Float-controlled humidifier
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for humidifying gases comprising:
- a gas chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable gases to be passed through said chamber;
a water compartment below and interconnected with said gas chamber;
a microporous wall between and common to said gas chamber and water compartment, said microporous wall being permeable to water vapor but substantially impermeable to liquid water;
at least one float in said gas chamber;
a water inlet means;
a water conduit leading from said inlet means to said water compartment; and
at least one water control valve comprising a movable valve member connected to said at least one float for operation thereby and a valve seat on said water conduit between said water inlet means and compartment, so that when more than a predetermined amount of water enters said gas chamber from said water compartment, said at least one float is raised by said water and actuates said movable valve member relative to and into closing engagement with said valve seat to prevent further entry of water into said water compartment.
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Abstract
A humidifier for humidifying gases flowing from a source to a person, e.g. a patient breathing apparatus, has a gas chamber interconnected with a water compartment and at least one float controlled valve which controls the flow of water into the water compartment so that if the level of water in the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined level, flow of water to the water compartment is prevented. A further float controlled valve may be provided to prevent flow of water from the water compartment to the gas chamber when the water level in the gas chamber exceeds the predetermined, or a further predetermined, level.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for humidifying gases comprising:
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a gas chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable gases to be passed through said chamber; a water compartment below and interconnected with said gas chamber; a microporous wall between and common to said gas chamber and water compartment, said microporous wall being permeable to water vapor but substantially impermeable to liquid water; at least one float in said gas chamber; a water inlet means; a water conduit leading from said inlet means to said water compartment; and at least one water control valve comprising a movable valve member connected to said at least one float for operation thereby and a valve seat on said water conduit between said water inlet means and compartment, so that when more than a predetermined amount of water enters said gas chamber from said water compartment, said at least one float is raised by said water and actuates said movable valve member relative to and into closing engagement with said valve seat to prevent further entry of water into said water compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for humidifying gases comprising:
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a bell shaped member forming a gas chamber therein; an inlet and an outlet in said bell shaped member to enable gases to be passed through said gas chamber; a dish shaped member forming a water compartment interconnected with and below said gas chamber; a microporous wall between and common to said gas chamber and water compartment, said microporous wall being permeable to water vapor but substantially impermeable to liquid water; water conduit means passing through a part of said gas chamber; support means for said microporous wall for resisting water pressure in said water compartment applied to said microporous wall; a lower periphery on said bell shaped member; an outwardly extending annular flange on and surrounding said lower periphery; a coacting annular flange on said support means for said microporous wall; and a coacting annular flange on said dish shaped member having an outer port rolled over said annular flanges on said support means and said bell shaped member, said rolled over outer part compressing said flanges together to provide air tight and water tight joints between said gas chamber and said water compartment.
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Specification