Abstract:
This invention is an air direction unit that accepts and holds various types of media in frames that can be wetted with water while passing air through the media for the purpose of introducing water vapor into the air stream. This unit can force the entire air stream through the media and is equipped with control dampers that allow bypass of the media to allow direct control of water vapor capacity. This unit is scalable to encompass a range of air stream capacities.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    This invention pertains to U.S. Patent Classifications 165-201 and 165-222. The classification 165-201 “Heat Exchange, having heating and cooling capability” pertains due to the purpose of the humidifier to absorb heat from the air stream during the change of state of the evaporated water. The classification 165-222 “Humidity control” pertains due to the purpose of the humidifier to allow automatic introduction of water vapor into the air stream based upon measured conditions down stream. This invention provides the capability to humidify or cool spaces served by modular cooling systems without the need to expend heating energy to evaporate water. In addition it increases the capacity of water vapor introduction into an air stream from currently available systems due to the increased evaporative surfaces.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The purpose of this invention is to allow introduction of water vapor into and removal of heat from an air stream that is moving through the unit. The unit provides support racks and catch basins for the installation of any media (made by others) that can allow cascading of water downward through the media and simultaneously allow air to pass horizontally through the media. The excess water that is not evaporated during the pass through the media drips from the bottom of the media is collected in basins at the bottom of the media and is drained away. This invention provides multiple sections of media that can be controlled (wetted or not) independently and also provides control capability to bypass the air stream around the media immediately stopping the evaporation process.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1—“Concept Illustration” 
         [0007]    This illustration is a three view rendition of the unit that includes general information intended to assist in the understanding of the unit operation and construction.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2—“Front Exterior View” 
         [0009]    This is a view of the exterior construction of the unit showing orientation of equipment and access doors.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3—“End Views—Right and Left Side” 
         [0011]    This is an exterior view from each side of the unit that allows understanding of the overall shape and layout of the unit exterior cabinet.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4—“Top Exterior View” 
         [0013]    This illustration is a view looking down from the top of the unit. This allows an understanding of the orientation of equipment mounted in the proposed air paths. This view also includes two section lines that indication the orientation of the last two figures (FIG. 5 and  6 ) of this drawing group.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5—“Section A (From Top View) Cross Section of Humidifier” 
         [0015]    This section is a complete horizontal section of the unit at the station indicated by the section line shown on FIG. 4.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6—“Section B (From Top View) Distribution Header” 
         [0017]    This section is a partial horizontal section of a water distribution header to be installed at the top of each media section. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    This unit is a component of multiple parts. The outside housing is steel or aluminum sheet metal fabricated to produce a conduit to direct air into the intake of an air handler or duct. The air movement capacity of the associated air handler or duct that is producing the air movement determines the overall size of the housing. The internal frames and catch basins are sized to divide the available space into segments that will allow staging on and off of water flow capacity. Claim # 1  divides the available space into three (3) equal segments, Claim # 2  divides the available space into four (4) unequal segments, and Claim # 3  divides the available space into two (2) equal segments. Each claim makes available movable damper blades that allow movement of the air stream through the housing without passing through the media.  
         [0019]    This invention improves previous evaporative humidifier designs by increasing the available evaporative media surface and forcing passage of the entire air stream through the media sufficiently slow to humidify in a single pass. The bypass capability of the dampers also allow an increased accuracy of humidity control in the conditioned space.  
         [0020]    The unit exterior enclosure is constructed sheet metal. Thickness based upon overall size of unit. Sheet metal can be aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel or black iron steel. The housing is formed in the shape as indicated in enclosed drawings. The overall housing dimensions are adjusted to match the unit to be served. A four (4) inch overhang is added to the connection dimensions on the front and both side connections. Three (3) front panels of the housing are removable or operable to allow removal of the media being held in the interior frames.  
         [0021]    The interior frames are located in the housing of as indicated in the enclosed drawings. The location of the media frames in the Claim # 1  configuration is perpendicular to the longest longitudinal dimension. There are to be three (3) frames spaced to divide the longest dimension into two (2) equal sized larger areas and two (2) equal sized smaller areas. The locations such that the smaller areas are exactly one half (½) the size of the larger areas. The larger areas to be adjacent to each other in the middle and the smaller areas to be located at the ends of the longest dimension. One of the larger areas between the media frames and the small area at the opposite end of the unit shall be blanked* of at the top of the media frames with bypass dampers installed in the blanked* surface. The areas that are not blanked* at the top of the media frames shall be blanked* at the bottom of media frames with dampers installed in the blanking.  
         [0022]    The media frames in the Claim # 2  configuration are located in the outside front face of the unit longest dimension and both end faces of the unit. The front face of the longest unit dimension consists of two (2) equal length media frames with catch pans and one (1) frame in each end face. The configuration of Claim # 2  requires the blanking* to be installed across the entire top of the unit with the bypass dampers also installed in the top of the unit.  
         [0023]    The location of the media frames in the Claim # 3  configuration is linearly on the center line of the longest dimension of the unit. The media frames in the Claim # 3  configuration consist of 2 equal length frames that total in length the longest dimension of the overall unit. A blank off plate with bypass dampers is installed at each end of the unit on opposite sides of the media frame to channel the air stream through the media frames when the bypass dampers are closed.  
         [0024]    The frames are constructed of 16 gauge one half (½) inch by one (1) inch by one half (½) inch by 16 gauge stainless steel channels. The frames are constructed by cutting the channels to fit the dimensions of the interior surface of the housing in a tongue overlap manner and attaching the channels together in a configuration that forms air entering and leaving frames spaced apart by the thickness of the media being used plus one quarter (¼) inch. The media is then cut to match the interior dimensions of the housing and are placed in the collection pan between entering and leaving frames at each media location. The frames are bolted, riveted, screwed or spot welded to the unit housing at the locations as described above.  
         [0025]    The media frame also includes a water distribution header located at the top of the frame between the entering and leaving segments. The header is constructed of a sheet metal cap that covers a three (3) inch plastic pipe cut to match the overall length of the frame header and split longitudinally for the length of the pipe. One of the pipe halves is attached in the frame header with aluminum angle brackets bolted to the housing and the half pipe at each end of the half pipe. A three eighths (⅜) inch plastic pipe is anchored to a one (1) inch by one half (½) inch sixteen (16) gauge stainless steel angle attached inside the half pipe. The three eighths plastic pipe has holes (approximately one eighth of an inch in diameter) drilled in the top of the pipe on three (3) inch centers for the entire length of the pipe. One end of the three eighths (⅜) inch pipe is capped and the other end of the pipe at each media location is attached to a three eighths (⅜) inch electric solenoid valve. All of the solenoid valves for the media locations are then piped into a one half (½) inch water pipe header that extends out of the unit at either end to allow connection of supply water for the humidifier unit.  
         [0026]    The bypass dampers consist of stamped sheet metal plates bent to facilitate attachment of pivot point hardware and damper linkage hardware in a manner to allow the movement of an actuator rod to open and close the dampers in the face of the blank off plates as previously described.  
         [0027]    This invention makes use of existing materials in a new configuration. The increased surface area of the wetted media and the multiple stages of humidification and control through the use of segmented media and bypass dampers makes available a new more efficient method of space humidification. The heat absorbed during the evaporation process also allows this unit to act as a cooling unit in certain configurations.  
         [0028]    * Blanked indicates the installation of a continuous piece of sheet metal between the two media frames in a manner that prevents air movement directly through the unit from top to bottom. The dampers mounted in the blanking sheet metal would allow air to pass through the blanking metal if they are opened