US2273092A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1942. ALDOLE 2,273,092

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 27, 1940 INVENTOR -"eorye J ,Da/e BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER George A. D0le, Minneapolis, Minn. Application July 2'7, 1940, Serial No. 347,921

4 Claims.

My invention relates to humidifier and more particularly to a humidifier which is operated in connection with a suitable source of steam supply, for instance, a radiator in the steam heating system for an ofiice building, a manufacturing plant, an apartment, a dwelling or the like. The steam heating system in which the improved humidifier is embodied may be either the ordinary pressure or a vacuum system having a slight pressure on the radiator.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extremely simple and highly efiicient humidifier that can be very easily and quickly installedand connected to a steam radiator without tapping said radiator for a steam connection or making any changes whatsoever therein, or can also be attached by tapping into any steam supply.

A further object of the invention is to collect any condensation that may take place in the improved humidifier and re-evaporate the same,

tion consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the invention embodied in a steam radiator;

Fig. 2 is a view of the controller in central vertical section, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the distributor, the drain pan and the curtain, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on the irregular line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 and Fig. '7 are views in transverse vertical section taken on lines 6-6 and LJ of Fig. 4, respectively, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a view in central vertical section, showing a different type of controller; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on'the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The numeral Ill indicates a, radiator forming a part of a steam heating system, not shown, and comprising a plurality of sections, each of which includes a plurality of columns. Formed with the'right-hand' end section of the radiator Ill, at the upper end portion thereof, is a boss I I having an internally screw-threaded opening provided to receive the customary pet cock or an automatic air valve, not shown. Steam is conveyed through the opening in the boss H to the improved humidifier as will presently'appear.

Referring first to the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, which includes a steam controller l2, a vapor distributor l3, and a co-operating drain pan l4 and a curtain l5 for collecting and re-vaporizing condensation. The controller I2 includes inner and outer concentric, vertically disposed, cylindrical shells or casings I 6 and I1, respectively. These shells l6 and I! are spaced the one from the other to form an air-tight insulating chamber l8 that completely surrounds the shell Hi. This chamber I8 is filled with ground cork :r or any other suitable insulating material.

A perforated pipe I9 extends axially within the shell l6 which is steam-tight and said shell is filled with ground cork y or any other suitable material that would act as a silencer for steam discharged into said shell through the pipe l9. The pipe I9, at its upper end, has an imperfo'rate section 20 that extends through the chamber 18 and the shell I1, at the top thereof and outwardly of said shell. A steam pipe 2! at its intake end has screw-threaded engagement with the boss ll andsaid pipe is connected at its discharge end to the pipe section 20. Interposed in the steam pipe 2| is a control valve 22 and a check valve 23. The purpose of the check valve 23 is to prevent air from entering the radiator I!) from the controller I2 when there is no pressure on radiator 10.

The drain pan l4 and the distributor l3, which are relatively thin, are interposed longitudinally between the columns of certain of the sections of the radiator 10. Saiddrain pan M is loosely upported on the lower transverse portions of the respective sections of the radiator l The distributor l3, which is above the drain pan l4 and of substantially the same length, has at its outer or intake end an expansion chamber 24. The perforated pipe l9 has at its lower end a radially extended imperforate section 25 which extends through the compartment I 8 and the shell I! and outwardly of' said shell. A vapor pipe 26 connects the pipe section 25, at itsouter.

end, to the distributor l3 at its expansion chamber 24. The distributor I3 has in its top a narrow vapor discharge slot or orifice 21 which extends the full length of said distributor and its expansion chamber 24. Leading from the distributor l3, at it inner end and in the bottom thereof, is a very short depending drain pipe 28. The drain pipe 28 is arranged to discharge into the drain pan M at its inner end.

The curtain l which is vertically disposed between the distributor l3 and the drain pan I4 is made of blotting paper, or any other suitable absorbent material held in a marginal rectilineal copper frame 29. lower edge of its frame 29, on the bottom of the drain pan l4 midway between the sides thereof and extends substantially the full length of said drain pan. frame 29 extends into notche 30 in the lower end of the drain pipe 28 and thereby holds the curtain l5 upright midway between the sides of the distributor l3.

