US2766027A - Apparatus for controlling humidity conditions in air - Google Patents

Description

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P. A. HERR Oct. 9, 1956 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITY CONDITIONS 2l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY AIR P. A. HERR f Oct. 9, 1956 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITY CONDITIONS IN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2l, 1953 Oct. 9, 1956 P. A. HERR APPARATUS FOR coNTRoLLING HUMIDITY Filed oct. 21, 195s.

CONDITIONS IN AIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 oct. 9, 1956 P. A. HERR/ 2,766,027

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITY CONDITIONS IN AIR Filed Oct. 2l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 L* 5 a 559 Q? l 'l @u l j INVENTOR FE1 5 @mM/5 9g/wa, i-/ Y BY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLIN G HUMIDITY CONDITIONS IN AIR Paul A. Herr, Neifsville, Pa. Application October 21, 1953, Serial No. 387,343 2 Claims. (Cl. 26.1-91) My invention relates broadly to apparatus for controlling humidity conditions in air and more particularly the balance of the air stream.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of plenum humidifier which includes a motorthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a plenum and the humidifier of my invention with certain of the arent 2,766,027 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 through the lower portion of the atomizer unit on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the rotor of the atomizer unit; y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rotor taken n line 8 8 of Fig. 7, and showing the motor-driven shaft in transverse section; p l

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View through the rotor taken substantially on line 9 -9 of Fig. 7; l

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view through the lower terminus of the rotor and illustrating particularly the construction of the fluid intake for the rotor; the insert for the end of the intake pipe being illustrated in the position ready to be assembled in the lower vend of the intake pipe;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the insert and the end of the intake pipe in assembled relation;

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the insert for the end of the intake pipe, where the insert is eut away and yillustrated in vertical section;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view through the intake pipe on line 13*13 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view through the hub of the rotor on line 1414 of Fig. 7.;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a portion of the -atomizing screen associated with the rotor on line 15-15 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the atomizing screen;

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 17-17 0f Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the manner of installing the plenum humidifier of my invention with relation to a furnace; and

Fig. 19 is a typical wiring and assembly diagram showing the manner in which the plenum humidifier of my invention is 4arranged to control the humidity of air force flowed through an air-conditioning system.

My invention is directed to apparatus for controlling central area for operation of the intake and discharge functions of the humidifier.

'through flanges 5 and securing screws or bolts and nuts represented at 6. The reservoir includes a top portion 9 which is provided with a lateral reinforcement at 8 substantially coplanar with the side wall of the plenum and contiguous with the deector 7 which proiects into the air distributing duct 1 for gathering a portion of the force flow of air therethrough and directing the force ow of air into the reservoir. The top portion 9 of the reservoir includes a channelled peripheral edge 10 which engages the upstanding edge of the reservoir 4 around which the gasket 11 fits and serves as a seat for the shaped hood 12. The shaped hood 12 is provided with a sealing channel 14 at its lower edge which engages the sealing gasket 11 which envelopes the upstanding edge 10 of the reservoir. The hood 12 is attachable to the side wall of the plenum 1 by means of screws or bolts and nuts 13 extending through flanges 12a and fastened to the marginal edges of the opening 3 in the furnace plenum 1.

The top portion 9 has a central aperture 1S therein through which the atomizing unit 16 is mounted. The atomizing unit 16 is provided with a multiplicity of spaced block supports 17, 13, 19 and 20, each including resilient mounts 17a, 18a, 19a and 20a which are mounted adjacent ribs 17h, 18b, 190 and 20h disposed radially beneath the annular downturned rim 21 of the atomizing unit. The rim 21 is integrally molded as part of the depending cylindrical housing 22 of the atomizing unit, drain apertures 22a and 22b being provided in the base of the housing. The depending cylindrical housing 22 includes inwardly extending pedestals or ribs indicated more clearly in Figl 5 at 23, 24, 2S and 26 molded internally with the housing 22 with the aid of recessed core apertures, indicated in Fig. 4 at 23a, 24a, 25a and 26a. The pedestals or ribs 23-26 serve as peripheral seats for the motor mounting plate 27 which contains radially eX- tending lugs 27a, 27 b, 27e and 27d, shown more clearly in Fig. 2, disposed in radial alignment with the pedestals or ribs 23, 24, 25 and 26 secured by means of bolts and cap screws 231), 24h, 25h and 26b in a position peripherally spaced from the interior wall of the depending cylindrical housing 22. The bolts 23h-26h have their heads molded within the pedestals 2.3-26 and have their threaded ends extending upwardly through the lugs 27a-27d and engaged by removable cap screws. The motor mounting plate 27 has a central aperture 27f therein through which the hub 30 and shaft 31 of the driving motor 28 extends. The driving motor is secured to plate 27 by means of bolts 29. The motor mounting plate 27 is provided with a central seat 27e which insures a solid support for the motor. The outer portion of the motor mounting plate 27 terminates in a downwardly depending skirt 27g which forms a mounting means for the resilient skirt 55 on atomizer screen S4 which extends downwardly in the housing formed between motor mounting plate 27 and the bottom of the cylindrical housing 22.

