JPH06113809A - Damping device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a humidity supplying device having specified structure for placing tobacco products such as cigarettes or cigars in fixed humidity. CONSTITUTION: The slab of strong cellular plastic material containing the mixture of glycerol and water is included in the air hole of case 2, liquid-state water is absorbed through a front face 3 with slot into the cellular material, and steam can be released through this face with the slow evaporation of liquid- state water. Along with the length of case 2, a small spring balance 5 (composed of a tension spring 6) is provided at the center, and this device can read the quantity of water contained in the case 2 through a scale 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a humidifying device,
Particular reference is made to the humidification of containers for tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. Such containers allow some control to be maintained over the humidity therein and are commonly known as humidifiers.

The quality of cigars and thus their burning properties is very closely related to the content of tobacco, which in turn depends on the conditions under which a cigar is stored during its manufacture and consumption. Is recognized. Therefore, if the cigarette is allowed to dry, the cigar will burn quickly and at high temperature. In contrast, if the cigarette is too damp, the cigar will burn very slowly and cold enough that it will be difficult to continue to burn properly. Different combustion temperatures result in completely different products of combustion, which have a completely different taste to the smoker and will greatly impair the smoker's enjoyment of smoking a cigar.

[0003] To minimize these problems, it has become standard practice to store cigars in a closed cigar container or humidifier under controlled atmospheric conditions. While this allows the inherent water content of cigar cigarettes to be retained for smokers, such devices unfortunately always suffer from drawbacks. Therefore, most humidifiers require the addition of liquid water on a regular or variable basis and usually at times to maintain the required relative humidity. Failure to add water at the appropriate time will totally compromise the desired effect. Also, depending on liquid water,
There is a real danger of water spilling while the humidifier is moving. Moreover, the relative humidity will decrease very significantly as the amount of remaining water decreases. In addition, it is usually not possible to monitor or change the relative humidity to match different specific humidity levels of different cigarette types and different smoker preference requirements.

The present invention seeks to provide a humidification system that is particularly used in humidifiers and other hermetically sealed storage containers, where the user can easily monitor and determine the capabilities of the system for storage. Incorporate means that allow the desired relative humidity in the container to be maintained.

Accordingly, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reservoir adapted to receive and retain liquid water, but to allow water vapor to escape, the reservoir having a water content determined therein. Incorporate means that enable Such means suitably allow the water content to be determined visually, and in the preferred embodiment consist of a spring balance by which the weight of the reservoir and its contents can be determined quickly and easily. In an alternative embodiment, such means include a visual gauge capable of reading the water level, for example by a meniscus or float.

Generally, the reservoir contains a non-volatile liquid component which serves to control the evaporation of water and thus regulate the relative humidity within the sealed storage container. As with most humidification control devices currently manufactured, this invention proposes to use glycerin (glycerol) for this purpose, but others with similar properties known for this purpose. It should be understood that a number of intrinsically non-volatile and non-toxic organic materials may be used. Glycerin is mixed with water in all proportions, and a mixture of glycerin and water at a weight ratio of 2: 1 at room temperature produces a relative humidity of 70%, which is practically ideal for the purpose required for the humidifier. Has the advantage that Moreover, the relatively high proportion of water in such mixtures makes it easy to monitor the water content of the mixture on a weight or volume basis.

As mentioned above, the water content can be monitored on a volume basis by incorporating a visual gauge in the reservoir. However, such a system means that at least some of the water, or possibly the water / glycerin mixture, must be in the free liquid state, which of course poses a risk of leakage or spillage from the reservoir. . A preferred alternative to this is to monitor the water content on a weight basis and to incorporate a spring balance into the reservoir for this purpose. In this way, the water content of the reservoir can be indicated directly or, advantageously, indirectly, such as the relative humidity produced by that water content, and if necessary or desired, the reservoir can be further filled with water. It can also be displayed when it should be added.

When the water content of the reservoir is expressed on a weight basis, it is preferable to avoid having water or a water / glycerin mixture in the free liquid state, which is a porous material, eg OPEN FOAM plastic material. Can be achieved by imbibing water or a water / glycerin mixture into cellular materials such as or fibrous materials such as woven or non-woven fabrics. If desired, the cellular material may be robust.

The spring balance is suitably arranged to indicate either the water content of the reservoir or, preferably, the relative humidity at which a particular water content will produce. This allows the user to quickly and reliably recognize whether it is necessary to add water to the reservoir to achieve or maintain the desired relative humidity.

One design of such a device is presented for illustrative purposes only in the accompanying drawings. Referring to this drawing, the device, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a case 2 of plastic or metal alloy construction, a slab of rigid cellular plastic material (not shown) containing in its mouth a mixture of glycerin and water. including. The case 2 has a slotted front face 3 (the slot is indicated by 4) via which liquid water can be absorbed in the cellular material and through which water vapor can be absorbed into the liquid water. It can escape as it slowly evaporates. Centrally located along the length of the case 2 is a small spring scale 5 of conventional construction, which is attached to the case at one end and for hanging the entire assembly at the other end, for example from a finger. It consists of a thread tension spring 6 mounted on a mounting ring 7. The mounting ring 7 is also mounted on a display graduation 8 which is visible through a window 9 in the case 2 and the water content of the device, represented by the relative humidity produced, is read from the graduation 8 in contrast to the marker 10. If the water content is too low, it can be increased until the desired reading is obtained.

For convenience, this case is represented much larger than would normally be practiced. Case 2 is usually about 100 to 200 mm long and 40 to 100 mm
mm width, probably less than 30 mm thick. It will probably have a total weight when fully filled with about 250 grams or less of water so that it can be easily housed in a conventional humidifier.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Humidifier 2: Case 3: Front with slot 5: Spring balance 6: Thread tension spring 7: Mounting ring 8: Display scale 9: Window 10: Marker

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A hygroscopic device adapted for use in a container for cigarettes or tobacco products, the device being adapted to receive and retain liquid water while allowing water vapor to escape. An apparatus comprising an adapted reservoir, said reservoir incorporating means allowing the water content of said reservoir to be determined. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means allow the water content to be determined visually. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means includes a visual gauge against which the water level can be read. 4. The means includes a spring balance that allows the weight of the reservoir and its contents to be determined.
The device according to claim 2. 5. The device of claim 1 including a non-volatile liquid that acts to control evaporation of the water. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the non-volatile liquid is glycerol. 7. The water is absorbed by a material selected from cellular and fibrous materials contained within the reservoir,
The device according to claim 4. 8. A moisture absorber incorporating the device of claim 1.