US2220578A

US2220578A - Humidifying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2220578A
Application number: US248887A
Authority: US
Inventors: John P Milar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-12-31
Filing date: 1938-12-31
Publication date: 1940-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1957-11-05

Description

lit:

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to humidifying apparatus adapted to be associated with the standard radiator of the usual steam-heating system without modification and functioning in combination therewith.

The principal object of the invention is the introduction of steam to the self-induced air stream passing over the radiator for humidification thereof and utilization of the heating medium within the radiator as the source of steam.

Another and important object of the invention is the provision of a humidifier, in association with a heating means, disposed with its greatest length normal to the direction of movement of the air stream passing over the heating means and thereby facilitating absorption of steam delivered to the air stream over the greater area thus afforded and whereby the humidifying steam is most readily absorbed with least condensation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a humidifier affording an efiicient means for introducing steam from a heating radiator into the air of the space to be heated in a manner to eliminate the sound normally associated with the emission of steam.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a humidifier, utilizing steam as the means of humidification, having a diffusing chamber for the dissemination of the humidifying vapor and providing means for evaporating any condensate collecting in the diffusing chamber into the air stream passing over the humidifier.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a humidifier, functioning in association with a steam radiator, including means for regulating the flow of steam from the radiator to the humidifying device and having means for preventing the entrance of moisture from the interior walls of the radiator into the regulating valve.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will appear from an inspection of the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional steam radiator equipped with the humidifying device of this invention; I

Fig. 2 is an end-elevational view of the radiator illustrating the disposition of the humidifier in the coils thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detailed, elevational View of the humidifier with parts broken away better to illustrate various constructional features of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view through the humidifier showing the difiusing chamber and depending absorbent evaporating pad.

The theory of operation of this device is associated, to a large extent, with the natural circulation of air induced by heating, since, to in- 5 troduce moisture into air with any great degree of rapidity, the moisture must be in the form of vapor in the gaseous state; and, for best results and to facilitate the absorption thereof, the vapor should be introduced into a stream of moving air as it is heated. In conventional steam radiator heating systems, as the relatively cold air adjacent the floor comes in contact with the heating surfaces of the radiator, it expands as it is heated-causing a reduction in the weight of the air, 1 which rises and is replaced by other air, thus setting up a constant circulation thereof. As the air rises in continuous contact with the surfaces of the radiator, the temperature thereof is further increased and thus increases the velocity and sets up a comparatively rapid circulation of air over the radiator in a vertical direction. If no moisture is added, the relative humidity of the air decreases as it is heated, and, for this reason, the air circulating over the radiator as it nears the upper portion thereof is of low relative humidity and therefore readily susceptible to the addition of humidifying vapor. In the present invention, full advantage is taken of these natural conditions, which are utilized to the betterment and greater efficiency of the arrangement as a whole.

In the drawing, l0 represents a steam-heated radiator having a source of live steam H, the admission of which to the radiator is regulated by a control valve I2 which may be of the manually operated or fully automatic, thermostatically controlled type, if desired. The radiator 10 is of any conventional type and is provided with a threaded opening l3 into which a regulating valve I4 is secured and by means of which the humidifier element i5 is adjusted to provide the degree of humidification. desired. The regulating valve is designed to admit only steam to the humidifier it as distinguished from condensed moisture accumulating on the inner walls of the radiator. The valve M, where it is threaded into the radiator, is provided with a tube l6 extending beyond the inner surface of the radiator wall and terminating in an angular cutoff ll, whereby the liq- 5 uid condensate on the inside walls of the radiator is prevented from entering the valve. Thus, only steam enters the valve l4 and is admitted to the humidifier in the quantity desired by means of the. adjustable needle 18 controlling. the admis- .the tube 25 from valve sion port l9. The needle is threaded into the valve, as at 20, by means of which it is advanced v and retracted to close and open the port 19, respectively. Thumbholds 2| provide means for readily adjusting the needle valve l8 the amount required to provide the humidification desired, and packing gland 22, threaded onto the valve housing l4, prevents the escape of steam at the point where the needle valve enters the valve housing.

The horizontal portion l5 of the tube comprises the humidifying element, and the vertical portion 25 acts as a lead conducting the live steam from the regulating valve [4 to the humidifying element. The humidifier element I5 is operatively connected to the valve M by means of the tube 25 entering branch conduit 23 on the regulating valve where it is secured by means of packing gland 24 threaded onto the branch conduit and preventing escape of steam at that point. Any condensate accumulating in the humidifying element will drain through the lead 25 and valve I4 into the radiator ID, and for this reason the humidifying element 15 is sloped slightly to promote such drainage. The element I5 enters a chamber 26 in the humidifier which serves the dual purpose of silencing the escaping steam and provides an expansion chamber therefor. The chamber 26 extends the full length of the humidifier, and the element I5 is coextensive with the chamber 26 and secured in any preferred manner-as by brazing or soldering, if desired. The humidifier I5 is provided with a series of spaced steam outlets 21, throughout its length, in the chamber 26 and disposed to emit the steam in an upward direction perpendicularly to its length. The chamber 26 is also provided with a series of steam outlets 28 also disposed to emit the steam in an upward direction and arranged in staggered relation to the tube outlets 21 to preclude any possibility of jets of steam issuing from the outlets 21 directly through the outlets 28 to the atmosphere. As the steam conducted through M to the humidifier escapes through openings 21 into the larger area of the expansion chamber 26, its pressure is reduced and, at the same time, this expansion reduces the temperature, which materially decreases the volume. This action, together with the reduced velocity of the steam coupled with the construction of the chamber 26, eliminates the sound created by the release of steam under pressure. The number of steam outlets 28 in the chamber 26 is in excess of the number of outlets 21 in the steam humidifier l5, and this,

