US2001833A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Y. May 21, 1935. R5 J' BYRD 1 AIR CONDITINING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l jl f m n -i wm Nw /hwi hw Wh h k wk l w h ulll. -WN l l Q NIJ/N v* f w A? A AN l INVENTOR. y/W.

ATTORNEY.

May 21, RF jq BYRD AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 .97 j; ,af

INVENT OR.

f f .f

ATTORNEY.

May 21,1935. R, BYRD 2,001,833

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

May 2l, 1935. R. J. BYRD AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 2l, 1935 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR. CONDITIONING APPARATUS Ruddell Byrd, Irving, Tex.

Application March 29, 1935, Serial No. 13,621

11 Claims. (Cl. 261-92) This invention relates to air conditioning and Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view of a prehas for one of its principal objects to accomplish ferred form of pipe for the refrigerating coils; a more perfect temperature and humidity con- Figure 10 is a cross section of a further moditrol than has heretofore been attained by air cation of the rotor, the section being taken on conditioning apparatus. Another main object the line lll-I0, of Figure 11;

is to provide for effectively cleaning and circulat- Figure 1l is a view of the rotor illustrated in ing the air confined in compartments, rooms. Figure l0, the major portion of the peripheral oiiice and other buildings, and to make practically covering fabric and interior vanes being removed available a comfort and health promoting service to expose the frame structure. in any season of the year and under any and all Passing air to be conditioned, as is the prac- 10 conditions where an air conditioning system is tice in some systems, through a bank of refrigdesirable and can function. erated coils and permitting the air to come in In the accompanying drawings forming part direct contact with the coil surface which, of of this specification and illustrating practical necessity, is operated at a temperature below the adaptations of the invention, dew point temperature, results in a constant 16 Figure 1 is a ver-tical sectional view of an asreduction of the water content or humidity of sembled machine showing the correlated parts, the conditioned air until the danger point is some more or less conventionally, the line of reached in many instances. Systems that have section being substantially the line l-l of Figbeen used. in an attempt to check this disadure 2; vantageous action have mostly fallen far short 20 Figure 2 is a View, partly in end elevation, and o f the required efficiency. So, too, various valves partly in transverse section on the line 2 2 of and regulators, devised in an attempt to govern Figure 1; the temperature of the coil surface so as to re- Figure 3 is a fragmentary section, on an entard undue de-humidication of the conditioned larged scale, taken substantially on the line 3-3 air from appliances and Systems heretofore used 25 of Figure l; have proven to be only slightly effective.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing, in In cases where attempts have been made to horizontal section, the bottom portion of the intrOduCe moisture by the use 0f Sprays 01 the water chamber or tank element; application of Water in any form, the result has Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illusbeen t0 build up e foggy 01 excessively moist 80 trat-ing a variable speed driving device, more or Condition in the all Stream discharged inte the less conventionally, for operating the rotor which enclosure t0 be eil' COndilfiOIled, plcdllcing 2' carries the air conditioning vanes; bank of air always present around the appa- Figure 6v is a cross section of a modied form fetus and ccntainlng free Water, Which, ilhOuEh of rotor, the section being taken on the line 6 6 absorbed by the air in the enclosure in time, $6

of Figure '7; Y. is constantly replaced and maintained by the Figure 7 is a side elevation 0f the rotor illusfresh discharge f1'0m` the apparatus. treated in Figure 6, the major por-tion ofthe pe- The apparatus ccvered in Ehe present discloripheral covering fabric and interior-vanes being Sure differs materially from any devised heretoremoved to show the longitudinal cage bars which fore nd 1n Perfomallce overcomes all 0f the support the peripheral end portions of the vanes ffrego-mgnoted oblectlons', The presenf; invell and the peripheral Covering fabric; tionprovides for the pract1cal and' efiiclent uti- Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section hZa'Plon of Water la le'ltl gamen?? mi? lim' through the wat-er chamber or tank, showing the gmadg; lgffletauy ewsiil ltnslecag .ng fram? Cf the rotor as rotatably mounted with elements so that no free water can escape, thererelation to the chamber or tank, said rotor being by placing the Water however so as to be avai1 gf thfe ge in v'uacrld iglggeelg able for evaporation when conditions are favorars or '3 van v able therefor, as when the air to be conditioned are diagonally or spirally disposed, an illustrabecomes dry or deficient in humidity and re 50 tive diagram of the flow of the air stream through quil-es moist-Jura To this end, provision is made end linut the 1" Oto? bellg indicated by the upper for the ready determination of certain balancesY SC Of allOWS, and the CllClllatOn Of the Water in the apparatus t() have the effect 0f automati.. in the chamber 0r tank being indieeted by the cally retarding or advancing the evaporation lower set of arrows; point by the functioning of the apparatus and 55 its relation to the water-carrying ability of the air at various temperatures.

