US1903301A - Air cooler and humidifier - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1933. SNQWDEN ET AL 1,903,301

' AIR COOLER AND HUM'IDIFIER Filed. June 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l FWG. 1 Z4 \N\! ENTORE) RE. ENOW DEN J. P. ROQCH QTToRN iYb April 1933- F. E. SNO WDEN ET AL 1,903,301

AIR COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed June 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GTYORNEYE:

- Patented Apr. @1933 UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE rename a SNOWDEN' A m Joni: r. noacn, or Los mamas, cum-am m 600mm AND mums-ma Application filed June 20, 1927. Serial No. 200,055.

Our invention is an air cooler and humidifier of the type in which a current of an 15 blown over a surface of water.

An object of our invention is the construction of an air cooler and humidifier in which the air may be blown by an electric fan or the like and passesover'shallow films of flowing water, the breeze of air sweepingover the surface of such films of water and hence absorbas adds humidity thereto.

Our invention is particularly adaptedfor hot arid districts as well as for residential use in cold climates where the airbecomes too dry by the heating appliances, and our invention is applicable to portable or fixed equipment.

A more specific object of our invention is the use of inclined trays or the like over which a thin film of water flows, this water traveling from one tray to another in a zigzag path downwardly. These trays are positioned in relation to an electric fanwhereby the air from the fan is blown over the surface of the trays and thus absorbs moisture. A reservoir is located at the base of the cooler from which the water is elevated by means of a pump to the uppermost tray, whence it flows bygravity and cools and humidifies the air,

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of our cooler and humidifier, such figure being taken in the direction of arrow 1 of Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is an end elevationin the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, showing the intake end of the cooler.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line H of Fig. 3, in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, in the direction of the arrows.

The structure is preferably provided with a flat base 11 on which is mounted a reservoir 12, this belng, in the instance illustrated, a

ing the moisture. This cools the air as well on to the upper tray.

. levels. Between the angles 17 and the angles 16 there is stretched a series of trays 19 preferably formed of a woven fabric such as canvas. These trays extend on a downward inclination from a forward angle 17 to certem of the rear angles 16. From other of the rear angles 16 to the bars 18, there are other trays formed in the same manner, these being indicated by the numeral 20.

At the lower end of each of the downwardly 7 and rearwardly inclined trays there are discharge spouts 21 which allow the water to flow from an uppertray to one of the lower trays 20 and be conveyed forward. There is a space 22 between the front end of the downwardly and forwardly inclined trays and the angles 17, allowing the water'to flow over from an upper tray to 'a lower, in a species of cascade. p a

We have a filler opening 23 on top of the so casing covered with a cap '24 and in the size illustrated we also use a. handle 25 for carrying purposes. The lower part of the casing 13 forms a water receptacle and hasan opening 26 therein to allow flow of water into the tank reservoir 12, this reservoir having a clean-out opening 27 having a suitable closure. I

A pump 28 is mounted in a-su'itable position preferably forward of the reservoir and has an intake pipe 29 connected thereto, this pipe leadin into the reservoir. A discharge pipe 30 con ucts the water from the pump upwardly and discharges it through a nozzle 31 l .A spider 32 is constructed at the forward end of the casing immediately behind the screen 14 and forms the support for a fan shaft 33, this shaft having a pulley 34 thereon driven b a belt 35 actuated by a driving pulley 36 of an electric motor 37, this pulley r 36 being on an armature shaft 38, which also operates the pump 28, which is preferably of a centrifugal type. A fan'39 is connected to the pulley 34 preferably by means of a sleeve 40. A water gauge 41 is connected by a pipe 42 to the reservoir 12.

T e manner of operation and functioning of our cooler and humidifier is substantially as follows:

The reservoir 12 is preferably filled by pouring water through the filler opening 23, this water flowing from one tray to the other in a zigzag path and, if desired, the fan may be operating at the same time, this fan blowing air from the front of the machine through the casing 13 outnthro ugh the screen 15. As the electric motor operates the pump simultaneously with the fan the water in the reservoir is elevated by the pump and discharged at the nozzle 31 and flows down the inclination of the upper tray 19, the water spreading laterally over this tray. At the lower end of the tray the water passes through the short pipes 21 on to the forward and downwardly inclined trays, indicated by the numeral 20, and atthe forward end. of these trays it has a slight drop on to the next rearwardly and downwardly inclined tray, the action of the water being in the same manner through the whole tier of trays.

The air from the fan follows the direction of the arrows 43 between the wide part of the trays at the front of the machine, and in so doing takes up moisture from the forwardly and rearwardly inclined trays and also such water as seeps through the rearwardly and downwardly inclined trays 19. A certain amount of air also flows through the space 22 between the forward end of the forwardly and downwardly inclined trays and the rearwardly and downwardly inclined trays, following the direction of the arrow 44. This flow of air absorbs moisture from the thin sheet of water on the downwardly and rearwardly inclined trays 19 and also the water which seeps through the forwardly and downwardly inclined trays 20.

It will thus be seen that there is a large surface of water in a comparatively small casing exposed to the direct drafts of air blowing over the surface of the water, and also absorbing water from the lower surface of the fabric trays where such water seeps through such trays. Hence on account of the large exposed surface, a large volume of water may be absorbed for a given quantity of air blowing through the humidifier, such amount dependlng, to a certain extent, on the humidity of the air before it enters the cooler. The action is both to cool and humidify the air.

