U.S. patent number 3,695,267 [Application Number 05/050,730] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-03 for inhalator for moist air.
Invention is credited to Hanns Joachim Hirtz, Hans Hirtz.
United States Patent |
3,695,267 |
Hirtz , et al. |
October 3, 1972 |
INHALATOR FOR MOIST AIR
Abstract
An inhalator has a tubular heating element through which inhaled
air passes after flowing in countercurrent through an annular air
passage between a tubular housing wall and a tubular porous body
surrounding and abutting the tubular heating element. The porous
body has capillary passages for absorbing a liquid whose vapor is
added to the inhaled air in the annular passage
Inventors: |
Hirtz; Hans (Koln-Bayenthal,
DT), Hirtz; Hanns Joachim (5 Koln-Deckstein,
DT) |
Family
ID: |
25757573 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/050,730 |
Filed: |
June 29, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 1, 1969 [DT] |
|
|
P 19 33 350.7 |
Apr 27, 1970 [DT] |
|
|
P 20 20 435.7 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/203.17;
392/404; 261/DIG.65; 392/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
16/142 (20140204); A61M 16/109 (20140204); A61M
15/00 (20130101); A61M 16/16 (20130101); A61M
16/1075 (20130101); Y10S 261/65 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
16/16 (20060101); A61M 16/10 (20060101); A61M
15/00 (20060101); A61M 16/14 (20060101); A61m
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/192,193,195,201,205,212,209,185,186,208,173.2 ;219/272-276
;261/99,104,107,142,DIG.65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Dunne; G. F.
Claims
We claim:
1. An inhalator for moist air, comprising, in combination, housing
means having inlet means for air, and outlet mean adapted for
inhalation, said housing means including at least one tubular wall;
tubular heating means mounted in said housing means and having an
inner space communicating with said outlet means; and a porous
tubular body surrounding and at least partly abutting said heating
means so as to be heated by the same; said tubular body having
capillary passages containing a vaporizable liquid; said tubular
housing wall surrounding said porous tubular body and forming an
annular air passage with the same communicating with said inlet
means, and being connected by said inner space of said heating
means with said outlet means whereby vaporized liquid is added to
the inhaled air flowing through said annular passage before the air
is heated in said inner space of said heating means so that the air
in said annular passage cools said housing wall whereby the same
can be manually gripped.
2. An inhalator for moist air, comprising, in combination, housing
means having inlet meant for air, and outlet means adapted for
inhalation; hollow tubular heating means mounted in said housing
means and having an inner space communicating with said outlet
means; and a porous tubular body mounted in said housing means
surrounding said heating means, said porous tubular body having
capillary passages containing a vaporizable liquid so that said
heating means heats said tubular body and said vaporizable liquid;
said housing means including a first cylindrical wall surrounding
said porous tubular body and forming a first annular air passage
with the same, and a second cylindrical wall surrounding said first
cylindrical wall and forming a second annular air passage with the
same, said second air passage being connected at one end with said
inlet means and at the other end with the adjacent one end of said
first air passage whose other end communicates through said inner
space with said outlet means so that the inhaled air flows in
countercurrent through said second and first annular air passages
whereby said second wall is cooled and adapted to be manually
gripped while the air flowing through said first annular air
passage receives vapor from said porous tubular body before passing
through said inner space of said heating means where the moistened
air is heated before being inhaled through said outlet means.
3. An inhalator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing means
form a filling chamber at least partly bounded by said pourous
tubular body; and wherein said first cylindrical wall has a filling
opening communicating with said filling chamber whereby a liquid
can be filled into said filling chamber through said filling
opening for absorption into the capillary passages of the porous
tubular body.
4. An inhalator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second annular
wall is mounted for movement in axial direction between a normal
position closing said filling opening, and a filling position
uncovering said filling opening.
5. An inhalator as claimed in claim 2, comprising an annular
sealing ring located in said first annular passage and surrounding
a sealed off filling chamber; and wherein said first cylindrical
wall has a first filling opening communicating with said filling
chamber.
