U.S. patent number 3,873,806 [Application Number 05/402,288] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-25 for vaporizer-humidifier.
Invention is credited to George W. Schossow.
United States Patent |
3,873,806 |
Schossow |
March 25, 1975 |
Vaporizer-humidifier
Abstract
A vaporizer-humidifier having a small insulated vaporization
chamber within a larger storage chamber, heating means within the
vaporization chamber and a fan above the chamber for drawing air
through and vapor from the vaporization chamber and dispelling it.
The vaporization chamber has an open lower end communicating with a
sediment collecting reservoir, which reservoir is connected by a
one-way valve with the large storage chamber to permit liquid
therein to flow into the sediment collecting reservoir and then up
into the vaporization chamber as the liquid therein is vaporized.
Sediment purged from the liquid settles in the removable sediment
collecting reservoir.
Inventors: |
Schossow; George W. (White Bear
Lake, MN) |
Family
ID: |
27017803 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/402,288 |
Filed: |
October 1, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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832279 |
Jun 11, 1969 |
3809374 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
392/402; 126/113;
128/203.27; 261/DIG.46; 261/142; 392/405; 422/106; 422/125;
422/305; 422/306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
6/025 (20130101); F24H 1/00 (20130101); Y10S
261/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
6/02 (20060101); F24H 1/00 (20060101); H05b
001/00 (); F02m 031/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/271-276,284-295,362
;126/113 ;261/141,142,72,DIG.46 ;128/186,192 ;21/118,117,119 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bartis; A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes; John C.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 832,279, filed June 11,
1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,374, granted May 7, 1974.
Claims
Having thus described my invention with reference to the drawing
illustrating two embodiments of a vaporizer-humidifier constructed
in accordance with my invention, what is claimed is:
1. A vaporizer-humidifier comprising
means defining a supply reservoir,
chamber means defining an insulated vaporization chamber within
said supply reservoir, said chamber means comprising a tubular
member having opposite open ends disposed in vertically spaced
relationship, the lower open end being a reduced opening,
container means disposed beneath the lower open end of said tubular
member, said container means being secured in fluid-tight condition
with said tubular member and in communication with said chamber
means through said lower open end for receiving minerals purged
from a liquid therein,
passage means affording the flow of liquid from said supply
reservoir to said vaporization chamber,
immersion heating means disposed in said vaporization chamber for
heating liquid therein, and
blower means positioned with an inlet above said open upper end of
said vaporization chamber and an outlet for removing vapor and
ambient air therein from said vaporizer-humdifier.
2. A vaporizer-humidifier as described in claim 1 wherein said
passage means define a passage and a one-way valve means therefore
between the container means and the supply reservoir to permit
liquid to flow therethrough into the vaporization chamber and to
prevent any warm liquid from moving from the vaporization chamber
to the supply reservoir.
3. A vaporizer-humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said heating
means comprises a resistive immersion heater which has helical
coils disposed in said tubular member.
4. A vaporizer-humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said heating
means comprises a protective outer sheath and an electrical
resistor positioned within and insulated relative to said sheath,
and a thermostatic control adjacent said heating means to prevent
heating thereof significantly above the boiling temperature of
water.
5. A vaporizer-humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said tubular
member comprises a hollow cylindrical member positioned vertically
within said supply reservoir and having a funnel-shaped lower end
terminating in said reduced opening, said container means comprises
a receptacle removably supported beneath said tubular member and a
portion of said supply reservoir, said passage means comprises an
opening into said receptacle from said supply reservoir, and a
one-way valve is positioned in said passage means to allow the flow
of liquid only from said supply reservoir to said vaporization
chamber.
6. A vaporizer-humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said tubular
member has a scale resistant coating on the interior surface
thereof.
Description
This invention relates to an improvement in humidifiers and in one
aspect to a vaporizer-humidifier for producing and dispelling clean
moist warm air.
