 to conduct the drying air stream towards a desired point of drying. Wiring linking solenoid valve 29 to sensor pcb 18 circuitry can be laid within the pipe 16, to save costs. The tertiary pipe 36 emanating from wall can be twisted at desired angle with respect to face of the wall and envisaged with air exit apertures. Size and shape of air exit apertures can be in wide range, e.g., less than 2 mm wide aperture slit, 100 mm wide, or e.g., holes of 3mm diameter, or of elliptical or other shape.

CLAIMS
A device for drying hands in a multiplicity of wash rooms (32) in a building wherein air for drying as and when required at a wash point (19) in any one of said wash rooms (32) is delivered respectively to said wash point (19) by means of an air compressor (12) located at a central point in said building .
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the release of compressed air generated by means of said compressor (12) is through a solenoid valve (29) said valve (29) located in immediate vicinity of said compressor (12).
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air is drawn into said compressor (12) through air purifier (11) such as activated carbon nuggets, granules or powder.

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein air for drying is carried to respective point of drying (19) through pipes (16) laid inside walls (31) of said building.
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air exits through wall (31) in
wash room (32) at average height of 150 cm.above level of floor (34) of said
wash room (32)
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air exits through a pipe (19) emanating through wall (31) of wash room (32).
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air at high pressure is restricted to tank (21) and primary pipe (15), and after release through respective solenoid valve (29) only lower pressure air travels through the long secondary pipe (16) to the respective remote drying point (19).
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stream of drying air is released through said solenoid valve (29) automatically for drying, or the release is controlled manually.

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the speed and pressure of drying air can be regulated through a throttle valve (30) to suit the comfort of the user.
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drying air is cold or may be heated by passing through adjustable wattage electric heating coil (17) placed near the drying point (19).
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a tertiary pipe or flexible hose
(36) is appended at exit point (19) to conduct the drying air stream towards a
desired point of drying.
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein wiring linking solenoid valve (29) to sensor pcb (18) circuitry is laid within the pipe (16), to save costs.
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tertiary pipe (36) emanating from wall is twisted at desired angle with respect to face of the wall (31) and envisaged with air exit apertures.
14. The device as claimed in of claim 1 wherein the size and shape of air exit apertures can be in wide range, e.g., less than 2 mm wide aperture slit, 100 mm wide, or e.g., holes of 3mm diameter for effective drying.