US1980066A - Electric vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1934.

M. KATZMAN 1,980,066 ELECTRIC VAPORI ZER Filed March 3, 1950 liquid gap.

PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC YAPORIZER Max Katzman, Utica, N. Y., assignor to Kal Manufactoring Company, Inc., Utica, N. Y., a cor--y poration of New York Application March 3,1930', Serial No. l@32,841

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric liquidvaporizer in which a pair of electrodes are enclosed within and supported by an insulating block which in turn is mounted upon and suspended from the cover of the liquid container in such manner that thev lower end thereof in which the electrodes are incorporated is immersed in 'the liquid and provided with passages above and vbelow the electrodes to allow the circulation of the liquid therethrough and between said electrodes so that when the latter are energized the short circuit of the current across the intervening gap will rapidly convert the liquid into vapor until the level of the liquid drops below the electrodes at which time the circuit will beautomatically broken.

This device is adapted to be used more particularly for medicinal purposes for vaporizing l medicated liquids and discharging the vapor into the room in which the affected person is located to 'be inhaled by that person, but it is obvious that the saine device may be used for vaporizing any other liquid.

The main object is to entirely enclose and conceal the electrodes within and upon an insulating block which in turn is secured-to and supported by the cover of the container so that when the cover with the insulated electrodes thereon is removed from the container while the electrodes are still connected in the heater circuit the cover and insulator may be handled with perfect safety and without danger of contact of the electrodes with the hands or other external objects,

Another object is to provide the insulatorwith liquid passages at the lower and upper edges of the electrodes to permit free circulation of the water through the intervening gap between the electrodes to the exterior of the insulatoi` and thereby to assure a rapid conversion of the liquid into vapor with a minimum consumption of current energy. i

Another object is to make the insulator jin hall sections identical in construction so that both may be castor molded in one and the same mold. ,y

Another object is to make both of the electrodes and their supporting conductors identical in construction so that both may be made from one and the same pattern.

A further object is to construct the sections di the insulator and the electrode members in such manner that when the parts are assembled the electrodes will automatically be vsecured in properly spaced relation to form the intervening Another object is to provide the upper ends of the half sections of the insulator with similar reduced extensions threaded externally for passage through an opening in the cover to been-'- gaged by a clamping nut which serves the double purpose of locking the two half sections to- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line 2-2, of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 3 3, Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the half sections of the insulator block.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the electrodes and its electric conducting support.

As illustrated the liquid container comprises a relatively small jar l, preferably of glass or other suitable insulating material, having a relatively large opening 2 in its upper end adapted to be normally closed by a cap or cover section 3 which, in this instance, is provided with a downwardly projectingmarginal threaded flange 3 adapted'for screw engagement with corresponding peripheral threads on the upper end of the container to permit the removal of the cover when desired.

This cover is preferably made of sheet metal or other suitable material and is provided with a' central openings; for receiving the upper reduced end of the insulator block presently described, said cover being also provided with a vdelivery nozzle 5 having a vapor outlet 5 leading from the interior of the upper end ofthe container between the central opening 4 and marginal edge of the container as shown more clearly in Figure 2. f l

-The electric heater for vaporizlng the liquid in the container l comprises, in this instance, a pair of similar L-shaped electrodes or plates 6 enclosed within and supported by an insulator block '7 in such manner that the`electrodes will be held in parallel vertical planes and in opposed spaced relation to form an intervening liquid gap 8 which communicates with the exterior of the insulator block through an under lying vertical passage 9 and overlying lateral passages 10, said passages being arranged in planes below and above the corresponding lower and upper edges of the electrode plate 6 as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

