Patent ID: 8033292

Claim:
A heated humidifier comprising: a humidifier chamber; and an autofeed mechanism disposed within the humidifier chamber, the autofeed mechanism including: a housing defining: an inlet, an outlet, wherein the inlet is fluidly closed to the humidifier chamber and the outlet is fluidly open to the humidifier chamber, a first chamber fluidly connected to the inlet, a second chamber fluidly connected to the outlet, a channel fluidly connecting the first and second chambers; a float movably disposed in the second chamber, a stem projecting from the float and through the channel, a sealing body disposed within the first chamber and cooperating with the stem opposite the float, wherein the sealing body is detached from the stem; wherein the autofeed mechanism is configured to provide an open state in which the sealing body is displaced from the channel to permit filling of the humidifier chamber via liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a closed state in which the sealing body seals the channel to prevent liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet; and further wherein a location of the sealing body relative to the channel is controlled by the float as a function of a liquid level within the humidifier chamber; and further wherein a buoyancy of the float and the sealing body in water is such that transitioning of the sealing body from a lower-most vertical location relative to the first chamber to the closed state occurs solely due to the buoyant force of the sealing body in water.