A humidifier includes a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet may have an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. A base plate is provided to the bottom of the humidifier tub. The base plate and humidifier tub define a water chamber adapted to
A humidifier includes a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet may have an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. A base plate is provided to the bottom of the humidifier tub. The base plate and humidifier tub define a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water. The humidifier tub may include a guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to swirl downwardly and around within the humidifier tub reaching the water surface before exiting the exit port. The tub may include a structure to prevent the inadvertent entry of water from the tub to the flow generator.
대표청구항▼
1. A humidifier tub for a humidifier comprising: an upper wall and at least one side wall defining a water chamber;an air inlet;an air outlet; anda curved baffle provided within the water chamber, the curved baffle providing a concave surface positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet,where
1. A humidifier tub for a humidifier comprising: an upper wall and at least one side wall defining a water chamber;an air inlet;an air outlet; anda curved baffle provided within the water chamber, the curved baffle providing a concave surface positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet,wherein the concave surface is positioned directly in front of an outlet end of the air inlet without any structure directly intervening between the air inlet and the curved baffle, andwherein opposing lateral end portions of the curved baffle are spaced from and unattached to any said at least one side wall of the water chamber. 2. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet has an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. 3. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are tubes. 4. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet is generally horizontally oriented. 5. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is generally vertically oriented. 6. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein a flow path is created between each of the lateral end portions and the at least one side wall of the water chamber. 7. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall includes a chamfered wall portion that provides an inclined interior surface positioned in front of the outlet end of the air inlet. 8. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the curved baffle extends generally vertically into the water chamber. 9. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall includes flattened side portions. 10. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the curved baffle has a variable thickness and/or height. 11. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the humidifier tub is molded from a plastic material. 12. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the humidifier tub is molded from polypropylene. 13. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet is a tube and at least a portion of the tube is formed within the upper wall such that an upper surface of the tube forms a part of the upper wall. 14. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet is a tube and the tube is slightly downwardly angled with respect to horizontal. 15. The humidifier tub according to claim 14, wherein the tube includes a 0°-15° downward angle with respect to horizontal. 16. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the curved baffle is generally S-shaped, extends downwardly from the upper wall and curves around the air inlet and the air outlet. 17. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet extend through the upper wall. 18. The humidifier tub according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is located near a central axis of the upper wall. 19. A humidifier comprising: a humidifier tub according to claim 1;a base plate provided to a bottom of the humidifier tub; anda heater element in thermal contact with the base plate. 20. The humidifier according to claim 19 , wherein the base plate is constructed of a heat-conductive material. 21. The humidifier according to claim 19, wherein the base plate is constructed of aluminum. 22. The humidifier according to claim 19, wherein the base plate is removably mounted to the humidifier tub. 23. The humidifier according to claim 19, further comprising a sealing gasket provided between the base plate and the humidifier tub. 24. A humidifier comprising: a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet; anda base plate provided to a bottom of the humidifier tub, the base plate and humidifier tub defining a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of liquid water,wherein the humidifier tub includes a guidance structure adapted to smoothly direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet into contact with a surface of the liquid water before exiting via the air outlet, andwherein the guidance structure includes only a single curved baffle wall supported within the water chamber, the guidance structure being configured to direct the air entering the humidifier tub either spirally downward toward the base plate and laterally left or spirally downward to the base plate and laterally right. 