US2090875A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

ug. 24, 1937.. J. H. o'BRlEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 193s 5 sheets-sheet 1 f2 QQQQQQQQ/@QQQ/@QQQQQQQQ Aug. 24, 1937. J. H. @BRIEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24, 1937. J. H. oBRlEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 193s s sheets-sheet s lf/O' l il? ORNEY.

Patented Aug. 24,1937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS James H. O'Brlen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Blower Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware vApplication July 7, 1933, Serial No. 679,294

Claims.

10 frigerant in the form of blocks of ice. While the general features of the invention are adapted for use in air cooling units or structures permanently arranged in fixed position, a specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective portable air cooling unit which is adapted for use rst in one and then in another of the rooms of a dwelling house or apartment as conditions make desirable, and which may readily be moved back and forth between the place or places of use go and a convenient place for charging the unit with ice.

More specic objects of the present invention are to provide apparatus of the character described by its mechanical simplicity and by its 25 comparatively small required bulk for a given cooling effect with exposure of the air to the ice surface ample in extent to cool the air below the dew point, and for the reheating of the air before delivery from the apparatus to a temperature 30 above the dew point. Further specific objects of the invention having to do with the operation of the apparatus are the avoidance of operating noise and the avoidance of any necessity for a cold-water tank and water circulating pump com- 55 monly provided in previously proposed air cooling apparatus; provision of simple and effective means for regulating the temperature at which the air is delivered with a corresponding ysaving in ice at times when less than the maximum cooling 40 effect is required; provisions for effectively utilizing the heat absorbing capacity of the Water formed from the melting ice in precooling the air passing into direct contact with the ice; provisions for cleansing the air as an incident of i5 the air cooling operation and fory the continuous drainage from the apparatus of the water formed from the melting ice along with condensate formed from the air conditioned and the dirt or foreign matter eliminated from the air in passing 50 through the apparatus whereby the latter is kept clean and free from odors; and provisions for preventing external condensation on and drip from the apparatus. A further object of the invention is to provide a unit especially adapted 55 for cooling air but also adapted with no change except for the incorporation in its ice space ot humidifying means, for usey during the heating season in humidifying the air in a dwelling house or apartment.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and specific objects and advantages attained with it, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the lnunit with its front end wall removed to show its I interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section on the broken line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of an air scrubbing and cooling unit, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is apartllal plan showing a portion of a water distributing element;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ice supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation taken similarly to Fig. 1, but on a larger scale, illustrating details of the damper adjusting means included in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2,y respectively illustrating a modified form of air conditioning unit; and

Fig. 9 is a partial section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8 illustrating humidifying means which may be used under some conditions with either form of air conditioning unit illustrated.

The air conditioning unit in the form shown in Figs. 1-6 of the drawings, comprises a housing A of generally rectangular outline. 'I'he whole lower portion of the housing interior forms an air inlet chamber A' receiving room air tobe conditioned through an inlet opening shown as formed in the lower front wall of the housing and across which a suitable screen or. grill A2 extends. From the inlet chamber A the air to be conditioned is passed upward as hereinafter described, through the portion of the housing between the partition A3 forming the top wall of the chamber A' and a. superposed ice supporting frame A4 located some distance above the partition A3. The frame A4 is in the form of a grid and is located at the bottom of the ice receiving chamber A5 and an air passage .A6 which forms a by-pass about the ice chamber A* and is separated from the latter by a vertically disposed partition A". Above the chambers As and Ae is an air mixing chamber A.a from which the conditioned air passes out of the apparatus through an outlet in the top wall of the latter across which extends a grill A. 'I'he relative amounts of air passing through the chambers A5 and A and mixing in the chamber A are determined by the adjustment of a damper mechanism hereinafter described and shown as including louvre damper blades B and BA.

As shown the housing A is made portable by providing it with supporting wheels A10. The bottom wall A11 of the chamber A is located somewhat above the floor level and prevents the passage of flow of dust into the chamber A', and, as shown, is recessed at A111 to provide clearance for the wheels A10. At the side of the ice chamber A5 opposite the partition A", the housing A is provided with a section A12 readily removable to permit the insertion of ice. .Preferably the removable section A12 extends downward far enough to permit the ready removal and reinsertion of the hereinafter described scrubbing tray F.