Generally stated, the apparatus of the present invention involves the use of air conditioning surfaces dipped or washed at predetermined intervals in a bath of water which is heated or cooled, as the case may be, according to the season of the year and climatic conditions. The

. apparatus further indicates a bank or battery of refrigerating coils of a capacity to place them in proper balanced relationship with' the area of the air conditioning surfaces employed in order that they may absorb the heat units gathered by the air conditioning surfaces and delivered by them to the water in whichv thecoil bank or battery is submerged, the function of the coils, therefore, being to maintain a predetermined temperature in the Water used, either above or below the dew point, as desired. Obviously, a motor and compressor of corresponding capacity with relation to the capacity of the aforesaid coils is provided.

The invention also comprehends the use of a thermostat in connection with the refrigerating coils and controlling the operation of the compressor to maintain a constant water temperature at a desired degree; an insulated water chamber or tank. so designed as to contain the water and coils described herein and adapted for the collection, precipitation and discharge of sludge and impurities accumulated as taken from the air passing through the apparatus; an automatic water control means for maintaining a constant or substantially even water level in the water chamber or tank; heating elements submerged in the water to advance evaporation when that is desired; heating elements placed in the air stream to warm the air when warm conditioned air is desired; a fan or blower installed for the purpose of producing and maintaining a forced ow of air ideally over the air conditioning surfaces and through the apparatus, and discharging the conditioned air with greater velocity from the apparatus; a humidistat placed at any convenient location in the enclosure being air conditioned and so connected with the apparatus to automatically time its action when in use as a humidifier and air washer; a thermostat placed at any effectual point in the enclosure in which the apparatus is functioning as an air cooler, toprevent a drop in temperature below a comfortable or desirable point; an air filter; and a means for circulating the water over the heating or cooling elements described herein, thereby maintaining an even .temperature throughout the body of water employed and facilitating the removal from the air conditioning surfaces or heat units, dust and objectionable matter or particles gathered on said Surfaces during their exposure in the air stream through the apparatus.

`The invention further includes a novel provision and arrangement of electric switches and controlling devices, and also water valves to control all elements individually and collectively in the make-up of the apparatus.

The use of air conditioning surfaces dipped or washed at predetermined intervals in a bath of water held at a predetermined temperature for air conditioning, embodies the advantage of a more satisfactory humidity control, the controlled temperature of the water providing a means for imparting to the air conditioning surfaces any desired temperature applicable ideal- 1y to air conditioning' purposes. When this tem,-

perature is set below the dew point of air at a given temperature and relative humidity, the air conditioning surfaces will gather moisture, thereby functioning as a de-humidier and cooler. However, when de-humidincation, set up by this process, has resulted in drying the air and retarding the dew point to that below the temperature of the air conditioning surfaces, the surfaces being damp, a reverse action is set up and moisture is imparted to ratherthan taken from the airstream. Y

The air conditioning surfaces being dipped or washed inthe temperature controlled water at predetermined periods tend to balance the humidity at a desired point, because the air conditioning surfaces on leaving the bath and moving into the air stream immediately start to warm up and may, as an example, arrive at the dew point of the air stream when one-half of the allotted time of exposure to the air stream has elapsed, in which case the same surface that has been gathering moisture will give off moisture during the latter half of its exposure to the air stream, thereby balancing its influence on the humidity content of the air treated, but, at the same time, gathering heat units for the entire duration of the exposure.

