US2070728A - Portable humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937. H. H. HANFT PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. 25, 1934 H2430 H Han/'23 Cal Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER 1 Claim.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel and unusually efficient mechanism for moistening air.

A further object is to provide a portable device whereby moisture-laden air is delivered free of water particles of appreciable size.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the best form of my device at present known to me:

Figure 1 is a central, vertical section through the outer casing, well and motor support and showing the interior mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the well and baffle there- 1n;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the water pump, and

Fig. 5 is a central, vertical section through the pump and support therefor.

My device is of the portable, self-contained type having a suitable cabinet or outer casing 6 formed with an outlet opening I for the moistened air near the top and an inlet opening 8 at the back for air and water. Within the bottom of the casing 6 is a tank 9 for water and extending upwardly from the tank is a large cylindrical well [9, open at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the outlet opening 1 for air. A vertical shaft I I is disposed axially in the well In and is directly driven by an electric motor I2 in which the shaft has bearings. This motor is supported on a spider having arms [3 and 14 extending substantially radially therefrom and bolted to the front and side Walls respectively of the casing 6. The shaft II is hollow or tubular from end to end and has fixed thereon above the motor l2 a series of fan blades I5. These blades are spaced apart vertically, in pairs, on the shaft H. The upper end [6 of the shaft II is open to supply water to the surfaces of the fan blades.

Operatively connected to the lower end of the shaft H is a water pump ll arranged to draw water from the tank 9 and to deliver it under pressure within the shaft and out through upper, open end I 6. Suitable internal construction for the pump I1 is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The casing of the pump has an annular opening l8 adjacent to the shaft H. Fixed on the shaft ll within the casing, is a disk I9 and a series of blades 20, upstanding from said disk and extending from the shaft outward. An annular space between the outer periphery of the disk l9 and the inner surface of the casing allows water to pass from the upper to the lower face of said disk. In operation, water enters the opening 18 and is driven out by centrifugal force on the top of the disk 19, between the blades 20, then down at the outer periphery of the disk [9 and radially inward to the opening in shaft ll beneath the disk I9.

The well is preferably a sheet metal cylinder supported on rings 2| which clamp its outer surface and have ends bolted to small angle brackets 22 mounted on the sides of the casing 6, as best shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of the well is fitted with an elbow-like conduit 23 to deliver the moistened air laterally through the opening 7. Within the well I0 is fixed a helical baffle 24. This baffle is arranged to make a plurality of turns within the well and the lead or pitch of successive turns diminishes progressively upwardly so that the stream of air is directed helically and its velocity is somewhat reduced as it passes upward.

Operation In operation, a supply of water is placed in the tank 9 and the motor I2 is operated so that the blades l5 create an upwardly swirling stream of air while water is withdrawn from the tank 9 by the pump H and delivered in a stream from the upper end of the shaft H. The water so delivered flows down upon successive pairs of blades so that the entire surfaces of the blades are moistened. Each of the blades throws an excess of water outward against the walls of the Well II]. My arrangement of spaced fans results in the breaking up of the water into minute particles and a thorough distribution of these particles throughout a zone of considerable vertical extent within the well I0, while air admitted through the opening 8 is drawn into the bottom time the air passes out through the opening 1 it P is substantially saturated but all particles of appreciable or objectionable size have been removed therefrom. Any excess of water, deposited on the surfaces of the mechanism in the vapor zone, flows back into the tank 9.

Where radiators are conveniently located in heated buildings, I recommend placing the humidifier with the back opening 8 adjacent to a radiator so that warm air is supplied to the bottom of the well. Two or more of the units, comprising the well, motor driven fans, pump and bafile may be placed in a single cabinet, side by side, so that such units have a common water supply tank at the bottom. Tests of my device show that a high degree of efiiciency is obtained 7 and the moist air is unusually free of the larger an inlet for air at its lower end, a hollow, axial shaft mounted in said well, means for supplying water under pressure to the lower end of said shaft, a series of vertically spaced fan blades fixed on said shaft within the lower portion of said well, said shaft having an outlet opening for Water disposed above the uppermost of said blades to allow flow of water down along the exterior of said shaft to the several blades, a helical baffle fixed in the upper portion of said well in coaxial relation to said shaft, the co'nvolutions of said baflie being widely spaced and having a pitch such that the velocity of the air is not greatly reduced and power-driven means for ro tating said shaft.

HUGO H.

Images