US2201647A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 21, 1940. FE|NBERG- I 2,201,647

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a] I? 7/ i -28 E 40 I 83- ?6 I 1 824 a, Q 7 7g V 7 A. A. FEINBERG 2,201,647

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1940.

May 21, 1940. A. A. FEINBERG 2,201,647

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 2 1, 1940 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Allan A. Feinberg, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to United States Air Conditioning Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,202

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air conditioning apparatus and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the Objects of the present invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which, by reason of the arrangement of the parts thereof, is practical to produce in the form of a portable room unit easily movable to the desired point of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which in summer may be used to take in fresh outside air through an open window, to clean, cool and circulate such air throughout a room and which in the winter may be used as an eflicient humidifier to add the proper amount of moisture to and gently circulate the air in said room.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a portable apparatus of this kind, a simple means whereby the directional flow of air may be readily adjusted and controlled, thus avoiding dead spots in the atmosphere of the'room and insuring an even temperature throughout the same.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of this kind in which water for air cleaning, humidification and evaporation purposes may be readily replenished and the holding tank and the filtering mat may each be readily removed for cleaning purposes.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of this kind a novel mounting for the water circulating pump with respect to the water supply tank and whereby the pump and its motor may be easily moved into a position permitting the ready removal of the supply tank for cleaning purposes.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of a portable air conditioning unit embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved apparatus, on an enlarged scale, the cover for the casing being omitted better to disclose the arrangement of the parts within the casing.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus as taken on the line'3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical detail sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal vertical sectional view through the apparatus as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical detail sectional view through a part of the apparatus as taken on the line 6-6 5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, as taken on the line 'lT of Fig. 6.

Fig; 8 is a detail view illustrating the circuit for the blower driving motor and the water pump driving motor and which will be more fully referred to later.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the improved apparatus includes a casing ID in which all operating parts are enclosed. This casing which is made of sheet metal is generally rectangular in shape and has a height and width greater than the depth from front to rear. The casing, which in itself is open at the top, comprises a horizontal bottom frame I I of angle bar, upright left and right hand end walls l2 and I3 respectively and upright front and rear walls l4 and I5 respectively. The up- 25 per front end corners of the end walls are cut away as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and a cover I6 is removably engaged upon the top end of the casing. This cover includes an angularly disposed front grille portion l'l coinciding with the cutaway upper front end corners of the end walls. Said grille portion, which is disposed at an angle to both the vertical and the horizontal, has openings therein and forms the discharge side or air outlet for the apparatus.

The casing as a whole is provided at its four bottom corners with casters l8 whereby the apparatus is easily moved about from one place of use to another. The rear wall l5 terminates short of the top end of the casing to there form the air inlet opening IQ for the apparatus. In the bottom end of the casing is provided an open top water supply tank or pan 20 that seats upon the horizontal flange of the angle bar frame ll before mentioned to close the bottom end of the casing. The bottom portion of the right hand end wall I3 is made as a door l3a giving access to the parts within the casing and also whereby the pan 20 may be removed to enable a better cleaning thereof. Secured to the inner surface of the walls l2-l4 and I5 is an inwardly and downwardly extending drip flange 22, whereby such vapor as may condense on the inner surface of the various walls of the casing will drain back into the tank or pan 20. Angle bars 23 are fixed to the inner surface of the front and rear walls of the casing just above the drip flange 22 and the purpose of these bars will soon appear.

In the upper front end portion of the casing is formed an upwardly and rearwardly extending wall or partition 24, the ends of which extend to and engage the end walls of the casing. The top portion of this partition terminates in the plane of the top edge of the end walls in a plane spaced a suitable distance forwardly of the plane of the rear wall l5 of the casing. The bottom portion of this wall or partition is disposed in a plane below the top end of the rear wall l5 and is arranged at a point spaced a suitable distance rearwardlyfrom the front wall of the casing. A horizontal wall 25 is provided between said bottom portion of the wall or partition 24 and the front wall I4. The walls 2425 in connection with a part of the front wall l4, parts of the end walls l2 and I3 and cover l6 respectively, coact in defining a plenum chamber 26.

