US2266917A - Furnace blower unit - Google Patents

Description

D@ 23, 1941. p. c. STRAUCH FURNACE ABLOWER UNIT s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2l, 1939 f; iff z if. Y', 6.9

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Dec. 23, 941.

P. c. sTRAUcH l FURNACE BLOWER UNI'T Filed Nov. 2l, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Si Q5 @4u/e GTIVENTOIQ @www2/m Dec. 23, 1941. p Q STRAUCH 2,266,917

FURNACE BLOWER UNIT Filed Nov. 214, 1959 :s sheetssheet s INVENTOR @dem Pnemeevec. 23, 1941 `UNITI-:D sTArEs PATENT OFFICE i FUnNAcizlER uNIT l f Paul C; StrauchLEdgewood, Pa.

Application November zi, 1939, serial No. 305,509

, 2 claims. -(01.126-99) My present invention relates Lto the heating art, and more particularly to the provision of a furnace blower unit adapted to be employed in connection with a -warm orhot air type of furnace.

Units mounted 0n the cold air side of a furnacenecessitate the provision of a filter or filter section as an integral part of the blower unit, thus complicating the structure of the blower unit and increasing the cost of manufacturing and servicing the same. inthe inherent necessity of locatingsuch units adjacent the floor. This renders the electrical A further disadvantage resides,

unit of new and improved structure on the hot side of a furnace without simultaneously giving rise tothose objections and diiiiculties above outlined', particularly with respect to noise, vibra-1v tiont and rapid deterioration due to exposure to hea Another object of my invention resides in the production `of a furnace blower unit capable of being located on the hot side of a furnace and yet wherein the electrical equipment is not only highly accessible for installation, replacement or A servicing but wherein such electrical equipment and other equipment involved particularly susceptible to dirt and dampness and, therefore, tends to shorten th emmene 1ife of the same.v v1n addition, the parts are in an inconvenient location for carrying on servicing and repairs when such become necessary. Under such conditions tutes a thermodynamically ineihcient arrangement.

While some attempts have been made to alleviate these unsatisfactory conditions, so far as I am aware there has been no satisfactory -solution of the problems involved. Retention of the unit on the cold air side of the furnace is, I am convinced, inherently unsound and undesirable engineering practice. No successful blower unit has \thus far been developed for use on the hot side of a furnace and such has heretofore been thought to involve insuperable obstacles. For example, it was deemed that the fact that the unit was necessarily intimately associated with the furnace ducts would inevitably cause noise and vibration to be transmitted to all parts of the heating system which would be highly objectionable. Further diilculties were envisaged due to the fact that the electrical equipmentwas unavoidably exposed to greatly increased temperaturesresulting from` close juxtaposition to hot r is not subjected to appreciable deterioration due to furnace heat and gases. 4

A further object of my invention resides vin providing a furnace blower unitV capable of being located on the hot side of a furnace ofthe directred type and which is characterized by the new and useful feature that-the heat is drawn evenly from` all sides of the heating surfaces, thus not only producing both more satisfactory and effecti've heating but also ensuring substantially even cooling of the furnace heating surfaces. ,Y

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a furnace blower unit mounted on the1 hot side of a direct-fired furnace, which is not only more economical in operationl but which additionally saves iioor space.

1 Other and further objects and advantages include the various'combinations, subcombinations and details hereinafter described and claimed, andl such other and'further matters as will be understood or appreciated by those skilled inthis art. Such include,'for example, the capacity for mass production at low most, the unusual noise and heat insulation arrangement,y .the elimination of metal-to-metal contacts between' the blower housing and any part of the duct system of the associated furnace, the'provision of means to absorbstarting shock and motor hum, the use of plural inlet type centrifugal blower wheels balanced near the ends of the drive shaft provided therefor, the freedom from lubrication troubles,v and, in general, the provision of a simple, foolproof, highly efcient device. In the accompanying drawingswhereinI have illustrated one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan viewvof the invention its i top and -disclosing the general arrangement of parts: f

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the present device .but with the'outer *housing and top asvbestos cover in section in order to reveal the nature and relationship nf the lparts involved:

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is, a perspective view illustrating the present blogver unit installed in operative position on a furnace bonnet; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale but at an angle of about 180 from that of Fig. 4.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

The type of housing known as the utility home or utility type home is becoming a greater and greater factor in the building industry. Particularly in connection with so-called low cost housing, the tendency has been to eliminate basements in order to provide housing units within reach of the low income group. In such utility homes space is accordingly at a premium. Not only is this true but all mechanical and electrical installations must be lo'w in initial cost, of long ecient life and as free from servicing `and maintenance as is possible. As aresult, the sovcalled utility room orcompartment has been developed for the utility type home, in which, for example, the heating unit is located. Due to its propinquity to the living units, i. e., kitchen, living room and frequently bedrooms, and due to the fact that space requirements are strictly limclean in its operation, since the indicated arrangement inherent in utility homes makes ngises, vibration and dirt particularly objectiona' le.

