Air filter and humidifier

Claim 2

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine, and said air filtering and humidifying apparatus including an adaptor means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine and further comprising: a. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; b. an air passageway interconnecting said second chamber of said receptacle and the air intake of the carburetor; and c. an air filtering and humidifying means for filtering and humidifying the stream of air flowing through the apparatus, said means comprising: 1 a perforated drum rotatably mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber, said drum being constructed and arranged so that as the drum rotates at least the periphery thereof is immersed in the water in said receptacle; 2. sensor means for sensing the demand for humidified air at the intake of the carburetor, said sensor means comprising a sensor element disposed in the path of air flowing to the carburetor, said sensor element being adapted to sense the water content of the air flowing to the carburetor; and 3. control means operatively interconnected with said sensor means and responsive thereto for controlling the speed of rotation of said perforated drum.

Claim 3

sensor means for sensing the demand for humidified air at the intake of the carburetor, said sensor means comprising a sensor element disposed in the path of air flowing to the carburetor, said sensor element being adapted to sense the water content of the air flowing to the carburetor; and

Claim 4

sensor means for sensing the demand for humidified air at the intake of the carburetor, said sensor means comprising a sensor element disposed in the path of air flowing to the carburetor, said sensor element being adapted to sense the water content of the air flowing to the carburetor; and

Claim 5

sensor means for sensing the demand or humidified air at the intake of the carburetor, said sensor means comprising a baffle element pivotally mounted within and extending longitudinally of said first chamber of said receptacle, said baffle element being so constructed and arranged as to be pivotally movable in response to an influx of air into said first chamber in such a manner that the free edge of said baffle will move into and out of juxtaposition with the periphery of said porous drum; and

Claim 6

sensor means for sensing the demand or humidified air at the intake of the carburetor, said sensor means comprising a baffle element pivotally mounted within and extending longitudinally of said first chamber of said receptacle, said baffle element being so constructed and arranged as to be pivotally movable in response to an influx of air into said first chamber in such a manner that the free edge of said baffle will move into and out of juxtaposition with the periphery of said porous drum; and

Claim 7

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine, and said air filtering and humidifying apparatus including an adaptor means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine and further, comprising: a a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; b an air passageway interconnecting said second chamber of said receptacle and the air intake of the carburetor; and c. an air filtering and humidifying means for filtering and humidifying the stream of air flowing through the apparatus, said means comprising:

Claim 8

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine, and said air filtering and humidifying apparatus including an adaptor means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine and further, comprising: a a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; b an air passageway interconnecting said second chamber of said receptacle and the air intake of the carburetor; and c. an air filtering and humidifying means for filtering and humidifying the stream of air flowing through the apparatus, said means comprising:

Claim 9

control means operatively interconnected with said sensor means and responsive thereto for controlling the speed of rotation of said perforated drum.

Claim 10

control means operatively interconnected with said sensor means and responsive thereto for controlling the speed of rotation of said perforated drum.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said receptacle is generally cylindrical and said porous drum comprises: a. generally circular inner and outer end walls, said inner end wall being provided with a plurality of openings communicating with said second chamber; and b. a perforated generally cylindrical screen-like body portion supported by said inner and outer end walls.

Claim 12

control means operatively interconnected with said sensor means and responsive thereto for controlling the speed of rotation of said perforated drum, said control means comprising: i. a driving means for rotatably driving said perforated drum, said driving means comprising an electric motor and a source of electricity; and ii. a regulating means for regulating the speed at which said driving means rotatably drives said perforatEd drum, said regulating means comprising electrical circuit means operatively coupled with and responsive to said sensor means for regulating the flow of current from the source of electricity to said electric motor, said electrical circuit means comprising a variable resistor operatively connected to said baffle element so that the resistance of said resistor is variable in response to the pivotal movement of said baffle element.

Claim 13

control means operatively interconnected with said sensor means and responsive thereto for controlling the speed of rotation of said perforated drum, said control means comprising: i. a driving means for rotatably driving said perforated drum, said driving means comprising an electric motor and a source of electricity; and ii. a regulating means for regulating the speed at which said driving means rotatably drives said perforatEd drum, said regulating means comprising electrical circuit means operatively coupled with and responsive to said sensor means for regulating the flow of current from the source of electricity to said electric motor, said electrical circuit means comprising a variable resistor operatively connected to said baffle element so that the resistance of said resistor is variable in response to the pivotal movement of said baffle element.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 including: a. a water reservoir: b. a conduit interconnecing said water reservoir and said receptacle; and c. valve means for controlling the flow of water through said conduit so as to maintain a predetermined water level in said receptacle.