The central portion of the walls 25 and 24 are cut away and associated with the cut away portion of the wall 24 are vertical Wall portions 21 and 28 respectively. These wall portions form a duct 29 which opens at its bottom end into the interior of the casing I 0 as a whole and which opens at its top end into the plenum chamber 26.

In the chamber 26 is arranged a baffle or damper 3| of a length somewhat greater than the width of the duct 29. This damper has a horizontal hinge connection 32 with the front wall l4 and about which it may be swung from a vertical position up against the front wall to a horizontal position wherein its free edge engages the wall 24. The first mentioned position of said baffle or damper appears in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the last mentioned position of said bafile or damper appears in full lines in said figure.

The baffie or damper is manually movable from one position to the other by means operable from outside of the front wall l4 of the casing and such means is as follows: 33 indicates a horizontal shaft that extends through the front wall .l4 on its vertical median line at a point above the wall 25 before mentioned. This shaft is journalled in a bearing bracket 34 secured to the front wall. The outer end of this shaft is provided with a knob 35 whereby the shaft may be turned. An arm 36 is fixed to the inner end of this shaft. The free end of said arm carries a ball headed stud 3'! to which an end of a connecting rod 38 is connected in the manner of a universal joint. The other end of said rod has a similar connection 39 with the baffle or damper 3| It is pointed out that the shaft 33 has a screw thread fit in its bearing 34. Thus when the shaft 33 is turned in one direction or the other, to adjust the position of the bafile or damper 3!, said damper will stand in its adjusted position, the weight of damper or baflle being insufficient to overcome the fit of said shaft in its bearing. If desired, to reduce the noise which air moving through the plenum chamber might produce, the inner surfaces of the chamber 26 and duct 29 and both surfaces of the damper or baflle may be covered with a sound deadening material 40.

4l42 and 43 indicate respectively inverted U shaped supporting brackets (see Fig. 5) arranged in the casing above the angle bar 23 and arranged parallel with the end walls l2 and I3. The bracket 4| is arranged closely adjacent the end wall I3 of the casing while the brackets 4243 are spaced equal distance on each side of the center line of the casing from front to rear.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each bracket includes a horizontally disposed bar 44 and depending vertical legs 4545, each of which terminates in a foot 46, The feet of each bracket engage upon cushioning members 41 which rest upon the horizontal flange of the angle bars 23 and bolts 48 pass through said feet, the said flanges and the said cushioning members respectively to complete the assembly for said brackets. The cushioning members are preferably in the form of rubber blocks, whereby noise transmission is dampened to a minimum.

A conventional type of blower including the usual casing 50 is disposed between the brackets 4243. This casing has an air inlet opening 5| at each side and has an upwardly directed outlet 52 that snugly fits in the bottom end of the duct 29, In the casing is located a rotor or fan 53 that is fixed to a shaft 54, the ends of said shaft being journalled in bearing blocks 55 secured to the bars 44 of the brackets 42 and 43. A pulley 56 is fixed on that end of the shaft associated with the bracket 42.

The driving motor for the blower is indicated at 51. This motor is fixed to a plate 58 which is supported at its opposite ends upon the bars 44 of the brackets 4I--42, toward the front of the casing. 59 indicates the armature shaft of the motor which shaft carries a pulley 60 at one end. A belt BI is trained about this pulley and about the pulley 56 whereby the rotor or fan of the blower is driven from the motor.

An upwardly facing channel 62 extends along the inner face of the'top marginal part of the rear wall l5 and is supported from said wall and from. the end walls of the casing by clips 63 on said walls. An air washing and filtering panel or screen 64 is engaged upon the bottom wall of the channel, the panel or screen having an area approximating that of the air inlet opening 19 of the casing. This panel or screen is bounded by a frame 65, which securely clamps the margins of front and rear screen members 66 and 6! respectively. A fibrous filler or mat 68 is disposed between the screens and the members of the frame.