The furnace blower unit of my present invention has been especially developed for this type of service and a number of installations already made in utility'type homes has definitely demonstrated the value and advantages of the present device. As will be noted, the unit, which is designated as a whole by the numeral I0, is mounted on the hot side of a conventional direct-fired warm air or hot air type of furnace illustrated fragmentarily at II. This furnace is generally cylindrical in nature and may be iired with any suitable or available fuel such as coal, oil or gas. The particular structure of theA furnace proper forms no part Yof the present invention. The furnace, if not already so furnished, is provided with a frusto-conical bonnet I2. This bonnet also acts as an adapter between the round furnace andthe rectangular blower unit. Suitably mounted in this bo'nnet is a water pan I3 adapted sito contain aA layer of water to provide vibl'opcr humidiication for the heating system, and

'at the same time to cause the heating system to partake of the nature of an air conditioning system. This water pan is provided with a water inlet I4 and an overow I5 so as to provide a As will be observed best from Figs. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that the furnace blower unit Ill is mounted in the top of the furnace bonnet I2. One satisfactory way of mounting the unit is shown and includes providing an S-shaped interlocking collar I8, one end of which hooks over theupstanding flange I9 of vthe furnace bonnet I2 and'the other end of which presents a groove for the reception of the' 1 downwardly turned flanges of the blower. unit base plates 2|. The latter are in-the form of transversely extending tray-like metal members spaced apart and in paralleldisposition with their innerV marginaln edges turned upwardly to form flanges 22, bounding either side of the central opening 23 formed by thisarrangement; A pair of bridging memi bers 2l is provided, one of which is disposedat ited, it is essential that the furnace be quiet and 4 each end of 'opening 23. Each member 24 has hook-shaped extremities 25 engaging with iiange 22 of a base plate 2I and a lateral upstanding end flange 26. Members 24`are adapted to carry insulation material suchas asbestos padding 24a, which is maintained in place by flanges 26. The balance of opening 23 communicates with the interior of bonnet I 2.

The base plates 21| are, as shown, provided with the relatively thick asbestos pads 21, which are preferably of the order of at least one inch in height. The pads 21 are substantially coextensive with and overlie base plates 2l. The vertical wall 28 forming the main outer closure of the unit I0 and defining a main chamber has its lower open end wedged betweenthe periphery of the asbestos pads 21 and \the vertical central portion of the S-shaped collar I 8. rising therefrom a height which is determined in the yfirst v instance by the space requirements and limitacontinuous and full supply of water in the pan I3, and at the same time to prevent an undesirable rise in the temperature of such water to a point where it would boil or vaporize too copiously. The water inlet Il is connected to a suitable source of water supply, kthe rate of flow of which is adjusted so as to maintain the pan I3 substantially full. The overow I5 accomplishes the usual purposes. As will also be noted from the drawings, the furnace bonnet I2 is additionally provided with a thermostatic device indicated at I6, the particular structural details of which are not material here andthe function and operation of which will be understood from what follows. The thermostatic device I6, the water inlet I4 and the overflowA I5 are mounted in suitable support members on the furnace bonnet as indicated by the numerals I1.

tions of the particular installation and in the second instance by the thermodynamics of the particular set-up. Relative to this first requirement, it will be noted that the duct system of the furnace involved connects with a single central take-off duct fragmentarily illustrated at 29 in broken lines in Fig. 2 and interengaging with an upturned ange 30 in the cover plate 3Iof the present unit in the well-known manner of a stovepipe connection, for example. 'It is, however, to be understood that this arrangement is not a restriction upon the present invention, as I may equally well make the main chamber, say 6" higher and with the ducts leading to the living quarters emanating from the sides of such chamber instead of from the top thereof, particularly where the thermodynamic eiciency indicates the provision of a chamber 32 of maximum po'ssible vertical extent.

The main chamber is shown as rectangular, and

preferably the upstanding flange 30 with which the duct 29 connects is of the same outline, although the size and shape of the latter necessarily govern the size and shape of the former, which in turn'may vary depending upon the 'particular furnace and/or bonnet construction. While it is preferred that the main chamber and the flange 30 be square, it is to be understood that this likewise is not deemed to constitute a limitation upon the invention, as the members in question may partake of other rectangular or similar shapes without departing from the scope and principles hereof.

A second set of transversely extending spaced tray-like metal plate members 33 rests upon the pads 21. Members 33 are somewhat narrower than plates 2| and constitute a support for the members to be described. The members 33 have upturned marginal edge flanges 34. A number-V -of spaced partitions rise from and are secured to members 33. These partitions, in conjunction with the plate members 33, vdivide the main tained in proper assembled condition by clamp means 6l. c

Each of the said blower compartments 36 cornmunicates at the top thereof with an opening chamber into a central compartment 35, blower 62 in a relatively thick asbestos cover member. compartments 36 anking the central compart- 63, onerportion of which encloses the top of the ment and end compartments 31 anking the motor compartmentj (see Fig. 2). As will be blower cOInpartments. Fig. 3 shows four partiunderstood best from Fig. 2, each blower lies tions 38,- the inner two having large apertures within a casing or housing 64 which gradually 39 and the outer two having small apertures 40 10 increases in size spiral1y, the upper end 65 of and serving as support and holding members for this casing or housing terminating flush with additional asbestos pads, such as those indicated the uppenendof the said asbestos cover member at 4|, and which have the dual role of acting as 63. The casing 64 is preferably provided with heatand Sound-prcong insulation. In the i a scroll 66, one (U-shaped) end 61 of which blower compartments 36 blower wheels 42'are l5 overhangs and depends from the adjacent hous- 'provided one in each such compartment. The ingterminus 65. The scroll is secured to part- Specic structure of such blower wheels is not l 65 by a screw or the like 61a.' The coiled scroll a part of this invention andis not original with end is free. 'I'he 'scrollis removed when the me I prefer to Vuse the squirrel eagetype of blower wheel is to be removed through openblower,` but blower wheels of any suitable type ing 62. f l may be employed WithOut departing from th -The blowers-communicate, as willbe appreessentials of this invention. ciated, with the overhead chamber 68, and thence The drive shaft 43 extends through the Colnwith the duct system of the furnace fragmen partments 35 and 35 and intO the compartments tarily designated at 29. The electric motor 48 31. Near each end thereof this shaft is prois provided with one 'insulated conductor 69 vided With a bearing member 44, each Such bealwhich leads to a suitablev source of current and ing beingsupported by a standard 45, which another insulated conductor 10 which leads to rests upon and is preferably Securedv t0 One 0f and is connected into the ,thermostatic device I6. theplate members 33. Each bearing is suitably This device has a member- (not` visible) projectsecured toits standard which forms a firm base ing into the interior of the bonnet |2 which is. therefor. Between standards 45 and the par; thermosensitive so that when the temperature` titions 4| relatively thick vertically disposed as .e within the bonnet; reaches e, predetermined tembestos pads 46 are provided which, like the perature such as that set on the indicator Isa f pads previously mentiOIled, constitute insulatiOn of the thermostatic device, the electric motor is against sound and heat. l automatically started and thus the unit set in The blower wheels 42 aforementiOned 'are operation. The arrangement is, such that when mounted on the lsaid drive shaft 43,l as shown the temperature fans a predetermined amount, best in Fig. 3, and the arrangement is such as say 1520 117.,.the unit is rendered inoperative. to produce la steady balancedassembly which is Means is also provided such as by a, push-pull unusually free from noisiness and vibration The button or a switch, or by suitable movement of shaft passes through partition openings 39 and the thermostatic device l'as a whole pivoting it 40 and through the insulating pads'46- Each around the axle member 1|, for starting up the blower wheel 42 has a sleeve bearing 41 by means unit manuauy when and es desired, e, g for of which it is suitably connected to said shaft summer usel Cylindrical member 12 constifor rotation therewith. While the usual key con- 45 tutes the means by which the thermen-.atie rieneetion is preferred, a set screw-for other rfas` vice is mounted in the furnace bonnet and the tening may also be employed. Suitable means tubular member connects I6 and 12 and confor lubrication are likewise prOVided With relatains suitable elementsior control and actuation tion to each such bea-ring 44, and, as WilVbe purposes such as a bimetal element or a thermo-I pointed out more fully hereinafter, the said bear- 5u couple, l a s ings are readily accessible for lubrication, serv- A1; one end of the main member an extericing, etc. nal box-like member 14 is attached in suitable As Will be appreciated best frOln'Figs- 1 and 2 manner (see Fig. 4) and which is provided top x an electric InQtOr 43 0f Suitable type1 'but prefei- `and bottom with the foraminous sections 15. On ably of the inexpensive split-phase washing maits vertical face 'there is provided `a foraminous chine type, is mounted by means of Va suitable section forming a port 16. At the opposite end of standard 49 on a channel 50, being bolted thereto the main chamber an additional box-like memas at 5I, which is somewhat spaced from .the ber 11 is provided which has a door 18 slidable asbestos pad 52 which absorbs vibration and back and. forth in the slideways 19. This connoise and which at the Sametime protects saidv 00 stitutes an access door for the rear shaft bearing motor against the heat of the furnace, said motor assembly 44, as will be understood, The door being also protected bythe otherv asbestos padhas a foraminous port 80 therein similar to port ding shown, e. g., 46 and 53. The nd of the i6-'so that when it is in its normally closed posi asaid drive shaft 43 adjacent motor 46 is proj tionair will have access to .the interior of the.: vided with a suitable pulley 54 Aover. which passes .6 5 member '|1jand therear bearing compartment of a belt 55, which also encompasses a motor pulley 56 suitably provided on the motor shaft 51. The