6. An inhalator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second
cylindrical wall has a second filling opening; and wherein said
second cylindrical wall can be turned relative to said first
cylindrical wall between a normal position in which said first
filling opening is covered and closed by said second cylindrical
wall, and a filling position in which said first and second filling
openings register and a liquid can be filled through the same into
said filling chamber for absorption by said porous body.
7. An inhalator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second
walls have portions surrounding said first and second filling
openings and abutting each other so that the liquid flowing into
and through said openings is separated from said second annular air
passage.
8. An inhalator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said portion of one
of said walls is a boss having the respective filling opening; and
wherein the circumferential extension of said boss is at least
equal to the arc along which said second filling opening moves
during turning of said second cylindrical wall relative to said
first cylindrical wall between two end positions; and wherein said
housing means include means for limiting turning movement of said
second cylindrical wall in said two end positions.
9. An inhalator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tubular porous
body has an inner surface formed with an annular recess adjacent
and surrounding the outer surface of said heating means and forming
with the same at least part of said filling chamber.
10. An inhalator for moist air, comprising, in combination, housing
means having inlet means for air, and outlet means adapted for
inhalation; heating means mounted in said housing means; and a
porous tubular body having capillary passages containing a
vaporizable liquid, said tubular body being mounted in said housing
means adjacent said heating means so that said heating means heat
said tubular body and said vaporizable liquid, said housing means,
tubular body, and heating means forming a path for inhaled air
flowing from said inlet means to said outlet means; said tubular
body and said heating means being located in said path so that air
from said inlet means flowing along said path is moistened by
vaporized liquid from said tubular body and heated by said heating
means before being inhaled through said outlet means; said housing
means forming a filling chamber at least partly bounded by said
porous tubular body, and including an inner wall having a filling
opening communicating with said filling chamber and an outer wall
movable relative to said inner wall between a normal position
closing said filling opening and a filling position uncovering said
filling opening; and comprising a socket end plug connection for
said heating means, said outer cylindrical wall having a portion
blocking engagement of said socket plug means in said filling
position.
11. An inhalator for heated moist air, comprising, in combination,
housing means having inlet means for air, and outlet means adapted
for inhalation; a porous tubular body mounted in said housing
means, and having capillary passages for storing a vaporizable
liquid; heating means mounted in said housing means and located
within said porous tubular body for heating said porous tubular
body whereby said liquid is evaporated; said housing means, porous
tubular body, and heating means forming an air passage between said
inlet means and outlet means, said air passage including an outer
passage portion formed between said housing means and said porous
tubular body and communicating with said inlet means, and an inner
passage portion within said porous tubular body communicating with
said outlet means, said heating means being located in said inner
passage portion so that air flowing from said inlet means through
said passage and out of said outlet means cools said housing means
while being moistened in said outer passage portion by liquid
evaporating from said heated porous tubular body, and is then
heated in moist condition by said heating means before being
inhaled through said outlet means.
12. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tubular body
consists of sintered or frit material.
13. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said body consists
of a porous material taken from the group consisting of pumice,
dripstone and ceramics.
14. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said heating means
has a cylindrical outer surface; and wherein said porous tubular
body has a cylindrical inner surface surrounding aid outer surface;
and comprising sealing rings between said housing means and said
heating means, and between said housing means and said tubular
body.
15. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said heating means
includes a ceramic tubular member bounding said inner passage
portion; and electric heating wires supported within the same;
wherein said porous tubular body surrounds the outer surface of
said ceramic tubular member; and wherein said ceramic tubular
member is impermeable to the liquid stored in said porous body.
16. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11, wherein said heating means
is tubular and located around said inner passage portion so that
the inhaled air flows through said tubular heating means; and
comprising thermostat means controlling said heating means and
including a thermostat element located in said tubular heating
means in the flow of inhaled air.
17. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11, comprising a face mask;
and wherein said housing means includes a housing having said
outlet means, and a connector tube connecting said outlet means
with said face mask; and comprising a medication carrier mounted on
said housing means and located in said passage so that a medication
is added to the air flowing to said mask through said passage and
outlet means and containing vaporized liquid.
