US2312123A - Heating and air conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23; 1943. B. 0. PLACE 2,312,123-

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Jan. 4, 1940 I 57 5/07? 6. P/ace 9544 I fimwd fmm objections.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Bion 0. Place, Detroit, Mich. Application January 4, 1940, Serial No. 312,437

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel heating and air conditioning unit designed to provide a forced, and properly directed, circulation of heated air carrying entrained water vapor. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a portable heating and air conditioning unit, that is very well adapted to such purposes as the heating of trailers, cabins, garages, homes and various inexpensive structures, particularly those which are not well insulated as to the floors thereof.

Stoves, which are now in wide use for the heating of inexpensive structures of the character just referred to, are open to a number of serious 7 In the first place, such stoves, which frequently depend upon radiation or the natural conduction of heat from the heating element thereof, constitute a distinct fire hazard, when used in structures of the kind where they are frequently employed, because their external surfaces become highly heated and are thus capable of setting fire to draperies, or other readily com,- bustiblematerials that may accidentally come in contact with the stove. A second further serious objection to portable stoves of this type, when used as just stated, is that the circulation of the heated air is from the stove toward the ceiling of the room in which it is located following natural physical laws. Accordingly, the rooms heated by such stoves are liable to be relatively cold close to the floor of the room, and when the floors are improperly insulated, as is frequently the case in such structures, living conditions in such rooms become uncomfortable and unhealthful.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable heating unit or stove which does not depend upon the radiation of the heat from exposed heated surfaces of the stove, but which, on the other hand has its external surfaces properly insulated to avoid all danger of fire due to contact of flimsy materials .with parts of the heating unit, and at the same time to provide a heating unit which causes a forced circulation of the heated air toward the floor of the room in which the unit is located to the end that the heat provided by the unit is effective to maintain the fioor of the room warm and the space within the room above the floor comfortable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable heating unit intended particularly for use in heating trailers, cabins or like cheap structures designed so that the current of air heated and produced by the unit is supplied with water vapor and distributed in every direction from the unit close to the floor of the room in which the unit is placed in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heating and air conditioning unit includ ing a combustion chamber, the heat transmitting wall of which forms one Wall of a passageway, the other wall of the passageway being formed by a separate insulated wall, and to include in such unit means to circulate air through the passageway in the direction needed to accomplish the desired maximum heating effect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved heatin and air conditioning unit protected by a water jacket surrounding and spaced from the combustion chamber of the unit, and to cause a circulation of air through the heating unit in such a way that water vapor is withdrawn from the water jacket and entrained in the stream of heated air as it passes through said unit.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a preferred form of portable heating unit including the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional view showing the heating unit of Figure 1, modified so as to constitute an air conditioning device in addition to its function as a heating device;

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view showing a further modified form of heating unit, designed to avoid circulation of the heated products of combustion; and

Figure 4 is a Vertical section of a heating and air conditioning unit including the present invention and of a type suitable for heating one or more rooms remotely located with respect to the unit and for installation in the basement of a home orthe like for the "purpose of heating the rooms on the other floor or floors of said home, or

in a closet of a home or the like for heating a room orrooms located on the same or on several floors.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, the portable stove illustrated comprises an annular fuel receptacle l0 provided in its top wall with an opening l l for the passage of a wick l2 dipping into the oil I3 within said receptacle. The arrangement of the wick and the mechanism for adjusting and feeding the same may assume any conventional form, such mechanism being well known in the art and forming no part of the present invention; The inner wall E4 of the fuel is filled with insulating material -2l of any suite able character that will prevent substantial heat transfer from the wall l8 tofthe wall I'L...Reg.- istering openings 22 and 23 in the walls l1. and I8 adjacent the fuel receptacle permit "the passage of air through the insulated wall into the combustion chamber l9 to support the combustion of fuel therein. The upper portion of :the wall l5.is flanged outwardly, as indicatedat 24,- and said :flange is at- .tached by brackets -or any equivalent means to the wall [3 whereby -;a rigid unit 1 is provided.

Opening-s 25 in the fiange -24 permit the heated products-of combustion to flow from the combustion chamber 19 into the space above said chamber, theflow of said gases beingcontrolled by an adjustable valve plate :26 having openings 21 which .may bebrought into whole "oi-partial .registry with'theopenings -25 of the =fiange 24. The adjustment of the plate .26 :may be accomplished in any desired manner.

