Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~a~k~round of the Invention
This invention relates to humidif~ers. More
particularly, in a pre~erred embodiment this invention relates
to furnace humidifiers, i.e., humidifiers adapted to be
installed in association with a hot air furnace or in the
ductwork of a hot air heating system. It should be understood,
however, that in certain of its aspects this invention also
is applicable to so-called portable, room humidifiers.
Humidifiers of the rotating drum or moving belt
type are well known. In such humidifiers open pore foamed
polyurethane of the type sold under the trade mark SCOTTFOAM
commonly is used as the so-called evaporative media.
In rotating drum type humidifiers the foamed
polyurethane is formed into the shape of a sleeve that fits
over an Qpen-sided cylindrical framework one end of which is
closed. The lower part of the cylindrical framework dips
into a water reservoir permitting the foamed polyurethane to
pick up water. Air is blown into the open end of the cylin-
drical framework, passes through the foamed polyurethane
and evaporates water carried in the pores of the foamed
polyurethane.
In moving belt type humidifiers a belt of foamed
polyurethane is trained over rollers at least one of which
is driven by an electric motor, for example. The moving belt
is so arranged that its lower part dips into a water reservoir, -
and air is blown through the upper part of the belt evapor-
ating water that has been picked up from the water reservoir.
Regardless of the type of humidifier which is
employed, from time-to-time it is necessary to remove the
evaporative media to clean it or to replace it. In accordance
with one aspect of this invention there is provided a humid-
ifier having a housing provided with a unique access door
permitting ready access to the evaporative media (and any
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supporting components thereof) within the housing. The
door is so arranged that it can be removed from several
different positions, an important feature bearing in mind
that furnace humidifiers often are installed in locations
where ductwork or other obstructions may inhibit opening
of an access door in all but one or two ways. The door
also is constructed so that it is devoid of hinges and
thus can be removed completely from the housing.
Regardless of the type of humidifier that is
employed, it should be sufficiently flexible in its design
to permit it to be mounted on either side of the furnace.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention there
is provided a humidifier having openings in its housing in
three different locations, two of the openings being on
opposite sides of the housing. The openings are provided
to permit air to pass into and out of the housing. In one
of the latter two openings there is a removable plug that
seals the opening and which supports the electric motor and
gear reduction unit that drive the evaporative media via
its supporting framework or rollers. This plug can be placed
in either of the latter two openings so as to permit air to
pass into (or out of) either of the aforementioned sides of
the housing.
In rotating drum humidifiers the foamed poly-
urethane ~ften has been made into an annulus which is pulled
over the supporting cylindrical framework. This is not a
particularly advantageous way to instal or remove the foamed
polyurethane. In accordance with another aspect of this
invention the supporting cylindrical framework is provided
with upstanding picks that permit the evaporative media to
be formed into a sheet and installed merely by wrapping it
around the framework, stretching it slightly and impaling
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it on the picks.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of this invention
there is provided a humidifier comprising a housing having
oppositely disposed side walls, one of said side walls having
a first opening therein adapted to permit air to pass into or
from the interior of said housing, the other of said side walls
having a seoond opening therein adapted to permit air to pass
into or from the interior of said housing, said first and second
openings being surrounded by flanges projecting outwardly of
said housing from said side walls, said housing having a third
opening therein adapted to permit air to pass from or into the
interior of said housing, a water reservoir within said housing,
a movable, porous water pick-up device located within said
: housing and having at least a part thereof positioned between
said third opening and one of said first and second openings,
whereby air passing through said housing between said third
: opening and said one of said first and second openings passes
through said part of said water pick-up device, said water pick-
up device also having a part thereof that extends into said water
~` reservoir to pick up water therefrom as said water pick-up device
is moved through water in said water reservoir, a plug removably
sealing the other of said first and second openings, said plug
including first means telescopically engaging said flange sur-
rounding said other opening, and second means carried by said
plug for moving said water pick-up device in a path wherein
said water pick-up device passes through water in said reservoir,
the part of the interior of said housing above water in said
reservoir and then back into the water in said reservoir, said
plug and said one of said first and second openings being con-
structed and arranged such that said plug also is adapted to
removably seal said one of said first and second openings with
said first means of said plug telescopically engaging said flange
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surrounding said one opening in the event that said
other of said first and second openings is to be left
unsealed for passage of air into or from the interior
of said housing.