18. An inhalator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said heating means
is tubular and has annular outer and inner surfaces; wherein said
porous tubular body has an inner surface surrounding said outer
annular surface of said heating means; and wherein said inner
passage portion is bounded by said inner annular surface of said
tubular heating means; and thermostat means located in said tubular
heating means and controlling said heating means.
19. An inhalator for moist air, comprising, in combination, housing
means having inlet means for air, and outlet means adapted for
inhalation, said housing means including at least one tubular wall;
tubular heating means mounted in said housing means and having an
inner space communicating with said outlet means; and a porous
tubular body surrounding said heating means so as to be heated by
the same; said tubular body having capillary passages containing a
vaporizable liquid; said tubular housing wall surrounding said
porous tubular body and forming an annular air passage with the
same communicating with said inlet means, and being connected by
said inner space of said heating means with said outlet means
whereby vaporized liquid is added to the inhaled air flowing
through said annular passage before the air is heated in said inner
space of said heating means so that the air in said annular passage
cools said housing wall whereby the same can be manually gripped.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inhalators of the type having a
face mask which communicates through a connector with a space
provided with a heating element, and with liquid by which the
inhaled air is moistened.
The inhalators of the prior art have the disadvantage that liquid
in a container can be easily spilled, and that it is not possible
to obtain a very high percentage of moisture in the inhaled
air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of
known inhalators, and to provide an inhalator suitable for
respiratory diseases which require inhaling of air having a
comparatively high percentage of moisture.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inhalator into
which a liquid can be filled in a very simple manner, without
requiring the removal of the means in which the liquid is
stored.
Another object of the invention is to obtain a substantially
constant percentage of moisture in the inhaled air over a long time
of use of the apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide means for storing a
liquid without permitting a spilling or flowing out of the
liquid.
Another object of the invention is to guide the inhaled air along a
liquid storing means before the air comes into contact with the
heating means.
Another object of the invention is to provide between the liquid
storing means and an outer wall of the housing, an air passage so
that the air in the same cools the housing wall to a temperature at
which it can be manually gripped.
With these objects in view, the present invention provides a liquid
storing means which includes a hard porous body having capillary
passages in which the liquid is held. The porous body may consist
of a sintered or frit material, or of pumice, dripstone, or porous
ceramics. Any porour body capable of holding a liquid, particularly
water, by capillary action, may be used.
A capillary body for storing the liquid has the advantage that a
sufficient amount of liquid can be held without the danger of
spilling, while the liquid is sufficiently vaporized by air passing
the porous body. The holding of the stored amount of liquid by the
capillary passages of the porous body is particularly important,
because inhalators are preferably provided with electric heating
elements which must not come into contact with liquid, such as
water.
Another advantage of a capillary liquid storing means is that a
hard porous body having the properties of the materials named
above, again yields the liquid, particularly water, completely
without the formation of deposits which would cause, after a long
period of use, fouling of the liquid storage means. As a result,
the porous capillary body according to the invention can be used
for a long time without being subjected to any changes in its
physical or chemical characteristics.
Generally speaking, an embodiment of the invention comprises
housing means having inlet means and outlet means, the latter
preferably including a face mask, so that air inhaled by the
patient flows from the inlet means to the outlet means along a path
in which heating means and a porous body are located adjacent each
other.
The porous body has capillary passages containing a liquid, and
since the inhaled air passes the porous body which is being heated
by the heating means, the liquid is vaporized and added to the flow
of inhaled air.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the porous capillary
body is tubular and surrounds a tubular heating means which
preferably has a ceramic tube, and electric heating wires supported
by the same.
