US3290021A - Portable humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 n. BLACHLY ETAL 3,290,021

PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER Filed Nov. 29, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' Z2 Z5 Z3 Z2 IN VENTORS.

United States Patent O I This invention relates to apparatus for disbursing water into the ambient air and, more particularly, to improvements in household portable room humidifiers of. the

mechanical type which. generate a great profusion of minute water droplets.

The present invention is assigned to the same assignee as the Bradley Patent No. 3,005,591 disclosing a mechanical humidifier which has been manufactured and sold by the assignee throughout this country. Humidifiers man ufactured following the teachings of the Bradley patent have enjoyed considerable commercial success due to their ability to introduce a considerable volume of water into a room without materially influencing the amblient temperature therein. The Bradley humidifier could be used in the bedroom of a user experiencing a respiratory disease without subjecting the patient to an increased air temperature which might be detrimental to health especially during the evening hours. In addition, the portable humidifier may be used in any room within the house. One problem encountered with the mechanical humidifier which injects water droplets upwardly into a household room is that large water droplets egressing therefrom would fall before evaporation had occurred. Further, water droplets which were small enough to be sustained by the rising air column would collide with other mediumsized droplets to form large droplets which would again fall before evaporating. Still another problem is that large water droplets would form' within the humidifier housing near the exhaust port and the rush of forced air egressing therefrom would lift the large water droplets out of the housing which would'subsequently fall onto the top wall of the housing giving the impression that the housing was sweating. Thus, there is. a need for an improved humidifier which would economically control the size of the water particles egressing. from the exhaust port in order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art humidifiers.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved humidifier which atomizes and introduces into the ambient air a profusion of minute water droplets which can readily be evaporated before falling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved humidifier which will prevent large droplets of water formed within the housing from being carried by forced air through the discharge port.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier having an improved seal between the vessel and the cover to prevent the egression of minute Water droplets therebetween.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier having an improved pump for discharging a substantially constant volume of water regardless of the level of the Water within the humidifier vessel.

Still another object of. the present invention is to provide an improved humidifier having a passageway therein to remove large water droplets from the moisture-laden air egressing therethrough.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of 3,290,021 Patented Dec. 6,19

the hereindisclosed invention may be madeas come within the scope of the claims. 1

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of. the humidifier of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the humidifier taken substantially along sectional line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the humidifier taken along sectional line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along sectional line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken along sectional line 5-5 of FIG. 2 with certain portions cut FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the pump taken along sectional line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the humidifier pump taken along sectional line 77 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along sectional line 88 in FIG. 1'.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an electrically driven appartus for dispersing minute droplets of water into the ambient air indicated by the reference numeral 10 which is commonly designated as a portable room humidifier. The humidifier 10 comprises a housing 11 having a cup-shaped cover 12 which is adapted to cooperate with a bottom member or vessel 13 to form an enclosure or chamber 15 in which minute'water droplets or water spray is generated. Preferably, the bottom member 13 has a substantially cup-shaped configuration with upstanding walls 14 and a bottom wall 16. In the embodiment illustrated, both the cover and vessel are of molded plastic construction. As seen in FIG. 2, the vessel 13 has a sight gauge 17 to indicate the water level therein, disposed along the wall 14. Recessed handle portions 18 are formed in the upstanding wall 14 to facilitate the transportation of the humidifier. rigidity to the wall 14, a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced strengthening grooves 19 are formed thereon. A plurality of supporting feet 22 are provided on the bottom wall 16 which feet are preferably circular rubber pads to lessen the vibrations transmitted to the supporting surface. Integrally formed on the bottom wall 16 are radially extending raised ribs 23 which are centrallypositioned for reducing the movement or circulation of the water contained within the vessel 13 due to the rotation of a conical pump to be described hereinafter. According to the present invention, a water seal 26 is disposed between the cover 12 and the vessel 13 in order to prevent the egression of minute water droplets therebetween. The cup-shaped cover 12' includes a depending skirt 27 having a slightly outwardly angled portion 28 which merges into a substantially vertical wall portion 29 near the periphery thereof. In the present embodiment, the vertical portion 29 ofthe skirt is approximately fiveeighths of an inch high. A notch 30-is formed in the vertical portion of the skirt to provide'clear'ance for the sight gauge 17. The'vertical portion 29 of the skirt terminates at a peripheral edge 31. Disposed along the top of the upright wall 14 of the vessel 13 is a peripheral flange or inwardly facing channel 33 having a somewhat'U-shaped cross section comprising a lower, somewhat horizontal leg 34, a bight portion 35 and an upper, somewhat horizontal leg 36 which terminates inwardly at an edge 37. As can readily be seen in FIGS. 2 and 8', the cover 12 is supported on the vessel 13 by the edge 31 of the cover skirt resting on the lower leg 34, and this line of contact between the cover and vessel forms and defines a first water seal or barrier. In this assembled position, the

