Electric steam humidifier

Abstract

A humidifier for use with a forced air heating system. The humidifier comprises a water reservoir in the form of a sealed container having a water inlet connection and suitable control means for maintaining the level of the water at a predetermined depth within the reservoir. An electric immersion type heater is also provided within the sealed container at a level which is normally below the water level and, when energized, heats the water to produce steam. The reservoir can be mounted completely external to a duct of the forced air heating system, but an inverted U-shaped tube having preparations along the base thereof is disposed within the duct and has its parallel legs passing through the duct and reservoir so as to communicate with the portion of the reservoir above the level of the water therein. As such, the steam passes through the U-shaped tube and out its perforations to thereby add moisture to the air passing through the duct. A clean-out panel is provided in the reservoir, and because the reservoir itself is disposed external to the duct, the panel may be opened to permit scale and other particulate matter to be removed with little difficulty.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A humidifier unit for use with a forced air heating system comprising: (a) a rectangular container having a face plate on one end thereof and a removable top plate member having vapor outlet means therein;   (b) electrically operated valve means attached to said face plate for controlling the flow of water into said container;   (c) an immersible heater element having a first portion thereof disposed in said container at a predetermined elevation and a second portion extending through and attached to said face plate;   (d) a float operated control device affixed to said face plate and electrically connected to said valve means and to said heater element for opening said valve when the depth of water in said container falls below a first level and for closing said valve when the depth of water in said container reaches a second predetermined level, said control device opening the circuit to said heater element when the depth of the water in said container falls a predetermined distance below said first level;   (e) a drain tube member having an open upper end mounted within said container and having the other end thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said drain tube having an aperture formed through the side wall thereof a predetermined distance below the upper open end thereof, the top of the aperature in said drain tube corresponding to said second predetermined level and the bottom of said aperature corresponding to .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.third predetermined level .Iadd.between the first and second levels; and   (f) the vapor outlet means comprising a perforated steam discharge tube having a pair of substantially coextensive, spaced tubular leg sections extending upwardly above the removable top plate member and connected to the top plate member and opening to said container through apertures in the top plate member, and having a second tube section connected to and extending laterally between the two tubular leg sections and projecting into an air stream, said second tube section having outlet openings for discharge of steam therefrom into such air stream remote from the container. .Iaddend. .[.   
     
     
       2.  Apparatus as in claim 1 and further including a removable access plate located proximate the lower edge of said container face plate for normally sealing an access port in said face plate..]. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as in claim 1 and further including an opening formed through said face plate at a location generally aligned with said aperture in said drain tube and plug means for normally sealing said opening. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said electrical heater element, when energized, creates steam within said container above said second predetermined level and beneath said top plate member, the steam flowing through said vapor outlet means. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as in claim 4 and further including means for attaching said humidifier unit to an air duct of a forced air heating system with said vapor outlet means communicating with said duct and at least said face plate external to said duct.