US2271342A

US2271342A - Air conditioning and cooling machine

Info

Publication number: US2271342A
Application number: US317442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Julian E Korts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-02-05
Filing date: 1940-02-05
Publication date: 1942-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1959-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1942. J. E. .KORTS AIR CONDITIONING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z6 INVENTOR.

16 Julian E.-Kc|r"f5 BY I ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. -5, 1940 FIG. 4.

v Z M B %c z s i a a Z W 1 ag 0 m nd 3 n K: n 0 w e ((153.2 3 I m u w M .n 5 a 0 u v 5 MW 8 8 |l||||||| -uHnHnHHu-H 2 y 4 h m M 2 6 x 33.1 w 9 I f M an a 94/0 b v v b .V 5 J u s F W 9 m 5 0 m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2 7, 1942 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING AND COOLING MACHINE Julian E. Korts, Baxter Springs, Kans. Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,442 j 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in air conditioning machines and more particularly to air cleaning, humidifying and cooling machines and an important object of the invention is to provide a compact light weight air conditioning machine having a relatively large capacity.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved filter construction.

A further object is to provide improved means to automatically moisten the filter with vaporiz-- able liquid, such as water, so that air passing thru the filter will be cleaned, humidified and cooled. l5

Astill further object is the provision of an air cleaning, humidifying and cooling machine adapted to force large quantities of air thru a moistened filter'without tending to generate objectionable spray or mist.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described and which, for a given capacity, will require less power to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail view of a float valve preferably forming a part-of the invention.

In the drawings, which show only a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A 5 generally designates the improved air condition-v ing machine, including a housing B for the filter C, filter moisture distributing means D and blower means E, while F designates louvre means carried by the housing B.

In the example shown, the housing B of substantially semi-cylindrical shape, including a substantially semi-circular base IS, a rectangular front plate l6 provided with a circular opening l1, an arcuately curved rear wall I8 provided with a rectangular intra-marginal opening l9, and a substantially semi-circular removable cover 2|). Secured inwardly adjacent the curved rear wall l8, as by suitable bolts 2|, is a rectangular sheet 22 of hardware cloth, such as half inch mesh wire, constituting a protective screen. Formed in opposite sides of the wall l8 are access openings 23, each provided with a closure plate 24, mounted for vertical sliding movement between suitable guide strips 25. Secured in spaced relation to the rear wall I8, as by suitable brackets 26 is a substantially semi-circular iron band 21, forming a hand-rail by which the housing maybe readily moved. If desired, suitable diagonal braces 28 may be provided interiorly of the housing. f

Of semi-cylindrical shape, the filter C is disposed inwardly adjacent the curved rear wall I8 of the housing 13, and comprises an inner ply 30 of wire cloth, such as one inch mesh poultry netting, and a fabric coating 3| of porous absorbent material of one or more layers, the number of layersvarying with the kind of material used and also with the exposed surface area thereof as compared with the volume of air to be handled and the type of power unit to be employed. In the example shown, 8 layers of 16 x 20 mesh cheesecloth are provided with an exposed area of square feet. The ply 30 of wire cloth and the coating 3| of porous material are pleated to form a plurality of closely spaced dihedrally disposed panel sections 32, which are self-supporting due to the rigidity of the ply 30 of the wire cloth. I have found that the coating 3! of absorbent material will not actually require any support other than that furnished by its proximity to the ply 30 of pleated wire cloth. However, in assembling the filter, the wire cloth may be painted with enamel, varnish or the like and the first layer of the absorbent material laid thereon. The remaining layers of the absorbent material are then applied over the first layer, either before or after the wire cloth has been pleated. While the absorbent coating 3| may be of a size to permit draping over the top edges of the ply 30 of wire cloth, so as to facilitate uniform distribution of moisture to the material, thecoating, as actually manufactured, is of a size to terminate below the upper edge of the wire cloth, and an' absorbent wad 33 is interposedbetween the upper margins of each pair of adjacent dihedral panel sections 32.

