CA2082470A1 - Portable humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A humidifier including a base defining a boiler cavity; a liquid supply supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein; and an evaporation unit removably mounted on the base and adapted to induce evaporation of liquid contained thereby, and a vapor passage having a receiving end communicating with said cavity so as to receive vapor therefrom and a discharge end for discharging the vapor received from the cavity. Also included is an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the heater; a switch mounted on the evaporation unit and adapted in one condition for deactivating the electrical supply and in another condition for activating the electrical supply; and an actuator for producing the one condition in response to separating movement between the base and evaporation unit.

Description

2~82~70 .. ~ t~ JNI~rF.~ S~r~~TES LETT~3~S PATENT

lNV~NTO~
131 '1tNARI) CltIU
., TIT~B
~u1~rr)~E t~t1MI~I~IER

S5-1~E~E.IU3NC~: Tt) ~E.I~TE. APPLICATION
~r1~ls J~1v~ t.3 i.g ~ dl~tL~iot~ of U.S. Appllcation Serial No. ~1/r~5(~ 5~ ~1ed Augu~t ~ 1990, ent;ltled PORT1~13L~ IlUtl.l.l).l~.lll.l~.
.

,,..11 ~2~7 ,, r~ u~p OF ~'!IE INVE~TI
Thls i.nvcnl.lon ~elates ~eneral1y to humidi~iers ~nd~
more speclflca].l.y, l;o l~ortable I~ iidiEiers i~tended ~or domestic use.
S Various types o~ produdt l3 ~re used to i.ncrease t~e humidity in tlle llom~ el)vironment~ WLtll respect t~ portable humidifying appllallces, tlley may be b~o~e~ down. b~o~dly into two categories, one be~ng the evaporatio~ type an~ tl~e other being tl~e stealll v~porlzer type. I~vaporation type humid~fiers typically utillze l)e1ts, pumps, .slint~ers or the like t~
~ increase the rate.of evaporati.on of ~l~e ~te~ from t~e : liquid to the vapor stAte, Steclln v~porizers ~enerally Are used to ncl~ieve ve-y l~igl~ humidi r.i<~tlon 1evels. Als~ known are ll~midif~ers wll.icll use u1trason~c means to ~tomize w~ter and thereby increase llumidity.
Rxamples o~ variou8 prior art steam vaporizer~ are d.lsclosed in U.S. Patellts No 2,3~9,623t 2,80i,370~
2,810,167~ 3~152,24~0; 3,723,707; ~,604,2467 4,810,854 and U.S. Patent A~plica~ioll6 487,315 and S09j~85. All of these patell~s and a~ licAtions are cllaracterized by disclo~ing steam type humldiflcallon means in ~hlch there i8 a reaerYoir or water supply of some type wll.i.cl~ s~lL)pl1e8 water in controlle~l amoullt~ to a boiler or lleating means which ~g intended to convert tl~e water in~o a steam vapor.
Tllere are many ~roblems involved wlth the prior art steam vaporizers. For examp~.e, tlle mineral deposits let by boiled water 1s dlf~icllJt to clean and often causes deter~orat.;on oE lleater elements. ~Iso, unsafe operation ¦¦ can ist under certain c _ tlDns, ~ 2~2~70 The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an i~proved portable humidifier for use in domestic applications.
SUrlM~RY OF THE INVENTION
S The invention is a humidifier including a base defining a boiler cavity; a liquid supply means supported on the base and havillg a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein; and an evaporation unit removably mounted on the base an~ comprising an electrically energized heater . projecting into the cavity and adapted to induce evaporation of liquid contained thereby, and a vapor passage having a receiving end communicating with the cavity so as to receive vapor therefrom and a discharge end for discharging the vapor received from the cavity. Also included is an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the heater; a switch adapted in one condition for deactivating the electrical supply and in another condition for activating the electrical supply; and an actuator for producing:the one condition in response to ~epArating movement between the base and evaporation Ullit. The actuator and switch assure deenergization of the evaporation unit when removed from the ¦¦ bare.

