A laboratory scale sample vacuum dryer
Through integrated design and automated control, the problems of cumbersome operation and uneven drying in laboratory vacuum drying devices have been solved, achieving simple operation and uniform drying, and reducing the risk of sample damage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUIZHOU NORMAL UNIVERSITY
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing laboratory vacuum drying equipment is cumbersome to operate, has a split design that takes up a lot of space, requires manual intervention, and results in uneven drying, posing a risk of sample spoilage.
An integrated small-scale vacuum dryer for experimental samples was designed, which integrates a vacuum pump, a control board, a pressure sensor and an electromagnetic pressure relief valve. The control board enables automated control, and the fan agitates the airflow to ensure uniform drying.
It enables plug-and-play and automated operation of the equipment, reduces manual intervention, improves drying efficiency and uniformity, reduces the risk of sample damage, and enhances the user experience.
Smart Images

Figure CN224534624U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vacuum drying equipment technology, specifically to a small-scale sample vacuum dryer for experiments. Background Technology
[0002] Vacuum drying is a routine procedure for processing small samples in laboratories. Currently, commonly used vacuum drying equipment in laboratories typically consists of multiple independent devices, including a dryer, vacuum pump, vacuum tubing, valves, and pressure gauges. Before use, operators need to manually connect the tubing, open the valves, and start the vacuum pump; the entire process is cumbersome and relies heavily on the operator's experience. During drying, the pressure gauge reading must be manually monitored to ensure the target vacuum level is reached before manually closing the pump and valves. To prevent pressure rebound, vacuum replenishment is required periodically. After drying, the valves must be manually and slowly depressurized to prevent the sample from being blown away by the airflow. This traditional method has significant drawbacks: First, the multi-device, separate design occupies a large amount of laboratory workspace, resulting in cluttered tubing. Second, the entire process requires a high degree of manual intervention, is cumbersome and inefficient, and carries the risk of vacuum pump overload damage or sample spoilage due to forgotten steps. Finally, traditional static drying methods, due to poor internal air circulation, easily lead to uneven drying of samples, especially for stacked samples, where the drying efficiency of the lower layer is much lower than that of the upper layer. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated and intelligent solution to revolutionize this traditional operating mode. Utility Model Content
[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide an integrated intelligent vacuum drying device that is highly integrated, easy to operate, can automatically control the drying process, and achieves uniform drying.
[0004] To solve the above problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0005] A small-scale sample vacuum dryer for experiments includes a drying container that is detachably placed on a base. The base is a hollow shell-like component. A vacuum pump and a control board are installed inside the base. Both the vacuum pump and the control board are powered by an external power source. The drying container has a gas path interface that can be connected to the output of the vacuum pump. The control board is electrically connected to the vacuum pump via wires and can control the operation of the vacuum pump.
[0006] Preferably, a pressure sensor for detecting the vacuum level inside the drying container and an electromagnetic pressure relief valve for controlling the pressure relief inside the drying chamber are installed on the base; both the pressure sensor and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve are electrically connected to the control main board; the pressure sensor and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve are connected to the inner cavity of the drying chamber through an air passage.
[0007] Preferably, a fan for agitating air is also provided inside the drying container; the fan is electrically connected to the control main board.
[0008] Furthermore, the fan is positioned near the top of the drying container's interior, and the fan does not come into contact with the sample inside the drying container.
[0009] Preferably, a stepped slot is provided at the top of the base, and the drying container is detachably snapped into the slot; corresponding quick-connect male and female gas connectors are provided at the slot and the bottom of the drying container respectively; wherein the female connector is provided at the gas interface of the drying container, and the male connector is connected to the output end of the vacuum pump through a negative pressure gas pipe.
[0010] Preferably, a human-machine interaction module is also provided on the base; the human-machine interaction module is electrically connected to the control motherboard; the human-machine interaction module includes a display screen for displaying real-time operating parameters and control buttons for setting parameters and turning the switch on and off.
[0011] The control board is a PCB circuit board based on a series of chips.
[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are reflected in the following aspects:
[0013] 1. This utility model integrates core components such as the vacuum pump and control motherboard into the base, eliminating the complex external piping and independent equipment found in traditional solutions. The compact structure of the entire machine greatly saves space on the laboratory workbench and enables plug-and-play operation. Users only need to place the drying container and start the machine, simplifying the operation steps to a minimum.
