US2821449A - Humidification unit - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 958 P. c. MILLER, JR 2,821,449

HUMIDIFICATION UNIT Filed Nov. 25. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l :ELE-...L d

A IN V EN TOR. BY PAM/z C..M/1.w

P. c. MILLER, JR

HUMIDIFICATION UNIT Jan. gs, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1954 LIE- 3 JNVENTOR.

PAUL C. M/LLER United States Patent HUMrDmcArIoN UNIT Paul Campbell Miller, Jr., Milford, Mich., assignor to Skuttle Manufacturing Company, Milford, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,302

4 Claims. (Cl. S12-31.01)

'Ihe present invention relates to humidiiication equipment and more particularly to a display cabinet containing hnmidifying apparatus for maintaining controlled atmospheric conditions most suitable for cigars or other articles of merchandise which are displayed within said cabinet.

With the advent of self-service stores it has become increasingly important that merchandise be displayed where it is readily accessible to the customers and still be well preserved. This is especially true of merchandise which requires a controlled humidity to assure freshness. One such item which has been seriously affected when displayed in open cabinets is the cigar.

It has been found that cigars, even when well wrapped, may become stale within one day if the surrounding air is relatively dry. When this happens to a cigar it cannot be reclaimed by the merchant merely by placing the cigar in a more humid atmosphere. Hence, it is imperative that the merchant keep his cagars in a cabinet or similar container where the air is properly humidied in order to avoid serious losses.

Various efforts have been made to provide proper humidication for a display cabinet for cigars, but such efforts have proved to be unsuccessful. In most instances the air in the cabinet has not had a uniform humidity. Electric fans have been used for circulating the air in an effort to overcome this shortcoming, but to no avail.

Such fans have been found in many instances to increase the humidication problem rather than to solve it.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved humidifcation unit which is constructed and arranged so that cigars or other merchandise can be displayed in air having a predetermined uniform humidity while at the same time allowing such merchandise to be readily available to purchasers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved humidilication unit of the foregoing character which includes humidifier apparatus which is simple and economical to produce and will assure a uniform humidication of the air surrounding the merchandise within the display cabinet.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved humidication unit of the foregoing character which has a simple and economical alarm system for indicating when there is a shortage of water in the humidier apparatus.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved humidication unit which includesa cabinet having an open top to provide access to the 1nterior, said cabinet being constructed and arranged 'to prevent unnecessary circulation of air therein and to 1nclude air passages whereby humidied air can flow by convection past the merchandise stored therein thereby assuring a constant and uniform hurnidication of said merchandise.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a humidifier unit for use in the cabinet described above, said humidifier unit having an evaporator pan mounted adjacent the aforesaid air passages, the evaporator pan being formed from corrosive resistant materials, such as a polyester resinfiberglas reinforced material so that suitable salts can be added to the water there-- in so that the formation of plant or animal life can be prevented, thereby avoiding disagreeable odors which might have a deleterious effect on such merchandise.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an humidication unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing details of the humidifier apparatus used in the dis closed embodiment; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the alarm circuits that may be employed in the present invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of the invention will be given. The humidication unit 10 includes a cabinet 12 formed of any suitable material having an attractive appearance for display pur poses. The illustrated embodiment is formed from sheetl metal. It has a base 14, side walls 16 and 18, a frontwall 20 and a rear wall 22. Extending over a portion of the interior of the cabinet 12 is a top wall 24. Conventional doors, as seen at 26 and 28, are provided in the front and rear walls. The front wall 20 has its upper portion 30 formed of glass so that the merchandise within the cabinet 12 is more readily visible to prospective purchasers.

Extending longitudinally of the cabinet 12 are a plurality of shelves 32, 34 and 36, which if desired may have upturned edges for assisting in retaining in place the displayed merchandise. Positioned adjacent the shelves in spaced relation are longitudinally extending partitions 38, 40 and 42 whose purpose will be described hereinafter. A storage shelf 43 also may be provided within the cabinet 12, if desired.

Suspended below the shelves 32, 34 and 36 by metal straps 44 are trays or pans 46, 48 and 50 which are adapted for carrying water for humidilication purposes.

