Abstract: A household humidifier comprising a closed water tank, a demineralizer, an air exchange pipe for introducing the outside air, a housing defining a chamber, and a coiled spring. The demineralizer has a container containing ion-exchange resin. The water tank has a water supply port through which the demineralizer and the air exchange pipe can be inserted into the tank. One hollow end of the container is rotatably connected to the chamber such that the container is in communication with the chamber. The container is biased downward by the spring so that the container always lies on its side.

Abstract: A combination humidifier/water distiller apparatus comprises a container for holding tap water. A heater is provided for heating tap water in the container to a vaporized state. A condenser, positioned over the container, condenses the vaporized tap water into distilled water. A receptacle is positioned under the condenser for the collection of the distilled water. The receptacle includes a water track and valve for removing distilled water from the apparatus for other purposes. A nebulizer is included which converts the distilled water into a fine spray. A passage, associated with the nebulizer and the receptacle, supplies distilled water from the receptacle to the nebulizer so that distilled water is nebulized to a fine spray. The nebulizer includes a nozzle or the like for delivering the fine spray to the atmosphere to thereby humidify the surrounding air.

Abstract: The effluent of a process for making a preform from which an optical fiber is drawn is directed into a scrubber (40) of a loop (20) where it is treated with an aqueous solution to provide a solvent mixture which comprises particulates and a solvent solution including germanium. Subsequently, the solvent mixture is moved into a first filter system (55) which provides a filtrate free of particulates above a first size that is returned to the scrubber for reuse and a residue. Then the residue from the first filter system is moved into a second filter system (80) which provides a filtrate free of particulates larger than a second size that is smaller than the first size and a residue. The filtrate from the second filter system also is returned to the scrubber for reuse while the residue from the second filter system is recirculated therethrough.

Abstract: An improved evaporative cooler contains a first pump for supplying cooling liquid to the evaporative pads and a second pump for draining liquid in the sump pan through a drain/overflow pipe. Both pumps are coupled to an electronic control mechanism which activates the first pump for a first predetermined period of time within each successive second predetermined period of time (e.g. the first 2.5 minutes of every successive 10 minute period). The control mechanism causes the second pump to drain the sump pan through the drain/overflow pipe for a third predetermined period of time following the first occurence of the first predetermined period of time (e.g. for 5.0 minutes after the first 2.5 minute wetting cycle). This draining process occurs only once each time the evaporative cooler is turned on. The drain/overflow pipe has an upper end coupled to the outlet of the second pump and also has an aperture in the wall thereof through which excess liquid in the sump pump will flow and be discharged.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically purging the primary reservoir in an evaporative cooler which utilizes a secondary reservoir supplied with a portion of the output flow of the recirculating pump. The primary and secondary reservoirs each contain drain valves actuated when the fluid level therein exceeds a predetermined level. The normal operating fluid level in the primary reservoir is established below the drain level. When the secondary reservoir is filled and drains, its flow is directed into the primary reservoir causing it to exceed its fluid drain level and thus automatically purge the primary reservoir of fluid.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for treating water to inhibit corrosion and diminish mineral deposition using certain cationic silanes in a neutral or basic pH environment. An example of the method is the use of (CH.sub.3 O).sub.3 Si(CH.sub.2).sub.3 N.sup..sym. (CH.sub.3).sub.2 C.sub.18 H.sub.37 Cl.sup.- in a humidifier unit.

Abstract: A water bleed-off device for an evaporative air conditioner comprising an elongate water collection tray arranged to lie beneath a filter pad/filter pad support frame assembly so that water draining from the bottom of the filter pad is collected by the tray, the tray having a depending funnel arranged to communicate with a drain outlet in the base tank of the air conditioner whereby the water collected in the tray can be bled to drain through the depending funnel.

Abstract: A method of utilizing the energy of a high pressure condensate stream including passing steam at an elevated pressure in indirect heat exchange with a material to be heated, collecting a condensate product condensed from the steam of the heat exchange step at an elevated pressure, passing the condensate directly to a steam stripping step at essentially the same pressure at which the condensate was collected and reducing the pressure of the condensate while simultaneously contacting the condensate with a material to be stripped in the stripping step.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for refreshing the water in an evaporative cooler. The apparatus includes a sump in which water for the cooler is collected. The sump is divided into two portions by a dividing dam. A pump supplying water to the cooler is positioned in one portion of the sump; a drain is positioned in the other portion. The drain is normally closed by a ball and flapper assembly and the sump is normally filled to a preselected level higher than the dividing dam. Periodically the ball and flapper are raised to flush the water from the sump so that contaminates and minerals are flushed from the sump and the water can be replaced by fresh water. During the flushing cycle enough water is trapped in the first portion of the sump by the dam so that the pump can continue to operate. In one embodiment the periodic flushing is accomplished by a mechanical flushing timer incorporated with the pump motor.

