With Wick Patents (Class 392/395)
  • Patent number: 6285830
    Abstract: A device is disclosed meant to perform evaporation of insecticides, perfumes or the like, wherein the degree of evaporation is controlled by a moving cap (9) which makes up the regulating element (6), which is meant to produce a chimney effect in the upwards motion of the generated vapor, so that this effect enhances evaporation, while regulation is achieved by the different heights at which moving cap (9) can be placed. This displacement is performed manually by moving guide (13) inside inclined track (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: DBK Espana, S.A.
    Inventor: Jordi Basaganas Millan
  • Patent number: 6278840
    Abstract: The adjustment of the intensity of evaporation is conducted by means of the variation in the relative position between the upper end (6′) of the wick (6) which absorbs the product of the vessel (2) and the electroheating resistors (5) which favour the evaporation of said product, and more specifically keeping static said resistors and the assembly constituted by the vessel (2) and the wick (6) being displaceable. For this, said vessel (2) with any configuration, is provided with at least one revolution sector (7) in which a helicoidal groove (8) is established, of great pitch, operating as thread for the axial displacement of the container (2), when a rotational movement is applied to the same, at least one pair of opposed teeth (9) collaborating with said groove (8) which are finished off with leastically deformable arms (10) of the casing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: DBK Espana, S.A.
    Inventor: Jordi BasagaƱas Millan
  • Patent number: 6275650
    Abstract: A gas supply apparatus for supplying anesthetic to a human or animal. A vaporizer has a vaporization chamber which includes a gas inlet and outlet. A liquid emitting device in the vaporization chamber communicates with an external liquid source through a liquid delivery. The liquid to be vaporized is exposed to the bypassing gas by way of the liquid emitting device. The liquid is exposed exclusively by way of the porosities in the liquid emitting device. A heater is provided for heating said liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Hudson Respiratory Care Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Lambert
  • Publication number: 20010010758
    Abstract: It includes a housing (1) within which a resistor (3) is arranged connected to two connections (2) projecting through the bottom of the housing (1), further provided with an aluminum plate (5) serving as a radiator which is held inside at the top of the housing (1), held by strips (6) in the latter. The housing (1) and the aluminum plate (5) are provided with a hole (7) through which a wick may pass to project through the mouth of a container holding liquid product to be vaporized, by heating the wick through the resistor. A frame-like spacer element (8) is arranged on the housing (1) with fixing means to the housing (1), defining a supporting surface for a tablet (12), which tablet may be spaced to a greater or lesser extent by means of the spacer element (8) in order for said tablet (12) to be reached at all times by the appropriate heat to be full efficiently vaporized. The heating device may be used for both liquid and solid products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Jordi Basaganas Millan
  • Patent number: 6236807
    Abstract: A vapor emanation system includes a plastic housing having a socket portion and an electric plug portion. A decorative miniaturize container containing liquid to be evaporated by heat, has a body for storing the liquid and a neck connected to the body for engaging the socket portion of the housing for supporting the container on the housing. The neck has a passage there through and a retaining ring is fixed in the passage. A hole extends through the ring. A wick having an upper portion extending through the hole of the retaining ring also has a lower portion extending down into the body of the container for absorbing liquid from the container and for moving the liquid into the upper portion of the wick by capillary action. A tangential electric heater in the housing heats the upper portion of the wick above the neck to evaporate liquid from the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Bath & Body Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Ruffolo, Anthony Zembrodt, Roberto Zaraboza
  • Patent number: 6175687
    Abstract: A humidifier (5) includes upper and lower water tanks (7) and (8) supported by a support frame (6). In a space between the upper and lower water tank, a plurality of hollow yarn bodies (1) are arranged in communication with upper and lower water tanks. The hollow yarn body is constructed of a parens yarn (2) of the hollow and a thin metal wire (3) connected to the power source thereof and wound around the hollow yarn body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshihide Imamura, Kanichi Kadotani
  • Patent number: 6169852
