Patent · US Expired

High capacity portable humidifier

US5034162A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 1990
Grant dateJul 23, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24F6/043
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A portable humidifier including a base defining a reservoir; a storage tank demountably supported by the base and adapted to retain a supply of liquid, the tank defining an orifice communicating with the reservoir; and a valve for controlling liquid flow from the tank into the reservoir through the orifice, the valve adapted to provide a liquid flow rate that maintains a given liquid level in the reservoir. Also included is a wick means comprising supply portions disposed in the reservoir below the given liquid level and evaporation portions disposed above that level, the wick means adapted to provide by capillary action a liquid flow from the supply portions to the evaporation portions; a housing defining an air flow path including the evaporation portions, the housing defining inlet openings and discharge openings; and a blower for producing air flow into the inlet openings, through the evaporation portions, and out of the discharge openings. The combination of a base reservoir and a demountable storage tank enhances the storage volume to unit size of the humidifier.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.