US1999719A - Air-conditioning apparatus and method for passenger cars - Google Patents

Description

April]! 3% 11935., H, A gs 11,999,719

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l J. H. DAVIS Apriil 3@, 119350 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS AND'NIIEZ'IHOD FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. DAVIS AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Jan. 15, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 81 m x Patented Apr. 36% i93$ UNETE i @TATES LQQQJEQ AHR-CONDE'EIQNHNG APPARATU AND METHOD FOR PASSENGER CARS Application January 115,,

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for conditioning air in railway passenger cars, that is to say, freeing the air from all dust, soot, cinders and other foreign matter, controlling its temperature and humidity, and efiectin'g its proper circulation throughout the car, while eliminating drafts. More particularly my invention relates to improvements in the air conditioning methods and means set forth in my prior applications Serial Numbers 400,928 and 400,929, filed October 19, 1929.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for conditioning air whereby the air may be purified and either cooled or heated and humidified or not, as occasion may require.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of and means for heating the air whereby the interior of the car may be heated with. greater facility and atless cost than by the use or" the steam heating pipes or coils commonly employed, and whereby the use of the latter in whole or in part may be dispensed with.

A. stiil further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying the invention into practical effect which'embodies novel means for cooling, heating, humidifying and circulating the air and controlling the actions of such means, whereby a simple, reliable and eficient apparatus adapted for use at all seasons of the year is produced.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,-

Fig. l is a sectional plan view of a railway passenger car embodying means for carrying my invention into practical effect.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line ii-ti of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a longitudinal section on line t-t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a. sectional plan view similar to Fig. 1 through one end of the car, showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail transverse section through the half deck and air conduits at one side of the car.

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an equipment designed to be applied to a car to carry out my invention.

In the drawings I have shown an air conditioning equipment for an individual car system, that is to say, the car is a unit completely equipped with the necessary appliances for air conditioning 1931, Serial! No. 5%,996

purposes, with the possible exception of a source of heat supply for the heating means, which may be that of the heating equipment of a train of which the car forms a part.

The car i may be a railway passenger coach of generally conventional construction, or of any approved type preferably having the usual end doors 2 and windows provided with double sashes 3, which sashes may be kept closed in order to prevent undue entrance of unconditioned air and undue escape of the contained conditioned air, as thorough and effective ventilation will be afforded by the air conditioning apparatus of the car.

The car is provided at its top, and preferably at or near one end thereof, with an air intake chamber or compartment it, preferably located above the vestibule at one end of the car, within which is arranged a conditioning unit embodying a casing t for the elements of the conditioning mechanism in communication at its outer and inner ends with the inner and outer ends of said compartment 41. The outer end of this casing is provided with horizontal transversely extending air inlet slots t, and in said casing between said slots and inner end of the casing are arranged in regular order a combined air humidifying and water filter device 77, a baffie type of excess moisture eliminator and mechanical filter t, and a temperature conditioning coil 9. The humidifying and water filter device consists of sprayers for delivering water in very finely divided condition into that portion of the casing in which they are arranged, which forms a filtration and humidifying chamber within which all or a portion of the air is washed and freed from dust, soot, cinders and other foreign materials and humidifled to the desired degree. The air on its flow through the casing then passes through and between the eliminator baiiles t, which relieve it of any excess moisture. The humidified air then comes in contact with the surfaces of the coil 9, and then discharges into the compartment 5 at the inner end of the casing, whereby the air is cooled or heated to meet desired conditions.

For the purpose of admitting fresh atmospheric air when desired, the car is provided with fresh air inlets It at opposite sides of the compartment t, which inlets may be controlled by dampers or shutters i I, independently operable by hand-controlled devices 62 on the inside of the car, so that the shutters may be opened by a porter or attendant to admit fresh atmospheric air when desired to prevent vitiation of the air within the car. The fresh air entering each inlet it] may be pre-heated by means of a pre-heating coil l3 when the external atmospheric temperature is sufiiciently low to require or make desirable the pre-heating of the air prior to its further treatment. Suitable means, in practice, may be employed for the removal or discharge from the casing 5 of the impurities separated from the air, and also suitable means may be employed within or in the region of the air inlets III to prevent entrance with the air of rain, sleet or snow.

