US3268169A - Combination heating and humidifying device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1966 N. DE BREE 3,263,169

COMBINATION HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING'DEVICE Filed June 9, 1964 1 fiz ezzfor fife/$022 fieflfee United States Patent 3,268,169 COMBINATION HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Nelson De Bree, Portage Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., assignor to Portage Engineering Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a partnership Filed June 9, 1964, Ser. No. 373,805 3 Claims. (Cl. 237-78) The present invention relates to apparatus for heating and humidifying air Within a building, and is particularly concerned with such apparatus designed for use in conjunction with a hot Water heating system, often called a hydrouilc system, and especially with the currently popular baseboard type of heating system.

Heating of homes by means of circulating hot water is highly desirable, since it permits uniform control of temperature and provides heat free from fumes and air pollution sometimes encountered with hot air convection systems. Moreover, with modern baseboard heating structures, heat exchange units are provided which do not materially detract from the decor of the interior of a home. However, hot water heating systems have the disadvantage that, since heat is provided solely by means of conduction and radiation, the humidity of the ambient air cannot be directly controlled by the introduction of moisture into the heating system itself. As a result, separate humidifying means are ordinarily required to maintain the air within a room or building heated by a hot water system at the proper humidity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for humidifying the air of a building heated by a hot water system. It is a further object to provide such an apparatus which may be utilized in conjunction with an existing or usual heating system. It is still a further object to provide such an apparatus which is relatively simple to construct and operate, and relatively foolproof in its operation, so that little personal attention is required during its normal operation. It is another object .to provide a combination apparatus of the type described which may also be utilized as a heating means for a particular room of the building, obviating the need for a separate heating unit in the room in addition to the humidifier.

The accomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

According to the invention, a combined heater and humidifier to be utilized with a hot water heating system is provided having a housing comprising a water tank in its lower portion and an air chamber in its upper portion. Two heating circuits are provided which are connected to the main heating system. One circuit is provided to heat the water in the tank. A second circuit comprises a heat exchange unit mounted in the air chamber. A fan is provided for circulating air through the housing. The fan may be conveniently connected to a suitable control such as the main heating system water pump electrical circuit. A baflle means is provided to deflect the air current produced by the fan and to prevent it from striking the water surface directly. The heat exchange unit normally heats the air in the air chamber which is then circulated into the room by the fan. When demanded by a humidity sensing or sensitive device, e.g., a humidistat, hot water is caused to circulate through the heating circuit in the tank, heating'the Water contained therein and causing it to be vaporized into the air to increase the relative humidity of the air within the buildmg.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section of the combined heater and humidifier according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-section of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of the invention, wherein all of the parts are numbered and wherein the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in a preferred embodiment comprising a housing 1 formed of a water reservoir 2 and a cover 3 defining an air chamber. The water reservoir and cover are affixed together by means of a flange 4 provided on the water reservoir 2 and a flange 5 provided on the cover 3. The flanges are secured together by suitable means such as bolts 6. A fan housing 7 is suitably mounted on the cover 3. Within the fan housing a motor 8 is afiixed by means of a motor bracket 9 and has a fan blade 10 affixed to the end of the shaft 11 thereof. A bafile plate 12 is mounted by suitable means at the top of the reservoir 2 and positioned below the fan housing 7. The baffle plate 12 preferably extends across the width of the reservoir and over a portion, e.g., a little over one-half, of its length. The size of the baffie plate is not critical and can be made substantially smaller or larger than that shown. The function of the baflle plate is to prevent the air current from the fan from striking the surface of the water within the reservoir directly, especially at an angle normal thereto, and consequently causing too much water to be entrained and discharged via the air current. The cover 3 is provided with a vent 13 comprising an opening in the cover at the end opposite that at which the motor housing is positioned (and has a suitable protective means in the form of a screen 14 over the opening). The water reservoir 2 is provided at one end with a water inlet 15 controlled by a conventional float valve assembly, designated generally as 16, actuated by a float, or equivalent means to maintain the desired water level within the reservoir 2.