The pans are spaced from the shelves so that air passages as at 52 and 54 are provided from the surface of the water 56 to regions above the shelves. The pans can be formed from any suitable material, but it is preferred that they be made from polyester resin reinforced with berglas for reasons to be explained.

Under normal operating conditions the water 56 will i evaporate from the pans 46, 48 and 50 and will have to be replenished. In order that this will be done promptly when the level of the water approaches a danger point,

an alarm system is provided. Referring to Figures 3 58 preferably formed from a suitable plastic material. ,y

The cup 58 has a lug 60 on its lower edge so that when the water in the pan falls below a desired level the lug 60 will Contact the bottom of pan 50 and thereafter will.)

Patented Jan. 28, 1958- 3 tilt to the position shown in `phantom at l62. A small arm or handle 64 projects rearwardly from the upper lip of cup 58 and carried thereon is ,a mercury switch 66 which is'secured in place on v*the handle 64 by thebaud 68. Thus, when cup 58 pivots on the lug60, the mercury switch 66 will tilt closing the-electric contacts therein.

One terminal of mercury switch166isin series with .an electric lamp 68 by conductor 70 and lamp 68 is then connected by conductor 72 to a' step down transformer 74. The other terminal of mercury switch 66 is connected to the manually operated switch 76 `by conductor 78 and switch 76 is then connected to transformer'74`by conductor 80. Transformer 74 allows low voltages :to be used in operating 'the alarm system whichisdesirable both from the safety and-economy standpoint.

Each of cups 54 and 56`have a similar electric=circuit `associated therewith for energizing the rlamps '.82V or v84 in the event water falls below a predetermined level in pans 46 and 48. Such lamps may be located .anywhere on the cabinet where they will be readily visible to Yan attendant. they are located on a small panel 86 visible from the front of the cabinet 12. Also, included 'on this-panel is the switch 76 for closing the electric circuits `to the mercury switches.

vIn normal Voperation switch 76 will be .closedand water willbe in all the pans 46, 4,8 .andy 50. Cigars .orsother merchandise will be positioned'on shelves 32,34-and 3.6. With the pans full -of water `the cups 54, 56 and :58 will oat thereby holding the mercury switches associated therewith in a horizontal lposition 4so that the circuitsto each of lamps 82, .84 and k68 will bezopen. Should-'the water in any 4pan fall below..a predetermined .'levelr the cup in such pan will itilt closing .the xcircuit throughfits associated lamp. The attendant can `then vrefllf'such r pan thereby assuring properhumidicationeof the merchandise.

The air movementwithin the cabinet' 12 will result primarily from .natural convection resultingfrorn the humidiiication` process. A secondary cause of `air movement will'result from local Ydisturbances `of the atmospheric air in the immediate vicinity 'of 'thevdisplay fshelves, but this has been reduced to a minimum in the present invention Iby lowering the j'shelves -below the opening in the Acabi-net 12"so"f-that the several edges storming such opening, in -eiect,l overlap- 'the shelves.

" It`is AWell 1known 'that a sample yofA air which 'has a1 high humidity vis L'lighter'in IWeight gthan Aanother sample of dry air, the temperatures 'and' pressures-being the same. vvIn the present invention the pans146, #Sand 50extend 'the full length of the cabinet 12 and the air passages JST-and 54 are of equal length. Thus,`the humidair'whi'ch existsover 'the waterSewillriseby convection on .OEpOs'ite sides of each of shelves'32,"34 and 36 assuringhumidication ofthe' air thereover. A minimumY of disturbance of such air is assured by virtue' of thepartitions 38,"40 and 42 -as well :as the extended edgesr forming the opening' in thecabinet 12.

'Inmany instancest willbe' desired toad'dsalt to the evaporating pans to eliminate-the 'production of'plant or animal life. For'this reason, it .is Adesirable to make the pans from material :suchas .a polyester resin reinforced with `iiberglas which can be economically produced and will not be subject -to corrosion.

