US2984464A - Humidifying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1961 P. A. HERR HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1957 INVENTOR Sad 61 5PM V ATTORN En. 1S 4 May 16, 1961 P. A. HERR HUMIDIF'YING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 511m 61. Ewe/v0,

hm NM g m May 16, 1961 P. A. HERR HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20, 1957 INVENTOR 1r 51.1% BY May 16, 1961 P. A. HERR HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 20, 1957 INVENTOR tes My invention relates broadly to humidifying systems and more particularly to an improved construction of humidifying apparatus.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of improved humidifier particularly adapted for plenum operation which eliminates any possibility of water running down inside the plenum.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of plenum humidifier having a driving motor which is fan cooled in the outside air out of contact with the humidified air of the plenum.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of impeller for the centrifugal atomization of water in the humidifier for disseminating particles of water very effectively into the circulating air of a plenum.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple disc atomizing impeller for humidifiers by which water may be broken down into particles and diffused into the circulating air of a plenum with high efficiency.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of humidifier including a centrifugal pump adapted to pick up water from the bottom of the humdifier housing for transmission to an impeller without vortexing and thereby more effectively atomizing the water into the circulatory path of the plenum.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of improved humidifier including a driving motor operating an impeller device wherein a zone of air of substantially toroidal contour is provided around the driving motor and the plenum sealed in spaced relation to the driving motor whereby the motor operates in atmospheric air remote from the moisture in the plenum.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the improved assembly of the humidifying device with respect to the driving motor operating in atmospheric air as set forth more fully in the specifications hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the improved humidifier of my invention looking toward the front of the humidifier casing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the humidifier of my invention looking toward the rear thereof, which connects with the plenum;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view-through the humidifier of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryend view of the water pump leading to the impeller, the view being broken away and shown in section illustrating the tube which leads to the eye of the impeller;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the end of the water Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the manner of supporting the diifusing screen adjacent the periphery of the double disc impeller;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the central portion of the double disc impeller and showing the connection thereof to the water pump;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view on line 14-14 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the spacer member extending between the pump and the shaft of the driving motor for operating the impeller;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective View of the spacer member which extends between the discs of the double disc impeller;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of part of the fan assembly connected with the lower disc of the impeller;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view showing in plan the flow control float valve for governing the flow of feed water to the humidifier; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line 19-19 of Fig. 18 with certain of the parts shown in elevation.

My invention is directed to an improved construction of humidifier in which the driving motor unit is fan cooled and operates independently of the moisture or temperature of the furnace in a warm air heating system or air conditioning system. I provide a two section casing including a bottom water reservoir section and a top air distribution section which forms a toroidal zone for the humidified air spaced from a toroidal zone of atmospheric air which surrounds the driving motor so that the driving motor operates in atmospheric air and is not subjected to the moisture of the humidified air of the plenum. The top air distribution section is sealed with respect to the bottom water reservoir section so that there is no leakage of air from the toroidal zone of air about the driving motor into the plenum. A double disc impeller is provided connected at the eye thereof with a water pump depending into the Water in the bottom water reservoir section, and operating to deliver the water to the double impeller without causing the water to vortex. On the discharge side I provide a drier plate which eliminates any posibility of solid water running down inside the plenum. The driving motor breathes only the outside air and not the humidified air of the plenum, thereby protecting the motor windings and the parts of the motor against attack from moisture. The assembly of the components of the humidifier is such that parts may be readily replaced with minimum labor and expense. The sections of the humidifier are broken down into unit assemblies which enables individual parts to be replaced without the replacement of complete subassemblies. The motor is efiectively cooled by a fan in outside air supplemented by a shield which induces a flow of air over the entire motor casing.

