US2043450A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1936. G. H. SIMMONS 2,043,450

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ooooooooaooooooooeoooo 2. 0000000000000000 o a Z v Z J o m o o o o o o o m o q o o w o e 0 o o o o z J J z i June 9, 1936. H, MMON 2,043,450

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H0 7 WA T51? I J67 Gordamf/ Patented June .9, 1936 PATENT QFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Gordon H. Simmons, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to William M. Devine, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 26, 1935, Serial No. 28,434

8 Claims. (01. 257-3) My invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly to a unit type air cooling apparatus which will be efiicient in operation and adapted for use in stores, of-

fices, and homes.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved conditioning apparatus having an improved heat transfer unit and an improved arrangement for dehumidifying the air.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the unit, portions thereof being shown as broken away to illustrate lo the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.1;

. r Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a modified form of my invention, in which the unit may be optionally used for heating or cooling;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the combined heating and cooling unit shown in Fig. 4, and. illustrating the piping connections; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the air conditioning unit of my invention comprises generally, a casing In which is preferably of 'welded sheet metal, and is preferably lined with a suitable insulating material to prevent condensation upon the external surface thereof.

Suitably mounted within the casing ID, are a plurality of headers l2, I4, l6, l8, and 20, the headers being attached to the casing by brackets 22, 23, and 24. The brackets 24 may be formed integrally with a sheet 26 which extends across the casing l0 and has a circular opening 28 there- 0 in to receive the fan. A plurality of rows of copper tubes 3!] connect the headers l2, l4, l6, l8, and 20 in series. As shown in Fig. 2, there are preferably two staggered rows of tubes 30 connecting each of the headers with the next header of the series. The copper tubes 30 are provided with vertical heat transfer fins 32 and 34, the fins 22 being entirely separate and unconnected with the fins 34. It will be noted that the fins 32 are in thermally conductive relationship with only the two rows of copper tubes 30 which connect the headers l2 and I4. The lower end of the header I2 is providedwith a suitable inlet fitting 36 to which is connected the inlet pipe 38, while a similar fitting 40 is provided at the upper end of the header 20 and has an outlet pipe 42 connected thereto. The header I8 is provided with an air vent valve 44.

A drip pan 46 is located beneath the copper tubes -30 and is provided with a drain connection 48 for a drain pipe 50.

The casing III has a rectangular shaped opening 52 inthe front thereof, portions of the casing wall being bent inwardly at 54 to form flanges for the attachment of air deflecting louvers 56. These louvers are pivotally mounted on the flanges w 54 and may be individually adjusted to deflect the air in the desired direction.

A motor bracket 58 is suitably secured to the casing l0 and supports an electric motor 60. This motor has a suitable fan or propeller 62 secured 5 to its shaft. A suitable screen 64 may be provided to cover the rear opening 66 formed in the casing to prevent the entrance of foreign matter.

It will be noted that the circulation of the water is in a general direction opposed to the flow 20 of air, and that the coolest water flows through the tubes 30 which connect the headers l2 and 14. These tubes, and their thermally connected fins 32, will thus be cooler than the remaining tubes of the unit, and the greater proportion of condensa- 25 tion will take place upon these tubes. It is desirable, and one of the features of my invention, that these tubes be thermally insulated from the remaining tubes to as great an extent as possible, so that the maximum amount of condensation will 30 take place upon them and their associated fins. The arrangement of the fins in a vertical direction is also of importance, since it makes it possible for the condensed water vapor to trickle downwardly along the fins and drop into the drain pan B5 46. If the fins were arranged horizontally, the condensed water vapor would tend to collect upon them and drip from one fin to another. A large number of drops of water would thus be carried with the air flow into the room being cooled. &0 Since the air conditioning unit of my invention is adapted to be used in stores and homes, and other furnished places, this occasional spray of drops of water from the unit would be highly disadvantageous. I have found that with the fins extend- 415 ing vertically, all the condensed water vapor will adhere to the fins and drain into the pan 46.

The unit of my invention is adapted to be connected to the regular water supply if the temperature of the supply is sufficiently low. I have found, however, that the unit is so efiicient that very beneficial efiects are obtained even though the difference between the temperature of the water supply and the air is as little as 10 F. The dehumidification of the air is, of course, in part responsible for the increased comfort obtainable by the use of the air conditioning unit of my invention.

