U.S. patent number 3,689,037 [Application Number 05/071,879] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-05 for humidifier unit for warm air heating systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Spra-Kleen Company. Invention is credited to Francis M. Payne.
United States Patent |
3,689,037 |
|
September 5, 1972 |
HUMIDIFIER UNIT FOR WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS
Abstract
The humidifier includes a generally rectangular drainage pan
having a channel-shaped frame surrounding a central opening. The
drainage pan carries an end plate which mounts the humidifier in a
vertical air duct in a warm air heating system. The framework above
the drainage pan supports a hood formed of pervious material which
hood, in conjunction with the end plate and drainage pan, forms an
enclosure. A water spray nozzle is located within the enclosure in
position to spray a water mist towards the pervious material and
into the flow of air passing vertically through the opening in the
drainage pan and through the pervious material.
Inventors: |
Francis M. Payne (Annandale,
VA) |
Assignee: |
The Spra-Kleen Company (Inc.,
Washington)
|
Family
ID: |
22104180 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/071,879 |
Filed: |
September 14, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
261/105; 126/113;
237/78R; 261/DIG.15; 261/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
3/14 (20130101); F24F 6/12 (20130101); F24D
5/00 (20130101); Y10S 261/15 (20130101); F24F
2006/146 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
3/14 (20060101); F24D 5/00 (20060101); F24F
3/12 (20060101); F24F 6/12 (20060101); B01f
003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/113 ;237/78R,78A
;98/30 ;261/DIG.15,100,105,98,116,126 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tim R. Miles
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Le Blanc & Shur
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters
Patent is:
1. A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having a
substantially vertically extending air duct comprising: a drainage
pan for mounting in the air duct and having an opening therethrough
for receiving air passing through the duct, a frame mounted above
the drainage pan and extending within the air duct, pervious
material carried by said frame and defining with said drainage pan
a chamber, a water spray nozzle carried by the humidifier and
located to spray water within said chamber towards said material
and into the path of the air flowing through the opening in the
drainage pan, the chamber, and the pervious material.
2. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said drainage pan is
mounted in the duct such that air flows through the opening towards
said pervious material.
3. A humidifier according to claim 1 including a drain opening for
said pan, a water supply conduit connected to said nozzle, and
control means for automatically controlling the flow of water to
the supply conduit.
4. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said drainage pan
includes generally channel-shaped portions about said opening, said
pervious material being in the shape of a hood overlying said
drainage pan with the lower edges of said hood disposed to lie in
vertical registry with the channel-shaped portions of said drainage
pan.
5. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said
pervious material lies in vertical registry over said drainage pan
opening, said drainage pan including a portion for collecting water
dripping from said pervious material, the portion of the pervious
material overlying said drainage pan opening being inclined with a
lower edge portion thereof extending to lie in vertical registry
with said drainage pan portion.
6. A humidifier according to claim 1 in combination with the
substantially vertically extending air duct, and means for mounting
said drainage pan in a substantially horizontal position in said
substantially vertically extending air duct.
7. A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having an
air duct comprising a drainage pan mounted in the duct and having
an opening for receiving air passing through the duct, pervious
material carried by said humidifier and configured to form with
said drainage pan a chamber for receiving air flowing through the
duct, a water spray nozzle positioned to spray water within said
chamber towards said material and into the path of air flowing
through the opening in the drainage pan into said chamber and
through said pervious material.
8. A humidifier according to claim 7 in combination with the air
duct, said air duct being inclined to the horizontal, means for
mounting said drainage pan in a substantially horizontal position
in said inclined air duct.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a portion of said
pervious material lies in vertical registry over said drainage pan
opening, said drainage pan including a portion for collecting the
water dripping from said pervious material, the portion of the
pervious material overlying said drainage pan opening being
inclined with a lower edge portion thereof extending to lie in
vertical registry with said drainage pan portion.
10. A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having a
substantially vertically extending air duct comprising: a drainage
pan mounted in the air duct and having an opening for receiving air
passing through the duct, said drainage pan including a generally
channel-shaped portion on opposite sides of said opening, a frame
mounted above the drainage pan and extending within the air duct,
pervious material carried by said frame and defining with said
drainage pan a chamber, said pervious material being in the shape
of a peaked hood overlying said drainage pan with opposite side
edge portions thereof disposed to lie in vertical registry with the
corresponding channel-shaped drainage pan portions on opposite
sides of said drainage opening, the inclined walls of said peaked
hood lying in vertical registry over said drainage pan opening, a
water spray nozzle carried by the humidifier and located to spray
water within said chamber towards said material and into the path
of the air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan, the
chamber, and the pervious material.