.The electrode plates 6 are preferably made of sheet steel or other suitable electric-conducting material andare each provided near their outer edges with upwardly projecting odset extensions 6' which, when the electrodes are placed in opei'ative position, will be arranged in reverse order Lor at .opposite sides of the longitudinal extensions 6 of the electrodes 6 to extend up-r wardly therefrom, -theupper end of each strip 11 being electrically and securely connected to the adjacent ends of suitable lead wires 12 which in turn are enclosed in insulating sheathings 13' and are connected to an electric plug 13', the latter being adapted to be attached to any available electricA socket to which current is supplied from any available source of electric energy, not' shown, for supplying current to the electrodes 6. The combined lengths of each of the electrodes f 6 with its extension 6' and leader strip 11 is appreciably, less than the vertical height of the insulating block 7 andl in like manner the transverse width of each electrode is appreciablyr less than the corresponding width of the insulating block, the object of which is'to permit each electrode with its extension 6 and leader strip 11 to b'e incorporated entirely within the marginal edges of the insulating block in a manner .presently described so that in case the cover 3 with the insulating block and electric heater 'f therein should be removed from the container 1 none of the electrically energized parts couldcome in contact with the hands of the user or any other external objects, all of which gives reasonable assurance of safety from electric shocks or fires when the device is used by the most careless or unskilled operatives.

The'material from which the electrodes are constructed is adapted to resist disintegration through electrolytic action for as long a period as possible but lobviously they willl need replacing when their eiciency is seriously impaired and in order. that they may be properly assembled in the first instance and replaced'from time vto time the insulator block 7 is preferably composed of similar half sections 7 having substantially'atmeeting faces abutting against each 'other when the electrodes 6 with the ex- -tensions 6 and leader strips 11 are properly assembled Within the insulating block.

In other words the insulating block 7 as a unit is substantially` rectangular and elongated vertically as well as transversely in one direc'- tion, the transverse widthl being substantially less than the diameter of the opening 2 in the mouth of the bottle to permitthe insulator to readily pass therethrough, the vertical height of the insulator block being appreciably less than the vertical depth of the interior of the container 1 so as to leave a clear open space across the bottom and entirely around all sides of the insulator when the cap 3 with the insulator thereon is lsecured in operative position upon the mouth of the container.

It is now evident that when the level of the liquid within the container has been lowered by evaporation of the liquid below the lower edges of the electrodes 6 it will automatically open the heater circuit by reason of the fact that the liquid formerly acting as a conductor between the electrodes will then cease to act as such conductor and therefore any further evaporation of the previous liquid charge will also cease. I

This automatic lopening of the heater circuit bythe recession of the liquid from the electrodes.

poses so long as theamount of liquid is sufficient to cover even a small part of the electrodes.

I have found that electrode plates of .relatively small area arranged in a denite relation to each other. and'to the circulating passages as 9 and 10 are highly important in the'conservation of electric energy and rapidity of ebullition and resultant vaporization and one of the objects of the present invention is to construct unit-supporting means for one of the electrodes and its conducting strip so that when the two half `sections of lthe insulator are secured together face to face they will not only secure the electrodes in operative position against relative movement but will also hold them in the most the insulating sections and also the electrode members and their leader strips -in such manner that each half insulator section constitutes a ecient predetermined relation for conserva-v tion of energy and rapidity of evaporation. To this end the inner-adjacent sides of the insulator sections are provided with electrode chambers or recesses 14, each having an upwardly projecting oiset extension branch 15,

which, together with the recesses 14, is substan tially L-shaped to conform more or less closely to the shape of the plate electrodes 6 and its extension 6', each half section 7 being also pro.

vided with a lengthwise groove orchannel 16 leading from the upper end of the extension 15 to an upper offset recess or channel 17 which in turn`communicates with the central length- Wise groove 18 in the upper end of the section 7 thus forming a continuous channel leading from the electrode chamber 14 to the cover 3 for the reception of the conductors 6', 11 and 12 of the electrodes 6. A

Each electrode 6 is seated in its like chamber 14 between'the passages 9 and 10 so that theextensions 6' will lie in the corresponding' branch recesses 15 while the conducting' strip 11 will be seated in the groove 16.

The depth of each recess '.14 and its branch 15, is somewhat greater than the thickness of the corresponding electrode 6 and its extension 6 so that when the conducting strips 11 of each electrode are seated on the bottom of its grooves 16 and the two insulator sections are brought together face to face both of the electrodes 6 will be disposed in spaced relation at opposite sides of meeting faces of insulator sections to form the liquid gap 8 shown more clearly in Figure 2.

