US2116974A

US2116974A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2116974A
Application number: US144431A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd M Keighley
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1937-05-24
Filing date: 1937-05-24
Publication date: 1938-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1955-05-10

Description

Filed May 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A, A]. lflsmMrr.

I/IS ATTORNEYS. I

May 10, 1938.

L. M, KEIGHLEY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 19:57

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Aura M. Mic/Mo.

, ms ,ATTORNEYS.

Patented ay 10, 1938 sTTEs ATENT REFRIGERA'IING APPA'EUS Application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144,431

Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to means for removing moisture, dripping from a cooling element or evaporator of a refrigerating system, from the refrigerating apparatus.

Various devices have been provided for collecting and removing moisture dripping from an evaporator in a refrigerator in which the machinery compartment is located below the food storage compartment. In such devices moisture has been conducted by gravity to the machine compartment where it may be dissipated or remove-d therefrom in several different ways.

It has now become common in the construction of mechanical refrigerators or refrigerating systems and particularly refrigerators of the room cooling type to locate the condenser of the system above other elements thereof and to extend the condenser through a window or opening in a wall of the room of the building in which the room cooling apparatus is located. This arrangement is provided so that the condenser will be exposed to atmosphere exteriorly of the building and cooled by the outside atmosphere.

An object of the present invention is to remove moisture dripping from a cooling element of a refrigerating system by means rendered efiective by operations of the refrigerating system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means or device for causing moisture dripping from a cooling element of a refrigerating system to be elevated and conducted away from the refrigerating apparatus under conditions where gravity drainage is not available.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means or device for causing drip water flowing from a cooling element of a refrigerating apparatus to be trapped and elevated or conducted upwardly of the various elements constituting the apparatus and particularly upwardly of the drip water receiving and collecting means intermittently in response .to periodic or cyclical operations of the refrigerant circulating unit of the apparatus.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved device, which is normally rendered effective by operations of a refrigerant circulating unit of a refrigerating system, for intermittently causing drip water'flowing from a cooling element of the refrigerating system to be elevated and conducted upwardly of the drip water receiving and collecting means and which device has auxiliary means rendered effective by a predetermined amount of drip water accumulating in the water receiving and collecting means for elevating the drip water from the collecting means during the ineffective periods of the device.

Further objects and advantages of the present (Ell. 62-4129) invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a building and a refrigerating apparatus within a room in the building adaptedto cool and cause circulation of air within the room; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through an element of the refrigerating apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1 employed to elevate and dispose of drip water flowing from the cooling element of the apparatus and shows diagrammatically its connection and association with the refrigerating apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a refrigerating apparatus of the type usually referred to as a room cooling or conditioning apparatus. The refrigerator or room cooling apparatus is disposed in a room In provided in a building H. The refrigerator or room cooling apparatus includes a cabinet generally represented by the reference character I2. Cabinet l2 comprises a framework which is covered by a shell or by vertically disposed metal panels l3. The top of cabinet I2 is covered by a closure member 14 having a plurality of louvered passages l5 provided therein. An electric motor I6 is mounted within cabinet l2 adjacent the top l4 thereof and is operatively connected to a fan or blower H. The one face of blower or fan I! is located within an opening It! provided in a housing or shroud [9. An evaporator 2| of a refrigerating system, to be presently described, is mounted within cabinet I2 below housing or shroud l9 and fan IT. The sides of the shell or the side panels l5 of cabinet 1!! are provided with a plurality of openings (not shown) to permit fan or blower H to draw air into the cabinet. Operation of the fan or blower H! by motor H5, in response to any suitable or desirable control means, causes air to be drawn into the cabinet I! through the openings in the side walls thereof. This air is caused to flow over and/or through the cooling element or evaporator 2l by fan or blower Ill and is drawn into the housing or shroud IS. The refrigerating effect produced by the evaporator 2i cools the air and the cooled air is expelled from the cabinet l2 through the louvered openings l5 into the room ID. This action of that portion of the apparatus thus far described creates a circulation of air within room Ill and causes the warmer air therein to enter the cabinet l2 through the openings (not shown) and to be cooled and dried by the room. cooling apparatus for increasing the comfort of occupants of the room.