At present the art is replete with vaporizers for the vaporization
of fluid substantially immediately within a smaller vaporization
chamber which has limited communication between a larger volume of
liquid surrounding the vaporization chamber. The steam generated is
expelled through a port at the top of the vaporization chamber.
Examples of vaporizers of this type are illustrated in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,847,547; 2,847,548; and 3,420,509. These units however do
not offer any protection against scalds or steam burns. They do not
provide means for varying the temperature of the expelled vapor,
and are not self-cleaning or easily cleaned.
The art is also familiar with the numerous cold air humidifiers
utilizing a centrally disposed rotating tubular and generally
conical pump to draw liquid into an area for spraying and mixing
the spray with air to be carried therefrom as vapor or liquid
droplets to the space to be humidified. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,853,853;
3,188,007; and 3,348,821 are examples of these cold or heatless
humidifiers. Other types of cold humidifiers blow air through woven
or sponge like water screens or carriers.
The therapeutic efficiency of steam vapor has been widely known and
accepted in medical circles. It has also been used in the home for
many years because of its medical value and it is discussed in many
of the prior art patents which have been granted to date. The heat
type humidifiers known in the prior patents or prior art have
involved an element of danger because they generated steam vapor by
a boiling water device that involves risk in that it can and will
burn people. Tragedies have resulted and law suits have been filed
because of burns received from the heat type vaporizers. Because of
the danger of burns, the promotion and use of steam vaporizers have
fallen and they have been partly replaced by the safer, however
less desirable medically, heatless humidifiers. Steam vapor or heat
type humidifiers are however still available and are competitive
with the cold humidifiers because of the desirable qualities that
cold humidifiers do not have.
The major advantages of steam vapor are (1) it is pure distilled
water vapor, free of mineral dust and undesirable disease-producing
organisms, i.e., viruses, bacteria, yeast, molds and allergenic
particles, i.e., pollens, house dust, etc., (2) it provides heat
which is of known therapeutic value and also provides a degree of
warmth to the sick room, necessary in the colder climates, (the
heating of a sick room by hot air circulation can actually carry
away the generated humidity via the cold air returns and the warm
vapor reduces the heat and humidity loss in the sick room) and (3)
it serves to heat sterilize the vapor-producing apparatus.
The major disadvantages of steam are (1) the danger of burns and
(2) overheating a sick room in the hotter climates.
The advantages of cold humidifiers are (1) that it is safe from
burns, and (2) it is desirable in hot weather to avoid overheating
the sick room.
The disadvantages of a cold or heatless humidifier are (1) it may
dissipate very dangerous germs from contaminated water or an
unclean apparatus, (2) it dissipates allergies, fungi, molds and
mineral dust, although the use of distilled water may partially
alleviate this problem, distilled water is costly and therefore
seldom utilized, (3) it dissipates small particles of water which
require greater quantities of heat from the atmosphere to convert
them into a gaseous vapor, (this actually cools a sick room and in
trying to alleviate the problem the home heating system will remove
the generated humidity from the sick room through the cold air
returns to the furnace) (4) it generally produces a blanket of
dampness around the humidifier, and (5) it produces a damp, cold,
clammy and uncomfortable humidity which is deleterious to the
health and which almost voids any beneficial effects medically as
it may cause sinuses to become more conjested, and arthritis to
become more uncomfortable because of aggravation by the coldness
and dampness.
The ideal humidifier would therefore be one that has all the
advantages of the steam vaporizer while eliminating the danger of
burns completely.
The vaporizer-humidifier of the present invention affords a unique
safe means of producing warm humid air for medical uses, facial
saunas, room or area humidifiers, and for central or forced air
furnace humidifiers.
The present invention affords steam vapor in a manner to regulate
temperature within a safe range.
The present invention provides a safe humidifier designed to be
self-cleaning or easily cleaned, no demineralizing or pretreating
of the source water is required.
