US2998504A - Combined dehumidifier and humidifier - Google Patents

Description

1961 E. T. MORTON ET AL 2,998,504

COMBINED DEHUMIDIFIER AND HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Feb. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 146/969 1% Mfg/777%)? BY ,U

Warm/WE) Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. MORTON ET AL 2,998,504

COMBINED DEHUMIDIFIER AND HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Feb. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 t, Egg 1/ Evans 75%"707 Wake)" H )4 ez'n rich I 1961 E. T. MORTON ET AL 2,998,504

COMBINED DEHUMIDIF'IER AND HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Feb. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i '5 .2 I f," IQ i A s 2 5 (/i lNl/ENTO/PS.

Evans 7? Marion 0. 71.4.. Q /ITTORNEY Aug. 29, 1-961 E. T. MORTON ET AL 2,998,504

COMBINED DEHUMIDIFIER AND HUMIDIFIER Original Filed Feb. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E /08 73 46 JFI .8. MM

.E/QQ A 43 88 A TOR/VF) United States Patent 23%,504 CONLBINED DEHUMIDIFIER AND HUMIDIFIER Evans T. Morton, Knoxville, and Walter H. Weinrich,

Lake Rice, Ill., assignors to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware (lriginal application Feb. -1, 1954, Ser. No. 407,484, new Patent No. 2,867,993, dated Jan. '13, 1959. Divided and this application Aug. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 753,857 15 Claims. (Cl. 219-39) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air conditioning apparatus, and in particular to a com bination dehumidifying and humidifi ing apparatus and to a novel humidifier therein.

Among the improvements which are incorporated in the present invention are those which include simplicity of construction, portability, convenience of repair or adjustment of the same and economy of manufacture.

Other advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the improved combination dehumidifier and humidifier, in its entirety;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the same, parts being broken away to reveal other parts;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of elements of the humidifying apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of elements of the dehumidifying apparatus in the present combination dehumidifier and humidifier;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of FIGURE 3, the view being on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section in perspective, corresponding to FIGURE 4;

FIG. 9 is a section indicated by line 9-9 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram, shown schematically.

In the drawings, the reference character 11 is used to denote a base for the novel humidifier-dehumidifier apparatus, while above the level of the base is a casing or cowl 12, supported from said base by a pair of standards 13 extending upward from opposite sides of the base. The cowl 12 is surmounted by a horizontal handle 14 transversely of its upper end as a convenience for moving the apparatus. The cowl 12 is spaced adequately from the base 11 to accommodate a removable basin or liquid receptacle 16 in which water removed from the air may collect when the apparatus is being operated as a dehumidifier and alternately, where a supply of liquid is carried when the apparatus is to be operated as a humidifier in accordance with the present invention.

Provision is made to support the basin 16 in a predetermined position wherein the basin is on the base 11 in concentric relation to the lower end of the cowl 12. The lower extremity of the cowl is also at a level slightly above the level of the basin 16 so that air drawn into the cowl by means, later to be referred to within the cowl, may first pass at a uniform rate over the upper edge of the basin and be later ejected from the upper end of said cowl. The base 11 is therefore formed with a depressed central region or seat 17 complementary to the bottom of the basin thereby to include an annular 2,998,504 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 edge 18 between parallel guides or ridges 19. The bottom of the basin 14 is formed, on opposite sides thereof, with a pair of parallel grooves or creases 21, complementary to the ridges 18. Assuming that the basin 14 has been removed from its position as indicated in FIG. 1 and it is desired to return the basin thereto, the ends of grooves 21 are brought into cooperation with the ends of the ridges 16. Then the basin is slid inwardly and over the seat 17 to the support of which the basin drops slightly when it has passed the edge 18. While so positioned, a pair of diametrically opposite handles 22 on the basin are accessible since they are disposed intermediate the standards 13. Concurrently, angular displacement of the basin on its support is resisted by cooperation of the grooves 21 with the ridges 19. When it is desirable that the basin be removed from under the cowl 12, said basin is lifted over the edge 18 and slid horizontally outward in an order the reverse of what has just been indicated.