Claim 15

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. a perforated drum rotatably mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber; e. driving means for rotatably driving said perforated drum; f. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; and g. regulating means operatively interconnected with said baffle element and responsive the speed at which said driving means rotatably drives said drum.

Claim 16

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. a perforated drum rotatably mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber; e. driving means for rotatably driving said perforated drum; f. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; and g. regulating means operatively interconnected with said baffle element and responsive the speed at which said driving means rotatably drives said drum.

Claim 17

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 including biasing means for urging the free edge of said baffle element into close proximity with the periphery of said perforated drum.

Claim 18

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said biasing means comprises a weight removably affixed to the free edge of said baffle element.

Claim 19

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 including water lifting means affixed to said perforated drum for lifting water contained in said receptacle upwardly into the path of air flowing into said first chamber.

Claim 20

The apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said water lifting means comprises a plurality of elongated angle members affixed to and extending longitudinally of said perforated drum.

Claim 21

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. a perforated drum rotatable mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber; e. an electric motor operatively coupled with a source of electricIty and interconnected with said perforated drum; f. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; g. a variable resistor operatively interconnected with said baffle element and adapted to regulate the flow of current from the source of electricity to said electric motor in response to pivotal movement of said baffle element; h. a water reservoir affixed to said duct; i. a conduit interconnecting said water reservoir and said receptacle; and j. valve means for controlling the flow of water through said conduit so as to maintain a predetermined water level in said receptacle.

Claim 22

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. a perforated drum rotatable mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber; e. an electric motor operatively coupled with a source of electricIty and interconnected with said perforated drum; f. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; g. a variable resistor operatively interconnected with said baffle element and adapted to regulate the flow of current from the source of electricity to said electric motor in response to pivotal movement of said baffle element; h. a water reservoir affixed to said duct; i. a conduit interconnecting said water reservoir and said receptacle; and j. valve means for controlling the flow of water through said conduit so as to maintain a predetermined water level in said receptacle.

Claim 23

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. humidifying means interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine air intake for introducing water from the receptacle into the air flowing into the engine; e. a sensor element interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine, said sensor element being adapted to sense the water content of the air flowing to the carburetor; and f. control means operatively interconnected with said humidifying means and with said sensor element and responsive to the latter for controlling said humidifying means to regulate the amount of water introduced thereby into the air flowing into the engine.

Claim 24

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an internal combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; d. humidifying means interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine air intake for introducing water from the receptacle into the air flowing into the engine; e. a sensor element interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine, said sensor element being adapted to sense the water content of the air flowing to the carburetor; and f. control means operatively interconnected with said humidifying means and with said sensor element and responsive to the latter for controlling said humidifying means to regulate the amount of water introduced thereby into the air flowing into the engine.

Claim 25

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said humidifying means comprises a perforated drum rotatably mounted within said first chamber and interposed between said second chamber and the air intake of said first chamber, and in which said control means comprises a driving means for rotatably driving said perforated drum and a regulating means for regulating the speed at which said driving means rotatably drives said perforated drum.

Claim 26

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an interanl combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; c. humidifying means interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine air intake for introducing water from the receptacle into the air flowing into the engine; e. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said first chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; f. control means operatively interconnected with said humidifying means and with said baffle element and responsive to pivotal movement of said baffle element for controlling the amount of water introduced by said humidifying means into the air flowing into the engine.

Claim 27

An air filtering and humidifying apparatus in combination with an interanl combustion engine said air filtering and humidifying apparatus comprising: a. an adapter means for operatively coupling the apparatus to the air intake of the carburetor of the internal combustion engine; b. a receptacle for containing water, said receptacle comprising first and second communicating chambers, said first chamber being provided with an air intake opening; c. a duct forming an air passageway interconnecting said adapter means and said second chamber of said receptacle; c. humidifying means interposed in the path of the air stream flowing to the engine air intake for introducing water from the receptacle into the air flowing into the engine; e. a pivotally mounted baffle element extending longitudinally of said first chamber of said receptacle, one edge of said baffle being pivotally connected to said receptacle adjacent the air intake opening therein and being so constructed and arranged as to normally depend inwardly into said first chamber into the path of air flowing into said chamber through the intake opening therein; f. control means operatively interconnected with said humidifying means and with said baffle element and responsive to pivotal movement of said baffle element for controlling the amount of water introduced by said humidifying means into the air flowing into the engine.