Improvements in Humidifiers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Humidifiers.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for moistening air and it is a further
development of the invention set forth in the Specification of my prior application
No. 14 dated 2nd January 1893.
In carrying out my present invention I make the humidifier preferably circular
and of trough shape. Projecting up within the trough is a central steam pipe
having a condensing ball on top and projecting out radially from the ball are
condensed steam escape tubes having small valves of any suitable construction at
their outlets. These valves are provided with downwardly projecting spindles which
bear on the upper side of a float of any suitable shape and construction, preferably,
a circular float.
With this arrangement, when the atmosphere is fully charged with moisture, it
ceases to draw further moisture from the trough, and, as a consequence, the water
accumulates in said trough until it eventually raises the float to such an extent as
to cause it to force up the valves and close them, thereby cutting off further supply
of moisture. The same thing also happens in cases where the water in the trough
When the atmosphere
accumulates above a certain level from any other cause.
becomes dry again, the water from the trough is evaporated, and, as a corisequence,
the float sinks and again opens the valves for supplying condensed water.
As will be seen, with this arrangement, the supply of moisture is automatic and
is regulated by the state of the surrounding atmosphere.
For hot water heating systems, the trough is made with a double bottom and the
space between the bottoms supplied with hot water from the pipes.
The float may be made of an inverted dish formation if so desired.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
H. D. FTIZE
DIVA,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Humidifiers.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190 Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc.
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:-
This invention relates to apparatus for moistening air and it is a further
development of the invention set forth in the Specification of my prior application
No. 14 dated 2nd January 1893.
In carrying out my present invention I make the humidifier preferably circular
and of trough shape. Projecting up within the trough is a central steam pipe
having a condensing ball on top and projecting out radially from the ball are
condensed steam escape tubes having small valves of any suitable construction at
their outlets. These valves are provided with downwardly projecting spindles which
bear on the upper side of a float of any suitable shape and construction, preferably,
a circular float.

page_text: With this arrangement, when the atmosphere is fully charged with moisture, it
ceases to draw further moisture from the trough, and, as a consequence, the water
accumulates in said trough until it eventually raises the float to such an extent as
to cause it to force up the valves and close them, thereby cutting off further supply
of moisture. The same thing also happens in cases where the water in the trough
accumulates above a certain level from any other cause. When the atmosphere
becomes dry again, the water from the trough is evaporated, and, as a consequence,
the float sinks and again opens the valves for supplying condensed water.
As will be seen, with this arrangement, the supply of moisture is automatic and
is regulated by the state of the surrounding atmosphere.
For hot water heating systems, the trough may be made with a double bottom
and the space between the bottoms supplied with hot water from the pipes.
The float may be made of an inverted dish formation if so desired.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan of a humidifier for steam pipes.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section and Fig. 4 a plan of a humidifier for hot water pipes.
Referring to the drawings
-
The humidifier shown at Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a circular re-evaporating
trough a in which the water of condensation escaping from the tubes 6 accumulates
and is gradually re-evaporated. The trough is fitted on top of a cock c which is
screwed into the steam pipe. Projecting up from the bottom of the trough is a
vertical pipe d having, preferably, as shown, a gradually decreasing bore. The
pipe may be cast in one with and project up into a condensing ball e The water
escape tubes b, which are fitted into the ball, have, conic holes or outlets
g at their
outer ends into which enter conical_valves h fitted in and projecting up from a
circular, preferably hollow, float i. Two or more escape tubes 6 may be fitted in
the ball e. is a web fitted on the float and having a central hole in it which
serves as a guide and slides, as the float rises and falls, up and down the pipe d.
b
The float which may be ring shaped and hollow, as shown, is preferably made of
copper foil.
fis a ring, which is screwed on the pipe d and has arms k provided with holes
near their ends through which the spindles of the valves A pass. These holes serve
as guides for the spindles. The cover of the trough a is, as shown in dotted
lines at (Fig. 2), perforated or slotted for the escape of vapour.
The cover may be surmounted by a vapour spreading cap m.
n are openings in the flanged rim of the trough.
The humidifier shown at Figs. 3 and 4 is for hot water heating systems. In this
case the pipe d is replaced by a tube d' of, comparatively, large diameter which is
surmounted by a cap d from which project the tubular arms b. In this case if so
desired the re-evaporating trough may be double bottomed and hot water be
admitted to the space between the bottoms.
If desired the valves h may be fitted or inserted in small valve boxes at the
lower ends of the pipes 6 and be closed by the float forcing up the valve spindles.
It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the construction of valve
or float shown, as these may be modified or altered in any well known and suitable
manner without departing from the principle of the invention. It is also to be
understood that the constructions hereinbefore described and shown are merely
given by way of example. Where suitable and desired any of the constructions of
trough and condensing tube shown in the drawings of my prior Patent aforesaid
may be substituted for those shown on the drawings annexed bereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I consider novel and desire to claim is :-
. 1. In humidifiers, of the class hereinbefore described, the combination with a
re-evaporating trough of a float working therein and of water escape valves which

page_text: are opened and closed by the movements of said float, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
2. In humidifiers of the class hereinbefore described, the application and use of
a float, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of parts, of the
humidifier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2
of the drawings annexed.
4. The modified construction of humidifier for hot water systems, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 6th day of January 1894.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.