The standards 13 are preferably formed of pressed metal and are L-shaped in general formation thus including horizontal foot portions 23 (FIG. 4) and upright portions 24. The feet 23 extend under the base 11 to which they are rigidly secured in any suitable manner such as by welding. The portions 24 are of curved formation and from points approximately at the level of the lower edge of the cowl they curve toward each other to their upper end portions which are bridged by the handle 14, the latter including depending portions 26 bolted to the upper ends of the uprights 24. If desired, the lower portions of the uprights 24, where they extend between the base i1 and cowl 12 may be shielded by ornamental covers 2, preferably of some suitable plastic material.

The cowl 12 is slightly bell-shaped since it has walls of curved vertical sections extending downward from the periphery of an uppermost annular end portion 28 its annular free edge 29. Centrally of its upper end 28 and in oifsetrelation thereto the cowl is formed with a grille or outlet duct 31 through which air is discharged on its passage through the cowl.

For its support, the cowl rests, at its annular portion 28 on the ends of the standards 13. The cowl is provided with a pair of apertures 32 through which the depending portions 26 pass. For resisting displacement of the cowl 12 upward over the standards, the handle 14 is provided with horn 33 on either end thereof, which extends over the annular end 28. Downwardly thereof, the cowl intimately embraces a vertical annular flange 35 of a drip ring 34 supported in fixed relation to the standards 13 by a stanchion 36 which includes a lower transverse member 37, to which the drip ring is bolted at 55. One of the purposes served by the drip ring is, therefore, to support the cowl against lateral sway of the cowl about its anchorage at the handle 14. Other purposes of the ring will be referred to hereinafter.

As indicated by the arrows (FIG. 1), air is drawn into the cowl between the edge 29 of the cowl and the basin 16, passes upward through the cowl, and the water may be condensed therefrom especially when the humidity of the air is high. Water may also be added to the air when the humidity is low. The flow of air through the cowl is edected by a fan 39 driven by a motor 41. For its support, the motor 41 is suitably clamped to an upper transverse portion 42 of the stanchion 36 in a position wherein the fan 39 is disposed in a horizontal plane just below the grille 31. Intermediate the portions 42 and 37, the stanchion includes vertical portions 43 fixed to the standards 13.

When the apparatus is operated as a dehumidifier, as the air flows through the cowl 12, it is first cooled to condense the moisture it contains. The cooled, dried air then passes over the condenser to remove the heat from the condenser after which the heated air is ejected through the grille '31. The apparatus producing these effects includes a motor-compressor unit 46 (FIG. 3) in a closed fluid circuit with an evaporator coil 47, below the motorcompressor, and a condenser coil 48 above the level of the motor-compressor. Also in the circuit, is a tube 49 (FIG. 6) that forms a vibration absorbing loop and which together with a tube 51, of size intermediate the size of tubing 49 and 4 3 connects the motor-compressor to the condenser. In circuit with the remaining end of the condenser is a capillary tube 52, which, at a distance along its length remote from the condenser, is intimately associated with the evaporator d7, as by soldering thereto until it continues in a series of convolutions 53 beyond which it is joined at 54 to the evaporator 47.

In operation, a suitable refrigerant in a gaseous state is compressed by the motor compressor at. The refrigerant then passes from the compressor as at 56 and flows to the condenser 48 by way of the tubes 49 and (3n passing through the tubing 52 the temperature of the refrigerant is so reduced that by the time it is ready to empty into the evaporator coils it is liquefied. The capillary tube discharges into the evaporator coils where it expands and there absorbs heat of the air flowing into the cowl thereby reducing the temperature of said air. This process continues until the refrigerant is delivered to the compressor unit 46, at 57, in a gaseous state.

Below the evaporator 47 is an evaporator disc baffle or diaphragm 58. The baffle 58 is bolted at either side thereof at 55 to the member '37, FIG. 8. it is formed with a peripheral upturned rim 59 in adjacent relationship to the interior of the cowl 12, Consequently it affords, with exceptions later to be referred to, a partition transversely of the interior of the cowl. Centrally thereof the baflie 58 is formed with a major aperture 61 (FIG. 6) through which the compressor unit 46 extends. This aperture is large enough to provide a space for the passage of air between the edges thereof and said unit. For at least a fraction of its length, the evaporator coil 47 is soldered to the disc 58 so that heat received thereby from the air entering the cowl may be more readily conveyed to the evaporator for vaporization of the refrigerant therein. The disc 58 is also formed with minor air passages comprising apertures 62, as, 64, etc., each of which has a flange struck upward from at least one of its edges. For example the aperture 62 is formed with a pair of flanges 66 at its edges, the aperture 63 has a flange 67 at one of its edges, etc. The major aperture 61 is formed with a flange 68 throughout the perimeter of its edge. The purpose of the flanges is to increase the area of disc 58 for contact with the air passing through the several apertures to remove therefrom a predetermined amount of the heat passing the evaporator so that the air loses its capacity to retain its moisture whereupon said moisture is condensed and deposited on the surface of the disc 53 and the coils 47.