In order to afford edge 37 engages along the vertical portion 29 of the cover 'der pressure will be prevented from passing between the In addition cover and vessel by the aforesaid two seals. to the tightness of the fit present'in both seals, it can be readily seen that water spray which is able to pass the first seal will collect between the two seals and flow back adjacent the outside of the first seal to form a water seal or dam. Preferably, the second water seal is disposed substantially above the first seal as illustrated in FIG. 8 in order to facilitate the establishment of a water darn outside of the first seal.

The cover 12 has a top wall 41 with a depending motor wall 42 which is U-sha-ped as viewed in plan in FIG. 3 and which joins the cover skirt 27 at one side. The molded cover 12 defines an integral grill opening or air entrance 43 disposed between the legs of the depending wall 42. A horizontally disposed dividing wall 44 abuts the bottom of the depending wall 42 and cover skirt to define a motor chamber 46. The grill opening 43 provides an air access to the motor chamber 46. Disposed Within the motor chamber 46 is a conventional shaded pole motor 45 which in this particular embodiment is designed to operate at 2,800 rpm. under load. As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, an integrally molded groove 47 is disposed along the top surface of the dividing wall44 and is adapted to receive the depending wall 42 therein to insure that no moisture may pass into the motor chamber 46 between the wall 42 and the dividing wall. The dividing wall 44 has a slightly inclined portion 48 which terminates at a circular air inlet opening 49 for the chamber 15. The motor 45 is fastened to the dividing wall 44 by a plurality of threaded fasteners 50 which are insulated from the motor by rubber dampening members 51. The dividing wall 44 is securely fastened in position by a plurality of threaded members 52 which engage mounting lugs 53 on the depending wall 42. Extending downwardly from the motor 45 is a drive shaft 60 which passes through the opening 49 into the chamber 15.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pump assembly 61 for dispensing a profusion of water droplets is secured to the motor drive shaft 60 by a threaded member 62. The pump assembly comprises a conical member 63 which engages at its upper end to a downwardly dished or concave slinger member 64 and a slinger disc 65 which is horizontally disposed therebetween. Preferably, conical member 63 and slinger member 64 are molded from plastic, such as polystyrene. The conical member 63 which is coaxial with the vertical motor shaft has an inside or interior surface 66 which is inclined outwardly and upwardly in order to feed water toward its upper end upon rotation thereof due to centrifugal force in a manner well known in the art. The rate of water delivery by centrifugal conical pumps varies with the water level in the vessel because of the difference in the hydraulic head and the inside surface of the conical member exposed at the water level. One of the salient features of the present invention is a conical pump which will deliver water at a substantially uniform rate regardless of the changes in the liquid level contained within the reservoir or vessel 13. In order to obtain uniform water delivery, the lower portion of the conical member 63 has integrally formed on the interior surface 66 a pair of oppositely disposed spiral ledges 68 of tapered thickness having a thin leading edge 69. Eachspiral-ledge 68 is inclined upwardly around the interior surface for approximately 180 degrees so that the leading edge 69 may effectively scoop water upwardly along the spiral ledge. The bottom surfaces 70 of the conical member63 are inclined upwardly from r V the leading edge 69 to a point above the other leading edge. With this construction, which may be seen in face 66.