Preferably, the housing means includes at least one tubular housing
wall surrounding the porous body and forming an annular air passage
with the same communicating with the inlet means. The air passage
is also connected by the inner space of the tubular heating means
with the outlet means leading to the face mask, so that not only
vaporized liquid is added to the inhaled air in the annular passage
before the air is heated, but also the air in the annular passage
cools the housing wall whereby the same can be manually gripped
during the use of the inhalator.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention two cylindrical
tubular housing walls surround the tubular porous body, and air
flows in countercurrent through the two annular passages formed in
this manner. The two annular air passages, and the inner space
within the tubular heating element, are connected by openings near
the ends of the two tubular cylindrical housing walls.
A filling space is provided adjacent the porous body which may have
a corresponding recess on the side facing the heating means, or a
filling space may be formed in one of the air passages by a sealing
ring. The filling chambers have filling openings which are normally
closed by the outer cylindrical housing wall. However, by either
angularly turning, or axially shifting the outer housing wall, the
filling opening can be exposed, and fresh liquid can be filled into
the filling chamber of the porous liquid storing body, from where
the liquid is soon absorbed. Irrespective of the volume and
position of the filling chamber, the entire filled in liquid is
quickly distributed through the capillary passages of the porous
body so that the entire outer surface along which air flows, can
supply vapor into the air.
A socket and plug connection is provided for connection electric
heating means with a source of voltage. In the preferred
embodiment, the turning or shifting of the outer tubular
cylindrical housing wall to a position exposing the filling
opening, prevents the insertion of the plug into the socket so that
the electric heating means is disconnected when the liquid is being
filled into the filling chamber and might be spilled before being
absorbed by the porous body.
Since the porous body surrounds and abuts the ceramic tube of the
heating element, it is advantageous to use a ceramic tube whose
outer surface is glazed, or whose material absorbs absolutely no
liquid.
While the inhalator will be mainly used with water as a moistening
agent, any other liquid which may be considered appropriate for
therapeutic reasons, can be used.
In addition to the porous liquid storing body, a medication carrier
can be provided which causes mixing of a volatile medication with
the inhaled moistened air. If for any reason, a gas other than air
is to be moistened and inhaled, the inlet of the housing can be
connected to a container for the desired gas.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its
method of operation, together with additional objects and
advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following
description of specific embodiment when read in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section,
illustrating one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II--II in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III--III in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, and
illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a filling position;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partially in section, illustrating a
second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation taken in the direction of
the arrow VI in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VII--VII in FIG.
6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, and
illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 5 in the filling position;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IX--IX in FIG.
5;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line X--X in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrow XI in
FIG. 5; and
FIG. 12 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrow XI in
FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In both embodiments of the invention, a face mask 10, a connector
11 with an air passage, and housing means 13 forming a handle, are
provided. A tubular heating means 12 has a ceramic tube in which
electric heating wires are embedded which are connected by a plug
15 with a socket 16 and a cord 14 which is connectable to a source
of voltage. In the inner space formed by the tubular ceramic
carrier of heating element 12, a thermostat element 17 is provided.
The tubular heating means 12 has a cylindrical outer surface
against which the cylindrical surface of a hard porous body 18
abuts. The porous body 18 has capillary passages and surrounds the
heating means 12. The hard porous body may be made of pumice,
dripstone, suitable ceramics having capillary passages, or of
sintered or frit material, and is thus suitable to store a liquid
in its capillary passages.
The tubular body 18 is surrounded by an inner tubular and
cylindrical housing wall 21 and forms with the same an annular air
passage 23. The inner tubular housing wall 21 is surrounded by an
outer tubular housing wall 22 and forms with the same another
annular air passage 24. Air passage 24 has inlet openings 25 which
constitute inlet means for air flowing into the housing means 13,
as indicated by arrows. The air flows from inlet openings 25 into
and in axial direction along the annular air passage 24, and from
there through connecting openings 26 in the inner tubular housing
wall 21 into the inner annular air passage 23 in which the air
flows in countercurrent to the air in air passage 24 in downward
direction whereupon the air passes through openings 27 and 28 in an
end member 29 which is secured to the inner housing wall 21. The
air flowing through openings 27 and 28 flows again in
countercurrent through the inner space formed by the tubular
heating means 12, and then enters a passage, not shown, in
connector 11 to be inhaled through the face mask 10. The counter
currents of the inhaled air are indicated by arrows. The tubular
heating means 12 heats the surrounding and abutting tubular porous
capillary body 18 so that the liquid stored in the capillary
passages of the same is vaporized by the air stream flowing in
axial direction through the annular air passage 23. Consequently,
the air flowing into the inner space of heating means 12 is
moistened, and heated by the heating means 12 to a desired
temperature suitable for the patient. A medication carrier 47 of
known construction may store a volatile medication whose vapor is
added to the flowing air.
