# US 5,350,117 A · Discriminating humidification system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,350,117 A - Document ID: US5350117A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/980,301 - Filed: 1992-11-23 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1992-01-31 - Inventors: Itamar Kleinberger; John J. Hayman, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350117A ## CPC - A47F 3/001: {Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation} - A47F 3/0495: {Spraying, trickling or humidifying means} - F24F 6/14: using nozzles - Y02B 30/54: Free-cooling systems - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A discriminating humidification system for humidifying a controlled space which, in its most preferred embodiment, includes a control device connected to a water source for supplying water at a constant pressure, a tubing network for transferring water from the control device, a mist nozzle located within the controlled space and connected to the tubing network to receive water transferred from the control device, and a droplet discrimination device positioned around the mist nozzle and located within the controlled space for removing and draining larger water droplets from the mist sprayed from the mist nozzle for releasing a very fine water mist into the controlled space outside the droplet discrimination device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for converting a liquid into a refined mist, said apparatus comprising: a mist means for converting a liquid into a first mist; and a discriminator means for facilitating mist and air being pushed therethrough and for interacting with the first mist to refine the first mist into a refined mist, said discriminator means defining a mist chamber associated with said mist means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means includes means for interacting with the first mist to facilitate the first mist primarily causing mist and air to move within said mist chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, further including a baffle means located within said discriminator means for deflecting the first mist. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said discriminator means further defines, at least, a release aperture for releasing refined mist, and wherein said baffle means includes, at least, a primary baffle assembly located within the mist chamber between said mist means and said release aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said baffle means is connected to said mist means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said baffle means is connected to said discriminator means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said baffle means includes, at least, a deflector defining a contact plane, and wherein said first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets all travelling in directions having a directional component in a common emission direction which forms an angle other than a right angle with the contact plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) Apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets all travelling in directions having a directional component in a common emission direction, wherein said first mist migrates in the mist chamber in a general migration direction toward the release aperture, and wherein the common emission direction is less than 90.degree. away from the general migration direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said baffle means includes, at least, a base, a deflector, and at least oe deflector rim depedig from said deflector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said baffle means includes, at least, means for deflecting the first mist toward contact with the discriminator means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means further defines, at least, an air inlet, and an air outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus of claim 11, wherein said discriminator means includes, at least, an adjustment means for at least partially occluding the air inlet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means includes, at least, a base connected to said mist means and a sleeve connected to said base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus of claim 13, wherein said sleeve defines, at least, an air inlet and an air outlet, and wherein said sleeve partially defines said mist chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus of claim 14, wherein said sleeve includes, at least, an adjustment means for at least partially occluding the air inlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) Apparatus of claim 14, wherein the air inlet defines a first air inlet and wherein said sleeve further defines a second air inlet located across the mist chamber from the first air inlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means further defines a mist means receipt portal, a drainage aperture, and a mist release aperture, and wherein, except for the mist means receipt portal, the drainage aperture, and the mist release aperture, the mist chamber is completely enclosed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means further defines a release aperture for releasing the refined mist, and wherein said discriminator means further includes a baffle means located within said mist chamber for cooperating with the first mist to cause at least a portion of the first mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said release aperture subsequent to all contact with the said baffle means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets, wherein the plurality of droplets includes, at least, droplets that eventually become refined mist, and wherein subsequent to all cooperating between said baffle means and the at least a portion of the first mist, said baffle means has caused all of the droplets that eventually become refined mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said release aperture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discriminator means further includes, at least, an inner wall at least partially defining said mist chamber, and a baffle means located within said mist chamber for cooperating with the first mist to cause at least a portion of the first mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said inner wall subsequent to all contact with said baffle means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets, wherein the plurality of droplets includes, at least, droplets that eventually become refined mist, and wherein subsequent to all cooperating between said baffle means and the at least a portion of the first mist, said baffle means has caused all of the droplets that eventually become refined mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said inner wall. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) Apparatus of claim 20, wherein said discriminator means further defines a release aperture for releasing the refined mist, and wherein the direction in which said baffle means has caused the at least a portion of the first mist to travel further has a directional component toward said release aperture. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets, wherein the plurality of droplets includes, at least, droplets that eventually become refined mist, and wherein subsequent to all cooperating between said baffle means and the at least a portion of the first mist, said baffle means has caused all of the droplets that eventually become refined mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said inner wall and a directional component toward said release aperture. ### Claim 24 (depends on 6) Apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the first mist has a first directional component defined in a direction from said mist means toward said release aperture, and wherein said primary baffle assembly includes means for maintaining said first directional component of the at least a portion of the first mist. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Apparatus of claim 24, wherein said the first mist includes, at least, a plurality of droplets, wherein the plurality of droplets includes, at least, droplets that eventually become refined mist, and wherein said primary baffle assembly is constructed and oriented so as to maintain said first directional component of all of the droplets that eventually become refined mist. ### Claim 26 (depends on 4) Apparatus of claim 4, wherein said primary baffle assembly includes a flattened planar surface. ### Claim 27 An apparatus for converting a liquid into a refined mist, said apparatus comprising: a nozzle defining a nozzle aperture for emitting noble liquid; a first baffle located to be contacted by liquid from the nozzle aperture and including, at least, a deflector surface defining a contact plane; and a second baffle including, at least, a deflector surface defining a contact plane, wherein said contact plane of said deflector surface of said first baffle and said contact plane of said deflector surface of said second baffle each form baffle contact angles with the chamber centerline which are both either acute or obtuse angles. ### Claim 28 An apparatus for converting a liquid into a refined mist, said apparatus comprising: a nozzle defining a nozzle aperture for emitting nozzle liquid; a first baffle located to be contacted by liquid form the nozzle aperture and including, at least, a deflector surface defining a contact plane; and a second baffle including, at least, a deflector surface defining a contact plane, wherein one of said contact plane of said deflector surface of said first baffle and said contact plane of said deflector surface of said second baffle forms an acute angle with the chamber centerline, and the other an obtuse angle. ### Claim 29 A droplet discrimination apparatus for refining mist from a mist nozzle, said apparatus comprising: a base portion for connection to a mist nozzle; a sleeve portion defining an air inlet and an air outlet and at least partially defining a mist chamber between the air inlet and said air outlet; and a first baffle connected to said sleeve portion and located at one end of the mist chamber and a second baffle connected to said sleeve portion and located within the mist chamber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) Apparatus of claim 29, wherein said base portion defines a mist nozzle receipt portal for receiving the mist nozzle, and wherein said second baffle includes, at least, a flange member connected to said sleeve and extending into the mist chamber at a location between the mist nozzle receipt portal and the air outlet. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) Apparatus of claim 29, wherein said base portion includes, at least, means for connecting said droplet discrimination apparatus to a support structure. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) Apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a means for at least partially occluding the air inlet. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) Apparatus of claim 29, wherein the air inlet defines a first air inlet, and wherein said sleeve portion further defines a second air inlet located across the mist chamber from the first air inlet. ### Claim 34 An apparatus for creating a discriminated mist, said apparatus comprising: a mist means for receiving a liquid, for converting the liquid into a plurality of droplets, and for substantially completing any decreasing of the size of each droplet of the plurality of droplets; and a discriminator means associated with said mist means for segregating the plurality of droplets, wherein said discriminator means includes, at least, a baffle means for deflecting the plurality of droplets. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) Apparatus of claim 34, wherein said apparatus further comprises a pressurized source of the liquid, and wherein said mist means includes, at least, a nozzle defining an orifice therethrough, wherein said orifice is in fluid communication with said pressurized source of the liquid and the plurality of droplets discharge from said orifice, wherein the decreasing of the size of the plurality of droplets is substantially completed when the plurality of droplets discharge from said orifice. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) Apparatus of claim 34, wherein the plurality of droplets includes larger droplets and smaller droplets, and wherein said discriminator means is so constructed that said discriminator means collects a majority of the larger droplets and discharges a majority of the smaller droplets. ### Claim 37 An apparatus for creating a discriminated mist, said apparatus comprising: a structure including an inner surface defining a mist chamber having a first end and a second end, wherein said inner surface further defines a release aperture located toward said second end; a mist means for converting a liquid into a mist, wherein said mist means includes, at least, a mist aperture disposed within said first end of said mist chamber for introducing the mist into said mist chamber, wherein the mist includes larger droplets and smaller droplets, and wherein said mist means is so constructed that a majority of the larger droplets and smaller droplets have a first directional component defined in a direction from said mist aperture toward said release aperture; and a baffle means constructed for maintaining said first directional component of a majority of the smaller droplets and collecting a portion of the larger droplets, whereby said apparatus functions to dissuade the larger droplets from passing through said release aperture with the smaller droplets. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) Apparatus of claim 37, wherein said baffle means is further constructed for collecting a first portion of the larger droplets, and for imparting a second directional component upon a second portion of the larger droplets, wherein said second directional component is generally transverse to said first directional component, whereby a majority of the second portion of the larger droplets engage and are collected by said inner surface of said structure, whereby a majority of the larger droplets are collected within said mist chamber and a majority of the smaller droplets pass through said release aperture. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) Apparatus of claim 37, wherein said mist chamber defines a centerline extending from said first end to said second end, wherein said baffle means includes, at least, a primary baffle disposed between said mist aperture and said second end, wherein said primary baffle includes, at least, a planar portion intersecting said centerline and defining an obtuse angle therewith. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) Apparatus of claim 39, wherein said baffle means further includes, at least, a second baffle disposed between said primary baffle and said second end, wherein said second baffle includes, at least, a planar portion intersecting said centerline and defining an obtuse angle therewith. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) Apparatus of claim 40, wherein said second baffle is located opposite from said release aperture. ### Claim 42 An apparatus for converting a liquid into a refined mist, said apparatus comprising: a mist means for converting a liquid into a first mist; and a discriminator means associated with said mist means for refining the first mist into a refined mist, wherein said discriminator means defines a mist chamber for receiving the first mist and a release aperture for releasing the refined mist,and includes, at least, a first baffle located inside said mist chamber, and a second baffle located inside said mist chamber at a location nearer said release aperture than to said mist means. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means further defines a mist chamber centerline, wherein said first baffle defines a primary mist contact plane forming a primary baffle contact angle with the mist chamber centerline, wherein said second baffle defines a secondary mist contact plane forming a secondary baffle contact angle with the mist chamber centerline, and wherein the primary baffle contact angle and the secondary baffle contact angle both define either acute or obtuse angles. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means further defines a mist chamber centerline, wherein said first baffle defines a primary mist contact plane forming a primary baffle contact angle with the mist chamber centerline, wherein said second baffle defines a secondary mist contact plane forming a secondary baffle contact angle with the mist chamber centerline, and wherein one of the primary baffle contact angle and the secondary baffle contact angle defines an acute angle and the other defines an obtuse angle. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means further defines an air inlet for allowing air to enter said mist chamber. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means is so constructed that mist and air are primarily pushed within said mist chamber. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means is so constructed that mist and air move within said mist chamber primarily in response to movement of the first mist. ### Claim 48 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said discriminator means further defines a release aperture for releasing the refined mist, and wherein said first baffle and said second baffle cooperate with the first mist, wherein, said first baffle is so constructed that, subsequent to all cooperating between said first baffle and a first portion of the first mist, said first baffle has caused the first portion of the first mist to travel in a first direction having a directional component toward said second baffle, and wherein, said second baffle is so constructed that, subsequent to all cooperating between said second baffle and a second portion of the first mist, said second baffle has caused the second portion of the first mist to travel in a direction having a directional component toward said release aperture. ### Claim 49 (depends on 42) Apparatus of claim 42, wherein said first baffle is adjacent to said mist means.