The length and area of the air conditioning surface and the speed at which the air is passed over the surface also has a direct iniiuence on the humidity content of the discharged air from the apparatus, as these are the factors in determining the length of time each unit of air is exposed to the conditioning surface. For example, a high air speed over a long or large surface may have exactly the same result as a low air speed over a short or relatively small surface. From this explanation it is seen that the function of the apparatus and the results attained are directly dependent on the predetermined engineering practice and balance built into the apparatus. A perfect cooperation with the law of nature is an inherent feature of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention and almost any desired result can be attained by a simple arrangement of balances as herein described, which will effectively and efficiently cool, warm, humidify, de-humidify, wash, clean, and circulate air to any desired degree .within the range of air conditioning requirements.

y The heating elements may be used separately or together, while the cooling elements are inactive, and inversely, the cooling elements may be used Without the heating elements; and the air washing and circulating elements can be used while said other elements are inactive. Therefore, an air conditioning service is produced which is applicable to any condition and in any season of the year, or for many different chemical and manufacturing processes where air conditioning is necessary or desirable.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally the outer casing or cabinet of the apparatus. As shown, the cabinet is lined throughout with insulation material 2. A horizontal partition 8 divides the interior of the cabinet into two separate compartments d, 5, respectively.

In the lower compartment is located the motor and compressor 'I of an ordinary mechanical refrigerator unit, which being of any obvious construction and arrangement and control is merely shown conventionally.

In the upper compartment 4, adjacent one members 2I to hub members 22.

end thereof, is a water chamber or tank 8. Submerged in the lower part of the chamber or tank 8 are refrigerating coils 9 which are connected at one end to the outlet of the compressor 1 by a pipe I8, and at the opposite end to the intake of the compressor through a pipe II. Where the pipe I0 joins the coils 9, it isprovided with the usual expansion valve I2, and connected to said valve I2, through a small pipe I3, is a thermal valve I4, said valves I2 and I4, cooperating with other controlling elements (not shown, because obviously provided in refrigerating units) to automatically stop operation of the motor and compressor when the temperature of the coils drops to a predetermined degree for which the thermal valve I4 is set.

As shown in Figure 3, the chamber or tank 8 has heating elements I5 therein, .said elements being submerged in the water in the tank and of any suitable construction electrically for the purpose. They are, therefore, only illustrated conventionally, and the circuit wires I6 may b e conrespective circuits, as the case may be.

At the top of the chamber or tank 8 are bearing standards I1 in which a shaft I8 is journalled. Mounted on said shaft I8 is a rotor I9 comprising annular peripheral members 20 at each end, said members 20 being connected by spokes or spider The hub members 22 are connected by longitudinal cage bars 23, while the outer annular members 28 are connected by bars 24. In the form of the rotor shown in Figures l, 8 and 11, which is the preferred form and arrangement, the bars 23 and 24 are diagonally or spirally disposed, for a purpose .to be later more fully described. In the modication shown in Figure 7, said bars 23 and 24 extend in substantially true parallel relation to the axis of the rotor shaft.

In the' form of the rotor illustrated in Figures l,

2, and 3, vanes or blade members 25 are provided of absorbent fabric, which, as shown, is a continuous strip or elongated sheet folded alternately about an adjacent pair of the outer cage bars 24 and re-entrantly about a single inner cage bar 23, thereby producing, in effect, a series of radial vanes. Around the outside of the bars 24 is placed a cylindrical covering 26 of absorbent fabric. 'In this connection, it may be here noted that the said absorbent fabric is preferably material'such as the character of terry cloth or similar pile fabric in which the loops are uncut, more particularly such material as so-called Turkish towels and wash cloths are made of. However, as far as the present invention is concerned, various absorbent sheet materials or cloths may be used.

On the end of the shaft I8 is a suitable pulley 21 which is belted, as at Z8, to a pulley 29 on a variably geared driving shaft 30 from an electric motor 3I. The motor 3I, conventionally shown, may be of any approved type, as also may be the variable gearing for the shaft 30. However, gearing of the disk and roller type is preferably used and so illustrated in the drawings and somewhat in detail in Figure 5, in which a disk 32, xed on the main shaft 33 of the motor 3I and located in a housing extension 34, has a roller 35 in frictional contact therewith, whereby to be rotated upon rotation of the disk, yet it is slidable longitudinally of its axis, across the face of the disk,

by a shipper element 36 which has cross arms 31 slidably mounted in guide-openings in a flanged extension 38 of the housing extension 34. Said shipper element 36 has an operating rod 39 attached thereto, as at 40, the outer end portion of the rod extending out through a guide opening in the wall of the cabinet I and having a suitable knob or handle member 4I on its outer end.

