Bubble humidifier including permanent magnets for reducing the growth of algae therein

A container for water. The container has walls and a base and a magnet located adjacent the base of the container. The magnet is positioned to be below the level of water in the container when water is present in the container. The invention find particular application in a bubble humidifier to humidify gas bubbled through water contained in the bubble humidifier prior to the gas passing to a patient.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a container for water and, in a preferred 
embodiment, to a bubble humidifier to humidify gas bubbled through it. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It seems clear that the exposing of water to a magnetic field has 
beneficial effects on the water. There is no clear scientific explanation 
of the phenomenon but a substantial number of patents exist in the field. 
Apart from the obvious advantages of removing magnetic impurities 
contained in the water, for example as a suspension, other beneficial 
advantages, notably inhibiting growth of algae are obtained. 
The prior art systems of applying magnetic fields have been fairly 
elaborate. Patents known to applicant include 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,623 to Clair; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,683 to Clair; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,915 to Clair; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,916 to Clair; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,590 to Davis; and 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,759 to McGrath 
In general the prior art extends to quite complicated equipment. For 
example the work by Clair is concerned with arrangements that produce 
force lines or flux lines in a particular direction. Davis treats seeds by 
magnet to affect both the rate of germination and the rate of plant growth 
from the seed. 
McGrath requires a particular disposition of a plurality of magnets mounted 
in a frame member. 
It is known to feed oxygen to a patient to facilitate breathing. The oxygen 
is bubbled through water to humidify it. The equipment is normally 
referred to as a bubble humidifier. It is an apparatus having an inlet for 
oxygen in its top. A pipe extends from the inlet into a water container, 
to below the level of water in the container. There is an outlet in the 
top so that oxygen that has bubbled through the water in the container 
passes from the outlet to the patient. 
The growth of algae in these bubble humidifiers is particularly acute, and, 
in a preferred aspect, the present invention provides a bubble humidifier 
with a reduced tendency to algae growth. 
Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention is a container for water, the 
container having walls and a base and having a magnet located on the 
outside of the container, adjacent to the base of the container. 
The magnet may be attached to the base of the container, preferably in a 
recess formed in the base. A plurality of magnets may be used. The magnet 
may have its north pole against the container or its south pole against 
the container or both the south and north poles against the container. 
The magnet may be a bar magnet, or be disk shaped. The magnet may be a 
ferrite ceramic magnet or a ferrite bonded magnet. 
In a preferred aspect the invention is a bubble humidifier to humidify a 
gas bubbled through said bubble humidifier prior to the gas passing to a 
patient, said bubble humidifier comprising: 
a main body to contain water and having a base and walls; 
a lid for the main body; 
a gas inlet in the lid to attach to a source of gas; 
a gas pipe extending from the gas inlet to adjacent the base of the 
container; 
a gas outlet in the lid whereby gas bubbled through water in the container 
passes to the patient; and 
a magnet adjacent the main body to subject the water to a magnetic field to 
reduce algae growth in the water in the container. 
In this aspect of the invention the magnet again may be housed in a recess 
in the wall or in the base of the water container. The recess in the wall 
is adjacent the base so as to be below the water level. The magnet may 
also be placed around the gas pipe. Typically these pipes increase in 
diameter adjacent the base, where there is a diffusion member. The magnet 
is prevented from slipping off the pipe by this increased diameter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Broadly stated FIG. 1 shows a container 10 for water. The container 10 has 
walls 12 and a base 14. There is magnet 16 located on the outside of the 
container 10. In FIG. 1 the magnet 16 is attached to the base 14 of the 
container 10. Magnet 16 is located in recess 20. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the provision of recesses 20 to receive a pair of 
magnets 16. FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a plurality of magnets 16 on the 
outside of the container 10, in recesses 20. 
FIG. 3 shows two magnets 16, one in a recess 20 and one within the 
container 10. 
In all cases the magnets 16 are at or adjacent the base 14 of the container 
10 and below the level of the water 18 in the container. 
More specifically, in FIG. 1 the container 10 is a bubble humidifier that 
humidifies a gas, usually oxygen, blown through the bubble humidifier 
prior to the gas passing to a patient. The bubble humidifier comprises 
container 10 to contain water 18. The container 10 has a base 14 and walls 
12. There is a lid 22 for the container 10 that is threaded on to the 
container 10. A gas inlet 24 in the lid 22 attaches to a source of gas 
(not shown) by means of nut 26. A pipe (not shown) from the gas source is 
a close fit over a tapered end 28 of inlet 24. The pipe is provided with a 
threaded member that engages the nut 26, provided on the inlet 24, to 
provide a gas tight connection. 
Pipe 30 extends from the gas inlet 24 to adjacent the base 14 of the 
container 10. The pipe 30 terminates in openings or jets 32 through which 
the gas bubbles. Water will typically be up to a level about half the 
height of the container 10. 
There is a gas outlet 34 in the lid 22 whereby gas bubbled through the 
water passes to the patient. 
According to the invention there is magnet 16 adjacent the base 14. The 
magnet 16 is attached to the exterior of the container 10. Typically the 
container 10 is of a plastic material. 
The bubble humidifier is, as is standard in the art, provided with a 
pressure relief valve 36. 
The magnet 16 is preferably mounted within the recess 20 in the base 14 of 
the bubble humidifier as shown in FIG. 1. The magnet 16 may be formed as 
an annulus and located on the pipe 30 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 shows the 
use of recesses 20 in the walls 12, adjacent base 14, so as to be below 
the level of any water 18 in the container 10 when the container is in 
use. 
FIG. 3 shows two magnets 16 spaced from each other. This creates a magnetic 
field between the magnets 16. This may be suitable with weaker magnets, 
for example, bonded ferrite magnets. 
A number of variations are possible. The drawings illustrate a cylindrical 
magnet 16. However the magnet may be a bar magnet. A ceramic magnet may be 
used as well as a conventional iron magnet or ferrite magnet. 
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of 
example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent 
that certain changes and modifications may be practised within the scope 
of the appended claims.