US20100258958A1 - Humidifier - Google Patents

Humidifier Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100258958A1
US20100258958A1 US12/678,504 US67850410A US2010258958A1 US 20100258958 A1 US20100258958 A1 US 20100258958A1 US 67850410 A US67850410 A US 67850410A US 2010258958 A1 US2010258958 A1 US 2010258958A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
water
further characterized
humidifier according
humidifier
tank
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/678,504
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English (en)
Inventor
Yin Man John Wong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Raymond Industrial Ltd
Original Assignee
Raymond Industrial Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Raymond Industrial Ltd filed Critical Raymond Industrial Ltd
Assigned to RAYMOND INDUSTRIAL LIMITED reassignment RAYMOND INDUSTRIAL LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WONG, YIN MAN JOHN
Publication of US20100258958A1 publication Critical patent/US20100258958A1/en
Priority to US13/713,786 priority Critical patent/US8777187B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
    • F24F6/12—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by forming water dispersions in the air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F6/00—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification
    • F24F6/02—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air
    • F24F6/04—Air-humidification, e.g. cooling by humidification by evaporation of water in the air using stationary unheated wet elements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a humidifier, in particular such a humidifier adapted to increase the indoor moisture content.
  • a domestic humidifier is a common home based electrical appliance which actively brings moisture into the indoor air and raises the water saturation content in the air.
  • Most such humidifiers include mechanisms which break down the surface tension of water and carry the aerosolized water molecules into the air. All such mechanisms require a water tank and some kind of aerosolizing device.
  • Some humidifiers make use of an ultra-sonic transducer to create fine water droplets and carry the water droplets by means of convection and directional air flow.
  • a shortcoming of such a kind of apparatus is that water droplets of varying sizes are created, and noise is usually generated by the ultra-sonic transducer. Sometimes larger water droplets generated by the transducer will be blown out by a fan blower and be attached on an indoor surface before being evaporated into the air. Adhesion of water droplets on an indoor surface is clearly not desirable.
  • aerosolizing of water molecules is achieved by steam generated by the humidifiers.
  • a heating element is required and a water tank has to be coupled to with a water reservoir in the apparatus.
  • Such an arrangement will at least slightly increase the indoor temperature and is more energy consuming in that electricity has to be supplied for operating the heating element.
  • heat is generated, more care has to be taken for safety reason.
  • a humidifier including a tank for containing water; a basin in a liquid communicable relationship with said tank; means for aerosolizing water; means for delivering water from said basin to said aerosolizing means; characterized in that said tank includes a water inlet and a cover, wherein said cover is movable to selectively open or close said water inlet.
  • a humidifier including a tank for containing water; a basin in a liquid communicable relationship with said tank; means for aerosolizing water; means for delivering water from said basin to said aerosolizing means; characterized in that said aerosolizing means includes an adsorption medium adapted to break down water delivered to said aerosolizing means into water droplets floatable in air.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a humidifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the humidifier shown in FIG. 1 in which the water tank is removed for refilling purpose;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the humidifier shown in FIG. 1 showing refilling of the water tank when coupled to the humidifier;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the manner of operation of the humidifier of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 A sectional view of a domestic humidifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 , and generally designated as 10 .
  • the humidifier may be operated by municipal electricity or batteries.
  • the humidifier 10 has a body 12 with an air inlet grill 14 (through which air may enter the humidifier 10 ) and an outlet grill 16 (through which air may exit the humidifier 10 ).
  • a fan 18 is provided below the air outlet grill 16 and is operated by a motor 20 .
  • the motor 20 also operates a pump 22 which is connected via a duct 24 to a cavity 26 above an adsorption medium 28 .
  • the adsorption medium 28 is rough and is a metal mesh coated with various kinds of metal oxide; and porous materials, e.g.
  • aluminosilicate such as sodium aluminosilicate (AlNa 12 SiO 5 ) doped with a transition metal.
