US2093691A - Air conditioning - Google Patents

Description

QUEDE?? SheetswShee Filed Oct. lf3, 1934 nsw@ - M3537 c. G. Bumm-Q 2,@@3 @DE AIR CONDITIONING l Original Filed Oct. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheva?l 2 wl mVENmR. C/Hmfs 6250,55@

Patented Sept. 21, 1937l UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE Application October 18, 1934; Serial No. 748,836 Renewed August 14, 1937 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air conditioning; and more particularly to improvements in combined air heating and cooling devices embodying improved air control facilities. In` air conditioning apparatus as heretofore employed for room-temperature control, it is often impossible to obtain the desired nicety of temperature regulation, due to lack of facilities for instant control of temperature of expansion or cooling units if the device is used for cooling, or of a heating unit if the device is so utilized. A simple control of air velocity into and through such units has, for obvious reasons, not proven fully satisfactory. The control of the moisture content of conditioned air also oiers diiculties in apparatus of heretofore existing types, re-

nected in the tendency of expansionI units rapidly to accumulate frost, seriously impairing the efliciency of the unit, and disturbing the regulation of associated humidity control devices.

Among the major objects of the invention there may accordingly be noted, a provision for automatic dehumidification, such that by selection and maintenance of substantially constant refrigeration temperatures, one current of air is cooled. to a temperature of the order of the dew point. Appropriate determination of coil temperature results, according to the improved method, in the precipitation and entrapment of all of the moisture in the stream of air under treatment in excess of saturation at the temperature selected. i

A further object of the invention is attained in a method and means for realizing, -almost instantly, within usual limits, any desired characteristics of the conditioned air, thus providing, for example, a readily responsive control of the discharge temperature of the conditioned air stream. I.

Yet another object of the invention is attained in a novel method of and device for the treatment of air, embodying the production of 'a single conditioned air current Vby blending or merging two or more air currents which may be of different temperature and other characteristics.

A still further object of the invention is attained in an improved method and means for rapidly varying the characteristics of the discharged treated air, such as its velocity, temperature, humidity, etc., by varying the rate of treatment of one or more component streams forming the resultant stream of discharged air.

Numerous other objects attained in a novel Vcombination and arrangement of parts, and in 55 the control of conditioning effected thereby, need not here be specifically enumerated, but will more clearly appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Fig. lis a side elevation of the device with a side cover or closure removed to show the interior arrangement of parts constituting the assembly; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section as viewed along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section as viewed along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section as viewed along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section as viewed along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse section as viewed along line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary structural detail as viewed along line 'I--l of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the eliminator unit at the location indicated by the line 8--8 of Fig. 1.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, there is indicated at I0 an enclosure or housing, preferably of. insulated sheet metal construction and of generally rectangular longitudinal and transverse section, and which may be of portable or semi-portable type, depending on the size of the assembly. The enclosure is characterized by top, bottom, side and end walls,

' and embodies, internally, two longitudinal passages II and I2 the former of which overlies the latter and is of a trend parallel thereto. These passages are constituted in part and separated by an intermediate horizontal partition or deck I3 extending over the greater part of the length of the passages. An entrance grille I4 consists of 3 an apertured plate at the inlet end of the passage I I, and a corresponding grille I5 is located at the entrance or inlet end of the passage I2.

Disposed by preference just inwardly of the inlet end of each of the passages is an air filter I6 conveniently consisting of a body of spun glass or some equivalent fibrous or quasi-fibrous'material. Any' other suitableavailable type of filtering medium may be employed for the purpose of entrapping dust and other foreign particles from the air as it enters the unit.