motor pulley is provided, as shown, with a fan` like element 58 made up of a central discjsecured the plenum chamber, During operation the fanlike element 58 on lthe motor'pulley creates'an inwardly directed draftbr current of airfwhich is exhausted'through some orallof the forami.

as by spot welding to the face of said pulley and nous openings 15 in the bottom and top'i'of the a plurality of curved radiating arms which act -member 14 and which, therefore, servesas a. as fan or propeller blades. The purpose of this positive cooling means for the motor andits 9.o-,Y will be explained hereinafter. The motor is cessories. This I have found'tobe of great immounted, in'eiect, in ring-shaped hard 'rubber partance as it is the only way known to mein I bearings 59 within-metal ring 60, the whole mainu which a motor can be used en th'e hot side of a furnace without causing relatively rapid deterioration of'such motor and other disadvantageous effects. By meansof port; .80 a cooling effect Y' bined in chamber 68 and is finally injectedinto the furnace duct system which is suitably connected to chamber 68. Due to the unusual construction, nature and mounting of unit I0, no objectionable noises are created or transmitted, starting torque of the motor is absorbed and the unit in general fulfills all requirements admirably, not the least' of which is the versatility thereof, i. e., the adaptability to various furnaces and space limitations. The unit contributes to use of minimum floor and head space and to use in corners, etc. where known units cannot be suitably installed.

It will be appreciated further that the present device partakes of the nature of an air conditioning unit in that it not only positively discharges and distributes filtered heated air but also humidifles that air. The extent of humidification depends upon the temperature of the air, the volume and rate` of travel thereof, and upon the exposed surface of water in the water pan, but these facts are well understood and are' suitably correlated and adjusted for given condi- .tions`. Not only is the device of utility in connection with heating but can be employed to advantage during hot and/or dry weather for cooling and/or humidifying purposes. For example, if the device is operated in the summertime when the furnace is not in operation, the conditioned current of air which is caused to travel through the furnace ducts will produce a distinct cooling effect. This, of course may be enhanced by the useV of ice or other' cooling medium in the water pan, should such be desired.

The foregoing is intended as illustrative and.

exemplary and not as restrictive or limitative, and within the scope and principles hereof I may make many modifications, substitutions, addiof the unit or the specific materials used therein. Duct and blower sizes, motor speed (a constant speed'motor is preferably employed), and size of water pan may all be subject to whatever variation may be required for the purpose of adapting the device to a wide variety of installation conditions. As hereinbefore indicated, such lters as are employed in connection with the present invention are installed on the cold air side ofthe furnace, thus not only facilitating instal'- lation, removal and maintenance but avoiding .complication of the present unit or undesirable increase in the expense thereof. A unit madein accordance with this invention is not only unusually quiet and long lived but, barring purely electrical troubles such as may be encountered by overloading electrical circuits, the present device normally needs practically no maintenance or attention even over an extended period.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A blower structure adapted to be supported on the top of a furnace casing, the structure comprising a base portion forming the top wall of the furnaceand having a medial opening for discharge of air from the furnace casing into the structure, a sound and heat insulating body supported on said base portion providing pad portions on opposite sides of saidopening, a blower unit mounted on each pad portion out of metallic contact with thebase portion and in communications and omissions, all of which are deemed to be apart of this invention so long as they fall within the terms of the appended claims. I am notl in any way restricted, for example, as to size tion with s aid opening, driving means for the blower units including a motor mounted on said insulating body, and means free'of metallic contact with said blower units and in communication therewith for receiving discharged air therefrom.

2. A blower structure adapted to be supported on the top of a furnace casing, the structure comprising a base portion forming the top wall of the furnace and having an opening for discharge of air from the furnace casing into the structure,-a sound and heat insulating body supported on said base portion, a blower unit in communication with said opening, a driving means for said blower unit including a motor, said blow- 'erunit and motor being mounted on said body out of metallic contact with said base portion,

and means free of metallic contact with said PAUL C. s'rRAUcH.

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