The heating means is mounted in the cover 3 and comprises a hot water inlet 18 and outlet 19. A water conduit 20 is arranged to be immersed in the Water of the reservoir 2 when the cover 3 is affixed thereto for heating the water. A flow valve 21 operated by electrical means such as a solenoid is positioned at the inlet of the condui-t 20. It may be' connected electrically to a humidity sensitive device such as a humidistat 25 connected to an electrical source 26 and placed in a critical part of the building. Air heating is accomplished by means of av heat exchange loop 22 comprised of a water conduit 23 having radiating fins 24 afiixed thereto.

The apparatus of the invention is placed in operation by connecting the float valve assembly 16 to a Water supply. The water heating inlet 18 and outlet 19 are connected to the central heating system utilized for heating the building. The flow valve 21 is connected to a humidity sensitive device such as a humidistat. The fan motor may be connected to the circuit which supplies current to the pump motor utilized to pump the Water through the central system. Alternatively it may be actuated by means of a suitably placed thermostat.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the heating liquid such as hot water circulates through the heat exchange loop 22 whenever, in response to the demand of the central thermostat, the central motor pump causes the heated liquid to be circulated. The fan motor 8 may be similarly controlled and causes the heated and/or humidified air within the air chamber to be circulated through the vent 13 and into the room to be heated or humidified.

When the humidity of the air surrounding the humidity sensitive device is at or above the value for which the device has been set, the flow valve 21 remains closed and the water reservoir 2 remains substantially at room temperature. Since the flow of air within the chamber is indirect with respect to the surface of the water, as a result of the shielding action of the baflle plate 1 2, no substantial amount of water vapor is added to the heated air circulated from the housing. However, when the value of the relative humidity goes below that for which the humidity sensitive device is set, the flow valve 21 is opened, permitting heated water to flow through the conduit 21 and causing the water within the reservoir 2 to be heated. As a result, the heated water within the reservoir evaporates at an accelerated'rate, increasing the water vapor content of the circulated air. When the humidified air has circulated through the building and raised the relative humidity to the value for which the humidity sensitive device has been set, the flow valve 21 is again closed and the apparatus of the invention once again functions only as a heater Although the invention has been illustrated in the drawings only in the form of a preferred embodiment, many variation-s will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example, the baflle p-alte 12 may be made in various shapes and sizes and may be placed in various positions. The prime requirement is that the air introduced by the fan be deflected or directed so that it does not directly strike the surface of the water within the reservoir. For example, an elbow conduit may extend into the air chamber defined by the cover and direct the air flow so that it is substantially parallel with the surface of the water at the time it leaves the conduit. Alternatively, the tan housing may be mounted at the end of the cover so that it directs an air flow parallel to the surface of the water. Alternatively, although not preferred, the fan may be geared to a very slow speed of rotation, in which case the baffle may be omitted.

In the embodiment shown, wherein the housing is provided in the form of two shells secured together at their flanges by bolts, the apparatus may be readily disassembled to remove scale and other sediment from the conduit 20, which forms during the normal period of operation. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided in the form of a unitary housing which has a removable cover or panel at its top or end, through which the conduit may be cleaned. The fan motor 8 may be actuated by a room thermostat, by the main water pump circuit, or by any other suitable means. It may even be permitted to run continuously, with the heat supply being controlled solely by the central hot water feed.

The housing and associated structure may be constructed of suitable sheet metal or any other material capable of withstanding the temperatures normally encountered in use.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination heating and humidifying apparatus adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a hot water heating system including a humidity sensitive device, said apparatus comprising a housing having a water reservoir at its lower portion and defining an air chamber above said reservoir, a fan mounted at one end of said air chamber for introducing air therein and vent means at the other end of said air chamber for discharging air therefrom, a hot water heating and humidifying assembly mounted in said housing and comprising an inlet and outlet, an air heating conduit connected to said inlet and outlet and arranged in said air chamber for heating the air therein, a Water heating conduit connected to said inlet and outlet and arranged to be immersed in and to heat water contained in said water reservoir, a flow control valve connected in series with said water heating conduit and adapted to be electrically connected to said humidity sensitive device, and baffle means mounted below said fan and above said reservoir for deflecting the air current therefrom away from direct impingement upon the surface of Water contained within said reservoir, whereby hot water flowing through said air heating conduit causes the air within said air chamber to be heated, whereby said baffle prevents the air from said fan from causing an undue amount of water from said reservoir to be evaporated, whereby when increased humidity is demanded by said humidity sensitive device said valve is opened and hot water permited to flow through said water heating conduit to heat and evaporate water contained within said reservoir, and whereby air so heated and humidified is caused to be discharged from said vent.