Abstract: A control system and method of controlling the cycling of water in a cooling tower system having a source of make-up water of variable conductivity. The control system apparatus includes respective probes for sensing tower water conductivity and make-up water conductivity. The probes provide signals to a controller unit. Desired cooling system water conductivity parameters are input into the controller unit. The controller unit serves to proportionally adjust the trip point at which dumping of the cooling tower water occurs based upon the sensed water conductivities and the input parameters to maintain a predetermined Langelier's number(s). Means are provided to display system conditions and to effect calibration of the system. The method entails establishing an indexing factor based upon the cooling water parameters and the desired Langelier's number(s) and using that indexing factor for adjusting the trip point.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding slowly soluble water-soluble chemicals into the basin of a cooling tower which contains water. The device comprises a rigid mesh cylindrical drum having a bottom, sides, and an open top. It has at least one vertically positioned, spaced-apart fastening member positioned along the inside of the drum. Inside the drum is a plastic mesh bag, adapted to receive solid, slowly soluble water-soluble chemicals. This bag is affixed to a fastening member. Also, there are means positioned at the top of the plastic mesh cylindrical drum for suspending it below the water level of the basin of a cooling tower.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a housing with an air outlet and inlet structure. An endless belt is of a material to which a liquid may cling and is transparent to air flow so as to achieve evaporation. A portion of the belt extends through a reservoir and the belt is driven in movement therethrough. Blower apparatus is disposed to draw air through the inlet and the belt and exhaust the air through the outlet. A metering drum controllably exhausts reservoir liquid for the purpose of reducing contamination.

Abstract: An supplantary reservoir supplants the original integral reservoir of an evaporative cooler eliminating the necessity for accumulating water in said original integral reservoir. The water circulating pump and float controlled valve of the original, conventional cooler may be transferred physically and functionally to the supplantary reservoir. Communication of water from the conventional cooler to and from the supplantary reservoir is by means of the drain opening in the base of the original integral reservoir. The supplantary reservoir is readily accessible providing easy maintenance thereof and inexpensive replacement if necessary.

Abstract: Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the operational water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a special siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler so as to be normally in an unprimed non-siphoning state and when in such a state, the evaporative cooler will operate in the normal manner. When the cooler is in normal operation, its water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other contaminants, such as dirt, bacteria and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler and configured for movement between siphoning and non-siphoning positions with the movement being controlled by a solenoid. When the cooler is in normal operation, the solenoid is deenergized which places the siphon drain valve in the non-siphoning position and when in such normal operation, the water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants. At periodic intervals, such as under control of a time clock, the apparatus is switched to its draining, flushing and water replacing operation mode. This is accomplished by energizing the solenoid to initiate the siphoning action of the siphon drain valve to drain the water from the cooler.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved waste heat disposal process characterized primarily by splitting the total cooling load between two or more open-looped evaporative cooling circuits, staging the circuits in series such that each successive circuit has a greater dissolved solids carrying capacity than the preceding one, using the brine blown down from a preceding circuit as the coolant circulated within the next succeeding one, and treating only the blowdown from one circuit to the relatively greater extent necessary to accommodate the increased solids-carrying capacity of the next. The invention also includes the feature of essentially staging the heat load by dividing same into two or more parts and handling the different parts by separate and distinct evaporative cooling loops.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically draining the water from an evaporative cooler when operation thereof is terminated and for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water during operation of the cooler. The apparatus includes a comparatively small reservoir tank, which depends from the bottom of the cooler, for containing the cooler's water supply and a pump, a siphon drain valve and at least the float of a float controlled water supply shutoff valve. The water is recirculatingly supplied from the tank to the cooler and returns to the tank and that water will increase in mineral concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants during such recirculation. When both the pump and water supply are shutoff, such as upon termination of cooler usage, the apparatus will automatically commence its drainage operational mode wherein the returning water will raise the water level in the tank to prime the siphon drain valve which drains the water from the tank.

Abstract: A humidifier unit with a water supply reservoir, a media unit which passes through the reservoir and picks up moisture, a motor and fan unit together with drive mechanism for rotating the media unit and for blowing air through the media unit and into the surrounding area, and a removable, refillable liquid water treatment dispenser. As depicted, the humidifier is a console room humidifier with the water reservoir accessible from the rear. The removable dispenser is an auxiliary unit consisting of an elongate bottle, the cap of which carries a spring biased poppet valve with a projecting stem. The bottle is inverted and received through an opening in the top wall of the humidifier with its valve operating stem resting on an abutment above a flow passage funnel unit mounted on structure within the humidifier above the water reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling, diluting and adding a biocide chemical to a water cooling system which includes a venturi device powered by the motive water in the cooling system and connected to a biocide chemical supply and to a control network, including flow control means and valve means for obtaining controlled feed of the chemical into the system.

Abstract: A humidifier including a misting mechanism for misting water by a ultrasonic vibrator etc. and a water feeder formed by a water storage tank and a water passage and an ion exchange resin layer disposed in the water passage to the misting mechanism.

Abstract: A humidifier is disclosed for use with a forced air furnace in which water flowing in a coiled tube disposed in the exhaust path for waste gas from the combustion chamber is vaporized by heat transfer from the waste gas and transferred in admixture with unvaporized water into a container in the warm air duct of the furnace. The steam humidifies the air while the unvaporized water is separated and returned to the exhaust path of the combustion chamber where it in turn is vaporized and vented to the atmosphere. The heat transfer to the water in the coiled tube is enhanced by a convoluted configuration of the tubing which induces turbulence in the waste gas and/or water. The humidifier is regulated by controls which are response to the flow of air through the furnace as well as to the humidity.

