US1931748A - Unit heater - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1933. P. w. BlELFr-:LDT 931748 UNIT HEATER Filed Feb. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l zo L. L

Octa 24, 1933. P. w. BIELFELDT UNIT HEATER Filed Feb. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention relates to unit heaters.

One object of the invention is to provide a unit steam heater comprising a circulating fan in Which the fan is driven by a steam turbine or 5 steam propelled means to utilize the energy in the steam before it is delivered to and condensed in the radiator or heater coil.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved unit steam heater equipped with a circulating fan and in which an electric motor for driving the fan and the necessity of providing electrical energy is dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for supplying moisture to the unit heater.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a unit heater embodying the invention,l parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

The invention is exemplified in a unit heater comprising a frame 6 of any suitable construction, and which is adapted to be supported by 30 hangers or brackets in any place where it is desired to use the heater. The frame shown comprises a bottom member 7, a top member 8 and vertical or side members 9. A radiator 10 is mounted in the frame 6 and comprises a coil 10a with ns 10b. An inlet pipe 11 is connected to deliver steam into the upper terminal of the coil 10 at one side of the frame 6. The frame serves as a shell which directs air around and between the coil 10B.

A cross-bar 12 is xedly secured to the side members 9 of frame 6 and supports a bracket 14 which serves as a support for a fan for circulating air around the radiator, and steam-driven propelling means for the fan. A combined propeller and fan shaft 15 is journalled in anti-friction bearings 14 carried in the bracket 14. A fan-wheel 16 is secured to the end of the shaft 15 which is adjacent the radiator coil 10a. The fan is disposed within or close to the frame 6 so it will blow air against and around the radiator so the air will be heated and propelled to the desired points. The propelling means for shaft 15 comprises a turbine casing 17 which is xedly secured to one end of the-bracket 14 and a turbine or propeller wheel 18 which is connected to the air stream to humidify the air delivered from the' shaft 15 so the latter will be rotated thereby. A steam supply pipe 19, which is provided with a suitable valve 20, delivers steam into the casing at 21 so it will be impacted against the vanes on the propeller wheel and drive the wheel so long Y as steam is supplied to the casing 17 through the pipe 19. The exhaust steam from the casing 17 will pass out through a pipe 21 which is connected to the pipe 11 so that the radiator will be heated by the exhaust steam from the turbine. A pipe 22 conducts any condensate in the casing 17 to a suitable trap 23.l When the valve 20 is open, the pipe 19 'r/ill deliver steam under pressure into the casing so it will be impacted against the vanes of the wheel 18 and cause the 70 wheel 18 to be driven, and the exhaust steam from the casing will be delivered to the radiator for heating purposes.. Preferably, the vturbine will be of the type which will cause minimum condensation in the turbine itself.

The operation of the fan and the heater is controlled. by the valve 20. If desired, this valve may be thermostatically controlled as well understood in heating systems.

The invention is designed to operate under either high or low steam pressures, and in order to prevent excessive speed of the fan when the steam pressure is high, a governor is provided to regulate the speed of the turbine Wheel. For this purpose, the hub 18a of the Wheel 18 is slidably 85 mounted on the shaft 15 and is normally pressed by a spring 24 against a collar 25a fixed to the shaft. In its normal position, the vanes of the wheel 18 will be positioned fully in the path of the steam entering the casing through the inlet 21 so the steam will have the maximum driving effect on the wheel. A pair of governor arms 25, 26 are pivoted at 27 in'the collar 25 which rotates with the wheel 18 and shaft 15. When the speed of the Wheel 18 becomes greater than de- 95 sired, the Weights on the arms 26 under the influence of centrifugal force will swing outwardly and rock arms 26 at pivots 27 to cause cams 28 on the arms to engage the hub 18a ,and move it and the Wheel 18 axially out of full alignment 100 with the opening 21 to lessen the driving effect of the steam against the vanes on the wheel 18, and thus reduce the speed of the Wheel 18 and the fan. The vwasher 30, which engages the outer end of spring 24, may be adjusted by a screw 29 to correspondingly vary the force of spring 24 and correspondingly vary the action of the governor to control the maximum speed of the wheel 18 and the fan driven thereby. As the turbine Wheel18is shifted from its normal posi- 110 tion more or less to one side oi the opening 2l, some of the steam is discharged into the casing without impacting against the turbine wheel so it will be by-passed into the pipe 2la from which it will be delivered to the radiator. This eirernoliai :des a construction in which the speed of the fan, which is driven by the steam before it is delivered to the radiator, is automatically controlled to regulate the speed of the fan by by-passing more or less of the steam entering the casing 17.

The invention contemplates discharging the condensate from the radiator coil so a portion thereof can be utilized in humidifying the air heated by the heater. For this purpose, the discharge end of the coil pipe lo'1 is connected to a chamber 32a formed in a head 32.