together with the fact that the area of the chamber 26 is considerably in excess of that represented by the element l5, tends further to reduce the sound of the escaping steam. The outlets 28 actto difiuse the escaping steam to the rising air stream passing over the humidifier throughout the length of the humidifier, whereby the steam is introduced to the air stream uniformly.

In prior devices, where the steam is introduced into the air stream at but a single point in sufllcient quantity properly to humidify the air, only a small portion of the air passing over the radiator is affected, and, aside from the visibility 'andsound of the resultant steam jet, a saturated condition quickly occurs-causing condensation. For this reason, in the present invention, steam is delivered to the air stream through a plurality "of outlets spaced horizontally to introduce the steam to the atmosphere more uniformly and the total area of which outlets far exceeds that of the steam humidifier. The diffusion outlets 28, in practice, are cold-punched to provide an inturned, annular edge 29 depending into the chamber 26, which produces a labyrinth effect further to reduce the sound of the escaping steam and also prevents any condensate which might form in the chamber 26 from reaching the atmosphere in a liquid state, since any moisture forming on the uppermost wall of the chamber 26, in which the outlets 28 are formed, will be entrained by the annular edges 29 and drain into an evaporator provided for the purpose and hereinafter described.

The expansion chamber 26 is comprised of an inverted channel-shaped frame member 3| between the depending flanges of which the element l6 extends and which, in itself, forms the lower extremity of the chamber, and the perforated web of the channel forms the top. Enough clearance is provided at the sides of the element l5, between the respective channel flanges and the element, to permit passage of any condensate forming in the expansion chamber. The frame member 3| is complemented at each end by depending channel-shaped frame members 33 which may be integral with the member 3|, if desired, but, as shown, are separate for convenience of the particular assembly. Between the flanges of the channel members 3| and 33 and beneath the expansion chamber, an evaporator 30, enclosed in a perforate envelope 32, is inserted and secured in any manner desired-as by closing the lower edges of the flanges on members 33 and/or by soldering or brazing. While a particular form of expansion chamber and evaporator construction has been described, it is not desired to be limited to such specific arrangements, which may take many forms; but the disposition of the evaporator beneath the expansion chamber in position to absorb and evaporate condensate, only, is thought to be original with the inventor.

The sole purpose of the evaporator 30 is to absorb condensate draining from the expansion chamber 26 and evaporation thereof into the air stream passing thereover, and in order that such evaporation may occur prior to humidification of the air stream, the evaporator is disposed entirely below the level of the humidifying element. Evaporation is dependent upon the air stream wiping the surface of the evaporator 30, and by positioning the evaporator beneath the humidifier it is located in the air stream where the relative humidity is lowest and where evaporation will most readily occur, and, while the evaporator is shown as extending the full length of the humidifier, the amount of moisture evaporated is slight and is not depended upon for humidification of the air. The absorbing element 30 of the evaporator is comprised of a plurality of thin, flat sheets of absorbent material compressed and held in place by the perforate envelop 32 which, in the present instance, is composed of fine-mesh screen. It will be noted that the absorber 30 is exposed to the atmosphere through the envelop 32 all the way to its lower extremity, whereby its full area is available for the evaporation of moisture collecting therein and by means of which the accumulation of liquid in'a bottom frame member is avoided.

The entire assembly is light in weight and economical to manufacture and is readily installed for use. In actual practice, the regulating valve ll tak'esthe placeof theusual air cock found onthe conventional steam radiator, and the tube 25 extends upwardly from-the regulating valve and horizontally to the humidifier which is placed between the coils of the radiator, as best shown in Fig. 2, where it is concealed from view, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. The humidifier may be located on the radiator anywhere desired, but performs best when located near the upper portion of the radiator where it obtains the greatest benefit of the rising stream of air and where such air is of the lowest relative humidity. Since the humidifier obtains its supply of steam directly from the radiator with whichit is associated, it will be seen that its operation will depend upon operation of the radiator and will function only when the radiator is operating to evaporate any condensate that might form.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a humidifying device in which steam, as distinguished from liquid, is utilized as the humidifying element and in which the steam is introduced into the air uniformly without the sound usually associated with escaping steam and having means for evaporating condensate and means for regulating humidification to the degree desired-all in a device that may be concealed in a steam radiator, from which it obtains its supply of humidifying steam, and located in the most advantageous position for best results.