Just forwardly of each filter I6 is a fan I1, which by preference is of so-called squirrel-cage type, characterized by horizontal venes or blades I8, secured to a shaft I9, and operated as by a direct connected motor 20. For a purpose hereinafter appearing, it is my preferenceto control the two motors 20 by means of a common electrical control device 2l which may be a controller of drum or disc type, or otherwise suitably arranged so that, for example, a common contact arm 22 engages two separate sets of contacts 23 and 24, each group or set of contacts controlling one of the air motors, and the two groups of 5 contacts being advantageously so arranged in circuit that each of the motors 20 is decelerated as the other is accelerated. One manner in which this result may be accomplished is suggested by the drawings, wherein say the upper motor 20 is controlled through arm 22 and xed contacts 24, the contacts being arranged so that, as the arm is moved clockwise, the controller points engaged will serve successively to increase the motor speed, while the points 23, controlling the lower motor 20 will serve, as progressively engaged by the arm 22, to decrease the speed of the motor proportionately to the increase in speed of the upper motor.

The air current or stream drawn through the upper inlet grille I4 and lter I6 by fan I1 encounters, in proceeding along the passage II, one or more cooling units, each consisting, say, of connected, fin type expansion coils 25 constituting in known manner one unit of a refrigeration system, the compressor, condenser and other elements of which, forming no part of the present invention, are not illustrated. Such elements may, in the smaller portable assemblies, be mounted internally of or below the housing of the assembly illustrated. The coils 25 are preferably provided with a series of ns 26 arranged parallel to each other and to the air stream therethrough, while the coils 25 are, as shown, preferably located transversely of the passage II and the stream therethrough.

In proceeding farther along the passage II, the air stream encounters, in the manner suggested by the arrows in Fig. 8, aplurality of groups of moisture eliminator elements 21. The

elements are vertically disposed above a drip-pan 28 which conveniently extends say over twothirds of the length of the passage AII inwardly of the filter. The elements 21 are each characterized by an angulate rearwardly turned lip 29,

and the elements are set obliquely to the course of the stream as shown, so that the air is compelled to pursue a tortuous path in proceeding through and beyond a plurality of the groups of eliminator elements. Upon being thus deflected,

the free moisture content of the air, previously lowered in temperature to its dew point, is entrapped by the inturned edges 29 whence it is carried by gravity to the pan 28.

'I'he item of apparatus disposed forwardly of I the eliminator, consists of a humidifier the nature of which is best illustrated by Fig. 4. I have selected for illustration a spray type unit, consisting of one or more pipes 39 arranged transversely and in the upper portion of the passage II. Each pipe 30 is characterized by a row of downwardly projected nozzles 3I which serve to emit a descending spray or mist in the form of a curtain across the passage, this mist being collected and entrapped in the pan 28, whence it is withdrawn through one or more pump intake pipes 32, connected to a pump 33, the discharge 34 of which is connected to each of the spray pipes 30. If desired any other satisfactory equivalent humidifying device may be employed. Suitable valves, (not shown) may be disposed in the lines 32 or 34, or the speed of pump 33 may be regulated for the control of humidiiication. It is of course contemplated that the humidifying arrangement described will, together with heating elements to be referred to, be utilized only when the assembly is employed for heating. rather than cooling, the air of a room or like enclosure.

Beyond the humidifier there is located in passage II a heating coil, designated generally at 35, and consisting of a series of transverse heating tubes or pipes 36 carried by and between supporting channels or angles 31 extending upwardly along opposite sides of the passage, and serving to support headers connected to the several pipes 36. 'I'he unit is advantageously sloped as shown, so that it may better function in a gravity system. Circulation of steam, for example, results from introduction of the heating uid through a pipe 38, in case a one-pipe system is employed. VA similar condensate drain line or water return pipe may be employed, according to the requirements of the heating plant.

In addition to the apparatus described, other conditioning equipment may be employed, for example, an ozonatoi` 39, located, for example, beyond the heating unit 35. My preference is to provide at least one heating unit in each of the passages II and I2, as illustrated by Fig. 1, although if desired the two groups of pipes 36 may be interconnected to constitutein eiect a single heating unit connected to a common supply of heating fluid.

