Fan coil apparatus including a humidification unit and a humidification unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10107512-B2
Application number	US-201615382314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A fan coil includes a humidification unit having a water filter, a leak container, and a shut off valve. The water filter includes an inlet connectable to a source of water and a filtered water outlet in flow communication with a downstream portion of the humidification unit. The leak container includes a reservoir and a leak container water level detector. The leak container is positioned to receive water which leaks from the water filter or flow conduits leading to or from the water filter. The shut off valve is provided in the water supply conduit, and is operable between an open position and a closed position. The shut off valve is in the closed position when the leak container water level detector senses a high water level in the leak container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A humidification unit for a fan coil, the humidification unit comprising:
a. an water filter comprising an inlet connectable to a source of water and a filtered water outlet in flow communication with a downstream portion of the humidification unit;
b. a leak container comprising a reservoir and a leak container water level detector, wherein the leak container is positioned to receive water which leaks from the water filter or flow conduits leading to or from the water filter, the leak container water level detector senses a high water level in the leak container when a water level in the leak container is at a high water level position; and,
c. a shut off valve provided in the water supply conduit, the shut off valve operable between an open position and a closed position,
wherein the shut off valve is in the closed position when the leak container water level detector senses a high water level in the leak container.

2. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the water filter is positioned to overlie at least a portion of an open interior of the leak container.

3. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the leak container has an inner chamber and the water filter is at least partially nested in the outer container.

4. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the leak container water level detector also senses a low water level in the leak container when a water level in the leak container is at a low water level position and the shut off valve is in the open position when the leak container water level detector senses a low water level in the leak container.

5. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the shut off valve comprises a solenoid.

6. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the water level detector comprises a float switch.

7. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the leak container further comprises a drain.

8. The humidification unit of claim 1 wherein the leak container humidification unit further comprises an inner container and an outer container and the leak container water level detector comprises an inner container water level detector and an outer container water level detector, wherein:
a. the inner container comprises a water supply for a water mist production member and the inner container water level detector, the inner container water level detector senses a high water level in the inner container when a water level in the inner container is at a high water level position, wherein the water supply comprises the downstream portion of the humidification unit; and,
b. the outer container comprises a reservoir and the outer container water level detector, wherein the outer container is positioned to receive water which leaks from the inner container, the outer container water level detector senses a high water level in the outer container when a water level in the outer container is at a high water level position;
wherein the shut off valve is also in the closed position when the inner container water level detector senses a high water level in the inner container or when the outer container water level detector senses a high water level in the outer container.

9. The humidification unit of claim 8 wherein:
a. the inner container water level detector also senses a low water level in the inner container when a water level in the inner container is at a low water level position;
b. the leak container water level detector also senses a low water level in the leak container when a water level in the leak container is at a low water level position; and,
c. the shut off valve is in the closed position when the outer container water level detector senses a high water level in the outer container and when the inner container water level detector senses a low water level in the inner container and when the leak container water level detector senses a low water level in the leak container.

10. The humidification unit of claim 8 wherein:
a. the outer container water level detector also senses a low water level in the outer container when a water level in the outer container is at a low water level position;
b. the leak container water level detector also senses a low water level in the leak container when a water level in the leak container is at a low water level position; and,
c. the shut off valve is in the closed position when the inner container water level detector senses a high water level in the inner container and when the outer container water level detector senses a low water level in the outer container and when the leak container water level detector senses a low water level in the leak container.

Assignees

• Omachron Intellectual Property Inc

Inventors

• Conrad Wayne Ernest

Classifications

• B01F3/04

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• F24F3/1411

  by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant · CPC title

• F24F11/0008 Primary

  for air-humidification (F24F11/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F2006/008

  Air-humidifier with water reservoir · CPC title

• F24F3/14

  by humidification; by dehumidification · CPC title