Patent Application
20160316884
The present teachings generally relate to a central system for delivering independently controlled temperature and airflow rate to a plurality of individual dryers and thus providing a reduced-weight and low-noise dryer.
A variety of hot air blowing devices are known for the drying of human and animal body parts and, in particular, drying, dehumidifying, shaping and styling of hair. The hair dryer is usually hand held and portable. Such devices, whether portable or not, commonly contain a housing which contains a powerful electric motor, a fan, heating elements, control features and a conduit to deliver directional heated or non-heated airflow.
The conventional hair dryer poses several health hazards to the professional users and their clients. The conventional hand-held hair dryer device is relatively heavy and hence challenging to maneuver, which consequently poses an ergonomic hazard for a professional user, for example hairdressers, groomers and beauticians. Repetitive manipulation of a heavy dryer is one of the causes to prevalence of occupational diseases associated with neck, shoulder, wrist and hand ailments among the professional users, as documented by European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
Another occupational hazard of a conventional hand-held hair dryer is the noise emission generated by the motor and the fan, typically in the range of 70 dB to 90 dB. This level of noise is classified as “very loud” and processes which emit noise exceeding 80 dB to 85 dB cause irreversible hearing damage, as determined by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. During simultaneous operation of several dryers, the noise level increases considerably. Long-term exposure of professionals and clients to the noise is undesirable. Another negative aspect of the high noise level is the general acoustic pollution which impedes in-person and phone communication between the professional users and the clients. Utilization of the conventional hair dryer poses hygienic risk which stems from the fact the air drawn into the dyer and then directed toward a client, is a recirculated indoor air. When a conventional dryers are operated in a professional facility with multiple clients, there is a high risk of transporting contaminated air that may expose clients to other clients' germs, bacteria, microorganisms, fungi, skin particles and dust.
Several other negative aspects of the conventional dryer exist due to the fact that every dryer contains heating elements and a powerful electrical motor. A conventional dryer has to be frequently replaced due to a reduction in performance and has a typical short lifespan of only about 200 to 300 hours, which substantially increases the operational costs of the facility. In a typical commercial facility operating dryers the heat generated by the individual motors of the dryers significantly affects the ambient temperature. Typical 2000W dryer which operates five hours per day, has a relatively large carbon footprint of about 1500 kg of CO2 released per year.
What is needed is a long lifespan, reduced weight and low noise dryer that delivers non-contaminated airflow at the lower cost. The objects of the invention is to overcome some or all of the above drawbacks in the art. It is one object of the invention to provide a reduced weight, lower noise and hence more ergonomical dryer by eliminating the need to have a motor/fan/heating system within individual dryer. This purpose is achieved by utilizing a central air delivery system, such as HVAC (Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) where the motor/fan/heating elements are located remotely relative to the dryer. Another object of this invention is lowering operational cost of a facility caused by a need of frequent replacement of multiple individual dryers and at the same time deliver fresh air to each dryer by adaptation of HVAC central system to deliver outdoor air to plurality of dryer units. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination in which desired airflow rate and temperature required by an individual user may be independently controlled by the user.
One possible embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising a first duct configured to conduct a first airflow that is at a first temperature and a second duct configured to conduct a second airflow that is at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The apparatus may further include first outlets that are spaced apart along the first duct, second outlets that are spaced apart along the second duct and equal in number to first outlets. The apparatus may further include dryer handpieces equal in number to the first outlets, Y-connectors, each Y-connector including a first conduit connected to a respective one of the first outlets, a second conduit connected to a respective one of the second outlets, and a third conduit connected to a respective one of the dryer handpieces, for the connector to combine a first portion of the first airflow with a second portion of the second airflow to yield a third airflow exiting the respective handpiece. The apparatus may further include first dampers, each first damper configured to control the first portion of the first airflow and second dampers, each second damper configured to control the second portion of the second airflow. The apparatus may further include a programmable control system configured to control pressure of the first airflow, control pressure of the second airflow, control the first temperature, and for each dryer handpiece, control the first damper and the second damper that are associated with the respective dryer handpiece to control temperature of the third airflow exiting at the dryer handpiece.
In another possible embodiment of the present invetion each first damper is located in a respective one of the first outlets, and each second damper is located in a respective one of the second outlets. The present invention may further include a first fan configured to generate the first airflow and controlled by the central control system and a second fan configured to generate the second airflow and controlled by the central control system. The invention may further include temperature sensors, each temperature sensor configured to measure temperature at a respective one of the air supply units, and wherein the control system is configured to control temperature at the respective handpiece based on the temperature measured for the respective one of the air supply units. The invention herein may also include pressure or airflow sensors, each pressure or airflow sensor configured to measure a pressure or an airflow rate at a respective one of the air supply units, and wherein the control system is configured to control pressure at respective air supply units based on a feedback signal from the pressure or the airflow sensors by controlling fan motor speed.
