Humidifier unit for warm air heating systems

Claim 2

A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having a substantially vertically extending air duct comprising: a drainage pan for mounting in the air duct and having an opening therethrough for receiving air passing through the duct, a frame mounted above the drainage pan and extending within the air duct, pervious material carried by said frame and defining with said drainage pan a chamber, a water spray nozzle carried by the humidifier and located to spray water within said chamber towards said material and into the path of the air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan, the chamber, and the pervious material.

Claim 3

A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said drainage pan is mounted in the duct such that air flows through the opening towards said pervious material.

Claim 4

A humidifier according to claim 1 including a drain opening for said pan, a water supply conduit connected to said nozzle, and control means for automatically controlling the flow of water to the supply conduit.

Claim 5

A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said drainage pan includes generally channel-shaped portions about said opening, said pervious material being in the shape of a hood overlying said drainage pan with the lower edges of said hood disposed to lie in vertical registry with the channel-shaped portions of said drainage pan.

Claim 6

A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said pervious material lies in vertical registry over said drainage pan opening, said drainage pan including a portion for collecting water dripping from said pervious material, the portion of the pervious material overlying said drainage pan opening being inclined with a lower edge portion thereof extending to lie in vertical registry with said drainage pan portion.

Claim 7

A humidifier according to claim 1 in combination with the substantially vertically extending air duct, and means for mounting said drainage pan in a substantially horizontal position in said substantially vertically extending air duct.

Claim 8

A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having an air duct comprising a drainage pan mounted in the duct and having an opening for receiving air passing through the duct, pervious material carried by said humidifier and configured to form with said drainage pan a chamber for receiving air flowing through the duct, a water spray nozzle positioned to spray water within said chamber towards said material and into the path of air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan into said chamber and through said pervious material.

Claim 9

A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having an air duct comprising a drainage pan mounted in the duct and having an opening for receiving air passing through the duct, pervious material carried by said humidifier and configured to form with said drainage pan a chamber for receiving air flowing through the duct, a water spray nozzle positioned to spray water within said chamber towards said material and into the path of air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan into said chamber and through said pervious material.

Claim 10

A humidifier according to claim 7 in combination with the air duct, said air duct being inclined to the horizontal, means for mounting said drainage pan in a substantially horizontal position in said inclined air duct.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a portion of said pervious material lies in vertical registry over said drainage pan opening, said drainage pan including a portion for collecting the water dripping from said pervious maTerial, the portion of the pervious material overlying said drainage pan opening being inclined with a lower edge portion thereof extending to lie in vertical registry with said drainage pan portion.

Claim 12

A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having a substantially vertically extending air duct comprising: a drainage pan mounted in the air duct and having an opening for receiving air passing through the duct, said drainage pan including a generally channel-shaped portion on opposite sides of said opening, a frame mounted above the drainage pan and extending within the air duct, pervious material carried by said frame and defining with said drainage pan a chamber, said pervious material being in the shape of a peaked hood overlying said drainage pan with opposite side edge portions thereof disposed to lie in vertical registry with the corresponding channel-shaped drainage pan portions on opposite sides of said drainage opening, the inclined walls of said peaked hood lying in vertical registry over said drainage pan opening, a water spray nozzle carried by the humidifier and located to spray water within said chamber towards said material and into the path of the air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan, the chamber, and the pervious material.

Claim 13

A humidifier for use with a warm air heating system having a substantially vertically extending air duct comprising: a drainage pan mounted in the air duct and having an opening for receiving air passing through the duct, said drainage pan including a generally channel-shaped portion on opposite sides of said opening, a frame mounted above the drainage pan and extending within the air duct, pervious material carried by said frame and defining with said drainage pan a chamber, said pervious material being in the shape of a peaked hood overlying said drainage pan with opposite side edge portions thereof disposed to lie in vertical registry with the corresponding channel-shaped drainage pan portions on opposite sides of said drainage opening, the inclined walls of said peaked hood lying in vertical registry over said drainage pan opening, a water spray nozzle carried by the humidifier and located to spray water within said chamber towards said material and into the path of the air flowing through the opening in the drainage pan, the chamber, and the pervious material.

Claim 14

A humidifier according to claim 10 wherein said frame includes a pair of generally inverted U-shaped brackets carried adjacent opposite ends of said drainage pan, said hood being received over said brackets with the lower edges being received in said channel-shaped portions of said drainage pan.

Claim 15

A humidifier according to claim 10 wherein said hood includes an end wall of pervious material, the lower edge portions of said end wall lying in vertical registry with said channel-shaped portion about said opening, said spray nozzle being positioned to spray water toward said inclined walls and said end wall.

Claim 16

A humidifier according to claim 12 including an end mounting plate, means connecting said drainage pan and said end mounting plate with the latter closing the opposite end of said hood, and means carried by said mounting plate for securing the humidifier in the air duct.