FIGS. 5 and 7, the leading edges 69 are exposed and may readily bite into the' Water" which tends 'to' establish a'constant condition on the inside of the conical member regardless of the water level to produce a constant water delivery upwardly along the interior surface.

Near the top of the conical member 63 are a plurality of integrally formed interior ribs 71 extending radially from the inside surface 66. The slinger 64 has a central hub portion 73 to receive the drive shaft 60 and a plurality of ribs 72 extend radially from the hub to be juxtaposed with the interior ribs 71. The outer edges of the ribs 72 are longitudinally inclined to mate with the interior sur- In order for the conical member 63 to be attached rigidly to slinger 64, a water resistant adhesive or solvent is preferably used to lock the outer edges of ribs 72 with the interior surface 66. With this arrangement, the slinger ribs 72 perform the combined function of positioning the conical member 63 to assure proper alignment along the drive shaft axis and also provide a solid support for transmitting rotary motion to the conical member 63. Disposed along the top of the conical member 63 is an annular flange 75 having a plurality of laterally extending support lugs 76 spaced from the top of the flange 75 and vertically extending spacing lugs or upstanding projections 77 which are adapted to contact the bottom surface of the slinger 64 in order to space the flange sufficiently therefrom to define a water passageway or orifice. It can be easily seen that water passing upwardly along the inclined interior surface 66 will pass over the flange 75 to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

Even though the slinger 64 is dished downwardly slightly and the flange 75 is positioned closely adjacent to the bottom of the slinger, the water passing over the flange 75 will not uniformly spread outwardly along the slinger to the periphery thereof. It is well known that water traveling in a spiral path along the underside of the centrifugal slinger will track along a few paths which have become wetted. Under stroboscopic examination it can be seen that a plain slinger will function in the same manner as if only two or three conduits were spirally disposed. In a mechanical humidifier, it is necessary to have the water uniformly dispersed from the periphery of the slinger in order to minimize the size of the water droplets being flung outwardly. The present invention accomplishes uniform water distribution along the slinger periphery by positioning a resilient slinger disc 65 between the conical member 61 and the slinger 64. As may easily be seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the relatively thin doughnut-shaped slinger disc 65 has an outside diameter or outer edge 80 which is smaller than the outside diameter of the slinger 64 and has an inside diameter or inner edge 81 which is slightly larger than the diameter of the flange 75. To conveniently assemble the slinger disc 65 between the conical member 63 and the slinger 64, a plurality of spaced notches 82 are formed along the inside diameter 81 and spaced to correspond with the lateral flange lugs 76 in order that the slinger 65 may pass over the lateral lugs and subsequently be rotated so that the disc may be locked in a bayonet engagement. Thus, the disc 65 is supported on lugs 76 and radially located by flange 75 whereby the outside diameter 80 is in firm contact with the bottom of the slinger 64. Inasmuch as the slinger disc 65 is fabricated from resilient material, the peripheral line of contact between the slinger disc and the slinger is under relatively uniform tension. It will be appreciated that water forced upwardly through the conical member 63 will flow over the fiange 75 into the space between the slinger and the slinger disc and will be fed by centrifugal force to the peripheral line of contact. In this manner, water is uniformly fed between the disc 65 and the bottom of the slinger 64 at the line of contact so that the water fed to the periphery of the slinger will be uniformly dispersed therealong to produce minute droplets of water.

Preferably, a centrifugal fan 84 comprising a plurality of radially disposed fan blades 85 is integrally molded on the top of the slinger 64. In the present embodiment, the radial fan blades 85 have a generally rectangular configuration in the longitudinal plane and are inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the axis of the fan to conform with the inclination of slinger 64. The fan blades 85 are disposed below the opening 49 and are positioned closely adjacent to the dividing wall raised portion 48. The fan 84 is of greater diameter than the circular opening 49. Therefore, when the slinger 64 is rotated, the fan 84 creates a low pressure at the opening 49 which induces a flow of dry air through the entrance 43 into the motor chamber 46 and subsequently into the chamber where the pump assembly 61 throws water particles against a plurality of fingers 86 depending from the dividing wall 44 to further break up and reduce the size of the water droplets.