Under these conditions the upper ends of theA extensions 6 will be more or less closely engaged with the upper end walls as 16' of the receses A15 while the lower edges of the electrodes 6 willbe in more or less close engagement with the lower end walls of their respective recesses 14 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. l

The lower passage 9 is centrally arranged in the bottom of the insulator block with approximately one-half of the opening in each of the- 'cular and arranged in transverse alinement in a plane directly over the upper edges of the main Abody of the electrodes 6 so that as the liquid it may readily flow outwardly in opposite directions through the passages 10 and as converted into vapor the latter will readily collect in the upper part of the receptacle to be discharged through the nozzle 5 into the room in which th vaporizer is located.

The oiset recesses 17 in the inner faces of the upper portions of the insulator sections 7' are also arranged in reverse order to receive the adjacent ends of the' insulated wires 12,.'

said wires with their insulated sheathingsl being passed outwardly from the upper ends of the strips 11 through the central lengthwise grooves or openings 18 for connection withy the plug 13.

When the electrodes 6 with their extensions 6 and strips 11 togethery with the adjacent ends of the cables 12 are assembled in their respective recesses within the sections 7 the latter are brought-together face to face and firmly clamped together by clamping bolts 19v which are passed through registering apertures in the sections 7 along the longitudinal centers thereof, the threaded ends of the bolts 19 being engaged by nuts 19'.

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 4 that the recesses 14 extend across the longitudinal centers of the inner faces of the insulator sections 7' equal distances therefrom and that the branch recesses 15 and their grooves 16 will be arranged equal distances from and at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said insulator sections when the latter are secured togetherV under which conditions the recesses 17 of the two sections will extend in opposite directions from the centralopenings 18 the latter being then registered with each other to receive the cables 12.

In order that the connections,.preferably soldered, between the upper ends of the conducting strips 11 and adjacent ends of the conductors 12 may have ample clearanceto allow the sections 7 to be brought together face to face, the adjacent portions'of said sections are provided with circular recesses 20 into which said connections may be seated as the two insulator Sections are clamped together.

It is n'ow clear that when the connecting stripsl 11 are seated in their respective grooves 16 the outerface of each will be seated against the bottom of-its groove while the inner face of the same strip will-bemore or less in close engagement with the inner flat face of the other insulator section, thereby assuring the maintenance of the electrodes in fixed spaced relation against relative movement toward or from each other with the assurance that the liquid gap 8 will always be the same.`

The upper ends of the half sections 7' are reduced in width to form semi-cylindrical nipples 21 extending through the opening 4 in and beyond the upper face of the lid 3 and forming end shoulders 22 at opposite sides of the nipples kbeing threaded externally nipple sections 21 until the inner end of the nut engages the outer face of the cover, there-v by not only locking the upper endso'f the insulator sections to each other but also locking the entire insulating block to the cover, said nut being provided with a central opening through which the cables 12 are extended for attachment to the plug 14.

` Operation- When it is desired to use the device for vaporizing liquid the cover 3 with the entire heating unit including the insulator block '7 may be removed from within the container to allow the latter toY be lled more or less to any predetermined level above the lower edges of the electrodes 6 whereupon the cover 3 with the insulator block 7 thereon, may be secured in operative position upon the top of the container after which the plug 13 may be attached to an electric socket for supplying-current to the electrodes 6.

The liquid which is then present in the -gap 8 between the electrodes will be heated by the transit of the current from one electrode to the other through the intervening liquid until said liquid is vaporized and the vapor allowed to pass out through the nozzle 5. This vaporization may continue until the liquid level drops below the lower edges of the electrodes whereupon the liquid electric connection between the electrodes will be broken with the resultant automatic breaking of the heater circuit.

During this vaporization of the liquid within the container said liquid is free to'ow upwardly through the passage 9 and thence through the gap 8 and outwardly through the passages l0 as long as the liquid level remains above the lower edges of the electrodes.

It will be observed that ,the water heating chamber or gap between the electrodes is closed lili) and entirely confined Within the walls of the.

\ tion as closely as possible to the water heating chamber between the electrodes and thereby to prevent ebullition in the upper portion of the container which is automatically reserved for the reception of the vapor escaping from the passages 10 into the adjacent portions of the receptacle for collection in the upper portion thereof and for final discharge through the nozzle 5, thusl preventinng any possibility of escape of the liquid through the nozzle.

