Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Wo 95/1~190 2 1 7 7 E~ ~3 0 Pcrluss4ll3435
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Portable and Personai-Sized Warm Air TT~Imiriifi.~rc
BACKGROUND OF Thl: INVEN~ON
The invention relates lO portable and personal-sized electric air
more ~J~uL~cukulr to an improved warm air humidifier.
This application is a part of U.S. patent application no.
5 07/843,542 filed on February 28, 1992 which is a ~ -in-part of U.S.
pateM application no. 07/606,938 filed on October 31, 1990, which is a
of U.S. Patent No. 5,014,338 issued on b~ay 7, 1991.
Air humidifiers are important in controlling the ~ in homes
during very dry weather, or in winter whenever outside air of low . , is
10 drawn inside and heated. causing the relative humidity in the home to be lowered
tO an u...u.l,r~ ., degree.
Portable humidifiers are well known in the art, and may be classified in
the following pslr~rhc
1. Steam generators which comprise a water container and an electric
heating element submerged in the water. Safety devices are
provided for switching off the current as soon as the water level
drops below the heating element. Since a flow of hot steam is
blown directly into the room to be humidified, there is always the
danger of a person. especially a child being scalded whenever he
or she comes into contact with the jet of steam ejected, typically,
at a . c of about 212~F. r~ .,..u,c, since all of the
water is heated, the container of hot water, when overturned, may
cause serious injuries to persons nearby.
2. Porous medium I ' = generally include a porous medium
structure partly submerged in cold water contained in an open
vessel and a blower unit drawing air through the porous medium
structure. The porous medium may be in the shape of a disc or a
drum with part of the medium dipping into the water, which is
slowly rotated while air is blown through the portion above the
wo 95/14190 2 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCrlUss4/1343s
water level. thus carrving humidity into the room. The porous
medium may also be in the form of a stauonary body adapted to
draw water into the upper nu.. ~ part by capillary action,
from where it is carried into the room by air blown Ih- : -u~
3. Ultra-sonic humidifiers generally comprise a container filled with
water which is brought to a vibration by bigh-frequency vibrator
means which causes the water to be atomized. An air stream
directed onto the water surface carries the mist into the room to be
humidified.
The major drawback of both porous medium humidifiers and ultra-sonic
humidifiers is that the water staying in the contamer is not heated to its boiling
point as in the steam generator and, is therefore susceptible to the growth of
micro-organisms which are ' , `~ carried by the air stream into the room
where it may be ingested by people.
Warm-air humidifiers share the benefits of steam generators in that
growth of micro-organisms is forestalled by heating the water to its boiling pomt.
Also, warm-air humidifiers avoid the drawback of hot steam entering the room,
since in this type of humidifier the steam is carried into the room as a mist
mixed with air, at a ~ ul~i to be selected by judiciously choosing the ratio
20 of steam and air.
A typical warm-air humidifier is described in IJ.S. Paoent No. 4,564,746.
It includes a heated C~luuldliul~ chamber which is enclosed to prevent leakage or
damage and a fan adapted for dispersing the generated steam into the room via a
cabinet P~ .V. The CV~I~UI~;UII chamber is mounted on tracks which
25 permits it to be slid out of its enclosure for cleaning and servicing. The heatmg
element, which iS or~t~ ly enclosed in the chamber, is attached to a cover
which is likewise movable out of the humidifier cabinet for cleaning and
servicmg.
u--rl ~, the design of this humidifier is relatively intricate and
30 expensive. The heating element is attached to a movable cover which is
provided with flexible tubing and must be moved upwards on vertical tracks to
clear the top of the water enclosure. permitting the latter to be slid out sideways.
wo 95/14190 2 1 7 ~ ~ ~ O PCr~Ss4/13435
This requires a significant amount of space and cannot be serviced excep~ by a
skilled person.
In the present invention, a steam ejector is provided which takes the place
of the motor driven blower.
T~ "' emp~oying the motor driven blowers. such as is found in
U.S. Patent 5,014,338 and in patent application no. 07/606.938 have many
benefits and advantages. On the other hand, the use of warm air humidifiers
utilizing motor driven blowers have some ~;oa~411~o. When used in nurseries
and in bedrooms such l "' are non-conducive to sleep because of the
mechanical and a~,lud~ noise associated with motor driven blowers. In
addition, the presence of high humidity to which motor shafts are exposed creates
rusting problems with binding of the shafts to the bearings often resulting.
Obviousiy, this creates expensive l problems.
Certain criteria are desired in warln air humidifiers to maAimize the
desirability and efficiency of such devices for the user. One criterion is to
maintain the steam-air mixture at a t~ ..r. which ranges
between 37C and 65C (99F-149F) where the lower end of the range
a,u~ human body r ~ and the upper end represents a value at
which the steam air mixture still may be brought into contact with a person
20 without the sensation of pain. Another criterion is to provide a uniform miAing
of air and steam resulting in an even ~ lr profile at the outlet grille and
avoiding non-uniforrn de~rees of air saturation as well as local l ' on
portions of the ærille.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved
25 and novel non-motor driven warm-air humidifler which utilizes a simple and
iri~.A~ structure and still obtains results eouivalent to. or better than. thoseobtained by l ' ' employing motor driven blowers.
Another object is to provide an improved and novel humidifler which
provides for the proper and uniform mixture of steam laden air having the proper30 ratio of air and steam and substantially uniform t ,l .~ r profile at the outlet
grille.