The operation of the improved humidifier may be briefly described as follows:

When the control valve 22 is open, live steam from the radiator I 0 travels through the pipe 2 I, the valves 22 and 23, the pipe section and into the perforated pipe 19 where it enters the shell l6 of the controller l2. Obviously, the pressure of the steam, upon entering the pipe l9 and the shell I1, is reduced and the reduced pressure and the cork y eliminates all noise of the steam escaping from the radiator 13. As a result of the reduction of the pressure of the steam entering the controller I12, a lazy vapor is produced and moves from said controller through the pipe section and the pipe 26 into theexpansion chamber 24 of the distributor I3.

Vapor in the expansion chamber 24 travels along the distributor l3 and then escapes through the slot 2'! into the spaces between the sections and columns of the radiator Ill. Air heated by the radiator l0 while passing upwards absorbs vapor escaping from the distributor l3 and the hot air, moisture laden, moves upwards into the room.

It may be here stated that steam taken from the radiator I0 is composed wholly of water and vapor delivered by the distributor I3 is also wholly water in vapor suspension, of substantially one hundred per cent (100%) relative humidity and practically at saturation point. Any condensation occurring between the radiator l0 and the delivery end of the distributor l3 will be precipitated through the spout 28 directly into the drain pan [4 or onto the curtain 15. Condensation collected in the drain pan l4, aided by the curtain l5, will be re-evaporated by the radiator heat into the air passing upwards through the radiator II].

This re-evaporation of condensation collected in the drain pan l4 and held in the curtain I5 is highly important as it avoids the need of a drainage system. A drainage system for a humidifier would be expensive, especially when installed in an old building, and often the structure of such a building makes it impractical to install such a system.

Referring now to the controller 3| shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the numerals 32 and 33 indicate, respectively, inner and outer shells spaced the one from the other to afford an insulating chamber 34, that is filled with ground cork at or any other suitable insulating material. A perforated coiled pipe 35 extends axially within the shell 32 and Said curtain l5 rests, at the The upper member of the curtain has imperforate end sections 36 and 31, the former of which extends axially through the shells 32 and 33 at the top thereof and the latter of which extends radially through said shells at the bottom thereof. The pipe end sections 36 and 31 correspond to the end sections 20 and 25 of the perforated pipe 19. The shell 32 is filled with ground cork y that completely surrounds the pipe 35. The action of the controller 3| is the same as that of the controller l2.

In actual installation of the above described humidifier, the same may be automatically controlled, for instance, by attaching a solenoid valve to the steam pipe 2| and wiring it to a Humitrol located on an adjacent wall. With the Humitrol pointer set at the per cent of humidity desired in the building served, the humidifier will operate or'shut down so as to sustain the per cent, desired.

The drawing illustrates a commercial form of the invention, but it will be understood that the same is capable of certain modifications as to details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.

The noteworthy thing about the improved humidifier is that, given a proper steam supply, this small device will deliver moisture into a building at the rate of approximately one gallon each hour with a condensation of approximately one quart each twenty-four hours. This evidences that the drain pan purpose is to avoid the installation cost of a drainage system, as the humidity from a quart-of condensation would be comparatively insignificant.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a radiator and a steam supply therefor, of a humidifier means mounted on the radiator and including a long narrow closed distributor, one end portion of which is enlarged to afford an expansion chamber at the distributor steam inlet, said distributor having in its top a narrow orifice extending substantially the full length of the distributor, and means for taking steam from the radiator and discharging the same into the expansion chamber.

2. The combination with a radiator and a.

steam supply therefor, of a humidifier means mounted on the radiator and including a long narrow closed distributor having in its top a narrow discharge orifice extending substantially the full length thereof, means for taking steam from the radiator and discharging the same into the distributor at one end thereof, a long narrow drain pan directly under the distributor, and a curtain made of absorbent material between the distributor and the drain pan, said distributor having at its opposite end from its steam intake an aperture through which condensation in the distributor is drained onto the curtain and into the drain pan, the lower end portion of the curtain being in the drain pan for removing condensation therefrom by capillary attraction.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 which further includes a rigid marginal frame for the curtain, said frame loosely resting on the bottom of the drain pan and supporting the curtain therefrom, and means on the distributor releasably holding the curtain in an upright position.

4. The combination with a radiator and a steam supply therefor, of a humidifier means mounted on the radiator and including a long narrow closed distributor having in its top a narrow discharge orifice extending substantially the full length thereof, means for taking steam from the radiator and discharging the same into the distributor at one end thereof, a long narrow drain pan directly under the distributor, and a curtain made of absorbent material between the distributor and the drain pan, said distributor having at its opposite end from its steam intake a short depending discharge spout through which

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