GB1559480A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVED HUMIDIFIER (71) We, HUMIDIFIER GROUP LINflTED, a British Company, of 21 papier Road, Bromley BR2 9JA, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following Statement : This invention relates to an absorption humidifier of the kind comprising a casing containing a water absorptive wicking means, means to supply water to the wicking means and fan means to cause air to flow past the wicking means on its passage from an inlet opening in the casing to an outlet opening.

Absorption humidifiers of the kind described are known in a variety of different constructions, the wicking means being in the form of, for example, stationary pads, endless belts, revolving pads or revolving drums. The means to supply water to the wicking means can also take a variez of different forms but heretofore the preferred arrangement, in the case of stationarv wicking means, has been for the porous material of the wicking means to soak up water from a reservoir by capillary action.

An alternative form of humidifier is the atomiser humidifier which works on the principle of generating a fine mist of water particles by atomising water droplets fed onto a rapidly rotating member (e. g. a spinning disc). A disadvantage of the known forms of atomisation humidifiers is the fact that in hard water areas mineral deposits are carried into the environment with the water vapour and can become apparent during use, as a fine deposit on articles close to the humidifier.

We have now found that an improved humidifier results by combining principles drawn from absorption and atomisation humidifiers and the present invention therefore relates to an absorption humidifier comprising a casing containing a water absorptive wicking means, means to supply water to the wicking means and fan means to cause air to flow past the wicking means on its passage from an inlet opening in the casing to an outlet opening and is characterised in that the means to supply water to the wicking means is a rotatable member which in use is capable of rotating at a speed such as to disperse the water and apply it as a fine mist onto the wicking mens. The fine mist of particles produced around the periphery of the rotating member is trapped in the pores of an adjacent wicking means and from there evaporates into the air leaving any minerval deposit adhering to the wicking means.

The casing may be designed to hang downwardly from an overhead support, the rotating axis of the rotating member being dispose substantially centrally of the casing and extending in a vertical direction and with the wicking means surrounding the rotating member and extending somewhat above the level of the rotating member and to a point considerably below the level of the rotating member.

Conveniently a single electric motor is used to drive the fan means and the rotating member, with the interposition of gearing means if different rotational speeds are required for the two.

One embodiment of humidifier in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the sole Figure of which is a schematic crosssection through the humidier.

The humidifier illustrated in the drawing comprises a generally cyclindrical casing I having an air inlet opening 2 in its upper surface and air outlet openings 3 in its cviindrical surface. NIounted in the upper part of the casing is an electric motor 4 the shaft 5 of which supports a fan blade 6 and a disc 7. A water supply pipe 8 enters the upper part of the casing I and passes in a radial direction of the casing between the fan blade 6. and the disc 7 to deposit water on to the upper surface of the disc 7.

The disc 7 is rotated at such a speed that xnater droplets dispose on its upper surface are flung outwardly by centrifugal force in the form of a fine mist of minute droplets.

A cylindrical wick 9 is supporte within the casing radially inside the outlet opening 3 and extends in the lengthwise direction of the casing to a height slightly above the plane of the disc 7 to a point well below the disc, this position ensuring that the wick will trap all droplets f ung out from the surface of the disc. It is important that the wick should allow air to flow through it without appreciabie pressure drop but should not be so porous as to allow water droplets to fly through it unimpeded. A mat of mineral fibres is particularly suitable but it is expected that any of the conventional wick materials used for absorption humidifiers will be suitable in this application. If the wick is not sufficiently rigid to be selfsupporting within the casing, it can be retained on a suitable supporting frame (not shown).

If the rate of supply of water droplets to the wick exactly matches the rate of its evaporation there is no need for any drainage means from the casing but in practice, for reasons of hygiene, it is desirable to provide a facility for draining excess water from the casing. In the drawing a drainage duct is shown at 10 and an annular gutter attache to the lower edge of the wick 9 is shown at 11.

Claims (6)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS :- 1. An absorption humidifier comprising a casing containing a water absorptive wicking means, means to supply water to the wicking means and fan means to cause air to flow past the wicking means on its passage from an inlet opening in the casing to an outlet opening, characterised in that the means to supply water to the nvicking means is a rotatable member which in use is capable of rotating at a speed such as to disperse thé water and apply it as a fine mist onto the wicking means.
2. 2. An absorption humidifier as claimed in claim 1, in which the wicking means is a cylindrical tube surrounding the rotating member.
3. 3. A humidifer as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the casing houses a motor to the drive shaft of which is attache a fan blade and said rotating member.
4. 4. A humidifier as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the casing is of cylindrical form and is provided with means for suspending it from above, the rotating member being driven about a vertical axis collinear with the axis of the cylindrical casing, said wicking means extending from a level above the rotating member to a level below the rotating member.
5. 5. A humidifier as claimed in any preceding claim in which a gutter is provided on the portion of the wicking means which is lowermost in use, said gutter serving to collect excess moisture from the wicking means.
6. 6. An absorption humidifier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference, to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.