US1674469A - Air humidifier - Google Patents

Description

R. W. HARDIE AIR' HUMIDIFIER Filed sept. 221, 1926 June 19`, 1928.

Patented dune 19, 1928.

U N il T fJ ST ROBERT W. HRDIE, 0F FAN WOOD, NEW JERSEY ME HUMIDIFIER.

Application led September 241, 1926. Serial No. 137,584.

This invention relates to means for increasin the relative humidity/of an indoor atmosphere by adding steam or vapor thereto.

The term vapor is used herein in the same sense as that used by heating and ventilating engineers, that is steam, at about, or under, eight ounce pressure.

Whensteam above eight ounce pressure is added to an indoor atmosphere, it has a strong tendency to condense near the point of discharge, on objects adjacent thereto.

Vapor, on the other hand is readily4 absorbed by an indoor atmosphere without condensing.

But diiiiculties arise in raising vapor from a generator located in .a loase1nent,.to an` upper i'loor, and in carrying the vapor along horizontally extending mains or pipes because of its lack of power to readily overcome atmospheric pressure. i

ln consequence thereof the vapor moves sluggishly, and has a tendency to remain in the generator, and diticulty is' experienced in discharging the vapor from the generator, and in carrying it to the place of discharge.

This tendency for the vapor, under or Jat eight ounce pressure to remain in the generator, also prevents the production-of vvapor in the desired quantities.

lf on the other hand vapor can be quickly removed from the generator, and from the surface of the water therein, the quantity of vapor produced can be largely increased within a given time.

The main objects of the invention are to providemeans for generating vapor in the most facile, and economical manner, and in the shortest time possible, and to carry the vapor to the desired place of discharge as quickly as possible, and enable the vapor to be discharged into an indoor atmosphere, and absorbed without condensation.

'These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the means hereinafter described, and illustrated in the .accompanying'drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied for producing vapor, but which may be readily changed into a device for producing and discharging steam into an indoor atmosphere.

It will be understood, however, that changes, alterations and moditications may be made therein without departing from the invention.

rlfhev accompanying drawing represents a device used in carryin out the invention, showing a water containing tank having a closed top, and a supporting base in cross section; a gas burner, and pipe connections,

and a vapor/discharge head and pipe connections, in side elevation; and means for supplying water to the tank, partly in side elevation and partly broken away.

As illustrated in the drawings, 1 represents a supporting base, circularin outline, provided with a door 2, and with air inlets 3, and preferably with a bottom 4, which may be connected with the shell of the base in any suitable manner as by means of a ange 5 secured to the inturned lower margin 6 of said shell.

The base is also provided with a tubular discharge connection 7 to permit the products ot combustion to pass out of the intel rior of said base., v f

The water tank 8 may be4 supportedv upon a base or support of any suitable construction, but as shown in the drawings, the Harige 9 of the bottom 10 of the tank and the adjacent portion of said bottom, bear upon and-engage the upper margin of the base 1.

The water inlet pipe 11 is connected with the bottom of the .tank and with a branch 12, which is connected with a discharge valve 13 and with a pipe 14' leading to a water bowl 15.

This water bowl isprovided with an inlet valve, and a float 16 of ordinary construction.

The inlet valve is connected. with the water suppl of a house lby means of a nipple 17, in t e usual manner.

By means of such construction, water from a source of supply is furnished to the bowl in the usual manner.l

When the device is in use, the valve 13 is kept closed, but when it is desired to withdraw the water from the interior of the tank the valve is opened and the water discharged therefrom. l

' A stud or bar 18 is secured to the bottom or lower head of the tank, and is connected at its lower end with a gas burner 19 by means of a T 20 or otherwise. The burner 19 is connected with the gas supply pipe of a house by means of piping 21.

Such construction rovides edective means for holding the gas urner in proper position relative to `the lower head of the tank, and at a proper distance therefrom, and permits the parts to be quickly and accurately assembled.

The gas supply piping 21 is provided with a lhand operated cock 22, of any suitable or Ordinar construction. Said piping -is .also prefera ly provided with a gas tothe burner.

li do not desire'to be-limited to a gas cock as a gas 'pressure control or governor for regulating and controlling the desired maxlrnum quantity ofl gas to the burner.

Any other known device having the capability of so doing, may be used instead of ysaid cock if desired.

Irlihe quantity of gas to be supplied to the burner 19 depends upon the quantity' of water within the tank, and the temperature at which vit is desired to ymaintain the water, and the qantity of vaporor steam desired to be disc arged.