'Ihe roller 35 is fixed on a spindle member 42, having an annularly grooved collar 43 at its end, with which collar a bifurcated end portion 43El of the shipper element cooperatively engages.

lThis spindle member 42 is fitted slidably in an axial bore 44 in the shaft 30, said shaft having a longitudinal groove 45 in which a key member or spline 48 on the spindle member 42 is slidably fitted, whereby the spindle member is freely movable endwise but locked to rotate with the shaft 3U. By manipulating the rod 39, moving it endwise, the roller 35 is selectively moved towards or from the axis of the disk 32, whereby the speed of the roller is varied, at will, when it is desired to change the speed of the rotor I 9.

In the top of the cabinet I, near the end opposite to that at which the rotor is located, is an outlet opening 41 for the conditioned air discharged from the apparatus. 'Ihis opening is preferably covered by -a perforated plate or suitable grille 48. Beneath the perforated plate or grille 48 is an upwardly flared or substantially inverted truncated pyramidal casing' 49, at the bottom of which is a housing 50, the upper portion of which is generally rectangular in form and the lower portion being semi-cylindrical. In opposite ends of the housing 50 openings 5I are-provided, and journalled in bearings 52 ori-said ends of the housing, centrally of said openings 5I, is a shaft 53 on which is fixed a centrifugal blower fan (not shown. because it may be of any approved construction), which, when rotated, draws air into the housing 50 through said openings 5I and forcibly discharges it through the upwardly flared casing 49 and out through the perforated plate or grille 48 of the opening 41.

On the shaft 53 ofthe blower fan, outside of the housing 59, is a pulley 54 which is belted, as at55, to a pulley 56 on the main shaft 33 of the motor 3I (see Figure 2), by which arrangement the motor drives the blower fan simultaneously with rotor I9.

In the casing 49 is a series of heating elements 51, of any suitable or approved electrical type, said elements being merely conventionally shown and the terminal wires 58, in practice, are connected to a suitable switch (not shown), whereby said elements may be energized and de-energized, at will, when it is desired to heat the conditioned air passing out of the apparatus, or not, as will be later more fully explained.

In the use of the apparatus it is preferable to place a thermostat 59 atany convenientrand effectual point in the compartment, room, or enclosure to be air conditioned; also, a humidistat 60; and have each electrically connected, as at 8|, to a part of the electrical controlling circuit cf the motor 3 I, whereby either, or both the thermostat 59 and the humidistat 60, may be set to operate at a given degree of temperature or humiity, as the case may be, and thereby automatically break the motor circuit and stop operation of the motor when the temperature or humidity comes to a degree below or above that for which the particular instrument is set. In this connection, it may be here noted that the thermostat 59 is ordinarily used only in the summer season or during relatively warm periods, while the humidistat 68 is ordinarily used only duringthe winter season. That is to say, in the summer season, when the cooling agency or refrigerating coils 9 are used, the humidity is regulated naturally by the balanced relation of the temperature of the water in the chamber or tank 8, the length and area of automatically stop the motor 3l.

'I'he temperature of the refrigerated water in the chamber or tank 8 is also automatically regulated so as not to fall below a predetermined degree. 'I'his is governed by the thermal controllingA valve Il and associated elements (not shown) of the refrigerating units 6, 1, as herenbefore described, but not, per se, a part o'f the present invention and only entering into the invention in a broad and general sense.

The coolig coils 9 may be of any approved type, but, for better distribution of the refrigerating agency, the pipes are preferably provided with circumferential annular ns or anges 62, as illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.

In order to heat the water at such times when it is desired to advance vaporization thereof and, oi' course, when the refrigerating coils 9 are not used, in the winter season under certain conditions, or when the apparatus is used in enclosures where a certain chemical laboratory or manufacturing process or some physical process is carried on, requiring air conditioning, the hereinbefore described heating elements I5 may be utilized to advantage.

