US-12618572-B2 - Eductor with integrated orifice check valve and scale control tray

Abstract

A humidifying system includes a water panel, and a distribution tray, where the distribution tray provides water to the water panel. The system includes at least one eductor fluidly coupled to the distribution tray and a scale control tray. The system also includes a valve assembly fluidly coupled to a water supply at a first inlet and is fluidly coupled to the at least one eductor via an outlet, where the valve assembly controls water flow through the at least one eductor. The valve assembly includes a second inlet in fluid communication with the scale control tray, where a wastewater flow from the scale control tray through the second inlet is controlled by a first valve and a freshwater flow from the water supply through the first inlet is controlled by a second valve. A configuration of the first valve is based on an operational state of the second valve.

Inventors

• Nathan Adam Hughes
• Steven Farra
• Joshua Edwards McKune

Assignees

• RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230104

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A humidifying system comprising: a water panel; a distribution tray fluidly coupled to the water panel, the distribution tray configured to provide a flow of water to the water panel; a scale control tray in fluid communication with the water panel, the scale control tray configured to receive wastewater from the water panel; a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the scale control tray and a water supply to form an eductor, the valve assembly configured to control a flow of water through the eductor, and the eductor configured to supply a combination of water from the scale control tray and the water supply to the distribution tray; and a collection member disposed between the water supply and the scale control tray, the collection member configured to enclose at least a portion of the valve assembly.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scale control tray comprises: a valve seat configured to mate with an orifice of the valve assembly; and an outer eductor wall having one or more openings therein to facilitate water flow from a basin of scale control tray to an interior volume of the eductor.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a first inlet and a second inlet, the second inlet in fluid communication with the scale control tray, wherein a flow of wastewater from the scale control tray through the second inlet is controlled by a first valve within the valve assembly and a flow of freshwater from the water supply through the first inlet is controlled by a second valve, wherein the first valve is a check valve and the second valve is a solenoid valve, and wherein a configuration of the first valve is based on an operational state of the second valve.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first valve is a piston type check valve.
5. 5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a spring disposed between the first valve and the eductor, the spring configured to bias the first valve in an open configuration.
6. 6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the operational state of the second valve comprises an on state and an off state that control function of the eductor, wherein when the second valve is in the off state, the first valve is in the open configuration, and wherein when the second valve is in the on state, the first valve is in a closed configuration.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein when the first valve is in the open configuration, a flow of wastewater from the scale control tray passes through a gap between a sealing flange of an orifice to a drain outlet.
8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an overflow feature fluidly coupled to a valve to enable selective drainage of wastewater from the scale control tray.
9. 9 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the collection member is disposed between the first inlet and the scale control tray.
10. 10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the eductor or the valve assembly is integrally formed with the scale control tray.
11. 11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a frame, wherein the water panel is pivotably coupled to the frame and further coupled to the valve assembly through an opening in the frame.
12. 12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is removably coupled to the scale control tray.
13. 13 . A humidifying system comprising: a frame; a water panel coupled to the frame; an eductor in fluid communication with the water panel, the eductor configured to provide a flow of water to the water panel; a scale control tray in fluid communication with the water panel, the scale control tray configured to receive wastewater from the water panel; a valve assembly fluidly coupled to a water supply at a first inlet and fluidly coupled to the eductor via an outlet, the valve assembly configured to control a flow of water through the eductor; and a collection member disposed between the first inlet and the scale control tray, the collection member comprising a body configured to enclose at least a portion of the valve assembly; wherein the valve assembly comprises a second inlet, the second inlet in fluid communication with the scale control tray, wherein a flow of wastewater from the scale control tray through the second inlet is controlled by a first valve within the valve assembly and a flow of freshwater from the water supply through the first inlet is controlled by a second valve; and wherein a configuration of the first valve is based on an operational state of the second valve.
14. 14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the valve assembly is removably coupled to the scale control tray.
15. 15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a distribution tray fluidly coupled to the water panel, the distribution tray structured to facilitate a flow of water to the water panel.
16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the frame comprises a first end and a second end, the eductor disposed at the first end, and wherein the valve assembly is couplable to the first end or the second end.
17. 17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the body has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the valve assembly.
18. 18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the body.