[0014] 2. By setting up pressure sensors and electromagnetic pressure relief valves, and through intelligent control via the main control board, this invention achieves automated management of the entire vacuum drying process (vacuuming, pressure holding, timing, and pressure relief). One-button start eliminates the need for manual intervention, not only freeing up manpower and avoiding the risk of vacuum pump overload damage and sample spoilage due to human error or oversight, but also significantly improving the repeatability and reliability of the experiment.
[0015] 3. By adding a circulating fan inside the drying container, the internal atmosphere can be slightly agitated during the vacuuming process or the vacuum holding stage, which effectively breaks the airflow stagnation layer in the static drying environment, promotes the escape of moisture from the sample surface, and ensures the consistency of drying between the upper and lower layers of stacked samples, thereby shortening the total drying time while ensuring the drying quality.
[0016] 4. The integrated human-machine interface module (display screen and buttons) allows users to intuitively set parameters and monitor key working statuses such as pressure and time in the chamber in real time. The operation is intuitive and simple, improving the user experience and the safety of the equipment. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention in an embodiment;
[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Drying container; 2. Base; 3. Vacuum pump; 4. Control main board; 5. Pressure sensor; 6. Electromagnetic pressure relief valve; 7. Fan; 8. Quick-connect pneumatic male / female connector; 9. Human-machine interface module. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:
[0020] Example:
[0021] Reference Figure 1 This embodiment provides a small-scale sample vacuum dryer for experiments; it includes a drying container 1; the drying container 1 is detachably placed on a base 2; the base 2 is a hollow shell-like component; a vacuum pump 3 and a control main board 4 are disposed inside the base 2; both the vacuum pump 3 and the control main board 4 are powered by an external power source; a gas path interface that can be connected to the output terminal of the vacuum pump 3 is provided on the drying container 1; the control main board 4 is electrically connected to the vacuum pump 3 through wires, and the control main board 4 can control the operation of the vacuum pump. A shock-absorbing plate is installed inside the base 2 at the location where the control main board 4 is located, which can effectively isolate the influence of vibration generated by the operation of the vacuum pump 3 on the control circuit.
[0022] Inside the drying container 1, there is also a fan 7 for agitating the air; the fan 7 is electrically connected to the control motherboard 4. The fan 7 is a low-speed DC brushless fan, and its speed is controlled by the control motherboard 4 through PWM speed regulation according to the drying stage. It stops or runs at low speed during the vacuuming stage, and starts intermittently during the pressure holding stage to agitate the air, ensuring a gentle airflow and avoiding blowing away the light sample.
[0023] The fan 7 is positioned near the top of the inner cavity of the drying container 1, and the fan 7 does not come into contact with the sample inside the drying container 1. The fan 7 is covered by a protective grille, which is connected to the inner wall of the drying container 1 by a snap-fit mechanism, ensuring unobstructed airflow while preventing accidental contact between the operator or the sample and the fan blades.
[0024] A stepped groove is provided at the top of the base 2, and the drying container 1 is detachably snapped into this groove. Matching quick-connect gas path male and female connectors 8 are respectively provided at corresponding positions on the groove and the bottom of the drying container 1. The female connector is located at the gas path interface of the drying container 1, and the male connector is connected to the output end of the vacuum pump 3 via a negative pressure gas pipe. The quick-connect gas path male and female connectors 8 adopt a conical sealing design with a silicone sealing ring to ensure excellent airtightness under vacuum conditions. The connectors also feature a rotating locking mechanism; after insertion, a certain angle rotation achieves a secure connection and gas path opening, making operation simple and the connection reliable.
[0025] A pressure sensor 5 for detecting the vacuum level inside the drying container 1 and an electromagnetic pressure relief valve 6 for controlling the pressure relief inside the drying chamber 1 are installed on the base 2. Both the pressure sensor 5 and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve 6 are electrically connected to the control main board 4. The pressure sensor 5 and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve 6 are connected to the inner cavity of the drying chamber 1 through a branch gas pipe initially led out from the quick-connect gas male and female connector.
[0026] A human-machine interface module 9 is also installed on the base 2; the human-machine interface module 9 is electrically connected to the control motherboard 4; the human-machine interface module 9 includes a display screen for displaying real-time working parameters and control buttons for setting parameters and turning on / off. The human-machine interface module 9 adopts an integrated design of membrane buttons and LCD display screen. In addition to displaying the chamber pressure, remaining time, and working status in real time, the display screen also provides a menu navigation function. Users can set parameters such as target vacuum degree, pressure holding time, and pressure release time through the buttons; the control motherboard 4 has a parameter memory function, and the previously set working parameters are retained after power failure and power restoration.
