Bathroom dehumidifier method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for dehumidifying the air in a room wherein said room has running water that adds moisture to the air in said room, a cold water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe for supplying water to said room, and a water heater for heating water for said hot water supply pipe, said method comprising the steps of passing cold water from said cold water supply pipe through a cold heat exchanger, passing hot water from said water heater and to said hot water supply pipe through a hot heat exchanger that is adjacent to said cold heat exchanger, and passing said air is said room through said cold heat exchanger then through said hot heat exchanger, and returning said air to the room.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dehumidifier for use in a bathroom or the like utilizes the cold surface of a heat exchanger to condense moisture, and the hot surface of a heat exchanger to warm the air after the moisture is removed. The cold surface is provided by having the cold water supplied to the room pass through the cold heat exchanger; and, the hot surface is provided by having the hot water supplied to the room head pass through the hot heat exchanger. The heat exchangers may be concentric circles, so a recirculation fan centrally of the heat exchangers will move air across the two, or may be rectangular with a plenum at each end so air moves across the two. A drip pan beneath the cold heat exchanger catches the condensate. The circular heat exchangers may be less than a full circle, and a light housed in the space defined. Also, an exhaust fan may be mounted concentrically with the recirculation fan in the circular heat exchanger, or may be mounted in the output plenum of the rectangular device.
38 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A method for dehumidifying the air in a room wherein said room has running water that adds moisture to the air in said room, a cold water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe for supplying water to said room, and a water heater for heating water for said hot water supply pipe, said method comprising the steps of passing cold water from said cold water supply pipe through a cold heat exchanger, passing hot water from said water heater and to said hot water supply pipe through a hot heat exchanger that is adjacent to said cold heat exchanger, and passing said air is said room through said cold heat exchanger then through said hot heat exchanger, and returning said air to the room.
- 3. A dehumidifier in combination with a room having running water, wherein said running water adds moisture to the air in said room, said combination comprising a cold water supply pipe for supplying cold water to said room, a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water to said room, a cold heat exchanger connected to said cold water supply pipe and a hot heat exchanger connected to said hot water supply pipe so that said running water passes through said cold and hot heat exchangers, said cold and hot heat exchangers being disposed adjacent to each other, and fan means for moving said air in said room across said cold heat exchanger, then across said hot heat exchanger.
- 9. A dehumidifier, for use in a room having running hot water and cold water, said dehumidifier comprising a cold heat exchanger for receiving said cold water therethrough, a hot heat exchanger adjacent to said cold heat exchanger for receiving said hot water therethrough, and a recirculating fan for moving air in said room across said cold heat exchanger and subsequently across said hot heat exchanger.
Specification