The water supply connection to the unit is preferably provided with a suitable 'valve by which the rate of flow to the unit may be easily controlled and the fan motor is preferably of a variable speed type and provided with suitable manual or automatic controls for varying its speed in accordance with the atmospheric conditions. For example, a thermostat may be utilized to control the fan motor to increase its speed when the atmospheric temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum, and at the same time the thermostat may control the valve which governs the rate of fiow of the cold water to the unit so as to increase the flow when the predetermined maximum temperature is exceeded. It will be noted further, that the inlet to the header I2 is located at the bottom of the latter, whereas the outlet is located at the top of the header 20 so that the warmest water is first discharged from the unit.

Under certain circumstances where the usual atmospheric temperatures are exceedingly high and'where a cooling water of a sufiiciently low temperature is not available, the cooling water may be recirculated by means of a pump, the

water circulating system including a suitable cooling device such as an ice bunker or equivalent means.

. In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown a modified form of my invention, in which the apparatus is adapted for use as a heating unit or as a cooling unit. Means are also provided in the unit for humidifying the air as well as dehumidifying it.

The unit comprises a casing I within which headers I2, I4, I6,- are mounted in a manner similar to the method previously described with reference to the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Tubes I8 connect the headers I2 and I6 and the header I6 with the header I4. As shown in Fig. 6, these tubes arepreferably elliptical in transverse cross section, or may be of any other suitable relatively flat shape, so that they will offer the minimum resistance to flow of air past them. The tubes I8 connecting the headers I2 and I6 are provided with vertical fins 80, while the tubes I8 connecting the headers "I6 and I4 are provided with connecting fins 82. It will be understood that while only three headers and two sets of double rows of tubes are illustrated in Fig. 4, any

practical number of sets of tubes and connected headers may be utilized. I have found, however, that the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 is very practical and efiicient.

The casing I0 extends rearwardly a sufllcient distance to enclose the motor 84. The open rear end of the casing I0 is provided with a screen 86 which will prevent relatively large foreign particles from passing through the unit. In addition, a sheet of gauze 88, or other suitable relatively fine filtering material, is suitably mounted across the rear opening so as to remove from the air small particles of dust and other foreign matter which might otherwise settle upon the fins and tubes, and thereby decrease the rate of heat interchange. If desired, the side walls of the casing I0 which form the motor compartment, may have a plurality of screened apertures formed therein and an additional gauze filter placed along the sides of the casing, thereby facilitating the free entrance of air into the motor compartment.

As previously stated, the unit shown in Figs.

4, 5, and 6 is adapted for use as a heating as well as a cooling unit, and I have therefore diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 appropriate connections whereby the unit may be converted from one purpose to the other. In this figure, the pipe 90 which leads into the lower end of the header I4 is connected to a two-way valve 92. The valve is so constructed that it may alternately connect the pipe 90 with a pipe 94 which is connected to a supply of cold water or may be connected with a pipe 96 which forms a return to the boiler when the apparatus is used for heating by steam or hot water.

-A pipe 98 is connected to the upper end of header I2 and as shown in Fig. 5 is connected to a two-way valve I00. The two-way valve I00 is so constructed that it may alternatively connect the pipe 98 with a pipe I02 leading to a supply of steam or hot water or may be connected with a pipe I04 leading to a water drain. A handle I06 is provided for actuating the valves 92 and I00, the handle having an extension I08 which is connected by a link I I0 to an arm H2 secured to the plug of the valve I00. It will be understood that the illustration of the valve mechanism in Fig. 5 is diagrammatic in that in actual practice the plugs for the valves 92 and I00 may be made integral.

When the apparatus is being used as a heater it may under many circumstances be desirable to provide means for humidifying the air as an incident to heating it. To accomplish this purpose I provide a bell mouth spraying cup H4 attached to the central hub of the fan I I6. Water is permitted to drop upon the interior or the rotating cup II4 from a supply pipeIIB which is connected to a convenient water supply main. A humidostat I20 is provided to control the flow of water through the pipe I I8 by means of a valve I22. If desired a manually operated valve may be substituted for the valve I22. The valve I22 is electro-magnetically operated, the supply of current thereto being controlled by the humidostat I20. Particularly 'when the apparatus is being used as a heating unit the thermostat I24 may be provided to control the operation of the motor 84. This control may be by the usual start and stop method or the thermostat may be so constructed that it will vary the speed of the motor in accordance with the temperature of the room in which the heater is being used.

