US3857514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam dispersion manifold
Assignee: Armstrong International Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-25
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A steam shower system having an improved manifold assembly for discharging dry steam uniformly through a plurality of spaced discharge orifices. The discharge orifices of the manifold extend over a substantial length, such as up to about twelve feet. The manifold is constructed so that it can be used for effecting even distribution of dry steam in order to maintain or provide proper moisture conditions in travelling sheets or webs of approximately the same width. The manifold assembly includes an elongated steam discharge conduit having said plurality of discharge nozzles spaced longitudinally along one side thereof. Portions of the nozzles extend into the interior of the discharge conduit for breaking up the free flow of steam through the conduit so as to result in substantially uniform flow or dispersion of steam through each nozzle orifice. In a modification of the invention the steam discharge manifold includes inner and outer concentric tubes respectively having discharge orifices angularly spaced approximately 180 degrees apart with the annular chamber between the tubes being divided by baffles into a plurality of axially spaced subchambers. The discharge orifices associated with the different subchambers are of different sizes so as to compensate for pressure differences within the different subchambers so as to provide for uniform dispersion of steam over the entire longitudinal length of the manifold assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 A Clifton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:33
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F6/00; F24F6/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A humidifier for discharging dry steam, comprising; an elongated hollow steam discharge conduit, said steam discharge conduit being closed at one end thereof and being adapted to be connected to a supply of steam adjacent the other end thereof for permitting steam to flow longitudinally through said discharge conduit; a row of spaced flow nozzles attached to said steam discharge conduit along one side thereof, said flow nozzles each having a discharge orifice therethrough in communication with the interior of said discharge conduit, said nozzles including a tubular wall extending inwardly into the interior of said discharge conduit so that the inner end of said discharge orifice is disposed inwardly from the inner peripheral wall of said discharge conduit to disrupt the free flow of steam in said discharge conduit; an elongated second conduit outside of and extending along the length of said discharge conduit and defining a steam receiving chamber in heat tRansfer relationship with said discharge conduit; inlet and outlet couplings connected to said second conduit and adapted for connection to a supply of steam so that flow of steam into and through said chamber at least minimizes condensation of the steam flowing within said discharge conduit, the outer ends of the discharge orifices formed in said flow nozzles communicating directly with the atmosphere surrounding said conduits for permitting dry steam within said discharge conduit to flow directly into said atmosphere; and a steam control unit connected between said outlet coupling and the other end of said steam discharge conduit, said steam control unit having means for separating condensate from the steam leaving said second conduit so that dry steam is supplied to said steam discharge conduit, said steam control unit having a flow control orifice, the cross-sectional area of said flow control orifice being selected with respect to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the discharge orifices so that the steam in the steam discharge conduit is at least slightly pressurized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A humidifier for discharging dry steam, comprising; an elongated hollow steam discharge conduit, said steam discharge conduit being closed at one end thereof and being adapted to be connected to a supply of steam adjacent the other end thereof for permitting steam to flow longitudinally through said discharge conduit; a row of spaced flow nozzles attached to said steam discharge conduit along one side thereof, said flow nozzles each having a discharge orifice therethrough in communication with the interior of said discharge conduit, said nozzles including a tubular wall extending inwardly into the interior of said discharge conduit so that the inner end of said discharge orifice is disposed inwardly from the inner peripheral wall of said discharge conduit to disrupt the free flow of steam in said discharge conduit; an elongated second conduit outside of and extending along the length of said discharge conduit and defining a steam receiving chamber in heat tRansfer relationship with said discharge conduit; inlet and outlet couplings connected to said second conduit and adapted for connection to a supply of steam so that flow of steam into and through said chamber at least minimizes condensation of the steam flowing within said discharge conduit, the outer ends of the discharge orifices formed in said flow nozzles communicating directly with the atmosphere surrounding said conduits for permitting dry steam within said discharge conduit to flow directly into said atmosphere; and a steam control unit connected between said outlet coupling and the other end of said steam discharge conduit, said steam control unit having means for separating condensate from the steam leaving said second conduit so that dry steam is supplied to said steam discharge conduit, said steam control unit having a flow control orifice, the cross-sectional area of said flow control orifice being selected with respect to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the discharge orifices so that the steam in the steam discharge conduit is at least slightly pressurized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein said tubular wall of said flow nozzle comprises an annular wall projecting radially into the interior of said discharge conduit a substantial distance inwardly from said inner peripheral wall, the inner end of said discharge orifice thus being disposed inwardly a substantial distance from said inner peripheral wall, said discharge orifice extending substantially radially relative to said discharge conduit whereby said inwardly projecting annular wall disrupts the free flow of steam longitudinally of said discharge conduit so as to cause uniform dispersion of steam through said plurality of flow nozzles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A humidifier according to claim 2, wherein each flow nozzle comprises a synthetic resin nozzle member threaded into an opening formed in the wall of said discharge conduit, said nozzle member having a stepped central bore therethrough with the wide end of said bore opening into said discharge conduit and the narrow end of said bore opening to the ambient atmosphere, the outer end of said nozzle projecting outwardly from said discharge conduit so that said outer end is spaced radially outwardly from said discharge conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A humidifier according to claim 2, wherein said second conduit embraces said discharge conduit except for a relatively narrow segment thereof having the flow nozzles secured thereto, said second conduit having spaced apart opposite continuous longitudinal edges affixed to the outer surface of said steam discharge conduit and in sealing relationship therewith along the entire length thereof on respectively opposite sides of said row of flow nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
