Abstract: The present invention provides a method, process and apparatus for effectively draining liquid condensate from compressed air/gas systems. The draining apparatus having a means to evacuate collected condensate from a chamber reservoir without a loss of system compressed air or gas in its discharge of the drainage to assure that contaminates and particulates in the liquid condensate do not collect and build-up in its inner chambers and orifices. The device reduces energy consumption as it relates to wasted compressed air/gas in the purging of liquid condensate.

Abstract: A disposable dryer cartridge for an air/gas dryer apparatus for installation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. The cartridge includes a flexible elongated casing having a drying composition therein. The casing has an air/gas inlet and an air/gas outlet thereon. A handle is also provided on the casing. The casing is self-configurable into a cross-sectionally contracted configuration when lifted by the handle to facilitate insertion in or removal from an air/gas dryer apparatus. Following insertion of the casing in an air/gas dryer, it is manipulated as necessary to reconfigure the casing from the contracted configuration to an operational configuration wherein the casing is not cross-sectionally contracted and wherein the drying composition is compacted. When the casing needs replacement, it can be grasped by the handle and lifted to re-effect the contracted configuration and thereby removed from the dryer.

Abstract: A disposable dryer for point-of-use installation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. A generally tubular main body has first and second main body sections, each having a generally tubular wall and an integral end closure. A coupling member interconnects the main body sections. Loose desiccant beads are retained by and substantially fill the main body from one end closure to the other. Inlet and outlet connectors are respectively provided on the main body sections for connection to a compressed air/gas line. The inlet and outlet connectors have air/gas passages in fluid communication with the drying composition. The dryer can be fabricated by molding the first and second main body sections, substantially filling the first main body section with the drying composition, locating the first and second main body sections in mutual adjacent relationship inside a mold cavity, and molding the coupling member thereon.

Abstract: A tire fill nozzle having an integrated dryer for drying compressed air or gas delivered to a tire. According to exemplary disclosed embodiments, the tire fill nozzle comprises a main body, an inlet connector on the main body adapted to engage an air/gas line, an outlet connector on the main body adapted to engage a tire valve stem, and a dryer in the main body adapted to dry air/gas passing through the nozzle. The dryer may comprise a drying composition, such as a desiccant, that can be permanently disposed within the main body or optionally disposed within a replaceable cartridge.

Abstract: A wearable, disposable dryer for point-of-use installation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. The dryer includes a main body, a drying composition substantially filling the main body, inlet and outlet connectors, a carrying strap and a wall mount holder that provides a stowage accessory. The strap can be attached to the inlet and outlet connectors, each of which can be provided with a strap mounting portion. According to a method of use, the dryer is attached to air/gas lines and the strap is placed over a user's shoulder so that the dryer can be worn while delivering dried compressed air or gas to a tool. A dryness indicator may be provided as either a site glass or by virtue of a portion of the main body being transparent or translucent and a dryness indicating material in the dryer being viewable therethrough.

Abstract: A disposable dryer cartridge for an air/gas dryer apparatus for installation in an air/gas line delivering compressed air or gas to an air/gas-driven tool. The cartridge includes a flexible elongated casing having a drying composition therein. The casing has an air/gas inlet and an air/gas outlet thereon. A handle is also provided on the casing. The casing is self-configurable into a cross-sectionally contracted configuration when lifted by the handle to facilitate insertion in or removal from an air/gas dryer apparatus. Following insertion of the casing in an air/gas dryer, it is manipulated as necessary to reconfigure the casing from the contracted configuration to an operational configuration wherein the casing is not cross-sectionally contracted and wherein the drying composition is compacted. When the casing needs replacement, it can be grasped by the handle and lifted to re-effect the contracted configuration and thereby removed from the dryer.

Abstract: A system for modulating refrigerant flow from an evaporator of an air or gas drying apparatus wherein the air or gas drying apparatus has an evaporator shell with at least one exit orifice for return of refrigerant to an accumulator or compressor. The system comprising a flow metering structure connected to the at least one exit orifice, the structure having an internal tube with a vertical rise from an evaporator shell end to an accumulator or compressor end, the internal tube having at least one return orifice (a) which allows passage of liquid refrigerant outside the internal tube into the internal tube, and at least one return orifice (b) which allows passage of gas outside the internal tube into the internal tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for effectively reducing/eliminating oscillation of over and under shoot of superheat and refrigerant feed in an evaporator of compressed refrigerant of a gas/air dryer system. The feed makes use of a plurality of refrigerant expansion valves, sized in scaled manner, and adjusted inversely to the size of each, affording exact feed requirements to the evaporating vessel heat exchange. The system uses superheat feedback to respond rapidly or slowly to fill need for large or modest injections leading to stable, balanced operations. The operations ‘level-out’ to a smooth, even output of the gas/air dryer dew point temperature, relatively close to the dew point seat point without falling into an endless loop oscillation. The feed delivery of staged injection meters expanded refrigerant to demand while tracking superheat.