Preferably, the vanes 25 of the rotor I9 are disposed vin the diagonal or substantially spiral arrangement as shown in Figures 1, 8 and 1l, by

v which arrangement, the portion of the rotor rol the bottom of the chamber or tank andupwardly at the rear of the rotor, as indicated by the lower set of arrows in Figure 8. This positive circulation of the water carries the entire body of water into contact with the refrigerating coils, thereby maintaining an even temperature throughout the body of water. This particular arrangement also causes a more positive contact of the air stream with the vanes as it is drawnthrough the rotor by the suction of the blower fan in the housing 59.

As the rotor rotates in the water in the chamber'or tank 8, the particles of dust, lint and other matter taken by the vanes 25 from the air stream passing through the rotor, as well as such taken by the peripheral cylindrical absorbent cover 26, is washed oif in the form of sludge which precipitates to the bottom of the chamber or tank 8. In orderto catch and .trap` the sludge the bottom of the chamber or tank is. accordingly depressed, as at 63, and preferably formed hopper-bottom-like, with ageneral incline toward one end, as shown mol-'0 dellyrlnliiguresz and 3.

As a means for flushing the bottom of the chamber or tank 8, to clear it of accumulated sludge, at frequent intervals, it is preferable to provide the water inlet of the chamber or tank with an arcuate perforated manifold or nozzle head 66,

so that, as presently more fully described, when the water is admitted under pressure to the chamber or tank it washes across the bottom 68 from its higher side to its lower side, at which latter side a drain outlet 65 is provided, said water inlet and said drain outlet being each controlledbyelectrically controlled valves which are normallyclosed while the water in the chamber or tank 8 is at a predetermined level and both opening automatically and simultaneously when the water falls below such level.

Communicably attached to the inlet manifold 0r nozzle head 84 is a supply pipe 66 from a suitable source of water supply under pressure, either normal city water pressure or pressure created specially for the purpose, according to the place o installation of the apparatus. In this pipe 86 is an electrical valve 61 (not shown in detail), preferably of the type that opens under the water pressure in the direction of iiow, or self-opening, but closed by a solenoid when energized. The drain outlet 65 has a pipe Yextension 88 which connects, as at 69, with a vertical overflow pipe 10 extending up into an auxiliarytank 1i communicating with the water chamber or tank 8 through an opening 12. In the pipe 68 is a valve 13, similar to the valve 61, and, as just above stated, these two valves are either closed or open, both at the same time, and lthey are operated simultaneously to open or closed condition.

In the auxiliary tank 1I is a float element 1I,

' ity,.while the movable switch element 11 is connected by a wire 8| and the wires 82, 83, respectively to one terminal 84 of the valve 61 and one terminal 85 oi the valve 13 (see Figure 2). The other terminals 88, 81, respectively, of the valves 61 and 13, are connected by wires 88, 89, to a wire 98 back to the service line.

When the water in the auxiliary tank 1 I reaches a level whereby the iioat element 14, through its rod 15, lifts the movable switch element 11 into engagement with the switch terminal element 18 of the switch 19, the electrical circuit for the two valves 61, 13, is closed and the solenoids there-v of are energized, thereby effecting the closing of said valves. When the water level drops appreciably in the auxiliary tank 1|, the float element 1I, of course, drops accordingly and the switch element 11 is disengaged from the terminal element 18 of said switch 19, thereby breaking the circuits of the valves 61 and 13, and said valves automatically open. Obviously, the overow pipe 19 is at all times open and the water is prevented from reaching higher than a predetermined level in the main water chamber or tank 8 and the auxiliary tank 1l.

It may be here noted that the drain outlet is of sufficientl area to readily drain oil' the sediment washed from the bottom of the chamber or tank 8 by the discharge from the manifold or nozzle head 64, but at the same time' the water entering through the manifold or nozzle head is under pressure and in sufficient volume to iill the tank more rapidly than the drain takes off the contaminated water at the bottom of the chamber or tank 8.

In this way, as frequently as water is taken into the chamber or tank 8 to replenish its normal bulk, the sludge is at the same time washed out through the drain.