Abstract: A pump, siphon drain valve, and at least the float portion of a float controlled shutoff valve are located in a comparatively small water reservoir tank which is dependingly formed in the floor pan of an evaporative cooler to locate the cooler's water supply externally of its cabinet and are operative to recirculatingly supply water to the cooler and receive the returning water. The water, which increases in mineral concentration during such recirculation, is periodically drained from the tank by shutting off the pump so that the returning water will elevate the water level in the tank and prime the siphon drain valve. When the pump and water inlet supply are both shutoff, the tank completely drains, and when the pump alone is shutoff, tank draining, flushing and refilling is accomplished.

Abstract: A water-impervious liner for use in a humidifier having a rotatable drum provided with an evaporator medium and a liquid-holding chamber through which the drum is rotated, said liner being conformed to the shape of the chamber. In one of the embodiments having a single liner, the liner is divided into two chambers by means of a dividing wall having an aperture for the flow of liquid between the chambers. According to an embodiment having a plurality of liners, there is provided a water-impervious liner assembly for use in a humidifier having at least two chambers for holding liquid, wherein the humidifier liner assembly includes a first and a second water-impervious liner and a conduit means interconnecting the two chambers, and the conduit means is attached to the first liner and to the second liner in a watertight manner.

Abstract: The rotary drum humidifier is mounted in an opening in the horizontal supply duct of a forced warm air furnace. An annular mounting bracket surrounds the opening on the inside of the duct and has a plurality of spaced apart mounting studs extending through holes provided in the wall and surrounding the opening. The humidifier includes a housing having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls forming a water reservoir, with the side walls being provided with horizontally extending mounting flanges having apertures for receiving the studs which are then provided with nuts. A cylindrical porous drum, motor driven, is rotatably mounted in the housing and is adapted to be wetted by the water in the reservoir. Hinge means are provided along one flange of the housing through which a pair of adjacent mounting studs extend.

Abstract: A pump, siphon drain valve and float controlled water inlet valve are located in a comparatively small water supply tank which is mounted below an opening formed in the floor pan of an evaporative cooler to locate the cooler's water supply externally of its cabinet and are operative to recirculatingly supply water to the cooler and receive the returning water. The water, which increases in mineral concentration during such recirculation, is periodically drained from the tank by shutting off the pump so that the returning water will elevate the water level in the tank to prime the siphon drain valve. When the pump and water inlet supply are both shut off, the tank completely drains, and when the pump alone is shut off, tank draining, flushing and refilling is accomplished.

Abstract: An automatic flushing device for an evaporative cooling system contains a water sump, circulating pump, and float-operated water makeup source. A small, adjustable portion of the return flow enters a separate timing reservoir. When the timing reservoir is full, water from the well and the sump are flushed from the system through a siphon tube which communicates with both chambers.

Abstract: A self-sterilizing humidifier for air to be breathed, of the type having endless porous media driven to be progressively immersed in a receptacle. Means are shown for periodically providing throughout the effective volume of water in the receptacle heated water at a temperature above about 180.degree. F while the media drive is actuated, the heated water being sufficient to progressively expose the media to bacteria-killing conditions. In one embodiment a heater chamber automatically discharges a charge of water heated above about 180.degree. F into the receptacle. In one such case a thermal actuator has sensitive parts exposed to water in both the heater chamber and the receptacle, the actuator releasing the charge when water in the receptacle lies below its sensitive part, and water in the heater chamber has reached or exceeds the selected high temperature.

Abstract: A humidifying apparatus has an evaporating chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The chamber has a bottom wall for supporting a film of water to be evaporated. A drain is associated with the bottom wall for continuously draining water from the evaporating chamber during an operational cycle. A fan is connected to the air inlet of the evaporating chamber to discharge a stream of air into the chamber and across the bottom wall. A water holding tank, having a top wall containing at least one water outlet aperture, is so located in the evaporating chamber to position the aperture adjacent the air inlet and in the flow path of the stream of air. Water supply means selectively supplies water to the holding tank when the fan is operative. The supply means provides a pressure signal, but only when supplying water to the holding tank. A valve means, associated with a water outlet from the holding tank, is in a closed position responsive to the pressure signal.

Abstract: A humidifier includes an electric heating coil and a water receiving/steam generating coil both positioned in a steam generation zone of a housing. The heating coil functions to vaporize water flowing through the water receiving/steam generating coil into steam by raising the temperature within the steam generation zone to an operating temperature which is sufficiently high to kill bacteria entering the humidifier with the water. The water receiving/steam generating coil is formed from a material having substantial thermal expansion characteristics whereby the coil substantially expands as the temperature within the steam generation zone is raised and substantially contracts as the steam generation zone cools. The expansions and contractions of the coil dislodge sediment tending to form therein, and the sediment is flushed from the coil by the fluid flowing therethrough.