Referring to the drawings in more detail reference character 1 designates the bottom water reservoir section to which the top air distribution section 2 is adapted to be removably connected. The bottom water reservoir section 1 has a transversely extending end wall 3 at one end thereof defining with the curved side wall of the bottom water reservoir section 1 the reservoir for water indicated at 4. There is a water intake for continuously filling the water reservoir 4 to a predetermined level as shown by the water intake connection 5 with which there is associated the float valve 6. The float valve 6 includes an arm 7 connected to the float 6A and connected to the adjustable bracket 8 which is adjustably fastened by means of wing nut 9 to determine the proper angle between bracket 8 and arm 7 for actuating the valve controlling the flow of feed Water from water intake 5 to the water reservoir 4. The water intake 5 terminates in a block shaped header 11 containing a water feed orifice in the top thereof, against which the valve seal 10 is pressed by bracket 8 moving about pivot 13. As the water level falls in reservoir 4 arm 7 tilts downwardly about pivot 13 raising valve seal 1t from the top orifice in block 11 permitting entry of the feed water into reservoir 4 until the level of water therein moves float 6A upwardly for correspondingly moving arm 7 and thus moving adjustable bracket 8 to a position in which valve seal 10 again presses against the top orifice in block 11 sealing the water intake against further entry of water into reservoir 4 until it is necessary to restore the level of water in reservoir 4. A water discharge pipe 12 connects to reservoir 4 so that water is discharged as required while maintaining the level of the water in the reservoir.

The plenum end of the bottom water reservoir section 1 is shown at 16 which is the intake from the plenum. A transverse frame 14 extends across the plenum end 16 to provide a guide for the replaceable filter screen which is replaceable through a slot in the side wall of the bottom water reservoir section 1 beyond the end wall 3, as shown more clearly at 1A in Fig. 4.

The top of the bottom water reservoir section 1 is closed by a horizontally extending plate 17 conforming with the contour of the top of the bottom water reservoir section 1 and is provided with a central aperture 17A through which the depending cylindrical housing 18 is adapted to be lowered. The depending cylindrical housing 18 has an upwardly projecting annular rim 19 terminating in an annular peripheral edge 20 which rests upon the top of the bottom wall reservoir section 1 shown at 17, and serving to close the central aperture 17A therein. The depending cylindrical housing 18 has the bottom thereof shown at 21 terminating in an annular intake opening 22 for the passage of air into the top air distribution section 2, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The bottom of the depending cylindrical housing 18 shown at 21 serves as a support for the feet of the tripod represented at 23, 24 and fastened at 23A, 24A and 25A and supporting the cast bronze motor base 26. The motor base 26 has a central recess 27 therein, for receiving the frame of the motor 28, which is fastened therein by screws 29. The motor base 28 is provided with a multiplicity of concentrically arranged steps disposed on differing diameters indicated at 30. These steps accommodate and coact with a bulbular trim seal of resilient material shown at 31, carried by the inner cylindrical wall 32 of the top air distribution section 2.

The top air distribution section 2 is formed by an enclosing wall conforming in shape to the wall of the bottom water reservoir section 1 and enclosing therein a substantially toroidal shaped path for the passage of air to the plenum. The top of the top air distribution section 2 is closed by a cover 33 conforming in shape with the side wall of the top air distribution section 2 and having a central depending annular flange 34 which enters the top portion of the upwardly extending cylindrical wall 32 thereby completing the toroidal shaped passage for air discharged from the open top of the depending cylindrical housing 18 into the toroidal shaped passage which I have designated at 35, leading to the plenum. A drier plate 36 is located adjacent the outlet of the top air distribution section 2 indicated at 37 leading to the plenum. This drier plate 36 is arch shaped and is stamped from flat sheet and spot welded to the upper portion of the bonnet adjacent the discharge end of the plenum. This drier plate has a large radius opening and absolutely elimiriates any possibility of solid water running down inside the plenum. The plate is inclined inwardly toward the top of the bottom water reservoir section for directing any water downwardly for gravitation through apertures 38 and 39.

The driving motor 28 heretofore described, as mounted on the motor base 26, drives on its upper end the rotary fan 40 in a position beneath a jacket 41 which forms a hood for the direction of cooling air over the motor 28. The jacket 41 is apertured at 42 for the entry of cooling air and is spaced from the outside wall of the casing of the motor 28 by radially extending fins 43 which direct the cooling air over the entire exterior of the motor 28. The air circulates in an annular zone around the outside wall of jacket 41 and within the inside wall 32 of the top air distribution section 2 in the position I have represented by zone 44 which is a toroidal path around the inside of wall 32, and around the outside of jacket 41. Thus the motor is subjected to cooling in atmospheric air and is not subjected to the moisture incidental to humidified air which has a tendency of attacking the motor windings and other component motor parts.

