US2654362A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1953 sc F 2,654,362

HUMIDIFIER Filed April 5, 1950 k'ml I N V EN TOR. 4e THUP Samqer zrawzw ATTOK/VE) away to show the relationship of the valve, the float, the valve-float leverage, and the inlet end of the pipe connecting the float chamber with the evaporating pan, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2, of the valve shown in elevation in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the present construction, the valve is designed to require a minimum of operating force for seating of the valve body, and the valve operating means is designed to provide more than adequate force for closing the valve even if some minerals are deposited on such operating means and on the valve. made a size suflicient only to provide adequate clearance for the valve, the float, and the valve float connecting leverage, and to maintain such parts submerged in water at all times. The pipe connecting the valve-float chamber and the evaporating pan is so curved and so joined with the evaporating pan as to minimize the transfer of heat between the chamber and the pan, as to avoid reverse flow of water through such pipe and as to avoid collection in such pipe of precipitates or slimes forming in the pan. All of the above features cooperate in minimizing the temperature of the water in the valve-float chamber which minimizes the degree of precipitation therein, and the effect of such precipitates as are deposited is reduced by providing relatively powerful force multiplying operating means which are readily adjustable to compensate for the varying weights of such precipitates on the valve operating means. Condensation of such evaporation as does take place in the valve-float chamber is prevented by providing a continuous flow of air through the chamber, the airentering at opposite points of the chamber above the water level by a number of relatively small holes and discharging through a relatively large louvre-like opening axially and centrally in the cover.

' Referring particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates a tank made of corrosion resisting material which is readily shaped to obtain rounded corners and is provided with a cover 6 fitting relatively tightly on the tank. The tank 5 has relatively small holes 5a substantially centrally in the portions of the tank ends above the water level therein, and thecover 5' has a relatively large slot-like opening Ba' axially and centrally of the cover with the cover struck upwardly to form a louvre-like opening. A continuous flow of air is obtained through the chamber which removes water vapor from above the water level therein and tends'to keep all portions of the tank and its cover at ambient temperature. Tank 5 is shown equal in height to the edge of the evaporating pan but is, preferably of a height suflicient only for movement of the valve and its operating means if the water level in the evaporating pan is kept below the then level of the upper edge of the tank.

A valve casing generally designated 1 has a portion 8 extending through an aperture in the bottom of the valve-float chamber 5, 6, and threaded to receive a nut 9 for clamping the easing on gaskets l0 and I I' about the chamber aperture within and outside of the chamber respectively. A washer I2 is interposed between gasket H and nut 9 so that adequate pressure may be applied to the gaskets for sealing the aperture. The valve casing has an inflow passage l6 ending in a boss 11 within a central bore l8 in the casing and has several discharge passages 19 relatively The valve-float chamber is i closely adjacent the bottom of the chamber 5, 6 and discharging to different sides of the valve.

A valve 22 is formed as a plug fitting into the casing bore [8 in freely slidable relation (to be readily lifted at water pressures as low as 40 pounds per sq. in.) and is preferably of a known type having a resilient insert 23 in one end of the plug to seat tightly on the boss [1 upon the exertion of a relatively low pressure on the valve. The other end of the valve is formeda's a stem 24 of relatively small size with a plane end to extend slightly above the valve casing when the valve is seated. Such valves could not heretofore be successfully used in humidifiers because the temperature of the valve was so high as to cause deterioration of the insert. In the present construction, however, the valve temperature is 78 F. at an evaporating pan temperature of F. and 83-88 F. at a pan temperature of 212 F. Even natural rubber will not deteriorate at such low temperatures and the various known elas tomers last indefinitely.

A lever 26 has ears 2? at one end thereof to receive a pin 28 passing through the valve casing 1 and is formed with a rounded boss 29 engageable with the plane end of the valve stem, the other end 30 of such lever extending a considerable distance beyond the valve casing. An-

other lever 34 has ears 35 intermediate the lever ends and such ears likewise receive a pin One ceive a rod 42 on which is fixed a float 43. A.

leverage is thus provided which considerablymultiplies the force obtainable from the float, so that a small float may be used for obtaining a large closing force on the valve.

The plug valve requires a minimum of force for proper seating and such force is applied along the axis of the valve where it is most effective. The lengths of the several levers are so calculated and the lever-s are so related asto multiply the float action much more than is necessary for proper seating of the valve. Hence, even if some minerals precipitate from some of the hard waters encountered, there will be adequate force to seat the valve particularly when the insert is a soft elastomer. It will be noted that the valve and. its leverage are submerged in water thus minimizing the precipitation of minerals and the depositing of slimes on the valve and its leverage. Further, the discharge passages from the valve are preferably so placed as to provide jets directed toward the walls of the tank 5 to promote turbulence about the valve and its leverage which keeps the Valve and contacting leverage parts clear and keeps the valve at an even lower temperature than the remainder of the chamber 5, 6.