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically-energized device for the rapid generation of steam or other vapors. The high-speed steam generator includes a wicked evaporator, a liquid reservoir, a liquid supply pipe, and a vapor transport tube. The evaporator consists of a low-thermal-conductivity porous wick, heated from a downward-facing grooved heating block that is in intimate contact with the upper surface of the wick structure. The grooved heating block is made of a copper block in which electric cartridge heaters are installed. As a heat load is applied on the heating block, an extremely steep temperature gradient is established immediately at the upper surface of the wick so that water from the saturated wick evaporates rapidly adjacent to the heated surface. Subsequently, menisci are formed at the vapor/liquid interface to develop a capillary force to pump subcooled liquid into the wick from the liquid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Qiang Liao, Tianshou Zhao, Ping Cheng
  • Patent number: 6145241
    Abstract: An electric insecticidal apparatus comprising a vessel for storing insecticidal solution, which is oriented in a direction in use; a heating chamber in which the vessel is mounted, said heating chamber containing a heating element; a wick for drawing up the insecticidal solution in the vessel, said wick being provided in the vessel such that the insecticidal solution drawn up by the wick is heated and vaporized by the heating element; an inlet provided at a side of the heating chamber for inserting the vessel into the heating chamber, said vessel being laterally inserted into the heating chamber through the inlet by orienting the vessel in the proper direction; and a guide and holding means for guiding the wick to and holding the wick at a predetermined position at the time of insertion of the vessel into the heating chamber such that the wick confronts the heating element of the heating chamber at a predetermined distance from the heating element, which is provided in the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Yoshitoshi Okuno
  • Patent number: 6104867
    Abstract: A liquid vaporizer is provided which includes a guidance system between a refill bottle and a housing unit to aid in guiding the refill bottle unit relative to the housing unit and center a wick contained in the refill bottle unit relative to a heating element contained within the housing unit when the refill bottle is inserted into the housing unit. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guidance system comprises one or more projections and corresponding indentations contained on a wall of the housing unit and a wall of the refill bottle unit. The liquid vaporizer may also include a stabilization system to stabilize the refill bottle with respect to the housing when the refill bottle is contained therewithin which generally comprises opposing securement mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert
  • Patent number: 6078728
    Abstract: A volatile carrier for supplying a volatile ingredient to a heating device to be dispensed thereby, the heating device having a heat transfer site and a pass-through path to receive an inserted volatile carrier at one end of the pass-through path to position the volatile carrier adjacent to the heat transfer site. The volatile carrier has a substantially unitary reservoir block containing a supply of the volatile ingredient. The reservoir block is greater in size than the heat transfer site. An advancement device is supplied by which a user can manually advance the reservoir block past the heat transfer site to expose different portions of the reservoir block to heat. A method of supplying a volatile ingredient to such a heating device by use of such a volatile carrier is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn M. O'Rourke, John W. Mikkonen, Brian T. Davis, John J. Gatzemeyer
  • Patent number: 6072165
    Abstract: A thin film thermocouple having junctions (2, 7) of metal and semiconducting metal oxides such as tin oxide/silver, and used as surface temperature sensors in conjunction with thin film heating elements (1) to control temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Thermo-Stone USA, LLC
    Inventor: Bernard Feldman
  • Patent number: 6031969
    Abstract: The omnidirectional portable appliance for steam cleaning surfaces both hard and flexible, comprises a case provided with a handle, a water feed orifice, an electricity power cord, a cleaning head, a steam generator included in the case and a venturi device [means for selectively] delivering steam to the cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Superba
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Burr, Nicolas Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5991507
    Abstract: An evaporator (1) for evaporating volatile liquids (2), in particular liquid insecticides, has a container (3) for the liquid (2), a wick (4) that takes up the liquid and a heating element associated to the wick. In order to improve such an evaporator so that it is easier to handle and at the same time completely evaporates the liquid in the container, the wick is spaced apart from the container and is connected thereto by a liquid supply duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Perycut-Chemie AG
    Inventor: Franz Bencsits
  • Patent number: 5981912
    Abstract: An electrically heatable hollow-body furnace with a secondary surface on which an analyte of a sample can be condensed prior to being atomized. The furnace is constructed in two sections which are capable of being electrically heated independently of one another. The secondary surface is defined by a surface of one of the sections. A process for atomizing an analyte of a sample to be examined, utilizing the device according to the following steps: introducing the sample into a hollow-body furnace having a secondary surface, condensing the analyte on the secondary surface and atomizing the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Gilmutdinov, Michael Sperling, Bernhard Welz
