Humidifier Means

Abstract

A humidifier installation which projects water in minute droplet form into the associated air stream duct, without prior evaporation of the water, and permitting all components except the discharge nozzle to be spaced away from the air duct and away from all the heated air, thus avoiding a main source of humidifier clogging and/or other inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Additional features include an adjustable means for getting liquid deodorant or disinfectant into the air stream which is used to draw the humidifying water into the duct; and the nozzle assembly, which achieves the flow of humidifying water under vacuum in response to flow of air through the nozzle assembly, provides a parallel arrangement of the air and water ducts into a downstream mixing chamber from which the humidifying water is discharged under pressure of that air into the air stream duct whose air is to be moistened or otherwise treated by the overall humidifier means. Other features add to the overall operativity, the overall housing of the humidifying unit being compartmentalized, achieving maximal separation of water, compressed air, and electrical features.

Description

This invention relates to a humidifier means for providing moistening air in an associated air duct, typically a duct of a heating and/or air conditioning installation.

Concepts of the overall invention provide several advantages and novel concepts which contribute to the overall advantages of the installation.

An important concept and advantage of the present invention is the achievement of getting moistening water into the associated duct to be moistened, in the form of a so-called "atomized" or "cold fog" mist or minute droplet form, under pressure, quite in contrast to any form of conventional humidifiers which depend upon the evaporation of humidifying water, and quite in contrast to typical prior art humidifiers which are (and have to be) mounted in such close proximity to the furnace ductwork (actually on the ductwork) that the furnace air heat causes a precipitation of temporary hardness ions into a scale or clogging crust. The scale formed from such action usually comes from the heating of water which this invention wholly avoids; for, the humidifier is spaced from the heated ductwork or furnace plenum, and the humidifying water is at the relatively cold temperature of the associated water supply line.

This invention thus achieves an avoidance of the scale or evaporator-clogging which is a major cause of humidifier inefficiency; and in addition, the inventive concepts provide a positiveness and consistent control of the amount of air-moistening water actually getting into the heated airstream. Installation is simplified and economical, requiring a cutting of the furnace ductwork only for the outlet nozzle or nozzles. This is in contrast to typical humidifier installations which require large cut-ins of the furnace ductwork or plenum.

Another important concept is the provision of a self-contained source of air under pressure, which attains the drawing of the humidifying liquid into the outlet components of the installation, avoiding any need of a pressurized air supply utility or service line.

The concepts also provide a desired control and positiveness and consistency in use, not only in discharging humidifying water under pressure rather than by evaporation, but by providing that the supply of humidifying liquid is automatically blocked unless the compressed air component is operative to provide the air which provides the draw of the humidifying liquid into and through the discharge outlet nozzle, and by providing a complete and precise control of the quantity and flow rate of humidifying water, a water supply and control in which the continued uniformity of humidifying operation is quite generally independent of even wide fluctuations or variations of pressure in the water supply line, city line pressure, well line pressure, etc.

The concepts further provide a distinct and definite compartmentalization or general separateness of the water, compressed air, and electrical components, aiding in the leakproofness, safety, and actuation and repair characteristics of the overall installation. For example, a water leak does not affect the air supply components or the electrical components, buc the water just runs out of the installation relatively harmlessly.

The humidifying water, although supplied to the humidifier installation under pressure, is moved to the discharge outlet by vacuum achieved as an incident to the movement of the aforementioned compressed air, and this co-operates with the other features in achieving dependability and positiveness of the installation. No stored water supply is needed; no tanks, no floats, no full-tank shut-offs are needed. No water under pressure can flood out the associated deodorant and/or disinfectant supply.

An adjustable means provides for the addition of a deodorant and/or disinfectant liquid into the said compressed air supply, for then being carried into the discharged humidifying mist by that air rather than being dependent upon being admixed into the humidifying liquid. Even when a humidification effect is not desired, as for example during the humid summer months when the associated ductwork system is being used to provide cool and de-humidified air, the disinfectant and/or deodorant effect may be achieved without the introduction of any of the humidifying moisture into the ductwork.

Thus, not only does this auxiliary feature add to the environmental control and betterment, providing clear, health-assisting and/or curative atmosphere, but overcomes or eliminates the odor of lint in the duct and/or the smell usually characteristic of many air conditioning installations; and all these features are attainable whether or not the humidifying moisture is being attained, and the amount of the deodorant and/or disinfectant is easily and conveniently adjusted or metered. And supply cannisters of the deodorant and/or disinfectant liquid may be easily replaced or interchanged, conveniently and without tools, even while the unit is operating.