A pipe connects the chamber 5, 6 with an evaporating pan 41 to be substantially completely inserted in the plenum chamber of a space heater. The connection is made in such manner as to minimize heat transfer from the evaporating pan or its relatively hot water content, to the chamber by heat insulating the pipe from the pan, by preventing back flow of water from the pan to the chamber and by keeping at least a part of the end of the pipe in the evaporating pan substantially surrounded by a body of cool Water flowing into the pan from the chamber. Oneend48 of such pipe extends into the chamher: ,3 6 and; is:-: bent, downwa'rdiy; into; 511115133111? tially the plane of the cooler water enteringz zthex chamber; through. the: valve discharge passages l9, and the other end 49 of the pipe extends into.. the... evaporating; pam 41-. only sufficiently. to provide for fastening of the pipe to the pan. The pipe thu5-has-arising'gradientover a large portioniof its total length wh-ich prevents: flowot water from, the pan to: thee. chamberraindfiithe end: 49 s of the pipe is atleast :part surrounde ed; by a; body of, cool. water: discharged: from the? pipe to; sink slowly. toward" the bottom-of the! pan. Iti will ,be, noted that. pipe 48;, 49." em; tersz theiwalil aof evaporating; pan 4'! intermedi ate=theabottom of the pamandthe water. level therein and that the pipe end is vertical. Hence no precipitates in the pan can fall into the pipe and it is extremely unlikely that slimes on the water surface in the pan will enter the pipe. Even if the pipe should. receive precipitates or slime, flow through the pipe is only from the chamber to the pan and will flush such materials into the pan.

The aperture in the pan wall and through which the pipe 48, 49 extends is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. Heat insulating gaskets 52 are fitted on the pipe and are pressed on the wall of the evaporating pan by washers 53 and nuts 54 and 55 threaded on the pipe, in

such manner as to hold the pipe in spaced res lation with the edge of the aperture in the evaporating pan wall and thus avoids transfer of heat from such wall to the pipe. The pipe end 49 and nut 55 are surrounded at least in part by a body of cooler water discharging from the pipe so that heat transfer from the water in the pan to the end -49 of the pipe by way of the nut 55, is minimized.

It will thus be seen that various means are employed for minimizing the flow of heat from the evaporator pan and its contents to the valve chamber and of reducing the probability of mineral precipitation in such chamber therein. There can be no flow of water from the evaporating pan to the valve chamber. The condensation of moisture in the valve chamber is prevented by a flow of air which tends to keep the valve chamber and its contents at ambient atmospheric temperature. The valve and its operating means are cooled and always submerged which further minimizes precipitation of minerals thereon. And finally the valve is such as to require only a minimum force for seating but the force obtainable from the operating means is more than adequate for valve seating even if some mineral precipitation occurs on such operating means, and is adjustable.

The present construction provides a number of ways of keeping the float-valve chamber cool to minimize evaporation and the possibility of precipitation of minerals therein by avoiding metal to metal contact between such chamber and the evaporating pan, by curving the pipe between the chamber and the pan to maintain a constant chamber to pan fiow which also prevents minerals and slimes depositing in such pipe, and by making the chamber as small as possible for maximum cooling eifect of the fresh water admitted to the chamber. The minimum size of the chamber is obtained by employing a number of levers for their additive effect to utilize the smallest possible float and so arranging the levers that they are in overlying relation. The leverage is made adjustabl for exact maintenance of valve sensitivity to water level changes valve. surfaces aexposeditorwaterrirr the'rchambers.

and :both .th'e contactingsportionscof.theaaleveragec andbfzthe. valvezareskept submergediat.salhtimess.

Although but; one entb odhnentsofstlie; presents inventionihas been: illustrated: ands. described? J will-be apparent: tow those skillede in the:

various :changesaan d= imodifidationssmay-rbe made: therein withoi-iti departing: from. :the .spiriisof: the;- invention; or from. thee. scope. of a the: amende'dc;

claims...

1. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type, a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporation of water therefrom, the pan having an aperture in the side wall thereof between the bottom of the pan and the minimum water level to be maintained in the pan, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receiving water from a source of supply, a pipe connected with the pan and the chamber for conducting water from the chamber to the pan, one end of the pipe extending through the pan aperture and the other end of the pipe extending through the side wall of and into the chamber to adjacent the bottom thereof and below the said one end of the pipe, means for securing the pipe to the pan in watertight relation therewith, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of water thereinto, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in the chamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

2. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type, a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporation of water therefrom, the pan having an aperture in the side wall thereof between the bottom of the pan and the minimum water level to be maintained in the pan, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receiving water from a source of supply, a pipe extending through the pan aperture and through the chamber side wall for conducting water from the chamber to the pan, the one end of the pipe extending through the pan aperture being substantially perpendicular with the water level in the pan, the other end of the pipe extending below the said one end of the pipe, means for securing the pipe to the pan in water-tight relation therewith, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of water thereinto, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in the chamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

3. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type, a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporating water therefrom, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receiving water from a source of supply, a pipe connecting the pan and the chamber for conducting water from the chamber to the pan, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of water thereinto, the valve being adjacent one end of and on the longitudinal axis of the chamber, the valve discharging the water flowing therethrough adjacent the chamber side wall, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in the chamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

4. In a humidifier for use with an encased furnace of the hot air type, a pan adapted to be positioned within the furnace casing for evaporating water therefrom, a chamber outside of the furnace casing for receiving water from a source of supply, a pipe connecting the pan and the chamber for conducting water from the chamber to the pan, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of water thereinto, the valve being adjacent one end of and on the longitudinal axis of the chamber, the valve having a plurality of water discharge openings adjacent the chamber side wall and adjacent to the bottom of the chamber, the pipe extending through the pan side wall from below the water level in the pan to adjacent the bottom of the chamber and below the water level in the pan, and adjustable means responsive to the water level in the 15 2,427,359

chamber for controlling the operation of the valve.

ARTHUR E. SCHARF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,208,409 Van Evera Dec. 12, 1916 1,555,565 Fuller Sept. 29, 1925 1,557,618 Ritter Oct. 20, 1925 1,641,587 Hilty Sept. 6, 1927 2,247,707 Jordan July 1, 1941 2,292,407 Skerritt Aug. 11, 1942 Kuenhold Sept. 16, 1947

Images