The chambers 18 may be heated by routing compressed fluid through the material dryer
housing 11 having a chamber 28 mounted horizontally within the housing 11 . The chamber 28 is hermetically sealed defining an interior 14 and an exterior 16 . The interior 14 is fluidly coupled to a vacuum dryer pump 18 capable of a drawdown vacuum dryer of approximately 28 inches Hg. The vacuum dryer pump 18 operates initially to withdraw air from the chamber through exhaust check valve 19 for maintaining a low pressure environment during the drying cycle with minimum pump operation. In the preferred embodiment, the air is drawn through an internal collection tank 31 through check valve 19 and delivered to a second collection tank 30 for holding and eventual discharge to drain. The second collection tank 30 may allow an overflow to drain, or include a solenoid 32 for purging the collected water to drain. The second collection tank 30 providing a ready source of fluid for creation of a water seal for operation of vacuum dryer pump 18 .
The chamber may be heated by an electric coil, utilize hot water preheater lines or the hot fluid line 24 as provided by a compressor system. The pressurized fluid is directed through an expansion valve before being directed through a condensate coil 28 . The condensate coil 28 condenses moisture from clothing placed within the chamber with the condensed moisture collected in an internal collection tank 31 . The condensate is held until the drying cycle is complete, or if full during the cycle, purged by vacuum dryer pump 18 through check valve 19 to collection tank 30 . A set of cooling coils 36 may be routed from the condenser 28 and through the collection tank so as to provide cooling action for the vacuum dryer pump 18 without the system consuming more energy. The condensate in the collection tank is relatively cool due to its inner action with the cold condenser coil 28 and will also provide cooling action. The cooling action extends the life of the vacuum dryer pump and increases the overall efficiency of the system.
The material vacuum dryer device according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating the material is further defined as at least one paddle assembly extending substantially along the longitudinal length of said chamber.