[0027] The control motherboard 4 is a PCB circuit board based on the 89C51 series chip. The control motherboard 4 has the equipment control program embedded in it. It can receive real-time signals from the pressure sensor 5 and compare them with the parameter values set by the user. Based on the comparison results, it controls the working status of the vacuum pump 3, the electromagnetic pressure relief valve 6, and the fan 7 to realize fully automatic vacuuming, pressure holding compensation, timing, and slow pressure relief functions. The motherboard also has an overcurrent protection circuit, which automatically cuts off the power supply when the vacuum pump 3 malfunctions to protect the equipment safety.
[0028] The working principle and operation steps of this utility model are as follows:
[0029] 1. Preparation: Remove the drying container 1 from the base 2, place the sample to be dried inside, and then put it back into the slot of the base 2. Rotate the container to lock and seal the quick-connect gas line male and female connectors 8.
[0030] 2. Parameter settings: The target vacuum level, pressure holding time, and other parameters can be set via the buttons on the human-machine interaction module 9;
[0031] 3. One-key start: Press the start button to start the mainboard 4 and start the vacuum pump 3 to perform vacuuming operation;
[0032] 4. Automatic operation: The system runs automatically until the program ends, during which it automatically completes the entire process of vacuuming, pressure maintenance, replenishment, and slow pressure release.
[0033] 5. End of sampling: When the drying time is over and the pressure inside the chamber returns to normal, remove the drying container 1 to obtain the dried sample.
[0034] The intelligent control process of this utility model specifically includes:
[0035] Vacuuming stage: The control motherboard 4 starts the vacuum pump 3 and continuously reads the value of the pressure sensor 5. When the set target vacuum level is reached, the vacuum pump 3 is turned off.
[0036] Pressure holding phase: The system continuously monitors pressure changes. When the pressure rises above the set threshold, vacuum pump 3 is restarted to perform supplementary pumping until the target vacuum level is restored.
[0037] Drying stage: During the pressure holding period, the main control board 4 intermittently starts the fan 7 according to the preset program to make the air inside the drying container 1 flow slightly, thereby improving the drying efficiency;
[0038] End stage: When the set drying time is reached, the main control board 4 controls the electromagnetic pressure relief valve 6 to open at a slow rate, allowing external air to gradually enter the drying container 1 to prevent the sample from scattering due to sudden pressure changes.
[0039] Safety protection: Throughout the process, the system monitors the working status of each component in real time, and immediately stops operation and issues an alarm if any abnormality is detected.
Claims
1. A small-scale vacuum dryer for experimental samples, comprising a drying container (1); characterized in that: The drying container (1) is detachably placed on the base (2); the base (2) is a hollow shell-shaped component; a vacuum pump (3) and a control board (4) are installed inside the base (2); both the vacuum pump (3) and the control board (4) are powered by an external power source; an air passage interface that can be connected to the output end of the vacuum pump (3) is provided on the drying container (1); the control board (4) is electrically connected to the vacuum pump (3) through a wire, and the control board (4) can control the operation of the vacuum pump.
2. The experimental miniature sample vacuum dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure sensor (5) for detecting the vacuum level inside the drying container (1) and an electromagnetic pressure relief valve (6) for controlling the pressure relief inside the drying container (1) are installed on the base (2); the pressure sensor (5) and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve (6) are both electrically connected to the control main board (4); the pressure sensor (5) and the electromagnetic pressure relief valve (6) are connected to the inner cavity of the drying container (1) through the air passage.
3. The experimental miniature sample vacuum dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that: Inside the drying container (1), there is also a fan (7) for agitating the air; the fan (7) is electrically connected to the control board (4).
4. The experimental miniature sample vacuum dryer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fan (7) is positioned near the top of the inner cavity of the drying container (1), and the fan (7) does not come into contact with the sample inside the drying container (1).
5. A small-scale vacuum dryer for experimental samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: A stepped slot is provided on the top of the base (2), and the drying container (1) is detachably snapped into the slot; quick-connect male and female gas connectors (8) are respectively provided at the corresponding positions of the slot and the bottom of the drying container (1); the female connector is correspondingly set at the gas interface of the drying container (1), and the male connector is connected to the output end of the vacuum pump (3) through the negative pressure gas pipe.
6. A small-scale vacuum dryer for experimental samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: A human-machine interaction module (9) is also provided on the base (2); the human-machine interaction module (9) is electrically connected to the control motherboard (4); the human-machine interaction module (9) includes a display screen for displaying real-time working parameters and control buttons for setting parameters and turning on / off switches.
7. A small-scale vacuum dryer for experimental samples according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control motherboard (4) is a PCB circuit board based on the 89C51 series chip.