Patent Application
20250109869
The present disclosure relates generally to humidifying systems for increasing humidity of ambient air. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a humidifier system, which includes features for securing humidifier components within the humidifier system.
At least one aspect of the present disclosure relates to a humidifier system. The humidifier system includes a first module having a wet-pack assembly, a second module structured to draw air through the first module, and a cover assembly structured to couple to each of the first module and the second module, where the cover assembly is structured to retain the wet-pack assembly within the first module.
In various embodiments, the second module is a fan module or a bypass module. In some embodiments, the cover assembly is structured to couple to the first module at a first joint and structured to couple to the second module at a second joint. In other embodiments, the first joint includes a cam portion and a receiver portion, where the cam portion is structured to engage with the receiver portion. In yet other embodiments, the first joint forms a snap fit or an interference fit between the cam portion and the receiver portion. In various embodiments, the first joint is formed on a side edge of the cover assembly. In some embodiments, the cam portion includes a ridge configured to engage with a groove of the receiver portion. In other embodiments, the second joint includes a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism including a moveable component that is structured to engage with a lip portion of the second module. In yet other embodiments, the moveable component includes a recess formed between a first portion and a second portion, the moveable component being structured to receive the lip portion within the recess.
In various embodiments, the moveable component is structured to transition from a first position to a second position, where the lip portion is received within the recess when the moveable component is in the first position, and wherein the lip portion is spaced from the moveable component when the moveable component is in the second position. In other embodiments, the latch mechanism further includes a biasing component, the biasing component configured to bias the moveable component to the first position. In yet other embodiments, the cover assembly includes at least one ramped portion angled toward the first module. In some embodiments, the wet-pack assembly includes at least one rib extending outward toward the at least one ramped portion, the at least one rib configured to engage with the at least one ramped portion to retain the wet-pack assembly within the base module. In various embodiments, the at least one ramped portion is disposed along at least one edge of the cover assembly. In some embodiments, the at least one edge includes a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a humidifier system. The humidifier system includes a base module including a wet-pack assembly, a fan module or a bypass module structured to draw air through the base module, and a cover assembly. The cover assembly is structured to couple to the base module at at least one first joint and structured to couple to the fan module or the bypass module at a second joint to resist an internal pressure within the humidifier system. The first joint includes a cam mechanism and the second joint includes a latch mechanism.
In various embodiments, the cam mechanism includes a cam portion disposed on the cover assembly and a receiver portion disposed on the base module. In some embodiments, the cam portion includes a ridge disposed on a terminal end, the ridge configured to engage with a grove of the receiver portion. In other embodiments, the latch mechanism includes a button configured to selectively engage a portion of the base module. In yet other embodiments, the cover assembly includes one or more ramped members, the one or more ramped members structured to engage with a portion of the wet-pack assembly to retain the wet-pack assembly within the base module.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the following drawings and the detailed description.
The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Generally, the present disclosure relates to a humidifier system having a base assembly that may be selectively coupled to a fan module to facilitate integration within a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system to accommodate a particular humidification need within a structure. The humidifier system may be configured such that the base module includes coupling regions on multiple sides to facilitate selective coupling with the fan module and a cover, which contains and conceals a wet-pack and surrounding components disposed within the base module of the humidifier system. In various embodiments, the fan module may include one or more fans for circulating humidified air into or through the HVAC system. In other embodiments, the humidifier system can additionally or alternatively include one or more bypass modules. Accordingly, the humidifier system described herein can be configured such that each module can be interchangeably replaced or repositioned within the humidifier system to enable adaptability of the humidifier system to various use profiles.
Referring to
In various embodiments, the humidifier system 100 may include a first module, which is structured to couple to a second module and a cover assembly 115. In various embodiments, the first module is a base module 105, which can include a frame defining at least one conduit. In some embodiments, the frame can be structured to include at least one wet-pack assembly to facilitate humidification of air passing through the at least one conduit. In some embodiments, the second module includes at least one conduit that is fluidly coupled to the first module. In various embodiments, the at least one conduit of the second module can be fluidly coupled to one or more ducts of an HVAC system within which the humidifier system 100 is integrated. The at least one conduit of the second module is structured to draw a flow of air through the first module. In various embodiments, the second module is a fan module 110, which can include one or more air circulating units (e.g., fan, blower, etc.) structured to force or accelerate the flow of air through the first module. In other embodiments, the second module is a bypass module. In such embodiments, the at least one conduit of the second module is fluidly coupled to the first module and is structured to direct air flowing from within an HVAC system to the first module.