The vaporizer-humidifier of the present invention produces
vaporized water humidity avoiding the objectional deposits of
mineral dust in the area to be humidified. The vaporizer-humidifier
can thus serve to reduce static electricity as is necessary in
hospital surgery departments.
The portable medical vaporizer-humidifier of the present invention
adapts itself to be used in the open, to have a conduit connected
thereto allowing the discharged warm moist air to be mixed with
medical gases, i.e. oxygen, anesthetic gases, etc. or to be carried
to a distant point and concentrated or to be used as a "facial
sauna" or to be inhaled directly from the conduit without danger of
burns. The vaporizer-humidifier is scald and burn proof as the
small volume of water in the vaporization chamber is rapidly mixed
and cooled by the cold water present in the surrounding
replenishable water supply reservoir or storage chamber in the
event the unit should tip and fall or be opened for refilling. The
mixing is accomplished by separation of the elements forming the
vaporization chamber or upon the water therein pouring through air
vents in the top of the vaporization chamber into the storage
reservoir in the event the cover and base do not separate.
The present invention also provides a self-cleaning immersion
heating unit and boiling chamber for use in humidifiers.
The vaporizer-humidifier of the present invention is of the heat
type but restricts the dangerous aspects of prior devices by
providing an isolated insulated vaporization chamber within a
larger cold reservoir. Further, it provides a self-cleaning
immersion heater in the vaporization chamber, a vaporization
chamber which has a scale resistant interior lining, a vapor
dispelling fan for reducing the temperature of the vapor and
reducing the air pressure in the vaporization chamber and the time
to generate the vapor, and means affording the vapor to be directed
remotely with relationship to the humidifier unit. It provides an
impurity collection system and a novel water feed system for the
vaporization chamber. The construction of the vaporization chamber,
communicating air and water passage and surrounding reservoir, with
the fan above the chamber afford an advantage heretofore not
presented by the prior art.
The above advantages of the present invention and further features
and details of the invention will be more fully understood after
reading the following description which refers to the accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken diametrically through the
center of one embodiment of the vaporizer-humidifier constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the base of the vaporizer-humidifier
generally as seen along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the top portion of the
vaporizer-humidifier as seen along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a
vaporizer-humidifier constructed in accordance with the present
invention for use on a central heating unit or room-size unit;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the vaporizer-humidifier of
FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the valve in the passage
between the water reservoir and the vaporization chamber.
REferring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through
3, there is illustrated a portable medical vaporizer-humidifier 10
which comprises a top portion 11 and a base portion 12. The base
portion 12 is formed to comprise a storage chamber 13 for holding a
limited water supply to replenish the supply of water in an inner
isolated and insulated vaporization chamber 14 formed as
hereinafter defined. As illustrated the base 12 is generally
circular and tub-shaped with a bottom wall 16 and a circular side
wall 17. The storage chamber 13 is adapted to be filled with
liquid, such as tap water, having natural impurities therein
including such minerals as calcium, iron, magnesium sodium and
potassium, and possibly dust particles. This base is supported by
buttons 18 disposed beneath the bottom wall 16. The central portion
of the bottom wall 16 may have an offset depressed wall portion 19,
as indicated in FIG. 1. A circular disc 20 of rigid closed cell
polymeric foam material is adhered to the wall portion 19. This
disc is formed with a circular groove to receive the lower end of a
tubular member 39 which forms the side wall of the vaporization
chamber 14. A passageway 62 is formed in the disc 20 to allow water
from the storage chamber 13 to enter the vaporization chamber 14. A
one-way check valve 61 prevents the flow of hot water from the
steam chamber in the other direction and thus the water in the
storage chamber will not be heated.
The cover 11 is adapted to telescopically fit over and onto the top
of the circular side wall 17 of the base 12.
