GB2155706A

GB2155706A - A device for measuring the relative humidity of the air

Info

Publication number: GB2155706A
Application number: GB08502743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert Drager
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1984-02-07
Filing date: 1985-02-04
Publication date: 1985-09-25
Also published as: GB8502743D0; SE8500479D0; CH666562A5; GB2155706B; SE8500479L; SE459459B; DE3404122A1; FR2559306A1

Abstract

A device is coupled with a switching mechanism which responds at different air humidity values which are adjustable by means of an actuation mechanism (7). This device is incorporated together with a plug (4) and a plug socket (5) into a ventilatable housing (1). Plug (4) and plug socket(5) are preferably arranged coaxially, and situated directly on the housing (1), (plug 4) or respectively in the housing (1) (plug socket 5). The actuation device (7) consists of a rotary knob (8) and serves also to indicate the set air humidity value. An additional indicator device (12) which stands in operative connection with the actuation mechanism (7) serves to represent temperature differences which result from the dependency of the so-called comfort temperature upon the humidity of the air. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for measuring the relative humidity of the air The present invention relates to a device for measuring the relative humidity ofthe air with a switching mechanism which responds art a specific humidity ofthe air, and in which the humidityresponse value of the switching mechanism is adjustable by means of an actuation mechanism, said device having a ventilatable housing and plug connections.

Such devices are known on the market.

Thus there exist,for example, air humidity regulators which are used in conjunction with installations for air conditioning, such as air moisteners, ventilating systems, air conditioning installations and the like.

Such apparatus is usually intendedforwall mounting with fixed cabling. However, air humidity regulators also exist which are used in conjunction with movable (transportable) air conditioning installations. For this purpose of use, such regulators are provided with one or more connection cables and are connected by means of conventional plug-in connections into the energyfeed line of such a movable installation. Such apparatus then has to be set down on a suitable surface or be suspended from a wall, and in particular the necessary cable feeds are considerably inconvenient.

An object of the present invention isto provide an arrangement which may be particularlysimpleto handle, does not necessitate any special setting up or excessive mounting expenditure and more particularly requires no additional cabling.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for measuring the relative humidity ofthe air comprising a switching mechanism which responds in the case of a specific air humidity value, and in which the humidity-response value ofthe switching mechanism is adjustable by means of an actuation mechanism, said device having a ventilatable housing and plug connections, characterised in that mounted directly on the housing is a plug for an electrical energyfeed, and in that a plug socket for connection of an electrical consumer device is arranged in or on the housing, at least one pole of an electrical connection between the plug and plug socket being connected by way ofthe switching mechanism.

In particular, there results in one embodiment ofthe device, through a coaxial arrangementofplug and plug socket, a particularly compact apparatus which, through the simple wiring or electrical connection between plug and plug socket, allows a particularly cost-favourable mounting.

Furthermore,with such a device,for regulating the humidity ofthe airto a presettable value, a saving on heating costs is possible: As is known, the so-called comfort (comfortable) temperature is also dependent upon the relative humidity of the air; if, as frequently occurs in the case of modern centrally-heated accommodations, the air humidity values lie close to the lower tolerance limit of, for example, 40%, a mean air temperature of 22 up to 23 degrees (Celsius) js necessary in orderto providetheatmosphereofa "pleasant" room temperature.

If now the relative humidity ofthe air is increased for exampleto 60%,then a lower mean airtemperature may be considered as "pleasant". Therefore, the possible lowering ofthe mean air temperature lies between about 1 and 2.5 degrees (Celsius) with a rise in the relative humidity ofthe air in each case by 10%.

Since these associations are, however, largely unknown to the consumer, with the device in accord ante with the present invention, preferably, a display device is provided on which it can be read off to what extent the air temperature in the room can be lowered without loss of comfort if the relative humidity of the air is broughtto a higher value.

Therefore, an additional energy saving effect results in that with an air moistening mechanism operated by way ofthe arrangment, said air moistening mechanism need no longer be switched on permanently, but may be switched on onlywhen required (intermittently in accordance with requirements).

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, an indicator element, for example an indicator light may be provided which displays the switching state of the switching mechanism (i.e. on/off position). Thus, by adjusting the actuation mechanism, the respective switch-over (on/off) point and also thus the actual relative humidity ofthe air if determinable.

Finally, in a particularly simply constructed arrangement, a rotary knob may be provided as part of the actuation mechanism which bears a marking and, in conjunction with a scale applied to the housing, serves to display the set relative humidity of the air. A disc which is mounted in a force-locking manner (i.e. as a force fit) on the rotary knob and which is arranged inside the housing, and visible from outside through a window, carries a temperature difference scale. In a preferred version, this disc is rotatable relative to the rotary knob, so thatthetemperature difference of nil can be associated with the air humidity prevailing in each case in a room without additional measures.

An embodiment of a device for measuring the humidity ofthe air in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view ofthe device and FIGURE 2 shows a sectional view ofthe device taken on the line ll-ll of FIGURE 1.