The depending shaft 31 is provided with a key way 31a by means of which the rotor 32 is secured to shaft 31. The rotor 32 is molded from plastic and has a central bore 33 extending therethrough for receiving shaft 31, the bore 33 being formed in hub 34 which is disposed immediately below a frusto-conical portion or inclined face 35 of rotor 32 which connects with the flat circular disc 42 of the rotor. There are passages 36 formed in the hub 34 for the passage of narrow needle-like columns of water which are pumped from the reservoir 4 beneath the atomizer unit. Disc 42 is adjusted in its position on shaft 31 by set screw 37 which extends through hub 34 on an angle that is accessible from a position beneath the rotor for adjustment of disc 42 to enable the disc 42 to be centered within the housing formed between the bottom of cylindrical housing 22 and the motor mounting plate 27. Fluid is picked up from reservoir 4 by means of depending central tube 38 whose lower teminus is shown more clearly in Figs. 10-13 as including an intake orifice 39 containing an intake aperture 40 associated with an inclined guide wall 41. When the terminus of the tube 38 containing the pickup intake orifice 39 is revolved at high speed by driving motor 28 the fluid is skimmed from the pool of uid 46 and by centrifugal action of the inclined guide wall 41, the column of fluid is lifted through tube 38 and forced in columns through passages 36 where it is distributed by disc 42 for subsequent atomization. The disc 42 is provided with blades 43 on the lower surface thereof which operate as a centrifugal pump for extracting a portion of the air flowing through the furnace plenum 1. The blades 43 are arranged on disc 42 in such positions that they coact with the central aperture 44 in the bottom of the depending cylindrical housing 22 for drawing the air from plenum 1 through the lter shown at 63 and over the confining partition wall 45 of reservoir 4 and through the central aperture 44 for distribution through the atomizer screen 54, and through the annular passages 56 between the upper wall of the depending cylindrical housing 22 and the peripheral edge of the motor mounting plate 27 and in a path beneath hood 12 through aperture 3 where it is returned to the force ow of air in plenum 1. The air as it is force owed in the plenum 1 through the central aperture 44 passes over the surface of the fluid 46 in reservoir 4, and picks up moisture therefrom.

The level of the uid 46 in reservoir 4 is regulated by oat valve 47 carried on angularly movable float valve arm 48 for controlling valve 49 connected to fluid supply 50, leading to pipe line S1 to shut-oil valve 52. A suitable overflow 53 is provided in one side of the reservoir 4. A drain connection 57 is provided in the bottom of reservoir 4 connected to drain pipe 58 in which there may be a shut-ott valve S9, as shown in Fig. 19. The power circuit shown at 60 may be connected in various ways through the humidistat 61 to the furnistat 62 from which circuit connections 28a extend to the driving motor 28. Thus the motor is energized whenever conditions call for increased moisture and the driving motor 28 is initiated in operation, pumping moist air through aperture 44 and pumping liquid through depending tube 38 from the liuid 46 in reservoir 4 where it is atomized by being sprayed in a thin film which moves up inclined wall 35 and -s distributed in a thin iilm along the surface of ilat disc 42 where it is spattered against the atomizer screen S4 in droplets which are broken down into a fine mist which is force flowed through passages 56 under the hood 12 and returned through aperture 3 to the plenum 1 where it mixes with the balance of the air being force flowed through plenum 1.

