Humidifier with reduced aerosolization of pathogens and dissolved solids found in source water

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of room humidifier devices, and more particularly to an ultrasonic humidifier that reduces or eliminates aerosolization of pathogens and dissolved solids found in source water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A humidifier for humidifying room air, the humidifier comprising:
 a housing;   a water tank in the housing, said water tank defining a reservoir for containing water;   a water filter in the housing and configured to capture dissolved solids contained in the water as the water passes through the water filter;   an ultraviolet light source configured to kill pathogens contained in the water as they are exposed to the ultraviolet light source;   a humidification chamber positioned adjacent an outlet of said housing, said humidification chamber being operable to generate a water mist from the water;   a motorized fan operable to create a flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to an exterior of the housing;   a pump configured to drive water from said reservoir, through said water filter and through a region exposed to light from the ultraviolet light source, and then into the humidification chamber; and   a control system operable to control operation of said ultraviolet light source, said pump, said motorized fan, and the humidification chamber to generate the water mist, and to cause the water mist to become entrained in the flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to the exterior of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank is located at or near a bottom of the housing, the humidification chamber is located at or near a top of the housing, and the water filter is located between the water tank and the pump. 
     
     
         3 . The humidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet light source is located between the water tank and the pump. 
     
     
         4 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising an air filter in the housing, wherein the motorized fan is positioned to draw air through the air filter and to the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The humidifier of  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of openings in a wall of the housing and adjacent to the air filter, and the motorized fan is positioned to draw ambient air into the housing through the openings in the wall, through the air filter and to the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The humidifier of  claim 4 , wherein the air filter is adjacent to the motorized fan and the fan is positioned between the air filter and the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the humidification chamber comprises at least one piezo disk, and a plurality of wicks below the at least one piezo disk extending into an adjacent water reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a UV-C light source. 
     
     
         9 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the water filter comprises an inorganic filtration media having ionic extraction properties. 
     
     
         10 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic constant displacement pump. 
     
     
         11 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank, water filter, ultraviolet light source, pump, and humidification chamber are connected using plastic tubing having at least one surface embedded with antimicrobial and/or hydrophobic additives. 
     
     
         12 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         13 . A humidifier for humidifying room air, the humidifier comprising:
 a housing;   a water tank in the housing, said water tank defining a reservoir for containing water;   a water filter in the housing and configured to capture dissolved solids contained in the water as the water passes through the water filter;   a first tube leading from the water reservoir to the water filter;   an ultraviolet light source configured to kill pathogens contained in the water as they are exposed to the ultraviolet light source;   a second tube leading from the water filter to the ultraviolet light source;   a humidification chamber positioned adjacent an outlet of said housing, said humidification chamber being operable to generate a water mist from the water;   a motorized fan operable to create a flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to an exterior of the housing;   a pump configured to drive water from said reservoir, through said water filter and through a region exposed to light from the ultraviolet light source, and then into the humidification chamber;   a third tube leading from the ultraviolet light source to the pump;   a fourth tube leading from the pump to the humidification chamber; and   a control system operable to control operation of said ultraviolet light source, said pump, said motorized fan, and the humidification chamber to generate the water mist, and to cause the water mist to become entrained in the flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to the exterior of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The humidifier of  claim 13 , further comprising a fifth tube leading from the humidification chamber back to the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The humidifier of  claim 13 , further comprising an air filter in the housing, wherein the motorized fan is positioned to draw air through the air filter and to the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The humidifier of  claim 13 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth tubes comprise a plastic that has been treated with an antimicrobial additive. 
     
     
         17 . The humidifier of  claim 13 , wherein the water tank comprises a plastic that has been treated with an antimicrobial additive. 
     
     
         18 . The humidifier of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of openings in a wall of the housing and adjacent to the air filter, and the motorized fan is positioned to draw ambient air into the housing through the openings in the wall, through the air filter and to the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A humidifier for humidifying room air, the humidifier comprising:
 a housing;   a water tank in the housing, said water tank defining a reservoir for containing water;   a water filter downstream from the water tank in the housing and configured to capture dissolved solids contained in the water as the water passes through the water filter;   an ultraviolet light source downstream from the water filter configured to kill pathogens contained in the water as they are exposed to the ultraviolet light source;   a humidification chamber downstream from the ultraviolet light source positioned adjacent an outlet of the housing, said humidification chamber being operable to generate a water mist from the water;   a motorized fan operable to create a flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to an exterior of the housing;   a pump downstream from the water filter and upstream from the humidification chamber configured to drive water from said reservoir, through said water filter and through a region exposed to light from the ultraviolet light source, and then into the humidification chamber; and   a control system operable to control operation of said ultraviolet light source, said pump, said motorized fan, and the humidification chamber to generate the water mist, and to cause the water mist to become entrained in the flow of air moving from the humidification chamber to the exterior of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The humidifier of  claim 19 , further comprising an air filter in the housing, wherein the motorized fan is positioned to draw air through the air filter and to the humidification chamber.