Method and apparatus for treating structural moisture in boats

Abstract

A method for removing internal moisture which tends to collect in the hulls, decks, stringers, transoms, bulkheads, spars, and other boat structures. Air injection bores are formed in the core or other boat structure in the vicinity of unwanted moisture. Pressurized injection air is injected into the bores through a plurality of air injection lines running from a source of pressurized injection air. The temperature of the air being injected into bores is varied as a function of the temperature and/or relative humidity of ambient air at or near the bores.

1 . A method for removing internal moisture which tends to collect in hulls, decks, stringers, transoms, bulkheads, spars, and other boat structures comprising:
 forming air injection bores in a core or other boat structure in the vicinity of unwanted moisture;   forming withdrawal bores in the core or other boat structure;   providing at least one of an air injection system and an air withdrawal system, the air injection system comprising a plurality of air injection lines running from a source of pressurized injection air, the air withdrawal system comprising a plurality of air withdrawal lines running from a vacuum pump;   inserting the provided ones of the air injection lines and the air withdrawal lines into the corresponding ones of the air injection bores and the air withdrawal bores; and   operating the at least one of the source of pressurized air and the vacuum pump to force air in through the air injection bores and out through the air withdrawal bores.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the structure being treated has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the air injection bores are made to penetrate into the structure from either of the sides, but not penetrate entirely through said structure, stopping at ends which are within said structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the air withdrawal bores are made to penetrate into the structure from either of the sides, but not penetrate entirely through the structure, stopping at ends which are within the structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the air injection bores are positioned on one of the inner and the outer surfaces and the air withdrawal bores are positioned on the other of the inner and the outer surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  including both the air injection system and the air withdrawal system, and including simultaneously operating the air injection source and vacuum pump in tandem, such that drying air is injected into the structure via the air injection bores and is drawn through the structure and out through the air withdrawal bores. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein perforated stainless steel tubes are located on the ends of the air injection lines for inserting into the bores, whereby deeper penetration into the bores is achieved and localized heat is created within the bores because of air friction in the stainless steel tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  in which said structure is a curved or angular hull, and a chine is created in said curved or angular hull and said air injection bores are directed generally upwardly into and beyond said created chine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  in which said air injection bores are formed so as to radiate outwardly in different directions from a point of entry into said chime. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which said air injection bores are formed so as to radiate outwardly in different directions from a point of entry into said structure being treated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  in which a dehumidifier, a plenum, an air pump and a heater are provided, said air pump being said source of air under pressure; said air pump moving ambient air through said dehumidifier to dehumidify said ambient air prior to heating; said dehumidified air being delivered into said plenum, and said air pump delivering air from said plenum, into and through said heater and through said air input lines. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  in which said air pump is a variable output centrifugal blower, which pumps the dehumidified air into said heater via insulated conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  in which a hygrometer measuring moisture and temperature is placed on the air injection lines; the method also providing software monitoring said hygrometers and controlling pressure and temperature as a function of the temperature and humidity of insert air at each hygrometer. 
     
     
         13 . A system for removing internal moisture which tends to collect in hulls, decks, stringers, transoms, bulkheads, spars, and other boat structures comprising:
 a tool for forming a plurality of air injection bores and a plurality of air withdrawal bores in a core or other boat structure in the vicinity of unwanted moisture;   at least one of an air injection system and an air withdrawal system, the air injection system comprising a source of pressurized air and a plurality of air injection lines running from the source of pressurized injection air to the air injection bores, the air withdrawal system comprising a vacuum pump and a plurality of air withdrawal lines running from the vacuum pump to the air withdrawal bores; and   wherein operation of the at least one of the source of pressurized air and the vacuum pump acts to force air into the structure through the air injection bores and out of the structure through the air withdrawal bores.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  including perforated stainless steel tubes located on the ends of the at least one of the air injection lines and the air withdrawal lines, whereby deeper penetration into said bores is achieved and localized heat is created within the bores because of air friction in said stainless steel tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the structure being treated has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the air injection bores are made to penetrate into the structure from either of the sides, but not penetrate entirely through said structure, stopping at ends which are within said structure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the air withdrawal bores are made to penetrate into the structure from either of the sides, but not penetrate entirely through the structure, stopping at ends which are within the structure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the air injection bores are positioned on one of the inner and the outer surfaces and the air withdrawal bores are positioned on the other of the inner and the outer surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  including both the air injection system and the air withdrawal system, and including simultaneously operating the air injection source and vacuum pump in tandem, such that drying air is injected into the structure via the air injection bores and is drawn through the structure and out through the air withdrawal bores. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  including controlling the air flow of one of the air injection bores independently of another one of the air injection bores. 
     
     
         20 . A method for removing internal moisture which tends to collect in hulls, decks, stringers, transoms, bulkheads, spars, and other boat structures comprising:
 forming air injection bores in a core or other boat structure in the vicinity of unwanted moisture;   forming withdrawal bores in the core or other boat structure;   providing an air injection system, the air injection system comprising a plurality of air injection lines running from a source of pressurized injection air,   providing an air withdrawal system, the air withdrawal system comprising a plurality of air withdrawal lines running from a vacuum pump;   inserting the air injection lines air injection bores;   inserting the air withdrawal lines into the air withdrawal bores; and   operating the source of pressurized air and the vacuum pump to force air in through the air injection bores and draw air out through the air withdrawal bores.