The housing Wall may be made in various ways and of various materials and the general details of its construction form no part of the present invention. It is noted, however, that ordinarily I contemplate the formation of the housing with a metallic framework and walls of suitable strength and rigidity. While heat radiation losses from the housing wall are of relatively small direct importance, I regard it as practically important to provide the upper portion of the housing with a heat insulating jacket or cover A13 effective to prevent Water from condensing out of the surrounding atmosphere onto the housing with a resultant risk of injurious or annoying water drip from the housing.

The size and air conditioning capacity of the apparatus enclosed by the housing A obviously may vary in accordance with the conditions of use. In general, I consider it desirable to proportion the ice receiving chamber A with reference to a standard size of artiiicial ice cakes which may be split up to form the ice blocks of a size and form permitting them to be so spaced in the chamber A5 as to provide suitable passage for upiiow of air in contact with all four vertical sides of each block. Ordinarily artificial ice cakes are initially 11 inches thick, 22 inches wide and either 44 or 54 inches long. While as before indicated, the housing dimensions may vary widely with conditions of use, I note, for purposes of illustration, and not by way of limitation, that aparatus of the particular form shown in the drawings and intended for use in conditioning the air in ordinary dwelling rooms, may well have'an ice chamber relatively -proportioned generally as shown and having its longer horizontal dimension either four feet and two inches or ilve feet, depending on whether intended for use with ice cakes of the larger or of the smaller standard size mentioned above.

To move the air to be conditioned in suitable volume through the housing, I employ one or more circulating fans D. In the particular form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thev drawings, there'are two fans D each having its rotor directly connected to the armature shaft of a driving motor d, and all located within the inlet chamber A. The casing of each fan is formed with a central inlet opening D' at on? or preferably at both of its sides. 'Ihe outlet Da oi each casing', which is shown as of the usual involute form, extends upward and opens to the space above the partition A:i through a correlsponding aperture in the latter. As shown a motor starter box da is attached to the rear wall of the housing, and is provided with a socket part da' for the attachment of cord conductors, not shown, which may be employed to energize the apparatus from any available outlet. f

As shown a water distributor E, a scrubber F and a water eliminator G are located in the space between the partition A3 and the ice supporting frame A4, the scrubber F being` above the eliminator G and below the distributor E. The distributor E is advantageously in the form of a horizontal metal plate formed with a multiplicity of apertures E surrounded each by a horizontal uprising flange E2 so that water dripping down from the ice chamber and not falling directly through the apertures E', will collect on the upper side of the distributor and flow in film form over anges E2 and thence downwardly through the apertures E' over the entire surface in a.

direction counter to the upflow of air through said apertures.

The scrubber F is shown as comprising a shallow tray or box open at its top and having a perforated or screen bottom and lled with suitable water distributing material f. The material f may advantageously be iron oxide, aluminum oxide, quartz or other material insoluble in Water and presenting a rough surface when broken up into suitable small pieces, and preferably having a fine porous structure. The material may advantageously be broken up so that most of the particles are just small enough to pass through a. screen of one-quarter inch mesh. 'Ihe scrubber F forms a porous screen in passing through which the ascending air and the descending water are brought into intimate contact so that the water will give up practically all of its available heat to the air passing through the scrubber which thus serves as an eillcient pre-cooler for the air.

The water eliminator G serves to collect all of the water dripping down through the perforated bottom of the `rscrubber F. As shown the eliminator G is formed by a series of inclined bars or plates extending from one end to the other of the housing and inclined to the horizontal so that adjacent water defiecting bars overlap. As shown, each bar or plate is formed with a downturned flange G at its upper edge and with an upturned flange G2 at its lower edge. Each flange G2 with the body of the plate from which it projects, forms a gutter leading to a water collecting troughY H at one end of the housing. To insure the proper flow through said gutters, the individual bars of the eliminator G are all longitudinally inclined to the horizontal and have their lower ends above the trough H, the ilanges G-2 being cut away above the trough H to facilitate the discharge of water into the latter. A drainage pipe l1. leads down; ward from the trough H to some suitable receptacle or conduit receiving the drainage.

Advantageously, and as shown, the conduit h, which may well be a piece of hose or other form of flexible conduit, is provided at its lower end with a union fitting h for attachment to an elbow tting I at the end of a branch I from theA drain or return pipe I2 of the steam or hot water heating radiator in the room in which the conditioning apparatus is located. The branch pipe is shown as provided with 'a cut-oi! Yvalve I3, which may be'closed during the heating season, and with a non-return valve I4.