  • Patent number: 5970212
    Abstract: A waterless vaporizer has a casing containing a heating module that causes vapors to be emitted from a refill pad that is impregnated with menthol and eucalyptus oil by slightly heating the pad and producing a thermally induced convective air flow through the pad. A top member of a casing has a planar pad-receiving surface with holes in it on which the pad can be placed in any selected position between a "low" output and a "high" output position on the surface. A pivotable and vertically displaceable chimney member fits over the pad. The chimney member has a pad retainer/holder portion, the top wall of which provides an alternative position for the pad. A power switch and an indicator lamp facilitate use of the vaporizer. All electrical components are highly durable and fully insulated. The vaporizer is assembled without any screws or equivalent fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Alan I. Freidel
  • Patent number: 5940577
    Abstract: An electric device for vaporization of additives having a housing with an electric heating disposed therein. The heating includes a heating element and a heat exchanger, to supply the heat generated by the heating element to the heat exchanger and to convey it to the substance to be vaporized. The heating element is a PTC element, clamped between two electrodes and at least one of the two electrodes is disposed in proximity to the heat exchanger and is integrally formed with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Steinel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Wolfgang Steinel
  • Patent number: 5870525
    Abstract: The invention is an improved boiler for generating vapor at low pressure from liquid in reservoirs that are not pressurized. Liquid from a reservoir is fed through a supply wick by capillary action to a boiler wick in which the liquid is heated and boiled to a vapor. The heat for vaporization is transmitted by a porous hot seat which sits atop and is in contact with the boiler wick. The boiler wick and hot seat are contained within an insulating cylindrical shroud, which forms a tight seal with the edges of the boiler wick. If the liquid to be vaporized is a fuel for a burner, then combustion heat can be used to supply the heat to the boiler. A resistive heat source can also be used to heat the hot seat and boiler wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Allports LLC International
    Inventor: Niels Owen Young
  • Patent number: 5857062
    Abstract: A disposable active humidifier particularly for inspiratory lines of respiratory circuits for intensive care, comprising a body (2,2') provided with an inlet (3,3') and an outlet (4,4') for its connection along the inspiratory line and internally forming a chamber (10) for the flow of the gases of the inspiratory line, the humidifier further comprising a hydrophobic membrane (11) forming at least one portion of the surface of the chamber. The body (2,2') can be introduced by immersion in a water containment chamber (21) at least at the region affected by the membrane (11), the membrane being adapted to allow the passage of water in molecular form in the gas flow chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Bergamaschi, Lucio Gibertoni
  • Patent number: 5771845
    Abstract: A liquid is vaporized by a device having at least one porous substrate exposed to a certain ambient pressure, means for supplying the substrate with liquid in order for it to be loaded with liquid starting from an upstream portion of the substrate, and at least one energy source for heating the substrate so that at least some of the liquid is vaporized. According to the invention, the means for supplying the substrate with liquid may include means for pressurizing the liquid to a pressure greater than ambient pressure, thereby creating a flow-rate greater than the flow-rate induced by capillarity and vaporization of the liquid alone when the substrate is held in a horizontal position. The invention may be applied to the production of water-vaporization equipment, particularly with electrical or gaseous energy supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignees: Gaz De France, Cogia, Superba
    Inventors: Jacques Pistien, Jean-Louis Giazzi, Robert Desage, Philippe Deblay
  • Patent number: 5692095
    Abstract: A boiler for generating vapor at low pressure from liquid in reservoirs that are not pressurized is provided. Liquid from a reservoir is fed through a supply wick by capillary action to a boiler wick in which the liquid is heated and boiled to a vapor. The heat for vaporization is transmitted by a porous hot seat which sits atop and is in contact with the boiler wick. The boiler wick and hot seat are contained within an insulating cylindrical shroud, which forms a tight seal with the edges of the boiler wick. If the liquid to be vaporized is a fuel for a burner, then combustion heat can be used to supply the heat to the boiler. A resistive heat source can also be used to heat the hot seat and boiler wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Allports, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Owen Young
  • Patent number: 5647053