In order to prevent the water droplets which are deposited on the bottom of the dividing wall 44 from flowing toward the opening 49 due to the low pressure maintained there, an annular drip barrier 90 depending from the dividing wall 44 is positioned around opening 49. The lower edge of barrier 90 depends from wall 44 to a position between the top and bottom of fan blades 85 at the outside diameter thereof. The annular drip barrier or wall 90 has a general V-shaped cross section with a sharp apex to prevent the water formed along the bottom of the dividing wall 46 from passing thereover and flowing toward the opening 49 where drops of water may fall on the rapidly rotating fan blades to cause objectionable noise. Thus, the barrier 90 has a greater diameter than the opening 49 and the fan 84 but is of a lesser diameter than the slinger 64. With this arrangement, the drip barrier 90 effectively prevents water deposited on the underside of the dividing wall 44 from dropping on th fan blades 85.

As described hereinbefore, relatively dry air passes through the entrance 43 to the motor chamber 46 and into the main chamber 15 due to the rotation of fan 84. This air flow provides a dry motor chamber to afford troublefree operation of the electrical motor 45 Prior art humidifiers normally have the fan and the pump assembly combined in such a manner that both members must rotate at the same speed. Therefore, increasing or decreasing the motor speed will not substantially affect the fineness of the droplets produced by the humidifier. That is to say, as the motor speed is increased, more air is forced by the fan to pass over the slinger but the pump is also transporting more water to the slinger with the end result that water droplet size remains relatively constant. It is, therefore,-advantageous to have a mannually operated control to regulate the flow of air through the humidifier while the pump speed and delivery are constant to regulate the size of the water droplet. In order to provide the humidifier 10 with an air flow control, a pivotally mounted baffie 92 is positioned inside motor chamber 46 adjacent the entrance 43. The baffle member 92 is preferably molded of plastic and has a notch 93 along the bottom edge to provide access for an electrical cord 94 which passes through opening 95 in cover skirt wall 27 into the motor chamber 46 for connection with the motor 45. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the dividing wall 44 has an integrally formed upstanding finger 96 disposed behind the skirt opening 95 adapted to contact the power cord 94 to provide a strain relief therefor. The entrance 43 comprises a plurality of spaced vertical bars 105 integrally molded in cover skirt 27'. Two oppositely disposed hinge pins 100 are integrally formed along the bottom edge of the baffle 92 and are adapted to cooperate with notches 101 positioned at the bottom of inwardly extending rib members 102. Extending perpendicularly from bafiie 92 is an integrally formed curved arm 103 which is positioned to extend through the vertically spaced bars 105. Disposed along the arm 103 is a generally sphirical enlargement 104 which has a slightly larger width than the space between the bars 105 positioned on each side thereof to lock the baffle in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2. When a lifting motion is imparted on the end of arm 103, the baffle 92 is rotated inwardly snapping free of the engagement between the enlargement 104 and the bars 105 to vary the effective entrance opening. As seen in FIG. 4, when the baffle 92 is locked in closed vertical position, only two spaces between spaced bars 105 are uncovered, plus a small area around the cord opening 95 in notch 93. With the baffle in the closed position, less air passes through the humidifier and consequently smaller sized water droplets are propelled into the ambient air. Since the smaller sized water droplets egress from the humidifier with the baffle closed, a. longer time is required to discharge a given volume of water.

