Abstract:
A humidifier for installation in gas fired fireplaces of the type having an air intake opening and an air outlet opening and an airflow passage there between, in which air is warmed by a fireplace firebox, and exhausted into a room to be heated. The humidifier includes a water supply for supplying water to a water control valve. The water valve communicates with a humidifier pan for filling said pan with water and selectively controlling the water depth in said pan. The pan stores water and is mounted in close proximately to said warmed air such that water in said pan evaporates thereby humidifying the warmed air being exhausted.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/129,381 filed Apr. 15, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a humidifier and more particularly to a humidifier for installation in gas fired fireplaces. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The maintenance of the proper amount of humidity in the air is important for the well being of humans. It is recommended that the humidity level in normal living environments be maintained at approximately 40 to 50% at normal room temperature of 20° centigrade (or approximately 72° F.). The total humidity which the air contains is related to the temperature of the air at any given point in time. In the summer time for example, humidity levels often exceed 50%, however, in the winter time the air tends to be dryer since the air exchange in the home is between the exterior air which is at a much colder temperature as compared to the interior air of the home. Therefore, in the winter time, it is normally necessary to add humidity to the air in order to achieve the 40 to 50% humidity levels which are recommended for normal home living conditions. 
     With the increasing cost of fuel for heating homes, much effort has been devoted to employing gas fireplaces in a manner which would allow them to become more efficient in heating an entire room or an entire home. Although auxiliary gas fireplaces have become more efficient and popular in numbers, these units have suffered from various deficiencies, including for the most part the inability to provide humidification to the room which is being heated. 
     Various apparatus has been developed and patented over the years to provide auxiliary humidification into residential homes and buildings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,895 invented by Joseph Ghorayeb entitled Humidifier Attachable to Baseboard Radiator and issued on Mar. 3, 1992 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,196 invented by Samuel S. Bergami et al entitled Fireplace Heater, Circulator, and Humidifier System issued Sep. 20, 1977 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,730 invented by Jean-P. Vallieres entitled Humidifier Device and issued Sep. 9, 1997. The draw back with the existing prior art devices is that they are not suitable for use with gas fired fireplaces nor are they of suitable dimension and/or design to be retrofitted with existing gas fired fireplaces, nor do they allow for the fine control of humidification to a desired level. There is a need therefore, for a humidification device which can be used and installed with an existing gas fired fireplace and/or with a new installation for gas fired fireplaces which allows a user to selectively adjust the humidification that is provided in a environment around the gas fired fireplace. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a humidifier for installation in gas fired fireplaces of the type having an air intake opening and an air outlet opening and an airflow passage there between, in which air is warmed by a fireplace firebox, and exhausted into a room to be heated, the humidifier comprising: 
     (a) a container means for storing water and mounted in close proximately to said warmed air; 
     (b) a water control communicating with said container means for filing said container means with water and selectively controlling the water depth in said container means; 
     (c) a water supply for supplying water to said water control means. 
     Preferably said container means comprises: 
     (a) a reservoir for housing said water control means and storing water; 
     (b) an evaporation means, fluidly connected and receiving water from said reservoir said evaporation means for exposing water to said warmed air for facilitating evaporation of water thereby humidifying said warmed air. 
     Preferably the water depth of the evaporation means is less than the water depth in said reservoir such that said reservoir fills before said evaporation means fills. 
     Preferably said evaporation means comprises an evaporation pan mounted in close proximity to said firebox and said warmed air such that water in the evaporation pan, is heated by heat emanating from the firebox and also by warmed air passing over the water in the pan. 
     Preferably said evaporation pan further comprises wicking means for accelerating and enhancing the rate of evaporation of water in the pan. 
     Preferably said wicking means comprises upstanding wicks partially submerged in the water in the pan and partially exposed to the warmed air thereby increasing the evaporation rate of water in the pan. 
     Preferably said evaporation pan comprises a sloped bottom wall such that the greater the water depth in the evaporation pan the greater the surface area of the water in the pan thereby the humidification rate can be adjusted by controlling the depth of water in the evaporation pan. 
     Preferably said humidifier includes shims placed under the evaporation pan, the shims placed in such a manner to provide a sloped bottom wall such that the greater the water depth in the evaporation pan the greater the surface area of the water in the pan thereby the humidification rate can be adjusted by controlling the depth of water in the evaporation pan. 
     Preferably the water control means comprises: 
     (a) a float communicating with the water level in the container means; 
     (b) a water valve communicating with said float for adding water to said container and thereby maintaining the water depth in said container means at a preselected level. 