Atomization is accomplished by means of a lift pump of improved construction and a pair of disc-like impellers driven by the shaft 45 of motor 28. A flanged sleeve is set on the end of motor shaft 45 as represented at 46. This sleeve 46 is longitudinally fluted as represented at 47, in Figs. 11-15, and also shown in Fig. 3 for the passage of fluid to the space between impeller discs 48 and 49 so that the fluid is broken down into a thin film moving outwardly in the space 50 between the discs 48 and 49 under the action of centrifugal force. The disc 48 carries a central spacing sleeve 51 thereon, shown more clearly in Fig. 16, with V-shaped recesses 52 therein, aligned with the flutes 47 in sleeve 46 whereby the fluid is distributed from the flutes 4-7 through the V-shaped recesses 52 whereby a thin film of fluid is delivered to the space 50 between impeller discs 48 and 49. An annular flange 53 is welded or otherwise connected with the sleeve 46 for securing the assembly of discs 48 and 49 in spaced relation. The assembly of discs is set in position by means of the set screw 54 which passes through an aligned aperture 55 in the pump cylinder 56 and enters a screw threaded recess in the sleeve 46 for effecting a grip with respect to motor shaft 45. The impeller disc 49 also has a fan blade impeller 57 associated therewith in the assembly with fan blade 58, shown more particularly in Fig. 17, depending therefrom and operating as a stirrer or agitator for the air as it passes through the intake opening 22 and around the inside of the depending cylindrical housing 18 and into the toroidal path 35 in the top air distribution section 2 in the course of the passage of the air to the plenum through the outlet 37. The lower end of the pump cylinder 56 is provided with a fluid pickup consisting of a cap 59 having radially extending outwardly protruding composite buckets and fluid inlets 61, 62 and 63, shown more clearly in Figs. 7-9 and in Fig. 3. These composite slits and buckets scoop up the water into the pump cylinder 36 and the pressure head developed by the centrifugal force of the fluid in the gap between discs 48 and 49 forces the fluid into the eye of the impeller where it is delivered in a thin film and forced in a centrifugally outward direction through the circular screen 64 and impacted against the interior of the wall of the depending cylindrical housing 18 while the flow of the air rushing through the intake opening 22 under the influence of fan blades 58 picks up the fluid particles and commingles the particles with the air which is delivered in a humidifiedcondition to the toroidal zone 35 and thereafter forced past drier plate 36 to the outlet 37 leading to the plenum. The screen 64 is suspended in a cylindrical path from the motor base 26 by suspension hooks shown more clearly in Fig. 10 at 65. The hook 65 in each instance embraces the tops of the tripod feet 23, 24 and 25, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10. The hooks 65 are U-shaped and have their depending ends turned upwardly, as represented at 66 in Fig. 10, to suspend the circular screen 64 therein.

'For the most effective operation I have found that the discs 48 and 49 should have a radially disposed outwardly extending angular inclination of 5 from a flat plane. The fan 57 is also provided with the same outwardly extending inclination which I have found effective in coaction with the arrangement of the atomizing disc assembly.