By using two valves, the valve 23 with its squarey head may be set by means of a wrench, and not by the fingers of the hand. The valve 22 may be operated by hand, and kept wide open if desired when `the device is in operation, ande'ntirely closed when the is used.

device is not in operation, and need not be adjusted every time the gas is turned od', as would be the case if only the valve 22 A T 24: or other suitable means, is connected with the upper head of'the'tank, 'and suitable piping 25 is connected with said T, and with a discharge head, which is de- Y so' signed to be located on the first floor of a building, while thev apparatus itself is del signed to be located in a basement.

lin the construction shown, the discharge head consists of a supporting member 26 gas pressure vcontrol or governor, 1n the form of a gas nominee preferably having a threaded cbnnection with the piping 25,'and with tubular sections 27 which are closed at their outer ends tially straight longitudinal lines, and thereby reduce frictional resistance to the passage of the vapor, and also provide a smooth unobstructed lower. inner surface to permit the water of condensation that forms in the discharge'head to readily pass back 4into the interior of the tank. v

rlhe upper head of the tank is also preferably provided with an air inlet, which may be of any desired construction, but as shown herein consists of a threaded opening provided with a short nipple 29 and a wire screen., or perforated disk 30, placed I.upon the end of the nipple with an open cap 81 having a threaded engagement with the n1pple 29 and provided withan inner flange engaging the outer margin 'of the disk 30 and the upper end of the nipple 29.

ll have discovered that if the temperature of the water within the tank is maintained discharge head in another room, vapor will pass up through the pi e that happens to be the warmer, and out through the discharge head connected with that pipe, and no vapor will lpass out through the other pipe connected with the upper end of the tank.

ll have also discovered thatif but one of the openlngs formed in theupper head of the tank is provided with a discharge head, and dlscharge pipe, and the other opening 1s closed with a plugas shown in Letters Patent granted to me June 16, 1925, Number 1,542,696, and the water in the tank is maintalned at 210 F. or Lower, the vapor will not pass freely from the interior of the tank through the discharge-pipe and discharge head, the vapor will pass out sluggishly, and clogl up the interior 'of the tank.

Therefore I use one of the openings in the upper end of the tank as an air inlet.

In such construction air passes into the interior of the tank through said opening and across the interior of the tank, thereby creating `a circulation of air within the tank that forcs the vapor from od the a/nd permits the production of vapor to be p increased within a given time and discharges the vapor quickly into the atmospherefrom the' interior "of the tank.

ltf more than one discharge pipe or head is desired, the plug shown connected with the i "l" 24 may be removed, and'one or more disyio charge pipes and heads be connected with said T.

When it is desired to use the device for producing steam above eight ounce pressure, thevent 29 is closed by means of a plug or otherwise.

The only Way the relative humidity of an indoor atmosphere can be increased is, by adding vapor of Water thereto.

@ne of the greatest problems to be solved in so doing consists in devising means or methods for delivering the vapor of Water into an indoor atmosphere in such a manner and in such condition that the vapor will be readily and quickly absorbed by such an atmosphere, and not condense on objects in the immediate vicinity| of the place of discharge.

'llo accomplish that end the general practice heretofore followed has been to first mix the vapor with a relatively small quantity of air, to partially diduse the vapor, and then deliver the mixed vapor and air into the indoor atmosphere.

Various methods and means have been em# ployed for so doing. lin some instances vapor is mixed with a preliminary quantity of air at the same time the vapor is produced, and in other instances the vapor after being produced is discharged into an enclosure,

box or fine that serves as a mixing chamber and from there delivered into the indoor atmosphere.

One of the' results produced by the present invention is that vapor is thereby discharged directly into an indoor atmospi re in such a manner and in such condition as not to require such preliminary mixing of the vapor with air and at the same time avoiding condensation.

In order to discharge vapor into an indoor atmosphere without 'preliminary mixture of the vapor and air, the vapor is produced, by the present invention, from water heated at a temperature not higher than 212 F. and at atmospheric pressure.

' Vapor' so produced is not heavily laden with water and is readily absorbed by an indoor atmosphere without any mixing with air.

Mechanical devices are required to provduce the vapor, but they can not ordinarily be located in the rooms of a house or build- -Means must therefore be employed to carry the vapor when produced, from the.

prehminary lace where the generating apparatus is located to the place of discharge. 1

Vapor developed at atmospheric pressure and at a water temperature of not more than 212J F. has no carrying power of itself and no pressure back of it. It remains sluggish on, and over, the surface of the water, and by blanketing the Water prevents new vapor from readily arising from that surface. It can not lift itself from the basement of a building where the generator is placed to a 'loor above, nor can it flow laterally in the basement.

lf the vapor is developed under pressure greater than that of atmosphere and from Water at a higher temperature than 212c F., it has carryingpower by virtue of the pressure back of it, and can travel vertically and laterally. But that is steam and not vapor as the terms are used herein, and the steam is laden with grains of water to such an extent that it Will condense on objects near the place of its discharge, and therefore is not in tit condition to be absorbed in an indoor atmosphere.

