US3155746A

US3155746A - Humidifier

Info

Publication number: US3155746A
Application number: US212955A
Authority: US
Inventors: Banks Raymond
Original assignee: WALTON LAB Inc
Current assignee: WALTON LAB Inc; WALTON LABORATORIES Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-27
Filing date: 1962-07-27
Publication date: 1964-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-03

Description

Nov. 3, 1964 R. BANKS 3,155,746

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R/lYMO/VD B/INKS 6' 140, JM Ma R. BANKS HUMIDIFIER Nov. 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27,

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United States Patent 3,155,746 HUMIDIFIER Raymond Banks, West Paterson, N.J., assignor to Walton Laboratories Inc, Irvington, N.J.., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,955 Claims. (Cl. 261-29) out of mechanism involving individually rugged parts capable of ready manufacture and assembly to furnish a humidifier operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the humidifier;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the several components of the assembly separated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 44 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a desirable valve adjusting mechanism.

In these several views, the numeral 5 indicates the pan or base of the humidifier which provides the liquid reservoir. Supported upon the rim of this pan is cover 6. The latter is provided with one or more outlets 7. In turn, disposed above cover 6 is a deflector ring 8, While above the latter a member 9, preferably in the form of a truncated cone is mounted. Enclosed within member 9 and supporting the same is an apertured air intake casing 10. Its base is defined by an outwardly extending flange 11 and a plate 12.

The parts are conveniently supported in proper positions with respect to each other by providing posts spaced 90 apart. The lower ends of certain of these posts are secured to plate 12 by means of nuts. The posts also serve to support the flange portion of casing 10. Additionally, they extend in supporting relationship with cover 6 as well as deflector 8. Certain of the posts may involve a series of units detachably coupled so as to properly coopcrate with the elements which they support.

Block 14 of vibration absorbing material are conveniently interposed between cover 6 and the upper face of flange 11. Member 9 is mounted in any desired manner upon casing 10. With the parts properly arranged as in FIG. 3 it will be apparent that cover 6 is in substantial sealing relationship with pan 5; a rubber or similar ring 15 being interposed between these parts. Also member 9 has its lower edge spaced from deflector ring 8. The latter is, in turn, spaced from the upper surface of cover 6. Additionally, it is to be noted that deflector ring 8 preferably engages the exterior face of casing 10. Also, flange 11 is provided with one or more openings 16 and cover 6 has an inner edge of a diameter greater than the diameter of casing in the plane of the upper zone of the cover so that an air passage intervenes these parts.

Extending into the base or pan 5 is a water elevating structure. This preferably takes the form of a tube 17 having an unobstructed bore extending downwardly to a point adjacent the pan surface. This tube immovably sup 3,155,745 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 ports a water distributing disc 18. The latter is, in turn, encircled by a water-breaking structure in the form of an annular comb or grille 19. To the upper face of disc 18 an annular series of supports 20 are secured. These, in turn, extend downwardly from a plate 21.

It is obvious that when disc 18 and tube 17 are rotated water will be drawn upwardly through the bore of the latter and distributed over the surface of plate 18. In such distribution, parts 29 and 21 will be of assistance. The water will move with substantial velocity and be thrown in the form of a film against the inner face of grille or comb 19. Accordingly, a large amount of the water will pass through the openings defined by the latter. Excess water will simply run down the inner face of the grille or comb and return to the body of liquid within the base or pan 5.

Disposed within the space defined by casing 10, flange portion 11 and plate 12 is a fan as indicated at 22. It is secured to the shaft .23 of a motor enclosed within the housing 24. That housing extends into casing 16 and is supported in any desired manner against rotation with respect to the latter. The Water elevating and distributing structure as aforedescribed is separate from the air blower or fan 22. It is attached by, for example, a hub 25 to the lower end of the shaft 23. Plate 12 has a central opening of a diameter adequate to accommodate the parts. However, the opening will be sufficiently restricted so that there will be no danger of moisture being drawn upwardly towards the motor.

Plate 12. is. additionally formed with a discharge opening 26. Flow through the latter is controlled by a valve. This conveniently. takes the form of a plate 27 mounted upon a collar 28 maintained against rotation in any desired manner. That collar is provided with a post 29 extending downwardly to have its lower surface ride in engagement with the face of a cam 30. The cam is supported by a shaft 31 secured at its upper end to a knob 32 extending beyond cover 6. It is apparent that as the latter is rotated cam 30 will be similarly moved to raise and lower collar 28 and plate 27; a spring being conveniently housed in knob 32 and acting on post 29 to thrust it against cam 30. Accordingly, the volume of fluid passing through port or opening 26 may be controlled from maximum to a point where no flow occurs.

A preferred and alternative structure for moving the valve plate 27 is shown in FIGURE 5. In that View the same reference numerals have been used to identify the cover 6, flange portion 11, opening 26, plate 27 and knob 32. However, instead of employing a post and cam, a threaded connection exists between knob 32 and this valve. Thus, the numeral 31' indicates a shaft coupled by threads to plate 27. 32' identifies a fixed member extending through an opening in the valve to prevent a turning of the latter. Accordingly, as knob 32 is rotated, it will cause the valve to shift upwardly or downwardly.

It is to be remembered that the cooling of the motor within housing 24 is dependent upon an air flow over the surfaces of the same. Even with plate 27 closing opening 26 this air flow will be maintained. In this connection, it will be observed that air flowing from the surfaces of the motor housing under the influence of fan 22 will escape through the one or more openings 16 in the flange portion 11 of casing 10. Beyond that portion it will flow through a space existing between the inner edge of cover 6 and casing 10 and thence between the cover and deflector 8.