The cover 11 comprises a generally planar, and in the illustrated
embodiment circular, plate member 21, depending from which is a
circular flange 22 having an inner diameter to receive the top of
the circular side wall 17. Supported above the plate 21 is a
dome-shaped cap 24 within which is a spaced generally
hemispherically-shaped member 26 to define therebetween a vapor
discharge or exhaust chamber 27. Generally circular tubular members
25, fitted in the cap 24 and member 26, define openings which lead
from the outer surface of the cap 24 to communicate with the inner
chamber formed by the wall 26 in which is disposed a drive motor 28
for a fan 30. The fan 30 is supported from the motor 28 by the
drive shaft 31. The motor 28 and fan 30 are supported from a frame
32 disposed within the cap 24. The shaft 31 extends through an
enlarged central opening 29 in the frame 32, which opening 29
together with openings 30a in the top plate of the fan 30 draw air
through openings 25 into the inner chamber 26 to cool the motor and
to afford sufficient air flow through the unit to maintain the
discharged vapor at a safe temperature when a second air flow
control, to be hereinafter described, is completely closed. The
frame 32 has peripheral openings 34 communicating with the vapor
discharge chamber 27 through which the vapor and motor cooling air
are discharged. The fan 30 is positioned directly above the
vaporization chamber 14 and a central opening 35 disposed in the
plate 21 is positioned in registry with an opening 36 in the bottom
plate of the fan defining the inlet area of the fan 30. The opening
36 is centrally positioned relative to the fan blades 37.
Depending below the plate 21 and secured thereto is the tubular
member 39 which defines with the insulative base member 20, the
vaporization chamber 14. The tubular member 39 is preferably
cylindrical and is formed of a light nonporous closed cell rigid
polymeric foam insulating material, the interior surface of which
is coated to prevent the collection of scale, to insulate the
vaporization chamber 14 from the storage chamber 13. The bottom of
the member 39 fits in a mating groove 40 formed in the top of the
base member 20. Adjacent the upper portion of the tubular member
39, or the end thereof secured to the plate 21, is a plurality of
air vent holes 41 which are above the water level of the reservoir
13 and which permit air to be drawn into the upper portion of the
vaporization chamber 14 by the fan 30. The air and vapor formed by
the boiling liquid in the vaporization chamber 14 is then drawn
through the opening 35 to be moved by the fan through the vapor
discharge chamber 27. Air enters the base 12 to move through the
vent holes 41 through one or more inlet ports 42 formed with an
adjustable cover 43 in the cover plate 21 to allow for variation in
the amount of air entering the base 12 and the temperature of the
steam discharged. The vent holes 41 will also permit the hot water
in the vaporization chamber to pour out and mix with the water in
the reservoir if the unit is tipped and the cover and base do not
separate and destroy the vaporization chamber. The chance of burns
from the hot water is thus eliminated.
Disposed within the vaporization chamber 14 is a heating element 44
preferably comprising an electrical resistor sealed within an outer
protective sheath which sheath is preferably coated with a smooth
corrosion-resistant self-cleaning coating such as
polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly sold under the trademark "Teflon"
or an equivalent heat-resistant, hard, smooth material which will
withstand the expansion and contraction. Also disposed within the
vaporization chamber 14 and adjacent to the heating element 44 is a
thermostatic safety switch device 45. The immersion heating element
44 has the greater portion thereof positioned closely adjacent the
bottom of the vaporization chamber 14 to utilize as much of the
liquid which may be stored in the supply reservoir as possible
before operation is discontinued. Operation is discontinued by the
area adjacent the heating element 44 reaching a temperature of
about 220.degree.F. or greater as determined by the sensitivity of
the element 45. The heating element 44 will not reach this
temperature except when the supply of water in the vaporization
chamber is nearly depleted exposing the heating ring of the heating
element 44.
The vaporizer-humidifier 10 of the present invention also includes
a suitable electric circuit to energize the motor 28 and the
heating element 44, and in this circuit is included the
conventional electrical plug 51 affording connection of the circuit
to a source of electricity, which via suitable conductors and
through an interlock switch 52 provides electrical power through a
circuit breaker 49 to the heating element 44 and to the motor 28.