The chamber 4, casing 5 and the air conditioning parts immediately associated therewith are preferably arranged in the space at the top of the car between the side walls or risers l4 extending from the ceiling plates l5 to the upper roof deck l6 and on the outer sides of which risers are arranged the half decks ll. Over these half decks ll are arranged, in accordance with my invention, walls l8 each covered by a heating insulating layer l9 and forming with the associated half deck I! an air circulating channel extending longitudinally of the car. Advantage is taken of the spaces formed between the parts l4, l5 and I! to provide air distributing channels 2 I, extending parallel with the channels 20, and in communication therewith at intervals through ducts 22, each preferably provided with a controlling damper or shutter 23. Each of these dampers or shutters 23 is preferably of adjustable type and manually operable by controlling means comprising a rack 24 engaged by a pinion 25 on one end of a shaft 26 extending at its opposite end into the car and having an operating hand wheel 21, whereby the damper or shutter may be adjusted to the desired degree. These dampers may be employed to control the passage of air from the circulating channels 20 to the distributing channels 2| for supply to the interior of the car through suitable air inlets in the ceiling plates I 5, to regulate the amount of volume of air admitted to the car throughout the length thereof. In order to avoid gushing of the air through the ducts 22 and to cause the air to flow easily through the air inlets 28 in the plates 15, suitable baffle devices 29 may be disposed in the conduits 2|, whereby the elimination of all drafts will be secured.

The ceiling plates l5, except where arranged beneath the compartment 4, may correspond in arrangement to the conventional ceiling plates, but are of slotted type, of grille type or louvre type or otherwise suitably constructed to provide the air inlets 28 for the supply of the conditioned air to the interior of the car. These ceiling plates or the portions thereof, however, which form the floor of the compartment 4 are provided with sets of air passages respectively controlled by dampers or sets of shutters 30, 3| and 32, which may be of pivoted vane type. The shutters 30, as shown, communicate with the compartment 4 in front or beyond the outer end of the casing 5, and are provided to govern the upfiow of a portion of the air from the interior of the car for the purpose of humidifying and re-circulating such portion of the air. The shutters 3| are provided to allow a portion of the air to pass from the interior of the car upwardly into the inner portion of the casing 5 for contact with the coil 9, so that such portion of the air may be cooled or heated and re-circulated without being rehumidified. The shutters 32 are arranged for the passage of a portion of the air from the interior of the car upwardly into the inner portion of the compartment 4, to adapt such portion of the air to be re-circulated without being humidified, cooled or heated, the shutters 32 forming a bypass whereby the air from the car may be diverted and prevented from passing through the air treatment devices in the casing 5 and thereby re-circulated, without conditioning treatment, from the interior of the car to the compartment 4 and through the channels 20 and 2| back to the interior of the car again. For the purpose of drawing air either from the exterior or interior of the car into the compartment 4 and forcing the air through the channels 20 and 2|, motor driven fans 33 are preferably employed and arranged within the portion of the compartment 4 between the inner end wall of said compartment and the inner open end of the casing 5, said fans communicating with the inner ends of the channels 20 and operating, therefore, to draw air from the exterior or interior of the car into the compartment 4 through any of the air inlet passages which may be fully or partly open and to force such air through the circulating and distributing channels 20 and 2|.