Brief Description of the Drawings
This invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction
with the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view illustrating a
humidifier embodying this i~vention;
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Fi~ure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 in
Figure l;
Figure 3 is an end view of the end of the rotating
drum shown in Figure 1 in dotted outline;
Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 in
Figure l;
Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 in
Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a view from the interior of the
humidifier housing looking towards the righthand side of the
humidifier housing in Figure l; and
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 of another
`embodiment of an aspect of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Including the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings, a humidifier embodying
the instant invention is designated in Figure 1 generally by
the reference numeral 10 and includes a housing 11 that has
a bottom wall 12, a rear wall 13, side walls 14 and 15, a
front wall 16 and a top wall 17. In the particular configur-
`~ ation of the housing shown, which is not critical, rear wall
13 and side walls 14 and 15 extend upwardly at right angles
. to bottom wall 12 with side walls 14 and 15 being parallel to
each other and perpendicular to rear wall 13. Front wall 16
extends forwardly and up~ardly with respect to bottom wall
12 from the front edge thereof, while top wall 17 extends
forwardly from rear wall 13 at right angles thereto and at
right angles to side walls 14 and lS. Provided in rear wall
13 is a rectangular opening 18 which is defined by flanges 19
- 30 extending outwardly from back wall 13 at right angles with
respect thereto. Located in side walls 14 and 15 are circular
openings 20 and 21 respectively which are surrounded by annular
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flanges 22 and 23 r~apectively that extend outwardly from the
respective side walls 1~ and 15 at right angles thereto. It
will be noted from Figure 1 that side walls 14 and 15 are
provided with flanges 24 and 25 respectively that project
inwardly from the side walls at right angles thereto and which
extend between front wall 16 and top wall 17. Housing 10 may
be fabricated from any suitable material such as sheet metal,
for example, and preferably is enameled or otherwise treated
to render it corrosion resistant.
Access to the interior of housing 1~ is provided
by means of an access door 26 that preferably is formed of
a transparent material to permit the interior of the humidifier
and the components thereof to be seen. Any suitable plastics
material may be employed. For example, LEXAN (trade mark)
- may be used. Door 26 is shaped somewhat in the configuration
of a peaked roof having two sections 27 and 28 disposed at
an obtuse angle with respect to each other. Depending from
section 28 but formed integral therewith is a flange 29 that
- - is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to section 28.
It will be seen from Figure 1 that flanges 30 are located on
the opposite side edges of door 26. However, flanges 30 do
not extend the full length of these side edges and stop short
of the bottom and top edges 31 and 32 of door 26, whereby
¦ door 26 is provided with lower and upper tongues 33 and 34
respectively.
Door 26 may be installed as shown in Figure 2.
~eferring to thi ~ igure and the dotted line position of
door 26, tongue is inserted under the front edge of upper
wall 17 and door 26 is closed in the direction indicated by
arrow 35. The door is flexed slightly in order to permit
tongue 33 to clear the upper edge of front wall 16, and .
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tonc3ue 33 is inserted behind the upper part (-E front wall 16.
Flanges 30 seat on flanges 24 and 25, the seating of flange
30 on flange 25 being shown in Figure 5. Door 26 may be
removed by flexing it sufficiently to permit tongue 33 to
clear the upper edge of front wall 16. Alternatively, door
26 may be installed or removed by inserting tongue 33 behind
the upper~part of front wall 16 and then flexing door 26
sufficiently to permit tongue 34 to be inserted under or
withdrawn past the forward part of upper wall 17.
As best shown in Figures 1 and 6, extending across
openings 20 and 21 are inclined channels 36 and 37, these
channels inclining upwardly from adjacent rear wall 13 to
flanges 24 and 25. Channels 36 and 37 also may be fabricated
of sheet met~l and are spot welded, riveted, bolted or other-
wise secured to side walls 14 and 15 and to flanges 24 and 25.
Secured to each channel is a bearing 38 that may be con- 4
structed of a suitable plastics material, for example. As
shown in Figure 6, a movable stop 39 is located within each
channel 36 and 37 to permit the location of bearings 38 to
be adjusted, this being achieved by loosening the set screw
40, shifting stop 39 to the desired position along with
bearing 38 and then tightening set screw 40.
Seated within housing 10 is a tray 41 that
preferably-is made of a plastics material. Tray 41 constitutes
a water reservoir and is provided with an opening 42 (Figure 1)
that communicates with an opening 43 (Figure 2) in lower wall
12. A removable plug 44 (Figure 2) is provided to close
openings 42 and 43. Plug 44 may be removed when it is
desired to drain the reservoir.
- 30 Mounted on the inside of side wall 15 is a float
controlled valve 45, the float of which is shown at 46 and is
located in the reservoir. Float controlled valves are well
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known and need not be described in detail. Suffice it to
say that float controlled valve 45 controls the flow of water
into tray 41 maintaining it at the desired level.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated is a
rotating drum type humidifier, but it is to be understood
that it would be equally possible to practise certain aspects
of the instant invention with a moving belt type humidifier
or even with humidifiers employing other evaporative media
such as wicks or porous plates. Thus the aspect of the
: 10 instant invention relating to providing access to the interior
of the housing is not restricted to any particular type of
evaporative media. Likewise, the aspect of the invention
relating to the driving of a movable evaporative media is
not restricted to a rotating drum type humidifier but could ~ -
apply to a moving belt type humidifier. In any event, .
referring to Figure 1, there is shown a rotating drum 47 ~ ~
which can be constructed in any one of a number of different :
: ways. In the particular embodiment illustrated drum 47 has
two end plates 48 and 49, the latter being shown in Figure 3,
a shaft 50 interconnecting end plates 48 and 49 and secured
thereto, shaft ~ being located on the longitudinal and
rotary axis of drum 47, an open mesh cylindrical screen 51 ~:
extending between end plates 48 and 49 and a pad 52 of a
suitable evaporative material, such as foamed polyurethane ~ -
of the aforementioned type, for example, mounted on screen :
- . 51. It will be noted that end plate 48 is of spoked con- ~:
figuration and thus is open to permit air to flow into the :- :
; interior of drum 47. End plate 49, on the other hand, is
closed but is formed with a gear 53 on its exterior surface.
End plates 4~ and 49 may be made from any suitable plastics
material, for example, while shaft 50 and screen 51 may be
made from metal, for example, suitably treated to be corrosion
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resistant. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 3 that shaft
S0 projects beyond end plates 48 and 49. These projections
of shaft 50 fit into channels 36 and 37, so that drum 47 may
be readily installed merely by placing the projections of
shaft 50 into the channels and letting drum 47 run down the
channels until the projections of shaft 50 seat in bearings
38, as shown in Figure 6. Likewise drum 47 is readily
removable from housing 10 simply by grasping the drum and
moving it upwardly and forwardly in channels 36 and 37.
As best shown in Figure 4, but also shown in
Figure 1, extending the length of screen Sl are a plurality
of picks 53. In order to mount pad 52 of evaporative material
on screen Sl, one end of the pad is impaled on one set of
picks. Pad 52 then is wrapped around the drum and slightly
stretched before being impaled on the other set of picks.
In this way pad 52 is firmly held on screen 51 but can be
readily removed therefrom. It is to be understood, of course,
that pad 52 is cut so that it is necessary to slightly stretch
the pad to place it in position on screen 51.
-~ 20 In the embodiment shown in Figure 7 screen 51 is
- cut and formed so that picks 53 are part of the screen itself.
As shown in Figures 1 and 6, a removable plug 54 -
is provided to seal opening 21. Plug 54 has an annular flange
55 that telescopes snugly within flange 23 and an annular lip
56 that extends over flange 23. Flange 55 could telescope
over flange 23 if desired. Mounted on plug 54 is an electric
to~ and gear reduction unit 57 that drives a gear 58 which
meshes with gear 53 to drive drum 47. Plug 54 is held in
position by means of screws 59. In the embodiment of the
invention illustrated, plug 54 seals opening 21 and ducts
are connected to flanges 19 and 22. Air passes into and out
of the humidifier through these ducts. It will be assumed
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that opening 20 constitutes the inlet, while opening 18
constitutes the outlet, although these functions may be
reversed. Thus, in the embodiment of the invention illus-
trated, an inlet duct 60 shown in dotted outlines is connected
to flange 22. However, in accordance with an aspect of the
instant invention, if it is desired for the inlet (or outlet)
duct to be connected to flange 23, all that is necessary is
for plug~54 to be employed to seal opening 20 rather than
opening 21 and for drum 47 to be inserted into the housing
with gear 53 adjacent channel 36 rather than adjacent channel
37. In this case flange 55 would telescope within flange 22.
Consequently a humidifier embodying the instant invention
is very flexible as far as installation is concerned.
In the operation of the humidifier water is per-
mitted to fiil tray 41 to a predetermined level that is
controlled by float controlled valve 45. Drum 47 is rotated
and air is blown through opening 20 and end plate 48 into
the interior of drum 47. The air passes through pad 52 ~ -
picking up water that is entrained therein as a result of the
pad passing through the water in tray 41. The moisture laden - -
air exits from housing 10 via opening 18.
It is to be understood that while the instant - -
invention has been described in connection with the use of -- -
foamed polyurethane as the evaporative material, this is not - -~
essential to the invention in any of its aspects. Many -
- different types of evaporative materials are known and have
been employed in the past.
While preferred embodiments of this invention
-
have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in
the art will appreciate that changes and modifications may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
this invention as defined in the appended claims.
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