Electrical connection is established to driving motor 28 through flexible lead 67 shown in Fig. 3 anchored to the casing of motor 28 as shown at 68 and extending to a convenient electrical receptacle through a sealed grommet in the side wall of the top air distribution section 2. The motor base 26 is provided with appropriate radially extending recesses for the fitting of an oil cup to enable the motor to be lubricated from time to time. The jacket 41 is also provided with a suitable opening for an oil feed cup leading to the upper end of the motor shaft for permitting lubrication from time to time. Both of these openings are appropriately covered by a pneumatic sealer The structure of my invention has been developed from the point of view of ease bf servicing and replacement of parts for maintenance, and from the viewpoint of efiiciency in operation where the driving motor is preserved against adverse influences of moisture and humidificd air. I have found the structure of my invention as set forth herein highly practical and satisfactory in operation and while I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments I realize that modifications may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A humidifying apparatus comprising a bottom water reservoir section having side opening air inlet means to permit the passage of air over the water in the water reservoir section, a top air distribution section mounted upon the bottom water reservoir section in superposed relation thereto and having a top wall and a side wall, said side wall having air outlet opening means, a depressed housing suspended within the upper portion of the bottom water reservoir section and spaced above the water therein and having a bottom wall provided with a central opening for the upward passage of air in the bottom water reservoir section, a motor support plate of lesser diameter than said depressed housing fixedly mounted within the depressed housing near the top of the latter and concentric therewith, a motor mounted upon the support plate and extending thereabove and disposed bodily within said top air distribution section, an inverted cup-like bafile covering the top of said motor and surrounding the side Wall of the motor and spaced therefrom and having its lower end open and spaced above said motor mounting plate, the top wall of said bafile having atmospheric air inlet openings, an interior wall for said top air distribution section dependingly secured to the top wall thereof in spaced surrounding relation to said bafile and having its lower end in sealing engagement with the motor mounting plate and defining with the side wall of the top air distribution section a first substantially annular air passage and defining with the side wall of said baflle a second substantially annular air passage, said second air passage being open at its top and communicating with the atmosphere, a water lift pump dependingly secured to the armature shaft of said motor and projecting into the water in said bottom water reservoir section and extending through said opening of the depressed housing and adapted to convey water upwardly, and an impeller carried by said pump within said depressed housing for centrifugally atomizing water therein and projecting the atomized water radially outwardly of the impeller within the depressed housing for mixture with air passing upwardly therethrough, said impeller comprising a pair of closely spaced superposed slightly downwardly conically tapering discs of substantial diameter but considerably smaller in diameter than the side wall of the depressed housing, air impeller means dependingly secured to the lowermost disc of said pair for drawing air through said depressed housing, and air circulating fan means carried by the top of said motor within said inverted cup-like battle.

2. A humidifying apparatus comprising a bottom water reservoir section having air inlet opening means, a top air distribution section mounted upon said water reservoir section and having substantially the same horizontal cross sectional configuration as the water reservoir section, said top air distribution section having outer and inner concentrically arranged separated air passages, said inner air passage communicating with the atmosphere at the top of said top air distribution section, a depressed housing of lesser diameter than said bottom water reservoir section dependingly secured therein and being open at its top and in communication with said outer air passage of the top air distribution section and having a bottom wall provided with a central opening communicating with the interior of the bottom water reservoir section, said outer air passage of the top air distribution section having an air outlet, a motor mounting plate secured within the top portion of said depressed housing and being smaller in diameter than said housing and forming a closure for the bottom of said inner air passage of the top air distribution section, a motor mounted upon said mounting plate and disposed bodily within said inner air passage of the top air distribution section, an inverted cup-like baffle secured to said motor and extending about the top and sides thereof in spaced relation thereto and having air inlet opening means in its top wall and being open at its bottom near and above said mounting plate, a water lifting pump dependingly secured to the armature shaft of said motor and extending through said central opening in the bottom wall of the depressed housing and projecting into the water in said bottom water reservoir section, and a combined water atomizing and air impeller secured to said pump within the depressed housing for rotation with the pump and said armature shaft and spaced below said mounting plate and adapted to impel atomized water and air radially outwardly within the depressed housing so that the air and atomized water may commingle therein before passing upwardly to the outer air passage of the top air distribution section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,415 Feldermann Nov. 26, 1935 2,030,454 Kresser Feb. 11, 1936 2,047,025 Gilbert July 7, 1936 2,114,780 Juelson Apr. 19, 1938 2,189,021 Schury Feb. 6, 1940 2,591,057 Feldermann Apr. 1, 1952 2,607,571 Hession Aug. 19, 1952 2,766,027 Herr Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 317,049 Switzerland Dec. 29, 1956 445,889 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1936 483,876 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1938 501,002 Italy Nov. 22, 1954

Images