25. A humidifier tub for a humidifier comprising: a first component defining a first partial tubular air inlet flow path portion; anda second component coupled to the first component and defining a second partial tubular air inlet flow path portion,wherein the first and second partial tubular air inlet flow path portions cooperate to define a composite tubular air inlet flow path that directs incoming air in a generally circular manner down and around within the humidifier tub, andwherein the first component includes an air inlet flow tube, and the second component includes a barrier that intervened directly between the composite tubular air inlet flow path and a bottom of the humidifier tub. 26. The humidifier tub according to claim 25, wherein the second component includes an air outlet flow tube that is centrally located in the second component. 27. The humidifier tub according to claim 25, wherein the first component includes an air outlet flow tube that is centrally located in the second component. 28. The humidifier tub according to claim 27, wherein the first and second components are coupled to one another with a snap-fit. 29. A humidifier tub for a humidifier, comprising: a water chamber adapted to receive liquid water, the water chamber comprising at least one side wall;an air inlet;an air outlet; anda guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the water chamber via the air inlet into contact with a surface of the liquid water before exiting via the air outlet,the guidance structure including a curved baffle providing a concave surface, wherein at least a portion of the concave surface is positioned in front of an outlet end of the air inlet, and opposing lateral end portions of the curved baffle are spaced from and unattached to any said at least one side wall of the water chamber, andthe guidance structure including an inclined interior surface positioned to direct air entering the water chamber via the air inlet downwardly towards the surface of the liquid water. 30. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the water chamber is at least partially defined by a curved side wall and a substantially flat side wall. 31. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the inclined interior surface is positioned in front of the outlet end of the air inlet. 32. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the air inlet is in the form of an air inlet flow tube and the air outlet is in the form of an air outlet flow tube. 33. The humidifier tub according to claim 32, wherein the air outlet flow tube is generally vertically oriented and generally transverse to the air inlet flow tube. 34. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the curved baffle is adapted to direct air to swirl around within the water chamber. 35. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the concave surface and the inclined interior surface direct incoming air in both a spiraling and downward motion. 36. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the curved baffle extends generally vertically within the water chamber. 37. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the curved baffle includes only a single curved baffle wall supported within the water chamber. 38. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the curved baffle is only supported along one side within the water chamber. 39. The humidifier tub according to claim 29, wherein the inclined interior surface is provided to an upper wall portion of the water chamber. 40. A CPAP device comprising: a flow generator; anda humidifier tub according to claim 29. 41. The CPAP device according to claim 40, further comprising a cradle to support the humidifier tub in an operative position with respect to the flow generator. 42. The CPAP device according to claim 41, wherein the humidifier tub includes structure to facilitate placement and alignment with respect to the cradle. 43. The CPAP device according to claim 41, wherein the cradle includes a heating element. 44. The humidifier tub according to claim 24, wherein the water chamber comprises walls, and wherein opposing end portions of the curved baffle wall are spaced from and unattached to the walls of the water chamber. 45. The humidifier tub according to claim 24, wherein the curved baffle wall is only supported along one side within the water chamber. 46. The humidifier tub according to claim 24, wherein the water chamber is at least partially defined by a curved side wall and a substantially flat side wall. 47. The humidifier tub according to claim 24, wherein the air inlet is in the form of an air inlet flow tube and the air outlet is in the form of an air outlet flow tube. 48. The humidifier tub according to claim 47, wherein the air outlet flow tube is generally vertically oriented and generally transverse to the air inlet flow tube. 49. A CPAP device comprising: a flow generator; anda humidifier tub according to claim 24. 50. The humidifier tub according to claim 24, wherein the curved baffle wall is shifted relative to the air inlet so that a majority of the curved baffle wall is located on one lateral side of the air inlet. 51. The humidifier according to claim 24, wherein the curved baffle wall is configured so that gas from the air inlet engages the curved baffle wall at an oblique angle. 52. The humidifier according to claim 24, wherein the curved baffle wall is configured to direct gas laterally from the air inlet toward a first side of the humidifier tub and away from a second side of the humidifier tub opposite the first side. 53. The humidifier according to claim 25, wherein the first and second partial tubular air inlet flow path portions respectively form upper and lower portions of the composite tubular air inlet flow path. 54. The humidifier according to claim 25, wherein a bottom portion of the first component is configured to be coupled to a top portion of the second component.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Suhr Manfred W. (Cottage Grove WI), Anesthesia humidifier.
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