US2022680A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1935. A..J. LoEPslNGER Y 2,022,680

HUMIDIFIER Filed May 4, 1931 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y HUMIDIFIER Application May 4, 1931, Serial No. 534,825

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in humidiers. More especially it has to do with a humidier adapted to be associated with a heating unit.

For some time past there has been a growing demand for a really effective humidifier which would be capable of adding an appreciable amount of moisture to air whose flow is caused by a heating unit. Various devices have been proposed for this purpose but, so far as I am aware, none have attained a capacity of discharge which has been at all adequate. In general wicks made of textile material have been employed as the capillary agent but such wicks are subjected to the retarding influence produced by the impacting effect occurring throughout the material when wetted. At the surface of such wicks this effect results in a distinct smoothing or flattening-out, as it were, thus reducing to a marked degree the effective area exposed to the passing air.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a highly porous wick which is inherently rigid and unchangeable in character, having a rough coarse surface with myriad depressions or hollows and a corresponding number of ridges or points. A wick of such material and shape always has an unalterable surface area and the water fed through it by its capillary action is accordingly presented under most favorable conditions to the air passing by it. It is a further' object of the invention to so locate the porous material with respect to the heating unit that it will not only be generally hidden from view but more especially so that it will not appreciably retard the natural circulation of the heated air. Other features which characterize the practicableness of the invention reside in the ready adaptation of the humidifier to heating units already installed and the ease with which the discharge capacity of the device may be varied to meet the demands of the region whose air is being moistened.

The best modes in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, but it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a heating unit and a humidifier embodying the principles of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the htunidier comprises a narrow shallow tank I in which water is stored. This may be supplied manually at regular intervals or may be maintained at a predetermined level automatically by suitable means not sho-wn. The tank l is purposely made narrow in order that it may be conveniently placed out of view between the radiator B and the adjacent wall 1. Preferably it is clamped to the rear or wall side of the heating unit by suitable bolts 8.

The water is conducted from the tank by one or more porous wicks 9 of ceramic material such as Filtros. This is made of a silicate sand and can be moulded in suitable shapes and when properly fired will retain its designed shape unchanged. The capillary action of this material is very rapid and is fully able to conduct the water from the tank to the exposed surface of the wicks. This surface is markedly rough having a vast indefinite number of hollows and ridges which provide a large effective area for exposure of the water to the passing air. And this area remains unchanged in extent at all times being in no wise affected by the wetting, as is the case when wicks of textile material are used. As a result of the rapid capillary action of the material and its large unchanging surface area, the discharge of water effected by the material is relatively high.

In Figures 1 and 2 the wicks are shown in the form of elbows with a short arm 9a partly immersed in the tank water and with the longer arm 9b extending horizontally outward between the sections of the radiator. Only two such wicks are shown but it is to be understood that the number may be varied as desired. There is an advantage in locating these wicks approximately midway of the radiator in a vertical direction because when thus positioned the cool air flowing upward is first heated, then moistened as it passes the wicks, and finally further heated before it leaves the heating unit. This last heating of the air after it has acquired the moisture is benecial because it lightens the air and thus counter-balances, as it were, the weight added by absorption of the moisture. This iinal increase of temperature of the moistened air reduces its relative humidity and prevents precipitation and condensation. Moreover, this last heating directly aids the circulation and insures that the moistened air `will leave the radiator with an appreciable velocity.

The wicks shown in Figures l and 2 are simply placed in the tank at locations conveniently defined by guide strips I0 clamped to the rear wall of the tank. If it is found that more moisture is being added to the atmosphere than is desirable, one or more Wicks can be readily removed by merely lifting it or them from the tank. This ease of removal and replacement also lends itself to a cleaning of the wicks in the event that foreign matter such as dust becomes deposited upon their surfaces. If this occurs the wick need but be held under a running faucet and promptly washed clean of such deposit.

I claim:

l. The combination with a sectional radiator of a humidier comprising a receptacle for liquid and an elbow-shaped wick of rigid earthy'material supported at one end in the receptacle; the other end of said wick extending a substantial distance into the space between the radiator sections at such an elevation that substantial reheating of theair takes place between the wick and the top of the radiator.

2. The combination with a sectional radiator of a humidier comprising a receptacle forliquid mounted on the side of the radiator and outside the confines thereof; and a rigid wick having one end inserted in and supported by the receptacle, and having its other end extending into the space between the radiator sections a Fsubstantial distance; the said receptacle and wick being so positioned with respect to the radiator that air passing upward between the sections is rst heated, then absorbs moisture from the wick, and thereafter is substantially reheated before reaching the top of the radiator.

ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER.

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