11. A humidifier according to claim 10 wherein said frame includes
a pair of generally inverted U-shaped brackets carried adjacent
opposite ends of said drainage pan, said hood being received over
said brackets with the lower edges being received in said
channel-shaped portions of said drainage pan.
12. A humidifier according to claim 10 wherein said hood includes
an end wall of pervious material, the lower edge portions of said
end wall lying in vertical registry with said channel-shaped
portion about said opening, said spray nozzle being positioned to
spray water toward said inclined walls and said end wall.
13. A humidifier according to claim 12 including an end mounting
plate, means connecting said drainage pan and said end mounting
plate with the latter closing the opposite end of said hood, and
means carried by said mounting plate for securing the humidifier in
the air duct.
Description
The present invention relates to humidifiers for air ducts in warm
air heating systems and more particularly relates to an improved
humidifier specifically adapted for use in the vertically extending
air ducts of such warm air heating systems.
In my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,877, there is disclosed an
improved humidifier for use in the air ducts of warm air heating
systems in which the air in either the hot air or return ducts
passes through a fine water spray or mist emitted by a nozzle and
through a mesh filter material for the purpose of humidifying,
washing and filtering the air. In that construction, there is
provided a rectangular drainage pan carrying a hood formed of wire
mesh material and forming, with the drainage pan, an enclosure
housing a water spray nozzle. The drainage pan of that humidifier
is specifically adapted for mounting in a horizontally extending
air duct with the hood projecting into the duct. A substantial
portion of the air passing through the duct also passes through the
hood, the air being washed, filtered and humidified as it passes
through the water mist and filter material. While this unit is
constructed in various sizes for different size ducts and has been
utilized with great success, it is primarily intended for use in
horizontally extending ducts.
In certain warm air heating installations, it is oftentimes
difficult, if not impossible, to mount a humidifier of the
foregoing described type in a horizontally extending air duct.
Oftentimes only a vertically extending duct is available for
installation of a humidifier. However, the necessity for horizontal
disposition of the drainage pan in the foregoing described
humidifier has among other reasons precluded its use for
installation in a vertically extending duct. Accordingly, prior to
the present invention, a humidifier of the foregoing described type
which not only adds water to the air but also washes and filters
the air and which is readily adaptable for installation in a
vertically extending duct has not been available.
The present invention provides a novel, improved humidifier of the
foregoing described type readily adapted for installation in a
vertically extending air duct of a warm air heating system. To this
end, the present invention provides a humidifier including a
drainage pan having a central opening with a channel-shaped frame
surrounding the opening. An end mounting plate is secured to the
drainage pan and is adapted to secure the humidifier to the
vertically extending wall of a duct with the drainage pan
projecting into and disposed horizontally within the vertically
extending duct. A frame upstands from the drainage pan and a wire
mesh or other suitable filter material in the form of a hood is
supported by the frame. The lower edges of the hood lie within the
upwardly opening channel-shaped frame about the opening. The wire
mesh hood is peaked and a water spray nozzle is disposed within the
enclosure formed by the hood, drainage pan, and end mounting plate.
The nozzle is adapted to spray a water mist against the upper
inclined walls of the filter material. It will be appreciated that
the air flowing into the enclosure through the opening in the
drainage pan passes through the water mist spray and through the
filter material and is thus humidified, washed and filtered. The
excess droplets of water caught by the filter material as the air
carrying entrained water particles therewith passes through the
filter material drains down the inclined walls of the hood into the
channel-shaped frame about the central opening of the drainage pan.
Thus water is precluded from dripping from the humidifier into the
vertically extending duct. A humidistat is coupled to a solenoid
actuated water valve which controls the flow of water to the spray
nozzle, the humidistat being connected to the fan circuit of the
furnace or actuated by the air flow such that the spray operates
only when the furnace fan is in operation.
A further embodiment of the present invention employs a humidifier
similar to that described and illustrated in my U.S. Pat. No.
3,334,877 in a bypass conduit between the hot air and return ducts.
