Humidifier

Claim 2

A humidifier for attachment to the ducts of a forced air heating system to humidify air circulating in the system, the humidifier comprising: a reversible housing having a back defining a first opening for passage of air, horizontal and similar first and second walls extending forwardly from the back, a pair of ends meeting the back and extending between the first and second walls to form with these walls an open front, the ends projecting forwardly beyond the first and second walls and one of the ends defining a second opening midway between the first and second walls to permit passage of air to be humidified, the air passing through the housing between the openings in the back and said one of the ends with the housing assembled with the second opening to the left or right of the opening as dictated by the location of the ducts of the forced air heating system; a bearing assembly coupled to said one of the pair of ends; drive means coupled to the other of the pair of ends; a door extending over the front between the first and second walls and engaging the forward extremities of the pair of ends; a water tray supported by the lowermost one of the first and second walls, the uppermost extremity of the tray being spaced from the uppermost one of the first and second walls by a predetermined distance; a water inlet assembly contained inside the housing and coupled to one of the pair of ends for releasing water into the water tray only to a predetermined level and to maintain this level in use; and a cylindrical humidifier drum having a diameter no greater than said predetermined distance, the humidifier drum being coupled to the drive means and supported by the bearing assembly for rotation by the drive means with the drum projecting into the water below said predetermined level.

Claim 3

A humidifier as claimed in claim 1 in which the walls terminate at their forward extremities in rolls.

Claim 4

A humidifier as claimed in claim 1 in which said other of the ends is recessed and the drive means is supported within the recess.

Claim 5

Equipment for heating a building and for maintaining an acceptable humidity in the building, the equipment comprising: a forced air furnace having a hot air outlet duct and a cold air return duct, each of these ducts having one of two openings; and a humidifier coupled to the ducts between the two openings for receiving air caused to flow through the humidifier by a pressure differential existing between the outlet duct and the return duct, the humidifier comprising: a housing attached to one of the outlet and return ducts and having an opening in registration with the opening in this duct, horizontal and similar first and second walls extending in parallel forwardly from the back, a pair of ends meeting the back and extending in parallel between the first and second walls to form with the walls an open front, the ends projecting forwardly beyond the first and second walls and one of the ends defining a first opening midway between the first and second walls; means connecting said first opening to the opening in the other of the outlet and return ducts; a bearing assembly coupled to said one of the pair of ends; drive means coupled to the other of the pair of ends; a door extending over the front between the first and second walls and engaging the forward extremities of the pair of ends to close the chamber; a water tray supported by the lowermost one of the first and second walls, the uppermost extremity of the tray being spaced from the uppermost one of the first and second walls by a predetermined distance; a water inlet assembly contained in the housing and coupled to one of the pair of ends for releasing water into the water tray only to a predetermined level and to maintain this level in use; and a cylindrical humidifier drum having a diameter no greater than said predetermined distance, the humidifier drum being coupled to the drive means and supported by the bearing assembly for rotation by the drive means with the drum projecting into the water below said predetermined level.

Claim 6

Equipment for heating a building and for maintaining an acceptable humidity in the building, the equipment comprising: a forced air furnace having a hot air outlet duct and a cold air return duct, each of these ducts having one of two openings; and a humidifier coupled to the ducts between the two openings for receiving air caused to flow through the humidifier by a pressure differential existing between the outlet duct and the return duct, the humidifier comprising: a housing attached to one of the outlet and return ducts and having an opening in registration with the opening in this duct, horizontal and similar first and second walls extending in parallel forwardly from the back, a pair of ends meeting the back and extending in parallel between the first and second walls to form with the walls an open front, the ends projecting forwardly beyond the first and second walls and one of the ends defining a first opening midway between the first and second walls; means connecting said first opening to the opening in the other of the outlet and return ducts; a bearing assembly coupled to said one of the pair of ends; drive means coupled to the other of the pair of ends; a door extending over the front between the first and second walls and engaging the forward extremities of the pair of ends to close the chamber; a water tray supported by the lowermost one of the first and second walls, the uppermost extremity of the tray being spaced from the uppermost one of the first and second walls by a predetermined distance; a water inlet assembly contained in the housing and coupled to one of the pair of ends for releasing water into the water tray only to a predetermined level and to maintain this level in use; and a cylindrical humidifier drum having a diameter no greater than said predetermined distance, the humidifier drum being coupled to the drive means and supported by the bearing assembly for rotation by the drive means with the drum projecting into the water below said predetermined level.