A further object is to provide an improved and novel humidifier which
WO 95/14190 2 ~ 7 7 ~ 8 ~ PCTIUS94/13435
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~mploys a steam ejector in p~ace of a motor driven blower and which exhibits
less .,1.~ " ~ noises Ihan those employing motor driven
blowers.
A stili further object is to provide a novel and improved humidifier which
S utiiizes a steam ejector tube having a restricted throat portion therein and which
is d' ' and positioned in relation to a steam nozle in which steam flows
at a certain velocity and produces a steam air mixture of the proper saturation
and t~ substantialiy noise free or of minimum noise.
Another object is to provide a novel and improved gravity water-feed
10 humidifler in which the constant pressure to drive the generated steam through a
steam nozle is maintained by a differential head of water existing between the
steam generation ~ ,.,.L~ ,... and the water supply . I~
A stil'i further object is to provide a compact, self conuined, personal-size
warm air humidifler having the above advantages.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
to one skilled in the art in the foliowing description of the invention and the
claims,
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ON
The warm air humidifier of the present invention includes an C~,uuldliull
chamber in the shape of an inverted cup which is provided with a steam nozle in
its top portion and with an electric resistance heater at its bottom end. In a
preferred ~, I,Ci.l; . l the CVA,UUIAIiUII chamber is capable of containing only a
smali volume of water, thus promoting rapid start operation. The open bottom
end is immersed in the main , of a water supply ~ which
also includes a filling ~ 1 supplied with water from a portable jug
positioned on a base which includes the water supply CU~ The water
SUPPIY I ~ is kept fLiled with water to a IJ~ 1 level by the jug
allowing water to fiow into the . only as high as the rim of the neck
of the jug. The pressure within the CV~JUI_LiOl~ chamber, which is generated by
the steam therein, is maintained constant by a differential head which exits
between the higher level of the wa[er in the water supp~y UU~ IL~ and the
WOg5/14t90 2 1 77~ PCT)Uss4/1343~
lower ~evel of the wa[er in the CV.~ iUll chamber.
Vertically disposed above the steam nozzle is a steam ejector tube having
its ~ower end in spaced proximity to the sleam nozzle, whereby steam from the
steam nozzle flows through the steam ejector tube. The tube has a narrow and
5 restricted portion which, in operation, creates as region of low pressure to
thereby induce a flow of air within the housing to mix with the steam to producean air-steam mixture. The present invention takes advantage of certain
phenomena as described below.
1. The high velocity jet stream from the nozzle, while flowing
through the "still air" in the ejector tube, will cause air next to it
to move with it through the exertion of a shear-force. That
moving air then will carry aiong with it the adjacent layers of air
patticles, which in turn carrv adjacent layers until the boundaries
of the tube are reached. By properly designing and ~
arld positioning the relevant . . .~ involved, ~ .- of
air with steam to provide a desired ratio of air to steam and
c may be obtatned.
2. The negative or low pressure created within the steam ejector tube,
which is dependent upon the dimensions of the "draft" of the tube,
will influence the flow of the air to be treated into the humidifier,
especially where provision must be made to overcome the pressure
drop occasioned by reason of the air having to flow throu~h a
filter medium when the humidifier is to remove particulates from
the air to be treated.
3. A "buoyancy" ~ - is utilized in the present invention. As
the steam mixes with the air the mixture becomes warm and
humid, thus attaining a specific gravity lower than the ~UIII " ,,
dry cooler air. ('~ . 'y, the air steam mixture adds another
driving component to the flow of the mixture and rises through the
tube to enhance the drawing in of fresh or cool air from the
bottom of the tube. much as in the well known " . '
hyperbolic" cooling towers.
WO9S/14190 2 l 17080 PCT~US94/13435
The present invention ill~Ul~ and utilizes lhese phenomena to
provide a simpli~led and effective low cost warm air humidifier which minimizes
and avoids many of the problems associated with other portable I ' ''~ ,
,U~ULil,UIdlly those employing motor driven blowers for mixing air and steam for5 delivery to a room in which such humidifiers are placed.
BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. I is a vertical section through the warm-air humidifler of the present
invention and through an inverted water container in position on the base means
10 of the humidifier.
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the bottom portion of the humidifler
illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the tray in lowered position ready for removal.
FIG. 3 is a section through the warm-air humidifier along line A-A of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged rl.. 6.. 1.,11Ld.y vertical section through the top portion
of the humidifier illustrated in FIG, 1.
FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a second; ' ' of the warm-air
humidifler containing a hinged ~.a,UUIdiiUII chamber, shown in position on the
base means.
FIG. 6 is a vertical section of the warm-air humidifier FIG. 5 showing
the CVd,Uuldiiul~ chamber displaced away from the base means.
FIG. 7 is a section in elevation, of a third r~ ; of the present
invention.
FIG. 8 is a section, in elevation. taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the steam injector tube and of the steam
nozzle to graphically show the flowing streams of steam and air.
FIG. 10 is a graphical Ir~ of a velocity distribution plot of the
phenomena occurring within the steam ejector tube of FIG. 9.
FIG. I l is an isometric view of the tray shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional front view of a personal-sized warm air
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humidifier havin~ a removable water conrainer.
FrG. 13 is a cross-sectional front view of a personal-sized warm air
humidifiér having a fixed internal water container.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a float valve employed in
5 the personal-sized warm air humidifier illustrated in FIG. 13.