The head 32 is provided with walls which form a well 35, a Weir 34 and an overiiow chamber 36. The condensate and uncondensed steam leaving the radiator coil enters the chamber 32a, and the condensate lls the well 35 until it overows the weir 34 and passes into a discharge chamber 36. Pipes 37 are connected to the inner wall oi chamber 36, and conduct the condensate to a chamber 33 formed between the end wall 39 and a crosse-wall 40 of the head 32. From chamber 33 the condensate is discharged to a condensate trap (not shown) from which it flows back to the boiler. A vent pipe 33 is connected to chamber 38 and leads to an air trap (also not shown). The head 32 has a bottom wall 42, side walls 4l and 43, and end wall 43e and a top wall 43b which form a reservoir or receptacle, -50 adapted to receive and retain condensate from the well 35. This receptacle extends transversely between the chambers 36 and 33 and around pipes 37. The receptacle or reservoir 5U, outwardly of the well 35, has a portion 50B between the inner wall of chamber 36 and the wall 40 o1 chamber 33.

An opening 50b is formed in the top of the refceptacle 50 between the inner wall of chamber 36 and wall 40 for the escape of vapor from the receptacle into the air stream produced by the fan. rl'he portion of the reservoir between the inner wall of chamber 36 and wall 40 is in communication with the chamber 33 by way of a duct 50 under the chamber 36 and a vertical duct 50d at one side oi? said chamber. Valve 4d seats to control a port 45 inthe bottom wall of the well 35. A noat 4S in the receptacle 50 is pivotally supported at 47 and is pivoted at 48 to a stem 49 which is adjustably connected to the valve 44 by a screw thread. When the level of the water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined height, the oat 46 will close valve 44 to cut ofi the delivery of condensate into the holder and cause it to overiiow into the chamber 36 from which it will flow back to the condensate trap and boiler. By adjusting the valve 44 on the stem 49, the height of the water column maintained in the receptacle may be varied as desired to regulate the volume of condensate delivered to the air stream for humidiflcation. By lowering the level of the condensate, the moisture carried into the air stream will be reduced and by raising the column, the moisture delivered to the air stream will be increased. A removable plate 52 is secured to cover an. opening in the bottom of the head 32 which provides access to the float and valve chamber.

The temperature of the condensate passing through the port 45 will usually be higher than the boiling point of water at atmospheric presinerme rll'his will produce water vapor in the oat chamber which will pass through opening 50d into the central portion of the receptacle where it will escape through outlet 50".

This exemplifies means for delivering a portion oi the condensate from the radiator into a receptacle from which vapor and moisture will be drawn into the air stream produced by the ian which is driven by steam delivered'to the radiator.

The invention exemplies a unit heater with a power driven fan which can be economically operated and in which the use of electrical connections and a motor is dispensed with; also a heater of this type in which the speed oi the tan is automatically regulated; also a heater of this type in which provision is made for humidifying the air by moisture derived from the condensate after the steam has been utilized to drive the fan and to heat the radiator coil.

rlhe invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. ln a unit heater, the combination of a steam radiator, a fan for circulating air around the radiator, steam propelled means for driving the fan, the fan driving means and radiator being secured together to constitute a heating unit, a supply pipe for delivering steam to the driving means to drive the fan, means for delivering exhaust steam from the driving means to the radiator, and means for delivering some of the condensate from the radiator into the air path produced by the fan.

2. ln a unit heater, the combination of a steam radiator, a fan for circulating air around the radiator, steam propelled means for driving the fan, the fan, propelling means and radiator being mounted together to constitute a heating unit, a supply pipe for delivering steam to the propelling means and to the radiator, a receiver for condensate from the radiator having an opening for discharging vapor into the air path produced by the fan, and automatically controlled means for controlling the flow of the condensate into the receiver.

3. In a unit heater, the combination of a steam radiator, a fan for circulating air around the radiator, steam-propelled means for driving the fan, the fan, propelling-means andy radiator being mounted together to constitute a heating unit, a supply pipe for delivering steam to the propelling means and to the radiator, the radiator comprising a discharge head, a receptacle adapted to receive condensate from the discharge head, a float-controlled valve for controlling the. flow of condensate from the head into the receptacle.

4. In a unit heater, the combination of a steam radiator, a fan for circulating air around the' radiator, steam propelled means for driving the fan, the fan, propelling-means and radiator being mounted together to constitute a heating unit, a supply pipe for delivering steam to the propelling means and to the radiator, the radiator comprising a discharge head, a receptacle adapted to receive condensate from the discharge head, a oat-controlled valve for controlling the flow of condensate from the head into the receptacle,

sure and a denite amount will hash into steam. the receptacle having an elongated opening to Leanne discharge m01 the fan.

5. In a unit heater, the combination ota'steamradiator comprising a coil. a liaxr'for circulating 5 air around the radiator, steam propelled means for driving the fan, the Ian, propelling means and radiator being mounted together to--constitute-a heating unit, a supply pipe -for delivering steam into the path of air moved by to the propelling'meansand to the radiatonthe. y

radiator comprising 'a discharge head toivvhich BGP moved by the fan.

PAUL W. BIEIFELDT.

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