  • the air inlet grill 14 , the adsorption medium 28 and the air outlet grill 16 are arranged such that they are in an air communicable relationship.
  • the body 12 of the humidifier 10 has a basin 30 with three upstanding plates 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, the function of which will be discussed below.
  • the basin 30 is also releasably engaged with a water tank 34 with a top water inlet 36 .
  • a cover 38 hingedly engaged with the water tank 34 , and movable to selectively open or close the water inlet 36 .
  • the lower end of the water tank 34 is releasably (e.g. threadedly) engaged with a valve assembly 40 .
  • a lower water outlet 40 of the water tank 34 is closable by a spring-loaded valve 42 of the valve assembly 44 .
  • the valve assembly 44 is operatively associated with a float 46 via a lever 48 , It can be seen that an upwardly extending finger 50 of the lever 48 acts on the valve 42 from below.
  • the water tank 34 may be detached from the rest of the humidifier 10 , e.g. for refilling of water.
  • the spring-loaded valve 42 is arranged such that the valve 42 is spring-biased towards the lowered position in which the valve 42 closes the lower water outlet 40 .
  • Water may then be added to the water tank 34 , e.g. from a water tap, while the water outlet 40 is closed, so as to contain the water.
  • water may be introduced into the interior of the water tank 34 while the water tank 34 is still coupled to the humidifier 10 . It can therefore be seen that there will be no problem even if the cover 38 is opened during operation of the humidifier 10 .
  • the float 46 normally occupies a lower position on its own weight. In this position, and as can be seen in FIG. 1 , the finger 50 of the lever 48 pushes the valve 42 upwardly, against the biasing force of the spring, to open the water outlet 40 , in which case the basin 30 and the water tank 34 is in a liquid communicable relationship.
  • the finger 50 will open the valve 42 to allow water from the tank 34 to fall into the basin 30 .
  • the float 46 will move vertically (either upwardly or downwardly) depending on the amount of water in the basin 30 .
  • the water in the basin 30 will gradually raise the float 46 , thus pivoting the lever 48 in a clockwise direction, to narrow the opening between the valve 42 and the water outlet 40 , until the outlet 40 is fully closed by the valve 42 , in which case the float 46 will occupy an upper position. If there is sufficient water in the water tank 34 , such an arrangement will ensure that water in the basin 30 is continuously replenished during use, until there is no water in the tank 34 .
  • the pump 22 of the humidifier 10 draws water from the basin 30 and delivers the water, via the duct 24 , to the upper part 26 .
  • the water then spreads downwardly across the adsorption medium 28 .
  • the surface tension of the water is thereby broken down such that the water will form fine water droplets floatable in air.
  • Some of the water droplets will be carried away by air drawn through the adsorption medium 28 , in a manner to be discussed below. The remaining water will drip downwardly through the adsorption medium 28 back to the basin 30 .
  • the plates 32 a, 32 b, 32 c are of different heights, with the plate 32 a being the highest, and the plate 32 b being higher than the plate 32 c. These plates 32 a, 32 b, 32 c collectively form a three-stage “cascade barrier” to screen out particles in the water from the adsorption medium 28 . Such particles may be from the ambient air or may be washed off from the adsorption medium 28 by the water dripping through the adsorption medium 28 .
  • the motor 20 is activated to operate the fan 18 and the pump 22 .
  • the pump 22 will draw the water from the basin 30 and deliver it to the upper part 26 , to pass through the adsorption medium 28 , to aerosolize the water into fine water droplets.
  • the fan 18 is operated to create a negative air pressure within the interior of the humidifier 10 , whereby air is drawn into the humidifier 10 through the air inlet grill 14 , then through the adsorption medium 28 , and subsequently out of the humidifier 10 through the air outlet grill 16 .
  • the air passing through the adsorption medium 28 will pick up the fine water droplets in the adsorption medium 28 , thus increasing the moisture content of the air discharged to the environment through the air outlet grill 16 .
  • the flow rate of the air drawn across the adsorption medium 28 depends on the speed of rotation of the fan 18 , and is adjusted to optimize the water to air mass transfer rate.
  • One or more sensors may also be installed at or adjacent the air outlet grill 16 to measure the humidity level of the discharged air. Signals from the sensor(s) are then fed back to adjust the fan speed so as to achieve a desired humidity level.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Air Humidification (AREA)
US12/678,504 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 Humidifier Abandoned US20100258958A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/713,786 US8777187B2 (en) 2007-09-18 2012-12-13 Humidifier

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2007/070714 WO2009036639A1 (fr) 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 Humidificateur

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/713,786 Division US8777187B2 (en) 2007-09-18 2012-12-13 Humidifier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100258958A1 true US20100258958A1 (en) 2010-10-14

Family

ID=40467494

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/678,504 Abandoned US20100258958A1 (en) 2007-09-18 2007-09-18 Humidifier
US13/713,786 Expired - Fee Related US8777187B2 (en) 2007-09-18 2012-12-13 Humidifier

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/713,786 Expired - Fee Related US8777187B2 (en) 2007-09-18 2012-12-13 Humidifier

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (2) US20100258958A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009036639A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160146490A1 (en) * 2014-11-25 2016-05-26 Joseph McDonnell Humidifier with water flow control between an upper tank and a lower reservoir
US10011243B2 (en) 2016-01-29 2018-07-03 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Passenger airbag having head orienting extension and depression
JP2019023548A (ja) * 2017-07-21 2019-02-14 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 加湿装置
CN110260441A (zh) * 2019-06-28 2019-09-20 竺浩杰 一种用于家庭内空气加湿装置
US20230012780A1 (en) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-19 Chi Hsiang Wang Humidifier

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10168064B1 (en) 2018-07-13 2019-01-01 Zhongshan Titan Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd. Ultrasonic humidifier
CN109812905A (zh) * 2019-03-29 2019-05-28 锐莫(佛山)电器科技有限公司 加湿器
CN109915944B (zh) * 2019-04-10 2024-05-03 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种空调器
CN110887149A (zh) * 2019-12-26 2020-03-17 覃永 一种新型加湿器的雾化聚能装置
CN112696754A (zh) * 2020-12-15 2021-04-23 南京普司环境科技有限公司 一种空气消毒加湿器
US11560665B2 (en) * 2020-12-21 2023-01-24 Conair Llc Handheld appliance
US20220196270A1 (en) * 2020-12-21 2022-06-23 Dr. Noze Best, LLC Humidifier system and methods for using same
USD966636S1 (en) 2020-12-21 2022-10-11 Conair Llc Handheld steam appliance with refilling cradle

Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5061405A (en) * 1990-02-12 1991-10-29 Emerson Electric Co. Constant humidity evaporative wicking filter humidifier
US5447663A (en) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-05 Emerson Electric Co. Floor mounted humidifier with wheeled water reservoir tank
US5547615A (en) * 1995-05-10 1996-08-20 Duracraft Corporation Portable humidifier with bacteriastat dispenser
US5746359A (en) * 1996-06-06 1998-05-05 Emerson Electric Co. Air seal for humidifier water bottle
US5783117A (en) * 1997-01-09 1998-07-21 Hunter Fan Company Evaporative humidifier
US5792390A (en) * 1996-01-11 1998-08-11 Holmes Products Corp. Humidifier with top fill tank
US6098963A (en) * 1998-12-07 2000-08-08 Slant/Fin Corporation Fill-in-place humidifier
US6237896B1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-05-29 Ricky D. Hicks Portable fan with misting nozzles
US6244576B1 (en) * 1999-11-09 2001-06-12 Kuo Lung Tsai Mist Humidifier
US20020180071A1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-12-05 Stanek Terrence L. Dry out mechanism for humidifier
US6604733B2 (en) * 2000-08-11 2003-08-12 Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc. Evaporative humidifier
US20030193098A1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-16 Bemis Manufacturing Company Humidifier with removable wicking element
US7722016B2 (en) * 2006-08-31 2010-05-25 Medex Cardio-Pulmonary, Inc. Float for humidification chamber

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN2159524Y (zh) * 1992-12-11 1994-03-23 广州利民电器实业有限公司 空气增湿机
CN2318551Y (zh) * 1998-04-09 1999-05-12 黄国庆 盐液介质空气净化加湿器
JP2000281034A (ja) * 1999-03-30 2000-10-10 Aiwa Co Ltd タンク及び加湿器
US7438875B2 (en) * 2003-10-16 2008-10-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method for reducing odor using metal-modified silica particles
US7678367B2 (en) * 2003-10-16 2010-03-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method for reducing odor using metal-modified particles
US7309331B2 (en) * 2004-09-22 2007-12-18 Columbus Industries, Inc. Odor absorbent evaporative pad
WO2006050477A2 (fr) * 2004-11-03 2006-05-11 K2 Concepts Compositions antimicrobiennes et procedes de fabrication et d'utilisation

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5061405A (en) * 1990-02-12 1991-10-29 Emerson Electric Co. Constant humidity evaporative wicking filter humidifier
US5447663A (en) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-05 Emerson Electric Co. Floor mounted humidifier with wheeled water reservoir tank
US5547615A (en) * 1995-05-10 1996-08-20 Duracraft Corporation Portable humidifier with bacteriastat dispenser
US5792390A (en) * 1996-01-11 1998-08-11 Holmes Products Corp. Humidifier with top fill tank
US5746359A (en) * 1996-06-06 1998-05-05 Emerson Electric Co. Air seal for humidifier water bottle
US5783117A (en) * 1997-01-09 1998-07-21 Hunter Fan Company Evaporative humidifier
US6098963A (en) * 1998-12-07 2000-08-08 Slant/Fin Corporation Fill-in-place humidifier
US6237896B1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-05-29 Ricky D. Hicks Portable fan with misting nozzles
US6244576B1 (en) * 1999-11-09 2001-06-12 Kuo Lung Tsai Mist Humidifier
US6604733B2 (en) * 2000-08-11 2003-08-12 Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc. Evaporative humidifier
US20020180071A1 (en) * 2001-05-29 2002-12-05 Stanek Terrence L. Dry out mechanism for humidifier
US20030193098A1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-16 Bemis Manufacturing Company Humidifier with removable wicking element
US7722016B2 (en) * 2006-08-31 2010-05-25 Medex Cardio-Pulmonary, Inc. Float for humidification chamber

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160146490A1 (en) * 2014-11-25 2016-05-26 Joseph McDonnell Humidifier with water flow control between an upper tank and a lower reservoir
US10578325B2 (en) * 2014-11-25 2020-03-03 Great Innovations, LLC Humidifier with water flow control between an upper tank and a lower reservoir
US10011243B2 (en) 2016-01-29 2018-07-03 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Passenger airbag having head orienting extension and depression
JP2019023548A (ja) * 2017-07-21 2019-02-14 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 加湿装置
JP2019023546A (ja) * 2017-07-21 2019-02-14 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 加湿装置
JP7001887B2 (ja) 2017-07-21 2022-01-20 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 加湿装置
CN110260441A (zh) * 2019-06-28 2019-09-20 竺浩杰 一种用于家庭内空气加湿装置
US20230012780A1 (en) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-19 Chi Hsiang Wang Humidifier
US11988408B2 (en) * 2021-07-19 2024-05-21 Chi Hsiang Wang Humidifier

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130099397A1 (en) 2013-04-25
WO2009036639A1 (fr) 2009-03-26
US8777187B2 (en) 2014-07-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: RAYMOND INDUSTRIAL LIMITED, CHINA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WONG, YIN MAN JOHN;REEL/FRAME:024090/0343

Effective date: 20100316

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION