Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02875538 2014-12-19
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HUMIDIFIER UTILIZING FILTERED WATER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally concerns air humidification
regulation and a device or
system for adding humidity to the air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One embodiment of the present invention includes a humidifier
having a water
filtration unit and a pump that draws filtered water from the water filtration
unit. The
humidifier further includes at least one nozzle connected to the pump that
forces the filtered
water through the nozzle, thereby expelling the filtered water into an
atmosphere in the form
of a purified vapor or mist through an outlet orifice in the nozzle(s).
[0003] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a
humidifier system that
includes a humidifier utilizing filtered water. The system includes a device
for filtering water
as the water passes through the device. The device is operably connected to a
water source
that supplies water to the device. A high-pressure pump is driven by a motor.
Generally, at
least one pulley operably connects the motor to the pump or a unitary pump and
motor not
employing pulleys may be used to move (draws) filtered water through the
device for filtering
water and through at least one conduit operably connected to the device for
filtering water at
one end and at least one nozzle having an outlet orifice. The pump drives the
filtered water
through the nozzle(s), thereby expelling the filtered water into an atmosphere
in the form of a
purified vapor or mist. A humidistat is in operable communication with the
humidifier that
measures and at least optionally controls the atmosphere humidity level in a
(predetermined)
space and directs the humidifier to produce and deliver to the space an amount
of purified
vapor or mist to achieve a user selected humidity level in the space.
[0004] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method
for controlling the
humidity of an atmosphere in a predetermined volume, typically a room, a set
of rooms, or the
interior of an entire building structure. The method includes providing a
water filtration unit,
a pump that moves (draws) filtered water through the water filtration unit,
and forces water
through at least one nozzle having an outlet orifice. The nozzle(s) is
connected to the pump,
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wherein the pump moves the filtered water through the orifice of the nozzle or
nozzles
thereby expelling the filtered water into the atmosphere of the predetermined
volume in the
form of a purified vapor or mist. The method further typically includes the
steps of obtaining
or drawing water from a water source into and through the water filtration
unit, thereby
purifying the water, driving the pump to draw or otherwise move the purified
water from the
water filtration unit through one or more conduits to the nozzle or nozzles.
This is typically
done by subjecting the purified water to a high pressure, forcing the purified
water through
the nozzle and orifice. The high pressure transfer through the nozzle results
in the
vaporization of the purified water and the expelling of the purified vapor
into the atmosphere
(air).
[0005] Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become
more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments
when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to
corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Fig. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a humidifier of an
embodiment of the present
invention associated with a heating and air conditioning system;
[0007] Fig. 2 is an elevational front view of a humidifier according to
an embodiment of the
present invention where the humidifier includes a carbon nanotube water
filtration system;
[0008] Fig. 3 is an elevational rear view of an embodiment of the present
invention showing a
pulley system associated with a pump;
[0009] Fig. 4 is an elevated perspective view of a nozzle having an
orifice according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] Fig. 5 is an elevation section view of a residential home
including a humidifier system
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a floor plan of a building including
a humidifier system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower,"
"right," "left," "rear,"
"front," "vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the
invention.
However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various
alternative
orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to
be understood that
the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and
described in the
following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive
concepts defined
in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical
characteristics relating
to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,
unless the claims
expressly state otherwise.
[0013] Referring to Fig. 1, the reference number 10 generally designates
a humidifier
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated
example, the
humidifier includes a water filtration unit 12, from which a pump 14 moves,
typically draws,
filtered water. At least one nozzle having an outlet orifice 18 is operably
connected to the
pump through a conduit 38, which is typically a rubber or other elastomeric
tubing, but can
also be a metal conduit or a combination of elastomeric and metal piping, and
the pump 14
forces the filtered water through the nozzle(s) 16, thereby expelling the
filtered water into an
atmosphere in the form of a purified vapor or mist 20.
[0014] The illustrated humidifier in Fig. 1 is shown as part of a larger
ventilation system or
heating and air conditioning unit 22. One or more such ventilation systems are
typically
present in residential or commercial building structures. The humidifier may
be directly
associated with the ventilation system or remotely located and operably
associated with such a
ventilation system. The purified water vapor or mist may be injected into the
air ducting 24 at
any location along the airflow path of the ducting in the structure. The
humidifier functions to
affect humidity conditions within an atmosphere.
[0015] Referring to Fig. 2, a water filtration unit is illustrated. The
water filtration unit
includes one or more filters that are connected to a water source via plumbing
conduits that
are elastomeric and/or metal. The water source is typically a conventional
plumbing system,
where water is automatically provided, or the sourcing of water may be manual,
such as
where a user manually supplies water. In the typical plumbing system, water is
introduced
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into the humidifier via at least one pipe that has removable engagement with
the plumbing
system and the humidifier. The water filtration unit purifies water by
removing bacteria,
viruses, cysts, metals, and other contaminants without the need for heat,
ultraviolet light,
chemicals, or electricity. Although any mentioned method to remove
contaminants similar to
that described herein may be employed, it is envisioned that a carbon nanotube
material will
be employed to absorb contaminants from the water. The filters may be
positioned within the
pipe that is connected to the water source or may be within one or more
canisters 23 that
typically have an inner carbon nanotube material that may be carbon nanotube
fibers and/or
an inner coating of carbon nanotube material. The carbon nanotube material is
effective at
absorbing contaminants larger than about 50 nanometers, resulting in purified
water. One
particularly preferred filter system is the WATER TAP UM water purification
filter from
Seldon Technologies, Inc. of Woodstock, Vermont. The filtering system may
contain
nanomaterials and/or incorporate nanomesh for purifying liquids as described
in U.S. Patent
Nos. 7,211,320 and 7,419,601 respectively.
