Prying Apparatus

This invention concerns drying apparatus, and particularly but not exclusively apparatus for drying hands.

Hand dryers are widely used in public conveniences, and also many other establishments. They are generally hygienic and quite effective, though they may have a not insignificant power usage which may not be efficiently utilised.

Prior art dryers are disclosed in for example US2007/0130789, GB2428569, GB2078510 and AU 2005203363.

An improved arrangement has now been devised.

According to the present invention there is provided a drying apparatus, the apparatus including a fan, a chamber downstream of the fan to receive blown air therefrom, and a plurality of outlets leading from the chamber to provide plurality of airflows for drying.

More than two outlets may be provided, and more than four, five or six outlets may be provided.

Preferably the plurality of outlets are positioned in a common outlet zone, preferably being arranged to direct the outlet airflows in a generally common direction. The outlets are preferably positioned in a common plane. The outlets are preferably provided in a common outlet face of the dryer. In such an arrangement the outlets are preferably distributed within an outlet zone that is defined within a perimeter which is less extensive than the perimeter of the chamber.

The fan chamber and outlet may be located substantially in line, and the apparatus may be arranged such that in use, the fan is located immediately above the chamber, with the outlets provided in a lower part of the chamber.

A single housing may be provided which locates the fan in an upper part thereof, with a part of the housing beneath the fan defining the chamber, and the outlets being provided extending through a lower part of the housing.

Inwardly tapering nozzles may be provided leading to the outlets such that air is accelerated out of the outlets.

The tapering nozzles may be formed as integral parts of the housing.

The apparatus may include a base plate which is mountable on a wall or fixture, and to which the housing is mounted. The housing may be removably mounted on the base plate.

A cover may be provided removably locatable over the housing and base plate.

The invention also provides a hand dryer according to any of the preceding eight paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from beneath of drying apparatus according to the invention, with the casing removed;

Fig. 2 is a partially cut away perspective view from above of the apparatus, with the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the apparatus with the casing fitted;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from beneath of the apparatus with the casing fitted; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view from beneath of part of the apparatus.

The drawings show drying apparatus 10 suitable for use as a hand dryer. The apparatus 10 includes a base plate 12 mountable to a wall or other fixture. The base plate 12 mounts electrical terminals 14 for connection to an appropriate electricity supply. A profiled housing 16 with a removable lid 18 is removably mounted on the base plate 12.

An electric fan 20 is mounted in an upper part of the housing 16. A step 20 on the fan rests on a step 22 spaced beneath the top of the housing 16 to provide the required location of the fan 20 in the housing 16. A rubber gasket 24 is provided around the inside of the housing 16 above the step 24 to provide an air tight seal around the fan 20. The fan 20 has a central upper inlet 26 which aligns with openings 28 in the lid 18. The fan 20 is arranged such that air is blown out through a lower part thereof.

The housing 16 continues in a substantially cylindrical format for a distance below the fan 20 to define a chamber 30 where air is blown into from the fan 20 such that the air therein adopts a substantially uniform increased pressure. The housing 16 has a closed base 32 from which eleven tapering nozzles 34 extend, each provided with an opening at its lower end to define an outlet 36.

A casing 38 is provided which is selectively mountable on the base plate 12 to enclose the base plate 12 and housing 16. Holes 40 are provided in part of the underside of the casing 38 which overlies the locations of some of the outlets 36.

As shown outlets 36 are positioned in a common outlet zone and plane and arranged to direct the outlet airflows in a generally common direction via a common outlet face in the casing of the dryer. The outlets are distributed within an outlet zone that is defined within a perimeter which is less extensive than the perimeter of the chamber 30.

In use, air is drawn into the fan 20 through the inlet 26 via the openings 28. This air is blown into the chamber 30 and exits the housing 16 through the nozzles 34 and out of the outlets 36. As the air passes through the nozzles 34, the tapering thereof causes acceleration of the air.

This provides a plurality of jets of air which have been found to provide very efficient drying. The dryer of the invention has been found to operate efficiently without the requirement to have an electrical heater present in the airflow. This reduces the overall power rating of the device and makes the device extremely efficient when compared to prior art dryers that incorporate heating devices. The air is not heated directly thereby providing an energy saving, but does receive a certain amount of heat due to heat produced during operation of the motor of the fan 20.

As the fan 20, chamber 30 and outlets 36 are essentially in line, the apparatus 10 has been found to work very efficiently in practice. The individual jets of air have been found to provide for improved drying performance.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a different number of outlets may be used, and these may take a different form. A different fan could be used.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable

feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.