A characteristic feature of our air cooler and humidifier is that the foraminated trays carrying the water from an upper to a lower level are arranged in a zigzag manner with the air blower fan at the intake end. This forces the air under pressure between converging trays. These trays at the intake end are substantially in contact so that a higher tray discharges into the tray next below, but at the outlet end the trays are spaced apart giving a free flow of air between an upper and a lower tray, except that this air is under a compression due to the fan. At the discharge end the water is conveyed from an upper to a lower tray by pipes which do not obstruct the flow of air at the discharge end to an appreciable extent. While a certain amount of air may flow through the porous, foraminated material yet the bulk of the air becomes humidified and cooled by surface contact with the water on the top of a lower tray and the drops of water clinging to the lower surface of an upper tray, as well as by any water which may drop from the lower side of an upper tray to a lower tray.

It is obvious that our invention may be adapted to permanent installations or portable structures, as illustrated.

Various changes may be made in the principles of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

We claim:

1. In an air cooler and humidifier, a structure having a plurality of superimposed trays, adjacent trays being inclined in opposite directions, means to force air under pressure simultaneously over the trays from one end in the same direction, the trays at the intake end discharging substantially an upper one into the tray next below and at the discharge end an upper tray discharging into a lower tray by pipes, said trays being spaced apart at the discharge end.

2. In an air cooler and humidifier, a structure having a plurality of superimposed trays, adjacent trays being inclined in opposite directions, a fan forming an air blower and blowing air longitudinally over the trays, said trays being covered with a porous material, the ends of the trays adjacent the fan having a discharge end of the upper tray contiguous to the intake end of the lower tray and at the discharge end having an upper tray spaced from the tray next below with a pipe leading from the said upper to the tray next below, there being a space between adjacent trays at the discharge end for the discharge of air.

3. An air cooler and humidifier comprising in combination a base, a reservoir connected thereto, a tubular casing mounted on the reservoir, a plurality of pairs of inclined trays extending transversely across the casing, adj acent trays being inclined in opposite direc tions, a fan at one end of the casing blowing air simultaneously over all the trays, the ends of the certain pairs of contiguous trays adjacent the fan being positioned close totray.

4. An air cooler and humidifier comprismg in combination a base, a reservoir connected thereto, a tubular casmg mounted on 10 the reservoir, a plurality of inclined trays extending transversely across the casing, adj acent trays being inclined in opposite directions, said trays at their converging ends being spaced apart to allow a cascade of water and having a pipe leading from the low end of an upper to a lower tray, a pump connected to the reservoir and having a discharge on the uppermost tray, an electric fan ournaled in the front of the casing and positioned to blow air longitudinally and simultaneously in the same direction over the trays in the direction of inclination, and a motor mounted on the base having means to drive thefan and the pump.

5. In an air cooler and humidifier, a structure having an intake and a discharge end and a plurality of superimposed trays, adjacent trays being inclined in opposite/directions, pipes leading from the lowermost ends of an upper tray and discharging on the tray next below at the discharge end, and the adjacent ends of the trays at the intake end being spaced apart and allowing a cascade of water from an upper to a lower tray, and means to blow a current of air over said trays from the'intake to the discharge ends and in the same direction over all of the trays.

6. In an air humidifier,-a structure having a plurality of superposed porous trays, ad'- j acent trays being inclined in opposite directions forming air passages having a relatively wide space at the intake end and a contracted space at the discharge end, means to flow water over the trays from the uppermost to the lowermost, the water discharging from the low part of an upper tray to the upper part of the tray next below, means to blow air in a direct path from the intake to the discharge end of the passages, the air converging trays, and allowing free ex ansion of the air at the discharge end 0 the passage.

7. In an air humidifier, a structure having a plurality of porous surfaces therein, the structure having an intake and a discharge end, the said surfaces converging towards the intake and discharge end but havfaces at the intake end and a space for flow of air at the discharge end,-the said surfaces forming a series of converging air passages, said passages having a relatively wide opening at the intake end and a narrow opening at the discharge end, means to moisten the becoming compressed in passing betweening but little space between adjacent sli said surfaces, means to forcibly blow air through the said passages and over the said surfaces, the air traveling in a substantially straight direction from'the intake to the discharge end of the passages, and efiecting a free expansion of the air after leaving the discharge end of the passages.

8. In an air humidifier, a structure having an intake and a discharge end for the flow of air, a plurality of surfaces to carry moisture mounted therein, said surfaces converging at the intake and discharge ends but having but little space between converging surfaces at the intake end and a space for the discharge of air at the outlet end, the said surfaces forming air passages having a relatively wide entrance end and a contracted discharge end, means to moisten the surfaces on at least one side of the passages, means to forcibly blow air in' a substantially straight direction between the intake and the discharge ends of the passages, and allowing free and unobstructed flow,of air from the discharge end of the passages.

9. In a humidifier, a structure having an intake and a discharge end for flow of air and a plurality of surfaces mounted therein converging towards the intake and discharge ends, said surfaces having a close convergence at the intake end and a space for flow of air at the outlet end, thereby forming a series of converging air pasages, means to moisten the converging surfaces at each passage, means to flow air forcibly through said passages, and allowing a free discharge and expansion of air at the end of each passage.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

I F. E. SNOWDEN.

J. P. ROACH.

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