Wick system for a humidifier

Details Wick system for a humidifier Wick system for a humidifier

1999-03-08

2001-02-20

Bushey, C. Scott (Department: 1724)

Gas and liquid contact apparatus

Fluid distribution

Systems

C261S036100, C261S099000, C261S107000, C261SDIG004, C261SDIG004

Reexamination Certificate

active

06189869

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to humidifiers, and more specifically to a wick system for a humidifier and a method operating the wick system.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates the operating principle of a wick system of a prior art humidifier
10
. A stream of dry air
12
enters an intake
14
of the humidifier
10
. The stream of dry air
12
passes through or over a wet wick
16
and picks up additional moisture to form a humid stream of air
18
. The humid stream of air
18
leaves the humidifier by an output
19
. One end of the wick
16
makes contact with water in a reservoir
20
. Water from the reservoir
20
replenishes water carried away from the wick
16
by the stream of air
18
.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the wick
16
is wetted by a natural wicking action, i.e., capillary action. The wick
16
may be constructed from a variety of wettable materials, e.g., paper, provided that a substantial area of wick
16
becomes wetted through capillary action when a portion is placed in contact with water. Then, the capillary action draws water into the wick
16
to replenish moisture continually carried away by the stream of air
18
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a prior art wick system
22
that uses a continuous water flow
24
to keep the wick
26
wet and capable of humidifying a stream of dry air
28
. A pump
30
continually refills a tray
32
with water. Gravity produces the water flow
24
from the holes
23
in the bottom of the tray
32
. The water flow
24
moves from the top to the bottom of the wick
26
. Excess water drips off the wick
26
into a reservoir
34
positioned below the wick
26
. The pump
30
draws water from the reservoir
34
to refill the tray
32
. The wick system
22
uses a cyclic flow to keep the wick
26
wetted.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the use of the continuous water flow
24
prevents problems associated to water stagnation in the reservoir
20
of FIG.
1
. The height of the wick
26
, which is wetted by a continuous flow, can also be higher than height of the wick
16
of
FIG. 1
, which is wetted by capillary action.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the use of a continuous flow to keep the wick
26
wetted introduces other problems. The water flow
24
continually carries minerals contained in the wick
26
into the reservoir
34
, the pump
30
, and the tray
32
. These deposits accumulate and lead to a need for periodic cleaning. Additionally, the water flow
24
through the holes
23
causes occasionally water splashing. The water splashing can create an annoying noise that is undesirable in a domestic humidifier. The splashing also deposits minerals, contained in the water, on extraneous parts. The splashing noises and accumulation of minerals, leached out of the wick
26
, make the wick system
22
less desirable.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a humidifier is provided. The humidifier includes a first wettable wick adapted to humidify an air stream and a first tray for holding water. The first tray is located in a position adapted to wet the first wick by capillary action. The humidifier includes a second wettable wick adapted to humidify the air stream and a second tray for holding water. The second tray is located in a position adapted to wet the second wick by capillary action and adapted to receive water from the first tray.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for humidifying air is provided. The steps of the method include pumping water from a reservoir to a highest water tray, sending water from the highest water tray to a lower water tray, and wetting a first wick through capillary action. The first wick has a portion in contact with water in the highest water tray. The steps of the method include wetting a second wick through capillary action. The second wick has a portion in contact with water in the lower water tray.


REFERENCES:
patent: 794938 (1905-07-01), Houlon
patent: 2002273 (1935-05-01), Parker et al.
patent: 2809820 (1957-10-01), Stoops
patent: 2835185 (1958-05-01), Leatherman
patent: 3136829 (1964-06-01), Skerritt
patent: 3791102 (1974-02-01), Huntington
patent: 4045523 (1977-08-01), Goettl
patent: 4156705 (1979-05-01), Ogawa et al.
patent: 4460520 (1984-07-01), Wrightson
patent: 5162088 (1992-11-01), Peng et al.
patent: 5289696 (1994-03-01), Kiser et al.
patent: 5975502 (1999-11-01), Stanek et al.

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