In the modification of the rotor I9 as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 there is an intermediate ring member 9| in its end frame, with longitudinal bars 92 mounted thereon. Radial vanes 93 are attached to the inner bars 23 on the hub members 22 and every fourth outer bar 24 on the peripheral ring member 2li, while attached to the two intermediate cuter bars 24, between -said fourth bars, and to the bars 92 on the ring member 9|, between said vanes 93, are pairs of vanes 94 in outwardly diverging or substantially V-shape relation. This arrangement of the vanes provides increased air conditioning surface with ample space for the passage of the air through the rotor, and in this modification the vanes are disposed diagonally or spirally, longitudinally of the rotor, as in the form of rotor illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings.

A further modication of the rotor is illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, wherein the vanes 95 are radiated from every third inner bar 23 to every fourth outer bar 24, while from the intermediate and alternate single inner bars 23 to the two intermediate outer bars 24, between said fourth bars, are pairs of vanes 96 in outwardly dverging or substantially V-shape arrangement. In this modification the vanes 95 and 96 extend directly longitudinally of the rotor and parallel with the axis of the rotor.

An arched or semi-cylindrical hood 91 is preferably placed over the water chamber or tank 8, thereby providing a tunnel in which the rotor operates and through which the air stream is drawn by the blower fan into the housing 50. This hoodextends to the end wall of the cabinet I (see Figure 1), and a screen 98 is preferably provided at the air inlet 99 of the cabinet so that the air is filtered as it enters the cabinet. This screen, of course, is removable for the purpose of cleaning it from time to time or replacing it with another screen, as well as to gain access to the adjacent inner portion of the cabinet, as occasion may require.

The apparatus herein illustrated and described, in all of its modifications, performs all the functions herein described and through its use is attained a better temperature and humidity control in air conditioning than heretofore accomplished in such iield of endeavor.

Obviously, the apparatus admits of further modication than herein specifically shown and described without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as deiined in the appended claims. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement of apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioning apparatus which comprises a rotor covered with absorbent material and having spiral vanes of said material, a tank containing liquid within which the rotor dips, thereby moistening said surfaces, means located in said tank for raising and for lowering the temperature of the liquid therein, means for drawing air through the rotor in contact with said moistened absorbent surfaces, and positive means for imparting rotation to said rotor, said rotation causing circulation of the liquid to insure uniformity of temperature through the body of the liquid.

2. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle, means within the liquid in said receptacle for raising or lowering the temperature of the liquid, including a spiral heat exchange coil extending substantially the full length of the tank, a rotor having its axis parallel to tlie axis of the coil and having spiral vanes extending lengthwise thereof and adapted to dip in said liquid, means for drawing air through said rotor in contact with said vanes, positive means for actuating said rotor to cause the vanes to periodically dip into said liquid, whereby continuous circulation of the liquid over said coil is set up, and means for automatically regulating said actuating means according to the requirements of the air undergoing treatment.

3. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle, means within the liquid in said receptacle for raising or lowering the temperature of the liquid, including a spiral heat exchange coil extending substantially the full length of the tank, a rotor having its axis parallel to the axis of the coil and having spiral vanes extending lengthwise thereof and adapted to dip in said liquid, means for drawing air through said rotor in contact with said vanes, positive means for actuating said rotor to cause the vanes to periodically dip into said liquid, whereby continuous circulation of the liquid over said coil is set up, and manual means for regulating the speed of said actuating means whereby the rate of circulation is varied as desired.

4. An air conditioning apparatus comprising aliquid receptacle, means within the liquid in said receptacle for raising or lowering the temperature of the liquid, including a spiral heat exchange coil extending substantially the full length of the tank, a rotor having its axis parallel to the axis of the .coil and having spiral vanes extending lengthwise thereof and adapted to dip in said liquid, means for drawing air through said rotor in contact with said vanes, positive means for actuating said rotor to cause the vanes to periodically dip into said liquid, whereby continuous circulation of the liquid over said coil is set up, means for automatically regulating said actuating means according to the requirements of the air undergoing treatment, and manual means for regulating the speed of said actuating means whereby the rate of circulation is varied as desired.

5. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a liquid receptacle, means within the liquid in said receptacle for raising or lowering the temperature of the liquid, including a spiral heat exchange coil extending substantially the full length of the tank, a rotor having its axis parallel to the axis of the coil and having spiral vanes extending lengthwise thereof and adapted to dip in said liquid, means for drawing air through said rotor in contact with said vanes, means for positively actuating said rotor to cause the vanes to periodically dip into said liquid, whereby continuous circulation of the liquid over said coil is set up, and a thermal valve located within said liquid for regulating the flow of heat exchange fluid through said coil.