In various embodiments, the second module is the fan module 110. It should be noted that although the figures illustrate the fan module 110, as described above, the humidifier system 100 can be structured ton include a bypass module in place of the fan module 110. In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 may be structured to selectively couple to each of the fan module 110 and the base module 105 to facilitate containment and concealment of components within the humidifier system 100. In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 includes one or more features disposed along outer edges, which are configured to engage with respective edges of the base module 105 and fan module 110. The base module 105 includes a wet-pack assembly 127, which is coupled to a water source. The wet-pack assembly 127 includes a distribution tray, a water panel, and a drainage tray. The distribution tray distributes water from the water source to a water panel, where air blown through the water panel by the fan module 110 is humidified by water within the water panel. Excess water from the water panel flows to the distribution tray and is then routed away from the humidifier system 100 or recycled for additional use.
The water source is in communication with a control module and, accordingly, water from the water source may flow to the wet-pack assembly 127 responsive to control signals from the control module. The fan module 110 is operably coupled to each of the control module and the wet-pack assembly 127. The circulation module 110 may include one or more fans, blowers, or other mechanisms configured to distribute humidified air from the wet-pack assembly 127 within the humidifier system 100. During operation, the humidifier system 100, responsive to a control signal from the control module, circulates water from the water source to the wet-pack assembly 127. The fan module 110 circulates air through the wet-pack assembly 127 where its humidity is increased due to evaporation of the water from the wet-pack assembly 127 and the humidified air moved into the surrounding space.
In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 is structured to move between a closed (i.e., fully engaged) configuration and an open or separated (i.e., fully disengaged) configuration to selectively enable access to the wet-pack assembly 127.
The cam mechanism of the joint 130 can include a clip or cam portion 135, which is structured to articulate and engage with a receiver portion 140 to selectively couple the cover assembly 115 to the base module 105. As shown, in the closed configuration, a clip or cam portion 135 of the cover assembly 115 is disposed within a channel or groove formed by a receiver portion 140 of the base module 105. In various embodiments, the cam portion 135 may be structured as a flexible member, having a hook or ridge 141 on a terminal end thereof to facilitate engaging within the receiver portion 140, as shown in
The cover assembly 115 can be separated from the base module 105 as shown in
During use of the humidifier system 100, the cover assembly 115 may be positioned adjacent the base module 105 and fan module 110 such that the handle 150 is oriented toward the fan module 110. The cover assembly 115 can then be manipulated such that the cam portion 135 is inserted within the channel of the receiver portion 140. The cover 115 can be further manipulated to rotate and pivot relative to the receiver portion 140 such that the cam portion 135 slides within the channel defined by a ridged member 142 of the receiver portion 140 to engage the hook 141 of the cam portion 135 with a ridge within the ridged member 142 of the receiver portion 140, which then forms the joint 130 and secures the cover assembly 115 to the base module 105. In various embodiments, the receiver portion 140 has a variable thickness to allow for flex in the receiver portion 140 as the cam portion 135 articulates relative to the receiver portion 140. For example, in some embodiments, a thickness of the ridged member 142 increases with proximity to a lateral midline of the humidifier system 100. In other embodiments, the thickness of the ridged member 142 decreases with proximity to the lateral midline of the humidifier system 100. In some embodiments, the ridged member 142 is sloped such that a width of the groove defined by the ridged member 142 of the receiver portion 140 increases with proximity to an upper edge of the wet-pack assembly 127. In embodiments where the joint 130 is disposed adjacent a lower edge or corner of the humidifier system 100, the ridged member 142 can be sloped such that a width of the groove defined by the ridge member 142 of the receiver portion 140 increases with proximity to a lower edge of the wet-pack assembly. In various embodiments, the slope of the ridged member 142 facilitates disengagement of the cam portion 135 from the receiver portion 140. In some embodiments, an edge of the cover assembly 115 opposite the joint 130 can include one or more retention features structured to engage with one or more corresponding retention features of the fan module 110.