When the pump assembly 61 and the fan 84 rotate in chamber 15 with water in the vessel 14, there will be produced as hereinbefore described a profusion of minute water particles under pressure. Integrally formed with the cover top wall 41 is a raised discharge conduit 109 which treminates at discharge opening 110. Before the moisture-laden air generated in chamber 15 can egress through discharge opening 110, it must pass through a horizontally curved conduit 111 having a generally U-shaped cross section which forms a curved passageway 112 between the chamber 15 and the discharge opening 110. The conduit 111 is fastened to the underside of the cover top wall 41 by means of a plurality of small lugs 113 depending from wall 41 which are received in openings in conduit ears 11.4 which are integrally formed with conduit 111. Standard spring clips 115 lock onto lug 113 to firmly maintain the conduit in position. Preferably conduit 111 comprises sloping inwardly vertical walls 116 and 119 which merge into a bottom wall or bight portion 117 which is sloped downwardly towards inlet opening 118. It should be noted in FIG. 3 that the slinger 64 and fan 84 tend to rotate the moisture-laden air in a clockwise direction, and that opening 118 in conduit 111 faces the direction of air movement in order to receive the air in passageway 112. The bottom wall 117 of the conduit 111 is sloped downwardly both towards the opening 118 and the outside conduit wall 119 so that water deposited on the conduit flows along the bottom adjacent to wall 119 to be returned to vessel 13. The top of the conduit 111 is closed by cover top wall 41. The other end of conduit 111 has an opening 120 into chamber 15 which is closely positioned to discharge opening 110. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can readily be seen that the moisture-laden air entering opening 118 must traverse a horizontally disposed curved path defined by the curved conduit 111 and then a vertically disposed curved path defined by the discharge opening 110 being positioned over said conduit before emerging from discharge 110. As a consequence of the horizontal and vertical curves in passageway 112, the heavy larger water droplets carried by the rapidly moving turbulent air impinge upon the sloping walls 116 and 119 and are subsequently fed back into chamber 15 along the sloping bottom 117 adjacent the wall 119. It is readily understood that since the moisture-laden air in chamber 15 is rotating clockwise when viewed in FIG. 3, it tends to fiow adjacent wall 119 while in passageway 112. It is further understood that the pressure in chamber 15 will force a certain amount of air from the chamber through opening 120 into passageway 112 and said air tends to enter along and move adjacent to wall 116. Consequently, the air traveling clockwise along the inside of wall 119 from opening 118 and the air traveling counterclockwise along the inside of wall 116 from opening 120 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 produce violent turbulence and swirling when brought together immediately below. discharge opening 110 which further precipitates the larger water droplets from the air stream before being discharged fromthe humidifier.-

For the purpose of further removing large water droplets from the stream of air channeled through passageway 112, an integrally molded drip barrier 125 depending from the top cover wall 41 is positioned around a portion of the raised discharge conduit 109. As may be best viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drip barrier 125 extends from near the conduit wall 116 in an annular path to a position adjacent the end of wall 119 near opening 120. The drip barrier 125 has a lower edge 126 which slopes downwardly from wall 116 to wall 119. Therefore, the drip barrier 125 performs the dual function of causing the moisture-laden air to dip abruptly downward immediately prior to the vertically curved portion of passageway 112 and also feeding moisture deposited on the barrier to wall 119 for transmission back to the vessel. Thus large droplets are not permitted to hang adjacent to the discharge opening 110 .and be carried upwardly through discharge opening 110 by the air stream. With the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the droplet size is sufiiciently controlled to eliminate both large droplets which are not capable of evaporating prior to falling and also medium-sized droplets which might unite to form larger droplets which again cannot evaporate prior to falling. Further, the present invention provides a humidifier which will expeditiously carry the water precipitated along the passageway 112 and the area adjacent the discharge conduit 109 back to the vessel without permitting the moisture to be carried upwardly in the air stream through the discharge opening 110. Thus, this invention has disclosed a humidifier which carefully directs a stream of minute water droplets upwardly without noticeable variations in capacity due to water level within the humidifier and which accurately controls the size of the minute water droplets. Further, the readily removable cover 12 forms a double seal with the vessel to prevent the escape of water droplets therebetween.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that charges and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A humidifier for introducing fine water spray and vapor into the ambient air including a housing having a chamber formed therein for receiving water and a horizontally disposed dividing wall in said housing with an opening formed therein for permitting the ingressing of air into said chamber, a fan horizontally disposed for rotation immediately below said opening for drawing air downwardly therethrough so that a pressure less than atmospheric is established at the opening, and said fan being larger than said opening, water pumping means positioned below said wall for producing fine water spray within said housing, a drip barrier depending from said wall spaced from and surrounding said opening and fan whereby water spray deposited on the underside of said wall cannot be drawn by the low pressure at the opening to a position over the fan and dropped thereon.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein a motor is positioned above said dividing wall for rotating said pumping means and fan.

3. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said barrier has a V-shaped cross section with the apex pointed downwardly which is closely spaced to said fan.

4. A pump for use in humidifiers comprising an elongated hollow member rotatable about a vertical axis and having an inside surface which is inclined outwardly and upwardly, an integral flange formed around the top of said member with a plurality of upstanding projections extending upwardly from the top of said flange and a plurality of laterally extending supporting lugs positioned on the side of said flange spaced from the top thereof, a

circular concave slinger engaging the top of said upstanding flange projections and lying in a substantially horizontal plane with the periphery of said slinger dished downwardly whereby said slinger is spaced from the top of said flange for permitting water to pass therebetween, and a resilient circular slinger disc lying in a horizontal plane having an inside and outside diameter wherein the inside diameter is positioned adjacent said flange and said disc is supported by said lateral lugs, the outside diameter of said disc being substantially smaller than said circular slinger and contacting the underside of said slinger at a point spaced from the periphery of said slinger whereby the rotation of the pump causes water to raise upwardly through the member passing outwardly between the member and the slinger and finally egressing between the out side diameter of the disc and the slinger.

5. The pump of claim 4 wherein said member has a spiral ledge on the inside surface near the bottom for increasing the pumping capacity, said member being cut away in front of said ledge whereby said ledge is more efiective in scooping water upwardly.

6. The pump of claim 5 wherein a plurality of integral fan blades are radially formed on the top surface of said slinger whereby forced air is generated by said fan upon the rotation of said pump for carrying water spray droplets.

7. In a humidifier for dispersing fine spray droplets into the surrounding air having a housing with a chamber defined therein adapted for receiving water, a pump positioned Within the chamber for producing water spray upon the rotation thereof including an elongated hollow member centrally disposed about the vertical axis of pump rotation and having an interior surface which is sloped upwardly and outwardly, said member being provided with opposed spiral ledges positioned on said interior surface at the lower end thereof, the lower end of said member having opposed inclined bottom surfaces and cut out portions arranged for laterally exposing a leading edge of said ledges whereby the rotation of said member causes said leading edges to bite into the water to assist in the upward travel of water due to centrifugal force, and the inclined bottom surface and cut out portions providing easy access of the water to reach the interior of the member.

8. The humidifier of claim 7 wherein said ledge has a tapered thickness with the leading bottom edge being the thinnest end and each spiral ledge extending through at least degrees along said interior surface.

9. A humidifier for dispersing a fine water spray into the surrounding air including a cup-shaped bottom having an upwardly facing opening, a removable cover adapted to close said housing opening to form a water receiving chamber, sealing means provided between said bottom and cover to prevent water spray egressing therebetween, a dividing wall horizontally disposed within said housing and cover and defining an air inlet opening, a motor positioned over said inlet opening with a vertical drive shaft depending therethrough, an elongated hollow member having an interior surface inclined upwardly and outwardly centrally associated with said shaft, said member being provided with spiral ledge means positioned near the bottom of said interior surface and said member having an inclined bottom surface to cooperate with said ledge means so that the leading edge of said ledge means is exposed to assist the feeding of water upwardly through said member, a horizontally disposed slinger of greater diameter than said air inlet opening being positioned at the top of said member and a fan integrally formed on the top of said slinger of larger diameter than said opening and being disposed immediately below said opening, a barrier depending from said dividing wall around said fan and opening and disposed within the outside diameter of said slinger in order to prevent water spray from dropping from said wall onto said fan.