In this form of the invention, there is provided a housing carrying
a drainage pan and a hood of pervious material forming an enclosure
in which is located a spray nozzle. Opposite ends of the housing
are connected through suitable conduits with the hot air and return
ducts respectively. Air transmitted from one duct to the other
passes through the enclosure and through the water spray mist
supplied by the nozzle whereupon the air is humidified, washed and
filtered.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
provide a novel and improved humidifier for a warm air heating
system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
humidifier unit for the air duct of a warm air heating system
wherein the humidifier unit is particularly adapted for
installation in a vertically extending duct.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
humidifier unit for installation in a vertically extending air duct
of a warm air heating system wherein a spray nozzle directs a water
mist against a hood formed of pervious material and wherein the
hood is located to drain excess water into a drainage pan
surrounding the opening through the humidifier unit.
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a
humidifier unit adapted for installation in a bypass conduit
communicating between hot air and return ducts in a warm air
heating system.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reference to the following
specification, claims and appended drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertically extending
air duct in a warm air heating system with parts broken out and in
cross section to illustrate a humidifier construction in accordance
with the present invention installed therein;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof taken
generally about on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof taken
generally about on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the humidifier unit with the cover
of pervious material removed;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of humidifier unit
hereof; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the
installation of the humidifier unit illustrated in FIG. 5 in a
bypass conduit interconnecting hot air and return ducts in a warm
air furnace system.
Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a vertically extending air duct 10 forming a portion of
a warm air furnace system and in which duct 10 is mounted a
humidifier unit, generally indicated at 12, constructed in
accordance with the present invention. Referring more particularly
to FIGS. 2-4, humidifier unit 12 comprises a generally rectangular
drainage pan 14 having a central rectangular opening 16 passing
therethrough. The inner margin of drainage pan 14 about opening 16
carries upturned flanges 18 while the outer margin of drainage pan
14 carried upturned flanges 20, flanges 18 and 20 forming with the
bottom of pan 14 an upwardly opening, generally channel-shaped
frame 22 surrounding opening 16 for purposes hereinafter described.
One end of drainage pan 14 is suitably secured as by nuts and bolts
along the lower inside face of an end plate 24. Plate 24 carries
openings 26 for mounting the humidifier to one of the walls of
vertically extending duct 10. A drain pipe 28 extends through the
front or outer flange of the drainage pan 14 and through mounting
plate 24 in communication with the channel portions 22 about
opening 16 for draining water from drainage pan 14.
A nozzle 30 is carried by humidifier 12 and serves to provide a
fine water mist or spray through which the air in duct 10 flows.
Nozzle 30 is disposed in vertical registry over opening 16 and is
connected to a water supply conduit 32 extending through end
mounting plate 24. Conduit 32 is connected to a solenoid valve 34
which is operable to control the flow of water to nozzle 30.
Solenoid 34 is electrically actuated by a humidistat, not shown, of
the furnace, also not shown, so that the water supply operates only
when the furnace fan is operating.
A framework 40 upstands from drainage pan 14 and includes a pair of
inverted generally U-shaped brackets 42 having reversely bent lower
end portions 44, the ends of which are preferably riveted to the
outer upstanding flanges 20 of drainage pan 14.
The base portions of the generally inverted U-shaped brackets 42
are inclined to form peaks 44 for frame 40, the peaks 44 being
interconnected by a longitudinally extending rod 46. A pair of
longitudinally extending brackets 48 interconnect between U-shaped
brackets 42. A washable filter of pervious material, preferably
comprising wire mesh, is received over framework 40 to form a hood
50. Particularly, hood 50 comprises side and end walls 52 and 54, a
pair of inclined upper walls 56 forming peak 57 and an open end
adjacent end plate 24. Mesh 50 is received over inverted U-shaped
brackets 42 with its lower edges being received within channels 22
of drainage pan 14. It will thus be appreciated that, when the hood
50 is disposed over framework 40, brackets 42, rod 46 and
longitudinal brackets 48 form a support for hood 50 locating the
lower edge portions of the side walls 52 and 54 of hood 50 in the
side and rear channel portions 22 of drainage pan 14. End plate 24
closes off the open end of hood 50 and nozzle 30 lies within the
enclosure defined by hood 50, drainage pan 14 and end plate 24.
A support for hood 50 is preferred although it will be appreciated
that the wire mesh can be self-supporting, thereby eliminating the
need for the various brackets disclosed.
To install humidifier 12 in vertically extending air duct 10, the
wall of duct 10 is cut to provide a rectangular opening 60 (FIG.