The purified water of the present invention typically has at least
about 99.9999% of bacterial contaminants removed and at least about 99.99% of
viral
contaminants removed from NSF P231 General Test Water with low turbidity and
low total
organic carbon.
100161 Pump 14 is operably connected with water filtration unit 12 and
moves, typically
draws, the purified water through water filtration unit 12, typically at a
high pressure ( >1000
psi). The pump may be driven by a pulley system 26 powered by a motor 28 and
driven by
belts 30, as shown in Fig. 3. The pump system typically also includes a
pressure gauge 32.
As an alternative to a pulley driven pump, a unitary motor and pump may be
employed to
force water at a high pressure. The pump is typically capable of pumping water
at a rate of at
least about 2.0 gallons per hour, more typically 0.54 gallons through the
water filtration unit.
This pumping rate may increase depending on the volume of space being
humidified. The
amount could be as high as from about 20 to about 100 gallons per hour if an
entire hospital
floor, for example, were being humidified The rate can be adjusted based upon
volume. Such
a flow rate causes the water filtration unit to effectively remove
contaminants. The water
filtration unit typically has an outlet pressure gauge 34 and an inlet
pressure gauge 36.
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[0017]
During operation of the pump, the filtered water that is drawn through the
water
filtration unit is forced through the nozzle having an outlet orifice. The
nozzle 16 is
operatively connected to the pump and water filtration unit via at least one
conduit 38, which,
as discussed above, is typically elastomeric tubing and/or metal piping that,
allows water to
flow therethrough even when the water is under pressure. The nozzle includes a
polypropylene filter having a diameter of approximately seventy microns. The
outlet orifice
18 of the nozzle has a diameter of typically approximately 0.015 inches or
less. While
passing through the nozzle, the filtered water is subjected to high pressure
of approximately
3000 psi or less or, more typically, about 1,000 psi or less. Water flows
through the nozzle at
a rate of between the range of at least 0.54 to 2.82 gallons per hour. The
high pressure
combined with the small outlet orifice diameter expels the filtered water into
the atmosphere
in atomized form. The particle size is typically small enough to dissipate or
evaporate within
about 10 seconds. Such pure vapor provides the ability to humidify a room,
while preventing
the introduction of contaminants into the atmosphere.
[0018] Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the present invention also includes
a humidification system.
The system generally includes one or more humidistats 42 associated with one
or more
humidifier(s) 10 of the present invention. The humidistat(s) is (are)
typically capable of
measuring humidity levels in the atmosphere of a predefined area or areas.
They are also
typically capable of controlling the operation of the humidifier or providing
data to a control
unit 40 that can activate the humidifier and optionally various conduit valves
to deliver
purified humidifying air to one or more predefined spaces within a building.
[0019] A user may employ the humidistat(s) to control the humidity
level of the atmosphere
in a number of ways. A user may simply manually adjust the humidity level by
interacting
with a control interface, such as a digital readout with buttons or knobs to
enter desired
humidity levels.
Additionally, the user may manually program the humidistat to
automatically achieve various humidity levels at different ambient
temperatures. As an
alternative to local and direct manual control, the humidistat may be linked
to a computer
system that is accessible to the interne and capable of accessing code on a
server via the
internet or code stored within a memory subsystem of a computer containing a
processor
where the code is stored locally on the computer. The user can use the
computer system to
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regulate the humidity level in one or a plurality of areas within a building
structure. This
would allow a user to remotely control the humidity level in the atmosphere or
space that the
humidifier is configured to control. Such control may be desirable in a large
structure,
particularly when more than one of the rooms' humidity level is being
controlled by the
humidifier. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a plurality of nozzles 16 supply vapor
directly to each
individual room in a home 44 or, for example, a commercial building 46 such as
an office or
hospital (see general layout of Fig. 6). Additionally, so the nozzle is not
viewable in a room,
the nozzle might add the purified water vapor to the air ducting system
proximate where the
air enters the room or other predefined area. This is typically more preferred
given its
unobtrusive and unseen configuration to the individuals within the building or
building space.
[0020] Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the humidifier may be employed in a
residential home 44 or
in a commercial building 46. By providing a plurality of humidi stats or
linking the humidifier
control to a computer control system, various humidity levels in different
rooms of a structure
may be regulated, controlled, and achieved. This is particularly beneficial in
buildings that
may require different humidity levels in different rooms and/or automatically
regulated
humidity levels, such as a hospital. While a hospital requires different
humidity levels in
different areas, the prevention of contaminants in the atmosphere is also of
particular
importance. Such objectives are achieved by the present invention through the
invention use
of the carbon nanomaterials that produce highly pure and essentially bacterial
and viral free
water that is also free of other contaminants. Because of the highly pure
nature of the water
the orifice of the nozzle can be sized to create water vapor that easily
evaporates into the air
without water condensing on a surface within a room or air flow ducting or
other conduit.
When associated with the structure's ventilation system, as previously
discussed, the ability to
measure and control humidity levels in various portions of the structure is
present and such
humidity levels can be measured with one or more humidistats and automatically
regulated
through the use of a computer system.
[0021] It is to be understood that variations and modifications can
be made on the
aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present
invention, and
further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered
by the following
claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
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