FrG. 15 illnstrates a front of a shell r ' " elements of a
personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 16 illustrates a back of the shell of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of the personal-sized warm air humidifier
10 of FIG. 12 with the cover removed and with the removable water storage
container removed.
FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of the personal-sized warm air humidifier
of FIG. 13 with the cover removed.
FIG. 19 illustrates a left side view of a shell - ' ~ elements of
a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 20 illustrates a right side view of a shell r ' ' ,. elements of
a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 21 illustrates a top view of a cover of a personal-sized warm air
humidifier.
FIG. 22 illustrates a cross section of a cap and valve assembly of the
removable water container of the personal-stzed warln air humidifier of FIG.
12.
FIG. 23 illustrates a cross section of the steam nozzle assembly of the
personal-sized warm air humidifier of FIG. 12.
FIG. Z4 illustrates a bottom view of the steam nozzle assembly of the
personal-sized warm air humidifier of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESC~IION OF THE INVENTION
The ~ of the warm-air humidifier, as shown in FIGS. l and 2,
are enclosed in a housing I including a base portion 1 and a top portion 2. The
base is configured to support a water jug II in upside-down position. The base
contains a drawer m of trapezoidal cross section which forms together with a
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sloping inner waii 10 of the base. a ''V"-shaped trough 11. A tray IV is
supported by the respective sloping walls 10 (of the housing) and 50 (of the
drawer), whereby the contours of two opposite side walis 40 and 41 of the tray
correspond in slope to the inclination of the two walis, whiie the tray bottom 42
S is substantialiy flat. The tray includes a main I 43 and a filling
44. in proximity to the drawer waLi 50, which are separated by a
partition 45 perforated by a connectmg port 46. A verticai pin 47 projects from
the bottom of the fiiiing ~ , and connects with a spring-supported vaive
20 in the neck opening 22 of the inverted jug ~. To keep the drawer in position
10 inside the housing, a tongue 38 projects upwardly from the bottom of the housing
and engages an opening 39 in the bottom of the drawer when in its ciosed
position.
The top portion of housing 2 includes an CV.I,uulaLiull chamber 30 in the
shape of an inverted cup which extends into the base portion I and into the mam
IS , , 43 of the tray, stopping short of the flat bottom 42 with a narrow
gap remaining between the lower rim of the chamber and the bottom. The
chamber top is stepped, forming a higher portion 31a which contains a steam
nozle 32, and a lower portion 31b into which a flask-shaped member 33 is
inserted and hermetically closed to prevent steam from escapmg i' ' u~
20 Member 33 holds a ~h~ ua~Lh, switch 35, as well as a set of levers 36 servingfor resetting the switch by means of knob 37. The tray, as weii as the bottom ofthe c~.,uu.~,iu,, chamber is fiiled with water, its upper level being defined by the
lower rim 21 of the valve 20 in the neck of the jug II. An electric heater 34 isfully immersed in the water, and is held at its raised portion 34a in intimate
25 contact with the member 33 by means of a clip 52. The heater is switched off as
soon as the water level drops below the raised portion 43a of the heating element
due to lack of water in the jug.
For operation of the humidifier, the jug II fiiled with water, is placed
with its valve 22 onto the filling ~UllI,U.l-i ' whereupon the pin 47 urges the
30 valve body 20 upwards off its seat and permits water to flow into the tray.
Water flows out of the filling Culll,uali 44 into the main ~,U~IIUO.I~ ,.Ii 43
throu_h the port 46 in the partition 45. T e level of the water is defmed by the
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rim 21 of the jug s neck since no air can flow in~o the jug through the neck when
it is covered by water and. obviously no water can flow out.
Due to ~ JUldiiUII, the water level in the tray will drop below the height
of the rim of the jug, thereby permitting more water to enter the tray and
5 keeping it filled to the I ' ' level To clean the ttay, the drawer m iS
pulled out of the housing, causing the tray to slide down along the inclined wall
10 of the housing as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. At the same time, the pin
47 in the filling ~U ~ is taken out of contact with the valve 20 of the jug,
thereby closing the neck opening and preventing water from flowing out into the
10 tray. The drawer m can now be withdrawn from the housing and the tray IV
c~m be taken out.
A vertically disposed steam ejector tube 84 is provided within housing I
' '~ above the steam nozle 32. Tube 84 is made of any suitable
material and preferably may be formed from a plastic, such as~ pUlyulu~u~
15 which is molded to the prefetred shape disclosed. At its lower portion tube 84 is
flared outwardly and then narrows to a throat 86. From the throat 86, the tube
flares outwardly and towards the top 88 of top portion 2 of housing I. top 88
has an outlet opening 90 (I;IG. 1), the walls of which seat the l - ' '
edge of tube 84 at that point. A grille 92 is provided at opening 90 to direct the
20 flow of air from tube 84 and into a room. Housing I may also include side wall
94 having a removable air filter 7.
Since the Il~llllAIII ~ 43 and 44 are in liquid with each
other. the water level in both, , will be the same height. When
heating element 34 is energized. the water in ~ ~' 'I'Al i 1 l - '~ 43 and particularly in
25 c vA~JUldLiu.. chamber 30 begins to boil and steam is formed. The pressure of the
generated steadm, as present in the space in C~A,uuldliol~ chamber 30, forces the
level of water therein to a level below the level of the water in ~O~ 43
outside of cvA,uuldLiull chamber 30 and in . 44, to provide a
differential head which in effect maintains the pressure within cv_~uu._liu..