It will thus be understood that fresh air may be taken in through the inlets I 0 when desired and circulated and commingled with the air in the car, to keep such air in a wholesome state. If the outside air is taken in through the inlets l0 and filtered when the outside temperature is low, say below or R, such air may be preheated by supplying a heating medium to the coils 13 to raise the temperature of the incoming air to 50 or 55 F. before it passes into the humidifying chamber, the temperature of the water supplied to which should be a few degrees higher than that of the fresh air. The air thus taken in and humidified to the desired degree may be, during the summer months cooled by means of the coil 9, or, during the winter months heated by means of the coil 9, before passing into the inner end of the compartment 4 and being forced by the fans 33 into the circulating channels. The air within the car may be re-circulated, with or without conditioning treatment, and commingled or not with air admitted through the passages Ill, as the shutters or dampers controlling the passages It) may be opened or closed at any time and, if closed, the fans 33 will operate to draw air from the interior of the car through such of the shutters 30, 3| or 32 which may be open at the time, and force it through the channels 20 and 2| back into the car, which circulation may be kept up with or without humidifying, cooling or heating or otherwise conditioning the air as long as desired.

Should it be desired to humidify a portion of the air in the car while it is being IiB-Cll'Clll3t8d, the shutters 30 may be opened, and the air drawn from the interior of the car into the compartment 4 will be re-humidified before its return to the car, to keep the atmosphere of the car in a proper humidified condition. Should it be desired to heat or cool the air, without humidification, this can be effected by closing the shutters 30 and opening the shutters 3|, and, at the same time, if desired, another portion of the air may be circulated without thermally treating it by opening the shutters 32. By closing the shutters 30 and 3| and opening the shutters 32 all the air which is being re-circulated will be drawn directly from the car into the fans 33, without passage through the conditioning means, and will be forced through the channels 20 and 2| back into the car, as will be readily understood.

In the summer the water spray device may be cut out of action and humidity control may be effected by passing the relatively warm air over assume the cooling coils ii, thus reducing its temperature and consequently its relative humidity. With the water supply device cut out oi action its cooperatlng hygrostat titl is also, of course, cut out or service. The air to be cooled and dehumidified may then enter through the shutters till to pass over the cooling coils d and then be mixed with by-pass air drawn in through the air intalre ill. The mixture oi the by-pass air and conditioned air is then drawn into the fans and discharged through the supply ducts ti into the space occupied by the passengers.

Controlling means for the dampers or shutters lit, 35 and 32 is provided comprising pneumatic motors li t and lit for respectively actuating the dampers or shutters ht and lit, and on the shafts of a damper shutter oi. set El and a damper shutter oi set 82 are cranlr arms coupled by a connecting rod fill so arranged and operating as to alternately open and close the dampers ti and till on its opposite movements, so that when the damper shutters Eli are closed the damper shutters $32 will be open, and vice versa. The motors 3t and till are connected by feed pipes tilt and 539, respectively, with an air supply pipe it leading from an air reservoir ll, whereby air may be supplied to the motors to actuate the said motors. in pipe it is a pressure gage d2, cut-off cocks li, it and til and a reliei valve to, for obvious purposes, and in pipes and 3d are, respectively, automatic control valves 38 and lid governed respectively by a hygrostat titl and a thermostat te in the car to open and close the dampers at desired humidity and temperature degree points. When, for example, the humidity of the air within the car falls below a certain percent the hygrostat is influenced to open the damper til so that a portion of the rte-circulated air will be drawn by the fans from the car through the humidifier and eliminator and humidified and purified and forced by the fans back through the circulating and distributing channels to the car. As soon as normal humidity conditions of the air in the car are restored the hygrostat 3t closes the valve it and the damper lid is closed. When, on the other hand, the temperature of the air in the car rises or falls above or below the predetermined degree, the thermostat it opens valve tit and air is supplied to cause motor lit to open damper ti and close damper 32, so that all the air to be are-circulated is drawn through damper iii and caused to pass with any fresh outside air admitted in contact with coil ll, whereby the air iscooled or heated and then returned through the chan nels Bil and iii to the interior of the car. When the temperature of the air in the car is returned to normal, the damper 3i is automatically closed and damper 32 opened, so that a re-ciroulation of the interior air without passage through the treatment devices in casing t is obtained. The apparatus is thus self-governing and automatically acts to keep the air in the car in proper volume and. free from foreign materials and at proper degrees of temperature and humidity.