Thearrangementshown in FIGURE 1 hasatwo-part housing 1, consisting of a front part 2 and a back part 3, and is preferably formed in impact-resistant plastics material. Connected secu rely to the back part3 is a plug 4 (only partly visible) which is suitable for insertion into a conventional wall plug socket.

The front part 2 has a plug socket 5 which lies in the housing 1 and which is preferably arranged coaxially with the plug 4. Plug 4 and plug socket5 are arranged in a lower half of the housing 1. In the upper half ofthe housing 1 the back part 3 has slots forventilating the interior ofthe housing 1. The front part 2 has an inclined surface on the upper half of the housing 1, in orderto facilitate handling of an actuation mechanism 7 situated there.

The actuation mechanism 7 consists of a rotary knob 8 which bears a marking 9, and serves together with a scale 10 situated on the front part 2 ofthe housing 1, as display 11 for setting the relative humidity ofthe air. Preferably, values in percentages of relative humidity of the air are indicated on the scale 10.

Underneath the actuation mechanism 7 and built into the front part 2 is device 12 which serves to representanadditional display showing temperature differences in degrees (Celsius). The display device 12 consists preferably of a window in the front part 2 and behind which there moves past (in the interior ofthe housing) a second scale 14which is in operative connection with the actuation device 7.

Arranged preferably besidethewindow 13 is an indicator element 1 5 fo r a further display, for example in the form of a control light, which lights up in the case of an ambient airhumiditywhich deviates from the set humidity ofthe air, and goes outwhen the set value is reached.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-section through the arrangement in accordance with FIGURE 1; the two-part housing 1, consisting of a shell-like front part 2 and a shell-like back part3, is either snapped together, or preferably bolted (or screwed) together (not shown).

The back part3 has, preferably, an approximately cylindrical projection 16with a matching recess 17.

Into this recess 17 an appropriately shaped plug 4, which preferably forms a structural unitwith the plug socket 5, is inserted from the interior ofthe housing.

The slots 6 in the back part 3 are, for reasons of clari'i:r, not shown here.

The front part2 has a first recess 18which lies opposite the opening 17 in the back part, and seres 83 receive the correspondingly shaped plug socket 5.

With the housing 1 closed together,the unit consisting of plug 4and plug socket5 is fixed in its position by meansofthe recesses 17, 18 in the housing and is supported in each case on the front part 2 and back part3.

Incorporated in the upper part of the housing 1 is a switching machanism 19 (not shown in detail)which is dependent upon the humidity ofthe air. The switching mechanism 19 switches on, or respectively off, at least one pole ofthe connections between plug 4 and plug socketS. Mounted on a shaft 20 ofthe switching mechanism 19to rotatetherewith isa rotaryknob8 which serves for the adjustment ofthe switching threshold of the switching mechanism 19 to different air humidityvalues. The rotary knob 8 protrudes through a second circular recess 21 in the front part 2 ofthe housing 1 beyond this.Mounted at least in a force-locking manner (as a force fit) on the housinginterior side ofthe rotary knob 8 is preferably a disc 12 to which the second scale 14 is applied, which scale can be read off through the window 13 in the front part 2 of the housing 1. Ifthe adjustment range ofthe rotary knob 8 sweeps through a rotary angle less than 360 , it is also possible to use, instead of a circular disc 22, an appropriately dimensioned sector-shape. The indicator element 15 is, for reasons of clarity, not shown in FIGURE 2.

In a preferred developmentofthe arrangement, the disc22 is rotatable relative to the rotary knob. This is, for example, possible bythe disc 22 being forced by means of spring force againstthe rotary knob 8, in which respect then, by pulling on the rotary knob 8, separation of the knob from disc 22 is made possible and thus an independent rotation of the two parts is possible. In this respect, of course, the connection of rotary knob 8to switching mechanism 12 remains torsionally (rotationally) fast.

This measure has the adva ntag e th at -- after determining the actual relative humidity ofthe air as described-the temperature difference of nil in accordance with the second scale 14 can be associated with the actual air humidity value. of then for example with a humidifier (evaporator) the humidity ofthe air is set to a higher value regulated by the arrangement in accordance with the invention, then on the second scale 14 it can be directly read off what drop in room temperature can be effected without loss of comfort.

The humidity-response value of the switching mechanism is the value of humidity to which the switching mechanism is set to respond.

Further according to the present invention there is provided an air humidity control device comprising an actuation mechanism, a switching mechanism and a ventilatable housing, the actuation mechanism being for adjusting the switching mechanism so that said switching mechanism is adapted to respond to pre-set values O'f air humidity selected by way of the actuation mecnar-::sm,two plug-in connections being mounted on sr built ento the housing, and the arrangement being such that the switching mechanism is operative to connect at Eeast one terminal of one of said plug-in connectionsto aterminal ofthe other plug-in connec- tion n .-drtc supply electrical energy to a consum- ng device connected or con nectable to an electrical energy source by way of said two plug-in connections.