30 chamber 30. This pressure forces or drives the steam out of c vA~Jul_Liull
chamber 30 through steam nozle 32 at a l,lrll~ ~ .-";....l velocity. The existing
steam then flows up into steam ejector tube 84 where it enters throat 86. The
wo 95114190 ~ ~ ~ 7 0 8 0 PCTIUS94/l343s
restricled dimensions ot throat 86 create a region of low pressure. which in
conjunction wilh other phenomena to be described h~r~ r. sucks or draws atr
in from the interior of housing I to fomm a steam-air mixture which discharges
through outlet opening 90 in the top 88 of the top portion 2 of housmg 1.
The use of the steam ejector concept in the present invention requires an
" ~ of certain phenomena which mai~es practicai the appiication of this
concept to gravity feed portable warm air ' ' A steam ejector re~iuires
a high velocity of steam from a nozzle through an ejector tube to provide a
proper mixture of steam and air having the desired ratio, as weii as t l ...h.
10 First, the desired steam velocity should be considered. The velocity of steam through the nozzle is a function of the foUowing:
A = The cross-section area of the noz~le expressed in
centimeters squared (cm~);
G = E~ate of steam generation in grams per second (GRlsec);
IS and
~' = The density of the steam in grams per centimeter cubed
(g/cm3).
Thus:
V(cmlsec) = G . (~xA)
The rate of steam generation is a direct function of the power input:
G = KxEP
Where
EP = electric power in watts; and
K = a constant dependent on the latent heat of water.
According to Bemouli's equation. the pressure required to drive this
steam through the nozzle at a velocity (V) is
P ~ (P = VZ ~ 2 g (g=gravitational ~ 1 ~1;,,,,)
Applying the foregoing to the present invention, the pressure (~P) within
c~l,ul~Liull chamber 30. translates to a difference in water levei (~H) by whichthe water level in CV~,uul~lliùll chamber 30 is lower than the water level in
43 and 44 which supply water to ev~l~Julaliul~ chamber 30. As wiii
be obvious from the description above. as the water is boiied off in evaporation
-
2~ 7708~
Wo 95114190 PCTI~S94/13435
.
chamber 30. the water ~herein slowly recedes. This causes water to seep in1o
CV~IliUld~iull chamber 30 from ~U~ 13 and 44 and through the space
between the lower edges of cv~u-~.iui- chamber 30 and bottom 42 in
... 43 to replenish the water boiied off. In the stri~icture of the
5 humidifier employed. it is found that the head aYaiiable is in the range of 1/2" to
3/4" or 1.25cm to 2.0cm which r '~ cj provide steaim velocities of 1,000 to
3,000 feet per minute (fpm) or 5-15 meters per second. (mlsec). Since an
objective of the present invention is to reduce the noise of operation of a
humidifier, steam velocities through steam nozzle 32 are maintained below 2,000
10 fpm, or a rate of ste~im flow below 0.5 grlsec cm- because to go above il would
result in ùb; I ;. . ` ~ !r "hissing" sounds
The action of the steam fiow through ejector tube 84 to produce the
desired results with the present invention may be expiaimed by reference to FIGS.
9 and 10. In FIG. 9 the steam jet emerging from steam nozle 32 is at a high
15 velocity and after leaving the nozle enters an area i~nown as "vena contract~i"
whereupon it starts diverging. The steam jet whi'ie traveling through the "stiii"
air causes the air next to it to move with it through the exertion of sheer-force.
The movement of air next to the steam jet will carry aiong the air
particles next to it, and so on, until a velocity profile as shown in Fig. 10 is20 achieved. As the steam jet moves further away from the nozle it expands and
entrains the air untii a substantiai~iy uniform mixture of air and steam is
established in and around the narrowest area of the tube. which is the throat 86.
As the mixrure passes the throat and moves towards the upper end of the tube.
the mixrure rises due to the upwards imperus provided by the steam and by the
25 buoyancy of the warm. moist air mixture which is lighter than dry cool air.
FIG. lO iiiustrates, in a graphic manner, the air and steam velocity
n~;ctrih:~ti~rm as measured along the "ref. iine" of ~IG. 9. The line described as
"velocity prof1ie" is the locus of alii the individuai velocity 1~ taken
along the "ref. Iine" of FIG. 9. It should be noted that aiong the "ref. iine"
30 ti~iere is stii~i very little mixing of air and steam and therefore a region of pure
steam and pure air can be identified, as pointed out by the oerms "steam" and
"air" .
11
WOg~/14190 2 i 7 7 ~ 8 0 PCTIUSg411343~
.
It was found when Cull~LIu~.Lil-~ the humidifler ot the presen~ invention
that certain dimensions of the qector tube 84 had to be adjusted as described
below
As was brought out above, the rate of steam flow out of steam nozzle 32
S is preferably maintained below about 0.5 gr/sec cm~. r, . tO obtain an
outiet moist air ~ between about 42C and about 65C, the ratio
between the throat diameter and the distance of throat 86 from the steam nozzle
32 should be in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.75.
Moreover, it was aiso determined that the ratio of the diameter of the
steam nozzle 322 to that of the throat of the ejector tube 84 should be in the
range of about 0.1 to about 0.25.
FIGS. S and 6 show another, L ' of the present invention. In this
warm-air humidifler, top portion 2 is hinged, allowing easy access to the tray IV.
In FIG. 5, illustrating the resting of the top portion 2 on the base portion 1, the
lower portion 31b of ~ JUI~iUII chamber 30 is surrounded by the tray IV area.