Il ` ~ 20~2~70 ~ s~-3l~rIo~ Ol~'l'll~ DR~ S
.. - Tl)~e nll~l otll~r o~jects and ~entures of ths invent~on wlll ~)eC.'C~llle Illt-l e n~ !llt u~on a l~erl~al of the followlng de~cr.~ .nl:t-~ co~lJIlnc~ he accompanying.
drawinct.q Wll~t'f! I 1~ ~
Fi.-J. l i~t n ~rn~.ect.lv~ v.lew oE a humidi~ler ~n accorllnoce wl.l~ lnv~JIt~on1 li~ L.s al1 e~l-lode~ p~r~Le~tive view of the humldifier shown 1l~ ~'k~. l.;
lo r ig. ~ ic1 a vlew partl.l3 Iy ;,- cro~s ~ectivn of the llum~ r J e r F;l!OWI~ ];' L~I - l s I;~ R f t agme,llt~ry (,'I OS~J sectional view illu~ra~J.~ r.?~ a l colllponenl..~ o~ e humidif~er ~hown in Flg. l; alld ç ~y, 5 ~ !: tl l-l.ock diaclrnlll of a~ control circuit ut~ll2e(1 i" I.lle ll~ln~l(lJfiLer of E~i~J. 1.
: I)~:S~R_l"l'ION OF''l'li~ _ IEF~RED EM80DIMENT
..
nl.-.11riel lL include~ nr~ humidification unit 12 and 1 a liqu.l~ y l.~nk 13 each removal~1y mounted ~ide by side 20 ¦ on a l.~e .l.~ e~ ieral rl~ ot~ion 15 ~nd a divlder ~all ¦ l6 projec~ w~r.~ rl:om an u~l>er ~urface 17 oE the baRe 14 ¦ and ~elll~ nl~ ~vnl.ol-n~-)r enclo~tlre l~ for remvvably receiving ¦ the eva~-3~ .i.oll ull l 1: .l2~ - ~imilarly a perlpheral portion 19 ¦ projec~lng ~ wnl(1Jv ~rom t3le ~ E~er ~lrfaca 17 and the divlder 25 1 wall 16 de~lle n l~nl~ enclo~ure 21 Eor removably receivin~
¦ the sllL~I~ly ~a~ .l3.