2. An apparatus according to claim '1 wherein said baffle covers a major portion of the surface of said water reservoir.

3. A combination heating and humidifying apparatus adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a central hot water heating system including a humidity sensitive device, said apparatus comprising a housing having a reservoir in its lower portion and defining an air chamber above said reservoir, a motor and fan mounted on said housing at one end thereof arranged to force air downwardly into said air chamber, and vent means mounted at the other end thereof for discharging air from said chamber into the ambient atmosphere, baflie means mounted in said housing between said fan and said water reservoir and covering a major portion of said reservoir for deflecting the air current from said fan away from the surface of water contained within said reservoir, a dual heating system mounted in said housing adapted to be connected to said central heating system comprising an inlet and outlet, an air heating system connected to said inlet and outlet and arranged in said air chamber for heating the air contained therein comprising a hot water conduit having radiating fins mounted thereon, a water heating conduit connected to said inlet and said outlet and arranged to be immersed in the water contained in said water reservoir for heating and evaporating said water, a flow control valve connected in said water heating conduit for controlling the flow of water therein adapted to be electrically connected to a humidity sensitive device arranged externally of said housing, and means for introducing water into said water reservoir and maintaining the level thereof, whereby the air in said chamber is heated by said air heating conduit, whereby when increased humidity is demanded by said humidity sensitive device said valve is opened and hot water permitted to flow through said water heating conduit to heat and evaporate water contained within said reservoir, and whereby air so heated and humidified is circulated into the ambient atmosphere.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,767 11/1914 Bain 23778 1,926,462 9/1933 Stark 23644 1,991,339 2/1935 Ullman 23678 2,282,013 5/1942 Wetzsteon 236-44 X FOREIGN PATENTS 319,876 7/1934 Italy.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A COMBINATION HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE UTILIZED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM INCLUDING A HUMIDIFYING SENSITIVE DEVICE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A WATER RESERVOIR AT ITS LOWER PORTION AND DEFINING AN AIR CHAMBER ABOVE SAID RESERVOIR, A FAN MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID AIR CHAMBER FOR INTRODUCING AIR THEREIN AND VENT MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID AIR CHAMBER FOR DISCHARGING AIR THEREFROM, A HOT WATER HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND COMPRISING AN INLET AND OUTLET, AN AIR HEATING CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID INLET AND OUTLET, AND ARRANGED IN SAID AIR CHAMBER FOR HEATING THE AIR THEREIN, A WATER HEATING CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID INLET AND OUTLET AND ARRANGED TO BE IMMERSED IN AND TO HEAT WATER CONTAINED IN SAID WATER RESERVOIR, A FLOW CONTROL VALVE CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH SAID WATER HEATING CONDUIT AND ADAPTED TO BE ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HUMIDIFY SENSITIVE DEVICE,, AND BAFFLE MEANS MOUNTED BELOW SAID FAN AND ABOVE SAID RESERVOIR FOR DEFLECTING THE AIR CURRENT THEREFROM AWAY FROM DIRECT IMPINGEMENT UPON THE SURFACE OF WATER CONTAINED WITHIN SAID RESERVOIR, WHEREBY HOT WATER FLOWING THROUGH SAID AIR HEATING CONDUIT CAUSES THE AIR WITHIN SAID AIR CHAMEBR TO BE HEATED, WHEREBY SAID BAFFLE PREVENTS THE AIR FROM SAID FAN FROM CAUSING AN UNDUE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO BE EVAPORATED, WHEREBY WHEN INCREASED HUMIDITY IS DEMANDED BY SAID HUMIDITY SENSITIVE DEVICE AND VALVE IS OPENED AND HOT WATER PERMITTED TO FLOW THROUGH SAID WATER HEATING CONDUIT TO HEAT AND EVAPORATE WATER CONTAINED WITHIN SAID RESERVOIR, AND WHEREBY AIR SO HEATED AND HUMIDIFIED IS CAUSED TO BE DISCHARGED FROM SAID VENT.

Images