    Abstract: A vapor dispensing device having an outer shell (10); a one piece electric plug heater block (40) having attached electric plug pins (48), the block being attached to the outer shell such that the block can rotate a predetermined amount around an axis parallel to the plug pins; and a wick (36) in fluid communication with a material to be dispensed and extending into an opening (52) through the block; wherein the opening has a shape defined by the rotation through an internal angle at least equal to the predetermined amount of rotation of a solid geometric shape transverse to the axis and wherein the block has an electric heating element (60) in close proximity to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Schroeder, Armin L. Clobes, Mark E. Wefler, Terry L. Hygema, Kevin W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5609296
    Abstract: There is provided a water feed device for humidification, comprising: an outflow reservoir that is disposed above a humidifier for feeding water into the humidifier by way of a permeation and that is provided with an overflow dam for maintaining a level of the water in the outflow reservoir substantially constant; an inflow reservoir that is disposed upwards of the outflow reservoir and that is provided with a flow inlet; a partition plate that is disposed between the inflow reservoir and the outflow reservoir; and a plurality of drip feed members which are provided in the partition plate for allowing the water in the inflow reservoir to drop by gravity in a form of droplets into the outflow reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Komatsu, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Imamura, Kanichi Kadotani, Bunji Hayakashi, Hisaakira Imaizumi, Tetsuo Shakushi, Toshihiko Matsumoto, Genichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5602958
    Abstract: A steam generator includes an orifice for feeding water to a porous material, a heater element passing through said porous material, and an outlet orifice for the steam created by heating said water, wherein the porous material and its heater element are contained in a case disposed in a removable sealed cassette that is connected in operation to a fixed portion of the generator containing water feed means, means for controlling the heater elements, and means for taking off the steam. The sealed cassette is connected to the fixed portion of the generator by means of snap-fastenings in order to enable rapid connection and deconnection, and it includes a water admission orifice connected to an internal case containing a heater element for the water and around which a porous material is compressed, said case including orifices over its entire surface for evacuating the steam produced by the heater element, with the steam being extracted from the cassette via a steam outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Superba
    Inventor: Jean-Daniel Vergnes
  • Patent number: 5484086
    Abstract: A perfume gas generating device including a container for containing the perfume, a cap member associated with a neck portion of the container and formed with at least one opening, a fiber-made wick member disposed in the container and serving as an upward moving path of the perfume in the container, and a heating system including a heating mechanism disposed above the wick member and contacting a top surface thereof, whereby the heating mechanism forms a high temperature area above the top surface of the wick member and the perfume is able to move upward along the wick member into the high temperature area to be vaporized into gas which dissipates to ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Kuan H. Pu
  • Patent number: 5432882
    Abstract: An automatic motor vehicle deodorizer device, adapted for insertion into a motor vehicle cigarette lighter socket having two terminals to provide electrical energy. The device is adapted to receive a vaporizable deodorizing agent. The device contains a power controller which automatically controls power to an internal heating element. The heating element is activated so long as the vaporizable deodorizing agent is above a precalibrated minimum size. The device contains an optional timer for activating the power controller. An optional override switch allows manual control of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ideal Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Johanne M. Glynn
  • Patent number: 5394506
    Abstract: A fragrance dispenser for a vehicle, such as an automobile, that utilizes the automobile's cigarette lighter as a heating source. The fragrance dispenser includes a housing for plugging it into the cigarette lighter socket and a wedge-shaped divergent housing that has an open, or mostly open, top portion that allows for dispensing of the fragrance, while at the same time providing visual inspection of the remaining material. The system utilizes a replaceable cartridge of a volatile fragrance emitting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventors: Robert D. Stein, Sherry B. Gunsberger
  • Patent number: 5336156
    Abstract: An infant incubator humidifier having a heater within a heater tower which, in turn, is in heat transfer disposition with a metal sleeve mounted within a water reservoir through which air which is to be humidified is passed. The metal sleeve has a wick disposed on its outside surface and water in the reservoir is wicked along the wick, whereby air introduced into the reservoir is humidified upon contact with the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Air-Shields, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Miller, James R. Grosholz
  • Patent number: 5290546
