US3000192A - Air conditioning - Google Patents

Description

3,000,192 AIR CONDITIONING William H. Mullin, Havertown, and Francis Feeney, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 25, 1960, Ser. No. 31,652 7 Claims. (Cl. 62285) The present invention relates to air conditioning and is especially concerned with 'air conditioning apparatus of a compact and unitary type having novel means for collecting and disposing of particulate matter present in the circulating air.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide apparatus that achieves improved air cleaning.

- It is a particular object of the invention to provide an air conditioner of the so-called room cooler" type in which certain novel constructional featuers contribute to the compact nature thereof as well as result in a substantial improvement in the air treating function.

To the foregoing general ends, the invention contemplates the provision of air conditioning apparatus of the type including an air cooling heat exchange element or coil, and means for forcibly circulating air in heat exchange relation with said element, and in which the element has such novel disposition with respect to thevair circulating means both to minimize dimensions of the unit and to improve the air cleaning characteristics of the apparatus.

' Advantageously, the air circulating means includes a sloping baffie for directing the air onto the cooling coil, said bafiie being disposed and adapted to be wetted over substantially its entire air-directing area by condensate dripping from the coil.

It is a feature of the invention that the air is washed by a contact with the wetted area of the baffle, which area serves to entrap particulate matter impinging thereon. Inasmuch as this area' slopes, the condensate runs ofi, carrying particulate matter therewith for subsequent disposal. Also, the air advantageously is washed by contact with the droplets of water falling through the air from the evaporator coil onto the baflie.

The manner in which the foregoing objects and advantages may best be achieved will be understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, with parts removed and other parts broken away, of air conditioning apparatus incorporating concepts of the present invention;

7 FIGURE 2 is a front elevational showing, partly in section and with parts broken away, of apparatus seen in FIGURE 1; V

. FIGURE 3 is an end view, with parts removed and in section, of'the left hand portion of the apparatus as seenin FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the refrigerant circulating system; and

FIGURE 5 is a somewhat enlarged view, with parts broken away, of apparatus seen in FIGURE 2, and showing an operational feature of the invention.

Now making more detailed reference of to the drawing, and initially to FIGURES 1 to 3, the window mount ed air conditioner includes a cabinet or housing 11, preferably but not necessarily rectangular in configura tion, having a base portion 17 and a conventional decoraq tive panel 12, the latter comprising inlet and outlet room passage means for the air moving means to be hereinafter more fully described. The inlet includes grille 13 and a filter 18 disposed in the right hand region of panel 12 and in air flow communication with the inlet opening 27 of indoor blower portion 26 of air moving means United States Patent Patented Sept. 19, 1961 ice 15. The aforesaid outlet air passage means includes grille 14 disposed in air flow communication with an evaporator coil 16, hereinafter also referred to as the indoor coil. A plurality of independently rotatable louvers 46 are disposed between the evaporator coil 16 and outlet grille 14 and are adapted to provide selectivity of the direction of discharge air flow. Evaporator coil 16, preferably of the finned type, is part of the usual refrigerating system, shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE 4 and including a motor compressor 20, condensing or outdoor coil 21, and associated conduits through which said motor compressor, condenser and evaporator coils are coupled in series flow circuit. These conduits include a line 22 through which refrigerant normally is delivered to outdoor coil 21 as the condenser, and a feed line 23 which, as shown, may advantageously comprise a continuously open restrictive connection through which I liquified refrigerant is normally fed to the indoor coil 16 as the evaporator, for expansion therein. Refrigerant is withdrawn by the compressor from the evaporator through suction line 19 to complete the refrigerant flow circuit. Arrows applied to FIGURE 4 indicate the normal flow of refrigerant as occurs during the refrigerating cycle. The compressor is selectively energized through line L having in series therewith control switch means 24 (see also FIGURE 2).

Referring again to air moving means 15, a motor 25 is connected to line L (FIGURE 4) and rotatably supports the blower 26 adapted to cause circulation of air in heat exchange relation with evaporator coil 16. Blower 26 is housed within a scroll structure 30 disposed adjacent a partition 31 which divides cabinet 11 into an evaporator coil chamber 32 and a condensing coil chamber 33. The portion of cabinet 11 comprising chamber 32 is adapted to extend into a room or space to be air conditioned while chamber 33 of the cabinet, lying into the other side of partition 31, extends outwardly of the room preferably through a window opening thereof. The evaporator coil chamber 32 is subdivided by means of a partition 34, into a section having disposed therein the blower and scroll assembly 26, 30 and a section in which is disposed evaporator coil 16. The mouth portion 35 of the scroll 30 extends through partition 34 and into position to direct air against one face of evaporator coil 16 (FIGURES 2 and 3), as will be hereinafter more fully described in accordance with important features ofthe invention.