1). The humidifier 12 can thus be inserted through opening 60 and
fasteners 62 are applied through openings 26 in end plate 24 and
the wall of the duct to secure humidifier 12 in a position
cantilevered from the vertically extending wall of the duct. It
will be noted in FIG. 3 that the rear portion of the humidifier is
spaced from the rear wall 64 of duct 10 whereby the humidifier unit
does not completely fill the vertically extending duct but allows a
percentage of the air flowing through the duct to bypass the
humidifier. This precludes any restriction of the air flow through
the duct.
In operation, water is provided to nozzle 30 through solenoid valve
34 under the control of the humidistat. When solenoid actuated
valve 34 is open to provide water through conduit 32 to nozzle 30,
the water issues from nozzle 30 as a fine spray or mist into the
area enclosed by hood 50 and into the area in vertical registry
above opening 16. The air passing through opening 16 and into the
enclosure entrains particles of the water spray emitted by nozzle
30 whereby the air is humidified and washed. The air entrained
water then flows through the pervious material of hood 50,
particularly through the inclined walls 56 thereof. Excess droplets
of water are caught by the mesh material forming walls 56 and end
wall 54 and these droplets drip down along walls 56 and the side
and end walls 52 and 54, respectively, for collection in the
channels 22 of pan 14 for drainage through drain conduit 28. Thus,
air passing through the water spray within enclosure 50 and through
the filter mesh material forming the same is humidified, washed and
filtered.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a humidifier unit 70
for use in a horizontally extending air conduit and for use as a
part of the adapter unit illustrated in FIG. 6. Referring
particularly to FIG. 5, there is disclosed generally rectangular
drainage pan 72 having a flange 73 for connecting the humidifier in
a horizontally disposed air conduit, not shown, a rectangular
tubular framework 74 upstanding from drainage pan 72, a spray
nozzle 76 suitably connected to a humidistat controlled solenoid
operated valve, not shown, and a rectangular hood 78 of pervious or
filter material preferably formed of wire mesh disposed over
framework 74 and adapted for disposition in the air stream flowing
in a horizontally disposed conduit. The hood 78 is open at one end
as indicated at 80 and closed at its opposite end whereby air
flowing through a horizontally disposed conduit enters the chamber
defined by hood 78, passes through the water mist spray provided by
nozzle 76 and passes through the opposite end wall 82 of filter
material whereby a humidifying, washing and filtering action is
effected. In this form, the framework 74 supporting the hood 70 is
formed of hollow tubing having a plurality of perforations 83 at
spaced intervals therealong and at various angles. The tubing is
connected to a water inlet conduit 84 having a manually operable
valve 86. By periodically opening valve 86 and providing water
through conduit 84 to the perforated conduits, the filter material
can be flushed and washed to remove any accumulation of dirt or
other material. Note that this can be accomplished without removal
of the humidifier unit from within the air ducts.
For installation wherein a horizontal mounting of the humidifier
unit cannot be effected, there is provided in another form of the
invention hereof specifically illustrated in FIG. 6 a humidifier
unit generally indicated 90 disposed in a bypass conduit
interconnecting between a hot air and return duct in a warm air
furnace system. The humidifier unit 90 may be identical to that
humidifier unit disclosed in FIG. 5 or to that disclosed in my
prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,877, issued Aug. 8, 1967. Such units are
enclosed by a rectangular housing 92 secured along its lower edge
to the flanges of the drainage pan, for example, the flange 73 of
drainage pan 72 illustrated in FIG. 5. The housing 92 completely
encloses the humidifier. Suitable brackets 94 are utilized to
connect housing 92 to a suitable support externally of the hot air
and return conduits 96 and 98, respectively, in this case the
housing 92 is connected to ducts 96 and 98 by brackets 94. Suitable
conduits 100 and 102, which may be in the form of elbow joints,
interconnect between the hot air and return ducts 96 and 98,
respectively, and opposite ends of the housing 90 whereby air
passing between ducts 96 and 98 passes through the wire mesh filter
material of the humidifier unit and through the spray provided by
the nozzle whereby the air may be humidified, washed and filtered.
In this form, the hot air conduit 100 may be fitted with a damper
to reduce the air flow if excessive furnace velocity results in
moisture carry-through.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description and all changes which come within the meaning and range
of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced
therein.
* * * * *