It may also bey desired .to ,add other well known compounds to the water solution to regulate the relative humidity of the air above the water. "In .this mannerlthe relative humidity between certain l,temperatu11e [limits ,can be closely regulated :and .by virtue fof the constructionand arrangement of the. pans and .shelves .auniform relative humidityior prescribed temperature .limits will always be maintained.

"The present invention is found ,to operate in avery In the embodiment .shown in ,the drawingsY free, inexpensive Ihumidifying unit `which can closely approach the required operating conditions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An humidication unit comprising a display cabinet having a series of upwardly staggered shelves therein with the lowermost shelf *at Athe front ofthe cabinet, vertical partitions -disposed longitudinally betweenadjacent shelves in horizontal-spaced relation thereto, said cabinet having an open top providing access to 4said shelves, said `shelves beingv mounted inward of .the opening so .that the edges forming said l'opening will substantially prevent circulation of air over nsaid shelves, open pan-type humidiers mounted below each of said shelves in juxtaposition theretoso `thatJeach-open Apan willbe yincommunication with the spaces-adjacent the shelf with which such pan .is associated, and separatealarms for indicating when water in eachf said-pansis :below a .prescribed limit.r

2. An:humi'dication :unit `comprising ardisplay cabinet having an opening through which merchandise displayed therein can beiseen and selected by a purchaser, .a series of shelves mounted adjacentto but Iinward vfrom said opening yon-v-/,};tich-such merchandise can :be carried,.said shelves :beingIspacedapart laterally, vertical partitions carried .between ,saidfshelves providing vertical `ai-r passages alongithe longitudinal edges of said shelves, open pan-type humidiers mounted below each of said shelves in juxtaposition theretofsov-that each open pan will 'be in` communication rwith: saidair passages `adjacent the shelffwith which such ,pan .-is. associated, and separate alarms forfzindicating,whenwater in -each of said .-pans is below ,alprescribe'd limit. y

3. An humidicationunit comprising .a display 'cabinet having .an openingth-roughqwhich merchandise displayed therein can be seen and selected by a purchasen-a :series of shelves lmounted adjacent to ibut inward Afrom--aad opening yonwhichsuchzmerchandise can be carriedersaid shelves being,spaceduapartlaterally, .vertical` partitions carried between zsaid shelves ,providing -s,eparate--ventical air passagesalong .the longitudinal edges yof isaidshelves, and ropenpan-type humidi-iiersv mounted `below each ,of saidshelves in juxtaposition thereto :so that -each open pan will be 5in .communication with-said -.air passages adjacent .the :shelf-.witnwhich such-,pan i-sassociated.

4. An humidilication-.unit `comprising .-adisplay cabinet having an opening .thronghf -which .merchandise .displayed therein can 4be seen andV selected iby a purchaser, a series of shelves mounted adjacent to but inward ifromigsaid opening on which such merchandise can becarried, Asaid shelves being spaced apartflaterally, vertical partitions carried betweenV said-'shelves ,providing'vertical air passages -along rvthe longitudinal `edges y.of said shelves, float controlled 4.pan-type humidifier-s mounted below each of said shelves insjuxtaposition .thereto-.so `:that `each open pan. will be in communication with-.said air passages adjacent.` `the-shelf with -Whichz .-such Lpanv is associated, and separateualarms for indicating:'wheny water in -each of said pans is :belowl a l-prescribed limit, said Valarms comprising mercury .switches associatedV with float mechanisms of the pan-type humidifier and electric ,circuits vincluding saidfswitchesand electric lamps so-'that when the water level .n. anypandropsbelow a ,prescribed level. the mercury switchwill rtilt, ,closinga circuit to Aenergize ,one of said electric flamps.

ReferencesCited'in ,the tile-.of this patent 'UNITED 'STATES 'PATENTS 720,111 lCastillo Feb. `10, 1903 1,421,717 Renda July` 4, 1922 1,922,147 Wales Aug. 1'5, '1933 1,960,428 Adams May .29, '1934 2,477,210 1 Skinner' July 26, 1949 2,528,916 'Shreve 'Nov 7, '1950 2,574,242 BrillA Nov. 6, 1951 2,639,958, `Stephenson May 26, 1953

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