The refrigerating system associated with the room cooling apparatus includes, in addition to the cooling element or evaporator 25, a comveying conduit 26.

pressor 23 operatively connected, through suitable belt and pulley connections 24, to an electric motor 25. Operation of compressor 23 by motor 25 causes gaseous refrigerant or refrigerant evaporated within the cooling element 29 to be withdrawn therefrom through the refrigerant con- The compressor 23 compresses the gaseous refrigerant and forwards same under pressure, through conduit 27, to a condenser 28. "The condenser 28 may be of any suitable or conventional construction and is preferably mounted within a housing or shroud 26 having an opening 3i in the top wall thereof and an opening 32 provided in the bottom wall thereof. The housing or shroud 29 is preferably se-. cured to the back wall it of cabinet 82 and extends through a window or opening 33 provided in the wall of room it or building ll. Suitable blocks or the like 34 surround the housing 29 to seal the opening 33 through which the housing extends. Any suitable partition or closure member 35 may be provided within the housing 29 to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air, from the outside of building ll, into the room it through the housing or shroud 29. A fan 36 operated by an electric motor 3? and mounted on brackets 38 within housing or shroud 29 may be employed for circulating atmospheric air externally of building Ii through the shroud 29 and over the condenser 28 for cooling the compressed refrigerant circulated thereto by the condenser 23. The refrigerant cooled and liquefied in condenser 28 flows through the pipe 6i into a receiver-reservoir 62 where it is stored prior to being conducted, through pipe 53, to the evaporator 2i to cause the evaporator to produce a refrigerating eifect. An expansion device or valve 56, of any suitable or conventional design, is interposed in the conduit 43 for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to the cooling element 2!. The expansion device or valve 66 is operated by movement of a diaphragm or bellows contained therein and having a conduit connection 65 with a thermostat bulb 86 in response to expansion and/or contraction of a volatile fluid sealed within the thermostatic system. To effect expansion and/or contraction of the fluid within the thermostatic system and opening or closing of the expansion valve 44, the bulb 46 is secured in intimate thermal contact to the conduit 26 leading from the evaporator 2 I. Operations of motor 86 connected to fan or blower I1 and motor 3'I connected to fan 36 may be controlled in any suitable manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The motor 25 of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the apparatus is operated in response to a switch 5I (see Fig. 2) to preferably cause cyclical operations of the compressor 23. Control switch 5| is of a conventional double contact type to be hereinafter more fully described and includes a bellows 52 connected, by pipe 53, with a bulb 54 (see Fig. 2). The bellows 52, pipe 53 and bulb 54 constitutes a thermostatic system having a volatile fluid sealed therein. The thermo bulb 54 may be located within the cab- .inet I2 or within room I 6 so as to be subject to temperature conditions therein and expansion or contraction of the fluid in this thermo system causes movement of bellows 52 to actuate sw'itch 5i for controlling operations of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the refrigerat- :ng apparatus.

In cooling and causing circulation of theair within room ID in the manner described, it is obvious that the air upon being cooled will cause withdrawal of moisture therefrom and will cause the moisture to be deposited upon the coils or refrigerant conduits of the evaporator 2i. After a predetermined amount of moisture accumulates on the evaporator, it flows therefrom and must be conveyed to a point exterioriy of room in in order to prevent rehumidifying of the air in the room. I provide a pan or the like 6i and position this pan below the cooling element 2i so that the moisture will flow in the form of drip water thereinto. The bottom of pan 6i slopes downwardly to a conduit connection 62, which conduit conveys the drip water from the pan into a device, generally represented by the reference character 63 and, having a pipe 65 leading upwardly therefrom to a water distributing header 65 mounted above the condenser 28 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. The device 63 is mounted beneath the top wall of the machine compartment of the room cooling apparatus 02 by suitable brackets 66.