     Preferably said wicking means includes water adsorptive materials useful for wicking water which can accelerate and enhance the rate of evaporation of water in the pan. 
     Preferably said wicking means includes a plurality of wick holders for receiving said wicks such that wicks can be selectively placed in wick holders such that the humidification rate can be selected by increasing or decreasing the number of wicks. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described by way of example only, with references to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a humidifier shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of preferred embodiment of a humidifier shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a humidifier. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a humidifier shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a humidifier shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken along lines  66  shown in FIG.  3 ;. 
     FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  shown in FIG. 3 of the humidifier. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the humidifier shown in FIGS. 1 through 7. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cut away perspective view showing the water supply line to the humidifier. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the humidifier made in accordance with the subject invention mounted in a schematic representation of a portion of a gas fired fireplace showing the fire place mantel, the fire box, the air intake opening and outlet opening and the humidifier mounted on top of the fire box. 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Humidifier shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Humidifier shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier. 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier. 
     FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a humidifier shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a top plan view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a flat humidifier. 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a flat humidifier shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a flat humidifier shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the Flat Humidifier shown in FIGS. 18 through 20. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first of all to FIG. 8 which shows in perspective view the present invention a Humidifier shown generally as  10  comprising a reservoir  12 , evaporation pan  14 , a water valve  16 , a float  18 , a number of wicks  22 , wick holders  24 , water  40  having a water depth  42 . 
     Reservoir  12  has a reservoir end wall  56 , a reservoir bottom wall  50 , reservoir inner wall  57  as well as side walls  52  which are shared with evaporation pan  14 . Evaporation pan  14  as well has a pan bottom wall  58  which is vertically higher than reservoir bottom wall  50 . One of the side walls  52  has a flange  60  for mounting water valve  16  thereon. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, reservoir  12  is fluidly connected to evaporation pan  14  and the two together form a container for holding water  40  which for example can be filled to a water depth of  42 . 
     Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, wick holders  24  are attached to pan bottom wall  58  and are dimensioned to receive wicks  22 . Wicks  22  can be made from any material known in the art for wicking water into the wicking material and thereby exposing a greater amount of water to the flow of air over humidifier  10 . FIG. 7 also shows three particular water depths, the first being low water depth  28  in which the water is only contained in reservoir  12  and there is no water in evaporation pan  14 . Secondly medium water depth  30  which shows water completely filling reservoir  12  and as well a small amount of water residing in the bottom of evaporation pan  14 . At this particular water level, water does not reach wicks  22  because of the shielding action of wick holders  24  which prevent the water from reaching wicks  22  until water depth  42  has at least reached a level to cover the vertical projection of wick holders  24  on pan bottom wall  58 . In the third water depth shown in FIG. 7, namely high water depth  32 , reservoir  12  is completely filled, as well evaporation pan  14  is substantially filled and water has risen above the vertical projection of wick holders  24  and therefore wicks  22  are exposed to water within evaporation pan  14  and the wicks become effective and begin wicking water away and out of evaporation pan  14 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6 which shows some of the details of float  18 , water valve  16  and water supply line  20 , float  18  is of any type that is commercially available and the type shown is essentially an open air compartment type float. As water depth  42  reaches float  18 , air compartment  62  becomes entrapped with air therefore, forcing float  18  upwards against an actuator in water valve  16 . Water valve  16  may be any commercially available water valve which will act in conjunction with a float to turn water on and off at a predetermined and preselected float level. Water supply to reservoir  12  and evaporation pan  14  comes from water supply line  20  which normally speaking is normal household city and/or drinking water which is fed through water valve  16  into reservoir  12  and eventually into evaporation pan  14 . 
     FIG. 9, in particular, shows the action and the tilting action of float  18  and how water is discharged from the bottom of water valve  16  as float  18  sinks below a certain predetermined level and water discharge  64  is terminated when float level  18  has reached a preselected level thereby providing a preselected water depth  42  inside of reservoir  12  and evaporation pan  14 . The combination water valve  16 , float  18  and water supply line  20  enables the user to pre-selectively control any water depth  42  within reservoir  12  and evaporation pan  14 . 
     Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 5, optionally shims  62  can be used to raise a pan bottom wall  58  from making contact with fire box  70 , and/or depending on how the shims are mounted allow the user to select whether or not pan bottom wall  58  is mounted perfectly horizontally and/or is slightly tilted so that when reservoir  12  and evaporation pan  14  are filled, the pan bottom wall  58  is not simultaneously covered by the rising water depth  42 , but rather is gradually covered over with water as the water rises from the reservoir side of pan bottom wall  58  to the pan and wall side  54 . This is better shown and explained in FIGS. 11 through 15 as described as follows. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 15 an alternate embodiment of the humidifier shown generally as  90 , rather than using shims  62  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the pan bottom wall  58  optionally can be designed not to lie horizontal in relation to the reservoir bottom wall  50 . By slightly sloping the pan bottom wall  58  upwardly from the reservoir  12  towards the pan and wall  54  as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15 as the water depth  42  rises, the pan bottom wall  58  is gradually covered over rather than simultaneously covering over the entire pan bottom wall  58 . 
     Particularly shown in  15  are three pertinent water levels namely, low water depth  28  in which water is only contained within reservoir  12 . Medium water depth  30  in which the entire reservoir  12  is filled as well as evaporation pan  14  is partially filled and only part of pan bottom wall  58  is covered and for example a high water depth  32  in which most of pan bottom wall  58  is covered over and as well reservoir  12  is completely fall. In this manner by selecting the water depth  42 , one can vary the surface area of the water that is exposed to air. At low water depth  28 , the surface area of water exposed to air is at a minium, where as at medium water depth  30 , the surface area of water exposed to the air is much greater and at high water depth  32  the surface area of water exposed to air is again increased versus medium water depth  30  and low water depths  28 . In this manner, one can see that by raising the water levels, the amount of water surface area exposed to the air is increased until the water depth completely covers the pan bottom wall  58  at which time the water level would than just rise vertically and no further changes in the surface area of water exposed would take place. 
     Referring now to FIG. 16 which show a presently preferred embodiment of the humidifier shown generally as  100 , comprising a reservoir  102 , evaporation pan  104 , containing water therein  140 , having a connecting tube  110  which joins reservoir  102  with evaporation pan  104  and communicates water between reservoir  102  and evaporation pan  104  and similar to the previous embodiments having a float  108 , water valve  106 , wick supports  124 , wicks  122  and optionally shims  112 . 
     In this presently preferred embodiment shown generally as  100  the major difference is that reservoir  102  can be located in a location remote from evaporation  104 . Tube  110  may in fact be a flexible plastic tube and/or made from any other material which will provide for the communication of water  140  from reservoir  102  to evaporation pan  104 . Water  140  will find its level in the same manner as the previous embodiments, therefore a person skilled in the art will realize that reservoir  102  will need to be located at such a level in order to ensure that the water level within evaporation pan  104  is suitably controllable. In every other way humidifier shown generally as  100  operates in the same manner as described before in the previous embodiments including the optional use of shims  112  in order to raise evaporation pan slightly away from the fire box and/or to design the evaporation pan  104  such that the one end of pan bottom wall  158  is somewhat higher than the other end of pan bottom wall  148  in a similar fashion as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15 where the pan bottom wall does not lie on a horizontal plane. A person skilled in the art will realize that the presently preferred embodiment of humidifier  100  allows for a remote location of the reservoir relative to evaporation pan  104 . This may in fact be necessary depending on the space of availability around firebox  70  of gas fireplace  74 . In addition, by separating reservoir  102  from evaporation pan  104  and connecting them fluidically by utilization of tube  110 , allows some manufacturing efficiencies by enabling a standard reservoir size  102  to be built as well as standard evaporation pan sizes  104  to be built independently of each other. In addition, tube  110  need not be horizontal as shown in FIG. 16 and 17, but may in fact be bowed upward or downward and/or contain either radiuses and bends to circumvent any obstacles which may be around firebox  70  in order to supply water  10  from reservoir  102  to evaporation pan  104 . 
     In use, humidifier  10  is shown in particular in FIG. 10 mounted in a gas fire place  74  which has a fire box  70 , a mantel  78 , an air intake opening  72  on the bottom and an air outlet opening  80 . Warm air which flows in from air intake opening  72 , around the bottom, back, and top of fire box  70  is warmed as it travels around the fire box such that warmed air  82  flows over the top of fire box  70 , and subsequently over the top of humidifier  10  which releases moisture into warm air  82  therefore exhausting humidified air  76  through outlet opening  80  and into the surrounding room where the gas fire place  74  is housed. 
     One skilled in the art of humidification will know that the greater the surface area of water exposed to the warm air  82 , the greater the humidification that will take place. Therefore, by controlling the amount of surface area of water being exposed to warm air  82 , one can control the amount of humidification exhausted into the room. 
     The first preferred embodiment described in FIGS. 1 through 9 essentially have a horizontal pan bottom wall  58 . This allows for three variations in humidification control. In FIGS. 7 when the water is controlled to the low water depths  28  by water valve  16  and float  18 , a small amount of water, surface area is exposed to the warmed air  82  flowing over humidifier  10 . If however, the water level is allowed to rise to medium water depth  30 , essentially the entire pan bottom wall  58  is covered over with water and the amount of water surface area exposed to warmed air  82  is greatly increased. However, at medium water depth  30 , the wicks  22  are inactive and do not aid in humidification. By further raising the water level depth to high water depth  32 , the entire reservoir and pan bottom wall  58  are covered over, as well wicks  22  are immersed and exposed to water and therefore become active and begin wicking water up thereby further increasing the humidification that occurs with humidifier  10 . Therefore, one skilled in the art will realize that there are three discreet levels of humidification controls that are available to the user with just a horizontal pan bottom wall  58  and the configuration as shown. 
     Further by using shims  62 , pan bottom wall  58  can be raised off of fire box  70  in order to lower the rate of evaporation by decreasing the amount of heat transferred to water  40  within humidifier  10 . Alternately sim  62  can be used to slightly tilt pan bottom wall  58  so that it is slightly sloped upwardly away from reservoir  12  and/or the same effect can be obtained by using the second preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 through 15 in which pan bottom wall  58  is designed from the beginning with a slope upwardly in relation to reservoir  12  such that as the water level rises up out of reservoir  12  the water level will determine the amount of surface area of water is exposed to warm air  82 . Referring particularly to FIG.  15  and as already described at low water depth, very little water surface area is exposed to the warmed air were as in at medium water depth  30 , a greater amount of water surface is exposed to warm air  82  and finally at high water depth  32  the greatest amount of surface are is exposed to warmed air  82 . 
     In this manner, the amount of water surface area can be discretely and continuously controlled from very little to the maximum amount by controlling the water depth  42  of humidifier  10 . As well in order to obtain maximum humidification, the water depth is controlled to the maximum level so that wicks  22  are exposed and touching water  40  and therefore become active and aid in the humidification process. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 18 through 21, an alternate preferred embodiment is shown generally as flat humidifier  210 . Flat humidifier  210  operates in an analogous fashion as humidifier  10  shown in FIGS. 1 through 15. The notably differences between flat humidifier  210  and humidifier  10  are the lack of reservoir  12  which in flat humidifier  210  is intrically part of evaporation pan  214 . In addition, flat humidifier  210  has a removable bottom  280  not shown in FIGS. 1 through 15 of humidifier  10 . Removable bottom  280  is fitted with wick holders  224  for supporting and holding wick material  222  as depicted in FIGS. 18 through 21. Wicking material  222  can be of any type known in the art, and particularly, faded or separated paper type wicking material work suitably with the kind of an arrangement. Additionally, safety cover  292  is fitted onto flange  260 , evaporation pan  214  for protecting water valve  216 . 
     The major components of the alternate presently preferred embodiment, namely: flat humidifier  210 , evaporation pan  214 , water valve  216 , float  218 , water supply line  220 , wicking material  222 , wick holders  224 , side wall  252 , end wall  254 , bottom wall  258 , flange  260 , removable bottom  280  and safety cover  292 . 
     In all other aspects other than as explained above, flat humidifier  210  operates in an analogous fashion to humidifier  10 . 
     The notable differences are the lack of reservoir  12  which is intrically part of evaporation  214  and the addition of removable bottom  280  which is not found in humidifier  10 . 
     Removable bottom  280  can easily be removed from evaporation pan  214  by titling the portion of removable bottom  280  closest to end wall  254  which is opposite to float  218 , and thereby, tilting removable bottom  280  up and out from under float  218 . In removing removable bottom  280  facilitates cleaning of bottom of flat humidifier  210  as well as removal and replacement of wicking material  222  simply by sliding wicking material  222  on and off wick holders  224 . Although not shown in FIGS. 18 through 21, removable bottom  280  may not be present directly below float  218  in order to provide for additional floating space and water below float  218 . 
     As in the previous embodiments a number of wick holders  224  provided for placing wicking material  222  thereon. One can selectively choose the amount of wicking material  222  placed onto wick holders  224 , thereby, controlling the amount of evaporation one desires. The present embodiment flat humidifier  210  is a more easily manufactured design than previous embodiment humidifier  10  as well the addition of removal bottom  280  allows for easier cleaning maintenance and replacement of wicks of flat humidifier  210 . 
     It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.