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cordless thermal vaporizer of the liquid type wherein the body of the vaporizer has a heater for heating a wick for drawing up a chemical solution from a bottle, and a socket disposed under the heater and removably fittable in the form of a cap to the bottle for attachment thereto. The body is reduced in weight and thereby made attachable to an electric outlet with stability. The solution bottle can be attached directly to the socket of the body and is therefore easy to replace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Earth Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Hasegawa, Takanobu Kashihara, Junichiro Mesaki, Akira Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5223694
    Abstract: A hair styling iron for selectively effecting hair straightening or curling includes a generally circular cross-section electrically heated barrel. A tongue is movable relative to the barrel for selectively clamping a strand of hair between the tongue and the peripheral surface of the barrel for curling hair wound therearound. The barrel comprises a first and second pipes each having a generally semi-circular cross section with a top rounded outer surface and a flat bottom outer surface. The pipes are movable relative to each other between a closed position where the flat bottom surfaces are kept in closed relation to each other and an open position where the bottom surfaces are spaced away from each other. In the closed position, a strand of hair can be held between the opposing flat bottom surfaces of the first and second pipes in order to substantially straighten or uncurl the hair. Thus, the hair styling iron can alone provides hair curling and straightening capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tsuji, Hiroshi Nanba, Manabu Takeda, Katsunori Someya
  • Patent number: 5224202
    Abstract: A heated evaporator housing is provided at its inlet with an ultrasonic atomizer for reducing monomer to small droplets and a permeable porous body completely occupying a cross section of the housing between the inlet and the outlet. A vacuum pump and a reaction chamber for coating substrates are provided downstream of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Arnold, Rainer Gegenwart, Sonja Noll, Jochen Ritter, Helmut Stoll
  • Patent number: 5222186
    Abstract: To provide an electrical apparatus for vaporizing active substances, perfumes or the like volatile substances, consisting of a housing having an electrical heating means and a container for liquid to be vaporized connectable to the housing, in the container a wick or the like being mounted by means of which the liquid is supplied to the heating means, and the wick passes through the heating means at a through passage adapted to the wick, the heating means further consisting of a ceramic heating body with electrical heating coil let into said body, said coil having a high functional reliability and long life with simple production, it is proposed that the heating body (2) comprises a recess (8) which extends tangentially to its through passage (5) and which is made rectilinear and into which the heating coil (7) is inserted, and which is filled with potting composition, the electrical leads (9) of the heating coil (7) being led out of the heating body (2) substantially coaxially to the heating coil (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Globol GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Schimanski, Horst Hautmann, Jurgen Fischer
  • Patent number: 5161646
    Abstract: A device (10) for dispensing animal attractant scents has a case (11) in which are housed a power source (B) and a bottle (25) containing a supply of liquid animal attractant scent. A wick (40) having a heat generating resistor (41) is mounted in the wick and coupled to the power source (B) to heat the animal attractant scent drawn near it by capillary action from the bottle causing it to vaporize rapidly and be dispensed into ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Wellington Leisure Products
    Inventors: Charles C. Aurich, Arthur Ott
  • Patent number: 5113478
    Abstract: This liquid fuel vaporizing apparatus is so designed that liquid fuel is vaporized by a heating plug disposed in a tubular body when the temperature in a combustion chamber is low while it is vaporized by a radiant heat of the combustion chamber received by heat-receiving fins provided in the outer-peripheral part of the tubular body when the temperature in the combustion chamber is high. Particularly, an open-cellular member having intercommunication porosity which has numerous intercommunicating pores being excellent in heat conducting properties is disposed in a fuel passage in the tubular body, and the heat transfer area of said member is increased to make uniform the state of reception of heat from the heat-receiving fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kenro Nakashima, Kazuhiro Hatanaka, Hideo Ohta
  • Patent number: 5109471
    Abstract: An apparatus for warming and humidifying respiratory gases during artificial respiration includes two passive heat and moisture exchangers and an active warming and humidifying element disposed between them in a housing. The first passive heat and moisture exchanger serves to preheat and prehumidify cold and dry gases to be inhaled. In a further, downstream, active heat and moisture exchanger and the second heat and moisture exchanger, gases are additionally heated and humidified, thus ensuring optimum physiological conditioning of the respiratory gases to a temperature of 36.degree.-37.degree. C. and 100% relative humidity. In an exhalation phase, 70 to 80% of humidity and heat are recovered from the optimally conditioned humid and warmed respiratory gas with the aid of the two integral passive heat and moisture exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Inventor: Volker Lang