Water is supplied to the spray nozzles l through a feed pipe ll! leading from a motor-driven pump it, with which connects also a return pipe it for returning to the pump the excess water from the humidifying chamber. A circuit is thus established whereby a continuous supply of water to the humidifier is furnished. The pipe Ml is also an intake pipe for supplying water thereto continuously or at intervals to keep the circuit properly charged. To this end, pipe 49 is connected by a branch pipe 58, in which is a controlling and cut-0d valve ti with the outlet oi a water supply or replenishing tank, ti, having a float-controlled inlet valve ht connected with a supply pipe leading from a supply main lit leading from a main source of supply of water on the car, said pipe lid being provided with a controlling and cut-off valve lid. This construction adapts the humidiher water supply circuit to be automatically replenished with water as required and said circuit to be cut-out of action when desired. The tank @22, as shown, is provided with an overflow pipe for discharging from the car or conducting hack to the source any excess amount oi watersupplied to the tank. It is desirable to supply the spray water in cold weather to the nozzles i at a temperature which is above the pro-heating temperature of the coil iii and close to the temperature at which the air is to be heated by the coil 9, when said latter coil is used as a heating coil. There is accordingly provided in the pipe sheeting chamber ti in which is arranged a heating tube or coil connected at its inlet end with a steam supply pipe containing a controlling and cut-oil? valve tit, and connected at its opposite end with a trap ill and drip pipe 62 for collection and discharge of the water oi condensation. By this means the spray water may be heated and its temperature may be kept constant by the action oi the thermostat til governing a control valve M in the pipe 59, whereby the amount of steam supplied to the tube or coil 58 is reliably controlled. Pipe lit is supplied with steam from a main lit which may form part of the steam heating equipment oi the car or comprise an auxiliary steam pipe supplied with steam from the locomotive. Obviously the heater bl may be cut out of action permanently or temporarily by closing valve to. A basin or trough so is provided to catch the excess water from the elements l and t which is returned to the water circulating system via pipes ts and till.

A pipe ltd is provided for supplying steam to the coil it from the main lit, and this pipe is provided with a controlling and cut-oil valve ill, whereby the coil it may be cut out of action whenever desired. Another pipe til, having therein a trap lid, is provided for discharging and collecting the water of condensation from coil it. Pipe to also contains a controlling and cutofi valve it governed by a thermostat it arranged in the path of the air flowing to the humidifier and eliminator, whereby the amount of steam Passing to the coil it will be. automatically controlled to regulate the pro-heating temperature to the predetermined degree. When the coil 9 is employed as a heating coil, steam may be supplied thereto from the main til through a sup ply pipe it having a controlling and cut-off valve l8 and a pressure gage it therein, and the water of condensation from the coil may be co1lect-' ed and discharged through a drip pipe it having a controlling and cut-oil valve l5 and a trap "it therein. Whenever the coil t is employed as a cooling coil, however, a cooling liquid or refrigerant may be supplied thereto through a pipe ll having a controlling and cut-off valve it therevalve it. The pipes Ti and it are designed in practice to be connected with a suitable cooler or refrigerating device lorming part of a circuit comprising said pipes and cooler and a pump for cooling and circulating water or other cooling liquid, whereby the air supplied to the car may be cooled to a predetermined temperature less than outside temperature in summer weather or under climatic conditions where cooling is necessary. It will be evident, of course, that under general circumstances when the coil 9 isemployed as a cooling coil the humidifier may be cut out of action or its humidifying action reduced to the proper degree, since the cooling of the warm fresh atmospheric air supplied to the car will automatically reduce its humidity to a satisfactory degree. A pan or trough '15 is provided to catch any moisture dripping from coil 9 for drainage through a pipe 15 to pipe 15.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that my invention provides an air conditioning method and apparatus for cars which is adapted for use at all times of the year for purifying the air and relieving it of all foreign materials, and at the same time heating it or cooling it to a predetermined temperature within the car, which may be greater or less than outside atmospheric temperature, according to conditions. Also it will be seen that fresh air may be admitted, preferably by manual control, at such intervals as may be required to keep the contained air in a wholesome condition, which action of the contained air is promoted by the continued re-circulation of the air. In admitting fresh air, and also in re-circulating the contained air, the amount of moisture supplied to. the air, when an increase of humidity is required, will be automatically governed by means which will cause the recirculated air to pass through the humidifier, or not, according to the'degree of humidity of the air which is being circulated. Furthermore, it will be seen that the air may be heated or cooled, with or without humidification, as desired, and that in the re-circulation of the contained air, said air may be caused, independent of admitted fresh air, when in a proper state of humidification, to flow in contact with the heating or cooling coil, or not, according to its temperature. Thus the air may always be maintained in a high degree of purity, at a predetermined temperature, and in a predetermined state of humidity, thus ensuring the perfect atmospheric comfort of persons traveling in the car. The provision of means for automatically maintaining not only the dry bulb temperature of the air at the desired point but also the relative humidity of the air at the desired percentage is an important feature of my invention.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the use of the coil 9 arranged in the line of the moving air stream for heating the air while it is in a state of motion and being circulated. Experimentation has shown that considerable operating economy may be obtained by heating the air in this manner over the general practice of heating the air by means of heating pipes or coils placed along the sides of the car near the fioor line, as by the former method a much greater proportion of the available heat will be taken up by the air than is possible with the present heating methods, and at the same time the circulation of the heated air ensures a better distribution of the heat through the car and also gives better ventilation. It is therefore pcssible, by the use of my novel method of heating, to reduce the number or amount of pipes or coils employed to heat a car equipped with my invention, with resultant economy in the use of steam and operation of the car.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:-

1. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in passing the air through a course, humidifying and purifying the air in its travel through such course, heating the air in its travel through such course, and recirculating the air through a course including more or less of the first course, and in such recirculation of the air re-humidifying and re-heating the air or heating the air without humidification or circulating the air without re-humidification or re-heating.

2. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, an air entrance duct, a discharge duct communicating with the interior of the vehicle, a chamber between said ducts, means in said chamber for successively filtering and temperature conditioning the air, means for drawing air into the chamber and through the conditioning means from said duct and from the interior of the vehicle and for discharging the same through the discharge duct into the vehicle and re-circulating the air from the vehicle and through said discharge duct, and means controlling such recirculation of the air to cause the air to be acted on by the filtering and temperature conditioning means or the latter alone or to flow through the chamber without being acted upon by said filtering or temperature conditioning means.

3. An apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising means for admit ting fresh air and re-circulating the air in the vehicle, means for humidifying and purifying the air, means for temperature conditioning the air, and means for causing the re-circulated air'to pass or not through the humidifying and purifying and temperature conditioning zones or to pass through the second-named zone without passing through the first-named zone.

4. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in passing the air through a course, purifying and moisture conditioning the air in its travel through such course, temperature conditioning the air in its travel through such course, and re-circulating the air through a course including more or less of the first course, and in said re-circulation of the air re-purifying and moisture conditioning and retemperature conditioning the air or temperature conditioning the air without moisture conditioning or circulating the air without moisture conditioning or temperature conditioning.

5. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in passing the air through a course, filtering the air in its passage through such course, cooling the air in its travel through such course, and re-circulating the air through a course including more or less of the first course, and in such re-circulation of the air re-filtering and re-cooling the air or cooling the air without filtering or circulating the air without filtering or cooling.

6. In a cooling and ventilating system for railway cars, an air duct extending through the upper portion of the car and provided with a plurality of spaced outlets leading into the space within the car, a refrigerating element, an air circulating blower, two air inlets to the blower, one leading directly from the space within the car, and the other leading through the refrigerating element, and means for alternatively opening and closing these inlets.

means 7. In a cooling and ventilating'system for railway cars, an air duct extending through the upper portion of the car and provided with a plurality of spaced outlets leading into the space within the car, a refrigerating element, an air circulating blower, two air inlets to the blower, one leading directly from the space within the car, and the other leading through the refrigerating element, and thermostatically controlled means for alternately opening one inlet and closing the other in accordance with temperature conditions existing within the car.