As the condensed water comes in contact with the disc and coils 47, it accumulates and escapes downward through the apertures aforesaid in the diaphragm 5-8 and accumulates in the basin 16. To guide the Water thus formed adjacent the cowl, into the basin, the drip ring is employed. It is preferably of molded plastic and L-shaped in transverse section (FIG. 8) so as to include a lower lip 38 extending inward beyond the edge of the basin is from the vertical flange 35. Adjacent the upright portions of the standards 13 the ring 34 is notched The condenser 48 is mounted above the upper transverse member 42 (FIG. 4). For its mounting, the several coils of condenser 48 embraced by equiangularly spaced cushioning strips or pads '72, of some suitable soft material such as rubber, each of which is itself embraced by a U-shaped metal strap 73, bolted at 74 to the transverse member 42.

Provision is made for controlling the operation of both the fan motor 41 and the motor compressor 46. The provision involves a selector switch 75 (FIGS. 3 and 7), which selectively determines whether the apparatus is operated as a dehumidifier or as a humidifier. It is supported by means including a switch bracket 76 having a substantially vertical, planar portion 77 adjacent the wall of the cowl 12. For part of its support, the bracket 76 is bolted to the upper end of a post 78 having, at its lower end a lateral arm or foot 79 extending inwardly under the condenser disc 58 to which the foot is rigidly secured. From either vertical edge of the portion 77 one of a pair of parallel arms 31 extend upwardly and inwardly under a motor support plate 81 to which the arms are rigidly secured. Plate 81 in turn, is rigidly secured to the upper member 42. The switch 75 further has a pair of wings 82, in a vertical plane, extending away from each other while the arms 89 have a pair of flanges 33 similarly disposed and to which the wings 82 are bolted. The switch 75 bears a horizontal shaft 84 extending be tween the arms 79, through portion 77 and cowl l2, externally of which it bears a knob 86 for its manual rotation.

The switch 75 also controls humidifying apparatus according to the present invention for adding moisture to the air flowed through the cowl by the fan 39. The humidifying apparatus is, of course, operated when the motor compressor 46 is not operating, the switch 75 acting as an interlocking element so that the humidifying and dehumidifying apparatuses can be operated alternately.

Briefly, the humidifying operation is carried out by moving an electric resistor element, heated to an elevated temperature, into association wth the contents of the basin 16 to vaporize said contents by boiling it at its surface so that the vapor may mingle with the flowing air and be discharged through the grille 31. Such a heater element is indicated in its entirety by the character 83 (FIG. 5). It includes a resistance element, not shown, within a metallic tube 89, bent to a G-shaped formation so as to include its two end portions 91 which are parallel, and in spaced relationship to each other. The ends 91 are clamped in this position by a lower pinch plate 92, below the ends, and an upper pinch plate 93 above the ends, the clamping of the plates toward each other being effected by bolts 94 passing freely through one of the plates and threaded in said other plate. As an aid to further the fixed, spaced relationship of the tube ends 91 to each other, the lower plate 92, FIG. 9, has offset side flanges 96 extending under the ends and the upper plate 93 has side flanges and 97 on opposite sides thereof extending downward for cooperation with offsets '96 to confine the ends against any tendency to be displaced laterally. To pivotally support the assembly of plates 92, 93 and element 89, the post 78 (FIG. 3) bears, on either side thereof, an car 98 extending downward between and adjacent to tongues or continuation 99 of the offsets 96. A fulcrum is further provided for the element 88 by a pin 161 passing through the tongues 99 and cars 93 so that the remaining end of the heating element may swing between a point above the level of the basin and a point adjacent the bottom thereof.

