Humidifier with ultraviolet disinfection
AssigneeAccess Business Group International LLC
InventorsRonald C. Markham, Matthew J. Barton
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A humidifier system comprising:
- a humidifier housing defining an air inlet, and air outlet, and a fluid flow path therebetween;
- an atomizing chamber in the fluid flow path, the atomizing chamber being adapted to increase the moisture content of a volume of air in the fluid flow path;
- and
- an ultraviolet light source in the fluid flow path, the ultraviolet light source being adapted to expose the volume of humidified air to germicidal light prior to its release at the air outlet.
A method for humidifying air, comprising:
- providing a fluid flow path in communication with the ambient environment;
- increasing the moisture content of ambient air circulating through the fluid flow path;
- exposing the resulting humidified air to ultraviolet light to inactivate microorganisms in the humidified air;
- and
- discharging the humidified air from the fluid flow path into the ambient environment.
A humidifier system comprising:
- a water reservoir including an outlet;
- an atomizing chamber in fluid communication with the water reservoir outlet, the atomizing chamber being adapted to atomize water from the water reservoir;
- and
- an ultraviolet light source adapted to treat atomized water from the atomizing chamber with germicidal radiation prior to its dispersal into the ambient environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.