With the motor operating and the parts properly secured, air will flow as indicated by the arrows around the lower edges of member 9 through the openings of casing 10 and between the inner face of the latter and housing 24. With plate 27 lowered the air will flow through opening 26 which is located diametrically opposite the outlet 7. So moving it will pass through the humidifier interior around the grille or comb 19. Simultaneously with this flow, water will be elevated and distributed at high velocity over the surface of disc 18 and beyond the comb or grille. Therefore, the smaller water particles will be intimately commingled with the body of air and evenly dispersed throughout the same to remain in suspension as the air flows toward the outlet or outlets. Accordingly, a properly moisture-saturated condition will be established.

As valve 27 i partially closed, it will be apparent that the velocity of air flow between its body and the adjacent surface of plate 12 will be materially increased. Part of this flow will be in the direction of the Water-distributing structure. Therefore, such air flow as occurs will result in a saturated condition being created even though the total flow is diminished. Under all circumstances the total of humidified air discharged may be regulated with nicety.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier including in combination a pan providing a reservoir, a cover supported upon the rim of said pan, a central opening in said cover, an air intake casing, a cylindrical portion of said air intake casing projecting upwardly through said central opening and spaced from said cover, an annular opening provided by the spacing between said cylindrical portion and said cover, a flanged portion of said air intake casing beneath said cover, air intake apertures formed in said cylindrical portion, a deflector ring peripherally projecting from said cylindrical portion and overlying said annular opening, a conical member spaced from and overlying said air intake apertures and said deflector ring, a motor supported within said cylindrical portion and spaced therefrom, a motor shaft projecting downwardly toward said pan, fan blades mounted on said motor shaft within said air intake casing, a plate portion of said air intake casing beneath said flanged portion, a water elevating and distributing means separately secured to said motor shaft outside of said air intake casing and beneath said plate portion, a cover outlet formed in said cover, a flange aperture formed in said flange portion, a discharge opening formed in said plate portion, adjustable valve means for controlling flow through said discharge opening, a first air flow path provided by said air intake apertures, said flange aperture and said annular opening, a second air flow path past said Water elevating and distributing means, provided by said discharge opening and said cover outlet whereby upon rotation of said motor shaft the quantity of air flowing in said second air flow path may be regulated by adjustment of said valve means.

2. A humidifier in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover outlet and said discharge opening are in diametrically opposed relationship.

3. A humidifier in accordance with claim 2 in which said discharge opening and said cover opening lie in substantially the same plane.

4. A humidifier in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover outlet and said discharge opening lie in substantially the same plane above said elevating and distributing means in diametrically opposed relationship.

5. A humidifier in accordance with claim 4 in which said valve means consists of a plate which is movable to modify the dimensions of said discharge opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,031 9/13 Rankine -2, 261-91 2,051,841 8/36 Gilbert 26128 2,189,021 2/40 Schury 26191 2,638,331 5/53 Herr 261-29 2,984,464 5/61 Herr 261-91 3,044,752 7/62 Flury 26l91 3,110,748 11/63 Myklebust 261-91 FOREIGN PATENTS 112,218 1/18 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

Claims

1. A HUMIDIFIER INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A PAN PROVIDING A RESERVOIR, A COVER SUPPORTED UPON THE RIM OF SAID PAN, A CENTRAL OPENING IN SAID COVER, AN AIR INTAKE CASING, A CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING PROJECTING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND SPACED FROM SAID COVER, AN ANNULAR OPENING PROVIDED BY THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SAID COVER, A FLANGED PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING BENEATH SAID COVER, AIR INTAKE APERTURES FORMED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION, A DEFLECTOR RING PERIPHERALLY PROJECTING FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND OVERLYING SAID ANNULAR OPENING, A CONICAL MEMBER SPACED FROM AND OVERLYING SAID AIR INTAKE APERTURES AND DEFLECTOR RING, A MOTOR SUPPORTED WITHIN SAIC CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SPACED THEREFROM, A MOTOR SHAFT PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAIDSAID PAN, FAN BLADES MOUNTED ON SAID MOTOR SHAFT WITHIN SAID AIR INTAKE CASING, A PLATE PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING BENEATH SAID FLANGED PORTION, A WATER ELEVATING AND DISTRIBUTING MEANS SEPARATELY SECURED TO SAID MOTOR SHAFT OUTSIDE OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING AND BENEATH SAID PLATE PORTION, A COVER OUTLET FORMED IN SAID COVER, A FLANGE APERTURE FORMED IN SAID FLANGE PORTION, A DISCHARGE OPENING FORMED IN SAID PLATE PORTION, ADJUSTABLE VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, A FIRST AIR FLOW PATH PROVIDED BY SAID AIR INTAKE APERTURES, SAID FLANGE APERTURE AND SAID ANNULAR OPENING, A SECOND AIR FLOW PATH PAST SAID WATER ELEVATING AND DISTRIBUTING MEANS, PROVIDED BY SAID DISCHARGE OPENING AND SAID COVER OUTLET WHEREBY UPON ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR SHAFT THE QUANTITY OF AIR FLOWING IN SAID SECOND AIR FLOW PATH MAY BE REGULATED BY ADJUSTMENT OF SAID VALVE MEANS.