Importance

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Abstract

A pressurized air distribution network of conduits terminates in small, needle-like nozzles adapted to penetrate a wall, ceiling or layers of flooring, or other moisture-laden areas, such as trapped air space beneath cabinets, through an unobtrusive, easily repaired hole. Air is dispersed by positive-pressure nozzles within the area and collected by nozzles of negative pressure relative to the air pressure within the area. To maintain equal air distribution about a large area, air pressure at the several positive-pressure nozzles is maintained approximately the same by an air supply ring disposed about the relevant room. Spaced apart about the ring are several manifolds, each feeding air to a nozzle. The ring is maintained at near constant pressure, that is, with minimum pressure gradation about the ring, by attaching several air blowers around the ring. In lieu thereof, a central blower provides air to a duct which divides at least once into multiple conduits at at least one branch location. Conduits vary in cross-section so that the conduits may be distributed along the moisture-laden area with larger conduits farther from a branch point and smaller conduits closer to maintain near-equal pressure at respective nozzles at conduit ends. Nozzles disperse air within the drying area by providing a discharge orifice at its distal end and at least one circumferential orifice at the distal end to create a Bernoulli effect. The nozzles are retained in place in the wall by longitudinal ribs along the nozzle circumference ending tapered at the insertion, distal end and ending abruptly in a radial surface that abuts the wall inner surface when the nozzle is rotated after insertion, thus preventing self-extraction when air is discharged out of the nozzle end.

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First Claim