The nozzle itself provides the advantage of the water-drawing air line and the water line itself being generally parallel, and both directed generally toward the discharge outlet of the nozzle, the air and the water coming into juxtaposition in a mixing chamber of the nozzle which spans the outlet of both said lines.

These and other details, features, and advantages of the various contributive concepts of the overall invention will be more apparent in the following more detailed description of an illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying somewhat schematic and diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the exterior of a humidifier means, a wall portion being shown as broken away to illustrate compartmentalization concepts;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an air inlet fitting for the humidifier means shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 being in considerably larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air inlet fitting shown in FIG. 2, as taken generally as shown by Section line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the water supply line which supplies humidifying water to and through the humidifying means;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and actuation air components of the humidifying means;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nozzle means which joins the lines of the actuation air and the humidifying liquid, for discharge of the humidifying liquid into the associated air ductwork, under pressure, and in the form of unheated minute droplet or mist form;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the nozzle shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a supply means for disinfectant and/or deodorizing liquid, this supply means being optionally used in place of the air inlet fitting shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the supply means shown in FIG. 8, this view being taken generally as shown by Section line 9--9 of FIG. 8 .

As shown in the drawings, the embodiment of a humidifier means 10 illustrative of the inventive concepts is shown in FIG. 1 as including a casing 12 divided by a horizontal wall panel 14 and a vertical panel 16 into separate and water-tight compartments, those being an upper electrical compartment 18, and separate lower compartments respectively a water compartment 20 and an air supply compartment 22.

FIG. 1 also indicates diagramatically the service lines comprising an electric line 24 and a water supply line 25, an inlet opening 26 for the actuation air, and an outlet nozzle 28 which dispenses the humidifying liquid into the associated ductwork or furnace plenum 29, in the form of a mist 30 of minute droplets of the humidifying liquid, unheated, and without depending upon the evaporation of humidifying liquid by heat. The remoteness of the unit 10 from the ductwork and heat co-operates with a forced liquid feed to avoid clogging problems typical of prior art humidifiers, and render installation more economical and convenient, as mentioned above.

The water circuitry is shown schematically in FIG. 4 as a pressurized water supply line 32 which contains, in series a shut-off valve 34, and a strainer 36, and a pressure regulator 38 by which the supply line pressure is reduced to a low pressure, such as 5 p.s.i. pressure, a gauge 40 being shown as tapping onto line 32 by a line 42; and the line 32 continues under pressure through a solenoid control valve 44 (energized or controlled by means yet to be described) to a metering valve 46 (desirably a 1.degree. adjustable type of needle valve). This provides precise and continuously consistent control of humidifying water, guide independent of supply line pressure and variations thereof.

Downstream of the metering valve 46, the water supply line 32v is under sub-atmospheric pressure, that is a vacuum, due to the combined effect of the relatively large expansion of the conduit area on the downstream side of the metering valve 46 and the sub-atmospheric pressure in the downstream water line 48 which has a vacuum-breaking inlet check valve 50 (ball-check type, for example) at its lower end, its upper end going to the vacuum-pulling nozzle 28 mentioned above. (The construction and vacuum-pulling pump operativity of that nozzle 28 is detailed below.)

In the water line 48, there is shown a water conditioning unit 52, preferably of replaceable type, and containing ion-exchange resins, for removing certain water-carried substances such as mineral deposits, which might otherwise precipitate in the air stream and form a build-up of scale-like substance or so-called "white dust."

By the water circuitry 32-48 as detailed above, the humidifying water is supplied to the pump or outlet nozzle 28 under control and actuation by air and electrical components still to be described; and all the water-supply components shown in FIG. 4, except its upstream shutoff valve 34 and the portion 48' of water outlet line 48 outwardly of the unit 10, are contained in the water compartment 20 of the casing 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, water control is by the electrical and actuation air components, and by their interrelationships, now more fully described and explained.

FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical control circuitry as including a supply inlet 58 energized by a supply line 60 desirably connected in parallel to the heating blower and/or air conditioning blower 62, providing energization of the humidifying means 10 whenever either of those blowers are actuated. (However, as shown below, other control features prevent humidifying or other operation of the humidifying means 10 under certain situations even though the furnace blower or air conditioner blower is energized.)