It will be readily understood that when the apparatus shown in Figs. 4-and 5 is to be used as a cooling unit, the valves 92 and I00 will be in the positions indicated, and the cold water will flow from its supply through the valve 92, pipe 90, header I4, tubes I8 to header "I6, through the tubes to the header 12, through pipe 98 to valve I00 and thence through pipe I04 to a suitable water drain. When it is desired to use the apparatus as a heater, the valves 92 and I00 will be shifted to their opposite positions by the handle I06 and the steam or hot water will be supplied through the pipe I02, valve I00, pipe 98 to the upper end of header 12 through the tubes 18 to the header I6 and from the header I6 to the tubes which connect 'it with the header I4, from the header 14 through pipe 90 to valve 92 and from thence through the pipe 96 through the steam condensate or hot water return to the boiler."

The operation of the humidifying apparatus will be readily apparent, since when the humidity drops below a predetermined percentage the valve I22 will be opened and water permitted to drop from the pipe H8 upon the spraying cup H4. The droplets of water will be carried by the flow of air induced by the fan H6 and upon being heated by the tubes l8, the water will evaporate to increase the humidity of the air. Any water which is not evaporated will collect upon the fins 82 and will drop into the drip pan 46. (In Figs. 4 and 5 the drip pan is not shown but it will be understood that the construction of the unit shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.)

By the use of the generally oval shaped tube 18, the surface area of the tubes relative to the flow therethrough is increased and in addition the resistance to air flow past the tubes is decreased, thus improving the heat exchange char acteristics of the unit.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the basic principles thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An air conditioning unit type apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of vertically positioned headers therein, two groups of spaced horizontal tubes connecting said headers in series, means for circulating a fluid through said headers and tubes, a pair of groups of vertical fins each group being thermally connected with a group of said tubes respectively, a drip pan located beneath said fins, and a motor driven propeller fan for forcing air successively past said groups of tubes and fins.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casing, a plurality of vertical headers located therein at the sides thereof, a plurality of groups of spaced horizontally extending heat conducting tubes connecting said headers in series, a motor driven fan for forcing air past said tubes, means for supplying a cooling medium to the header connected to the tubes most remote from said fan, a group of vertical fins thermally interconnecting the group of tubes most remote from said fan, a second group of vertical fins thermally interconnecting the remaining groups of tubes, and a drip pan located beneath said fins to receive condensed water which may drip'from said fins.

3. In a unit type air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a plurality of vertical headers, tubes connecting said headers in series relationship, means for circulating a temperature changing fluid through said headers and tubes, a motor driven fan for forcing air past said tubes, a spraying member secured to said fan, and means for supplying water to said spraying memher.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of vertical headers, horizontal heat transfer tubes connecting said headers in series, means for circulating temperature changing medium through said tubes, 9, motor driven fan for forcing air past said tubes, 9. water spraying member secured to said fan, and means for supplying water to said member, said 5 means including a humidostat controlled valve for regulating the quantity of water supplied to said spraying member. Y

5. An air conditioning unit type apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of vertically positioned headers, groups of spaced horizontal tubes connecting said headers in series, means for circulating a fluid through said headers and tubes, a plurality of sets of vertical fins, one set being thermally connected with one only of said groups of tubes, a drip pan located beneath said fins, and a motor driven fan for forcing air successively past said groups of tubes and sets of fins.

6. In an air conditioning apparatus of the class 20 described, the combination of a casing, a plurality of vertical headers located at the sides thereof, a plurality of groups of heat conducting tubes connecting said headers in series, a motor driven fan for forcing air successively past said groups 25 of tubes, means for supplying a cooling medium to the header connected to the tubes most remote from said fan, a group of vertical fins thermally interconnecting the group of tubes most remote from said fan, a second group of vertical fins thermally interconnecting the remaining groups of tubes, and thermally insulated from said first group of fins, a drip pan located beneath said fins to receive condensed water which may drip from said fins, and a thermostat to control the speed of said motor driven fan.

'7. In a unit type air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a plurality of vertical headers, tubes connecting said headers in series re- 40 lationship, valve means for circulating a temperature changing medium through said headers and tubes, a motor driven fan for forcing air past said tubes, a spraying member secured to said fan, means for supplying water to said spraying member, a humidostat controlled valve for regulating the rate of fiow of water to said spraying member, and a thermostat operatively connected to control the operation of said motor driven fan. 50

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of vertical headers, spaced horizontal heat transfer tubes connecting said headers in series, said tubes being generally elliptical in cross section and having their major transverse dimension in a horizontal plane, means for circulating cooling water through said tubes, a motor driven fan for forcing air past said tubes, a water spraying member secured to the hub of said fan, and means for supplying water to said member, said means including a humidostat controlled valve for regulating the quantity of water supplied to said spraying member.

- GORDON H. SIMMONS.

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