~ 2~4'~0 ~ n~e 14 n~i~l below the bai3e surface 17 1~ a ~ ?tv~ r~ s~ clude~ ~ bo~ler cavlty 22 dlspo~ed wit1~ i'` .I.n. I~l~o .I.~ decl ~n the reser~ol~ 20 lt~ fl ~ y ~ ei ~ v.~ ng ~n outlat end 2i COmm~ln~ t.i.~.l 't) ~e l~oller cAvlty 22 and an inlet end 25 locat-?cl w.i.l l~ ! lle ~ k enclosl~re 21. ~ ~alve e~ctu~tor ste,n ~6 l~r-~3e- l~ wnl~11y xom ~ bottom 27 of the liquid i~upply cl~ cl. 2 ~ 3.11l~! tlle inlet end 25~ Pivatally m~unted vn tlle l~ e rll~ r!l~ e .1.7 l~ a latcl1 member 2~ for securlng the tlll.i i_ .t ;~. 1 O l.llr.~ t~ e 14.
~ rl-e l~ultli.1ii .i.( ati.on uni~ l;2, as ~hown ln Flg~. 2 and 3, lnc.l.~ll.1e~ n l~ol.l.o~ e ~l ~hd ~n encloBu~e 32 8upported tl~e~el~y. ~e.~e~t~lcal te~mlnal,~ 34, 3s on the bottom ~ l.e ~o~.t eY~I~e~tdlng d~wn~dly therefrom i8 an evapc)r~ .r ~ that: pro~ect~ into the boi1er cavlty 2~ .qe I fi . A~ encl~ re 37 provldes a . re~t~1cl.~ l.. er ~0 ~ rounc11l;~ the heater coll 36 and de~ n~ o~.rn l)o~ ehd orlE tce 38 that prov~aes l~quid comm~ 3O~I..l.o~ 3~11 o Ll~c ca-~lty 22. In addltl~n, the open bottom ~ 1 I.o~ y~.i.cal ~cces~ tc~ the heat~r coll 36 BO as to perm.i.l: c lef~ llerec). ~xtend~ng upwardly from the bottom ~ l..c .3.t. ove~ all ~penlng 41 comm~nlcating wlth the enc.to~ e 31 .l ~ e c.~vl~c~ 22 .~ a rectal gular tube 42 .
1~ ~lott~ o~ .l cl~-~;e~ the ~1pper end of the tube 42.
l~ile ~.to~ell ove~: ~3 ~ro~1de~ 1tl1d commun~catlon between the tll]~e ~ 2 n~1 a (lt~ t~on ~l~ de~lne~ by th~3 hou~ng 32 .
.,' ~.
., s ~- 20g~70 . Establi~lle~ ~y tl~e tul)e 42, the slotted cover 43 and the duct portlon 45 l~ n vapor E~a.qsage with an inlet communicating .~ via ttle o~et~ J. wi.t:h the restricted chamber 40 and the cavity 22 ~n~l 711 outle~. communicating with the surrounding environment vi~ a ~li.s~ arge open~ng 46 in a top wall 47 of the housillg 1~. Reta.i.lled by t~e houslng 32 adjacent to the vapor ~as~a~e d~ ortion 45 is electrical control circuitry Sl shown in Fiy. 5 . Also retained by tha housing 32 i~ an air blower 5~ w.i.tll al- outlet disposed to discharge air into the duct pOL ~ S ~l~r~ugh an aix pa~sage exit opening 53 : therein. ~;r. .;.s supplied to the blower 52 through air . passage es~t.~all( ~ ol~el~ gs 54 in a front wall portion 55 ofthe houslllg :.~2. ~ col~trol knob 57 for actuating the electrica control ci.rcui.t 51 ls mounted on the front wall portion 55 of the ll~us.LI~ 32.
A li~ ]evel ~ensor 61 i~ ~upported by the bottom wall 31 of Ll~e eva~o.~ation unit 12. Included in the sensor 61 i~ an annula- ~loat 7~ and a magnetic switch 74 surrounded there~y. ~ crl~ed hereinaEter, the switch 74 has active closed and il-~ctLve open conaition~ that, respect~vely, ene~gi~e alld (leenergize the heating co~l 36. An inwardly directed collat- 75 ~t the upper end of the ~loat 73 engages an outwar~l~y ~1i.rected collar 76.at the bottom of the.switch 74 to limit dowllward movement o~ the float which retains a permanent mag0e~ 77. The condit~on o the switch is controlle.
by movemet~ t o~ tl-e actua~or float 73 and permanent magnet 77 between act1vatiilg ~ositions adjacent o the ~witch 74 as shown in Fi~. ~ and inactivating po~it~on~ spaced therefrom in response ~ a decrease in the level vf the water surfaca L
or removal of ~lle Wlit 12 from th~ ba8e 14. Electrical leads 78 connect tlle swit(l- 74 to the control ~ircuit 51.

...... .