The device 63 is means for removing drip water, flowing from the cooling element or evaporator 2i, upwardly of the drip pan 6!, device 63 and other elements of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the apparatus to a point above the condenser 28 and therefore this device conveys the drip water upwardly from the refrigerating apparatus to the exterior of room I6 and building ii and is caused to flow over condenser 28 to augment cooling thereof by the atmospheric air. Device 63 includes a passage 66 formed in a casing 61 and connected with the conduit 62 which communicates with the lowermost portion ofdrain pan iii. The casing 61 of device 63 may be constructed of any suitable or desirable material to carry out my invention and is formed to provide a valve seat 68 at the lower end of the passage 66 at the inlet to the casing. A valve 69 cooperates with the seat 66 and has a stem ll extending to the exterior of casing 61. The valve 68 is normally open and a magnet I2, of any suitable or conventional design, is associated with the valve stem II and is adapted to draw the stem II upwardly thereinto, when energized, to cause valve 69 to close against seat 68 'to thereby close the ormally open inlet to casing water flowing from th cooling element 2| by way of pan iii and condhit 62. A threaded opening I6 in a side wall of casing 81 is closed by a plug I'I preferably constructed of insulating material such for example, as bakelite or porcelain and has two electrodes 18 and I9 extending entirely through the plug 11 so as to protrude into the receptacle or trap I5 and so as to permit attachment of an electric wire to their outer ends. An outlet opening 8| leading from a lower portion of trap I5 is connected by an elbow conduit 83 housing a check valve 84, of any suitable construction, adapted to rest upon seat formed in elbow 83. The elbow conduit 83 is connected, by a coupling 86, to the drip water discharge conduit 64. Valve 84 is normally closed upon its seat 85 thus preventing communication between the trap chamber I5 and pipe or conduit 64. The device 63 also includes an opening ill in the top wall of casing 61 which is closed by a plug member 92, preferably formed of insulating material. Plug member. 82 has a laterally extending electrical heating element 93, provided with

terminals

84 and 95, formed on its lower portion and which element may be of any suitable and well known construction. The plug member 92 is provided with a threaded opening 96 which receives a hollowed-out screw III. The hollowed-out opening in screw 9'I is for the purpose of permitting wires, extending to terminals 94 and on element 93, to pass therethrough. The hollowedout opening in the screw 91 is plugged after the wires are extended therethrough. Screw 9I is provided with a large head which engages the casing BI to firmly hold the plug member 92 upon the casing. The open bottom of casing 61 and which facilitates the assembly of parts of device 63 may be closed in any suitable manner such for example, as by a plate 96. v

The control switch III in thepresent invention may be of any suitable and well-known construction and includes a set of contacts IIII and I112. The contact IIII is movable upon actuation of switch SI into or out of engagement with contact I92 to control the flow of electric current to motor 25 of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the refrigerating system. Switch 5I also includes a set of contacts I03 and IM mounted on the outside of the trip or. snap acting mechanism of the switch M for a purpose to be presently described. It is to be noted that switch III is of the type which upon being operated moves contact IIlI out of engagement with its corresponding contact I02 and simultaneously moves contact I03 into engagement with contact I0 3.

The electrical circuit connected with the switch 5I and with other elements of the apparatus disclosed will now be described. Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, where this electrical circuit is diagrammatically illustrated there is a wire IIJIS connected to contact III? of switch III and to the one power supply conductor IIlI. A wire I08 leads from contact IIII of switch 5I to motor 25. A wire I 09 leads from motor 25 to the other power supply conductor IIII. This much of the electrical system constitutes the circuit through the power lines and control switch 5| to the motor 25 to control operations thereof. A wire II I runs from power supply conductor I III to the contact I04 of switch 5| and a wire 2 runs from contact I93 of switch 5| to a terminal H4 provided on the solenoid magnet I2 and has a branch wire II5 connected to the terminal 94 of electric heater 93. The other terminal 95 of heater 93 is connected by a wire I I6 with a wire I II, connected to terminal I It on magnet I2, and this wire III leads to the power supply conductor IIII. A branch wire I2I extends from wire H2 and is connected to the outer exposed end of electrode I8 of the device 63. The other electrode III of device 63 is connected by a branch wire I22 with a power supply conductor III]. From the illustration of the electrical circuit disclosed it will be noted that the electrical circuit through electrodes I8 and It may be completed at any time by water submerging both electrodes due to electrode I8 being connected with the positive power supply conductor I01 through wire H2, terminal III, magnet I2, terminal H8 and wire II! and also due to electrode I9 being connected with the negative power supply conductor I III through wire I22. Thus electrodes I8 and I9 form a safety device which is ineffective for removing drip water from casing 61 of device 53 and which is rendered effective at any time by water bridging these electrodes irrespective of the position of switch 5| and its contacts.