Condensing coil chamber 33 also has disposed therein motor compressor 20 and motor 25. A propeller type fan 36 is rotatably supported within chamber 33 by mo-' tor 25 to provide for drawing outside air into the chamber over the outdoor coil, and for discharging the spent flows on the latter and drips onto outdoor coil 21, to be evaporated therefrom in the course of the refrigerating cycle. Conduit means for directing the flow of condensate formed on the indoor coil to sump 41 comprises an opening 43 (FIGURE 2) formed in the mouth portion 35 of room blower scroll 30, from which opening 43 there extends a tube 44 terminating at sump 41 (FIGURE 3). Extending across the obliquely disposed bottom wall or bafile portion 37 of scroll mouth 35 is trough means 45 disposed and adapted to prevent condensate that drips 3 from evaporator coil 16 from running into the lowermost portion of scroll 30 and to insure outflow of condensate from baffle portion 37 through opening 43 for subsequent .disposal in the manner above described.

In particular accordance with the invention, eva'p'o rator coil element 16 is so disposed as to extend generally angularly (see FIGURE 3) across an upper corner portion of housing 11, which portion comprises also the generally rectangular cross sectional area of the vertically extending evaporator chamber 32, as is best seen in FIG- URES l and 3. The evaporator coil element 16' is generally planar in configuration and is positioned to slope in such manner that condensate drips from substantially the entire area of the evaporator and upon sloping bafile 37. The downward projection of the face portion of the evaporator is substantially equal to the upward projection of bafiie 37 upon a plane normal to air moving therebetween. By the above described positioning of coil- 16 vertical compactness ofthe unit also is enhanced;

, Referring to FIGURES 2, 3' and- 5, it will be seenthat the baffle portion 37 of scroll mouth 35,- while positioned to promote drainage ofmoisture as seen at 6', derived fromdrops of condensate G falling thereon, is so positionedas abruptly to change the direction of the air, driv en from blower 26 (see arrows, FIGURES 2 and and tocause' the air abruptly to be directed upwardly and to impinge upon-evaporator coil-16'. Also; as mentioned; the baifie 37 is disposed generallyvinthe area of downward projection of evaporator coil" 16 and; by'virtue of the above described cooperative positioning of baffle 37 and coil 16, condensate C drippingfromthe coil will drip substantially onto, and cover (as seen at- G'Ythe entire; surface of battle 37 and air beingdelivered from blower 26 is thus caused to flow in contact with'thewetted u'pper surface of the baflie. Flow'of' air over the'w'etted surface results in cleaning of the air and-in-entrapmenton the baffle of the relatively heavier particulate matter P im pinging upon this surface-of-the"-- bafiie. In addition to the above filtering action, drops" of water falling from the evaporator coil wash the air directed onto'the'coil. Initial coarse filtering ofthe air is-provided-by' the filter 18 which is positioned betweeirthe blower26' and the' inlet air grill 13.

'From the foregoing-it is seen that the structure of the present invention, while affording a thorough filtering action, is characterized by simplicity, and compactness. Importantly, formation of the film of-moisture'u'pon the surface of the inclined bathe is automatic, as is the dis posal of the moisture and the particulate matter entrapped therein. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that due to the thorough filtering of'air prior-to its' heat exchange contact with the evaporator, coil surfaces, the latter remain substantially devoid 0f, dust and: dirt that would normally contribute to inelficienttransfer of'heat from the air thereto;

Still further, it will be appreciated that thesame" novel cooperative arrangement of the evaporator, inclined bafile, and blower provides movement of air through the evaporator chamber with aminimum of turbulence, thereby increasing the air flow rate and improving the elhciency of the air moving system; By virtue of the hereinabove described improved heat'exchange and-air moving functions,ga relatively high-degree-of :coolingcapacity is achieved. 7 v