The element 88, at its swinging end, embraces a float 102, preferably a hollow body formed of pr -sed metal and having a peripheral flange 103 held in clamped relation to the element by a leaf spring clip lll i. it is formed with U-shaped ends 105 and 106, biased toward each other to concurrently embrace the flange 93 and tube 89. From its ends and 196 theclip extends downward U and at the forward region of its downward extension provides a stop 107 engageable with the bottom of the basin 12. When the element is lowered from its uppermost position, above the level of the basin, the buoyancy of the liquid therein supports the float during which the element 88 is sustained at the surface of, but in engagement with, said liquid. In so doing, the heat necessary to vaporize the liquid is imparted thereto principally in the region of the surface thereof, there being no need to heat the entire body of liquid. As it is varporized, the depth of the liquid is, of course, gradually reduced until means, later to be described, automatically operates to de-energize the element 88 at a predetermined reduced level of the liquid. In case the element 38 is still hot when there is insuflicient liquid in the basin to support the float then the stop 107, by engaging the bottom of the basin, spaces the heating element adequately therefrom to obviate damage to the plastic of the basin.

To de-energize the element 88 when it has been lowered to a predetermined level by vaporization of the liquid, a position switch or mercury switch 108 is connected in series with the heating element. Said switch is fixed to the flanges 97 of the plate 93 and so arranged to be closed except when it is tilted adequately by movement of the element 88 to its lower predetermined position.

As indicated, when the dehumidifying apparatus is in operation, the humidifying apparatus of the present in vention is not operating, the heating element 88 being out of the basin 14. Besides the support provided by the pin 101 the element 88 is also supported from the shaft 84 (FIG. This is eflfected by linkage between said shaft and element 88 including a cam 109 fixed to the shaft 84. It also includes a follower link 111 and a latch link 112. The link 111 is formed with a slot 113 through which the shaft 84 passes freely so that said link may have longitudinal movement transversely of the shaft and be supported by engagement of a lateral follower portion 114, on its upper end, by the cam 109. The lower end of the link 111 is adjustably secured to the upper end of link 112. This is provided by a pair of bolts 117 passing through holes in the link 112 and through a slot 118 in the link 111 which said slot extends longitudinally so that the proximity of the link to the shaft may be varied. For its coupled relationship to the element 88, the link 112 extends between a flange 119 (FIG. 9), bent downward from the upper pinch plate 93, and a flange 1'21, bent downward from the lower plate 92. The flange 119 carries a stud 122 extending into a triangular-shaped aperture 123 in the link 112 which is restrained from removal from the stud by the proximity thereto of the flange 121. Also, it should be noted that the aperture 123 is formed to provide lost motion between the edges thereof and the stud 122. This arrangement enables the element 88 to have movement by the surface of the liquid independently of the linkage when it is lowered by the operation of the cam 109. If desired, counter-weight means may be provided to decrease the pressure of the element 88 on the liquid and to make it easier to turn the cam 109. Suitable means may involve use of a spring 124 coiled about the pin 101 and under torsional deflection by one of its ends 126 pressing against the lower side of pinch plate 92 and another of its ends 127 pressing against the lower side of the foot 78.

It is desirable that the basin be locked against removal, and particularly against lateral forces to dislodge it suddenly from its normal position beneath the cowl 12. This is to avoid damage to the heating element or the basin when the latter is moved violently into engagement with the former. Accordingly, the link 112 extends downward and to a point over the rim of basin 16 where the link is formed with a notch 128 into which the rim of the basin extends when the element 88 is lowered from its uppermost position. In this position, the weight of links 111 and 112 remain supported by the cam 109. Also while in this position, the link 112 is locked against 6 movement by the basin since the link extends through a slot 129 in the plate 58, the slot limiting edgewise motion of the link 112.