Just inwardly of the discharge end of the assembly, is a mixing chamber 40. I'he end wall of the passage I2 is by preference imperforate, while the passage II terminates somewhat short of the end of the housing, at a perforate or louvred partition 4I, the openings 42 of which extend vertically of the partition (Fig. 5). The upper wall portion at the end of passage I2 is simi- -larly equipped, this partition being indicated at 43 and the openings at 44. It is my distinct preference that the openings in partition 4I be stagn gered with respect to those in partition 43, so that the air streams projected from passage II into the mixing chamber 40, are interleaved with the air streams emanating from passage I2. The two sets of streams, respectively of unconditioned and conditioned air, are thus sandwiched in vertical planes, and become quickly and eiectively merged within the mixing chamber to form a resultant air stream of desired temperature. velocity and moisture content.

Regulation of extent and direction of delivery of the mixed resultant air stream, is effected through a series of connected, pivotally mounted partitions or louvre-forming elements 45 connected by a common control rod 46 projecting exteriorly of the casing. A similar set of elements 41 is each pivotally connected to a common control member 48 extending to a con venient point of access. For purposes of finish and appearance, grille elements 49 and 50 are provided exteriorly of the structures 45 and 41 respectively, the latter grilles conveniently corresponding in structure and appearance to the elements I4 and I5 above described and located at the inlet end of the apparatus.

The method of air conditioning practiced in the operation of the apparatus described, is thought to be apparent from the foregoing description of items of apparatus and their several purposes, but may be briefly reviewed, for sake of completeness, as follows:

When utilized for conditioning embodying a reduction in air temperature, the air is directed into and through the two ducts or channels II and I2. In the latter of these, after filtration, the air proceeds through the louvres 44 into the mixing chamber 40 without a substantial reducaoeacai tion in temperature or other change in characteristics, except of course by some small heat transfer through the partition I3. Air entering the grille i4, following its filtration, is impelled by the uppermost fan i1, at a regulated velocity, across the cooling coils 25 and along the fins 26. The temperature of the coils 25 isV determined 1 by regulation of ow of the refrigerant until, by

great preference, the air moving at a velocity selected attains a temperature between'the dewpoint and 32 F. on the'coil. The consequent agglomeration of moisture particles and the tortuous movement of the air stream back and forth across the passage Il by the elements 21, results in entrapment of the moisture particles by the lips 29 and the capture of water in the pan 28. An automatic control of temperature of the cooling coils is effected, for example, by an' automatic thermostatic device, illustrated diagrammatically at 5|, (Fig. 3) in one or the other of the pipes 25, according to the nature of the system employed. The valve may be of any suitable type, embodying, say, a diaphragm control, iniiuenced by a control bulb 52. This bulb is advantageously located in passage H beyond the eliminator, and connected as by a tube 53 to the diaphragm chamber of the valve.

After passing the eliminator, the air is treated, for example, with ozone from the unit 39 or with any desired aromatizing devices, (not shown) prior to its issue in a plurality of spaced streams, each of rectangular cross section, beyond the openings 42 and into the mixing chamber 40. As before noted, a plurality of streams of the same general shape and trend issue from the openings. 44 into the mixing chamber, intervening those from the passage Il. l

By control of the arm 22, through handle 22a, the relative speeds of the two fans I1, as governed by their motors 20, may be so`proportioned that the speed of either fan exceedsthe other, or so that, as may be desired, both fans operate at approximately the same speed. From this method of and facility for attaining diierential velocities of the two air streams, it is possible quickly to vary, by almost infinite stages, the temperature and characteristics of the air issuing from the chamber 40. It is further importantly to be noted that the prescribed reduction of temperature in the upper passage to an extent nearing the dew-point, obviates any necessity for repeated defrosting operations and consequent shut-down periods. Obviously, if desired, the motors 20 may be speed-controlled each entirely independently of the other, although the latter arrangement entails more of the personal equation and requires more frequent attention than that initially described.