Immediately below and extending across the upper air outlet at which the grill A is located, I advantageously place a water eliminator g which may be exactly similar in constructionv to the previously described eliminator G, except that the bars of the eliminator g need not lbe longitudinally inclined to the horizontal and may discharge any water collecting in their lower trough portions at the ends oi' the latter directly into the end portions of the ice chamber A5.

'I'he previously mentioned louvre damper comprising the damper members B and BA, extends horizontally across the housing at the bottom, of the air mixing chamber A', and serves as a means for varying the relative amounts of air passing into the chamber Al from the ice cham.- ber A5 and from the by-pass channel A5, respectively.. As shown the damper members B and BA are in the form of at vanes provided with trunnion extensions 4at each end which are journalled in a support B secured to the housing for the purpose. Advantageously, the different vanes are connected for similar turning movements about their trunnion axes. To this end, as shown, each of the vanes is provided at one end with a crank arm portion B2 pivotally connected to a floating bar B3. When the damper as a whole is in its neutral position, the vanes B which are above the channel A5 are inclined in one direction to the horizontal-and the vanes BA above the ice chamber A5 are inclined in the opposite direction to the horizontal. In consequence when the floating bar B3 is moved to the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, the damper bars B approach the vertical and reduce their throttling effect on the passage A, while the bars BA are then 40 moved into a more horizontal position and exert an increased throttling effect on the upflow of air to the ice chamber. Conversely, when the iioating bar B3 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the throt- 45 tling eiect of the vanes B is increased, and the throttling effect of the vanes BA is increased.

While the damper vanes B and BA may be manually adjusted, I advantageously provide means for automatically adjusting them to thereby vary the cooling eiect on the air conditioned in automatic response to the need for the air cooling effect. To this end, in the form diagrammatically illustrated, the adjustment of the damper vanes is controlled by a thermostat J located in the inlet chamber A and responsive to the temperature of the room air entering and passing through that chamber. As those skilled in the art will understand, various forms of thermostatic control devices and mechanism through which the control device proper effects the adjustment of the damper are known and may be made use of for the purposes of the present invention. As diagrammatically illustrated, Athe thermostat J is employed to control the passage of energizing current from the motor starting box da through conductors in a conduit K and thence through conductors in a conduit L running from the device J to an electromagnetic relay motor M for operating the damper. As shown the relay device M is in the form of an electromagnet comprising a sectionally wound winding and a solenoid armature M adjusted to different vertical positions according to the manner in which the winding is energized through the action of the thermostat J. The armature M has its stem connected by a pin vand slot connection to an arm B4 carried 4by the adja cent damper bar B. In consequence, as the core M' is raised from the neutral position shown in Fig. 6, it gives a closing adjustment to the damper members B and an opening adjustment to the damper members BA, reverse adjustments of the two sets of damper bars being affected when the core M' is lowered.

In operation the room air entering the inlet chamber A and passed from the latter by the fans D, flows upwardly through the space between the bars of the water eliminator G, thence through the scrubber F and the apertures E' in the water distributor plate E, and thence upwardly normally in part through the channel A6 and in part through the ice chamber A5, the relative amounts of air passing through the channel A5 and ice chamber A5 depending on the adjustment of the damper blades B and BA.

As the air passes upward through the ice chamber A5 it is substantially reduced in temperature and is given a correspondingly low dew point and when it leaves the chamber A5 at the top, it

can have admixed with it only the relatively J small amount o! vapor corresponding to the dew point of the air at its low temperature.

In consequence if all of the air conditioned were passed from the chamber A5 directly out into the room, the relatively low absolute humidity of the air leaving the conditioning apparatus would lower the relative humidity in the room, unless that humidity were less than it normally is at the times at which the greatest need for air cooling or the air cooling action is experienced. Under normal conditions of operation', a portion only of the air passing through the conditioning apparatus will pass through the ice chamber A5 into the mixing chamber A8. The remainder of the air then entering the mixing chamber through the by-pass channel A6 will enter the mixing chamber at a higher temperature and normally with a higher absolute humidity. The air mixture formed in the chamber As will then have a temperature intermediate the temperature at which the air enters the chamber from the chamber A5 and from the by-pass A5 and the relative humidity of the mixture will be less than the maximum for the mixture temperature, even though it be assumed that the relative humidity of each portion of the air entering the mixing chamber is at a maximum.