8. "in a cooling and ventilating system for railway cars, an air duct exmnding through the upper portion of the car and provided with a plurality of spaced outlets leading into the space within the car, a refrigerating element, an air circulating blower, a chamber in which the re= frigerating element is positioned having an outlet leading through the blower and an inlet leading from the space within the car, a second air inlet leading directly from the space within the car to the blower, closures for the two inlets, a motor for alternatively opening one closure and simultaneously closing the other, and a thermostat positioned within the car for controlling the motor.

9. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, a conditioning compartment in the vehicle separate from the passenger compartment, means for admitting fresh air to said conditioning compartment, distributing ducts for discharging the air from the conditioning com partment at intervals throughout the car, a purifying and humidifying device in the condtitioning compartment, a temperature conditioning device in the conditioning compartment, means for selectively supplying a conditioning agent to the temperature conditioning device to adapt the same to heat or cool the air, means for drawing fresh air into the compartment and recirculating air from between the conditioning and passenger compartments, and means for lay-passing the circulating air in the conditioning compartment to cut out the purifying and temperature conditioning device or both of said devices.

10. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, a conditioning compartment in the vehicle separate from the passenger containing compartment, means for admitting fresh air to said conditioning compartment, distributing ducts for discharging the air from the conditioning compartment at intervals through the passenger containing compartment, a water spray purifying and humidifying device in the conditioning compartment, an air temperature conditioning device in the conditioning compartment, means for temperature conditioning water and supplying the same to the purifying and humidifying device, means for selectively supplying a temperature conditioning agent to the temperature conditioning device to heat or cool the same,

means for drawing fresh air into the compartment and recirculating air from between the condi tioning and passenger compartments, and means for by-passing the circulating air in the conditioning compartment to cut out the purifying and moisture conditioning device or both of said devices.

11. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, a conditioning compartment in the vehicle separate from the passenger compertinent thereof, an air inlet from the passenger compartment of the vehicle to said conditioning compartment, an air duct extending along the nger compartment for discharging air from the conditio compaent at intervals throughout the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a fresh air inlet to the conditioning compartment, means for pro-heating the air entering throh said inlet, means in the conditioning compartment for purifying and humidifying the air, means in the conditioning compartment for temperature conditioning the purified and humidified air, means for circulating air between and through the compartments, and means for bypassing the air through parts of the conditioning compartment to cut off both the purifying and huming means and the temperature conditiog means or the purifying and humidifying means alone, at will.

it. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in passing the air through course including humidiiying and heat zones, and recirculating the'air and passing it through the heating zone without passing it through the humidifying zone or without passing it through either of said zones.

13. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in circulating pretreated air through a course, drawing fresh air into the vehicle, pro-heating such fresh air, g the pro-heated fresh air with pro-treated circulating air, humidifying and purifying the air and further heating the air to an intended temperature in its travel through said course, and then re-circulating the air through a course including more or less of the first course, and in such re-circulation shunting the air out of the hdifying and purifying and heating zones of the course.

it. An apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising a conditioning chamber having inlet and outlet ends, spaced moisture conditioning and temperature condi= tioning devices in said chamber and in the stated order between said ends, means for admitting fresh air to said chamber and recirculating the air between the chamber and a passenger compartment in the vehicle, passages respectively connecting the inlet and outlet ends of the chamher and space between the moisture and temperature conditioning devices therein and the passenger compartment, and means selectively con trolling the flow of the recirculating air through said passages.

15. An apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising a conditioning compartment in the vehicle, means for admitting fresh air to said compartment and recirculating the air through a course between said compartment and a passenger compartment in the vehicle, means in the conditioning compartment for purifying the air, temperature conditioning means in the conditioning compartment, and means for causing the recirculating air to pass through both the air purifying and temperature conditioning means or through the latter alone or to flow through the chamber without passing through either of them.

