Humidifier with a heating disc
View Patent ↗A humidifier includes a base defining a reservoir for retaining liquid, a humidification device for inducing dispersion of liquid withdrawn from the reservoir into the environment and a liquid storage tank having an outlet for feeding liquid into the reservoir. The humidification device includes a heated disc for evaporating a stream of liquid delivered from the reservoir to the heated disc by a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism may deliver the stream of liquid as a mist, a thin film or a controlled stream of liquid onto the disc.
1. A humidifier comprising:
a base defining a reservoir for retaining liquid;
a heatable disc having a surface for receiving a stream of liquid from the reservoir on the surface of the disc;
a mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid from the reservoir to the disc, said mechanism delivering at least a portion of the stream of liquid as an atomized mist; and
wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to evaporate at least a portion of the stream of liquid withdrawn from the reservoir and discharge the moisture into the environment.
2. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc is angled below a horizontal plane in which the stream of liquid is delivered.
3. The humidifier of claim 2 , wherein the angle is less than about 10°.
4. The humidifier of claim 2 , wherein the angle is about 2.5°.
5. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the disc is connected to the base adjacent to where the disc receives the stream of liquid.
6. The humidifier of claim 5 , wherein the disc has an edge and the entire edge of the disc is connected to the base.
7. The humidifier of claim 5 , further comprising a gasket holding the disc to the base.
8. The humidifier of claim 6 , wherein the disc is held to the base by a friction fit.
9. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the disc is a top surface.
10. The humidifier of claim 9 , further comprising:
an extended portion provided on the disc to move the surface of the disc closer to a plane through which the stream of liquid from the reservoir substantially flows.
11. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc is stainless steel.
12. The humidifier of claim 11 , wherein the disc has a surface that includes a coating.
13. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc is substantially round.
14. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the disc is substantially flat.
15. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc includes an electrical resistance coil and the coil is connectable to an electrical source for heating at least a portion of the surface of the disc.
16. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to have a cleaning mode for spiking the temperature of at least a portion of the surface of the disc.
17. The humidifier of claim 16 , wherein the disc automatically enters the cleaning mode when the reservoir is empty.
18. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to automatically shut-off the heat when at least a portion of the surface of the disc reaches a predetermined temperature.
19. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid includes a passageway provided between the reservoir and the disc.
20. The humidifier of claim 19 , wherein the passageway includes a labyrinth.
21. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid includes an atomizer.
22. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the liquid received on the surface of the disc has a depth and the depth is less than about 8 mm.
23. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid delivers at least a portion of the stream of liquid as a thin film.
24. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid delivers at least a portion of the stream of liquid as a controlled stream.
25. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein liquid not evaporated on the disc is returned to the reservoir.
26. The humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a nozzle provided above the disc to direct the evaporated liquid through the nozzle; and
a venturi to release the evaporated liquid out of the humidifier.
27. The humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a liquid storage tank having an outlet communicating with the reservoir and adapted to feed liquid thereto.
28. The humidifier of claim 27 , wherein the tank is removably provided on the base.