US2328538A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 7, 1943 F. A. FURLONG 2,328,538

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l {Q -WW Inventor Fwzcz's f2. Furia@ Sept. 7, 1943.

F. A. FURLONG 2,328,538

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 14, 1941 1 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1943 HUMIDIFIER Francis A. Furlong, River Forest, Ill., assigner to Autogas Company, oi Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corporation Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,287

7 Claims.

This invention relates to humidiiiers and more particularly to devices for regulating the humidity of living spaces in rooms or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide ahumidler for usewith a heating plant having a duct for conducting heated air to the space in which operation of the humidifier is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the duct. This insures that humidity will be discharged into the duct at a time when there is a iiow of heated air therethrough, so that the humidity will be carried properly throughout the living space, and so that condensation of water in the duct will be prevented.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic View with parts in section of a heating plant installation including a humidifier embodying 'the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the control valve of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section of the control valve; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged section of the humidiiier with the casing removed.

The humidiner itself is of the same general type as those more particularly described and claimed ln the co-pending applications of Furlong and Penfold, Serial No. 319,228, iiled February 16, 1940, and Serial No. 356,270, iiled September 11, 1940. As shown in Figure 4l, the humidifier comprises a tank having an enlarged upper portion l and a reduced lower portion I2, connected by a horizontal wall lil, and adapted to contain water above the wall M substantially at the level shown. Water in the tank is heated by heating means shown as comprising a gas burner I8, insulated from the reduced portion i2 of the tank and discharging heated vapor against the horizontal wall i4. A heating jacket I8 conducts the lvapor around one side of the tank to a iiue pipe '29.

Gas is supplied to the burner lll through a pipe 22 controlled by a manual shut-ofi valve 24, and by a safety valve 2li, normally urged closed by a spring and held open by a bimetal strip 23 responsive to the heat of the burner. When the burner is in operation, the strip 2B will be deflected te open the valve 2F, but ii the burner should accidently bc extinguished, the strip 28 will cool, allowing the valve to close.

Water is admitted to the tank through a pipe 30 discharging into a stand pipe 32 arranged beside the tank and communicating therewith at thebottom of the reduced lower portion I2. Outlet of Water from the pipe Btl is controlled by a bi-metal strip 34 which, when cooled, closes 'the end of the pipe 3i. in order to heat the'strip 34, an angle section of pipe 35 is extended from the stand pipe 32! into the tank and terminates ina downwardly facing end substantially at the desired water level. When the water drops below the open end of the pipe 355, vapor from the tank will flo-w thro-ugh this pipe to heat the strip 34, thereby admitting additional water to the tank to raise the level sufficiently to close the end of the pipe According to one feature of the present invention, flow or" vapor through the pipe 38 when the water level is below the open end thereof is insured by maintaining a predetermined minimum vapor pressure in the tank. For this purpose, the tank is provided with a vapor outlet 32 extending upwardly from the upper end thereof and having a weighted disc it held in place by guides 2, normally seated en the upper end of the outlet pipe 38. Ii the pressure in the tank is below the value predetermined by the weight and size of the disc (lil, this disc will remain closed and all vapor generated will now out through the pipe 36. .As the vapor pressure increases, the disc 4i) will be unseated 'to allow the low of vapor through the outlet 38.

In order to prevent the accumulation of scale or slime in the tank such as to prevent or interfere with proper operation, the tank is adapted to be drained periodically. This may be accomplished by means of a manually operated valve 44 connected to the lower end of the stand pipe 32, but is preferably carried out automatically at predetermined time intervals by an ejector 46 communicating with the stand pipe 32 and the lower tank portion l2. The ejector discharges into a drain pipe 43 extending above the level of water in the tank a sufficient distance to prevent accidental overiiowso that water will flow therethrough only when the ejector is operated. The ejector receives water through a conduit 50 which communicates also with a spray nozzle 52 arranged in the upper part of the tank. A restricted orifice 5d limits the quantity of Water flowing to the spray nozzle and insures an adequate supply o-f water to operate the ejector. The supply oi water to the spray nozzle and the ejector is controlled by a valve 5S operated by an electric motor 58. The motor 58 is preferably energized periodically for a predetermined time interval by a clock mechanism il controlling the circuit through a mercury switch which energizes the motor 58. In this way, the valve 5S is opened periodically to withdraw water from the tank by operation of the injector and at the same time to wash out the tank by operation of the spray mechanism 52.

It will be noted that when the valve 55 is opened and the ejector is operating, the water level will be reduced b-elow the open end of the pipe 36. At the same time, however, the spray mechanism is spraying cold water into the tank so as to prevent the formation of vapor therein, thereby preventing opening oi the thermostatic Valve 34. To insure a minimum supply of water `in the tank for starting of the water supply mechanism after a iiushing and draining operation, a wall 64 is provided adjacent one end of the horizontal bottom iii to hold a minimum supply of water thereon.

Figure 1 illustrates the installation of a humidifier of the type just described in connection with a warm air furnace, including a fire pot 6E discharging through a flue and surrounded by a jacket lll. A cold air return duct l2 supplies air to the lower portion of the jacket and warm air flows from the upper end oi the jacket through ducts 'lf3 communicating with registers 16 in the floor i8 oi the space 'to be heated. W'hile onev conventional type of warm air furnace has been illustrated, it will be understood that the invention can be applied to warm air furnaces of any desired type.

The humidifier mechanism is enclosed in a casing 8i) arranged adjacent the furnace and communicating through a conduit 82 with one of the ducts 14. The casing is provided with a series oi louvres or openings 8d to provide for the admission of air thereto, the air being heated in its fiow around the tank and mixing with vapor discharged from the outlet 88, the mixture of air and vapor flowing through the conduit 82 into the duct.

Water is supplied to the humidifier from any suitable source, such as the usual city water mains, through a pipe Sli, and gas is supplied to the burner iii through a pipe 88, the supply oi gas to the burner I6 being controlled by a` valve mechanism, indicated generally at d, mounted on the duct lf3 so as to be responsive to the temperature thereof. The valve mechanism as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a body formed with an inlet passage El? and an outlet passage 94, having a valve dii arranged therebetween and normally seated by a spring "i-he valve has a stem projecting downwardly therethrough into the open lower portion oi the casing on which the casing ilts over the duct, and resting on one end of a lever ldd adjustably supported at its opposite end on a screw H22. By adjusting the screw ifi?, the initial seating of the valve may be changed so as to make it responsive to different temperatures,

The valve is controlled by a loi-metal strip ldd, rigidly supported at one end in the casing and at its opposite end engaging an enlarged portion it on the lever itil. As the strip tot is heated, it deects upwardly, as seen in Figure 3, to open the valve, When the valve is closed, a predetermined minimum amount of iuel is Icy-passed through an adjustable by-pass idd to maintain the burner in a low stage of operation.

In use, with the apparatus installed as shown, when the furnace is operating and the temperature of the duct is above that for which the valve is adjusted, the valve 96 will be opened to admit a maximum supply of fuel to the burner I6. At this time, the water in the tank will be Cil vaporized rapidly and will be supplied to the living space through the conduit 82 and the duct 14. When the furnace is out of operation or operating at a very low rate, such that the duct 14 is cooled below the temperature for which the valve is set, the strip lfl deflects downwardly, permitting the valve E36 to close, so that only a minimum quantity of fuel flowing through the by-pass IBS will be supplied to the burner. This will operate the burner at a low rate such as to maintain the water heated substantially to the boiling point without causing any material discharge of vapor through the conduit S2. Ihus vapor is supplied only at times when an adequate supply of Warm air is flowing through the duct 14 to carry the vapor properly into the room and when the duct is sufficiently warm to prevent condensation of vapor therein.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidifier comprising a casing, means in the casing to vaporize water, a conduit for conducting the vaporized water to said duct, means to supply operating power to said vaporizing means, and control means for said supply means responsive to the temperature in said duct to reduce the supply of operating power to the vaporizing means when the temperature in said duct is below a predetermined degree.

2. In combination', a heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidier comprising a casing, a tank in said casing adapted to contain water, heating means in the casing to heat said tank thereby to vaporize water therein, a conduit for conducting the vaporized water to said duct, means for supplying heat energy to said heating means, and control means for the supplying means responsive to the temperature in said duct to reduce the supply of heat energy when the duct is below a predetermined temperature.

3. In combination, a heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidifier comprising a casing, a tank in said casing adapted to contain water, a fluid iuel burner in the casing to heat said tank, thereby to vaporize the water therein, a conduit for conducting the vaporized water to said duct, a conduit for supplying iluid fuel to said burner, a valve in said fuel conduit, and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said duct to control said valve.

4. In combination, a heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidifier comprising a casing, a tank in said casing adapted to contain water, a fluid fuel burner in the casing to heat said tank thereby to vaporize the water therein, a conduit for conducting the vaporized water to said duct, a conduit for supplying iiuid iuel to said burner, a valve in said fuel conduit, means forming a restricted by-pass around the valve to provide a minimum fuel supply to the burner, and a thermostat responsive to the temperature of the duct to close the valve when the temperature falls below a predetermined minimum and to open the valve when the temperature exceeds said minimum.

5. In combination, a. heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidifier comprising a casing, a tank in said casing adapted to contain water, heating means in the casing to heat the tank to vaporize water therein, said casing having an air inlet opening therein to admit air to mix with the vaporized water, a conduit for conducting the mixture of air and water Vapor to the duct, means for supplying heat energy to the heating means, and control means responsive to the duct temperature to con trol said last named means.

6. In combination, a heating plant including means for heating air and a duct for conducting heated air to a space to be heated, a humidifier comprising a casing, a tank in said casing adapted to contain Water, a heater in the casing to heat the tank to vaporize water therein, a pipe in the tank to conduct vapor therefrom when the water therein falls below a predetermined level, means controlled by iiow of vapor through said pipe to control admission of water to the tank, said tank having a vapor outlet in its upper portion, a conduit to conduct vapor from said outlet to the duct, means for supplying heat energy to said heating means, and control means responsive to the duct temperature to control said last named means.

7. In combination with a heating system including a heating unit for heating air, a duct for conducting heated air from the unit to a space to be heated and a return duct for conducting air from the space to the unit, a humidi- Iier comprising a tank adapted to contain water, means to heat the water in the tank to vaporize it, a conduit to conduct the vapor to one of the ducts to mix with air flowing therethrough, and control means for the heating means responsive to the temperature of the air in the rst named duct to decrease the heat supply when the air temperature falls below a predetermined minimum.

FRANCIS A. FURLON G.

Images