6. The herein described apparatus for conditioning air, comprising a housing having a water' chamber therein, means for maintaining a st ibstantially constant water level in `said chamber, an air conditioning element comprising a rotor of absorbent material partially immersed in the water in said water chamber, means for rotating said rotor, means for pulling a stream of air through and about said rotor and forcibly discharging a stream of theconditioned air from the apparatus, said water chamber having means for trapping the sludge including the particles taken from the air stream in the apparatus by the surfaces of said rotor and washed from such surfaces during travel of the parts of the rotor immersed in the water of said water chamber, and means for supplying water to said water chamber and at the same time iiushng the entrapped sludge from said chamber.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said water supplying means .including a nozzle element located in said water chamber near the bottom thereof and a supply pipe for said nozzle, a valve in said supply pipe, said valve being normally closed, under electrical control, and means controlled by the level of the water in said water chamber whereby, upon lowering of the level to a certain predetermined degree, the electrical control of said valve is effected and the valve automatically opens to admit water to said nozzle element.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, said water chamber having a drain outlet, an electrically controlled, normally closed valve for said vthe water level in said water chamber, and correlated to the electrical controlling means for both of said valves, whereby, upon lowering of the water level in said water chamber to a predetermined degree, the electrical control of saidl valves is effected and both of said valves open automatically and simultaneously, the drain outlet of said water chamber being proportioned to take oli the sediment iiushed from the chamber and the -iiow of the water Supply through said nozzle element being under pressure and volume suiliciently to iill the water chamber more rapidly than the outiiow through the drain outlet.

9. In an air conditioning apparatus of the character described, a water chamber, means for maintaining a substantially constant water level in said chamber, an air conditioning element comprising a multiple surfaced portion of absorbent material movably immersed in the water in said chamber, the several surfaces travelling in succession into, through and out of the water, means for passing a stream of air through the apparatus in contact with the surfaces oi said air conditioning element after immersion and until again immersed, said water chamber having a depressed bottom portion to entrap sludge washed from said surfaces of the air conditioning-element while travelling immersed, a valved water supply for saidwaterfchamber, a valved drain outlet for said water chamber, the

valves for said supply and drain being normally closed, and means controlled by the water level in said chamber for automatically opening the valves of said water supply and drain outlet simultaneously when the level of the water in ent material, said element being rotatably mountl ed above said water chamber so that it rotates circumierentially partially immersed in the water in said chamber, a motor for rotating said rotor, a fan for pulling a stream of air to beconditioned through the apparatus in contact with the surfaces of the vanes of said rotor after immersion and until again immersed, and for discharging the conditioned air from the apparatus, means for regulating the temperature of the water in said water chamber, sadmeans including `refrigerating coils immersed in the water and a thermally controlled refrigerating unit for said coils, said refrigerating coils and unit being selectively operable, at will, so that by adjustment of the thermal controlling means the temperature of said coils is held to a predetermined degree, heating means located in said water chamber for heating the water therein, operable at will, a thermostat located in the enclosure being air conditioned from said apparatus, and a. humidistat located in said enclosure, said thermostat and said humidistat being connected with said motor which operates said rotor and being adapted to be set for a predetermined minimum temperature,`

as to the thermostat, and a predetermined degree of humidity content for the conditioned air, as to the humidistat, so that the motor is automatically caused to cease operating when that predetermined degree of temperature or humidity content of the conditioned air' in the enclosure is reached.

ll. In an air conditioning apparatus, an air conditioning element of absorbent material movable partially immersed in a water bath, said element comprising a rotor including circular end frame members each having a central hub portion and an annular outer portion, said hub' portions being connected by longitudinal spaced bars and said outer annular portions being likewise connected by outer longitudinal bars, the absorbent material being arranged in the form of vanes supported'on said longitudinal bars, certain or said vanes being radial from the inner or hub bars to correlated outer bars and others extending from inner to outer bars in outwardly divergent or substantially v-shape. arrangement. RUDDELL J. BYRD.

Images