Humidifier control

#This invention relates to a control for a humidifier which is selectively operated to control the moisture in an air movement system in response to sensed electrical energy supplied to the air movement system.

#Controls for air humidifiers have been designed to energize both a blower motor which conducts air through a circulating system and a humidifier which controls the moisture in the circulated air, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,001, which permits the blower to run for a period of time after the humidifier is shut off.

#Various systems have sensed the current flow between a power source and a furnace blower for controlling the operation of a humidifier. On such system generally requires the severing of one or more connecting leads to directly electrically connect a primary of a sensing transformer having a secondary connected to operate a solenoid operated electro-mechanical switch having switching contacts for energizing the humidifier in response to the energization of the blower. When such blower motors are employed at higher operating speeds such as in conjunction with air conditioners, current transients are frequently encountered which may burn out or destroy such a sensing transformer.

#The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed, as well as others which will be clear from the following description.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical block illustration of a system which controls the operation of a humidifier in response to the sensed flow of energy between a source and a furnace blower motor;

#Referring to the drawing and particularly FIG. 1, a power source 1 is connected to supply alternating current electrical power to a furnace blower motor 2 through a connecting circuit 3. In certain constructions, the connecting circuit may comprise only two leads such as a power conducting lead 4 and a ground or return lead 5. In other constructions, the furnace blower motor 2 may be operated at two or more speeds thus requiring additional power connecting leads for increased power such as illustrated by lead 6 in FIG. 1. For example, lead 4 may be energized for a low speed heating sequence while lead 6 may be energized for a high speed air conditioning sequence.

#An energy sensor 7 monitors the energy flow through the connecting circuit 3 and provides an output to a humidifier control 8 in response to the sensed energy flow. The humidifier control 8 also responds to a humidistat sensor 9 which may be located within a room or area which receives the circulated air from the furnace blower motor 2. The humidifier control 8 thus responds to both the sensed energy in connecting circuit 3 and the humidistat 9 and selectively controls the energy flow between a power source such as 1 or any other power source and a humidifier 10. The humidifier 10 may be constructed in any desirable manner, and one type of desirable humidifier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,193,259 to J. M. Liebmann.

#In operation, the furnace blower motor 2 and humidifier 10 operate in conjunction as controlled by the humidifier control 8 for supplying air having the requisite humidity to a room or other area. Normally, humidifier operation is generally required during the heating season wherein the furnace blower motor 2 is operated solely through the low power conducting lead 4. The high power conducting lead 6 is generally used during the air conditioning season when a humidifier operation is not required. It is therefore generally unnecessary to sense the energy flow through lead 6 although such sensing could be incorporated within the invention if desired.