Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An air distribution system comprising a compressor having an outlet for providing compressed air to a distributing conduit, the improvement of a liquid condenser between said outlet and said conduit and comprising an elongated chamber, a tube connected to said outlet and extending into said elongated chamber, expansion orifice means arranged in said chamber and carried on a free end of said tube, means defining a condensing surface arranged around an outlet of said expansion orifice means so that compressed air received from said compressor will flow through said tube and expand while passing through said expansion orifice causing suspended liquid to collect on said condensing surface and be separated from said compressed air before entering said distributing conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
An air distribution system comprising a compressor having an outlet for providing compressed air to a distributing conduit, the improvement of a liquid condenser between said outlet and said conduit and comprising an elongated chamber, a tube connected to said outlet and extending into said elongated chamber, expansion orifice means arranged in said chamber and carried on a free end of said tube, means defining a condensing surface arranged around an outlet of said expansion orifice means so that compressed air received from said compressor will flow through said tube and expand while passing through said expansion orifice causing suspended liquid to collect on said condensing surface and be separated from said compressed air before entering said distributing conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 1, in which said elongated chamber extends vertically and has an outlet adjacent an upper end connected to said distributing conduit and said condensing surface terminates above a lower end of said elongated chamber so that condensed liquid collected on said surface moves along said condensing surface and collects in said lower end of said elongated chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 2, further including drain means on said lower end of said elongated chamber for removing liquid collected in said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 3, further including funnel means between said condensing surface and said lower end of said chamber for directing liquid drops from said condensing surface to said lower end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 1, in which said tube has spaced radially extending fins for transfer of heat from the compressed air in the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 1, in which said distributing conduit slopes downwardly from said outlet to an opposite end with liquid collection means at said opposite end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 6, in which said distributing conduit has spaced connectors with each connector including a threaded member extending through a lower portion of said conduit and having inner open end spaced above an inner surface of said lower portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 1, further including means in said restricted orifice means for varying the orifice size in response to pressure of said compressed air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An air distribution system as defined in claim 8, in which said last means includes a plurality of openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
A condensing mechanism for removing suspended moisture from compressed air comprising means defining an elongated chamber having an inlet at an upper end and an outlet adjacent said upper end, a tube extending from said inlet across said outlet and terminating above a lower end of said chamber, expansion orifice means carried on the lower end of said tube, a condensing can extending from said expansion orifice means toward said lower end and having a lower open end spaced above said lower end of said chamber so that moisture-laden compressed air will flow through said tube and expand while flowing through said expansion orifice means causing a reduction in temperature of said compressed air to condense moisture into liquid droplets that collect on the condenser can and flow into the lower end of said chamber while the compressed air flows around said condenser can and tube to said outlet to provide a cooling effect on the incoming compressed air flowing through said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
A condensing mechanism for removing suspended moisture from compressed air comprising means defining an elongated chamber having an inlet at an upper end and an outlet adjacent said upper end, a tube extending from said inlet across said outlet and terminating above a lower end of said chamber, expansion orifice means carried on the lower end of said tube, a condensing can extending from said expansion orifice means toward said lower end and having a lower open end spaced above said lower end of said chamber so that moisture-laden compressed air will flow through said tube and expand while flowing through said expansion orifice means causing a reduction in temperature of said compressed air to condense moisture into liquid droplets that collect on the condenser can and flow into the lower end of said chamber while the compressed air flows around said condenser can and tube to said outlet to provide a cooling effect on the incoming compressed air flowing through said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 10, further including a funnel between said condenser and said lower end of said chamber acting as a separator of air and liquid droplets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 11, further including drain means on said lower end of said chamber periodically operable to drain liquid from said chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 10, in which said restricted orifice means includes an opening which has a diverging outlet end having a length many times greater than a minimum diameter thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 13, in which said length of the outlet end is on the order of about nine to about ten times the minimum diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 10, in which said restricted orifice means includes a member having a plurality of openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 15, in which said member incorporates means for opening and closing at least some of said openings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A condensing mechanism as in claim 10, in which said restricted orifice means includes a member having a single opening therethrough with said opening having an outwardly-flared lower end and an element having a configuration generally corresponding to outwardly-flared lower end and being movable in response to pressure of compressed air to vary the size of said orifice means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A condensing mechanism as defined in claim 10, further including a heat transfer baffle surrounding said condenser can in said chamber.