The air which is force flowed through plenum 1 is heated and is forced under pressure through the vertically extending duct indicated in Fig. 18. Only a portion of the heated air which is owing at high velocity through the plenum 1 is skimmed off from the main body 'of the air owing through plenum 1 for treatment by the humidifier of my invention. This portion of the air after humidication is returned to the main body of the air in plenum 1 at a location displaced from the position at which the air is treated from the plenum 1 in the direction of the flow of the air through plenum 1.

A lter 63 is interposed between the air intake to the humidifier and the air passage between the upper edge of the confining partition wall 45 and the aperture 44 leading to the atomizer unit. The filter 63 is constructed in the form of a slide which operates in a guide 64 which enables the filter to be readily removed and renewed from time to time.

The driving motor 28 may be connected in a variety of ways to the humidistat through the furnistat and the diagram shown in Fig. 19 is merely representative of one of several different arrangements and is to be considered in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense.

I have found the humidier of my invention and the method of operation thereof highly eliicient and practhereof, the two parts of said casing constituting upper tical, d while I have described my invention in certain and lower compartments, means for attaching each of embodiments I realize that modifications may be made the two parts of said casing isi horizontal positions coverand I desire that it be understood that no limitations ing the opening in the side of said duct, said lower comupon my invention are intended other than may be impartment including a uid reservoir oifset from the lowei posed by the scope of the appended claims. portion of the opening in said duct, an air ilter dis- What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters posed intermediate the said lower portion of said open- Patent of the United States, is as follows: ing and said iluid reservoir, a horizontally extending 1. In a humidifying system, a vertically extending air plate engageable over the peripheral edge of said uid distributing duct having an opening at one side thereof, reservoir and projecting into said duct and forming a a humidifier attached over the opening in the side of means for skimming a portion of the air -stream from said air distributing duct and projecting horizontally said duct and diverting the air stream into said lowei therefrom and comprising a reservoir for fluid, an air compartment, means supported by said plate for atomizintake disposed above said reservoir adjacent the opening the iluid in said reservoir while allowing the forced ing in the lower portion of the side of said air distributiiow of the diverted air stream into said upper coining duct, a filter interposed between said air intake and partment, the upper part of said casing comprising a one side of said reservoir immediately above the surface hood detachably engaging at its horizontal edges the of the uid therein, an atomizer unit, means for atomizperipheral edge of said plate and said lower comparting the fluid in said reservoir, means for mixing air exment, and detachably engaging along its vertical edges tracted from said air distributing duct with the atomized the marginal portions of said duct around the openinfy uid, a hood forming part of said humidifier for directin the side thereof said hood operating to direct the ing the muted air and atomized fluid into the air disatomized air in a direction of flow reversed with respect tributing duct through the upper portion of the aforeto the direction of entry of the air into said lower comsaid opening in the side of said duct at a position above partment for returning the atomized air to the air stream said air intake, said means for mixing air extracted from within said duct in a position immediately adjacent the said air distributing duct with the atomized Huid being entry of the skimmed portion of the air stream into said supported over rsaid reservoir by a horizontal plate which lower compartment. divides said humidifier into two compartments and wherein said last mentioned means includes a rotary pressure References Cited in the file 0f tl'lS Patent feed device having a central passage for air immediately above the surface of the uid in said reservoir, the said UNITED STATES PATENTS plate extending beyond the limits of said reservoir and 2,006,627 Cairncross July 2, 1935 into said air distributing duct and forming a deector 2,035,628 Whitmer et al. Mar. 31, 1936 for directing air into said air intake and guiding the 2,143,628 Lea Jan. 10, 1939 humidied air from said hood into said air distributing 2,187,778 Gardner Ian. 23, 1940 duct. 2,242,802 Stramaglia May 10, 1941 2. In a humidifying system, a two-part casing, a verti- 2,379,932 Schoepin et al. July 10, 1945 cally extending air distributing duct for confining the 2,399,862 Feldermann May 7, 1946 ow of an air stream and having an opening in the side 2,524,160 Caduti Oct. 3, 1950

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