On the inner surfaces of the end walls of the cas ing are guide clips 69 for engaging the top margin of the panel or screen as a whole. When the cover N3 of the casing is removed, the panel may be withdrawn upwardly from the casing and re moved therefrom for cleaning purposes when desired. It may be replaced in a reverse manner.

The top member of the panel or screen frame is formed to provide a channel that is open at the bottom as appears at 10 in Fig. 3 for communication with the filler or mat 68 In this channel is located a longitudinally extending water supply pipe H provided with longitudinally spaced outlet holes 12 in its bottom. That end of the pipe H extending toward the casing wall I2 is closed to form a hook 13 that engages a part of the frame of the panel or screen to provide support for said end of the pipe. The other end of this pipe is made as an elbow 14 to extend throughout the screen 61 of the panel, near the end wall l3 of the casing. This end of the pipe carries a spacer 15 for keeping it centrally positioned in the channel at the top edge of the panel or screen frame. Water is delivered to the pipe from the pan 20 as will later appear. A drain pipe 16 is connected at its top end to that end of the channel 62 associated with the end. wall l2 and the bottom end of said pipe extends into the pan 20.

An angle bar 11 connects the rear ends of the 94 is placed into operation.

bars 44 of the two brackets 4| and 42 together.

Depending from this angle bar is a plate 18 in which is provided a pair of vertically extending slots 19. A motor having its armature shaft 8| arranged vertically, is adjustably secured to said plate by means of bolts 82 that pass through the base flange 83 of the motor and through the slots 19 in said plate. Of course the usual nuts are associated with the bolts: When said nuts are loosened, the motor may be raised and lowered adjustably with respect to said plate.

A pump 84 is supported from the bottom end of the motor by means of a pair of arms 85. The pump includes a casing 86 having a rotor chamber 81 in which is located a rotor 88 which is fixedto the bottom end of the armature shaft 8| of the motor. The pump casing has a central bottom inlet for the chamber 81 and has an elbowlike outlet 89 leading oiT from one side. A flexible conduit 90 has a slip over fit at its ends with the outlet 99 of the pump and with the inlet elbow M of the pipe ii.

The pump 88 is preferably positioned in a strainer basket 9i arranged in the pan, the basket having side walls of relatively fine wire mesh to strain out such particles as may be in the water that would damage the pump,

It is preferred that the motor 89 be so connected with the motor 51 as to be energizable only after the motor 57 has been energized. A simple manner in which this can be accomplished appears diagrammatically in Fig. 8. 92 indicates a lead in conductor for current which is connected to one side of the motor 51, the other side.

of the motor being grounded through a 'conductor 93. A switch 99 is provided in the line 92. When the switch 94 is closed the motor 51 is energized and when said switch is opened, said motor is deenergized. A conductor 95 connects one side of the motor 80 with the line 93 and a second conductor 96 connects the other side of the motor 89 with the conductor 92 at a point between the switch 94 and motor 51. In the conductor 9B is a switch 91 for controlling the motor 89.

With the arrangement described, it is apparent that the motor 51 may be energized without energizing the motor 80 and it is also ap-- parent that the motor 80 can only be energized when the motor 51 is energized. Thus, it is possible to operate the blower without operating the pump 84 or the two can be operated simultaneously but the pump cannot be operated unless the blower is operating. Thus, in damp wet weather, the blower can be operated without adding to the water content of the air discharged from the apparatus.

Assume that the apparatus is arranged in the room of a dwelling and that it is a rather warm dry day. Also, assume that the bottom sash of a window in said room is raised, and the apparatus as a whole is positioned with its rear side toward and closely adjacent the open window. This will dispose the bottom part of the filter panel or screen at about the level of the sill of said window. Also, assume that a sufiicient amount of water is provided in the tank or pan 2!! and that the battle or damper 3| is in an upright position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that the duct 29 is in no manner obstructed thereby.

When the switches 94 and 91 are both closed, the blower is placed into operation and the pump Under such conditions the pump delivers water from the tank .the pan 28 for cleaning purposes.