When the cover assembly 115 is fully engaged within the humidifier system 100, edges of the cover assembly 115 adjacent the edge within which the joint 130 is formed may form an overlapping or interference fit with corresponding edges of the base module, as shown in
In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 can include one or more latch mechanisms 145, which are configured to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the cover assembly 115 from the base module 105 and/or fan module 110 at a joint, such as shown in
As shown in
In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 is structured to couple to the adjacent base module 105 and fan module 110 in a manner that is configured to resist internal pressure (e.g., air pressure) from within the humidifier system 100. In some embodiments, the internal pressure is air pressure generated by the fan module 110 or positive pressure from a ducted HVAC system to which the humidifier system 100 is connected. In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 can be coupled to the base module 105 and the fan module 110 by aligning the cover assembly 115 relative to the base module 105 and the fan module 110 and applying a normal force to an outer portion of the cover assembly 115 to press the cover assembly 115 into engagement. In some embodiments, the cover assembly 115 is structured to couple to each of the base module 105 and fan module 110 (or any other suitable module) to secure the cover assembly 115 thereto. Accordingly, as described above, the cover assembly 115 is configured to couple to a first component of the humidifier system 100 at at least one first location and to a second component of the humidifier system 100 at at least one second location. In various embodiments, the first component is the fan module 110 and the at least one first location is at the latch mechanism 145. In other embodiments, the second component is the base module 105 and the at least one second location is the joint 130. In various embodiments, the cover assembly 115 is secured within the humidifier system 100 in three planes when the cover assembly 115 is coupled to the first component at the first location and the second component at the second location. Accordingly, to release the cover assembly 115 from the humidifier system 100, the latch mechanism 145 can be operated to disengage the lip portion 149 from the moveable component 146. The cover assembly 115 can then be pivoted and rotated such that the cam portion 135 articulates relative to the receiver portion 140 to disengage the cam portion 135 from the receiver portion 140. Once the cam portion 135 is disengaged from the receiver portion 140, the cover assembly 115 can then be fully separated from the humidifier system 100.
As shown in
In various embodiments, the one or more ribs 180 are disposed on an outer edge or outer surface of the distribution tray 160. In other embodiments, the one or more ribs 180 are disposed along an outer edge or outer surface of a frame containing the water panel. In yet other embodiments, the one or more ribs 180 are disposed both the distribution tray 160 and a frame containing the water panel. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs 180 includes two ribs disposed near a midpoint of the distribution tray 160, such as shown in
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the humidifier system 100 can be structured so it includes a first module having a wet-pack assembly 127, a second module structured to draw air through the first module, and a cover assembly 115 structured to couple to each of the first module and the second module, where the cover assembly 115 is structured to retain the wet-pack assembly 127 within the first module. In such embodiments, the first module can be the base module 105 and the second module can be the fan module 110 or a bypass module. In some embodiments, the humidifier system 100 can be structured to include the base module 105 including the wet-pack assembly 127, the fan module 110 or a bypass module structured to draw air through the base module 105, and the cover assembly 115. The cover assembly 115 can be structured to couple to the base module 105 at at least one first joint and structured to couple to the fan module 110 or the bypass module at a second joint to resist an internal pressure within the humidifier system 100. The first joint includes a cam mechanism (e.g., the cam mechanism at the joint 130) and the second joint includes a latch mechanism (e.g., the latch mechanism 145).
As discussed above, various components of the humidifier system 100 can be structured to enable adaptability to HVAC systems having varied configurations. For example, as described above, as shown in
Notwithstanding the embodiments described above in
As utilized herein with respect to numerical ranges, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms generally mean +/−10% of the disclosed values, unless specified otherwise. As utilized herein with respect to structural features (e.g., to describe shape, size, orientation, direction, relative position, etc.), the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are meant to cover minor variations in structure that may result from, for example, the manufacturing or assembly process and are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
The hardware and data processing components used to implement the various processes, operations, illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or, any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor also may be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, particular processes and methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function. The memory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device) may include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage) for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers and modules described in the present disclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, and may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present disclosure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory is communicably connected to the processor via a processing circuit and includes computer code for executing (e.g., by the processing circuit or the processor) the one or more processes described herein.
The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and program products on any machine-readable media for accomplishing various operations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data, which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above.
It is important to note that any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/541,370, filed on Sep. 29, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63541370 | Sep 2023 | US |