In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the system may further include a preheater located upstream from the first and second air supply units and configured preheat the first and second airflows to the second temperature, and a first heater located downstream from the preheater and configured to heat the first airflow to the first temperature. Wherein the central control system includes a controller, and for each dryer handpiece: a first motor, controlled by the controller and coupled to the corresponding first damper, to enable the controller to control the corresponding first damper; a second motor, controlled by the controller and coupled to the corresponding second damper, to enable the controller to control the corresponding second damper.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
a, b, c depict a schematic general view of different configurations of an ambient air supply unit, a heated air supply unit and a Y-connector (a mixing chamber), a connection to the dryer handpiece is also shown.
Table 1 presents examples of an operational relation between the positions of paired motor-driven dampers and the corresponding temperature of airflow emerging from the dryer handpiece.
Table 2 presents examples of tabulated values of airflow (in units of cfm) vs. fan speed.
Table 3 presents example of tabulated values of airflow (in units of cfm) vs. fan speed dampers position for a system comprising four dryers.
Drawings are not drawn to scale for reasons of understanding. Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the invention. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes.
According to the present invention, an electrical motor, a fan and heating elements generating an airflow, are removed from the conventional dryer handpiece, and instead, a central system, installed in a central location, generates the heated or non-heated airflow and delivers it to a plurality of dryers. The central and remotely located system supplies the necessary airflow rate with the required temperature control, hence considerably reducing the weight of the drying unit, which now may mostly comprise switches and air conduits. The heated airflow is dispersed using a central airflow generating system and central heating elements, through an air ducting system and extendable flexible modular tubing, to the dryer. The required adjustments in airflow rate/pressure and in temperature are regulated by a central control system according to a preprogrammed algorithm and based on multiple inputs, for example, from dryers and sensors.
As used herein, the terms “dryer”, “dryer unit”, “hair dryer”, “dryer handpiece” and “hand-held dryer” are used interchangeably. The term “air supply unit” and “duct” are used interchangeably. The term “dryer” does not require any particular geometry and/or configuration. The term “blower” or fan describe any mechanical device that can move air or gases, such an impeller or centrifugal fan that can achieve the required air pressure. The term “central control system” and “control system” are used interchangeably. The term Y-coupler, Y-connector and “mixing chamber” are used interchangeably. Various embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention, but are not intended to limit the scope thereof. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.
One embodiment of the invention is depicted in
Referring to
The walls of the air supply units are generally continuous between the outlets so as not to allow air to enter or leave the air supply unit other than at the inlet and the outlet respectively and form airflow conduit or passage. The air conduit may be a duct, a chamber, a pipe, a tube or a hose. In one embodiment, the duct structure may be substantially rigid, and comprise a sheet metal, a rigid heat resistant plastic or any substantially material that withstand the required pressure and heat. In another embodiment, the duct structure may be flexible as illustrated in
The air outlet is an aperture in the duct and may be located on any side or part of the duct, such as a bottom part, an upper part or a side part. Preferably, the central air supply system has more than two air outlets. The air outlets in the ambient air supply unit 232 and the air heated unit 222 may have different shapes, for example, a circular, a rectangular, an oval, or an elliptical shape. These shape configurations and their derivations are included in this invention. Preferably, the shape of the air outlets 223 and 233 is substantially circular as illustrated in
In one embodiment, in the heated air supply unit 222, the outdoor air drawn through the inlet air is passing through a heater assembly. The airflow is generated by the variable speed fan system 240. The heater assembly is interposed between the air inlet 201 and a variable speed fan system 240. The heater assembly comprises heater elements 235, controls for adjusting a current supply to heating elements 242 and an insulating member (not shown). The heater location is aligned to permit predetermined the air flow rate in the range of 0 cfm to 450 cfm to be maintained within the duct. The heater elements 235 are preferably of the electrically resistive type and may contain ceramic elements. The heater mounting support may comprise a highly resistant insulating material, which also forms a rigid support. The heater assembly may also contain protective devices, such as a thermal fuse and a thermal circuit breaker to prevent the heater elements 235 from generating excessive temperatures within the heated air supply unit 222. The heating is accomplished by convection as the air passes across the heater elements, the heated airflow has a first temperature. The generated heated airflow is distributed through an airflow distribution system and associated ducting. The first temperature measured by a temperature sensor(s) 285 disposed in the first duct is preferably in the range of about 60 C to 100 C, from about 80 C to 100 C. The temperature may be controlled with a precision of, for example, ±12 C, ±10 C, ±7 C, preferably ±5 C within the predetermined temperature. For example, if the desired temperature is set to 90 C, and the precision control is ±5 C, the temperature values may be in a range between about 85 C to 95 C.