When moisture or water drips from the evaporator or cooling element 2i, located in the cabinet I2 of the apparatus disclosed, for any reason whatsoever, this moisture or drip water is caught in pan SI and is directed to pipe 62. Pipe 62 conveys the drip water into the chamber or trap I5 through passage 66 providedin casing 51 of the device 63. The drip water is trapped or collected in the lowermost portion of chamber during operating periods of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the circulating system. When switch 5I is actuated to move contact mi away from contact I02, to thereby stop operation of the motor 25 of the refrigerant .liquefying and circulating unit, switch contact I 93 is also moved from its position shown in full lines in the drawings into a position of engagement with contact IN. The engagement of contact I09 with contact I WI completes an electric circuit from power-supply conductor IIII through wires III, M2, III, and H5 from the negative side of the electrical system and through wires H6 and III to the positive side of the system or to power supply conductor IIlI. This completed circuit causes solenoid magnet 72 and heater 93 to be energized. Magnet 12 thus attracts and moves the stem II of valve 69 upwardly to seat the valve 69 against its seat 68 andto thereby close of! chamber or trap I5 from the passage 66 and conduit 62. Heat generated by the heater 93 warms and causes expansion of air in the chamber 15 above the body of drip water contained therein. The expansion of the air above the body of drip water causes pressure, due to valve 69 now being closed, to be built up in chamber I5 and this pressure forces the drip water out of the trap I5 through passage ti. The drip water flows through elbow conduit 83 past check valve 84 and into conduit M. Water trapped in conduit 6d above valve BI accumulates and rises, in this conduit to a heighth sufficient to then permit the water to flow by gravity through the distributor head I55. As stated before this drip water flows upon condenser 28 of the refrigerating system and augments cooling thereof byair outside the building II. The electric circuit and the elements I2 and 93 are arranged to remain energized as long as the control switch 5| is in the off position with respect to causing operation of motor 25. When switch Si is actuated to close its contacts WI and I02 to start operation of motor 25 it also moves contact I03 away from I04 to thus open the circuitpto the magnet I2 and heater 93 to thereby de-energize the same. Valve 69 being opened by tie-energizing magnet 12 thus permits drip water to again how from pan GI and conduit 62 into the trap or chamber I5 to the pump device 63. These cycles or periods of effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the pump device 63 continue in response to the cyclical operations of the refrigerant liquefying and circulating unit of the refrigerating system to elevate the drip water above the device63, pan 6|, and cooling element M.

While the size and effectiveness of the pump device I53 may be varied to meet various installations it is preferable to also provide a safety device such as I have disclosed to insure that drip water will be removed from the pump device at any time it attains a predetermined height in the chamber thereof. Therefore when drip water accumulaes in chamber 15 of device 63 to a heighth suihcient to bridge or submerge both electrodes I9 and 19 this water will complete a circuit through magnet I2 to close valve 69 and through the heater 93 to cause same to become eifective. For example, the drip water I upon bridging electrodes 78 and ill of the safety device completes a circuit from power supply conductor I01 through wire i ll, magnet l2, wire 5 l6, heater 93, wires H5, H2, and HI, through the water bridging electrodes 18 and i9, and through wire in and power supply conductor H0. Electric current passing through the water bridging electrodes l8 and i9 is aiforded sufficient resistance by the water to cause heating and expansion of the drip water. The heating and expansion of the drip water by electric current passing therethrough therefore augments heatingthereof by the electric heater 93 and rapidly forces drip water upwardly of the device 63 through the check valve 84. Therefore as long as the refrigerating apparatus is operatively connected with the power mains my safety device may be rendered effective automatically to prevent the pump device 63, conduit 62 and pan 6! from becoming filled with water to thereby eliminate overflowing of the pan.