What I claim is.:-

1. In an electric vaporizer of the character described, a container for the liquid to be vaporized having a removable cover and a vapor outlet therein, a pair of upright insulator sections secured to the cover and arranged in opposed abutting relation within the container and provided vwith similar electrode-receiving chambers in adjacent sides near the lower ends thereof,

and a pair of similar electrodes arranged in op- Y posed spaced relation within said chambers to form an intervening liquid space -in the plane of the abutting faces of said sections, each insulator section having an opening in the bottom wall of its recess below the corresponding electrode and registering with said space and also provided with an opening in the side wall of its chambervabove the adjacent: electrode and c'zonmiunicat'ingl with said` space to allow circulation of the liquidfrom the lower opening upwardly? through said space and outwardly through the side openings.

2. An electric vaporizer as in claim 1 in which the upper ends of the insulator sections are-provided with reduced threaded extensions and a nut engaging said extensions -for clamping ythe sections together.

3. An electric vaporizer as in claim 1 in which clamping bolts are passed through transverse openings inthe insulator sections for clamping them together face to face.

4. In an electric vaporizer of the character described, a container for the liquid to be vaporized, opposed separable insulatorsections supported within the container in abutting relation and provided with an electrode chamber in the opposite sides of their abutting faces, and a ing portions of adjacent sides abutting against each other and other portions of said adjacent sides provided with registeringfelectrode-receiving chambers near rthe lower ends of the sections, channels leading upwardly from the chambers in laterally offset relation, and electrodes seated-in said chambers in' spaced relation and provided with electric conductors seated inv their respective channels in spaced relation, said conductors being extended to the-exterior of' the container for connection to a source of. electric supply. e'

6. In an electric vaporizer, the combination with a container for the liquid to'be vaporized having a removable cover provided with a vapor outlet, of a pair of opposed insulator sections secured to the cover to extend downwardly therefrom into the containerand having adjacent sides in 'abutting relation and provided with 4registering velectrode-receiving chambers near the lower ends thereof and channels leading upwardly from the chambers, opposed electrodes seated' in said chambers and having adropenings in both sections for holding -the latter in abutting relation. i

9. An electric vaporizer comprising a container having a removable cover, an insulator block abutting endwise against the underside of the cover and extending downwardly therefrom into said container and .having its upper end provided with a reduced externally threaded vnipple extended through an opening in the cover, a nut engaging said nipple and upper face of the cover for -clamping thev insulator block to said cover, and electrodes mounted on the insulator block and provided with means for connection to a source of current supply.

10. An electric vaporizer comprising a container having a removableAcover, an insulator block abutting endwise against the underside of the cover and extend d downwardly therefrom into said container d having its upper end provided with a reduced externally threaded nipple extended through an opening in the cover, said insulator block being divided medially from end to end through the nipple to form opposite half sections, a nut engaging the nipple for clamping the sections to each other and to the cover, and electrodes seated in recesses in the adjacent sides of the sections in spaced relation and provided with conductors extend* ing through openings in the nipple and nut for connection with a source of current supply.

11..In an electric vaporizer, the combination with a container for the liquid to be vaporized having a removable cover provided withv a vapor outlet, of `a pair of opposed insulator sections vseated in said chambers and having adjacent sides disposed in spaced relation to allow the.

passage of liquid between them, and means for securing the sectionsto each other. A

12. Inanelectric vaporizer, the combination witha container for the liquid to be vaporized having a removable cover provided with a vapor means for securing the sections to each other.l

7. In an electric vaporlzer, the combination with acontainer having a removable cover provided with' a vapor outlet, of an insulator block 'extending downwardly from the cover into the opposed spaced relation, and'electric conductors outlet, .of a unitary electrode6 and insulator structure suspended from the cover and extending into the liquid, said unitary structure comprising a pair of opposedinsulatqr sections havingadjacent sides in abuttingA relationship and chambers formed therein and channels extending upwardly from said chambers, a pair of electrodes mounted in said chambers, .means for Ysecuring the linsulator sections together whereby the electrodes are retained by thev insulator sections in spaced relationship and against turning, said insulator sections beingat least partly open between the electrodes toenable free circulation of the liquid to be'vaporized therebetween, and a pair of conductors mounted in said channels and secured to the electrodes for conducting current thereto.v

' MAX KA'I'ZMAN.v

connected to their respective electrodes and ex-

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