Patent Application
20060163754
This invention relates to humidifiers, and specifically to cool mist type humidifiers.
During the winter months, many different types of known heating systems dry the air in a home. This often results in the inhabitants of the home developing one or more problems including dry skin, scratchy throats and long term coughs. In addition, the contents of the home may lose moisture which may cause furniture to creak, floors to squeak and a build-up of static electricity.
Proper introduction of indoor humidification may alleviate many of the problems associated with an air drying heating system and provide for a more comfortable “feel” and thereby, better living conditions. Various attempts have been made, through different humidification systems, to reintroduce moisture into the air within a dry air home.
A common type of humidifier includes a conical tube which draws water from a reservoir, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,294,376; 3,283,478; and 5,514,303, the teachings of which are incorporated herein. This type of humidifier creates a cool mist by drawing water up through the tube through centrifugal force and expelling the water through an orifice at the top of the tube to create water droplets. These droplets may be directed onto a diffusor screen which breaks up the droplets into smaller droplets. The droplets are then blown into an airstream created by an internal fan. A common problem associated with these cool mist type humidifiers is that the droplets are carried by the airstream where they are then deposited upon furniture or other objects within the room. The eventual evaporation of these droplets upon the furniture leaves a white mineral deposit which is unsightly and therefore must be removed periodically.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a cool mist humidifier which overcomes problems associated with that of the prior art. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.
In a preferred form of the invention, a humidifier comprises a housing defining a water reservoir configured to provide a select maximum water level, an air intake, an air outlet, and an air channel extending between the air intake and the air outlet. The air channel has a downward channel portion, an upward channel portion, and a junction portion extending between the downward channel portion and the upward channel portion. The junction channel portion is positioned above the reservoir select maximum water level. The humidifier also has a motorized fan positioned to create an airflow through the air channel from the air intake to the air outlet, a rotatable suction tube having a lower end extending into the reservoir below the select maximum water level and an upper end positioned opposite the lower end. The upper end has at least one water outlet positioned within the downward channel portion above the junction channel portion. With this construction, water droplets expelled from the suction tube water outlet are dispersed within the airstream passing through the downward channel portion, and the transition of the airstream from a downward flow into the junction channel portion causes heavier droplets to be removed from the airstream.
With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a humidifier 10 embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. The humidifier 10 has a housing 11, a conventional electric motor 12 coupled to a conventional electric power source, a fan blade assembly 13 coupled to the electric motor 12, a conical suction tube 14 coupled to the electric motor 12 through the fan blade assembly 13, and a cylindrical water droplet diffusing screen 15 mounted concentrically about the suction tube 14.
The motor 12 is encased within a motor housing 17 having a top surface 18 to which conventional humidifier electronics may be coupled, such as the motor speed switch, desired humidification level, on/off switch and other similar electronics. The motor housing 17 is configured to extend flush with a central hub 19 of the fan blade assembly 13.
The suction tube 14 is coupled to the bottom of the fan blade assembly central hub 19. The suction tube 14 has a bottom opening 22 through which water may enter the interior space of the suction tube, and a series of water outlets 23 adjacent the central hub 19.
The housing 11 has a lower housing portion 25 and an upper housing portion 26. The lower housing portion 25 has an outer shell 27 configured to define a water reservoir 28 adapted to hold a supply of water having a maximum water line MWL. The lower housing portion 25 also includes a cylindrical central tube 31 in which the motor housing 17 is concentrically positioned to create an annular downward air channel 32 therebetween commencing at an air inlet 33. The central tube 31 extends to a larger diameter cylindrical portion 35 which creates a barrier which terminates at a bottom edge 34 and includes an annular array of secondary diffusing walls 36 positioned above the bottom edge 34. It should be understood that the bottom edge 34 is positioned above the maximum water line MWL of the water supply WS. The central tube 31 and a portion of the upper housing portion 26 are spaced away from the outer shell 27 of the lower housing portion 25 so as to define an upward air channel 37 therebetween extending continuously from the downward air channel 32, however as the air flows below the central tube 31 this portion may be termed a junction portion of the air channel between the downward air channel and the upward air channel. The upward air channel 37 terminates at an annular exhaust port or outlet 38. It should be understood that the sidewalls of the outer shell 27 extend directly to the portion of the lower housing which defines the water reservoir 28, so that any moisture collected upon the interior surface of the outer shell flows back into the water reservoir.
The upper housing portion 26 defines a water tank 39 adapted to contain the water supply WS. The water tank 39 includes a fill port and a conventional water release valve 41 which controls the flow of water from the water tank 39 to the water reservoir 28 to maintain a water level generally coinciding with the maximum water line MWL. The fill port may be part of the water release valve 41, as conventionally known in the art.
In use, the water tank 39 is filled with water and positioned upon the lower housing portion 25 so as to actuate the release valve to allow a portion of the water to flow from the water tank 39 to the water reservoir until it reaches its maximum water line MWL. As the bottom end of the suction tube 14 is positioned below the maximum water line MWL water enters the suction tube 14 through the bottom opening 22.
An operator may then actuate the on/off switch and set the desired level of humidification and motor speed, thereby energizing the electric motor 12. The energization of the electric motor 12 causes the rotation of the fan assembly 13 and suction tube 14. The rotation of the suction tube 14 causes water within the bottom end of the suction tube to be forced upwardly along the interior of the suction tube 14 through centrifugal force and the configuration of the expanding interior surface of the suction tube. As the water reaches the top end of the suction tube it is expelled through the water outlets 23 as high velocity water drops D. As the drops D travel horizontally from the suction tube the majority of the drops collide with the diffusing screen 15, thereby causing the drops D to be broken into smaller droplets DL as they pass through the diffusing screen and into the downward air channel 32. Some drops D however pass unencumbered through the diffusing screen 15. These drops D directly contact the secondary diffusing walls 36, whereby they too are broken into smaller droplets DL within the downward air channel 32. Also, the smaller droplets DL created by contact with the diffusing screen 15 may also be further broken up into even smaller droplets through contact with the secondary diffusing walls 36.
The rotation of the fan blade assembly 13 causes air to be drawn through the air inlet 33, through the downward air channel 32, through the upward air channel 37, and out of the air outlet 38 as shown by the directional arrows in
It should be understood that the motor may be utilized with either a d.c. or an a.c. current. Also, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the annular air channels shown in the preferred embodiment. The air channel may be of any configuration so long as the entrained water droplets within the airstream flow downwardly prior to flowing upwardly.
It should also be understood that other types of water droplet generating devices may be utilized with the present invention, such as ultrasonic generators, vibrating devices, pressurized spray nozzles and the like.
It thus is seen that a humidifier is now provided which overcomes problems with those of the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