Since my pump device is rendered effective automatically in response to the periodic or cyclical operations of the refrigerating system and heats air above the water in the water trap it is more efiicient and practical for use in systems of the type disclosed because it removes drip water quickly and without heating the body of drip water itself to thus reduce the amount of electrical energy necessary to remove drip water. Therefore it will be seen that I have provided an improved means for elevating drip water, flowing from an evaporator of a room cooling apparatus, to a point above the apparatus where the water may flow by gravity without the users attention. I have thus eliminated the necessity of manually emptying a drain pan of a room cooling apparatus and this is particularly advantageous in apartments or office buildings where at times there is no attendant in the building.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form,

\ it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for periodically circulating amedium through said first named means to cause said dehumidiflcation of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means, means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, and said drip water removing means being rendered effective by the periodic operations of said medium circulating means.

2. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for periodically circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means, means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, said drip water removing means being rendered efiective by the periodic operations of said medium circulating means, and a safety device for causing removal of drip water upwardly of said collecting means, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip water from said air dehumidifying means to said collecting means.

ing means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet.

4. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for periodically circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for'collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip water thereinto and an outlet, means rendered effective by the periodic operations of said medium circulating means for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet, and a safety device for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip water from said air dehumidifying means to said collecting means.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through said evaporator to cause said dehumidifying of the air, means for cyclically operating said unit, means for collecting drip water from said evaporator, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip water thereinto and an outlet, and means rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of dripwater upwardly thereof through said outlet.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through said evaporator to cause said dehumidifying of the air, means for cyclically operating said unit, means for collecting drip water from said evaporator, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip water thereinto and an .outlet, means rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet, and a safety device for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip'water from said air dehumidifying evaporator to said collecting means.

'7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for cooling and dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through the evaporator to drip water thereinto and an outlet, and means associated with said switch and rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for cooling and dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through the evaporator to cause said dehumidifying of the air, a switch controlling the operation of said unit to cyclically circulate the refrigerating fluid through said evaporator, means for collecting drip water flowing from said evaporator, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip,water thereinto and an outlet, and means associated with said switch and rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit for closing the inlet of said collecting means and for causing removal of drip water upwardly thereof through said outlet, a safety device associated with said collecting means for closing the inlet thereof and for causing removal of drip water upwardly therefrom through said outlet, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered eifective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip water from said evaporator to said collecting means irrespective of the position of said control switch.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through said evaporator to cause said dehumidifying of the air, means for cyclicaily operating said unit, means for collecting drip water from said evaporator, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip water thereinto and an outlet, and means including an element for closing said inlet and an electric heater disposed within said collecting means above the body of drip water therein for causing removal of drip water upwardly of the collecting means through the outlet thereof, said last named means being rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a closed system including an evaporator for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover and a unit for circulating a refrigerating fluid through said evaporator to cause said dehumidifying of the air, means for cyclically operating said unit, means for collecting drip water from said evaporator, said collecting means having a normally open inlet for conducting the drip water thereinto and an outlet, and means for closing the inlet to said collecting means and for increasing the pressure therein to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom through the outlet thereof, said last named means being rendered effective by the cyclical operations of said refrigerating fluid circulating unit.

. 11. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehurnldifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidfying means, means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, and said drip water removing means being responsive to operation of said medium circulating means.

12. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidiiying means, means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, and said drip water removing means being responsive to operation of said medium circulating means, and effective continuously during the operation thereof.

13. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means, means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, said drip water removing means being responsive to operation of said medium circulating means, and a safety device for causing removal of drip water upwardly of said collecting means, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip water from said air dehumidifying means to said collecting means.

14'. An apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means. means for creating a pressure in said drip water collecting means to cause removal of drip water upwardly therefrom, said drip water removing means being responsive to operation of said medium circulating means and eifective continuously during the operation thereof, and a safety device for causing removal of drip water upwardly of said collecting means, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the flow of a predetermined amount of drip water from said air dehumidifying means to said collecting means.

15. An. apparatus comprising in combination, means for dehumidifying air adapted to flow thereover, means for circulating a medium through said first named means to cause said dehumidification of the air, means for collecting drip water from said dehumidifying means, a primary means for removing drip water upwardly from said drip water collecting means, and a secondary means in the form of a safety device for causing removal of drip-water upwardly of said collecting means, said safety device being normally ineffective and rendered effective in response to the collection of a predetermined amount of drip water from said air dehumidifying means to said collecting means.

LLOYD M. KEIGHLEY.