-When the device is in operation, the upper portion of the tank and the discharge pipe connected therewith become heated by the water in the tank, the air within the discharge pipe then becomes heated and rises, thereby inducing an upward flow of air and vapor within the pipe.

Air from outside then enters the tank, through the inlet opening, and passes across the surface of the Water in the tank carrying the vapor from ofi' the surface of the water and up through said pipe and out of the discharge head, thereby permitting new vapor to arise freely and quickly from the surface of the water. v

As the air and vapor pass through the discharge pipe and head a slight rise of pressure is produced in the pipe and head, by means of the restricted openings in the discharge head, thereby aiding in carrying the vapor vertically from the tank in the basement to a floor above, or laterally as may be desired.

In the construction shown herein the tank 8 is shown supported upon the casing of the combustion chamber.

That, however, is not an essential feature of the invention, and any other suitable meallns may be employed for supporting the tan What I claim as new is: 1. An air humidifier comprising a closed Water containing tank provided with an air inlet and a vapor discharge outlet, a discharge pipe connected with said outlet, a discharge head rovided With restricted apertures connected With said discharge pipe, means for supplying water to said tank, and

means for heating said water.

' 2. An air humidier comprising .a closed Water containing tank provided vvlth an air inlet on one side of the axial line of said l tank, and a vapor discharge outlet on the `let, a discharge pipe connected with said outlet, a discharge head provided with restricted apertures connected with said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to said tank, and

means for heating said Water.

4. An air humidifier comprising a closed` Water containing tank provided With an air` charge opening vand' an air inlet, means for `maintaining a lconstant quantity of Water inlet having a shield detachablyl connected therewith, and avapor discharge outlet, a discharge pipe connected with said outlet, a discharge head provided with restricted apertures connected with said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to said tank, and means for heating said Water. y J

` 5. An lair humidifier comprising a closed Y Water containingv tank provided With an air f structed lower inner surface and axially adinlet, opening directly/into the atmosphere, and a vapor discharge opening, means connected With said discharge opening for connecting a plurality of discharge pipes with said opening, a discharge pipe connected With said means, a discharge head provided With restricted discharge openings connected with said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to said tank and means for heatingsaid Water.

6. An air humidiiercomprising a closed Water containing tank having a vapor discharge opening, a dischargepipe connected with said opening, a discharge head connected with said pipe comprisinga supporting member and horizontally extending apertured tubular members, having an unobjustable on said supporting member, means for supplying Water to said tank, and means for heating said Water.

7. An air humidiier comprising aclosed Water containing tank having a -vapor disy charge opening, adischarge pipe connected with said opening, a discharge head comprising a T connected'with said restricted discharge, pipe and horizontally extending tubular members having closed ends and athreaded connection with said T, and provided with restricted apertures and with a closed uninterrupted inner under surface, means for supplying Water to said tank, and means for heating said Water.

8. An air humidifier comprising a closed water containing tank having a vapor dis-,

charge opening, a discharge pipe connected With said opening, a discharge head connected Wtih said discharge pipe and comprising horizontally arranged distributing members provided with restricted discharge apertures, andan uninterrupted lower inner surface, means for supplying Water to said tank and means for heating said Water.

9. An air humidifier comprising a closed Water containing tank having a vapor discharge opening and an air inlet, means for maintaining a constant quantity of Water Within said tank, a gas burner beneath said tank, a pipe connection leading from said `burner to a source of gas supply, and means Within said connection for controlling and governing the maximum quantity of gas supplied to said burner.

10. An air humidifier comprising a closed Water containing tank having a vapor disand maintaining a maximum pressure of the` gas supplied to said burner,l and -a shut on' cock in said connection for opening and closing said connection.

11.-"l`he method of humidifying air, consisting in maintainin a constant quantity ot Water Within `a close container, converting said water into vapor by applying a heating element thereto While maintaining the water at a temperature not exceeding 212 F., causing a current o air to pass from outside into said container and mix with said vapor, conducting said air and vapor through a conduit, and'delivering said air and vapor :from said conduit'into the atmosphere in restricted quantities. y

12. The method of humidifying' air consisting in maintaining a constant quantity into the atmosphere in restricted quantities.

13. The method of humidifying .air consisting in maintaining a constant quantity of water Within a closed container, convert-` ing said Water into vapor by the lapplicationk of a heating element thereto while maintaining the Water ata temperature not exceeding 212 F., causing a current of'air to pass from outside into said container and mix with said vapor, conducting said air and vapor through a conduit and delivering said ing the Water into vapor by applying a gas heating element thereto, controlling the 10 maximum quantity of gas applied to said Water, while permitting variations in'. quantity of gas supplied below said maximum,

causing a current of-air to pass from outside into said container and mix with said .Vapon leading a quant-ity of said nnxed a1r and `vapor through a conductor to a place of dis.

charge, and discharging said vapor and Water into the atmosphere in restricted quantities.

ROBERT Wi' HARDIE.

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