, In' summation, the inventionprovides an ,air' conditioner of-the room cooler type characterized by ahigh degree of compactness coupled with an increased capability forthe treatmentof air,

1. An air conditioner"comprising: a generally rectarl gular'housing; i so disposed as to extend-angularly across an upper corner of said housing in such a manner thatcondensatedrips from substantiallythe entire area of the evaporator;

; and blower means within said housing and includan evaporator within said housing-being 4 ing bafiie means so obliquely disposed beneath said evaporator as to direct air discharged from said blower means upwardly over said evaporator in heat exchange therewith, positioning ,of said bafile means further being such that condensate forined upon said evaporator and falling therefromimpinges-upon land wets substantially the entireair dir ctirig surfacefo f said bafile means, the wetted surface beingeffective to entrap particulate matter entrained in the air moved by said blower means.

2. An air conditioner according" to claim 1, wherein said blower means comprises a centrifugal impeller and a scroll disposed thereabout, and'said baffle means is formed integrally with said scroll and disposed adjacent the path of air discharge. t 7 I 3. In an air conditioning unit, the combination comprising: a housing having air inlet and outlet openings communicating with a space to be cooled; an air filter element disposed and adapted to ex'tendiacross said .air inlet opening; blower means for drawing airthrough said inlet opening and forcingthe same throu'glisaid outlet opening; a cooling element disposed within saidh'ousing, at a level above said blower means, and theipath of air as it moves through said outlet opening, said cooling element being further disposed 'angular'ly as respects said housing and in'sucha manner that'cbndensa'tefdrips, from substantially the entire" area" of said cooling element,- and battle means so angular'ly' disposed below saidcoob ing element as to direct air from said blower upwardly over said element in high heat exchange therewith and adapted to be wetted by enaensae formed at and dripping from said cooling elem-exit whereby particulate matter entrained in the movingair becomes entrapped in said condensate, angular disposition of s d bfa'flie' means providing for continuous dr'ainageo'f condensate and en"- trapped particulate'mattertherefrom.

4. In an air conditioner, the'coinbination comprising: a housing; blower means including an air discharge port from which air is forcedthrough'said hoiising; a cooling coil within said housing, disposed" at a level above said blower means a'ir discharge port, arijd'having a flat face portion so inclined'as respectsthe said housingithat condensate drips from substantially the entire area" of the coil face portion; and battle means disposed below said coil adjacent said blower means air discharge port and so inclined as to'dir'ect air discharge'd'from said air discharge port upwardly oversaid coil in high heat exchange therewith, said baflle means further being positioned in such'manner that its upward" projection is substantially equal to the downward projection of the face portion of said cooling coil upon a planenormal to air moving therebetween, said baflle meansthereby being positioned to be wetted by condensate formed at anddflp'ping from said coil, particulate matter entrained 'in" the moving air becomingentrapped in the condensate, the inclined disposition of said baflle means further providilig for continuous drainage of condensate and entrapped particulate matter therefrom.

5. An air conditioner comprising: a housing; anjevapor ator within said housing, said" evaporator comprising a planar coil element so incline'd'fror'nthe horizontal'that condensate drips and'falls from substantially the entire heat. exchange relation "therewith, positioning of 7 said baflie means further" being suchthat condensate formed upon said evaporator coil element and falling therefroin impinges upon and wets substantially the entire air directing surface of said baffle means, the wetted surface being efiective to entrapparticulate matter'entrained in the air being moved.

6; In an air conditioner, the combination comprising" a housing; blower means for forcing air through said housing; cooling coil means within said housing and so inclined from the horizontal that condensate formed thereon falls therefrom substantially across the entire area of said coil means; and baflle means disposed below said coil means and so inclined from the horizontal as to direct air discharged from said blower means upwardly over said coil means in high heat exchange relation therewith and positioned to be wetted by condensate formed at and dripping from said coil means, whereby particulate matter entrained in the moving air becomes entrapped in said condensate, the inclined disposition of said baffle means providing for continuous drainage of condensate and entrapped particulate matter therefrom.

7. An air conditioner according to claim 6 and further including drain trough means cooperatively disposed with said baffie means whereby to drain condensate and washed particulate matter therefrom for disposal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,408,972 Eberhart Oct. 8, 1946 2,600,316 Moore June 10, 1952 2,899,803 Paley Aug. 18, 1959

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