US1806729A - aitken - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1931.

A. A. A|TKEN HUIIDIFIER Filed Nov. 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

4:? INVENTOB ALlAN-A'A|TKEN FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS y 1931- A. A. AITKEN 1,806,729

HUIIDIFIER Filed NOV. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT 0R ALLAN-A-AITKEN F1 6. 5 a/flmzw /ra ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1931 ALLAN A. AITKE'N', 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA HUMIDIFIER Application filed November 21, 1929. Serial No. 408,910.

This invention relates to humidifiers of the portable hydroelectric type, in which steam is generated by immersing spaced electrodes in a body of water contained in a suitable vessel.

The objects of the invention are to provide a humidifier which is compact, easy to handle and economical to manufacture; to provide a humidifier in which relatively small quantities of water are substantially segregated from a surrounding main body of water and rapidly converted into steam; to provide a humidifier in which the said relatively small quantities of water are segregated with in a non-conducting, heat insulating, steam generating vessel surrounded by the main body of water contained in a suitable outer vessel which is also made of non-conducting material; to provide a humidifier in which steam is generated in said steam generating chamber without substantially raising the temperature of the surrounding body of water; to provide a humidifier which may be handled with absolute safety while in operation; to provide a humidifier equipped with electrodes having the lower portions enlarged to compensate for the lowering of the water level during the progress of steam generation; to provide a humidifier equipped with electrodes shaped to prevent excessive current discharge between the edge portions thereof; and, finally, to provide a humidifier in which the electrodes and the current charged water are rendered inaccessible while the humidifier is in operation, thereby eliminating; the danger of accidental shock or electrocution.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a humidifier constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken along the line 33 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a particular form of clamp.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a bowl shaped container made of glass or other suitable insulating ma- 65 terial. The upper portion of the container is inwardly curved, as indicated at 12, and terminates in an outwardly flanged rim 13 surrounding a filling opening 14. The filling opening is closed by a cover 15 which is preferably made of a suitable non-conducting heat insulating material such as porcelain. The marginal portion of the cover is shaped to snugly engage a seat 16 formed around the inner edge of rim 13. The central portion of the cover is made in the form of a hollow steam dome 17 provided at the top with a relatively small central opening 18.

The cover 15 carries a pair of opposing electrodes 19 and 20 having their opposing" body portions spaced apart by an interposed disk 21 formed of suitable insulating material and provided with supporting trunnions 22 received in suitable openings formed in said electrodes. At their upper ends the electrodes 19 and 20 are provided with offset extensions 23 and 24, which lie flat against an interior wall 25 of the dome 17 and are spaced from one another by the interposition of a rib 26 (Fig. 3) formed integral with said wall. Passing through the wall 25 are a pair of terminals 27 having their inner ends equipped with nuts 28 by means of which the electrode extensions 23 and 24 are clamped to said wall. The outer portions of' the terminals 27 are contained in a recess 29 (Fig. 2) formed in one side of dome 17. This recess aflords a receptacle for a plug 30 which is connected to any suitable source of current and is provided with suitable terminal sockets 31 for the reception of the terminals 27. This plug carries a hook 32, which, when the plug is applied, as shown in Figure 2, is adapted to engage beneath the outwardly flanged rim 13. Surrounding the electrodes 19 and 20 and formed integral with the cover 15 is a depending collar 33. This collar provides an abutment for the upper edge of an inner vessel or ar 34. The vessel 34 is also formed of nonconducting heat insulating material such as porcelain and provides a housing for the electrodes 19 and 20. The joint formed by the contacting edges of the collar 33 and the inner vessel 34 is sealed by a suitable gasket 35 surrounded by a split clamp 36. This clamp, as shown to advantage in Figures 2 and 5, has its free terminals split longitudinally as indicated at 36a, in order to provide a pair of upper clampingfingers 36b,anda pair of lower clampin fingers 36c. Suitable bolts 36d are passed through the fingers of each pair and are equipped with clampin nuts 36a. When the clamp is arranged as s own in Figure 1, the upper fingers 36?) are 1 drawn tightly around the-collar 33, while the lower fingers 360 are drawn tightly around the upper end of the inner vessel or jar 34.

The clamp 36 carries a laterally rojecting member 39 adapted, as shown in igures 1 and 2, to engage beneath the inwardly curved portion 12 of the container 11. This projection 39 co-operates with the hook 32 of the plug 30 to prevent removal of the cover 15 when the plug is in the applied position shown in Figures 1 and 2. In order to remove the cover, it is necessary to disconnect the plug 30 and this, of course, interrupts the ow of current to the electrodes 19 and 20 and discontinues the charging of the water in container 11. This is an important safety feature whereby access to the electrodes or to the interior of the vessel 11 is prevented while the humidifier is in o eration, thus eliminating all danger of acci ental shock or electrocution. Y

' The inner jar or vessel 34 is provided with a relatively small bottom opening 42 through which a comparatively small volume of Water is caused to flow into the interior of said jar and is thereby substantially segregated from the main body of water contained in the container 11. The small volume of water, segregated within the jar 34, is rapidly converted into steam by means of the electrodes 19 and 20 and without raising the temperature of the surrounding main body of water to the boiling point. As a matter of fact, the main body of Water surrounding the inner vessel or jar 34 will remain at a temperature low enough to permit the container 11 to be safely handled Without danger of being burnt.

