Sensor assembly and method for determining condition of wicks in humidifiers
AssigneeHamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
InventorPatrick T. Mulvaney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor assembly for determining a condition of a wick in an evaporative humidifier includes one or more temperature sensors for detecting temperatures at measurement locations along the wick, and circuitry in communication with the one or more sensors for determining a temperature differential between adjacent measurement locations. The circuitry generates at least one signal indicative of the condition of the wick when the temperature differential is above a predetermined value.
Claims21
A humidifier comprising:
- a reservoir adapted to retain water;
- an evaporative media in fluid communication with the reservoir, the evaporative media being adapted to draw water along a length thereof from the reservoir;
- at least one sensor for detecting temperatures at a plurality of measurement locations along the length of the evaporative media;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one sensor for determining a temperature differential between adjacent measurement locations along the length of the evaporative media and for generating at least one signal indicative of at least one of evaporative media replacement and evaporative media remaining life when the temperature differential is above a predetermined value.
A sensor assembly for determining a condition of a wick in an evaporative humidifier, the sensor assembly comprising:
- at least one sensor for detecting temperatures at measurement locations along the wick;
- and
- circuitry in communication with the at least one sensor for determining a temperature differential between adjacent measurement locations and generating at least one signal indicative of the condition of the wick when the temperature differential is above a first predetermined value.
A method of determining a condition of a wick in an evaporative humidifier, the method comprising:
- measuring a plurality of temperature values at a corresponding plurality of measurement locations along the wick;
- calculating at least one temperature differential from adjacent temperature values corresponding to adjacent measurement locations;
- and
- generating at least one signal indicative of at least one of wick replacement and wick remaining life when the temperature differential is above a predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.