A hinge assembly, comprising a hmge 71 and a hinge support member 70, are
attached to the jug suppon platform 72, aliowing the top portion 2 of the housing
I to be moved to an open position, as shown in FIG. 6. These figures aiso show
an i ' " of the invention which does not include a drawer. In this
' ' t, base 60 supports the tray bottom 42. When the top portion 2 is
moveLi to its open position, the tray lV is exposed. aliowing its easy removai.
A third, L ' of the present invention is disc~osed in FIGS. 7 and 8
and ill~.UI,UUl~l~C~ much of the ~ "J"' ` and concepts found in FIGS. I through
6 and FIGS. 9 and 10 except for some slight differences in structure as will
become apparent from the foilowing ~PC~ ir~ n
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the por~able warm-air humidifier is generally
designated by the reference character 112 and includes a water container 114
disposed in j- ~ with a housing 116, both of which are seated on a base
118 provided with feet 120 for placement on a flat surface (not shown). Water
container 114 is provided at its top (FIG. 7) with a convenient handle 122
situated in a tecess 124 to permit the manual grasping of the handle 122 to
remove and carry the container from base 118. The bottom of container 114, as
12
wo 95/14190 2 ~ 7 ~ 0 8 ~ PCrlUS94113435
better seen in rIG. 7. has a neck 126 wilh exlernal threads 128 on which a cap
130 may ~e tightened. A spring t~iased valve 132 (springs not shown) having a
valve steam 133 disposed in cap 30 and is normally biased for seating on the
walls 134 of an opening 136. rxtended wulg members 138 are provided to assist
5 in the screwing and unscrewing of cap 130 from neck 126. After the container
is filled and capped it is positioned as shown in FIG. 7 where it is supported on
base 118 on integrally for~ned hollow projects supports 139 (one shown in FIG.
7).
Base 118 is - y hollow and - a removable tray 140
10 (shown in FIGS. 1 8 and 11) restmg on a floor 144 of base 118 and the tray has
a filling ~ I- ` 142 to receive neck 126 of container 114. Tray 140
to tray IV in the first and second herein as seen in
FIGS. 1-6. in terms of each being easily assessed and removable for cleaning.
r, the trays of each t has a f~lling ~ and a main
15 1 A floor 145 of ~ 142 has an upstanding molded pm
146. As seen in FIG. 7 when container 114 is positioned on base 118 pin 146
engages valve stea~n 133 to displace va1ve 132 upwardly permitting water to
flow from the container through opening 136 into a filling 142 of
tray 140. Tray 140 has a second or main ~iu~ i 150 formed integrally
20 with C-l-ll~ --- .. 142 to the left of the latter as seen in FIG. 7.
An upstanding post 152 is formed integral with floor 144 of base 118 and
is positioned between l~ 142 and 150 between upstanding walls 154
of tray 140. r" 142 is substantially circular in horizontal cross
section to 1 neck 126 whereas ~ 1 150 is substantially
25 rectangular in horizontal cross-section. Cu~ 142 and 150 of tray 140
are in with each other in that water from ~ 142
readily flows therefrom into ~ 150 whereby the level of water in
150 will always be a the level in ~ lI - .1 142.
Housing 116 is provided with a rectangular shaped floor 160 which
30 substantially seals off the interior of housing 116 from ~ 150 of tray
140 except for an opening in which the lower portion of a steam nozle 162 is
seated. As better seen in rIG. 8. nozzle 162 has an enlarged circular lower
13
WO 95114190 2 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCTIUS94/13435
.
portion 164 leading to a narrowed and substantially cylindricai jet opening 166.Floor 160 has. integrally formed therewith. a depending wall 168 which extends
Ily of the floor and projects downward into ~ . 150 of tray
140 to form an C~ul_Liu-- chamber 169. The wall 168 is positioned in close
5 proximity to the walls 170 of illlllllAIII ..: 150. The lower edges of wall 168
also extend close to the floor 145 in ~ , 150 but are spaced therefrom
as to permit wa~er in tray 140, and IJ~ii~uLuly ~II''.~IAIII''- ' ' 150, to readily flow
between , 150 and evaporation chamber 169.
An electrical heating element 172 is provided in c~..,uul_liull chamber
10 169, which when energized, heats the water to boiling to generate steam therein
which escapes chamber 169 through steam nozle 162. A plate or baffle 174 is
secured adjacent to lower portion 164 of nozzle 162 and in the path of flow of
steam to interrupt and minimize the discharge of water droplets from the
""~"" with the steam. as well as to muffle to some extent, the boiling
15 sound of water.
The outer sidewalls 204 of housing 116 has an extension of lip 206 which
projects below floor 160 and into .,U..I~ ,..i 150 of tray 140 for t ~ ~
by a latch 208 which is mounted on post 152 for pivotal movement by a screw
210. When container 114 is removed from base 118, access may be obtained to
20 latch 208, to pivot it out of ~ c~ with lip 206 to permit the housing 116 to
be lifted off of base 118 and thereby allow access to heater element 170 for
cleaning and the like.
