US Patent 10246240 Dry purge desiccator and method

My desiccator comprises a plurality of chambers in series communication with each other so a desiccating gas flows from one chamber into an adjacent chamber. A desiccating purge gas is introduced through an inlet into the desiccator's chambers at a predetermined flow rate, and a one-way bleed valve allows gas within the chambers to constantly flow from the desiccator while maintaining a positive pressure within the desiccator. A fan that constantly mixes and circulates the gas between the chambers as the desiccating purge gas is introduced into the desiccator, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh supply of the desiccating gas. My method employs my desiccator to store items, wherein a dry, pressurized desiccating gas is introduced into the desiccator's chambers in a manner that constantly circulates the gas between the chambers as gas is slowly bled from the chambers, constantly diluting the gas within the chambers with a fresh supply of the desiccating gas. In my method the dew point of the desiccating gas is from −20 to −90 F°, the pressure of the desiccating gas is from 30 to 120 psi, and the average flow rate of the desiccating gas into the desiccator is from 0.25 to 4.0 cubic feet per minute.