Drain valve for humidifier

Claim 2

In a humidifier assembly of the type having means defining a reservoir containing a body of water from which water is extracted continually for evaporation into an associated warm airstream or the like and wherein the water level of said body is continually replenished automatically during normal operation, means for controlling the solids content of said body of water comprising valve means for continuously draining water from said body at a predetermined rate, said valve means comprising a valve casing secured to said reservoir and formed with a lateral inlet and a movable flow control member in said casing having a drain flow passage and a lateral drain port opening to said passage and adapted to register with said inlet, said flow control member also having a lateral flush port open to said passage and adapted to register with said inlet.

Claim 3

In the humidifier assembly defined in claim 1, said flow control member being a Rotatable element internally formed with said passage and provided with said drain and flush ports in circumferentially spaced relation.

Claim 4

In the humidifier assembly defined in claim 2, cooperating index means on said valve casing and control member for indicating which port is registered with said inlet.

Claim 5

In the humidifier assembly defined in claim 2, said valve casing being secured upright in said reservoir and said control member passage having an open upper end disposed above the normal water level in said reservoir for emergency overflow.

Claim 6

In the humidifier assembly defined in claim 2, said casing being a hollow element secured at its lower end in fluidtight assembly in an aperture at the bottom of said reservoir, and said rotatable control element being hollow and slidably and rotatably disposed in an internal bore in said casing whereby said control element may be readily removed for cleaning, said rotatable element having means for limiting axial sliding thereof into said casing.

Claim 7

A combined drain and overflow valve assembly adapted for upright mounting in the water reservoir of a humidifier, comprising a hollow casing having a lateral inlet port, and having means below said inlet port for securing the casing within an aperture in the bottom of said reservoir, and a hollow flow control element rotatably mounted in said casing and having an internal drain passage open at both upper and lower ends of said element and a lateral drain port intersecting said passage and adapted to register with said inlet in a rotative position of said control element, there being a larger lateral flush port in said control element intersecting said passage and adapted to register with said inlet in another rotative position of said control element.

Claim 8

A combined drain and overflow valve assembly adapted for upright mounting in the water reservoir of a humidifier, comprising a hollow casing having a lateral inlet port, and having means below said inlet port for securing the casing within an aperture in the bottom of said reservoir, and a hollow flow control element rotatably mounted in said casing and having an internal drain passage open at both upper and lower ends of said element and a lateral drain port intersecting said passage and adapted to register with said inlet in a rotative position of said control element, there being a larger lateral flush port in said control element intersecting said passage and adapted to register with said inlet in another rotative position of said control element.

Claim 9

The valve assembly defined in claim 6, including cooperating index means on the control element and casing for indicating whether the drain or flush ports are registered with the casing inlet.

Claim 10

The valve assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said valve assembly is a two part unit consisting essentially of molded vinyl plastic water-resistant casing and control member parts.

Claim 11

In a humidifier assembly, means providing a reservoir for containing a body of water, means for continually extracting water from said body for evaporation into an associated warm airstream, an inlet having a valve for supplying water to said reservoir, means responsive to the water level in said reservoir connected to control said inlet valve to automatically maintain a predetermined normal water level in the reservoir, means for controlling the solids content of said body of water comprising valve means for draining water out of said body at a predetermined rate, said drain valve means comprising an upright hollow open ended valve casing secured over an outlet opening in said reservoir and a hollow open ended valve element rotatably mounted in said casing with its upper end disposed above said normal water level so that the open upper end of said element is exposed for overflow relief should excess water be supplied to said reservoir, and means providing lateral openings in the lower ends of said casing and valve element adapted to be aligned in a position of rotation of said valve element for continually draining water out of said reservoir at a predetermined rate, the interior of said hollow valve element providing an overflow relief passage large enough to pass water at the maximum rate of inflow through said inlet valve.

Claim 12

In a humidifier assembly, means providing a reservoir for containing a body of water, means for continually extracting water from said body for evaporation into an associated warm airstream, an inlet having a valve for supplying water to said reservoir, means responsive to the water level in said reservoir connected to control said inlet valve to automatically maintain a predetermined normal water level in the reservoir, means for controlling the solids content of said body of water comprising valve means for draining water out of said body at a predetermined rate, said drain valve means comprising an upright hollow open ended valve casing secured over an outlet opening in said reservoir and a hollow open ended valve element rotatably mounted in said casing with its upper end disposed above said normal water level so that the open upper end of said element is exposed for overflow relief should excess water be supplied to said reservoir, and means providing lateral openings in the lower ends of said casing and valve element adapted to be aligned in a position of rotation of said valve element for continually draining water out of said reservoir at a predetermined rate, the interior of said hollow valve element providing an overflow relief passage large enough to pass water at the maximum rate of inflow through said inlet valve.