The present invention as embodied in the third; ' ' shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8 operates in similar manner as the first two described, L
25 in the generation of steam in admixture with air. The humidifier of the third~ o~ as is apparent from the description and ~Yp~ rinn l~.Cillb~i'UlC,
differs in that the housing containing the ~"AUUIAliUI~ chamber may be removed
completely from the base whereas in the second, L ' the et~uivalent
structure is pivoted to the base as at 71 (see Figs. 5 and 6). It is apparent that
30 there is no basic change in concept in that either structure permits ,~
of the c~auul_lil.t, chamber from the base to obtain easy access to the heater
element. Also. the latching structure which includes latch 208 and lip 206.
14
WO95/14190 21 77~8a PCT/US94J~3435
permits the posltive latching of housin~ 116 on the base 1 18.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional from view illustrating a personal-sized warm
air humidifier 300. All of the elements of the personal-sized warm air
humidifier 300 are held within a shell 301 which includes a lower housing 303
5 and a removable upper cover 302. A removable water storage container 304, a
tray assembly 305, a heating element 306. a steam noz~e assembly 307, a steam
ejection tower assembly 308, and a medication cup assembly 309 are
' ' within the shell 301.
A recess 310 is defined by the bottom contour of the lower housmg 303
10 of the shell 301. A pair of posts 311 and 312 project down from the recess 310.
A pair of plate elements 313 and 314 are fastened to the ends of the posts 311
and 312, ..,~ , with fasteners such as screws, for example. ~Ahe assembly
of the posts 311 and 312 with the plate elements 313 and 314. ~ u~~
permits a power cord (not shown) to be wound and uu~ ".k....ly stored within
15 the recess 310. At least one foot post 315 also projects down from the recess310. An end of the foot post 315 is provided with a foot element 316 composed
of rubber for example.
An overheat shut-off resetting assembly 317 is fastened to a bottom
section of the lower housing 303, with a suitable means such as screws, for
20 example. The reserting assembly 317 includes a floor 318. One or more foot
elements 316 may be provided on the outer surface of the floor 318. The
resetting assemblv 317 also includes a plunger 319 which has a sloped surface
320. The plunger 319 is biased outward by a suitable means (not shown). A
stop element 321 formed on an arm of the plunger 319 engages a blocking
25 surface 322 to limit the outward movement of the plunger 319. The operation of
the resetting assembly 317 will be described in more detail below.
The tray assembly 305 is fitted, in a sealed manner, into a void deflned in
the bottom of the lower housing 303. A top view of the tray assembly 305
within the lower housing 303 is illustrated in FIG. 17. The tray assembly 305
30 includes an outer peripheral wall 323 and an full length dividing wall 324. The
dividing wall 324 defines a filling ,UIII~JGII~ 325 and an CV.,IJo~Aliu~
....11 326. A valve contact element 327 projects up from a floor of the
1~
~ ~ 77080
WO 95/14190 PCT/US94/13435
.
filling . .~ .. 3'5. I'his element actuates a valve elemem of Ihe removable
water storage container 304 in a manner described below.
A wall 328 defuning a lengthened water channel is formed between the
dividing wall 324 and an outer peripheral wall 323. The water chatmel
S IPn~hPniA~g wall 328 has a height which is shorter than that of the dividing wall
324. A first end of the water channel I ,, ' ~ wall 328 abuts and is sealed
against the dividing wall 324 while a second end of the water channel
wall 328 defines an opening between it and the dividing wall 324.
A void (not shown) defmed in a lower portion of the dividit~g wall 324
10 permits fluid ~ between the filling ~ 325 and the
c~auuldLiol~ ~,u...~JalL~ 326 of the tray assembly 305.
A floor of the cvauul_liul~ . , 326 is arranged below the floor
of the filling ~.UII~Udl~ i 325. i.e., the ~valJUla~iUII , 326 is formed
deeper than the filling ~O~II,U~ llt 325. A heating element 306. such as an
15 electric heater, for exampie, is fitted in a void in the floor of the ~vauulaliu
326. A water-tight seal 327 is provided between the heating
element 306 and the floor of the C.a,UUla~iUll ~ , ' 326.
he steatn nozle assembly 307 is provided above the c~a,uùld~iu,.
326 thereby defining an e~alJula~iùll chamber. The steam nozzle
20 assembly 30i includes a downward projecting lip 329 fitting agamst an inner
surface of the outer peripheral wall 323 and the dividmg wall 324 at a first area,
and an outwardly projecting flange 328 fitting against a top edge of the outer
peripheral wall 323 and the dividing wall 324. lAhe steam nozle assemblv also
includes a downward projecting skirt 370 which fits against an inner surface of
25 the ouoer peripheral wall 323 on at a second area. A lengthened section 370' of
the skirt 370 projects ~ ,ul~u to the dividing wall 324 and is disposed in
front of the void defined in the dividing wall 324. FIGS. 23 and 24 more clearlyillustrate the skirt 370 and the lengthened section 370' of the skirt 370. The
letter "H" in FIG. 23 indicates the d~)UI~ ' ' location of the void defined in
30 the dividing wall 324. As will be described below, the lengthened section 370'
of the skirt 370 prevents pulses of hot water "slugs" from entering the filling
UUlllUdl ~ 3_5.
16
WO95114190 2 1 7 70~ Q PCTIUS94113435
.
The steam nozle assembly 307 and the tray assembly 305 include means
permirung the steam nozzle assembly to be. rotated and locked-onto. or sn4pped-
onto, the tray assembly 305. A planer portion 330 of the steam nozle assembly
307 forms a ceiling of the CVotJu~ iull chamber. A tapered wall extending up
5 from a void deftned in the planer portion 330 deftnes a steam nozle 331. The
wall deftning the steam no771e 331 includes an upper opening and a lower
openirlg. The upper opening is centered above the lower opening and is smaller
than the lower opening. The wall deftning the steam nozle 331 gradually tapers
ftom the lower opening to the upper opening.