In another embodiment, the central air supply unit comprises one structural unit, the unit comprising internal wall separating it to two air pathways, the heated air pathway and the ambient air pathway.
In another embodiment, illustrated in
In general, the heated air supply unit and the ambient air supply unit are configured to generate similar maximum airflow rate. The heated air supply unit (the first unit) generates an airflow at the higher range of temperatures than the ambient air supply unit (the second unit). The temperature of the air emerging from the dryer depends on the ratio between the two airflow rates modulated by the dampers, the two airflows having different temperatures. The relative positions of the dampers do not affect the general airflow rate, airflow velocity and air pressure within the air supply units. The airflow delivery system to the multiple handpieces is configured in combinations of paired dampers, each pair of dampers connected to a Y-coupler. The lone segment of the Y-coupler is connected to one handpiece via flexible tubing. Say it differently, each first damper in an ambient air supply unit has a corresponding paired second damper, preferably in an adjacent location, in the heated air supply unit. Preferably, the ambient air supply unit and the heated air supply unit include multiple paired dampers, such pairs are shown schematically in
a,
3
b and 3c depict exemplary alternative configurations of a motor-driven damper and its different positions. The motor-driven damper facilitates sealing, partial opening and complete opening of the air outlet with respect to the Y-coupler 420 positioned downstream, thus modulating the airflow rate. Actuators 316 maneuver a motor-driven set of paired dampers to the suitable position by the controller according to the communication received from the central control system 270, based on the inputs received by the central control unit from the dryer user. For example, a damper may comprise a cover member configured as a sliding cover 340 or tilting (or pivotally connected) flap. Another example of a damper comprises an axially rotating plate 320 as shown in
The examples of an operational relation between the position of dampers in ambient and heated ducts, and the corresponding temperatures and airflows are summarized in the Table 1. In general, a substantially stable pressure in each duct is achieved by operating each of the fans at variable speeds corresponding to the command output from the programmable control system. In reference to Table 1, for example, when a damper in an ambient air supply unit is in a completely “open” position and a damper in a heated air damper is in a completely “closed” position, the airflow is at the maximum rate and will emerge from a dryer at an ambient temperature designated “Cool” in the Table 1, for example, at about 20 C. When a damper in an ambient air supply unit is in a completely “closed” position and a heated air damper is in a completely “open” position, the airflow is at the maximum rate and will emerge from a dryer at hot temperature (“Hot”), for example, of about 70 C. In this manner, as it is summarized in further detailed in Table 1, essentially any temperature ranging from the first temperature to the second temperature can be delivered to individual handpiece at different flow rates. The air emerging from the Y-coupler 420 delivers an airflow to a dryer in the temperature range of about 15 C to 95 C, from about 20 C to 85 C, or about 30 C to 75 C, the temperature measured at about 0.5 cm to 5 cm from the hair or body surface. The drying temperature from the same hair dryer may be different because of the positioning distance between the body or hair and the dryer. In other words, although the temperature of the air emerging from the hair dryer may be substantially stable, the measured temperature increases as the distance between hair and hair dryer decreases and decreases as the distance from between hair and hair dryer increases.
In reference to
The schematic depiction of a dryer (handpiece) is shown in
In general, the main functions of the control system in each of the air supply units are an electronic pressure regulator function and a thermostatic function. In general, multiple dryer users commands are communicated to the central control system, as a result, the controller sends the signal that effects an actuation of the dampers, the position of the dampers determines the desired temperature and the rate of the airflow delivered to each of the dryers. However, the overall pressure/airflow rate in each of the ducts has to be stable and has to be maintained on a level that supply the total “demand”, e.g. the air flowing out through all the outlets in the duct. In one preferred embodiment, the pressure stability and the pressure supply are achieved by utilizing the pressure sensors/airflow sensors in the feedback loop. In this embodiment, the pressure/airflow sensors are disposed in each duct, the sensors in communication with the central control system, as illustrated in the block diagram in
In another preferred embodiment, if further cost reduction or system simplification are desired, the central air delivery system may be configured to operate without a feedback from the pressure or airflow sensors in order to maintain the stable pressure at the desired level and regulate the fan motor controls. In this embodiment, as schematically depicted in
The components and procedures described above provide examples of elements recited in the claims. They also provide examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. They are described here to provide enablement and best mode without imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims. In some instances in the above description, a term is followed by a similar term or alternative term enclosed in parentheses.
The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention, but are not intended to limit the scope thereof. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.
Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. As can be seen, the teaching of amounts expressed as “parts by weight” herein also contemplates the same ranges expressed in terms of percent by weight. Thus, an expression in the Detailed Description of the Invention of a range in terms of at “‘x’ parts by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition” also contemplates a teaching of ranges of same recited amount of “x” in percent by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition.”
Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.
The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” be included are optional.
Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.