The interlock switch closes with the cover 11 in place and the
switch resting against a shelf 53 supported from the outside of
wall 17. The thermostatic safety switch device 45 will shunt the
circuit breaker to open the same when its operating temperature is
reached. Opening of the circuit through the circuit breaker can
close a circuit to an alarm buzzer (not shown), and to indicate
audibly that the water supply needs replenishing. The signal could
be visual and not audible, i.e. a light. The thermostatic safety
switch device 45 comprises a bimetallic bar which upon attaining a
temperature of 220.degree.F., for example, closes a set of
contacts, to short circuit the circuit breaker and de-energize
motor 28 and heater 44. It would also energize the alarm.
The cap 24 may be formed at its uppermost point with a discharge
nozzle 55 which may be adjustable 360.degree.F. relative to the top
of the cap to determine the direction of the discharge of the warm
moist air. The discharge end 56 of the nozzle 55 may be formed with
a suitable fastener to receive the end 57 of a conduit 58 through
which the warm moist air may be directed to a distant location, for
example, into a tent over a bed, directly to an oxygen tent or to
another unit, e.g., a furnace plenum. Also adapted for connection
on the end 56 of the discharge nozzle 55 may be a cone or molding
forming a chamber for a facial sauna.
In the base 12 of the vaporizer-humidifier and penetrating the wall
17, may be a transparent tube 59 to form a water level indicator
for the storage chamber 13 and generally for vaporization chamber
14.
The vaporizer-humidifier 10 is scald and burn proof as the
separation of the cover 11 from the base 12 destroys the
vaporization chamber 14 and any water therein readily mixes with
the colder (room temperature) water in the storage reservoir as
cylindrical surface 39 is separated from a mating groove 40 in the
disk 20. Separation of the cover also electrically disconnects the
heater 44 and motor 28. The moving air through the vaporization
chamber 14 produces a vapor discharge having a temperature
considerably less than steam and this is controlled by the covers
43 on the air inlet opening or openings 42. The unit 10 is easily
cleaned of any scale or deposit which accumulates in the
vaporization chamber each time the base is refilled simply by
rinsing.
The valve, generally designated 61, is a one-way valve for a
passage 62 leading from the reservoir 13 into vaporization chamber
14. The valve illustrated uses a ball 63, heavier than water, to
prevent water flow from the vaporization chamber 14 into reservoir
13. This prevents the heating of water in reservoir 13.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing there is shown a
vaporizer-humidifier 69 formed generally for use in connection with
a room-size humidifier or central heating unit. This particular
embodiment is for the central heating unit and comprises a cabinet
or frame 70 defining a storage chamber 71 between a bottom wall 72,
a top wall 73 and circular or rectangularly disposed side walls 74.
The bottom wall 72 is formed with a generally centrally disposed
opening 75. Disposed centrally within this chamber 71 is a small
insulated vaporization chamber 76 defined by a cylindrical member
77 formed of a rigid polymeric foam material. The lower portion of
the member 77 is cone, funnel or chute shaped and converges to
extend through the opening 75 in the bottom wall 72 and has a
bottom opening 78. In this manner the interior of the chamber 76
communicates with the inside of a removable deposit receptacle or
common glass jar 80 threadably supported in a suitable cap or
interiorly threaded flange 81 depending from the bottom of the wall
72. Also formed in the bottom wall 72 to communicate with the
chamber 76 via the receptacle 80 is a small fluid passage 82 having
a one-way valve (ball valve) 83 permitting liquid from the storage
reservoir 71 to flow into the receptacle 80 and hence through the
lower opening 78 of the member 77 into the vaporization chamber 76.
