Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Pumping
Utility Patent
1999-03-19
2001-01-02
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Pumping
C261S069100, C261S107000, C261SDIG001, C261SDIG003, C261SDIG004
Utility Patent
active
06168139
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an improved furnace humidifier for use in association with a forced air furnace. This invention further relates to a control system for controlling a furnace humidifier. This invention still further relates to a method for humidifying air heated by a forced air furnace.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of humidifying air circulated by ventilation systems, including heating systems using air heated by a forced air furnace. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved furnace humidifier that is mounted on a forced air furnace, a control system for controlling such furnace humidifier, as well as a method for humidifying air heated by a forced air furnace.
Furnace humidifiers of various types are well-known. One type of evaporative humidifier uses a drum or disk component which is partially submerged in a reservoir of water, is rotated while forced air or a convection current of air from a furnace moves through the component. Other furnace humidifiers use a stationary plate or rotating brush to conduct moisture into the path of an air flow. In all of such humidifiers, a float valve usually adds water to the reservoir as evaporation occurs, to maintain a constant or predetermined water level in the reservoir.
There are numerous disadvantages to the prior art drum or disk type humidifiers. For example, furnace humidifiers of this type are generally complicated and therefore expensive to produce. Not only is a reservoir required, but also a float valve, as well as a motor to sustain the rotation of the drum or disk.
Various control systems for use in operation with furnace humidifiers of this first type are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,510 issued on Mar. 14, 1995 to Clark relates to a control system which will reliably signal and/or deactivate upon depletion of the water supply thereto. A further object of this invention is to provide a humidifier with the water container supported by a biasing spring, but with the spring having a non-linear increasing force to ensure operation of the switching system.
A second type of evaporative humidifier of relatively more simple construction does not utilize a reservoir but rather employs an evaporation pad through which water is allowed to flow to a drain pipe.
The prior art evaporative humidifiers of both the first and second type described above generally require complicated electric means for activating and de-activating the furnace humidifiers so that the furnace humidifier is only active when the forced air furnace is also in operation, to avoid energy waste and extend the lifetime of the furnace humidifier. The need for such complicated electric means increases the complexity and therefore cost of production of such prior art furnace humidifiers. In addition, in the case of many such evaporative humidifiers, the humidifier unit must be connected to the furnace's internal or control wiring, therefore installation of such furnace humidifiers is relatively difficult.
There is a need therefore for a furnace humidifier of simple construction that is easy and inexpensive to produce, and which can be installed without difficulty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, an air flow activated humidifier for use in a ventilation system comprising a water evaporating means; displacing means engageable by the air flow of said ventilation system for displacing said water evaporating means; and activating means operably associated with said displacing means for activating said humidifier when said water evaporating means is displaced.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a humidifier for use in a ventilation system comprising: a casing associated with at least one air duct of said ventilation system; water evaporating means associated with a water source; displacing means for mounting said water evaporating means within said casing whereby air flow of said air duct displaces said water evaporating means from a first resting position to a second displaced position; and activating means operably associated with said displacing means for activating said water evaporating means when said water evaporating means is in said second displaced position.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a humidifier for use in association with a forced air furnace having a supply air duct and return air duct, each of said supply air duct and return air duct having a duct opening: a casing having a first opening for communicating with one of said supply air duct or return air duct and second opening for communicating with said other one of said supply air duct or return air duct; connecting means for connecting said first opening to said duct opening and said second opening to said duct opening to establish said communication between said casing, supply air duct and return air duct; water evaporating means associated with a water source; means to regulate flow of water from said water source to said water evaporating means; switching means for activating said regulating means; displacing means for mounting said water evaporating means within said casing whereby air flow within said air ducts displaces said water evaporating means from a first resting position to a second displaced position; and means for returning said water evaporating means from said second displaced position to said first resting position upon reduction of said air flow in said air ducts; wherein said displacing means and switching means are operably associated to engage said humidifier by activating said regulating means when said forced air furnace generates said air flow.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, a control system for a flow-through humidifier associated with the supply and return air ducts of a forced air furnace, said flow-through humidifier comprising a casing and porous evaporation pad mounted within said casing, said porous evaporation pad being associated with a water source, wherein said casing can be mounted on either of said supply or return air ducts, said control system comprising: a pivoting means for pivoting said porous evaporation ad from a first resting position to a second displaced position upon air flow in said ducts on which said casing is mounted; means for returning said porous evaporation pad from said second displaced position to said first resting position when there is no air flow in said ducts; switching means connected to a power source and operably associated with said pivoting means when said porous evaporation pad is in said second displaced position; and water valve engageable by said switching means to regulate flow of water from said water source to said porous evaporation pad.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, a method for humidifying air circulated by a forced air furnace, said furnace having a supply air duct and return air duct, comprising the steps of: creating openings on said supply air duct and return air duct; mounting on either of said supply air duct or return air duct a casing having a first opening for communicating with said supply air duct and second opening for communicating with said return air duct, said casing further including: valve associated with a water source, displacing means, switching means operably associated with said valve and said displacing means for activating said valve and returning means; connecting said first opening to said supply air duct and said second opening to said return air duct to establish communication between said casing, supply air duct and return air duct; mounting a flow-through evaporation pad within said casing, said displacing means being engageable by air flow present in either of said supply air duct or return air duct on which said casing is mounted to displace said flow-through evaporation pad from a first resting position to a second displaced position; and connecting said casing to a power source whereby said valve is activated when said flow-through evaporatio
Condo Gerri M.
Kennedy Joseph A.
Gierczak Eugene J. A.
Hopkins Robert A.
Simmons David A.
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