16. An apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising a conditioning chamber having inlet and outlet ends, spaced moisture and temperature conditioning devices in said chamber and in the order stated between said ends, means for admitting fresh air to said chamber and recirculating the air between the chamber and a passenger compartment in the vehicle, passages respectively connecting the inlet and outlet ends of the chamber and space beiii tween the moisture and temperature conditioning devices therein with the passenger compartment, shutters governing the flow of air through the respective passages, and humidity and temperature controlling devices governing said shutters.

17. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, a conditioning compartment in the vehicle, an air inlet from the passenger containing compartment of the vehicle, to said conditioning compartment, a duct for discharging the air from the compartment at intervals throughout the vehicle, spaced devices in the conditioning compartment for respectively and successively filtering and temperature conditioning the air, means for supplying a cooling or heating agent to the temperature conditioning device, passages connecting the conditioning compartment with the passenger containing compartment of the vehicle before, after and between the filtering and temperature controlling devices, and means controlling the air to flow through the first and second passages, 'or the first and third passages, or the third passage alone.

18. The method of conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, which consists in passing the air through a course including pre-heating, filtering and humidifying and heating of cooling zones, all in the roof zone of the car, driving the air through one or more ducts extending longitudinally in the half roof deck of the car and distributing it therefrom at intervals into the car and recirculating the air and passing it through the heating or cooling zone without passing it through the filtering and humidifying zone or without passing it through either of said zones.

19. An apparatus for conditioning air and continuously distributing it at difierent points in the space occupied by passengers in a railway car, comprising a conditioning chamber in the roof zone at one end of the car, filtering and temperature conditioning devices in said chamber, means adapting said temperature conditioning device for heating or cooling actions at will, means for circulating the air through a course including said filtering and conditioning devices and one or more ducts arranged in the half deck zone of the car and having outlets for discharging the air at intervals throughout the passenger space of the car, and shutters arranged to adapt the air on recirculation to bypass the filtering device or by-pass both the filtering device and the conditioning device.

20. In an apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle, a conditioning compartment in the vehicle having an inlet end, an air humidifying and purifying device in said compartment and communicating with the inlet end thereof, an air temperature conditioning device in said compartment between the outlet end thereof and the air purifying and humidifying device, ducts communicating with the outlet end of the conditioning compartment for distributing the air at intervals throughout the vehicle, a damper controlled passage between the vehicle and inlet end of the conditioning compartment, a damper controlled passage between the vehicle and that part of the conditioning compartment containing the temperature conditioning device, a damper controlled passage between the vehicle and the outlet end of the conditioning compartment, an air suction and discharge device in the outlet end of the conditioning compartment and commimicating with the distributing ducts, means for automatically controlling the two first named dampers according to the humidity and temperature of the air in the vehicle, and means for automatically closing the third damper when the second damper is opened, and opening the third damper when the second damper is closed.

21. Apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising a conditioning chamber embodying filtering and temperature conditioning means mounted in the roof zone of the vehicle, means adapting said temperature conditioning means for cooling or heating actions, a recirculated air passage connecting with the passenger space and the intake side of said chamber, an outside air passage connecting with the intake side of said chamber, a by-pass air passage connecting with the passenger space and the output side of said chamber, a supply duct arranged in the roof zone of the vehicle and extending longitudinally thereof having a plurality of spaced openings through which the conditioned air is discharged into the passenger space, and means for passing the air through said chamber and driving it through said duct.

22. Apparatus for conditioning the air in a passenger vehicle comprising a conditioning chamber embodying filtering and temperature conditioning means mounted in the roof zone of the vehicle, means adapting said temperature conditioning means for cooling or heating actions, a recirculated air passage connecting with the passenger space and the intake side of said chamber, an outside air passage connecting with the intake side of said chamber, a by-pass air passage connecting with the passenger space and the output side of said chamber, a supply duct arranged in the roof zone of the vehicle and extending longitudinally thereof having a plurality of spaced openings through which the conditioned air is discharged into the passenger space, and a fan having its intake side connected to the output side of said chamber and to said by-pass duct and having its output side connected to said supply duct.

JESSE H. DAVIS.

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