In this valve the ball is buoyant to rise into and seal the
passageway 82 to prevent hot water from returning to the storage
chamber or into the sediment receptacle 80. The location provided
for this valve keeps it out of contact with the hot water so it is
not subjected to scale collecting thereon to alter its
operation.
Disposed within the vaporization chamber 76 is an immersion heating
element 84 formed of a sealed electrical resistor in a sheath
coated with polytetrafluoroethylene to restrict any scale
collection and to be self-cleaning. A thermostatic switch is
positioned near the heating element to prevent overheating should
the level of the water drop below the upper portion of the heating
coil of the heater 84. The heater 84 may be a helical coil
extending axially in the member 77 and is suitably connected
through electrical conductors with a source of electricity.
Positioned directly above the top wall 73 of the storage chamber 71
is a squirrel-cage blower 85 driven by an electric motor and having
an inlet area 86 thereto positioned directly above an opening 88
formed in the plate 73. The blades of the blower 85 will serve to
draw vapor and air from the vaporization chamber 76 into the
squirrel-cage blower and exhaust the same through an exit port 90
into the plenum of the heating unit or into the room if used in a
room humidifier. Air is drawn into the upper portion of the storage
reservoir 71 above the normal level of the liquid within the
storage reservoir 71 through an opening 91 which may have a
regulated variable closure. The opening 91 can communicate with the
plenum of the heating unit to allow warm air to be drawn into and
over the vaporization chamber 76 and out through the squirrel-cage
blower back into the hot air plenum where this clean mixture of air
and steam is placed into the heating air to aid in heating, lessen
the dust, and provide a generally more comfortable room and cleaner
air.
Liquid may be piped or otherwise made available to the
vaporizer-humidifier 69 and the control of the liquid into the
storage reservoir should be handled through an automatic float
control valve 92 as illustrated, which when the water gets below a
predetermined level, will open, tending to allow the liquid to fill
the storage reservoir 71 back to a predetermined level
automatically. A manual valve 93 is also positioned in the supply
line to shut off the source of water for servicing the
apparatus.
The heating element 84 and blower motor are operated through a
humidistat. The heating element in a unit of this type is
preferably rated at about 750 to 1,500 watts and operates upon such
a small amount of water at a slightly reduced pressure that it is
substantially instantaneously brought to a boiling temperature. The
heating member could have a variable wattage rating and a control
which directly governs or regulates the amount of humidity
generated. The steam is picked up by air drawn through the opening
91 and is drawn therewith through the opening 88 into the
squirrel-cage blower 85. This unit 69 also permits the vapor that
is placed into the air to be free of the normal minerals, allergens
and germs in tap water.
The jar or receptacle 80 performs a function in defining the liquid
path into the chamber 76. The jar 80 also collects the minerals
etc. which are purged from the water and fall through the opening
78 in the funnel-like bottom of the vaporization chamber to
eventually settle in the bottom of the receptacle 80. This unit 69
is cleaned of this foreign material by removing and rinsing the jar
80. This is done by shutting off the water supply, draining the
storage chamber 71 and removing the jar. A drain for the storage
chamber 71 may be in the plate 72 or even in the bottom of the jar
80 as illustrated at 95.
The foam material forming the vaporization chambers may be a
polystyrene or polyurethane foam with at least the interior
surfaces coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or an epoxy resin
coating, to provide a self-cleaning, i.e., scale resistant
vaporization chamber, and will protect the foam, particularly the
polyurethane foam from damage by the boiling water.
Additionally, when either vaporizer-humidifier is used for a remote
application and the hose may be blocked at the exit, a damper (not
shown) may be placed in the discharge side of the fan 85 in the
exit passage 94 or in the cap 24 to communicate with passage 27.
The damper will be biased to a normally closed position such that
upon an increase in pressure in these areas above the normal, the
damper will open to relieve the pressure and prevent damage to the
unit. A similar air intake damper could be provided near the
reservoirs 13 and/or 71 to open upon a drop in pressure should the
intake openings be completely closed.
* * * * *