20 up, through the conduit 90 into the pipe H for distribution throughout the entire length of the mat 68 in the filter or screen unit. This provides a film of water covering the strands or fibres of the mat, the excess water collecting in the trough or channel 62 and draining back into the pan 20 by means of the conduit or tube 16.

As the air inlet for the casing is closely adjacent and faces toward the open window, air passes through the filter where it is cleaned and cooled and enters the casing to pass into the inlets 5| for the blower. The blower discharges this air up through the duct 29 into the chamber, the greater part of the air passing upwardly out through the grille ll under the action of the velocity pressure of the blower. The air thus discharged creates a turbulence in the upper air strata of the room. The air as it passes through the filter will absorb some water content and it is this content which maintains the room at the desired condition of humidity.

Should it be desired to change the direction of the air being discharged into the room. the knob 35 is actuated to swing the baifle or damper 3i into the full linehorizontal position shown in Fig. 3 wherein its free edge engages the wall 24. In this position the member provides a battle or damper so that only a part of the air is discharged straight up through duct 29, the other part of the air impinging against the bottom surface of the bailie or damper 3i and directed toward the ends of the chamber 2b. This chamher then acts as a plenum chamber as it is filled with air and converts the velocity pressure of the air discharged through the duct, into a static pressure in the chamber, so that the air is discharged out through the grille ii in a direction at a right angle to the plane of inclination thereof. It is, of course, apparent that by reason of the action described, the angular position of the baiile or damper controls the discharge direction of the air passing out through the grille.

Should outside atmosphere be warm and humid, the switch 9? is opened and the motor 9i deenergized so that no more water is supplied to the filter mat 68.

In winter time with a low outside temperature. with the window closed and with the heating applicance in the room in the on" condition, the apparatus may be used as an efllcient humidifier mcause it will add moisture to the air and will gently recirculate the same.

To replenish the water supply in the pan. the door i3a in the wall it is opened so as to give access to said pan. Should the strainer basket 9i require cleaning, the nuts for the bolts 82 are loosened and the motor 80 and pump 84 are moved upwardly of the slots 19 in the plate 19 until the pump clears the top end of the strainer basket. The basket may then be removed from Thereafter the cleaned basket is replaced in position in the pan and the motor 80 and pump .84 lowered into position to bring the pump in a submerged position in the water within the strainer basket.

Should the filter mat require cleaning, the cover It is removed from the casing, the slip connection between the conduit 90 and elbow end of the pipe H is disconnected and then the filter as a unit including said pipe is lifted upwardly for removal. It may then be backwashed and replaced, after which the slip connection between the said conduit. and pipe end reestablished and the cover I then reapplied. 1|

iii

The apparatus is then ready for further operation.

The apparatus is simple and compact in construction, is efilcient in operation and the parts are readily accessible for cleaning.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may he specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an air conditioning apparatus, a casing, means providing a chamber having an air outlet at the front top portion of the casing and arranged in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined plane, said chamber including a bottom Wall and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear wall, said walls being formed to provide an upwardly extending air inlet for said chamber, and means in said chamber and movable into a position with respect to said air inlet for overlapping only a part of said air inlet and for deflecting a portion of the incoming air, laterally in both directions.

2. An air conditioning apparatus embodying therein a casing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, air filtering means associated with the air inlet opening, means providing a water supply at the bottom of the easing and which means is removable from the casing in a horizontal plane, a motor driven pump submerged in the water supply, means connecting said pump and filtering means for distributing water throughout the latter, and means in the casing providing a mounting for said pump for movement into a plane above the top of said water supply means to permit removal of the latter from the casing.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, an open top casing having an air inlet at the top end of one face thereof, means providing an air outlet for the casing, an air filter for the air inlet, a blower between said air inlet and said air outlet, means for supplying water to said filter, means providing a trough-like support for the bottom margin of said air filter means, means carried by the top portion of the casing for holding said filter in operative relation to said inlet opening, and a cover closing the open top of the casing and preventing removal of said air filter means from its supporting engagement upon said trough.

ALLAN A. FEIN'BERG.

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