In the` passage of the air upward from the inlet chamber A into the bottom of the ice chamber A5 and by-pass channel A5, the air is subjected to an elicient cooling action utilizing substantially all of the available heat absorbing capacity of the ice water formed in the ice chamber and distributed by the distributor E and scrubber F. The tendency of the air to become saturated in passing through the scrubber is minimized to some extent by the moisture absorbing capacity of the scrubber material f when the latter is formed of materials such as those specified above containing capillary pullers. This moisture absorbing capacity of the material f depends upon the dryness of the air within the capillary pores or lower vapor pressure of the latter and is vitiated as by the accumulation of moisture in such pores. The moisture absorbing capacity of the material f can be regenerated from time to time, however, by exposing the material to Contact with suitably dry air, and more rapidly by a moderate heating action due to the action of the sun's rays oradvantag'eously, in some instances, by heating the material over a. kitchen stove. The drying and heating of the material f from time toltime also has the ad- 5 vantage of sterilizing and veiectually eliminating any tendency of the scrubber material to give objectionable odors to the air passing through it.

The portable character of the conditioning unit obviously facilitates its effective use. For example, in an ordinary dwelling house or housekeeping apartment, the unit may be located in the dining room when meals are being served and at other times may be located in the living room or other room which it is especially desirable to cool. Furthermore, the portability of the unit makes it readily possible to move the unit onto a porch or into a kitchen or pantry whenever it becomes necessary to recharge the unit with ice.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated an air conditioning unit generally similar in character to that previously described, but desirably simpler in some respects. In large part, the unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of parts .25 similar to corresponding parts in the construction fer of the fans D and motor d from their lower location illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, into the mixing chamber A3 of Figs. 7 and 8. To receive the fans D and motor, the mixing chamber A3 of Figs. 7 and 8 is enlarged in the vertical direction. This does not require any increase in height of a unit of different capacity, however, as with the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the height of the portion of the unit below the scrubber F may Well be reduced as much as or more than the height of the chamber A8 is increased. The reduction in height of the portion of the apparatus below the scrubber F in the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is made possible not only by the transfer of the fans D and motor d to their upper location, but also because there is no need in the unit of Figs. '7 and 8 for the eliminator G or partition A3 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the water dripping from the scrubber F collects in the lower portion of the air inlet chamber A', which extends uninterruptedly upward to the scrubber F, the latter forming a pervious roof for the chamber A. In Figs. 1 and 8 the fans D and motor d are suspended from a plate A30 generally similar to the plate A3 of Figs. l and 2, and which, as shown, is spaced to provide a small air outlet chamber A80 above the mixing chamber A3, and between it and the discharge outlet opening over which the grill A9 extends. In Figs. 7 and 8, no provisions are shown for the discharge of any water dripping onto the partition plate A30 from the water eliminator g, as the water which will so drip on the plate A30 at any time is relatively small and insignificant in amount, and will eventually be evaporated and passed out of the apparatus with the air discharged through the openings in the grill A9.

Notwithstanding its simpler construction, the general operation of the air conditioning unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is like that of the unit rst described, and is characterized by the same general advantages.

Either form of conditioning unit illustrated is adapted for use as a room humidifier during the heating season without any change whatever'in the apparatus other than the substitution for the ice in the refrigerant compartment, of means for 5 supplying water for humidifying purposes to the water distributor E. 'I'he humidifying water supply means may be of any suitable form; such for example as that illustrated in deta in Fig. 9, which is adapted for mounting on the ice sup- 10 porting frame A4.