10. The humidifier of claim 9 wherein said cover defines an air entrance opening and a spaced exhaust opening, means channeling the air flow through said entrance opening, wall inlet openings and exhaust openings, and a conduit member disposed between said wall inlet and exhaust openings having curved wall means requiring the water spray laden air to change directions at least twice prior to passing out said exhaust opening in order that large water droplets will be removed therefrom.

11. The humidifier of claim 10 wherein said conduit member defines an inlet opening facing the movement of water spray laden air in said chamber, said conduit member formed to have a passageway with a horizontally curved section and a vertically curved section for removing large water droplets from the air and imparting a turbulent effect on the water laden air leaving said exhaust openings.

12. In a humidifier comprising a housing adapted for receiving and storing water, a pump disposed within said housing for converting water into spray comprising an upright hollow conical member with its smaller end positioned at the bottom, a concave circular slinger enclosing the top of said hollow member and having a relatively large diameter, said member defining a plurality of openings adjacent said slinger, said slinger dished downwardly whereby its periphery lies below said member openings, a resilient doughnut-shaped disc secured near the top of said member below said member openings, said disc having a diameter much smaller than said slinger and having the upper edge of its periphery engaging the bottom side of said slinger above the lower edge of said slinger periphery, and a motor supported within said housing for rotating said pump whereby water feeds upwardly through said member, outwardly through said member openings, into the space between said slinger and disc and between said disc periphery and bottom side of said slinger to the periphery of said slinger due to centrifugal force.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,461,174 7/1923 Bennett -237 2,247,285 6/1941 Bingman 55-238 2,607,571 8/1952 Hession 261-91 X 2,684,232 7/1954 Caldwell 55-238 2,721,623 10/1955 Fletcher et a1 55-238 2,766,027 10/1956 Herr 261-91 2,776,691 6/1957 Tupper ISO-0.5 3,005,591 10/1961 Bradley 239-216 3,023,837 3/1962 Weills 55-237 3,044,752 7/ 1962 Flury 261-91 3,077,714 2/1963 Mcllvaine 55-238 3,130,245 4/1964 Banks 261-91 X 3,148,964 9/1964 Flury 261-91 X 3,155,746 11/1964 Banks 261-91 X 3,165,227 1/ 1965 CroWell et al 220-42 X 3,188,007 6/1965 Myklebust 261-91 X FOREIGN PATENTS 666,940 7/ 1963 Canada.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

T. R. MILES, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 9. A HUMIDIFIER FOR DISPERSING A FINE WATER SPRAY INTO THE SURROUNDING AIR INCLUDING A CUP-SHAPED BOTTOM HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING OPENING, A REMOVABLE COVER ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID HOUSING OPENING TO FORM A WATER RECEIVING CHAMBER, SEALING MEANS PROVIDED BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM AND COVER TO PREVENT WATER SPRAY EGRESSING THEREBETWEEN, A DIVIDING WALL HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND COVER AND DEFINING AN AIR INLET OPENING, A MOTOR POSITIONED OVER SAID INLET OPENING WITH A VERTICAL DRIVE SHAFT DEPENDING THERETHROUGH, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER HAVING AN INTERIOR SURFACE INCLINED UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY CENTRALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SHAFT, SAID MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH SPIRAL LEDGE MEANS POSITIONED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID INTERIOR SURFACE AND SAID MEMBER HAVING AN INCLINED BOTTOM SURFACE TO COOPERATE WITH SAID LEDGE MEANS SO THAT THE LEADING EDGE OF SAID LEDGE MEANS IS EXPOSED TO ASSIST THE FEEDING OF WATER UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID MEMBER, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SLINGER OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN SAID AIR INLET OPENING BEING POSITIONED AT THE TOP OF SAID MEMBER AND A FAN INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE TOP OF SAID SLINGER OF LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID OPENING AND BEING DISPOSED IMMEDIATELY BELOW SAID OPENING, A BARRIER DEPENDING FROM SAID DIVIDING WALL AROUND SAID FAN AND OPENING AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID SLINGER IN ORDER TO PREVENT WATER SPRAY FROM DROPPING FROM SAID WALL ONTO SAID FAN.

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