,ll,\ ~
2~2~7~

~rl~r~ lt~ ty tqnk 13 lncludes a bottom wall port~on 62 I~I.n.i lle~ ltlll~ the ~ank enalt~sure 21 o~ t~e b~se 14 an~l an ~ r~r ~ loll ~3 ~or ~toring a supply of llquia such 3S w.~ter.. ~.lt~F,ll-r1 an ~peni.ng in t~e bottom wA~l portion 62 of tl~e t~ , n ~tlreaded cap 64 t~at can be removed to flll tl~e ttll~ vals77e a~sembly 66 i~, ret~in~d by the bo~tom w.~ o~:~.iOIl 62 o tl~e ~ank ~3~ Formin~ th~
valve ~s~sem~ly Gfi l~q n ~alve stem 67 extending through ~
d~scl~a~-y~ ;U~ n the bottom w~ll por~ion 62 and a 1~ valve 6g. ~ 71 ~?~tendlnr~ between the bottom wall portion G2 ~ l n l~l~s~e~ 72 molulte~ o~ ~n end o~ the ~tem 67 ~ormal.Jy l~in~r~s tlln v~lt~e 69 lnto ~ seated poslt~on closln~
the dlscll.~tr.7~ ol~e~ lrJ 6a as 8~0wn by d~ethed line~ ln Flg. 4.
Pro~ectlng tlo~ .7.~e~11y ~om the ~ottom wall portion 62 and enclo~l~lg ,~ ].o~.~r?J por~ion ~f the v~ve ~sem~1y 66 i~ a sklrt 8~ l~nvll-() .lt~ o~rl~ ~ottom end 81 l~ter~tected by ~ot~ 82.
V.i.~,p~ e~l .in ~lle l~qu~d ~upply ohannel 23 are a pair of spaced ,~ r~ l~n~:rier plate~, 84 that allow l~qu~d flow rom the ~,u~Lly t:n~ 1 3 on.l y lnto the upper portion of the ~a~lty 22. 'l'he ~lale.~; n~ limlt heat loss from t~e boiler cavity 22 and are removal-ly n~ottllted in ~paced apart flange~ 85 pro~ecting inwardly frolll ot~t~e3l~e ~ide~ o~ the channel 23. Remo~al of the b~rri.er ~ e.~. simtJ.lfies cJ.eanlng o the supply channel 23.

2~2~7~

. ~ t~ r~wl~ r..l.t,l. 5, the con~ol c~rcu~try 51 lncluae~
nn ~ml~tlrlr~ rl ~ ~n~.l.ac 92 ~ er~tl~ely coup~ed together by ~11 ol;~ n l ~""~ t~ 3 - ~lectrlcal ehe~gy in tl~e fQrm ~E e.l.et,~ n ~ uppl3.~1 v~.a a BWitCIl ~not shown) from ~ an ac ~u~ly l:o ~lle coil heate~ B6 by~the triac 93. Controlling the out~ .lle ~n~ 1er 91 .~ tl~e water level senslng system. fi.l. i.~ ll1g l l~e magnetlc gw~tch 74.
~ OPE~ ON
'~ tl ~ 1l t~ umld~fle~ 11 for use, the tan~ 13 18 remove~ 0l~ e 1~ ~nd ~l.l.led wlth water through an openi~1tl Ul ~n1.. ~ y ~:elll~vai of ~he aap 64. ~7ith the cap 64 : re~ e~ t I m~ y ~ea~ed ~nl~e 69 ~eated over the openlllg 6It, ll~n ~-.e~le~l tank 13 ~ in~erted ~nd posit~oned on the l)~e .1~ wi.~l~i.n l:he tank enalo~ure 21. Engagement o~ tl~e l~r.~cl~ . oll l.lle ~talve ~em 67 wlth the actuator ~tem 26 on tl~e l~ e 1~ move~ the valve ~9 lnto an open po~ltion A~ s~ow~ y tl~ le~ ln Flg . 4 . Acaord~ ngly, water from ~lle 1~ .l.ow~3 througl~ the opened ~alve 69, the ~nlet : end ~5 a~l ovel~ e l~nr~.~er plate~ 84 ln ~he llquid supply otlall1lel ~3 ~l~le l:lle l.o.lle~ ~avlty 22. A~ lon~ a~ a supply of w~le;l e~.ri.~ e~lea t~nk 13, A water level L
detr.?rm.lnetl hy l.l~-~ I)e~ t o tlle ~1ot~ 82 ~n the ~klrt 80 will be ):e~.l.n~ y ~l~e o~en valve 69 wlth~n the reservoir 20 ormed I-y 11~ ni.~.e~ v~ty 22 ~n~ the llquld supply channel 23.

.. . . . .. . .. . .

