Air-humidifying system and compact spray humidifier for the same

Claim 2

In a humidifier system including means for introducing moisture under pressure in the form of a fine spray or mist into an air passage to humidify the air circulating therethrough; for use in a heating system including: a furnace adapted to heat air for supplying a living space, said air passage means extending through said furnace for circulation of air therethrough; an electrically controlled heat source for heating air in said passage; a room thermostat responsive to temperature in the living space for controlling said heat source to energize the same during the period that the room thermostat occupies a demand condition; an electrically driven blower for circulating air through said air passage means to said living space; a first thermostatic switch responsive to temperature in a selected zone of said furnace for operating said blower during the period when the temperature in said zone is above a selective level; the improvement in said humidifier system comprising: means for controlling said moisture introducing means including a second thermostatic switch responsive to temperature of said air in said air passage means, and set to close at a lower temperature than that closing said first tHermostatic switch and set to open at a temperature higher than that opening said first thermostatic switch, whereby moisture is added to the air only during the operation of said blower, and closure of said second thermostatic switch.

Claim 3

The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein said means for introducing moisture comprises a spray nozzle fluid coupled to a source of humidifying liquid, and said controlling means further comprises a solenoid-operated fluid valve coupled between the source of liquid and said spray nozzle, with the solenoid coil series connected to said second thermostatic switch, and said first thermostatic switch.

Claim 4

In a humidifier system including means for introducing moisture under pressure in the form of a fine spray or mist into an air passage to humidify the air circulating therethrough; for use in a heating system including: a furnace adapted to heat air for supply to a living space, said air passage extending through said furnace for circulation of air through said furnace, said furnace including a plenum chamber; an electrically controlled heating source for heating air in said air passage; a room thermostat responsive to temperature in said living space for controlling energization of said heat source; an electrically driven blower for circulating air through said air passage to said living space; a first thermostatic switch means responsive to temperature in a selected zone of said furnace for operating said blower during the period when the temperature in said zone is above a selected level; the improvement in said humidifier system comprising: means for controlling said means for introducing moisture including a second thermostatic switch responsive to temperature of said air in said air passage, and set to close at a lower temperature than that closing said first thermostatic switch and set to open at a temperature higher than that opening said first thermostatic switch, whereby moisture is added to the air only during the operation of the blower and closure of said second thermostatic switch, wherein said means for introducing moisture and said controlling means therefore constitute a unitary assembly said assembly comprising: a housing; and means for coupling said housing to the wall of said plenum chamber; said moisture introducing means comprising: a spray nozzle extending into said air passage means through said wall; and a solenoid-operated valve carried by said housing, exterior of said wall and connected to a supply of water; and wherein: said controlling means comprises a thermostatic switch, extending through said wall and positioned in the path of said circulating air; and means for electrically connecting said second thermostatic switch to said solenoid-operated valve.

Claim 5

In a humidifier system including means for introducing moisture under pressure in the form of a fine spray or mist into an air passage to humidify the air circulating therethrough; for use in a heating system including: a furnace adapted to heat air for supply to a living space, said air passage extending through said furnace for circulation of air through said furnace, said furnace including a plenum chamber; an electrically controlled heating source for heating air in said air passage; a room thermostat responsive to temperature in said living space for controlling energization of said heat source; an electrically driven blower for circulating air through said air passage to said living space; a first thermostatic switch means responsive to temperature in a selected zone of said furnace for operating said blower during the period when the temperature in said zone is above a selected level; the improvement in said humidifier system comprising: means for controlling said means for introducing moisture including a second thermostatic switch responsive to temperature of said air in said air passage, and set to close at a lower temperature than that closing said first thermostatic switch and set to open at a temperature higher than that opening said first thermostatic switch, whereby moisture is added to the air only during the operation of the blower and closure of said second thermostatic switch, wherein said means for introducing moisture and said controlling means therefore constitute a unitary assembly said assembly comprising: a housing; and means for coupling said housing to the wall of said plenum chamber; said moisture introducing means comprising: a spray nozzle extending into said air passage means through said wall; and a solenoid-operated valve carried by said housing, exterior of said wall and connected to a supply of water; and wherein: said controlling means comprises a thermostatic switch, extending through said wall and positioned in the path of said circulating air; and means for electrically connecting said second thermostatic switch to said solenoid-operated valve.

Claim 6

The humidifier system of claim 3 wherein said second thermostatic switch and said spray nozzle extend outwardly from said housing within said air passage in spaced parallel fashion, and said housing includes a recess within the end face of the same coupled to said air passage wall, an annular sealing ring carried within said recess and means for removably coupling said housing to said wall with said nozzle and said second thermostatic switch projecting through the opening formed within the same.