| 摘要 |
An air dryer includes two desiccant chambers, a control system and a cover member into which a shuttle valve mechanism has been incorporated. Secured atop the chambers, the cover member defines an outlet port, first and second passages, and a horizontal chamber between the passages in which a shuttle valve can be moved reciprocatingly. The horizontal chamber has two ends, a first interconnected to the first desiccant chamber by the first passage and a second interconnected to the second desiccant chamber by the second passage. The outlet port of the dryer extends from the horizontal chamber. Governing the flow of air into and out of the dryer, the control system periodically switches the incoming flow of untreated air between the two desiccant chambers. The control system thus determines which desiccant chamber will operate in a drying mode, with the other being operated in a purge mode. The desiccant chamber from which dried air is provided determines the end of the horizontal chamber to which the shuttle valve is moved. When moved to the second end, the shuttle valve opens the first passage to the outlet port. When moved to the first end, the shuttle valve opens the second passage to the outlet port. The shuttle valve defines a by-pass port that allows dried air from the drying chamber to be diverted to the purging chamber. This allows moisture collected in the purging chamber during the previous drying mode to be evaporated and expelled so as to regenerate the desiccant therein.
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