The control of the foregoing apparatus is partly by manual operation of the knob 86. It is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 84 and is formed with a pointer 132 (FIG. 5) at its periphery. About the periphery of the knob, on an ornamental dial 133 (FIG. 1) which is fixed to the cowl 12, are spaced apart graduations denoted by the following indicia: namely, Off, Dehumidify, Fan and Hurnidify. When the pointer 132 is opposite the Off indicia, all features of the apparatus are inactive. This is because the several connections, not shown, within the switch 75, are open. Also while the switch connections are open, the follower 114 rests on a high side 134 of the cam 109 thereby supporting the element 88 in its uppermost position above the level of the basin 14. The element 88 remains in its uppermost positon when the knob 86 is moved counterclockwise until pointer 132 is at iHumidify, due to the formation of the cam 109. When the knob is turned from the Off position one-quarter turn counterclockwise to the Dehumidify position the fan motor 41 and motor compressor 46 are energized due to the operation of the switch to cause the apparatus to operate as a dehumidifier, so that it reduces the humidity of the air within the cowl 12 and ejects the air so conditioned from the upper end of the cowl. By swinging the pointer 132 additionally in a counterclockwise direction, until it is opposite the indicia, Fan, the motor, compressor 46 is deenergized without interrupting the operation of the fan 39 while the element 83 is retained in its uppermost position. The cam 109 has a dwell 136 or low side at its periphery, however, which faces upward when the pointer is swung counterclockwise to a point opposite the notation humidify. At this point the follower 114 having been lowered, the element 88 is also lowered as permitted by the buoyancy of the fluid of basin 16. Concurrently as the pointer is swung to its humidify position the switch permits the heating element to become energized the circuit being through the mercury switch 108 while the fan 39 continues its operation to blow the moistened air from the cowl. The humidifying operation may, of course, be discontinued at any time by moving the pointer in either direction away from its humidifying position. It is also possible to turn the knob 86 in either direction to shift from one of the operations aforesaid to another of the operations of the apparatus.

Although we have described one embodiment of our invention, we are aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 407,484, filed February 1, 1954.

We claim:

1. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air may be flowed, a liquid receptacle arranged for the contents thereof to be in communication with the flow of air, a heating element within the casing, and a linkage principally within the casing and supporting the element but including a portion extending externally of said casing from where the linkage may be manipulated manually to vary the flow of air by cooperating with draft regulating instrumentalities within said casing to concurrently vary the position of said element between a point adjacent the basin and a point within the basin occupied by its contents, said element being capable of vaporizing the contents by engagement therewith so that the vapor thereby produced may mix with the flowing air.

2. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air may be flowed by a blower within the casing, a liquid receptacle arranged at the bottom of the casing for the contents thereof to be in communication with the air flowing through said casing, a control shaft 7 extending externally of the casing where it may be manually manipulated to manipulate apparatus therein for controlling the operation of the blower, a linkage having a remote portion adjacent the receptacle and a near portion at the shaft, a heating element supported from the remote portion, means on the shaft cooperating with said near portion, to provide an operating relationship between a lateral region of said shaft and said linkage whereby said element may be moved in and out of engagement with the contents of the receptacle as the shaft is moved alternately in opposite directions, said element being capable of vaporizing the contents of the receptacle when in communication therewith so that the vapor thus produced may mix with the air flowing through the casing.

3. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air is flowed from an inlet duct at the bottom to an exhaust duct at the top thereof, a basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through the casing, a shaft, extending through the wall of the casing of which it may be manually turned to manipulate draft control means Within the casing, an electric heating element, a linkage supporting the element in pivoted relation to the basin and extending to the shaft, means on the shaft spacing the linkage therefrom to a degree varying with the angular position of said shaft thereby for the element to be swung into engagement with and alternately out of engagement with the water as the shaft is turned through a complete revolution, said element being capable of vaporizing the Water enabling it to mix with the air passing through the casing and be ejected from the exhaust duct.

4. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing having an air inlet at the base and an outlet at the top thereof, a motor driven fan within the casing to flow the air therethrough, a basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through said casing, an electric heating element, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly and arranged to be turned manually, a linkage connected to and supporting the element in movable association with the basin and extending to the shaft, a cam fixed to said shaft and spacing the linkage therefrom whereby said element is moved into engagement with the water of the basin when the shaft is rotated through one are and alternately moved out of engagement with the water when the shaft is turned through another are, said element being energized concurrently with its movement into engagement with the water and deenergized with its movement out of engagement therewith, said element vaporizing the water during its engagement for the vaporized water to mix with the flowing air, said connection of said heating element to said linkage comprising a lost motion connection enabling the heating element to float in the water and rise and fall with the level of the water.

5. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air may be flowed, a removable liquid receptacle arranged for the contents thereof to be in communication with the air passing through the casing, a heating element within the casing, a linkage therein extending through the walls thereof for its manual manipulation externally thereof to control means within the casing for governing the flow of air and to provide support for the element whereby said element may be moved alternately in and out of communication with the contents of the receptacle as the position of said portion is varied alternately in opposite directions, said element being capable of vaporizing the contents of the receptacle when in engagement therewith for the vaporized contents to mix with the air flowing through the casing, and interlocking means on the linkage for engaging the receptacle when the element is moved into the liquid to lock the receptacle against removal from the casing until said element is moved away from the contents of said liquid.

6. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air may be flowed by a blower within the casing, a removable liquid receptacle arranged at the bottom of the casing for contents of said receptacle to be in communication with the air flowing through said casing, a control shaft extend ng externally of the casing where it may be manually manipulated to manipulate apparatus therein for controlling the operation of the blower, a linkage having a remote portion adjacent the receptacle and a near end at the shaft, a heating element supported from the remote portion, a member on the shaft cooperating with said near end to provide a mechanical advantage between the shaft and said linkage to move the linkage when the shaft is moved thereby for said element to be moved in and out of engagement with the contents of the receptacle as the shaft is moved alternately in opposite directions, said element being capable of vaporizing the contents of the receptacle when in communication therewith for the vaporized contents to mix with the air flowing through the casing, and locking means on the linkage for engaging the receptacle when the element is moved into the liquid to lock the receptacle against removal from the casing until said element is moved away from the contents of said receptacle.

7. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air is flowed from an inlet duct at the bottom to an exhaust duct at the top thereof, a slidably removable basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through the casing, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly, said shaft arranged to be turned manually to manipulate draft control means within the casing, an electric heating element, a linkage supporting the element in pivoted relation to the basin and extending to and being biased toward the shaft, means on the shaft spacing the linkage therefrom to a degree varying with the angular position of said shaft thereby for the element to be swung into engagement with and alternately out of engagement with the water as the shaft is turned through a complete revolution, said element being capable of vaporizing the water enabling it to mix with the air passing through the casing and be ejected from the exhaust duct, and a locking device in connection with the linkage for locking the basin against removal by embracing an edge wall of said basin when the element is moved toward the water and is disengaged from said edge when the element is moved away from the water.

8. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing having an air inlet at the base and an outlet at the top thereof, a motor driven fan within the casing to flow the air therethrough, a removable basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through said casing, an electric heating element, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly and arranged to be turned manually to operate switches controlling the energization of the element and operation of the fan, a linkage supporting the element in movable association with the basin and extending to the shaft and being biased toward said shaft, a cam fixed to said shaft and spacing the linkage therefrom whereby said element is moved into engagement with the water of the basin when the shaft is rotated through one are and alternately moved out of engagement with the water when the shaft is turned through another are, said element being energized concurrently with its movement into engagement with the water and deenergized with its movement out of engagement therewith, said element vaporizing the water during its engagement therewith enabling it to mix with the flowing air, and a locking device on the linkage arranged to grasp an edge of the basin when the element is lowered and prevent removal of said basin from the casing until said element is raised out of said basin.

9. A humidifying apparatus comprising a base, a vertical cowl supported above the level of the base and hav- IIIgFIIBEiDS therein for flowing air therethrough, a liquid basin formed for insertion between said base and said cowl and having first guide surfaces thereon, said base being formed with a seat centrally thereof for the basin and fWlth second guide surfaces communicating with said.

seat for cooperation with said first surfaces when the basin is slid over toward the seat and by which the basin when supported by said seat is supported in a predetermined position relative to the base.

10. A hurnidifying apparatus comprising a base, a vertical cowl supported above the level of the base and having means therein for flowing air therethrough, a liquid basin formed for insertion between said base and said cowl and having first guide surfaces thereon, said base being formed with a seat centrally thereof for the basin and with second guide surfaces communicating with said seat for cooperation with said first surfaces when the basin is slid over the base toward the seat and by which the basin when supported by said seat is supported in a predetermined position relative to the base, and a locking device supported at a point adjacent the cowling and movable into locking cooperation with an edge portion of the basin to resist removal of said basin when the humidifying apparatus is in operation.