  • Patent number: 5093894
    Abstract: A heating element for use within a smoking device which is intended to be held in the lips of a consumer, and which without burning, heats a flavor-generating medium within the device to produce an aerosol, vapor, or flavor, which the consumer may inhale. More particularly, an electrically-powered heating element having a plurality of discrete resistive heating segments, only one of which is active at any given time. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is contained within the device so that the individual heating segments of the element are adjacent to a flavor-generating medium. As each segment of the heating element is provided with power, the flavor-generating medium adjacent to that segment is heated, but is not burned. This heating causes the flavor-generating medium to produce a flavor, aerosol, or vapor, which the consumer of the device may inhale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Seetharama C. Deevi, Francis M. Sprinkel
  • Patent number: 5093895
    Abstract: A humidifier attachable to a baseboard type radiator of the type comprising a body having an open front portion in which is placed a heating element and a panel placed in front of the heating element such that the panel defines with the body a lower opening and an upper opening. The humidifier comprises a feature which enables securement to the front panel of the baseboard type radiator, a container poriton, and an air entrance aperture located above the container portion in alignment with the upper opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignees: Robert Brouillette, Lyne Dube
    Inventor: Joseph Ghorayeb
  • Patent number: 5078976
    Abstract: A disinfectant vaporizing apparatus for dropwise flowing a disinfectant liquid on a heating unit so as to provide a uniform disinfection gas on a surface of a material to be sterilized, characterized in that at least one supply port for supplying heated carrier gas at a high temperature is provided in a vaporization chamber for the disinfectant liquid. A vaporization part is provided with a plurality of cavities on an upper surface thereof and at least one dropping nozzle is provided above each cavity, wherein the disinfection gas carried by the heated carrier gas is applied on a surface of a material to be sterilized through a droplet splash removing apparatus. The droplet splash removing apparatus has a series of vertically, spaced-apart shield plates with staggered holes therein through which the vaporized disinfectant and carrier gas pass and entrained droplets of disinfectant liquid are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Shibauchi, Koichi Hatanaka, Tasuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5062145
    Abstract: A humidifier of small gases passageway volume (of the order of 50 ml gases space) has a heater within a water containing envelope having a microporous wall common to the water space within the envelope and the gases space, the microporous wall being permeable to water vapour but not liquid water and the envelope being reinforced by a support which also directs the flow of gases over the surface of the envelope. The heater is wound as a flat spiral to avoid the effect of gases or water vapour bubbles on heater performance temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventors: Paul Zwaan, Ilija Orec, Charles G. Murray
  • Patent number: 5038394
    Abstract: A cordless thermal vaporizer of the liquid type wherein the body of the vaporizer has a heater for heating a wick for drawing up a chemical solution from a bottle, and a socket disposed under the heater and removably fittable in the form of a cap to the bottle for attachment thereto. The body is reduced in weight and thereby made attachable to an electric outlet with stability. The solution bottle can be attached directly to the socket of the body and is therefor easy to replace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Earth Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Hasegawa, Takanobu Kashihara, Junichiro Mesaki, Akira Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5014337
    Abstract: Electro-portable apparatus for producing steam applied to a surface, usable more particularly but not exclusively for ungluing wall coatings, having a housing containing a porous body impregnated with a liquid to be vaporized, the liquid being heated up to its temperature of vaporization, the housing 2 being subdivided by a partition wall 8, 27, into two compartments, namely a rear closed compartment 9, 28 containing a steam generator 12, 13, which is formed of the porous body 12 impregnated with liquid and a heater 13 for heating this liquid, and a front compartment 11, 29 forming a vapor cavity or "steam plate", open to the outside, defined by a peripheral edge able to be applied on the surface 1 adapted to receive the vapor, and openings 31 being provided through the partition wall 27 to allow the passage of the steam, produced in the rear compartment 9, 28, towards and into the front compartment 11, 29 constituting the vapor cavity or "steam plate".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: A.R.M.I.N.E.S.
    Inventor: Robert Desage