As shown to advantage in Figure 3, the electrodes 19 and 20 are made of gradually increasing Width towards their lower ends so as to compensate for the gradual lowering of the water level during the progress of steam generation. By employing electrodes of this particular design, it has been found that the quantity of steam generated varies only sli htly over a comparatively long period 0 operation. It will also be noted that the electrodes are cupped or transversely curved so that the edge portions of each electrode extend in a direction away from the opposing electrode; This construction is of. advantage, in that it eliminates sharp edgzs which cause excessive passage of current tween the marginal portions of the electrodes. j

. Having thus-fully described what I now consider tobe the preferred embodiment of my invention, ous modifications may be resorted towithin the scope Hav n thus described my invention, what I claim 1s 1. A humidifier comprising a water con j tamer, a removable cover closing a filling opening formed in said container, electric steam generating means positioned in sand container and including suitable terminals carried by the cover, a plug en ageable with i said terminals forconnectmg t e steam generating means to a suitable'source of current, and co-operating elements carried by said cover and plugfor engaging the container and spirit of the appended claims;

it will be understood that vari-' to prevent removal of the cover when the per end secured to said cover, said inner vessel being provided at the bottom with a relatively small opening, and said cover being provided with a relatively small central opening afiording a steam outlet for the inner vessel. v

a 3. A humidifier, comprising a water-container, a movable cover closing, a filling opening formed in said container, electrodes carried by the cover and, extending downwardly therefrom, a depending collar formed integral with the cover and surrounding said electrodes, said inner vessel having its upper end open and engaging the lower edge of said collar, said inner vessel having a relatively small bottom opening and said cover having. a relatively small central opening placing in the interior of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere and means for clamping the inner vessel to said collar. 7

4. A humidifier as recited in claim 3 in cluding a gasket covering thejoint formed: between said collar and inner vessel and held; in place by said clamping means.

5. A humidifier comprising an outer ves-j sel, a cover closing a filling opening in the" top of said vessel, an inner vessel depending from the cover in spaced relation to the bottom and side walls of'the' outer vessel, said outer vessel being adaptedto contain a body: of water surrounding the side and bottom walls of the inner vessel and said inner vessel,

segregated from the main bod portion of the inner vessel being having its lower end closed except for a relatively small opening serving to admit therein asmall quantity of water which is thereby of water, and e ectrodes contained within t e inner vessel for converting the segregate into steam, said cover being formed with a steam discharge opening placing the upper end of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere.

6. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said opening, an inner vessel having its upper end releasably secured to the central portion of the cover so as to be supported in spaced relation to the bottom and side walls of the outer vessel,\the lower apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which is thereby subsequently segregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel, and electrodes contained within the inner vessel for converting the se regate into steam, said cover being forms with a central steam discharge opening placing the upper end of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere.

7. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top fillin opening, a removable cover closing said lling opening, a collar depending from the central portion of said cover, an'inner vessel having its upper end secured to said collar and thereby supported in spaced relation to the side and bottom walls o:f-. .the outer vessel, the lower portion of the inner vessel being apertured to admit therein a relatively small uantity of water which is thereby segregate from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel and electrodes contained within the inner vessel for converting the segregate into steam, said cover being formed with a central steam discharge opening placing the upper 4 end of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere. I

8. A humidifier comprisi an outer vessel adapted to contain a body 0 water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said filling opening, a pair of depending electrodes having their upper ends I secured to said cover, an inner vessel surrounding said electrodes, the upper end of the inner vessel being releasabl secured to said cover and the lower end 0 the inner vessel being apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which is thereby substantially segregated from the main body ofwater contained in the outer vessel, said cover being provided with a central steam discharge opening placing the upper end of the inner vessel in communication with the atmosphere.

9. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said opening, the cen tral ortion of the cover being in the form of a ho low steam dome provided at the top with a steam discharge opening, a pair of spaced, depending electrodes having their upper ends secured in the dome ortion of the cover, an inner casing surroun ing said electrodes, the u per end of said inner casing being releasably secured to said cover and the lower end being apertured to admit therein a relativel small quantity of water which is thereby su stantially segregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel.

' 10. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said opening, the central portion of said cover being in the form of a hollow' steam dome provided at the top with a steam discharge opening, an inner vessel having its upper end releasably secured to said cover in communication with said steam dome, the lower end of said inner vessel being apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which is thereby-substantially segregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel, and electrodes contained within the inner vessel for converting the segregate into steam which is discharged to the atmosphere via the opening formed in the top of the steam dome.

11. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said opening, said cover being formed with a'central steam discharge opening and with a depending collar surrounding said opening, an inner vessel having its upper end open and abutting the lower edge of said collar and having its lower end apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which is thereby substantially segregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel, an annular gasket surrounding the collar and the upper end of the inner vessel and closing the joint therebetween, a clamping member surrounding said gasket and servlng to support the inner vessel, and electrodes contamed within the inner vessel for converting the segregate into steam.

'12. A humidifier comprising an outer vessel adapted to contain a body of water and provided with a top filling opening, a removable cover closing said opening, the central portion of said cover bein shaped to provide an upwardly projecting fiollow steam dome having a top steam discharge opening, terminal members projecting laterally through the sidewall of said dome, depending electrodes having their upper ends received in the dome and secured to said terminal memelectrodes,

bers, and an inner vessel surrounding said per end open and releasably secured to the cover in communication with the steam dome and having its lower end apertured to admit therein a relatively small quantity of water which is thereby substantially segregated from the main body of water contained in the outer vessel in order to permit the segregate to be readily flashed into steam by supplying current to said electrodes, the steam thus generated being discharged to the atmosphere through the top opening of the steam dome. y

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ALLAN A. AITKEN.

said inner vessel having its up-

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