The temperature of the air is determined by the thermostat 17
which, in the usual manner, disconnects the voltage from heating
element 12 when the heat of the air exceeds a desired maximum.
The flow of air through passages 23 and 24 not only assures a quick
and uniform heating of the air, but also effects cooling of the
outer housing wall 22 which forms a handle which can be gripped by
the patient using the inhalator. The heating means 12 is separated
from the outer wall 22 by the liquid storing body 18, and by the
two annular air passages 23 and 24 in which cooling air, entering
through inlet openings 25, passes in countercurrent before being
heated. The heat conducted from body 18 into the airstream in
annular passage 23, does not affect the outer wall 22, since the
air heated in passage 23 flows into the inner space of the tubular
heating means 12. Due to the fact that the entering air is
moistened in passage 23, thermostat element 17 controls the
temperature of the already somewhat heated and moistened air, so
that it is possible to control the temperature and percentage of
moisture within the air within narrow limits so that the
temperature and moisture of the air can be adapted without
difficulties to optimal values required by the condition of the
patient.
The above description was applicable to both embodiments of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, respectively.
The two embodiments differ from each other by the manner in which a
liquid, such as water, is filled into the inhalator for being
absorbed by the porous body 18.
Referring first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the outer
tubular cylindrical wall 22 has an end portion 40 closing the lower
end of the same, and including an annular part 40a engaging a
corresponding flange 29a of end member 29 in the position of FIG.
1, while engaging an annular flange 29b in the position of FIG. 4.
The inner cylindrical housing wall 21 has a filling opening 31
which is closed by the end portion of the outer housing wall 22 in
the normal position of FIG. 1, and is uncovered in the filling
position of the outer housing wall 22 shown in FIG. 4. Stops 45 and
46 limit the movement of the outer cylindrical housing wall 22 in
axially displaced end positions. Filling opening 31 opens into an
annular space 32 which is bounded by the upper part of the inner
cylindrical wall 21, by an annular end member 33, and by sealing
rings 37 and 39. The annular space 32 communicates with a recess 19
formed in the inner surface of the porous body 18 which forms an
annular filling chamber 34 with the heating means 12.
As shown in FIG. 4, a measured amount of liquid can be filled into
the filling chamber 34 through the filling opening 31 and annular
space 32 when a pipette 35 is inserted into the filling opening 31.
Liquid in the filling chamber 34 is immediately absorbed by the
capillary passages of the porous body 18. If for any reasons too
much liquid has been filled into filling chamber 34 and annular
space 32, the liquid can flow into the air passage 24 and out of
inlet openings 25 into a cap 44 which may be placed on the lower
end of the outer cylindrical wall 22 during the filling operation.
The overflowing liquid discharged through openings 25, and if
desired collected in cap 44, cannot get into contact with the
electric parts of the apparatus which are completely sealed off by
sealing means 37, 39 and 38. The ceramic tube of heating means 12
is prevented from receiving any moisture from the adjacent porous
body 18 which abuts with axially extending inner ribs on the outer
surface of the heating means 12 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4,
and which abuts with its entire cylindrical inner surface on the
outer cylindrical surface of the heating means 12 in the embodiment
of FIGS. 5 to 12. The ceramic tube in which the electric heating
wires 36 are embedded, can be made of a ceramic which has no
capillary passages and will not receive any moisture, or the
ceramic tube can be glazed on the outside so that no moisture can
enter the ceramic material.
The end member 40 of the cylindrical outer tubular wall 22 has a
smaller diameter than the same, and has a cup-shaped depressed
center portion in which the socket 16 is located in a position
engaged by the plugs 15 when the inhalator is in the normal
operational condition shown in FIG. 1. When the outer wall 22 is
shifted from the position of FIG. 1 to the filling position shown
in FIG. 4, the socket moves with the cup-shaped portion 42 away
from plugs 15 so that the flow of current to the heating wires 26
of the heating means 12 is interrupted. Consequently, during the
filling operation, which requires a shifting of the outer wall 22
to the position shown in FIG. 4 uncovering filling opening 31, the
heating wires 36 are not energized. When the filling operation has
been completed, and the outer housing wall 22 is shifted back to
the position of FIG. 1, the socket 16 can be again inserted into
the recess formed by the cup-shaped portion 42 so that the plugs 15
enter the corresponding opening in socket 16, and the heating wires
36 are again energized.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 12, the outer tubular housing wall
22 has a filling opening 50, best seen in FIG. 8, which cooperates
with the filling opening 51 in the inner housing wall 21. The outer
housing wall 22 with its end member 40, and the cup-shaped center
portion 42 are turnable through a limited angle relative to the
inner housing wall 21.
The inner tubular housing wall 21 has the filing opening 51 in a
thicker boss portion 52 which outwardly projects into sliding
engagement with the inner surface of the outer tubular housing wall
21. The boss 52 extends in circumferential direction a slightly
greater arc than the arc which corresponds to the angle which the
outer housing wall 22 is turnable relative to the inner housing
wall 21. This arc 55 is indicated by the indicia 53 and 54 in FIG.
6. The annular air passage 24 between housing walls 21 and 22 is
separated from the filling openings 50 and 51 by the boss 52 which
slides on the inner surface of the outer housing wall 22. During
turning of the outer housing wall 22, the inner surface of the same
slides on the annular end face of the boss 52 between a position
indicated by indicia 53 in which filling opening 50 is spaced from
filling opening 51, and the position indicated by indicia 54 in
which filling openings 50 and 51 register, as shown in FIG. 8.
Within the inner annular air passage 23 between the inner housing
wall 21 and the tubular porous body 18, a sealing ring 58 is
disposed around the inner filling opening 51 so that the space 60
within sealing ring 58 is sealed from the remainder of the annular
air passage 23. Space 60 forms a filling chamber communicating with
the inner filling opening 51, and being closed by the outer
cylindrical wall 22 in the position of FIG. 1, while in the
position of FIG. 8, a measured amount of liquid can be filled into
the filling chamber 60 by a pipette 35.
The normal position of the outer housing wall 22 is illustrated in
FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 in which the filling openings 50 and 51 are
circumferentially staggered and disconnected from each other. The
inner filling opening 51 and the filling chamber 60 within sealing
ring 58 are closed since the inner surface 36 of the outer housing
wall 22 slidingly abuts the outer annular end face 56 of the boss
52. The inner filling opening is not accessible from the
outside.
If the amount of liquid stored in the capillary passages of the
porous body 18 is exhausted, and filling in of fresh liquid is
required, the outer tubular housing wall 22 is turned the arc 55 in
the direction of the arrow 59 shown in FIG. 6 until the outer
filling opening 50 registers with the inner filling opening 51, as
shown in FIG. 8. The pipette 35, or any other means, can now be
used for filling liquid into the filling space 60 where the liquid
is in contact with the outer surface of the porous body 18. The
volume of filling chamber 60, and the surface of porous body 18
bounding filling chamber 60 within sealing ring 58, are so
dimensioned that within a very short period of time, a sufficient
amount of liquid can be filled into the filling chamber and is
fully absorbed by the capillary passages of porous body 18. By
filling in the correct measured amount, which may be indicated on
the pipette 35, no excess liquid can flow into other parts of the
housing. However, if for any reason too much liquid has been filled
in and enters in some way the inner annular air passage 23, the
excess liquid flows through openings 27, and openings 61 and 62
into a cap 43 which can be placed on the lower end of the outer
housing wall 22 during the filling operation, and accumulates there
at 44, as shown in FIG. 8. Contact of the liquid with the
electrical heating means is entirely avoided in this manner. As
shown in FIG. 9, openings 61 and 62 are staggered and closed in the
normal position of the inhalator shown in FIG. 5, and register in
the filling position of the inhalator, as shown in FIG. 10 due to
the angular displacement of the outer housing wall 22 relative to
the inner housing wall 21 and its end portion 29a.
FIG. 12 illustrates the end member 40 of the outer tubular housing
wall 22 in the position of FIG. 8 in which the outer tubular
housing wall 22 is angularly displaced an angle 52 corresponding to
the arc 55 in FIG. 6. Since the cup-shaped center portion 42 is
displaced relative to the plugs 15, the openings in socket 16
cannot be engaged by plugs 15 when the socket 16 is inserted into
the recess in the cup-shaped center portion 42. On the other hand,
the outer tubular housing wall 22 cannot be turned out of the
position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 8 when
socket 16 remains on plug 15. Since socket 16 has to be removed
before the outer tubular housing wall 22 is turned to the filling
position of FIG. 8, it is not possible to carry out a filling
operation while the electric heating wires 36 are energized.
The upper annular end portion 67 of the inner housing wall 21 has
an annular flange 68 projecting into a corresponding annular recess
in the upper end portion of the outer tubular housing wall 22 so
that the same is supported for angular movement, as explained
above. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the outer tubular
housing wall 22 has two arresting recesses 64 and 65 which are
respectively engaged by a projection 66 in the upper annular
portion 67 in the two angularly displaced positions of the outer
tubular housing wall 22. The catch projection 66, see FIG. 7,
arrests the outer tubular housing wall 22 in either end position of
the same so that the distance between the recesses 64 and 65
determines the turning angle 55' and the length of arc 55. The
housing walls 21 and 22, and the other housing parts are
advantageously made of synthetic material which has a certain
resilience so that the catch projection 66 need not be resiliently
supported, and nevertheless an arresting of the parts in the end
positions of the outer housing wall 22 is obtained.
After the filling has been completed and the liquid in the filling
chamber 60 absorbed by the porous body 18, the outer cylindrical
housing wall 22 with the end member 41 is returned to the initial
position as shown in FIG. 5 in which the filling opening 51 is
closed. The elongated recess of the cup-shaped central portion 42
of end member 41 is then in a position permitting the insertion of
socket 16 onto the plug 15.
Although there is little danger of entering any liquid into the
region of the electric heating means 12, as explained above, the
bottom of end member 41 of the outer tubular housing wall 22 is
provided with an opening 70 which is associated with a recess 71 in
the lower portion of the end member 29' of the inner tubular
housing wall 21, as shown in FIG. 5. The arrangement is such that
opening 70 and recess 71 register when the filling openings 50 and
51 register in the filling position shown in FIG. 8. Outlet opening
70 and recess 71 constitute a final safety measure for the unlikely
event that due to unforeseen circumstances, liquid has accumulated
in the space between end member 41 and end member 29', the passage
70, 71 permitting discharge of this liquid.
The medication carrier 47 in the passage formed by the connector 11
permits the addition of a volatile medication to the moistened air
inhaled by the patient. Due to the use of a face mask, the heated,
moistened, and medicated air directly enters the respiratory
passages of the patient, without any waste or loss of the medicated
air.
Evidently, the inhalator can also be used for inhaling dry hot air,
if required by the particular condition of the patient. It is only
necessary to omit filling of the porous liquid storing body 18.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or
two or more together, may also find a useful application in other
types of inhalators differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied
in an inhalator having a porous capillary body for storing a liquid
whose vapor is added to air before the same is heated and inhaled,
it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since
various modifications and structural changes map be made without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can be applying current
knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly
constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific
aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should
and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalence of the following claims.
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *