Improvements in and relating to Humidifying and Spraying Apparatus and Appliances.
Year: 1895

page_text: This Print is, in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed
by the decision of the Comptroller General of the 15th day of January 1897.
Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1895-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Humidifying and Spraying
Apparatus and Appliances.
I OTTO HOFFMANN of 46 Cresswell Grove, Withington, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My said invention relates to apparatus and appliances for humidifying the air of
factories and other enclosed places and for spraying and diffusing liquids for
humidifying, moistening, curative and other purposes as is now well understood.
As constituting an apparatus for humidifying the air in factories and the like, my
improved apparatus would be of the following construction. The main body of
the humidifier would consist of a cylinder open at the top and bottom. At the
bottom I arrange a dished shield connected to the cylinder by three or any suitable
number of hanger brackets and so as to allow a space to exist between the lower
edge of the cylinder and the said dished shield.
drain away.
The outer circumference of the said shield is formed with two annular ridges
intended to arrest condensed moisture, the inner ridge having gaps to allow the
arrested moisture to run down towards the centre of the dished shield. In the
centre of the dished shield is an outlet to let the arrested and collected moisture
At the foot of the aforesaid cylinder I provide a loose and separate
downwardly splayed ring resting upon inclined knees on the aforesaid hanger
brackets. The said splayed ring trends outwardly and downwardly at an angle
towards the upwardly dished bottom shield, but is of less diameter than the shield.
The ring has a horizontal or flat rim at its outer circumference and a sufficient
space is left between this outer circumference of the ring and the shield to allow of
the passage of the humidified air from the cylinder. At the foot of the cylinder
in the interior I apply an inwardly and upwardly bent flange which surrounds the
outlet from the foot of the cylinder and forms a gutter to catch the condensed
liquid trickling down the interior of the cylinder. At the foot of the gutter and
at the points where the hanger brackets are located, I form apertures in the foot of
the gutter through which the trapped moisture flows down the hanger brackets to
the shield beneath and thence to the overflow. I might still further diminish the
area of the outlet at the foot of the cylinder formed by this annular gutter, by the
application of a loose and removable conical ring or conical rings placed upon
and over the inclined gutter ledge so as practically to form a continuation
thereof.
This additional loose ring might be applied or removed as thought fit. In the

page_text: centre or lap of the shield I place a loose curved or inclined deflecting cone having
at the top
splayed funnel while the bottom edge resting on the shield has
apertures through which the moisture running down the shield can pass through
to the outlet in the centre of the shield. The deflecting cone being loose allows
the greatest facilities for cleansing. To admit of more easy access to the bottom
of the apparatus the downwardly splayed ring at the lower end of the cylinder is,
as already said, placed loosely on the hanger brackets, the soles of the brackets
where they are rivetted to the cylinder occupying recesses cut in the internal
circumference of the ring. When it is desired to move the ring out of the way
I slide the ring upwards on the cylinder until it is clear of the brackets and then
turn it slightly so as to move the recesses away from or out of line with the
bracket soles. The ring then rests on the upper ends of the brackets and is upheld
thereby until it is thought fit to slide it again into position.
The hereinbefore described arrangement and construction of humidifier casing
might be used in conjunction with any suitable spraying device or appliance.
I have however devised a specific and novel construction of spraying device the
salient advantage of which is that the nozzle can be easily cleaned out from
the floor and without requiring to mount to the ceiling or elevation at which
the humidifier is fixed, and also without removing or handling the nozzle. My
improved spraying device may also contain a filter so constructed that the same
means whereby the nozzle is cleaned out suffices to wash out the filter by reversing
the pressure of liquid through the filter without altering the direction of the inflow
of water. I provide an outer casing closed at the top by a screwed lid and formed
at the bottom with a conical nozzle having a sharp edge at the delivery outlet,
which constitutes the smaller end of the conical orifice. Up through the centre of
the case there passes a spindle the upper end passing through a packed gland in
the casing cover while the lower end is reduced near the foot, this reduced neck
terminating in an enlarged rivet or pin head, the upper inclined or conical angle or
face of which is at an opposite angle to the internal angle of the conical nozzle. The
said conical rivet or pin head is of such a size as to be capable of passing through
the outlet orifice of the conical nozzle.
The spindle is surrounded by a spring which tends constantly to keep the
spindle down and the spraying head just outside of the nozzle orifice in such a
position that liquid issuing from the nozzle is forced in a thin fine liquid cone into
the casing, drawing the air from above.
A check nut screwed on the spindle enables the spindle and head to be adjusted
to the exact position requisite for obtaining the best results. The top of the
spindle is connected by a cord or other attachment which passes over a pulley and
descends to the floor from which it can be pulled. When the nozzle threatens to
become choked the cord is operated and the spindle and head is pulled up, against
the spring, the head passing through the nozzle outlet and clearing away any
obstruction lodged therein. On releasing the cord the spindle and spraying head
return to their normal position. The foot of the spindle has guiding wings which
fit a space above the nozzle and keep the spraying head always exactly in the
centre of the nozzle. While the spindle is pulled up and the liquid is flushing
through the nozzle without spraying, the liquid falls straight down into the funnel
on the top of the deflecting cone at the foot of the easing and goes straight to the
outflow from the centre of the shield.
This self-cleansing spraying device might be used alone but in combination
therewith I prefer to use a filter. The filtering medium is contained in an inner
pervious envelope of gauze or other material a space being left between the outer
circumference of the filter envelope and the interior of the outer case.
The liquid
is admitted above the filter and enters the filter at the top. The liquid next passes
outward through the pervious gauze envelope and down through the space to the
nozzle. Now suppose it should be desired to wash out the filter by reversing the
direction of the current of liquid through it, without altering the direction of
the feed supply, I arrange that the filter may be lifted in the casing by the same

page_text: cord which raises the spindle so that instead of the liquid entering the filter at the
top and passing outward through the periphery, it enters through the gauze
periphery and passes inward and downward trough the filter. Thus the current
through the filter is reversed by merely altering the position of the filter. This
specific arrangement of filter might be used in conjunction with the spraying
device and humidifier casing hereinbefore indicated or it may be used in combina-
tion with any other spraying device or casing used for the indicated or for cognate
purposes.
Improvements in and relating to Humidifying and Spraying
Apparatus and Appliances.
IOTTO HOFFMANN, of West View, 18 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer (late of 46 Cresswell Grove, Withington,
Manchester), do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by.
the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to apparatus and appliances for humidifying the air of
factories and other enclosed places and for spraying and diffusing liquids for
bumidifying, moistening, curative and other purposes as is now well understood.
As constituting an apparatus for humidifying the air in factories and the like, my
improved apparatus would be of the following construction and as illustrated in the
annexed sheet of drawings.
In the said drawings:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved humidifying apparatus.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the filter spraying device which is marked k
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ring e at the foot of the casing in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of my improved double nozzle spraying
device.
Fig. 5 is a side view partly in section of a single nozzle spraying device and
Fig. 6 is a ball headed spraying pin for use in the single nozzle spraying
device.
Referring to these drawings and in the first place to Fig. 1, the main body
of the bumidifier casing would consist of a cylinder a open at the top and
bottom.
At the bottom I arrange a dished tray b connected to the cylinder a by three or
any suitable number of hanger brackets c so as to allow a space to exist between
the lower edge of the cylinder a and the said dished tray b. The outer
circumference of the said tray b is formed with two annular ridges 6' 63 formed or
pressed from the metal of the tray as shown and intended to arrest condensed
moisture, the inner ridge having gaps 63 to allow the arrested moisture to run
down towards the centre of the dished tray. In the centre of the dished tray is
an outlet d to let the arrested and collected moisture drain away. At the foot of.
the aforesaid cylinder a I provide a loose and separate downwardly splayed ring e
resting upon the inclined knees c¹ of the aforesaid hanger brackets c.
The said splayed ring e trends outwardly and downwardly at an angle. towards

page_text: the upwardly dished bottom. tray b but is of less diameter than the tray. The.
ringe has a horizontal or flat rim e' at its outer circumference and a sufficient
space is left between this outer circumference of the ring e and the tray b to allow
of the passage of the humidified air. The atmospheric air is drawn in at the top,
humidified, and expelled at the bottom of the casing. At the foot of the cylinder a
I apply an inwardly and upwardly bent flange f which narrows the outlet from the
foot of the cylinder a and forms a gutter to catch the condensed liquid trickling
down the interior of the cylinder. At the foot of the gutter and at the points
where the hanger brackets c are located, I form apertures f¹ in the foot of the
gutter through which the trapped moisture flows down the hanger brackets c to
the tray b beneath and thence to the outflow d.. I might still further diminish the
area of the outlet at the foot of the cylinder, formed by this annular gutter f, by
the application of a loose and removable conical ring indicated by the dotted
lines and placed upon and over the inclined gutter ledge f so as practically to
form a continuation thereof.
This additional loose ring f' might be applied or removed as thought fit.
In the centre or lap of the tray b I place a loose curved or inclined deflecting
cone g having at the top a splayed funnel g' while the bottom edge resting on the
tray has apertures 2 through which the moisture running down the tray can pass
through to the outlet in the centre of the tray. The deflecting coue g being loose
allows the greatest facilities for cleansing. To admit of more easy access to the
bottom of the apparatus, the downwardly splayed ring e at the lower end of the
cylinder a is, as already said, placed loosely on the hanger brackets c the upper
portions of the brackets where they are rivetted to the cylinder occupying
recesses cut in the internal circumference of the ring e. When it is desired to
move the ring e out of the way I slide the ring upwards on the cylinder a until it
is clear of the portions c² of the brackets e and then turn it slightly so as to move
the recesses away from or out of line with the brackets at c. The ring then
rests on the upper ends of the brackets and is upheld thereby as clearly shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 1 until it is thonght fit to slide it again into position.
The hereinbefore described arrangement and construction of humidifier casing
might be used in conjunction with any suitable spraying device or appliance.
I have however devised a specific and novel construction of spraying device which
appears and is marked k in Fig. 1 but is more plainly shown to an enlarged scale
and in section at Fig. 2. The salient advantage of this improved spraying device
is that the nozzle or aperture h through which the water is sprayed can be easily
cleaned out from the floor and without the operator being required to mount to the
ceiling or elevation at which the humidifier is fixed or suspended (by the bridle i)
and without removing or handling the nozzle. My improved spraying device also
contains a filter j so constructed that the same means whereby the nozzle h is
cleaned out, suffices to wash out the filter j by reversing the current.or pressure
of liquid through the filter j without altering the direction of the inflow of
water.
To form the combined filter and spraying device, I provide an outer casing.
closed at the top by a screwed lid and formed at the bottom, with a conical
nozzle having a sharp edge at the delivery outlet which constitutes the lower
and smaller end of the conical orifice. Up through the centre of the case k there
passes a spindle the upper end passing through a packed gland k³ in the casing
cover while the lower end of the spindle is reduced near the foot, this reduced
neck terminating in an enlarged rivet or pin head 12 the upper inclined or conical
angle or face of which is at an opposite angle to the internal angle of the conical
nozzle h. The said conical rivet or pin head is of such a size as to be capable.of
passing through the outlet orifice at the foot of the conical nozzle h. To preserve
the spraying head exactly in the centre of the outlet from the nozzle,. L form, the
spindle at the foot with steadying wings or guides. 1 as shown, in section
at Fig. 24 which slide in the straight part above the nozzle and keep the spindle
and spraying head always concentric with the nozzle and outlet orifice. The

page_text: spindle is surrounded by a spring m confined between the collar on the spindle
and the inner side of the screwed cover and which tends constantly to keep the
spindle 7 down and the spraying head just outside of the nozzle orifice as shown
in Fig. 2, in such a position that liquid issuing from the nozzle is diverted by the
spraying head and comminuted or sprayed into a thin liquid cone such as appears
in Fig. 1. A check nut screwed on the upper end of the spindle / enables
the spindle and spraying head to be adjusted to the exact position requisite for
obtaining the best results. The water or other liquid is supplied to the spraying
device by the pipe n and passes through the filter to the nozzle in the manner
indicated by the arrows. The production of this downwardly inclined cone of
spray or liquid draws in air at the top of the casing, saturates it with moisture and
drives it out at the foot of the casing as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. The top
of the spindle is connected to a cord o or other attachment which passes over
pullies pp and descends to the floor from which it can be pulled. It will be
observed that at the top of the filter j is a ring 9 by which the filter is suspended
in the casing k. Above the ring 9 is a chamber into which the water supply opens
and in which the suspending ring 9 can slide. Under normal conditions the foot of.
the filter is closed by a disc l on the spindle l.
Above the guiding wings lies a loose plate r a short distance beneath the foot.
of the filter. When the nozzle h threatens to become choked, the cord o is
operated and the spindle 7 and spraying head 12 pulled up, against the spring m,
the spraying head passing up through the nozzle outlet and clearing away any
obstruction lodged therein. On releasing the cord o, the spindle and spraying
head return to their normal position. While the spindle is pulled up and the
liquid is flushing through the nozzle without spraying, the liquid falls straight
down through the hole in the bottom of the filter caused by the removal of the
disc, and falls straight from the nozzle into the funnel 9' on the top of the
deflecting cone g at the foot of the casing and goes straight to the outflow d in
the centre of the tray b. The filtering medium is contained in the inner pervious.
envelope of gauze or other material, a space being left between the outer
circumference of the filter envelope j and the interior of the outer case k as shown
in Fig. 2.
The liquid is admitted above the filter through the pervious gauze envelope;
and down through the space to the nozzle. Now suppose it should be desired to.
wash out the filter by reversing the direction of the current of liquid through it,
without altering the direction of the feed supply, I arrange that the filter may be
lifted in the casing by the same cold which raises the spindle, so that instead of the
liquid entering the filter at the top and passing outward through the periphery it
enters through the gauze periphery j and passes inward and downward through the
filter. This is done by pulling on the cord o till the wings on the spindle / lift
the loose ring r against the bottom of the filter and so raise the filter till the ring q
at the top of the filter comes against the screwed cap k. In this position the
water has no access to the top of the filter and is obliged to find its way through
the pervious envelope; to the interior of the filter and thence through the hole in.
the bottom.
Thus the current through the filter is reversed by merely altering the position
of the filter. This specific arrangement of filter might be used in conjunction.
with the spraying device and humidifier casing hereinbefore indicated or may be
used in combination with any other spraying device or casing used for the
indicated or for cognate purposes. For example instead of the inclined spraying
nozzle and pin head I might use the double nozzle spraying device shown
at Fig. 4. In this device the two nozzles s, t are connected by a hollow arm u.
The water is supplied at s and is conducted by the arm u to t. The orifice at a is.
larger than the orifice at t, so that the two opposing streams of water are unequal
and a cone of spray is produced. The nozzle s is formed with a countersunk
recess markeds. If the nozzles should be choked by any obstruction, the
spraying device will not cease to act because the nozzles then becomes a solid.

page_text: spraying head and the conical face of the countersinks throws down a cone of
spray similar to the cone produced by the opposing streams.
Instead of using the double nozzle shown in Fig. 4 I might in combination
with my improved humidifier use the single nozzle spraying device shown
in Fig. 5.
Here a perforated adjustable pin v is held opposite to the water nozzles and
produces the desired cone.
Instead of the perforated or hollow pin v I might use a ball headed pin was
shown in Fig. 6. The forms of spraying nozzle shown in Figs. 5 and 6 appear in
the Specification of my prior Patent No. 21206 of 1893.
It is to be understood that the mere general arrangement and construction of
the described humidifier casing are not new but only the specific features set forth
in the claims.
い
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In humidifying apparatus of the indicated nature the upwardly inclined
gutter ring with holes to drain off arrested moisture opposite to the brackets c
in combination with the loose additional ring for mounting on the fixed gutter
ring f, for the purposes and substantially as described and shown.
2. The dished tray b with annular trap ridges b', 63 at the edge pressed or formed
from the metal of the tray, the inner ridge having gaps 3 to allow the moisture to
run down towards the outlet from the centre of the tray as described, and shown.
3. In the humidifying apparatus berein before described the loose centre cone g
with open splayed funnel top to catch the stream of water falling directly from the
spraying device above, substantially as described and shown.
4. The general arrangement and construction of humidifier casing consisting of
the cylinder a suspended by a bridle i and with a gutter f at the foot, in combina-
tion with the tray b connected to the foot of the casing by the brackets c, the said
brackets supporting a loose ring e, the tray b supporting a loose central deflecting
cone with open splayed top g₁ all substantially as described and shown.
5. The spraying device formed with an outlet nozzle h and containing a
central spindle terminating in a spraying head 2 adapted to throw a dispersed
cone of water downward, the spindle and spraying head being held in the normal
position by a spring capable of yielding upward so as to permit of the retraction of
the spindle and the passage of the spraying head 12 through the nozzle outlet so as
to clear the same when desired, (the said spindle being operated from the floor
when necessary,) in combination with a filter capable of being raised in the casing
by pulling on the central spindle the result being that the current of water
through the filtering material is reversed without altering the direction of the
inflow to the filter, substantially as described and shown.
6. The combination of the improved humidifier casing as described with
reference to Fig. 1 with the self-cleansing or filtering spraying device k or with
the double nozzle shown in Fig. 4 or with the single nozzle shown in Figs. 5
and 6 or with any other suitable spraying device substantially as described and
shown.
D
1
1 1000
Dated the 30th day of March 1996.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents..