| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20110067851 | BYPASS HUMIDIFIER WITH DAMPER CONTROL - An improved humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system. The humidifier system includes an air path that is configured to accept air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct. A damper is disposed in the air path to selectively substantially block the flow of air in the air path, or to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path. In some cases, the damper may be a motorized damper, and the humidifier system may include a controller that is configured to cause the motorized damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path during a call for humidifier operation, and to substantially block the flow of air in the air path after the call for humidifier operation ends. Alternatively, the damper may be manually actuated, and an HVAC controller may be configured to notify when the damper should be moved (e.g. between seasons). | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068488 | HUMIDIFIER WITH FIELD RECONFIGURABLE BYPASS FEATURE - A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location. In some cases, the first and second locations are on the left and right sides, respectively, of the humidifier housing. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068489 | COMPACT HUMIDIFIER - A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. The housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may direct air through the humidifier pad from a first major surface to a second major surface of the pad. In the operating position, the first and second major surfaces of the humidifier pad may be substantially non-parallel with the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. In some cases, this may provide a more compact design. In some cases, a centrifugal fan, rather than an axial fan, may be used to draw air into the humidifier from the HVAC duct. The use of a centrifugal fan may reduce the noise associated with the operation of the humidifier. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068490 | HUMIDIFIER WITH VERSATILE HUMIDIFIER PAD ACCESS - A humidifier for an HVAC system includes a replaceable humidifier pad, and a housing for holding the replaceable humidifier pad in an operating position during operation of the humidifier. The back side of the housing may define an air flow aperture that is in fluid communication with the replaceable humidifier pad when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position. In some instances, the right side of the housing may define a first aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad. Likewise, the left side of the housing may define a second aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad. The humidifier may also include a first cover member for covering the first aperture when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position, and a second cover member for covering the second aperture when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position. In some cases, an aperture and cover may also be provided on the front and/or top sides of the housing so that the replaceable humidifier pad may be replaced from the front and/or top sides of the housing. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068491 | HUMIDIFIER COMPONENTS FOR PAD ACCESS - A humidifier pad assembly for a humidifier that is configured for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system of a building or other structure. The humidifier pad assembly may include a frame for holding a replaceable humidifier pad within the housing of the humidifier. The frame may be structured to hold the replaceable humidifier pad within the housing such that a back major surface of the replaceable humidifier pad generally faces the back side of the housing, and a front opposing major surface of the humidifier pad generally faces the front side of the housing. The frame may further be structured to permit removal and replacement of the replaceable humidifier pad through the front side of the frame. In some cases, the housing may be configured such that the frame (and the replaceable humidifier pad) may be slid out of apertures in the right side and/or left side of the housing. In some instances, the humidifier may include a drain funnel structured to collect water from substantially the entire bottom side of the frame and direct the water to a water drain. The drain funnel may be structured to allow the frame to be slidably moved (e.g. in the left and/or right direction) relative to the drain funnel and removed from the housing through at least one of the left side or the right side of the housing. In some cases, a water distributor is releasably attachable to the frame along a top side of the frame. | 03-24-2011 |