19. 19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the collection member further comprises a drain cleaning tablet holder configured to hold a drain cleaning tablet in a position within a water flow from the body to a drain outlet of the collection member.
20. 20 . A humidifying system comprising: a water panel; a distribution tray fluidly coupled to the water panel, the distribution tray configured to provide a flow of water to the water panel; a scale control tray in fluid communication with the water panel, the scale control tray configured to receive wastewater from the water panel; a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the scale control tray and a water supply to form an eductor, the valve assembly configured to control a flow of water through the eductor, and the eductor configured to supply a combination of water from the scale control tray and the water supply to the distribution tray; wherein the valve assembly comprises a first inlet and a second inlet, the second inlet in fluid communication with the scale control tray, wherein a flow of wastewater from the scale control tray through the second inlet is controlled by a first valve within the valve assembly and a flow of freshwater from the water supply through the first inlet is controlled by a second valve, wherein the first valve is a check valve and the second valve is a solenoid valve, and wherein a configuration of the first valve is based on an operational state of the second valve; wherein the first valve is a check valve; and wherein the valve assembly comprises a spring disposed between the first valve and the eductor, the spring configured to bias the first valve in an open configuration.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/296,766, filed Jan. 5, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to humidifying systems for increasing humidity of ambient air. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a humidifier having an eductor formed from a scale control tray and valve interface which reduces overall water usage of the humidifier and increases efficiency while also increasing water flow rate to the humidifier media (e.g., a water panel) during humidification in a whole home application. SUMMARY One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a humidifying system. The humidifying system includes a water panel and a distribution tray fluidly coupled to the water panel, where the distribution tray is configured to provide a flow of water to the water panel. The system further includes at least one eductor, which may also be referred to as a jet pump or venturi pump, fluidly coupled to the distribution tray and a scale control tray in fluid communication with the water panel, where the scale control tray is configured to receive wastewater from the water panel. The system also includes a valve assembly fluidly coupled to a water supply at a first inlet and fluidly coupled to the at least one eductor via an outlet, where the valve assembly is configured to control a flow of water through the at least one eductor. The valve assembly includes a second inlet, the second inlet being in fluid communication with the scale control tray, where a flow of wastewater from the scale control tray through the second inlet is controlled by a first valve (e.g., a check valve with an orifice) within an interface between the second valve and the scale control tray, and a flow of freshwater from the water supply through the first inlet is controlled by a second valve (e.g., solenoid valve). A configuration of the first valve is based on an operational state of the second valve, which may be a pilot operated check valve. In various embodiments, the specific arrangement of the scale control tray with the at least one eductor and valve assembly, which includes the first valve (e.g., a movable check valve with an orifice), enables the at least one eductor and a drain assembly in fluid communication with the at least one eductor to function in a synergistic manner where both the first valve and the at least one eductor cooperate to facilitating reducing overall water usage of the humidifying system, increasing efficiency, and increasing water flow rate to the water panel. In one embodiment, the eductor is formed by a combination of the scale control tray and the valve assembly. In other embodiments, the eductor may be formed separate from the scale control tray and attached (e.g., via threads) to the valve assembly. In various embodiments, the first valve is a check valve with an orifice and the second valve is a solenoid valve. In some embodiments, the first valve is a piston type check valve with o-ring. In other embodiments, the first valve can also include a flexible diaphragm or membrane style valve with a fixed seal. In other embodiments, the valve assembly includes a spring disposed between the first valve and the at least one eductor, the spring being configured to bias the first valve in an open configuration (i.e., open to drain waste water from the scale control tray). In yet other embodiments, the spring is a compression spring. In various embodiments, the spring is an extension spring, which is configured to threadably engage with at least one of the first valve or the second valve. In some embodiments, the operational state of the second valve includes a first state and a second state, such that when the second valve is in the first state, the first valve is in the open configuration (i.e., to allow drainage of wastewater), and when the second valve is in the second state, the first valve is in a closed configuration (i.e., where a drain in fluid communication with the first valve is closed and the at least one eductor is enabled). In other embodiments, the first valve includes at least one orifice, such that when the first valve is in the closed configuration, the flow of wastewater from the scale control tray is received by a drain. In various embodiments, the system further includes a collection member, the collection member being disposed between the first inlet and the scale control tray. In some embodiments, the valve assembly is integrally formed with the scale control tray. In other embodiments, the system includes a frame, where the water panel is pivotably coupled to the frame and the valve assembly is coupled to the frame. In yet other embodiments, the valve assembly is removably coupled to the scale control tray. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a humidifying system. The system includes a frame and a