Thetwo plug-in connections maycomprisea plug and a plug socket, the plug may extend from the back of the control device and the socket from thefront orvice versa. Alternatively, two plugs ortwo sockets may possibly be provided.

Preferably, the plug-in connections are provided on a lower part of the housing belowtheactuation mechanism. The plug-in connections may be described as "cableless" sincethey are not provided,for example, at the end of a cable extending outofthe housing although of course the plug-in connections could besuitablyinterconnectedwithinthe housing by electrical wiring.

Most importantlythe concept of providing the housing itself with plug-in connections may extend outofthefield ofairhumiditycontrol devices (or humidistats), and may for example be applied to a thermostatic device. Therefore, further according to the present invention there is provided a thermostatic control device ha^ing the features ofthe first sentence ofthe immediately preceding paragraph but in which the switching mechanism responds to a pre-set temperature value ratherthanto a humidityvalue.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the relative humidity of the air comprising a switching mechanism which responds in the case of a specific air humidity value, and in which the humidity-response value of the switching mechanism is adjustable by means of an actuation mechanism, said device having a ventilatable housing and plug connections, characterised in that mounted directly on the housing is a plug for an electrical energy feed, and in that a plug socket for connection of an electrical consumer device is arranged in or on the housing, at least one pole of an electrical connection between the plug and plug socket being connected by way ofthe switching mechanism.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which on the housing the plug is arranged coaxiallywith the plug socket.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising a displayforthe set humidity-response value.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 in which the display is scaled in values ofthe relative humidity of the air.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the actuation mechanism provides part ofthe humidity-response value display.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5 in which the actuation mechanism is a rotary knob.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6 in which the rotary knob projects outwardly th rough a recess of the housing, and has at least one marking which is co-operable with at least one scale (preferably for the humidity ofthe air) which is situated on the exterior of the housing.

8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 comprising a display device for indicating the extent to which the air temperature in a room can be lowered without loss of comfort provided the relative humidity ofthe air is increased appropriately.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 in which the display device is adjacenttothe humidity-response value display.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 8 or 9 in which the actuation mechanism provides part of said display device.

11. Adevice as claimed in anyoneofClaims8to 10 in which said display device is scaled in values of a temperature difference, and in which a temperature difference of nil is associated with a relative humidity ofthe airof between40% and 50%, and with increasing humidity of the air per 10% humidity ofthe air a temperature difference between approximately -1 and approximately -2.5 degrees (Celsius), or respectively with decreasing humidity ofthe air accordingly +1 to +2.5 degrees.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 6 or any Claim dependenttherefrom in which arranged in a forcelocking manner on the housing-interior side of the rotary knob is a dise or sector-shape (on which preferablythetemperature difference scale is situated) which is arranged in the interior ofthe housing and which can be viewed through a window in the housing, said disc or sector projecting beyond its visible extent.

13. A device as claimed in Claim 12, in which the circular disc or sector-shape is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the rotary knob.

14. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 13 in which adjacent to the displayforthe set humidityresponse value is an indicator eiementfor indicating the switching state ofthe switching mechanism.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14 in which the indicator element is adjacent to said display device where provided.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the display device is in operative connection with the actuation mechanism.

17. An airhumiditycontrol device comprising an actuation mechanism, a switching mechanism and a ventilatable housing, the actuation mechanism being for adjusting the switching mechanism so that said switching mechanism is adapted to respond to pre-set values of air humidity selected by way of the actuation mechanism, two plug-in connections being integral with, mounted on, or built onto the housing, and the arrangement being such that the switching mechanism is operative to connect at least one terminal of one of said plug-in connections to a terminal of the other plug-in connection in orderto supply electrical energy to a consuming device connected or connectable to an electrical energy source by way of said two plug-in connections.

18. Acontrol device as claimed in Claim 17 in which the two plug-in connections comprise a plug and a plug socket.

19. A control device as claimed in Claim 18 in which the plug and socketform a structural unit.

20. A control device as claimed in Claim 19 in which the housing is in two parts which snap engage with one another.

21. A control device as claimed in Claim 20 in which one of said two parts (front part) has a recess opposite an opening in the other part (back part), the recess receiving the socket of corresponding dimensions, the plug being inserted into the housing through the opening which is of dimensions matching the plug,the plug and plug socket being fixed in position by the recess and the opening.

22. A device substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. An air humidity control device comprising an actuation mechanism, a switching mechanism and a ventilatable housing, the actuation mechanism being for setting the switching mechanism to respond to a selected value of air humidity, a display device being operatively connected to the actuation mechanism or said actuation mechanism providing part of said display device, said display device being for indicating the extent to which the airtemperature in a room can be lowered without loss of comfort provided the relative humidity of the air is increased.

24. An air conditioning installation including one or more devices in accordance with any of the preceding claims.