One line 64 is shown leading from one side of the electrical supply plug or fitting 58 to one inlet terminal of a step-down (110:6 volt preferably) transformer 66; and another line 68 leads from the other side of plug 58 (through a fuse 70) to the other inlet terminal of that transformer 66.

The outlet terminals of that transformer 66 are respectively connected by a line 72 to one terminal of a relay 74, and by a line 76 to one terminal of a control switch 78. The other terminals of these are connected by lines 80 and 82, respectively, to a humidistat plug 84 to which is connected a humidistat 86; and thus the low-voltage circuit through the relay 74 is closed (energizing that relay 74) when both the control switch 78 is closed, and the humidistat 86 is closed by a lowness of room humidity.

(A pilot light 88 is shown connected by line 90 in parallel to the low voltage control circuit 72-80 of relay 74.)

With the relay 74 closed, the controlled circuit through the relay is closed, that being shown as a circuit line 92 connected from one of the inlet power lines 64 and leading to the air compressor 94, the other terminal of the air compressor 94 being connected through a line 96 to the other inlet power line 68.

Thus the air compressor 94 (which as explained below provides control and operativity of the humidifying water supply) is actuated when switch 78 and humidistat 86 are in closed condition, if either the furnace or air conditioner blower 52 is actuated.

The control circuit 92-96 of the air compressor 94 has parallel lines 98-100 respectively connected with a solenoid 102 of solenoid valve 44 which opens the water circuit 32 for humidifying water flow when the air compressor 94 is actuated.

However, safety means are provided which prevent energization of the solenoid 102 of solenoid valve 44, even when the air compressor 94 is actuated, unless pressurized air is actually being delivered from the air compressor 94; and that safety means is shown as a pressure-regulated or mercontrol switch 104 in series with the solenoid energization circuit 98-100, the internal circuit of the mercontrol 104 being such as that it is open unless air under pressure is supplied to the control portion of that switch 104 from a control line 106 leading from the outlet of the air compressor 94.

(Air inlet for the air compressor 94 is shown in FIG. 5 as by and through a deodorant and/or disinfectant supply means 110 described in detail below, through a nipple 111 which leads to the casing opening 26.)

The air compressor 94 is self-contained in the humidifying means 10, and the humidifier is thus independent of any external source of pressurized air; and from the air compressor 94 leads an air line 112 to provide air under pressure to the humidifier nozzle 28, providing the actuation air whice draws the humidifying water by vacuum in water line 48. The air compressor 94 is in the air compartment 22, and the solenoid valve 44 is in the water compartment 20; but all the other components of FIG. 5 except as otherwise noted are located in the electrical compartment 18, achieving the advantageous compartmentalization mentioned above.

FIG. 6 illustrates the nozzle means 28, which is the means which provides water-pumping effect, that is, the operative intersection and juxtaposition of the pressurized air stream in compressor outlet line 112 and the humidifying water outlet line 48' of line 48. Nozzle 28 is remote from the casing 12, the remoteness contributing to the advantages described above; and the nozzle 28 is shown as having only its extreme outer end projecting into the furnace ductwork 29.

The nozzle 28 as shown as formed of an inlet body 114 and an outlet body 116, interconnected by screw threads 118 interengaging between a downstream-facing head 120 of the inlet body 114 and an upstream-facing recess 122 of the outlet body 116. The outlet body 116 is shown having outer screw threads 123 which screw into a face-plate or bracket piece 123a screwed or riveted to the ductwork or plenum 29. Only a small opening 123b need have been provided in the sheeting 29.

The inlet body 114 of nozzle 28 is provided with two inlets 124 and 126, threaded, and respectively for receiving end fittings (not shown) of the portions of outlet air line 112 and the outlet water line 48' exteriorly of the casing 12. These inlets 124 and 126 are respectively provided with passages 128 and 130, internally of the body member 114; and it will be particularly noted that the downstream end-portions of those passages 128-130 are parallel, they both extending fully to the extreme downstream end of the body member head 120 and there communicating with the interior of the recess 122 of outlet body 116. The terminal portion of the air passage 128 is generally co-axial with head 120 and recess 122.

