Closed circuit food dehydrating process

Abstract

The present invention discloses the special and unique process for a Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process wherein the uniqueness of the present invention lies in the combination of chilling recirculating air within an enclosed chamber containing the food to be dehydrated to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air and subsequently heating the selfsame recirculating air to increase the dehydrating efficiency of the Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process. An additional feature of the present invention is the recirculation of the air within the enclosed chamber without the communication of air from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/403,851 filed Sep. 22, 2010, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention discloses the special and unique process for a Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process wherein the uniqueness of the present invention lies in the combination of chilling recirculating air within an enclosed chamber containing the food to be dehydrated to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air and subsequently heating the selfsame recirculating air to increase the dehydrating efficiency of the Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process. An additional feature of the present invention is the recirculation of the air within the enclosed chamber without the communication of air from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] The only discovered relevant prior art to the disclosed patents are discussed below. None of the discovered relevant prior art discloses the use of a Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process as disclosed in this patent.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 268,399 (J. C. Gunn) discloses the use of steam to heat horizontal pans whereupon food is placed for dehydrating. Additionally hot air is vented over said pans to improve the dehydration process. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,0232,536 (Charles C. Moore) discloses the use of vacuum to reduce the boiling point of the water within the food to be dehydrated. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,017,728 (H. E. Oskamp) discloses the use of recirculating heated forced air across horizontal plates to effect the dehydrating process. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,530 (Gerrans) discloses the use of a semi-permeable membrane moisture egress means within a closed loop conduit. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,965 (Erickson) discloses the use hot air vented over cylindrically shaped stackable trays to effect the dehydration process. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within so the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,192,081, 4,224,743, and 4,531,306 (Erickson) all disclose using a combination of exterior and recycled heated and pressurized air to effect food dehydration. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,018 B2 (Soucy) discloses the use of a heated airflow dryer system incorporating a "secondary, open airflow circulation loop of more limited airflow rate that provides for partial exhaust and makeup air to the primary closed loop airflow path for removing excess moisture". This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air from within an entirely enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,756 B2 (Morgan et al.) discloses a portable, so atmospheric dehydrator and water condenser for dehydrating fruits and vegetables while producing pure atmospheric condensation from humidity found in the air and purifying the water for dispensing and drinking purposes. This patent does not disclose the use of chilling the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air. Nor does this patent disclose the use of an enclosed chamber wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0012] Patent number US 2008/0211958 A1 (Berkey et al.) discloses the use of a dehumidified equipment housing which may remove condensed water to outside of the housing. This patent solely related to the protection of electronic equipment and does not relate to the dehydration of food.

[0013] There remains a need for a Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process which utilizes the chilling of the recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air within an enclosed chamber containing the food to be dehydrated wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

[0014] However, at the time of this present patent application, it was not no obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art how these needs could be fulfilled, in view of the prior art as a whole.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to disclose a Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process wherein the use of the chilling of recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air within an enclosed chamber containing the food to be dehydrated wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The heretofore unfulfilled need for a Closed Circuit Food Dehydrating Process wherein the use of the chilling of recirculating air to extract and remove latent moisture from within the recirculating air within an enclosed chamber containing the food to be dehydrated wherein no air is introduced from without the enclosed chamber during the dehydration process is now fulfilled by the invention disclosed in this patent application.

[0017] All of the known disadvantages of prior arts are believed to be overcome by the present invention.

[0018] The present invention can be thought of as comprising:

[0019] A food dehydration chamber wherein the food to be dehydrated is placed and which chamber is substantially sealed from outside air, which chamber incorporates an access means for placing and removing the food.

[0020] An air chilling unit for condensing excess moisture from the enclosed air stream.

[0021] An air heating unit for heating the air stream.

[0022] An air duct for communicating the air stream to the fan, air chilling unit, air heating unit, and returning the air to the dehydrating chamber in a closed circuit.

[0023] A fan for passing the air stream through the air duct.

[0024] A condensation collector which holds the condensation removed from the air stream by the chilling unit.

[0025] The features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a flow sheet illustrating the process of the present invention;

[0027] With the following numeric designations. [0028] 10 The Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process in it's entirety. [0029] 20 Food dehydration chamber. [0030] 30 The air stream. [0031] 40 Air duct. [0032] 50 Fan. [0033] 60 Moisture condensation. [0034] 70 Condensation collector. [0035] 80 Air chilling unit. [0036] 90 Air heating unit.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0037] As will become apparent from the following description and accompanying FIG. 1, the Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process 10 consist of a Food dehydration chamber 20, air duct 40, fan 50, condensation collector 70, air chilling unit 80, and an air heating unit 90, wherein;

[0038] The food to be dehydrated is placed within the food dehydration chamber 20, which food dehydration chamber 20 does not communicate to the atmosphere outside the Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process 10 except through an access orifice such as a door or lid which, when closed, seals the food dehydration chamber 20 from the outside atmosphere.

[0039] Within the Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process is an air duct 40 whose purpose is to communicate an air stream 30 from within the food dehydration chamber 20 to the fan 50, air chilling unit 80, air heating unit 90, and back to the food dehydration chamber 20. This air duct 40 solely communicates with the food dehydrator chamber 20, thereby maintaining a closed circuit.

[0040] The air duct 40 communicates the air stream 30 flowing out of the food dehydration chamber 20 to the fan 50, whereupon the air stream 30 flows through the fan 50, which fan is employed to cause movement of the air stream 30.

[0041] Once the air stream 30 moves past the fan 50, the air stream 30 flows past and through the air chilling unit 80, whose purpose is to chill the passing air stream causing the moisture in the air stream to condense out of the air stream as moisture condensation 60, which moisture condensation is diverted to and retained by the moisture condensation collector 70.

[0042] The temperature of the air chilling unit 80 to which the air stream is decreased will vary as required so as to effect moisture condensation from the air stream.

[0043] The now dehydrated air stream is communicated by way of the air duct 40 to the air heating unit 90, whereupon the air stream temperature is raised to such a temperature so as to enhance the effectiveness of the reheated air streams ability to absorb and retain moisture emitted from the food within the food dehydration chamber 20 as the reheated air stream passes around and through the food as depicted by the air stream flowing through the food dehydration chamber 30.

[0044] The temperature to which the air stream is increased will vary according to the desired qualities of the final dehydrated food product and as dictated by the desired efficiency of the dehydration process.

[0045] This Closed Circuit Food Dehydration Process is repeated until the process is halted whereupon the now properly dehydrated food may be removed from the food dehydration chamber 20.

[0046] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. A process for dehydrating a moisture containing food comprising: a food dehydration chamber wherein the food to be dehydrated is placed, with said food dehydration chamber sealed from the outside atmosphere during normal operation; an air duct which solely communicates with said food dehydration chamber such that the air duct allows the passage of air through said air duct from said food dehydration chamber and returns the air to the food dehydration chamber without the communication of air to the atmosphere without the air duct or the dehydration chamber, effecting a closed system; a fan contained within the air duct for the purpose of movement of air through the air duct; an air chilling unit contained within the air duct for the purpose of removing moisture in the form of condensation from the air to effect dehydrating the air; a moisture condensation collector for the purpose of collecting and segregating from the air the moisture in the form of condensation from the said air chilling unit; an air heating unit contained within the air duct for the purpose of heating the air.