Humidifier

Details Humidifier Humidifier

2000-03-13

2001-05-01

Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)

Electric resistance heating devices

Heating devices

Vaporizer

C261S142000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06226451

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air humidifiers for domestic use are generally known and becoming popular. The steam produced, particularly when the humidifier is operating at full capacity, may sometimes be too concentrated and/or cause condensation on objects above it, which is undesirable.
The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such a problem by providing an improved humidifier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a humidifier comprising a reservoir for containing water and a steam generator incorporating an electrical heater for turning the water into steam, the generator including an upwardly extending passage having a lower end for the entrance of steam produced by the heater into the passage and an upper end for subsequent exit of the steam, wherein a free rotatable fan is provided in the passage for turning by the steam rising through the passage and an opening is formed for the passage at a position below the fan for the intake of relatively drier air from outside into the passage for mixing with the rising steam to produce moderately moisturised air.
Preferably, the steam generator includes a heating chamber for containing water supplied from the reservoir and in which the heater is provided for turning the water contained in the chamber into steam.
More preferably, the passage is supported by the heating chamber to extend upwards, and the lower end of the passage is spaced apart from the heating chamber to form an annular gap therewith acting as said opening.
In a preferred embodiment, the heating chamber has an upper wall formed with a plurality of nozzles through which the steam produced in the chamber may rise into the passage, said nozzles having a converging cross-section for causing the steam passing through the nozzles to exit at an increased speed.
More preferably, the nozzles are arranged to point at a skewed direction for causing the steam to exit at an inclined angle, thereby directing the steam to swirl in the passage.
It is preferred that the heating chamber has an upper wall formed with a plurality of apertures through which the steam produced in the chamber may rise into the passage, said chamber including an internal sleeve dividing the interior into an inner chamber containing the apertures and the heater and an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber, said outer chamber being arranged for initially receiving water supplied from the reservoir and in communication with the inner chamber at a lower position.
More preferably, the sleeve extends downwards from the upper wall around the apertures and reaching short of the bottom of the heating chamber.
In a preferred construction, the heating chamber has a bottom opening which is closed by an inwardly extending metal pocket for receiving the heater, thereby covering the heater while allowing it to heat the water contained in the chamber.
More preferably, the heater incorporates a heating element for receiving in the pocket, and the pocket has a shape matching with the general outer shape of the heating element for close contact therewith for efficient heat conduction.
More preferably, the heating chamber is separable from the heater and removable from the other parts of the humidifier for independent cleaning.
It is preferred that the passage is provided by a vertical cylinder opened at opposite ends.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2124482 (1938-07-01), Blair
patent: 3311355 (1967-03-01), Rait
patent: 3323784 (1967-06-01), Fazio
patent: 4089915 (1978-05-01), Jackson
patent: 4564746 (1986-01-01), Morton et al.
patent: 5014338 (1991-05-01), Glucksman
patent: 6115539 (2000-09-01), Cohn

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