Backplane adjustable humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11460198-B2
Application number	US-201916719721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A humidifier including a humidifier housing with an adjustable backplane configured to fit to a variety of humidifier pad sizes. Different sizes of humidifier pads are available, and the choice of humidifier pad may depend on the capacity of the HVAC system. The backplane of this disclosure may be adjusted by moving to one position to accommodate a larger humidifier pad or to a second position for a smaller humidifier pad. The backplane of the humidifier housing is configured to mount over an opening of an air duct of an HVAC system such that air is directed along an air path defined by the humidifier housing, through the humidifier pad positioned in front of the air duct and into the air stream of the HVAC system. Water flows through inlet tubing to a water distributor, which may direct the water to the top of the humidifier pad.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device configured to add moisture to an air stream of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the device comprising:
a housing that defines at least part of an air path, wherein the air path is configured to carry the moisture to the air stream of the HVAC system, the housing comprising:
a water distributor support configured to:
position a water distributor adjacent to a humidifier pad, wherein the air path flows through the humidifier pad into the air stream;

a backplane comprising an adjustable frame comprising both a fixed portion and a movable portion,
wherein the fixed portion defines a first port in the backplane;
wherein the movable portion comprises the water distributor support;
wherein the movable portion is configured to slide along the backplane and within the first port;
wherein both the fixed portion, and the movable portion together define a second port within the first port through which the air path carries the moisture to the air stream;
wherein the movable portion is configured to slide along the backplane, such that sliding the movable portion in a first direction causes a first dimension of the adjustable frame and an area of the second port to decrease and sliding the movable portion in a second direction causes the first dimension of the adjustable frame and the area of the second port to increase;
wherein the backplane is configured to mount to an air duct of the HVAC system, and
wherein the air duct is configured to contain and direct the air stream.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first dimension of the adjustable frame is based on a first dimension of the humidifier pad.

3. The device of claim 2 ,
wherein the adjustable frame comprises internal structures configured to adjust a second dimension of the adjustable frame based on a second dimension of the humidifier pad,
wherein the second dimension of the adjustable frame is perpendicular to the first dimension along the backplane.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a humidifier pad retainer configured to secure the humidifier pad in the housing.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the backplane is configured to create an air-tight seal to the air duct such that the air path must flow through the humidifier pad into the air stream.

6. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the movable portion of the adjustable frame comprises one or more complementary engageable structures configured to engage with the fixed portion and hold the movable portion at a selectable position relative to the fixed portion, and
wherein the complementary engageable structures comprise any one or more of snaps, clips, or pins.

7. The device of claim 1 , comprising a fan-assisted humidifier configured to drive airflow in the air path.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an outlet port separate from the first port and the second port, the outlet port configured to direct air in the air path to a second air duct of the HVAC system.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second port is an inlet port configured to direct air in the air path to the humidifier pad.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first dimension of the adjustable frame is configured to adjust an amount of moisture carried by the air path.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the backplane is mounted to a supply air duct of the HVAC system.

12. A system configured to add moisture to an air stream of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the system comprising:
a housing that defines an air path;
a water distributor support configured to:
position a water distributor adjacent to a humidifier pad, wherein air in the air path flows through the humidifier pad, and into the air stream;

a backplane comprising an adjustable frame comprising both a fixed portion and a movable portion,
wherein the fixed portion defines a first port in the backplane;
wherein the movable portion comprises the water distributor support;
wherein the movable portion is configured to slide along the backplane, and within the first port;
wherein both the fixed portion, and the movable portion that define a second port within the first port through which the air path carries the moisture to the air stream;
wherein the movable portion is configured to slide along the backplane, such that sliding the movable portion in a first direction causes a first dimension and an area of the second port of the adjustable frame to decrease and sliding the movable portion in a second direction causes the first dimension and the area of the second port of the adjustable frame to increase;
wherein the backplane is configured to mount to an air duct of the HVAC system, and
wherein the air duct is configured to contain and direct the air stream.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a controller for controlling an amount of water distributed to the humidifier pad.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the air duct is a first air duct, the system further comprising:
a second air duct, wherein the air path carries air from the second air duct to the first air duct.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a fan-assisted humidifier configured to drive airflow in the air path.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a controller configured to control the operation of the fan-assisted humidifier.

17. A method for adding moisture to an air stream of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
mounting a backplane of a housing for a humidifier to an air duct of the HVAC system, wherein the housing defines at least part of an air path, and wherein the backplane comprises an adjustable frame comprising both a fixed portion and a movable portion:
wherein the fixed portion defines a first port in the backplane;
wherein the movable portion is configured to slide along the backplane, and within the first port;
wherein both the fixed portion, and the movable portion together define a second port within the first port through which the air path carries the moisture to the air stream,
wherein the movable portion comprises a water distributor positioned adjacent to the second port;

sliding the movable portion in a first direction along the backplane to cause a first dimension of the adjustable frame and an area of the second port to increase;
inserting a humidifier pad into the adjustable frame, wherein the air path flows through the humidifier pad into the air stream;
sliding the movable portion in a second direction along the backplane to cause the first dimension of the adjustable frame and the area of the second port to decrease;
moistening the humidifier pad with water distributed by the water distributer;
flowing the air through the moistened humidifier pad;
evaporating the water in the humidifier pad into the air path; and
directing the air path with the evaporated water to the air stream of the HVAC system.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein moving sliding the movable portion comprises adjusting the area of the second port based on a first dimension of the humidifier pad.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising adjusting internal structures of the fixed portion based on a second dimension of the humidifier pad.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Brabec Jan
• Hoff Charles N

Classifications

• F24F2110/20

  Humidity · CPC title

• F24F11/0008

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

• F24F1/035

  characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters · CPC title

• F24F6/04 Primary

  using stationary unheated wet elements · CPC title

• F24F1/0073

  characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters · CPC title