The nozzle outlet body 116 is provided with a central outlet passage 132 communicating with the recess 122; and the operation of the nozzle 28 is such that the passage of air through the air passage 128 into the relatively large zone of the recess 122, and the consequent expansion of the air stream, is operative to induce a water-drawing vacuum in the water passage 130 which opens into the chamber provided by the body recess 122.

The discharge of the humidifying water from nozzle 28 is in the form of a mist 30 of minute droplets which thereupon evaporate and moisten the airstream in the associated ductwork whose air is to be humidified; however, as pointed out above, the evaporation is not the means of getting the humidifying water into the associated ductwork, as in the case with other humidifiers of the prior art not having the advantages of the present forced spray system.

The nozzle 28 is very effective; for even though the air supply to it may be low pressure and low volume, it has a lift of twenty-eight inches of water; quite in contrast to other types of vacuum-drawing nozzle even though provided with high pressure and high volume.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an easily replaceable or changeable supply means 110 which, in conjunction with the pressurized air concepts by which the humidifying water is drawn to and through the humidifier 10, provides that the installation also provides a deodorant and/or disinfectant to the associated air stream duct, and provides this effect whether or not the unit 10 is being used also as a humidifier. Other advantages include the fact that it is mountable on the humidifier remote from the heat and often-awkward accessibility of the furnace plenum and ductwork; and quite in contrast to being pressurized, it delivers its liquid by a vacuum action incident to the supply of air to the air compressor 94. Other advantages are mentioned herein.

The deodorant and/or disinfectant supply means 110 is shown as including a head member 136 from which depends a liquid supply cannister body 138, screw threads 140 at the top of the cannister 138 maintaining it assembled onto the head 136. A supply of deodorant and/or disinfectant liquid 142 is shown in the cannister 138.

The head 136 is provided with two openings 144 and 146, the opening 146 being shown centrally of the receiving threads 140 for the cannister 138, and the other opening 144 being a bypass opening shown at an offset location only slightly spaced from those threads; and the opening 144 is intersected by an outlet opening or passage 148 which exits from the head 136 in a screw-threaded portion 150 which receives the air nipple 111 of casing-opening 26 which admits air to the air compression 94.

Atop the head 136 there is shown a movable cap or plate 152, movably pinned thereto by pin 154, and with a manipulating lug 156. The pin 154 is located on head 136 such that the cap or plate 152, when selectively moved as by its lug 156, covers one or the other of the head openings 144-146 (or portions of both) thus selectively permitting air to enter through either one or partially from both of the openings 144-146.

The air which enters via the opening 144, when it is uncovered, goes directly into the passage 148, bypassing the cannister 138.

The air, however, which enters via the opening 146, does not go direct to the outlet passage 148, but instead enters into the fluid cannister 138 at its upper end-portion 158; and, prior to entering the lower portion of opening 144 and thence into the outlet passage 148, that air must pass outwardly through the perforate or wick-like wall of a sleeve 160.

The sleeve 160 is shown as supported to the underside of the cannister support head 136 by head bolts 162 which pass through holes in a ring-shaped holding piece 164 which bears against out-turned end-portions of the sleeve 160; and the sleeve 160 extends down a substantial way into the cannister body 138, its mesh wall serving as a soaking wick.

Thus the air entering the chamber 158 (through opening 146) is forced to encounter the liquid deodorant or disinfectant 142. Moreover, this air eventually being the air dispensed out into the ductwork by the ductwork humidifier nozzle 28 (by the air's passage through components 158, lower portion of 144, 150, 111, 26, 94, 112, 124, 128, 122, and 132), the deodorant and/or disinfectant effect is achievable even though the humidifying liquid is not being supplied to the outlet nozzle 28.

Thus deodorant and/or disinfectant advantage is easily achieved whether or not the unit is being utilized to also attain humidifying effect; and the movement of the cap-plate 152 permits adjustable control of the amount of deodorant and/or disinfectant, with or without humidification.

In installations where no deodorant/disinfectant utilization is desired, an inlet fitting 168 (FIGS. 2 and 3) may be provided, as shown, it has an outlet passage 170 tapped with screw threads 172 adapted (like threads 150 of supply means 110) to be screwed to the nipple 111. The entrance portion of the fitting 168 is provided with a recess 174, into which is fitted a removable and cleanable inlet mesh or filter screen 176, held in the recess 174 by a spring clip 178; and it will be apparent that air passing through the screen 176 passes through chamber 174 and passage 170 to the nipple 111 for admission into the air inlet 26 of the air compartment of the housing 12.