11. A humidifying apparatus comprising a base, a vertical cowl supported above the level of the base and having means therein for flowing air therethrough, a liquid basin formed for insertion between said base and said cowl to occupy a position thereunder, a manually operable shaft extending through the walls of the cowl and in communication with control means therein for controlling the flow of air through said cowl, an electric heating element, a linkage supporting said element in movable relation to the basin and being coupled to the shaft, said coupling providing a mechanical advantage between the linkage and shaft as said shaft is moved thereby to move the element in greater or less proximity to the bottom of the basin, and a spacer in fixed relation to the element to engage the bottom and thereby limit the proximity to which said element may approach said bottom.

12. A humidifying apparatus comprising a base, a vertical cowl supported above the level of the base, a basin to hold water, said basin being formed for insertion between said base and said cowl to occupy a position under said cowl, a motor-driven fan within the cowl to How air therethrough, an electric heating element, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly of which said shaft may be turned manually to operate switches controlling the energization of the element and operation of the fan, a linkage supporting the element in movable association with the basin and extending to the shaft and being biased toward said shaft, a cam fixed to said shaft and spacing the linkage therefrom whereby said element is moved into engagement with the water of the basin when the shaft is rotated through one are and alternately moved out of engagement with the water when the shaft is turned through another are, and a switch associated with the linkage and in circuit with the element, said switch being normally closed but arranged to be opened by a motion of said element to a predetermined proximity of the bottom of the basin, said element being energized concurrently with its movement into the water and deenergized on its movement therefrom and being capable of vaporizing the water during its engagement for the vaporized water to mix with the air flowing through the cowl.

13. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air may be flowed, a liquid receptacle arranged for the contents thereof to be in communication with the air passing through the casing, a heating element, a linkage within the casing, said linkage being arranged to movably support the element and to extend to the exterior of the casing to be operated manually in one direction to lower said element into engagement with the contents of the receptacle and alternately in the opposite direction to withdraw the element from engagement with said contents and to control the flow of air through the casing by concurrently regulating draft producing means, said element being capable of vaporing the contents When engaging the same so that said contents may mix with the air and be carried out of the casing, a float to support the element in engagement with the contents at the surface thereof by the buoyant effect of said contents on said float and being supported by said element when it is out of engagement with said contents, the engagement of the element with the contents providing for vaporizing of the contents progressively from the surface thereof.

14. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing through which air is flowed from an inlet duct at the bottom to an exhaust duct at the top thereof, a basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through the casing, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly and arranged to be turned manually to manipulate draft control means within the casing, an electric heating element, a linkage supporting the element in pivoted relation to the basin and extending to and being biased toward the shaft, means on the shaft spacing the linkage therefrom to a degree varying with the angllar position of said shaft enabling the element to be swung into and out of engagement with the water as the shaft is turned through a complete revolution, said element being capable of vaporizing the water to mix it with the air passing through the casing and to be ejected from the exhaust duct, and a float supported by the element to engage the water when said element is lowered and provide suflicient buoyancy for the element to be floated at the surface of said water to evaporate said water from the surface thereof.

15. A humidifying apparatus comprising a casing having an air inlet at the base and an outlet at the top thereof, a motor driven fan within the casing to flow air therethrough, a basin to hold water in communication with the air passing through said casing, an electric heating element, a shaft extending through the wall of the casing exteriorly and arranged to be turned manually tooperate switches controlling the energization of the element and operation of the fan, a linkage supporting the element in movable association with the basin and extending to the shaft and being biased toward said shaft, a cam fixed to said shaft and spacing the linkage whereby said element is moved into engagement with the water of the basin when the shaft is rotated through one are and alternately moved out of engagement with the water when the shaft is turned through another are, said element being energized concurrently with its movement into engagement with the water and deenergized with its movement out of engagement therewith, said element vaporizing the water during its engagement therewith for the vaporized water to mix with the flowing air, and a float in association with the element to engage the water when said element is lowered and to provide sufiicient buoyancy to support said element at the surface of the water when in engagement therewith thereby progressively vaporizing the water from its surface downward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,623 Rubini et al. Aug. 2, 1932 1,953,794 Zummach Apr. 3, 1934 2,022,523 Roessler Nov. 26, 1935 2,150,224 Hull Mar. 14, 1939 2,244,180 Williams et al. June 3, 1941 2,336,011 Habersturnp Dec. 7, 1943 2,365,243 Boren Dec. 19, 1944 2,626,136 Krauss Ian. 20, 1953 2,630,691 Harris et al. Mar. 10, 1953

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