US2892621A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1959 A E. ARMSTRONG HUMIDIFIER Filed May 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. w W m J E m H a m June 30, 1959 A. E. ARMSTRONG HUMIDIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Filed May 7, 1956 IN V EN TOR flaw/27 f. firms/700 a A? ///a/v7z/ United States Patent HUlVIIDIFlER Adam E. Armstrong, Three Rivers, Mich., assignor to Armstrong Machine Works, Three Rivers, Mich.

Application May 7, 1956, Serial No. 583,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 261-15) Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a humidifier embodying my invention partially in section on a line corresponding to line 11 in Fig. 2, the water tank being indicated in released or detached position by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating the relationship of the reaches of the heating coil and the supports therefor.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a rectangular bed plate 1 having downturned border flanges 2. This bed plate is supported by legs 3 disposed at the corners thereof. These legs are desirably of angle section and disposed with their angles facing inwardly. The bed plate constitutes a support for various elements as will appear from the following description.

The tank 4 is desirably formed of stainless steel or other noncorrodible metal and is also rectangular and is dimensioned to fit within the flanges 2 so that the bed plate 1 constitutes a top for the tank.

The tank is provided with threaded supporting bolts 5 disposed at the corners thereof and arranged through holes 6 in the bed plate to receive the supporting nuts 7, desirably wing nuts. With this arrangement the tank can be readily secured in place and may be lowered as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 for the purpose of cleaning or repairing or renewal of parts housed in the tank.

The water inlet valve designated generally by the numeral 8 and its actuating float 9 are housed within the tank. The bed plate is provided with an opening 1% through which the valve is disposed. The valve is supported and the opening 141 closed by the plate like closure member 11 removably secured over the opening by means of the bolts 12. The water inlet pipe 13 is connected to the valve 8.

The coil 14 in this illustrated embodiment is formed of tubing folded Zigzag into a plurality of parallel reaches 15. These reaches are disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, the groups being indicated by the numeral 16 (see Fig. 2) there being four groups in the 2,892,621 Ce Patented June 30, 19 59 embodiment illustrated. The inlet end 17 of the coil is connected to the coupling 18 on the bed plate, the supply pipe 19 being connected to this coupling. This supply pipe is provided with a pump 20 for forced circulation of water through the coil to its discharge 21 which is connected to the coupling 23 on the bed plate, the re turn pipe 24 is connected to this coupling 23.

The source of hot water is not illustrated as it may be a hot water boiler, hot water heater, or a special heater as may be desired or convenient for a particular installation.

The float 9 determines the level of the water in the tank. At one end the bed plate has a discharge opening 25 therein surrounded by an upstanding collar 26 which receives the lower end of the discharge hood .27 to which the air delivery conduit 28 is connected.

0n the other hand of the top plate I mount a blower 29 discharging into the tank through the opening 30 in the bed plate. The pump 20 and the blower 29 are driven by electric motors, which are not illustrated as blowers and pumps provided with motors are commercially available units.

31 represents a humidistat control switch. This is conventionally illustrated as humidistat control switches are also commercially available as units. The humidistat switch unit is suitably located in a humidified space and acts to simultaneously close and open the circuit indicated at 32 which controls the pump and the blower. While in this embodiment illustrated the bed plate is provided with legs it is desired to point out that in certain installations, it is desirable to suspend the bed plate by means of hangers.

In Fig. 3 I illustrate a highly practical support for the coil, which comprises U-shaped hangers 33, disposed adjacent the ends of the reaches of the coil, the arms of the hangers being provided with laterally turned ends 34 secured to the underside of the top or bed plate 1 by bolts 35. The bottom row of reaches is supported on the horizontal portions 36 of the hangers and retained against lateral shifting by the rods 37 which have upwardly oifset seats 38 engaging the tops of the reaches; The ends of this tie rod 37 are arranged through holes provided therefor in the uprights or arm portions of the hangers. The other series of reaches are supportedby the supporting rods 39 having seats 40 therein. The reaches of the coils supported by the supports 39 are held in their seats by the tie rods 42. The ends of the supports 39 and the tie rods are engaged in holes 41 provided therefor in the hanger uprights, as is shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement effectively supports the various reaches of the coil in proper relation so that the coil and hangers constitute a unit for installing and for removal, should occasion require.

In operation the air is circulated across the surface of the heated water and moisture is picked up and mixed with the air discharged through the dischargeconduit. The moisture is in completely evaporated or vapor form, that is, there are no water droplets. The vapor is in effect distilled water so no deposits are carried by the air. v The humidistat is set for the desired humidity, -forexample, certain medical authorities recommend 30 to 40% rela tive humidity for home or oifice space. Higher or lower percentage or degrees of humidity may be desirable for other spaces. A desirable water temperature @isjin the range of to degrees. g i

I have illustrated and described a highly satisfactory commercial embodiment of my invention. It have not attemped to describe other embodimentslo'r adaptations as it is believed that this disclos'ure':will enable those skilled in the art to embody my invention as may be desired. v T 6 Having thus described 'the invention, what is claimed asnew and is desired "to'be secured by Letters Patent is:

'1. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardly projecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of indwardly facing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coil supendingly mounted .on the underside of said bed plate and formed of a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated reaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower of said groups, an outlet connection to the upper of said groups, a rectangular tank open at the top and dimensioned to removably fit and disposed within the flanges of said bed plate with its corners within the angles of said legs, said tank being provided with supporting bolts disposed through said bed plate for detachably securing the tank to the bed plate to enclose said heating coil, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float 'operatively associated with said inlet valve, a supporting plate for said inlet valve and float, said bed plate having an opening therein adapted to receive said valve, an air discharge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said tank at one end and above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted on said bed plate to discharge to the tank at the other end and above the water level thereof.

2. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardly projecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of inwardly facing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coil suspendingly mounted on the underside of said bed plate and formed of a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated reaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower of said groups, an outlet connection to the upper of said groups, a rectangular tank open at the top and dimensioned to removably fit and disposed within the flanges of said bed plate with its corners within the angles of said legs, said tank being provided with supporting bolts disposed through said bed plate for detachably securing the tank to the bed plate to enclose said heating coil, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve, an air discharge conduit opening to said tank at one end and above the water level thereof, and a blower discharging to the tank at the other end and above the water level thereof.

3. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate having downwardly projecting flanges at its edges and provided with legs of inwardly facing angle section disposed at the corners thereof, a heating coil suspendingly mounted on the underside of said bed plate and formed of a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated reaches, hot water inlet and outlet connections for said coil, a rectangular tank open at the top and dimensioned to removably fit and disposed within the angles of said legs, said tank being provided with supporting bolts disposed through said bed plate for detachably securing the tank to the bed plate to enclose said heating coil, a water inlet valve for said tank carried by said bed plate, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve and carried by said bed plate, an air discharge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said tank at one end and above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted on said bed plate to discharge to the tank at the other end and above the water level thereof.

:4. .In combination, a bed plate, a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated parallel reaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of verticallyspaced groups, there being a hot water connection for the lower of the groups and an outlet connection for the upper of the groups, laterally spaced hangers comprising horizontal members and uprights detachably connected to the underside of the bed plate, the lower group of reaches being supportedly positioned upon the .hori- 4 zontal member of the said hangers, supporting rods for the other groups of reaches provided with spaced seats for the reaches, tie rods arranged above such series of reaches to hold the reaches within their seats, a tie rod for the lower series of reaches having downwardly facing seats therein engaging the reaches of the lower series, said uprights being provided with holes through which the ends of said supports and tie rods are disposed, and a tank open at the top detachably mounted on the underside of said bed plate independently of said hangers.

5. In combination, a bed plate, a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated parallel reaches, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, laterally spaced hangers comprising horizontal members and uprights detachably connected to the underside of the bed plate, the lower group of reaches being supportedly positioned upon the horizontal members of the said hangers, supports for the other groups of reaches, tie rods arranged above the series of reaches to hold the reaches in spaced relation upon their supports, said uprights being provided with holes through which the ends of said supports and tie rods are disposed, and a tank open at the top removably mounted on the under side of said bed plate independently of said hangers and said coil.

6. A humidifier comprising a rectangular bed plate, means for supporting said bed plate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed below and supportedly mounted on the said bed plate in downwardly spaced relation thereto and formed of a continuous conduit zigzag folded to provide a plurality of elongated reaches extending longitudinally relative to said bed plate, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of verticallyspaced groups, a hot water inlet connection to the lower of said groups and an outlet connection to the upper of said groups, a rectangular tank open at the top disposed below and removably mounted on the under side of said bed plate to enclose said heating coil and coacting with said bed plate to provide a chamber, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve and tank to control the level of the Water in the tank and provide an air and vapor chamber above the water level, a supporting plate on which said inlet valve and float are mounted to constitute an assembled unit, said bed plate having an opening therein through which said float and valve may be introduced into and removed from said chamber, said supporting plate constituting a closure for said opening, an air discharge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said chamber at one end and above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted on said bed plate to discharge into the chamber at its other end and above the water level thereof.

7. A humidifier comprising a bed plate, means for supporting said bed plate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed below and supportedly mounted on the said bed plate in downwardly spaced relation thereto, said reaches being disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced groups, a hot water outlet connection to a tank open at the top disposed below and removably mounted on the under side of said bed plate to enclose said heating coil and coacting with said bed plate to provide a chamber, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve and tank to control the level of the water in the tank, a supporting plate on which said inlet valve and float are mounted to constitute an assembled unit, said bed plate having an opening therein through which said float and valve may be introduced into and removed from said chamber, said supporting plate constituting a closure for said opening, an air discharge conduit mounted on said bed plate and opening to said chamber above the water level thereof, and a blower mounted on said bed plate to discharge into the chamber .above the water level .thereof and .in spaced relation to .said outlet.

8. 9A humidifier comprising a bed plate, .means for supporting said bed plate in an elevated position, a heating coil disposed below and supportedly mounted on said bed plate in downwardly spaced relation thereto, hot water inlet and outlet connections to said coil, a tank open at the top disposed below and removably mounted on the under side of said bed plate to enclose said heating coil and coacting with said bed plate to provide a chamber, a water inlet valve for said tank, a float operatively associated with said inlet valve and tank to control the level of the water in the tank and provide an air and vapor chamber above the water level, a supporting plate on which said inlet valve and float are mounted to constitute an assembled unit, said bed plate having an opening therein through which said float and valve may be introduced into and removed from said chamber, 15 2,730,340

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,768 Spreen July 16, 1929 1,852,363 Parent Apr. 5, 1932 1,948,647 Brunt Feb. 27, 1934 2,236,359 Armstrong Mar. 25, 1941 2,536,404 Walker Jan. 2, 1951 Patriarca Jan. 10, 1956

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