Humidifier with ultraviolet disinfection

• US 9,482,440 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Markham, Ronald C., Barton, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/571,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 962/24, 261/30, 261/78.2, 261/81, 261/107, 261/119.1, 261/72.1, 261/DIG.4, 261/DIG.65
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2133 using electric, sonic or ultrasonic energy
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/00 Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents softening using ion-exchange C02F1/42
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/28 Arrangement or mounting of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2006/006 with water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2006/008 Air-humidifier with water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/043 with self-sucking action, e.g. wicks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/12 by forming water dispersions in the air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/18 by injection of steam into the air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A humidifier for treating humidified air with germicidal light is provided. The humidifier includes a water reservoir, an atomizer to atomize a supply of water, and an ultraviolet light source to expose the atomized water to germicidal light. The ultraviolet light source extends vertically within a cylindrical channel to irradiate the atomized water dissipating upwardly from the atomizer. The water reservoir can include a carbon filter and a hardness-removing module for removing containments and metal oxides from the water supply. A control panel indicates the remaining useful life of the ultraviolet light source, the carbon filter and the hardness-removing module based on historical humidifier usage and water quality levels.

Claims

1. A humidifier system comprising:

a humidifier housing including an air outlet;

a water reservoir within the humidifier housing;

an atomizer within the humidifier housing to generate humidified air including atomized water;

an ultraviolet light source to radiate germicidal light within the humidifier housing;

a humidity sensor to measure an ambient humidity level; and

a control module to receive a selection of a desired humidity level, wherein operation of the atomizer is controlled based on the desired humidity level as compared against the ambient humidity level.

2. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein power to the atomizer is provided in response to the measured humidity level being below the desired humidity level.

3. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein power to the atomizer is stopped in response to the measured humidity level reaching the desired humidity level.

4. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the control module is further adapted to control operation of the ultraviolet light source.

5. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the control module is further adapted to monitor an operating parameter of the ultraviolet light source.

6. The humidifier system of claim 5 wherein the operating parameter includes the power consumption of the ultraviolet light source, the luminary output of the ultraviolet light source, or the duration of operation of the ultraviolet light source.

7. The humidifier system of claim 1 further including a blower to direct humidified air through the air outlet.

8. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the water reservoir includes at least one of a carbon cartridge filter and a hardness removing module.

9. The humidifier system of claim 1 further including an inductive ballast circuit to provide power to the ultraviolet light source.

10. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to radiate water within the humidifier before atomization of the water.

11. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to radiate water within the humidifier after atomization of the water.

12. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to radiate water within the humidifier before and after atomization of the water.

13. The humidifier system of claim 1 wherein the control module is further adapted to prevent the humidifier from operating if the ultraviolet light source is operating outside of acceptable parameters.

14. A method for humidifying air, comprising:

increasing the moisture content of air moving through a fluid flow path in a humidifier with atomized water;

radiating ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source to inactivate microorganisms within the humidifier;

discharging humidified air from the humidifier housing through an outlet and into an ambient environment; and

terminating the discharge of humidified air from the outlet in response to the ambient environment achieving a desired humidity level.

15. The method according to claim 14 further including monitoring an operating parameter of the ultraviolet light source.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the operating parameter includes the power consumption of the ultraviolet light source, the luminary output of the ultraviolet light source, or the duration of operation of the ultraviolet light source.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the ultraviolet light source exposes a supply of water to germicidal light before the supply of water is atomized.

18. The method according to claim 14 wherein the ultraviolet light source exposes a supply of water to germicidal light after the supply of water is atomized.

19. The method according to claim 14 wherein the ultraviolet light source exposes a supply of water to germicidal light before and after the supply of water is atomized.

20. A humidifier system comprising:

a humidifier housing including an air outlet;

a water reservoir within the humidifier housing;

an atomizer within the humidifier housing to generate humidified air;

an ultraviolet light source to radiate germicidal light within the humidifier housing; and

a control module to monitor an operating parameter of the ultraviolet light source.

21. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the operating parameter includes the power consumption of the ultraviolet light source during start-up.

22. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the operating parameter includes the luminary output of the ultraviolet light source.

23. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the operating parameter includes the cumulative duration of operation of the ultraviolet light source.

24. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the control module is further adapted to receive a selection of a desired humidity level, and wherein operation of the atomizer is controlled based on the desired humidity level as compared against the ambient humidity level.

25. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to expose water from the reservoir with germicidal light before the water is atomized.

26. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to expose water from the reservoir with germicidal light after the water is atomized.

27. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to expose water from the reservoir with germicidal light before and after the water is atomized.

28. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the control module is further adapted to prevent the humidifier from operating if the ultraviolet light source is operating outside of acceptable parameters.

29. The humidifier system of claim 20 wherein the atomizer includes one of an ultrasonic nebulizer, a wick filter, and a steam vaporizer.

30. A humidifier system comprising:

a humidifier housing including an air outlet;

a water reservoir within the humidifier housing;

an atomizer within the humidifier housing to generate humidified air, the atomizer disposed within a chamber; and

an ultraviolet light source configured to expose water to germicidal light before the water enters the chamber.

31. The humidifier system of claim 30 further including a control module to receive a selection of a desired humidity level, wherein operation of the atomizer is controlled based on the desired humidity level as compared against the ambient humidity level.

32. The humidifier system of claim 30 further including a control module to control module controls operation of the ultraviolet light source.

33. The humidifier system of claim 30 further including a control module to prevent the humidifier from operating if the ultraviolet light source is operating outside of acceptable parameters.

34. The humidifier system of claim 30 wherein the ultraviolet light source is further configured to expose water to germicidal light after the water is atomized and prior to discharge of the humidified air through the air outlet.