Abstract:
A humidifier apparatus for building humidification. The apparatus includes a water reservoir with a removable cover, at least one aperture through a side wall of the water reservoir, a removable heat exchanger insertable into the aperture, and a steam exit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a humidifier and particularly to a humidifier in which the heating device is affixed to the humidification tank along one side and is removable from the humidification tank. 
     It is well known that forced air heating systems tend to create an atmosphere in a building space characterized by low relative humidity which leads to occupant discomfort and possible health problems, damage to wooden articles including furniture contained within the building, and discomfort caused by static electricity discharges. To obviate these problems, it is common practice to employ devices for adding moisture (humidity) to the air being forced through the building space. In this regard, a wide variety of devices are commonly employed. Examples of humidifiers that have been used in the past are U.S. Pat. Re. Nos. 33,414 and 5,816,496. 
     However, all previous humidifiers suffer from certain common problems. First, there is typically no easy access to the interior of the humidification tank for cleaning purposes. Second, the heating device is typically permanently attached to the humidification tank, and cannot easily be removed either for repair or replacement. 
     There is a need for a humidifier with a side entry configuration that addresses the above problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A humidifier apparatus for producing steam for building humidification, the apparatus comprising: 
     (a) a water reservoir having an open interior adapted to be filled with water, the water reservoir having an open top and a number of side walls enclosing the open interior, one of the side walls having an aperture therethrough into the open interior; 
     (b) a cover engaging the open top; 
     (c) a removable heat exchanger adapted to be inserted through the aperture into the open interior to produce steam from the water therein; and 
     (d) a steam exit through which steam passes from the water reservoir into the ambient environment. 
     A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the aperture in the side wall allows the interior to be accessed for cleaning without removing the top cover. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the heat exchanger is removable from the water reservoir for repair or replacement. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the humidifier can be installed in an environment with close tolerance between the cover and other objects, yet allow the interior of the water reservoir to be accessed through the side aperture. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it allows multiple heat exchangers to be stacked on top of one another within the water reservoir, and allows each heat exchanger to be individually accessed through the side apertures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the humidifier apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the humidifier apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A first embodiment of a side entry humidifier of the present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral  10 . 
     The side entry humidifier  10  further comprises a water reservoir  12  which may be filled with water to be used to produce steam for humidification. A reservoir cover  14  and cover gasket  16  may be removably attached to the reservoir  12  through cover clamps  18  and fasteners  20 . Suitably, a steam pipe  22  may protrude from the cover  14  to allow steam to exit the reservoir  12 . 
     The reservoir  12  has an open interior or core  24  which holds water for humidification. An access opening  26  extends through a side wall  28  of the reservoir  12 , from the ambient environment into the interior or core  24 . A flange or raised rim  30  preferably surrounds the access opening  26 . the first embodiment  10 , a heat exchanger  32  is removably mounted within the open interior or core  24 . The heat exchanger  32  is inserted into and removed from the reservoir  12  through the access opening  26  in the side wall  28 . A gasket  34  is preferably mounted against the flange  30  to seal between the flange  30  and a sealing plate  36  on the heat exchanger  32 . A number of side wall clamps  38  engage the flange  30  to hold the heat exchanger  32  secure within the reservoir  12 . 
     A gas burner unit  40  is removably mounted to the heat exchanger  32  so that the gas burner unit  40  is substantially outside the reservoir  12 . Preferably, the gas burner unit  40  mounts to the heat exchanger  32  at connector  42 . The gas burner unit  40  includes a blower (not shown) which forces hot air into the heat exchanger  32  to heat water in the reservoir  12 . Exhaust gas from the heat exchanger  32  exits through the exhaust vent  33 . 
     Humidifier  10  also preferably includes a water level sensor  50  which will prevent operation if the water level in the reservoir  12  falls below a pre-set point. In the case of models that use tap water, water level sensor  50  may be an electrical sensor. For humidifiers that use de-ionized water, the water level sensor  50  may be a float. 
     Humidifier  10  may also preferably include a flushing and draining assembly  60  to flush out and drain the reservoir  12 , then refill it. 
     Humidifier  10  may also include a microprocessor control panel  70  which can be used by an operator to set up certain operational parameters for the humidifier  10 . For example, the microprocessor control panel can be used in conjunction with the flushing and draining assembly  60  to automatically start draining the reservoir  12 , then, after a configurable time, begin refilling the reservoir  12  with clean water. 
     The heat exchanger  32  can be accessed for cleaning by removing the reservoir cover  14 . In addition, the heat exchanger  32  can be entirely removed from the reservoir  12  by loosening the side wall clamps  38  and sliding the heat exchanger  32  out of the reservoir  12 . There are a number of situations in which the cover  14  is too close to another object, such as a duct or plenum, to be removed. In such situations, the heat exchanger  32  can only be accessed through the side access opening  26 . 
     A customer may choose to use a different steam source, depending on the relative costs of electricity and gas. Thus, the heat exchanger  32  can be easily swapped out by the customer and replaced with an electric coil (not shown). 
     A second embodiment of the side entry humidifier is shown in FIG.  2 . Several heat exchangers  32  may be stacked in a large reservoir, as shown in FIG.  2 . Such stacking would not be possible without a side entry configuration, as the topmost units would need to be removed to access the lower units for cleaning, repair, or replacement. In the side entry configuration, each of the stacked units can be individually accessed. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.