It is thus seen that a humidifying means 10 according to the present inventive concepts provides a desirable and advantageous humidifying means, of compartmentalized construction, optionally with or without the extra advantages of a deodorant and/or disinfectant effect, drawing humidifying water in a vaccum line for a forced spray or mist, and avoiding the prior requirement of evaporation off an evaporator element. Pressure variations of the incoming water line are made of negligible effect. The nozzle itself provides advantages of a parallelism of outlet conduits.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of this illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful humidifying means, the device having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

Modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the novel concepts of the invention; accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation having ductwork through which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifying means, comprising:

a pump means which draws liquid by the passage therethrough of air under pressure;

a source of air under pressure and leading to said pump means;

a line supplying humidifying liquid to the pump means;

the discharge of the pump means being operatively into the said ductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect such discharge by exerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the said humidifying liquid line;

and in which upstream of the inlet of air to said humidifying means there is provided a source of conditioning or treating liquid, with means being provided to cause the incoming air to encounter said liquid and thereby condition or treat said air;

and in which the source of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means, and there is a perforate wick means associated therewith and extending to a relatively low position therein so as to dip into a supply of the conditioning or treating liquid therein, and air passage means provde that air being drawn into the inlet of the humidifying means must operatively pass through said wick means.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in a combination in which means are provided which block the flow of humidifying liquid in said line unless said air compressor means is delivering air under pressure to said pump means.

3. A humidifying means for a warm air furnace installation having ductwork through which flows the air to be moistened by the humidifying means, comprising:

a pump means which draws liquid by the passage therethrough of air under pressure;

a source of air under pressure and leading to said pump means;

a line supplying humidifying liquid to the pump means;

the discharge of the pump means being operatively into the said ductwork, and the pump means being operative to effect such discharge by exerting a sub-atmospheric pressure into the said humidifying liquid line;

and in which upstream of the inlet of air to said humidifying means there is provided a source of conditioning or treating liquid, with means being provided to cause the incoming air to encounter said liquid and thereby condition or treat said air;

in a combination in which the inlet to the said humidifying means is provided with an inlet passage which permits a bypassing of the said liquid, and there are control means to selectively block said bypass inlet passage and of said means which cause said incoming air to encounter said conditioning or treating liquid.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the humidifying means includes an air compressor means self-contained within the humidifying means.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which means are provided which block the flow of humidifying liquid in said line unless said air under pressure is being delivered to said pump means.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the humidifying means includes an air compressor means self-contained within the humidifying means;

in which the said source of conditioning or treating liquid is not under pressure but is operatively admixed into the air by the drawing of the inlet side of the air compressor means in contrast to the atmospheric pressure upstream of said source of conditioning or treating liquid.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the said air conditioning or air treating is achieved regardless of whether humidifying liquid is being supplied to said pump means.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 in a combination in which the source of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means removably secured to the inlet side of the air compressor means.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the source of conditioning or treating liquid is a container means, and there is a perforate with means associated therewith and extending to a relatively low position therein so as to dip into a supply of the conditioning or treating liquid therein, and air passage means provide that air being drawn into the inlet of the air compressor means must operatively pass through said wick means.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the control means not only selectively block said bypass and said encounter-causing means but selectively block partially either, to provide more selected varition in the conditioning or treating effect attained by the incoming air.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which the humidifying means is mounted in a spaced location away from the said ductwork, and there is an outlet line means leading from the said humidifying means to the discharge outlet which discharges into said ductwork.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 in a combination in which discharge outlet is an assembly which is the pump means itself.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 in a combination in which the pump means is provided by an assembly of an inlet body and an outlet body, the inlet body provided with generally parallel passages in its downstream end portion which both communicate with an upstream-facing recess provided in said outlet body, that recess providing an expansion chamber for air being delivered to said pump means and thus providing that a vacuum will be induced in said water supply line.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which means are provided for controlling the rate of flow of water to the said liquid supply line.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which means are provided for controlling the pressure of water upstream of the said liquid supply line.

16. The invetnion as set forth in claim 3 in a combination in which there are electric means for energizing the source of air under pressure and for controlling the flow of water in said water supply line, and there are wall means in said humidifier means which generally separate or compartmentalize the electric means, the air supply, and the water supply.