What is claimed is:

l. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, m ans for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a hurnidifying element'mo-unted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifying element, said valve having means extending into the radiator for taking live steam and excluding condensate, control means in said valve for regulating the flow of steam through said lead to the humidifying element,,said humidifying element having one or mor outlets opening into an'expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansionchamber being provided with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber and the humidifying element for evaporating condensate accumulating in said expansion chamber.

2. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiatcr comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valve to the humidiiying element, said valve having means extending into the radiator for taking live steam and excluding condensate, control means in said valve for regulating. the flow of steam through said leadto the humidifying' element, said, humidifying. element. having one or more outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said xpansion chamber being provided with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber for evaporating condensate accumulating therein comprising an absorber into which the condensate drains and adapted to be evaporated by the air circulating over th surface of the absorber.

3. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valv to the humidifying element, control means in said valve for regulating the flow of steam through said lead to the hmnidifying element, said humidifying element having one or more outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber. being provided with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber and the humidifying element for evaporating condensate accumulating in said expansion chamber.

4. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifying element, control means in said valve for regulating the flow of steam through said lead to the humidifying element, said humidifying element having one or more outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being provided with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber for evaporating condensate accumulating therein comprising an absorber into which the condensate drains and adapted to be evaporated by the air circulating over the surface of the absorber.

5. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifying element, said humidifying element having one or more outlets .opening-intoanexpansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being provided with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber and the humidifying element for evaporating condensate accumulating in said expansion chamber.

6. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and a lead conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifying element, said humidifying element having one or more outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being provlded with a plurality of outlets opening to the atmosphere and disposed in staggered relationship to said humidifier outlets, and means disposed below said expansion chamber for evaporating. condensate accumulating therein comprising an absorber into which the condensate drains and adapted to be evaporated by the air circulating over the surface of the absorber.

7. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air 'over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifier mounted in the circulating air, means o-peratively connecting said humidifier with the radiator to obtain'stearn for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and means conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifier, said humidifier comprising an elongated element having one or more perpendicularly disposed outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being open to the atmosphere, and means disposed below said expansion chamber and the humidifying element for evaporating condensate accumulating in said expansion chamber.

8. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifier mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifier with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification comprising a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and means conducting live steam from said valve to the humidifier, said humidifier comprising an elongated element having one or more perpendicularly disposed outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being open to the atmosphere, and means disposed below said expansion chamber for evaporating condensate accumulating therein comprising an absorber into which the condensate drains and adapted to be evaporated by the air circulating over the surface of the absorber.

9. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, humidification means mounted on the radiator comprising a humidifying element operatively connected with the interior of the radi-,

ator, said humidifying element opening into an expansion chamber, said expansion chamber being open to the atmosphere, and means below the expansion chamber for collecting condensate from said chamber, said means being combined with said humidifying element and the expansion chamber.

10. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, humidification means mounted on the radiator comprising a horizontally disposed humidifying element operatively connected with the interior of the radiator, said humidifying element opening vertically into an expansion chamber disposed horizontally, said expansion chamber having one or more vertically disposed openings to the atmosphere, and means disposed beneath and in direct association with the expansion chamber for evaporating condensate accumulating therein.

11. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, humidification means mounted on the radiator comprising a horizontally disposed humidifiying element operatively connected with the interior of the radiator, a regulating valve between the humidifying element and radiator for controlling operation of said element, said humidifying element opening vertically into an expansion chamber disposed horizontally, said expansion chamber having one or more vertically disposed openings to the atmosphere, and means disposed beneath and in direct association with the expansion chamber for evaporating condensate accumulating therein.

12. A steam-operated humidifying apparatus comprising a humidifier connected with a source of steam and discharging steam into an expansion chamber having communication with the atmosphere, and means for withdrawing condensate from said expansion chamber comprising an absorbent element disposed in direct association with said chamber and adapted to evaporate the condensate withdrawn therefrom.

13. A steam-operated humidifying apparatus comprising a humidifier connected with a source of steam and discharging steam into an expansion chamber having communication with the atmosphere, means for controlling the admission of steam to said expansion chamber, and means for withdrawing condensate from said expansion chamber comprising an absorbent element disposed in direct association with said chamber and adapted to evaporate the condensate withdrawn therefrom.

14. A humidifying apparatus including a radiator, means for supplying said radiator with live steam to heat the same and thereby set up a natural circulation of air over the radiator, means for humidifying the air circulating over the radiator comprising a humidifying element mounted in the circulating air, means operatively connecting said humidifying element with the radiator to obtain steam for humidification including a valve communicating with the interior of the radiator and conducting live steam to the humidifying element, said humidifying'element having one or more outlets opening into an expansion chamber silencing the sound of the steam escaping through such outlets, said expansion chamber being provided with one or more outlets opening to the atmosphere, and means directly associated with and disposed below said expansion chamber and the humidifying element for evaporating condensate accumulating in said expansion chamber.

15. A humidifying apparatus comprising a humidifier direct-connected with a steam source and discharging steam directly into an expansion chamber having direct communication with the atmosphere, means for regulating the admission of steam to said humidifier, and an absorber for collecting condensate disposed in direct association with said chamber and said steam source so as to be heated by said steam source JOHN P. MILAR.