Referring now to the filter moisture distributing means D, the same may comprise a lower trough 35, of annular segmental shape,

cent the side walls 38 and terminating above 45 carrying nuts 48. Projecting laterally from coupling sleeve 82.

resting on the base I5 of the housing; and receiving intermediate its

end portions

88, 81,. the lower end portion of the filter C. Disposed above the filter C .is an upper trough 38, of annular segmental shape and including side walls 38 disposed inwardly of the side edges of the filter C and end walls 48 of a height greater than that of'the side walls and substantially aligning with the end edges of the filter 0; Ex

teriorly applied to the-bottom and sides of this trough coating 4| needs only be absorbent. As

clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, this coating 4| extends over'the-side walls and includes marginal portions 42 interiorly adjamaterial on which the coated upper trough 38 is 80 disposed. Extending upwardly from the bottom of the lower trough'35 at opposite ends of-the filter C are spaced-apart,uprights 44 provided at their upper ends with screw-threaded studs the end walls 48 of the upper trough are lugs 41 resting on the nuts 48 and providedwith openings 48 thru which the studs 45 loosely extend. The arrangement is such that, with the intermediate portion of the upper trough 38 resting on the filter C, the trough may be brought to a level position by adjustment of the nuts 48 on the studs 45. As the porous absorbent coating 4| and the strip 43 on which the trough rests are formed of resiliently compressible material, the trough may ordinarily be leveled without affecting the moisture-transmitting capacity of the contact between the coating 4| and the strip 43. I Extending into the housing B is a supply pipe 58, provided exteriorly of the housing with a manually operable valve 5|, and interiorly of the housing with a valve 52 operable by a float 53 disposed in the end portion 38 of the lower trough 35. This float valve 52, as shown in Figure 5, includes a stem 54 terminating at its upper end in a conical valve head 55 coacting Y valve body 51, I prefer to encircle the stem with a flexible disc 58 of any suitable material such as rubber, centrally clamped to the stem as by nuts 58, and circumferentially clamped between sections 88, 6| of the valve body 51, as by a Extending from the float valve 52 is a pipe 83 including a riser portion 84, a horizontal portion 85'above the level of the upper trough 38 and a downturned terminal portion 86 disposed in the upper trough substantially midway its ends.

Mounted in the lower trough 35, at its end portion 31, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is a water pump 18 and extending therefrom is a pipe 1| discharging at its upper end 12 into the upper trough 38. Connected to the pump 18 is an electric motor 13 provided with a suitable card 14 containing the usual conductors 15 for supplying electrical energy to the motor.' Interposed in the cord 14 is a suitable manual control device, such as a switch: 18, for starting and stopping the motor 13.

Any suitable type of fan or blower meansE for creating a suction zone and a pressure zone, one of said zones being disposed transversely of the concave side of the arcuate filter C, may

a suitable belt 81 with a driven-pulley 88 fixed.

on the rear end portion of the fan shaft 53. The circumference of the driven pulley 88 may be considerably greater than that of the drive pulley 88 so that sufiicient power will be derived from the relatively small motor 85 to properly rotate the fan. If desired, current for the supply cord 14 of the motor 85 may be obtained by tapping the cord 14 at a point 14a. in advance of the switch 18.

In order to control the entrance into. or exit from the housing of air passing thru the opening |1, any suitable louvre means F may be provided." Secured to the front plate l8 of the housing at opposite sides of the opening H, as

by brackets 88, are spaced apart vertical strips 8|, supporting a plurality of spaced horizontally disposed louvres 82, as by stubs or pins 83, for rotary movement about axes longitudinally of the louvres. These louvres 82 may be connected for simultaneous adjustment in any suitable manner. In the example shown, a wire rod- 84 is provided having arcuately deformed portions 85 extending thru openings 88 in the louvres. At

its upper end, the rod 84 may be inturned to provide a dog 81 for releasable engagement with .any one of a plurality of openings 88 in the front plate, the rod 84 being sufliciently flexible -To' bring the machine into operation, the water supply valve. 5| is opened and the electric cord 14 is connected to asource of current. Assuming the machine to be dry, and the float 53 down,

the needle valve 52 will permit the flow of water I into the upper trough 38. 'Upon entry of the supply water into the upper'trough, the porous absorbent coating 4| and its marginal portions 42 will become wet thru capillary action or a water supplied to the upper trough will not tend to overflow except thru-the coating 4|.- The moisture in the segmental strip 43 will tend to amines be either a pressure or suction of air thru the filter C, so that evaporization of the moisture in the absorbent coating 3| will occur simultaneously with a cooling and humidifying of the current of air. Should the absorbent coating 3l' tend to dry out near its lower margin due to bring about a resumption of the water supply to the upper trough. By manipulation of the control switch 16, the circulating pump 70 may be placed in operation.

It will be understood that the circulating pump may be continuously operated in conjunction with the remainder of the machine to supply the upperf trough with a quantity of water greater than the amount actually consumed thru evaplO oration from thefilter C. Any water not vaporized from the filter C will of course drain into the lower trough and thereby become available for recirculation. If desired, the marginal portions 42 of the absorbent coating SI of the upper depletion of the supply of water in the upper trough may obviously be omitted and under this ,trough, a quantity of water sufficient to maintain the coating in a moist condition will be absorbed from the lower trough thru capillary action of the coating, whereby to lower the water level in the lower trough. Thereupon, the valve 52 will open and bring about .a resumption of the supply of water to the upper trough. After the machine has operated for a certain length of time, the water level in the lower trough will tend to become stabilized at a height to main- 1 tain the fioat valve in a substantially constant partially closed position whereby to reduce the flowof water into the upper trough 38 to the exact amountbeing removed from the filter C thru evaporation. An increase in the moisture content of the' incoming air to be conditioned will of course decrease the evaporation of moisture from the filter 'C, thus resulting in a surplus of moisture reaching the lower trough, but this surplus will of course'eievate the float and {gereby decrease the supply of water to the filrC.

Since internal obstructions to the uniform flow of air thru the filter due to the design of the machine may tend to result in uneven evaporation of moisture from the filter C and the appearance of dry spots therein, the thickness of those portions of thefilter coating 3| tending" to. dry out so as to conduct agreater supp y of moisture thereto. Upon resumption of operation of the machine A following a. lapse in its use, substantially all the water in the machinemay be contained in the lower trough, thus tending to maintainthe float valve in its closedposition. However, the lower-"portion of the filter {C will still be in a moist condition by reason of its capilation; will haveremoved sumcient water from the lower trough to cause valve 52 to open and condition, moistening of the filter C will necessarily depend on the fiow of water over the side walls 39 of the trough.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided an improved machine for cleaning, cooling and humidifying air and wherein an improved semicylindrical filter member is provided in conjunction with a blower fan adjacent the concave side thereof.

invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

35, formed of fabric pleated to provide substantially vertically disposed dihedral panel sections, means to supply saidliquid to said distributing means, and means creating an air suction zone and an air delivery zone, one of said zones being dis- 40 posed transversely of the concave side of the arcuate porous member to produce a substantially uniform draft of air thru said member.

v 2. An air conditioning device comprising an arcuate porous member formed of pleated fabric to provide a plurality of substantially vertically disposed reentrant dihedral panel sections, meansto substantially uniformly moisten the porous member with a vaporizable liquid, such as water, said means including an annular segmental porous strip superjacent said porous member, an

annular segmental trough adapted to distribute said liquid thruout the length of said strip and means to supply said liquid to said trough, and

means disposed transversely of the concave side' of the arcuatemember to produce a substanlarity and after a few minutes of machine opertiallyuniformly distributed draft of air thru sai porous member.

JULIAN E. KORTS;

Various changes may be made in the form of v