Each of the upper opening and the lower opening may be any one of
many geometric shapes such as a circle, a square, a pentagon, an octagon, etc.
In a preferred; ' ' t~ the steam nozle 331 has a cottical shape. In a more
preferred ~ L " t~ the upper opening is shapec as a square rather than a
circle. r"...~ droplets may form on the top of the upper opening ûf the
15 steam nozle 331 and at least partially block the upper opening. Providing thesteam nozzle 331 with a circular upper opening tended to exacerbate this
ptoblem. The sharp edges of a square upper opening of the nozle 331 minimize
such droplets by creating areas of increased surface tension. At least one
positioning post member 332 projects up from the planer portion 330 of the
20 steam nozle assembly 307.
The planer portion 330 of the steam nozle assembly 307 may include a
recess pitched towarc the fillin~ CUIII~ IIL 325 and having a void permitting
Quid I . ",.. , ;. ~1 i~ll between the steam no771e assembly 307 and the filling"~ 325. This permits any condensed water to flow back into the
25 filling ~ 325.
The steam ejection tower assembly 308 is fltted above the steam nozle
assembly 307. The steam ejection tower assembly 308 includes at least one
positioning hole 333 into which the at least one positioning post 332 of the steam
nozle assembly fits, thereby assuring that the steam ejection tower assembly 30830 is correctly situated above the ste4m nozle assembly 307. The positioning hole
333 and post 332 also define an air intake space "s" between the plana} portion
330 of the steam nozle assembly 307 and an intake of the steam ejection tower
. . .
WO95/14190 2 t 7708~ PCrlUSs4/l3435
.
308. An appropria~e means. such as a latch and catch pair, are provided on the
steam ejection tower assembly 308 and the steam noz~e assemoly 307 to
positively lock the two members.
The steam tower assembly 308 includes a substantiaily "hour-giass"
5 shaped waLi 334 defuimg an intake opening on the bottom and am outlet on the
top, The medicine cup assembly 309 can be held in a rec~ss 335 in the top of
the hour-glass shaped waii 334 near the outlet.
The removable water storage container 304 includes a cap 336 havmg
downward projecting positioning members 337. The positionmg members 337
10 center the cap above the vaive contact element 327 of the tray assembly 305.
The cap 336 aiso includes a valve assembly 338 (shown in Fig. 22). The valve
assembly 338 is fitted in a void 340 defined by the cap 336. A plunger arm 344
of the valve assembiy 338 is slidably centered in the void 340 by centering
elements 341. A valve seat 339 attached at a top end of the plunger arm 344
15 seais the void 344 of the cap 336 when the valve assembly 338 is in its closed
state. A biasing means 342, such as a spring for example, is disposed around
the plunger amm 344 between the centering elements 341 and a contact element
343 and biases the valve assembly 338 to its closed position.
When the contact element 343 is forced up, against the force of the
20 biasing means 342, the valve seat 339 rises and pemmits water in the removable
water storage container 304 to flow down through the void 340.
The operation of the personal-sized wamm air humidifier is described
below.
The upper cover 302 is manually removed thereby exposing the top of the
25 steam ejection tower assembly 308, the medication cup assembly 309, and the
top of the water storage container 304. The water storage container 304 is then
manuaiiy removed by gripping indents (not shown) in the sides of the water
storage container 304 and lifting it out from the lower housmg 303. The cap 337
is then removed and the water storage container 304 is ftiled with water, The
30 cap 337 is then screwed back onto the water storage container 304 and the water
storage container 304 is retumed to the lower housing 303.
When the water storage container 304 is rerurned, the valve contact
1~
WO95/14190 2 lt 77~80 PCT/USs4113435
.
element 327 of the tray assembly 305 contacts the contact element 343 of the
valve 338 thereby actuating the valve assembly upward against the force of the
biasimg means 342 artd lifting the valve seat 339 up from the void 344 of the cap
336.
Waoer then flows from the water storage container 304 into the f~lling
, 325 of the tray assembly 305. The level of the waoer is defmed by
the top of the cap 336 since no air can flow into the water storage container 304
through the cap 336 when it becomes covered with water. The water flows from
the filling ~ 1, 325 to the L.a~JulaLiol~ t . 326 via the void in
the lower portion of the dividirJg wall 324.
Water in the e~a~ulaliu~ r 326 is heated by heating element
306 thereby producing steam and creating a higher pressure in the c.a,uuldLi
chamber. This higher pressure forces the level of the water in the ~a,uulllLiu
chamber 326 to be lower than that in the filling chamber 325. This higher
pressure also forces the steam ~hrough the steam nozzle 331 of the steam nozzle
assembly 307. In the steam ejection tower assembly 308, this steam draws
cooler air as described above.
The dlviding wall 324 minimizes heat transfer from the water in the
~,va~JU~ iUII ~ 326 to the water in the filling, . i 325. The
20 water channel L~ ,,.;t; wall 328 lengthens the water channel between the voidin the dividing wall 324 and the cap 336 of the storage container 304 thereby
minimizing heated waoer and heat transfer from the void to water stored in the
water storage container 304. Further, the lengthened section 370' of the skirt
37.0 provides a physical barrier which impedes pulses of hot water from
25 traveling, ,l.~l,, lr~l from the heating element 306 to the void fommed in the
dividing wall 324. Thus, only a small amount of water is heated thereby
promoting safety in the event of a spill and promoting quick start-up time.
If the water level becomes too low, the i , c of the heating
element 306 will rise since cooler water is no longer being supplied. When the
. of the heating element reaches a I ' ~ r~ r, a
- Ih.. ~ switch 360 will trip and tum offthe heating element. The
themmostdt switch 360 can be reset by the resetting assembly 317 by pressing the
19
wo 95/14190 2 1 7 7 0 8 3 PCTIUSg4113435
.
plunger 319 inward thereby causing the sloped surtace 3~0 of the p~unger 319 to
reset the ~ switch 360.
A side cross-section of the ~ ~l " of the personal-sized warm air
humidifier having a fixed internal water container 350 is illustrated in FIG. 13.
A top view of this; ' ' with the upper cover 302 removed is illustrated
in FIG. 18.
In place of the tray assembly 305 and removable water storage container
304, a removable float valve 351 is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the float
valve 351 includes a stem 353 having a float 352 on an upper end and a valve
seat 355 on a lower end. Water flows up through the void 356 and out OpeMngs
354 uMil the water level rises to such an extent that the float 352 pulls the valve
seat 355 upward thereby sealing the void 356.
Purther, as can be seen when comparing FIG. 12 with FIG. 13, the
personal-sized warm air humidifier having a fixed water container 350 illustrated
in FIG. 13 may have a smaller upper cover 302 and a larger lower housing 303
than the ' - " illustrated in PIG. 12.
The operation of the personal-sized warm air humidi~ler having a fixed
water container 350 otherwise operates similarly to the personal-sized warm air
humidifler of FIG. 12 described above.
FIG. 15 is a front view, and FIG. 16 is a rear view, of the shell 301 of
the personal-sized warm air humidifler of FIG. 12 or FIG. 13. As shown, the
lower housing 303 includes an air inlet grille 360 which permits air to be drawninto the shell 301 between the steam nozzle assembly 307 and the stealn ejectiontower 308. The lines beneath the inlet grille 360 have no function but are
merely provided for aesthetic purposes.
PIG 19 is a left side view, and FIG. 20 is a right side view, illustrating
the shell 301 of the personal-sized warm air humidifler of FIG. 12 or F~G. 13.
As shown in FIG. 20, the lower housing 303 includes the air inlet grille 360.
The lines beneath the inlet grille 360 have no function but are merely provided
for aesthetic purposes.
Purther, as shown in PIG. 19, the height EI of the warm-air humidifler is
at least twice its width W. In a preferred . ,.-',n.l:.,.. ~ the height is at least 9.5
WO95/14190 2 i 77Q~0 PCrlUS94113435
inches and the width is less than 4.1 inches. In a preferred, L ' the
height H is d,u~ y 9.63 inches while the width W is dy~JII '!~ 4
inches. The minimum 2 to I ratio between height arld width provides an
adequate height fo} mixing steam with air and a compact width.
S FIG. 21 is a top view illustratiLng the top cover 302 of the personal-sizedwarm air humidifier of FIG. 12 or FIG. 13. As shown, the top cover 302
includes an outlet grille siruated above the steam ejection tower 308. The linesto the right of point "P" have no function but are merely provided for aestheticpurposes.
Steam ejector tube 84 preferably is in the ~l, ~".. AI;III~ disclosed in thedrawings although the present invention: . ' the usage of a steam
ejector tube which is straight or angled (rather than curved) or which does not
have a restricted throat portion. However. these variations would result in a loss
of efficiency of tube 84 as would be understood from points 1, 2. and 3 in the
15 "Summary of the Invention".
The present invention also ~ r ~ an ~.d~JUld~;Ull chamber in which
the lower wall engages the bottom of the tray rather than spaced therefrom. In
such an event, openings would be provided . i,, .. r. .l . `iAIly of the lower wall to
permit water to enter the cVcl!)uldLiUll chamber from the main ~,u,
Although the operation of the humidifier of the present invention would not
materially change,a problem would arise in that the openings, in time, would
become clogged by deposits from the water or other liquids used. to thereby
impede the flow of water between the main ~U~ and the C~ uld~i
chamber.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides an
improved and novel humidifier which utilizes a simple and effective steam
ejector tube in ( ' ` ' with a steam nozle through which a high velocity jet
is produced under the constant pressure by reason of a differential head of water
in the water supply ~ as constituted by the main ~ and the
filling ~ of the base~
By utilizing the phenomena of ~ , negative pressure and
buoyance a uniform and desired mixture of steam and air at a L~ ,ldL..l~ below
21
WO 95/14190 ~ 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCT/US94/13435
the painful ran e is obtained without the use of relatively expensive mo~or driven
blowers and the like. as well as . , with moving parts. The invention
thus obviaoes the need of fans. motors, electric controls and the like, and the
assembly costs required of them as weU as ~ costs. r, . the
5 pressure drop through the air filter, where used, is overcome by the present
invention which adds to the value of same.
By providing an outer shell to - ' all elements, an easily
' ' personal-si~e warm air humidifier is possible. While the chances of
~ipping are increased by the height-to-width ratio, by only heating a small amount
10 of water, safety is increased.
Although several ~ I ' of the present invention have been
disclosed and described herein, it may be readily understood that other variations
of the invention may be practiced which still will be embraced by the spirit of
the invention and covered by the claims which follow.