The water supply means may be of any suitable form, but I regard the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 9 as especially desirable for the purpose. That arrangement comprises a supply l5 tank O which is located in the ice compartment of the apparatus and supported on the frame A* when humidiflcation is desired and may. be removed from said compartment when the latter contains ice as at such times no need exists for 20 a special air humidiiication effect. The tank O is provided with supporting legs O and an outlet pipe 'O2 which, as shown, supplies water to a oat tank E3. The latter, conveniently and as shown, is in the form of a depression in an unperforated 25 distributor plate E. When the tank E3 is filled with Water to the proper level, the water overflows from the tank onto the plate E. A float E resting on the water in the tank E3 is connected to and serves to close a cut-off valve P in the dis- 30 charge pipe O2 when necessary to prevent the water level from rising above the tops of the anges E2 so as to create an objectionable flow of water through the perforations or openings O in the plate E. 4'I'he normal rate of discharge of 35 water into the float tank E3 from the supply tank O may advantageously be regulated by a solenoid valve Q controlled by a humidostat (not shown) which may be of any usual or suitable type adapted to open and close the valve Q as room humidity 40 falls below or increases above the desired amount. The described humidifying means is thus elective, when humidication of the room atmosphere is desirable, to maintain a thin layer of Water on the plate E which is of such considerable hori- 45 zontal extent that the air moved through the apparatus may evaporate suiiicient water' to insure the desired humidication effect.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described 50 the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set 55 forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I 60 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus adapted for use within a dwelling room to condition the air therein comprising a housing enclosing a compartment, a by-pass` 65 about said compartment, a mixing chamber receiving air from said compartment and-said bypass and an outlet from said chamber, means for effecting contact of the air passing to said bypass and to said compartment with ice water drip 70 from the latter, and means extending across said outlet for arresting and retaining entrained water in the air passing from said chamber through said outlet.

2. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising a 75 aoeds'nsv 10 ward through the scrubber and thence upward partly through the containing chamber and partly through the by-pass into said outlet chamber.

3. Apparatus for conditioning air'comprising a housing having an upper outlet chamber, an ice 15 containing chamber beneath the first mentioned chamber, a by-pass for air about said ice containing chamber communicating at its upper end with said outlet chamber, a scrubber beneath said by-pass and ice containing chamber, means for distributing the ice water drip from said ice containing chamber onto said scrubber, means for moving the air to be conditioned upward through the scrubber and thence upward partly through the containing chamber and partly through the 25 by-pass into said outlet chamber, and means below said scrubber for collecting water passing through said scrubber.

`4. A portable air conditioning unit comprising a housing enclosing an ice receiving compart- 30 ment, means for drawing air into said housing and passing it through the said compartment and thence out of the housing, and means for collecting the ice water drip from compartment and discharging it from said housing, said last mentioned means including a` radiator return pipe having a valved inlet part, a flexible discharge pipe having its inlet end connected to said housing and having means at its discharge end for attachment to said inlet part.

5. A portable air conditioning unit comprising a housing enclosing an ice receiving compartment, and a scrubber beneath said compartment receiving the ice water drip from the latter, said scrubber comprising a tray with a pervious bottom and a pervious layer of material supported on said bottom and said housing having a portion of one side wall removable to permit the insertion and removal of said tray and for the charging of saidccmpartment with ice.

6. In combination, a housing enclosing an airy conditioning compartment, means for moving air into said housing and through said compartment and thence out of the housing, means for eiecting contact of the air passing to said compartment with water including a perforated element extending across the path of ai'r flow beneath said compartment, and means for maintaining water on said element.

'1. In combination, a housing enclosing an air 60 conditioning compartment, means for moving air into said housing and through said compartment and thence out of the housing, means for effecting contact of the air passing to said compartment with water including an element extending across the path of air flow beneath said compartment and formed with distributed apertures and uprising flanges surrounding said apertures, and means for maintaining a shallow body of water on said element.

8. In combination, a housing enclosing an air conditioning compartment, means for moving air into said housing and through said compartment and thence outof the housing, means for effecting contact of the air passing to said compartment with water including an element extending across the path of air flow beneath said compartment and formed with distributed apertures and with a depression adapted to serve as a oat tank, and means for passingwater onto said element, said means comprising a water container adapted to be inserted in and removed from said compartment, a valve controlling the discharge of water from said container into said tank and a oat in said tank opening and closing said valve as the water level in said tank falls and rises.

9. Air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a casing formed with an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, an ice containing chamv ber providing a path for the iiow of air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber in which the air passing to the outlet chamber along said path is substantially saturated with water Vapor, and a by-pass about said ice containing chamber for the passage of air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, and means for regulating the relative amounts of air passing from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber through said ice containing chamber and by-pass, respective- 1y, in automatic response to the temperature of the air passing through said inlet chamber.

10. Apparatus adapted for use Within a dwelling room, to condition the air therein, comprising a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet and enclosing an outlet chamber communicating with said outlet, a compartment adapted to receive ice and providing a flow path to said outlet

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