11 20824~

. upon elle~cJi.æ~lon of the heater coil 36, water withi~ e re~Lri~e~l chamber 40 that has flowed thxough the open bot~olll 3~ }le ellclo~ure 37 is hèated to cause evaporation an~3 resull:~nt upwar~ di~persion thereof. Because of the restric~e-l and .~olated water volume provided by the boiler cavlty ~ arl~ tl~e enclosure 37, an extremely efficient evaporation !roce.ss is obtained. The vapor produced in the enclosuL-e ~7 J.i.~es ~llrvugh the ~ube 42, the slotted cover 43 and tlle du~t ~r~lotl 45 of the housing 32 or dl~charge througll the cli.~-.cl~.Lge end 46 into the surrounding environment.
Enha~cement ot tlle va~or di~persion and discharge is obtained by energ.izing Ille blo~1er 52 which draws atr through ~he entrance pa~ e~ 54 il~ the hous~hg 32 for discharge through the exit pas~aye 53. 'lh~s air draws ~apor formed in the boiler cavity 7?. tllrol.lyil the duct portion for dlscharge from the d.iscl~rye ell~l 46.
~ner~ 17.a l:.ion of the heater coil 36 is established by activating tlle ~c' s-1pply ~hown in ~ig. 5 to apply a voltage to the traJlsist~or amplifier 91. ~esultant output of the transi~tor 9J. ~ctivate~ the optlcal coupler ~3 producing an output that rell~lers ~l~e triac 92 conducti~e to transmit heating current tllxo~yl~ the coil 36. Bowever, if the water level in t}le reservoir 20 and there~ore the boiler cavity 22 fall~ ~o a yre~3etermilled level ~elow the heater ~oil 36, the f~oat 73 all~l tl-e ret,~.~ned magne~ move downwaraly from the actlvating yv3ition ~t~own ln Fig. 4 to an ~nactivating po~itlo~ to opell tlle magnetic ~witch 74. Accordlngly, bias _ _ _ . ~ ~
_g_ _ 2~2~7~

i3 removed fr-)m ~ c tran~iBtOr am~lifier 9l whlch deenergizes the couE~ler 93 l:o t~ur~1 off the triac ~2 and eliminate current flow to the 11cate1 coil 36. Similarly, in response to removal of the unlt 1.2 r~om tlle base l4, gra~ity induces do~nward movement oE 111e actuntor flo~t 73 and magnet 77 into an inactivating ~t).q;Llon relative to the switch 74 80 as to induce o~eni11y l:1~ereo and deenerg.ization of the heater coil 36.
Obvit~ 1y, many modificatiohs and variations of the present inve~ ;on are posRible in llght of the above teachings.
It is to ~e l1n~le~st:ood, therefore, that the invention can be practicecl ot~ L1~n a~ specifically de~cribed.
., ~ .

_,

Claims (9)

1. A humidifier apparatus comprising:
a base means devoid of electrical components and circuitry and defining a reservoir for receiving liquid;
a humidification unit mounted on said base means and adapted for movement relative thereto so as to provide access to said reservoir; said unit retaining all electrical components and circuitry of said apparatus and comprising electrically energized humidifier means for inducing dispersion of liquid within said reservoir, electrical switch means operatively connected to said humidifier means and adapted in an active state to cause energization thereof and in inactive state to cause deenergization thereof;
a removable tank means for supplying liquid to said reservoir and mounted on said base means adjacent to said unit; and actuator means operatively coupled to said electrical switch means and adapted to provide said inactive state thereof in response to relative separating movement between said unit and said base means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said humidification means is adapted for complete separation from said base means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said base means is an integrally molded unit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said base means is an integrally molded unit.

5. A humidifier comprising:
a base means defining a boiler cavity;
a liquid supply means supported on said base means and having a discharge opening communicating with said boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein;
an evaporation unit mounted on said base means and adapted for movement relative thereto so as to provide access to said cavity; said unit comprising an electrically energized heating element projecting into said boiler cavity and adapted to induce evaporation of liquid contained thereby, and a vapor passage defining means having a receiving end communicating with said cavity so as to receive vapor therefrom and a discharge end for discharging the vapor received from said cavity; and electrical control means operatively connected to said heating element and adapted to automatically provide deenergization thereof in response to relative separating movement between said unit and said base means.

6. A humidifier according to claim 5 including electrical supply means for supplying electrical energy to said heating element.

7. A humidifier according to claim 6 wherein said electrical supply means is retained completely in said evaporation unit.

8. A humidifier according to claim 7 wherein said base means is devoid of electrical components and electrical circuitry.

9. A humidifier according to claim 5 wherein said base means is devoid of electrical components and electrical circuitry.