When the apparatus is employed for raising the temperature, as for heating during winter months, the cooling coils 25 and the eliminator are inoperative and only the heating unit and humidifying apparatus effectively utilized. 1 If the apparatus is constructedonly for heating, or only for cooling, the assembly may obviously be considerably reduced in length by elimination of those items of apparatus not necessary for the single intended purpose, Without departing from the essentiall principle of the method, namely, a quick and accurate regulation of'the characteristics of the resultant stream, by varying the characteristics of one or more of its components.

While I have described the invention by mal;- ing reference in detail, to a single exemplary embodiment of the assembly and items of apparatus,

it is to be understood that many changes may be made in the parts, their arrangement and combinations all without departure from the full intended scope of the invention as dened by the claims hereunto appended.

I claim: y

1. The described method of conditioning air, which consists in conducting the air in two individual component streams to a mixing zone for delivery as a conditioned resultant stream, in

varying the characteristics of the resultant stream by thermal treatment of one of its component streams, and in further regulating the characteristics of the resultant stream by inversely'varying the relative velocities of propulsion of its component streams, the mixing zone being located beyond the zone of nal thermal treatment of the last said component stream.

2. The described method of conditioning air, which consists in conducting separate streams of air to a zone of admixture thereof, conditioning one of said streams while enroute to said zone,

and in introducing said streams to said zone, each in divided form, with the divisions of one stream issuing in interleaved relation to the divisions of another stream.

3. The described method of conditioning air, which consists in introducing a plurality of substantially separate streams of, air to a zone of admixture thereof, in varying the thermal content of one of said streams while enroute to said zone, and in varying the temperature of the air issued from said zone, by varying the velocity of propulsion of one of said streams inversely to a concurrent variance of velocity of propulsion of another thereof.

4. An air conditioning assembly including a casing, partition elements forming a plurality of passages in said casing, an air displacement device in each of. said passages, amixing chamber communicating with the discharge ends of said passages, means for controlling the displacement devices to produce differential air velocities in the several passages, and means for controlling the discharge of air from said mixing chamber.

5. An air conditioning assembly including a casing, partition elements forming a plurality of passages and a mixing chamber in the casing, the passages terminating in said mixing chamber, individual agencies for displacing air into and through the several passages at diierential velocities, means providing an inverse control of air displacements by said agencies, and means in one of said passages for conditioning the air enroute therethrough. I

6.An air conditioning assembly including a casing, partition elements forming a plurality of passages in the casing, a discharge duct communicating with said passages, means for in-4 troducing air. from each of said passages, in

' spaced streams into the discharge duct, with the streams from one of. said passages in staggered intervening relation to corresponding streams from another of said passages.

'7.'In an air conditioning assembly, a casing, a plurality of passages in the casing, a mixingf and discharge-chamber, an apertured partition between the discharge end of each passage and the mixing chamber, the partition apertures being of substantially rectangular shape and so located as to discharge streams of air from the respective passages, substantially in parallel vertical planes within the mixing chamber.

8. In a device adapted selectively for heating and cooling air, a casing of elongate aspect, partitions in the casing forming upper and lower horizontal air passages each having its intake at one end of the casing, a lter near the intake end of each passage, an air displacement device in each passage, inwardly of the lter, a cooling device and a moisture eliminator in one of said passages adapted to coact when the device is employed for air cooling, a humidifier and a, heating element in the last said passage adapted to coact when the device is employed for heating, a mixlng chamber in the casing near the discharge end thereof, and means for regulating the discharge of air from said chamber to points exterior of the casing.

9. An air conditioning unit including an elongate horizontal casing, a horizontal partition in said casing forming therein an upper and a lower air passage, said passages having their inlets at one end of the casing, partitions forming a discharge chamber near the opposite end of the casing, a filter and a. fan near the inlet end of each passage, a cooling coil and a series of bafiies disposed inwardly of the upper passage, the baffles being adapted to collect and entrap moisture, a louvred partition separating each passage from the mixing chamber, a plurality of louvres forming discharge openings from the mixing chamber to points exterior of the casing, means for regulating at least certain of the louvres, and means for differentially regulating the speed of the said fans.

CHARLES G. BUDER.

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