A humidifier according to claim 4, in which the inlet and outlet couplings are connected to the second conduit adjacent one end thereof, and a transverse partition disposed in said chamber and fixedly connected to and extending between said discharge conduit and said second conduit for dividing said chamber into an inlet passage that communicates with the inlet coupling and an outlet passage that communicates with the outlet coupling, said partition extending from said one end of said second conduit to a position adjacent to but spaced from the other end of said second conduit so that said inlet and outlet passages are in communication with each other adjacent said other end of said second conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of said flow control orifice is less than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the discharge orifices so that the steam in the steam discharge conduit is at least slightly pressurized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of said flow control orifice is more than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the discharge orifices so that the steam in the steam discharge conduit is at least slightly pressurized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
271 words
A humidifier for discharging dry steam, cOmprising: an elongated, hollow, inner steam discharge conduit closed at one end and adapted to be connected to a supply of steam adjacent the other end thereof, said inner discharge conduit having a plurality of spaced discharge openings disposed in a row along one side thereof; an elongated, intermediate steam discharge conduit disposed substantially concentric with and in surrounding relationship to said inner conduit, said intermediate conduit extending over at least a major portion of the length of the inner conduit and defining an intermediate steam receiving chamber between said inner and intermediate conduits in surrounding relationship to said inner conduit, the opposite axial ends of said chamber being substantially closed; said intermediate discharge conduit also having a plurality of spaced discharge orifices disposed in a row along one side thereof, the discharge orifices in said intermediate conduit being angularly displaced approximately 180* from the discharge orifices in said inner conduit; baffle means disposed within said intermediate chamber in sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall of said intermediate conduit and the outer peripheral wall of said inner conduit for dividing said chamber into a plurality of axially spaced subchambers; and an elongated outer conduit on the outside of and extending along the length of said intermediate conduit and defining an outer steam receiving chamber in heat transfer relationship with said intermediate conduit, inlet and outlet couplings connected to said outer conduit and adapted for connection to a supply of steam so that flow of steam into and through said outer steam receiving chamber minimizes condensation of steam flowing within said intermediate steam receiving chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
271 words
A humidifier for discharging dry steam, cOmprising: an elongated, hollow, inner steam discharge conduit closed at one end and adapted to be connected to a supply of steam adjacent the other end thereof, said inner discharge conduit having a plurality of spaced discharge openings disposed in a row along one side thereof; an elongated, intermediate steam discharge conduit disposed substantially concentric with and in surrounding relationship to said inner conduit, said intermediate conduit extending over at least a major portion of the length of the inner conduit and defining an intermediate steam receiving chamber between said inner and intermediate conduits in surrounding relationship to said inner conduit, the opposite axial ends of said chamber being substantially closed; said intermediate discharge conduit also having a plurality of spaced discharge orifices disposed in a row along one side thereof, the discharge orifices in said intermediate conduit being angularly displaced approximately 180* from the discharge orifices in said inner conduit; baffle means disposed within said intermediate chamber in sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall of said intermediate conduit and the outer peripheral wall of said inner conduit for dividing said chamber into a plurality of axially spaced subchambers; and an elongated outer conduit on the outside of and extending along the length of said intermediate conduit and defining an outer steam receiving chamber in heat transfer relationship with said intermediate conduit, inlet and outlet couplings connected to said outer conduit and adapted for connection to a supply of steam so that flow of steam into and through said outer steam receiving chamber minimizes condensation of steam flowing within said intermediate steam receiving chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A humidifier according to claim 8, wherein said intermediate chamber is divided into at least first and second axially spaced and isolated subchambers, one of said inner and intermediate conduits having a first set of spaced discharge orifices communicating with said first subchamber and a second set of spaced discharge orifices communicating with said second subchamber, the individual orifices of said first set having a flow area different from the flow area of the individual orifices of the second set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A humidifier according to claim 9, wherein all of the orifices of said first set are of constant diameter, and wherein all of the orifices of said second set are of constant diameter, the orifices of said second set being of different diameter from the orifices of said first set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A humidifier according to claim 10, wherein the other of said inner and intermediate conduits has a third set of spaced orifices formed therein and communicating with said first subchamber and a fourth set of spaced orifices formed therein and communicating with said second subchamber, the orifices of said third and fourth sets all being of a constant diameter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |