Humidifier

June 10, 1941.

R. E. MILLER

HUMIDIFIER

Filed July 19, 1940

2,244,792

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2244792A_D0001.tif" />

June 10, 1941.

R. E. MILLER

HUMIDIFIER

Filed July 19, 1940

2,244,792

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2244792A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US2244792A_D0003.tif" />

Patented June 10, 1941

2,244,792 (Cl. 261—107)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,244,793

HUMIDIFIER

Ray E. Miller, Gilbertsville, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Daniel E. Shaw, Binghamton, N. Y.

Application July 19,1940, Serial No. 346,439

Claims. ’

My invention relates to humidifiers for explosive engines and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a humidifier so constructed and arranged as to deliver humidified air to the engine for mixture with the explosive charges whereby to increase the efficiency of the operation of the engine and to effect an economy of raw fuel consumption, for instance, gasoline.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is so constructed and arranged as to deliver humidified air to the intake manifold of the engine and to the carburetor thereof through the medium of the air cleaner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation, and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

'Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a Vertical sectional view of my invention and illustrating the same in connected relation with the air cleaner and intake manifold of an explosive engine.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on a line 2—2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 3—3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on a line 4—4

Figure 1. ' .

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on a line 5—5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the upper disk assembly.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the lower disk assembly in connected relation with the supporting standards.

In practising my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, I provide a cylindrical casing 10 con- ., _ ...

stituting a humidifier container and Which is pro- 45 inafter described, befeOffies moistened. FUrthervided with an open top and a closed bottom 11, i -^;

One side of the casing 10 is formed with an offset section 12' having its lower portion in full communication with the casing as illustrated in Figure 5. The upper portion of the section 12 coacts 50 with the upper portion of the side wall 13 of the casing to provide an opening 14 in which is fixed the lower end 15 of a gage housing 16, the upper end 17 of said housing 16 being provided with a transparent window 18.

The lower end 15 of the gage housing is formed with a pair of Upper and lower hearings in which is slidably mounted a float rod IS. The lower end of the float rod 19 has fixed thereto a float 20, while the upper end of said rod is provided with a telltale member 21, for instance, a colored ball, whereby the position of the float 20 with respect to the casing may. be readily observed.

Mounted in the casing is a pair of upright standards 21 wrapped with moisture absorbing material 22 constituting wicks. The lower ends of the standards 21 rest upon the bottom 11 and have fixed thereto, subjacent their upper ends a lower disk assembly 23. The disk assembly 23 comprises an imperforate disk 24 provided with an outer layer of moisture absorbing material 25 constituting a wick and Which engages the material 22 of the. standards as clearly illustrated in 20 Figure 1 of the drawings. The disk assembly 23 is of a sufficient diameter to frictionally engage the inner face of the side wall 13 of the casing and form a seal therewith.

Removably supported on the upper ends of the 25 standards 21 is an upper disk assembly 26 comprising a perforated disk 27 provided with an Outer layer of moisture absorbing material 23 constituting a wick and which engages the material 22. The disk assembly 26 is of a sufficient 30 diameter to frictionally engage the inner face of the upper end of the casing to form a seal therewith. The disk assemblies 23 and' 26 coact with the'casing to provide an air moisturing chamber 29. The upper end of the casing is closed by .. means of a perforated dome-shaped and readily &lt; removable cover 30 whereby air is admitted into the chamber 29.

Liquid, for instance, water is contained in the casing, subjacent the lower disk assembly, and in 40 which the wicks of the standards are immersed.

Obviously, the wicks of the standard serve to convey the water upwardly into the chamber 29 and moisten the wicks of the disk assemblies, whereby, air drawn through the chamber 29 as herei b more, as illustrated in Figure 1, the water floatively supports the float, thereby enabling an observer to ascertain the water level through the medium of the telltale as heretofore set forth.

Subjacent the lower disk assembly, the casing has extending therein, one end of a filler pipe 31 whereby water may be introduced into the container. The opposite end of the filler pipe 31, is normally closed by means of a removable closure 55 cap 32. The side wall of the casing, adjacent the

2,244,792 bottom I I, has connected thereto a drain cock 33 whereby the water may be drained from the container for the purpose of cleaning the same.

Subjacent the upper disk assembly, the casing has extending therein one end of a pipe 34, the opposite end of which is connected to an air cleaner 35 and which establishes communication between the air moisturing chamber 29 and said air cleaner 35.

Superjacent the lower disk assembly, the casing has extending therein one end of a pipe 36, the opposite end of which is connected to the intake manifold 37 of an engine (not shown). Both of the pipes 34 and 36 are provided with cut-off valves 38 whereby moist air may be supplied to the cleaner and manifold either selectively or simultaneously as desired. - - , ,

In use (it being understood that the air cleaner is connected to the carburetor for the purpose of supplying air thereto for mixture with raw fuel, for instance, gasoline), operation of the engine creates suction in the pipes 34 and 36 and as a result draws air, through the perforated top, into the air moistening chamber 29 where said air is moistened through the medium of the wicks of the standards and disassemblies, and thus moistened air is supplied to the air cleaner and intake manifold through said pipes 34 and 36.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by ; applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of, the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use-therefore as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope , of the appended claims.