The topof the unit alread described is closed by a cover 28, the margins of which are bent F downwardly and inwardly "under the overlapped flanges-23, as indicated at 29. The cover .28 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 30 permitting air to flow from the outside of "the unit through the cover, when the openings 30 are in registry with like openings contained in an adjustable flow controlling plate 3|, preferably piyotally attachedat :32 to the inside of the cover 28. When the openings in the plate 3| are in registry with the openings '30 of thecover 28, asillus'tr-ated, air is free -to flow from the-top of the heating unit through the cover into the passageway formed by the wall l5. understood that, when a now of air from above the unit through the cover '28 is -.=not desired, the plate.3 l is shifted so-th-at the openingstherein are out of registry with the openings 33 in the cover 128.

The-heating unit is mounted .upon aasuitable sheet metal deflector-33 having feet 34 serving to space .saiddeflector above .the floor of the room in which the heating unitisdisposed. -'-I'he fuel receptacle and the parts attached thereto, as already described, are secured to thedeflector in spaced relation thereto by suitable clips 35 rigidly attached, respectively, to the deflector and to a wall of the receptacle, the arrangement being such that thefuel receptacle is .spaced-substantially above thefloor on which. the -feet 34, attached to said deflector rest. Supported cen- It will be p tr-ally of the deflector 33 is an electric motor 36 on the shaft ,3! of which .a fan .38 is arranged. When the motor .is put into operation, air is drawn downwardly through the passageway defined by the wall JSas indicated bythe arrows in said passageway in-Eigurel' of the drawing and defiectedflaterally by -deflector-33.

The operation .of the unit just describedis "as follows: When the wick 12 is ignited and .com- "bustion initiated in the .chamberllil, Lsaidcomor lessdegree, or completely shutting off the ow bustion is supported by air flowing into the combustion chamber through the openings 22 and 23. The air entering the combustion chamber through said openings and the products resulting from the combustion within the chamber pass upwardly by natural laws in the combustion chamber l9 and through the openings 25 and 21 into the space beneath the cover 23. From this point, the heated air and the products of combustion pass downwardly through the passage l5 under the action of the fan 33 which is set in operation when the burner is ignited. After the burner is in operation the plate 3| is adjusted permitting further air to flow from above the heating unit through the opening 30 in the cover thereof into the passage formed by the wall l5, the action of the fan also serving to draw air fromtheoutside of the heating unit through said cover. The passage of said air is thus thrown intothe heating unit along the passageway 16, the walls of which'become'highly heated, and thus thoroughly warm said air, which air mingles'with the gases drawn into said passageway by theactionof the fanfrom the combustion chamber IS. The air drawn through the :pas-

sageway l5 :by the fan 38 is discharged-inevery direction at .the base of the unit being deflected by the "deflector at the bottom of said passageway .and discharged into theroom in which the heating unit is disposed close to the floor thereof.

,Ifcdesired, any number of segmental shutters 3'9 and), slidably associated with the. outer-wall of the receptacle I B, may beprovided, .said shut} ters being mounted to permit closing .to a greater of air .from the heating :unit in any ldirection gin which a .flow is not desired. As, for? example, when the heating unit is disposed adjacent the wallof the roomor likeobstruction and itisnot desired ,tohave the heated airflow thereover,:-one or .morelof the shutters maylbe closed. 3 As Emany shutters 39 and 40 may be provided as-are deemed desirable. l l 1 7 It will be-observedthat the heating unit has -no exposed highly heated side surfaces :providing a firelhazard .whenitds in .operation, the external surfaces-of the heater being maintained at low temperatures .by virtue of the spaced walls II and l8 and the insulation therebetween, and because air i continuously circulating through the top of the vunit when the fan is in operation keeping said top at a low temperature. However if .desired, the top of the unit can be used as astove by stopping .the fan, when the top of the unit will be heated to a relatively high temperature.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the heated air issupplied with water vapor to condition the heated air before supplying it to the room adjacent the .floornnder the action of the fan of the unit. In this (form of the invention, the space between the walls l'land I8, arranged as are walls 11 and I8 of Figzure 1, is filled with water 4 I. The water between saidwallsserves to prevent the :free how of :heat from the combustion chamber to the exterior side wall of the unit. The level of the water between the walls I1 and I8 is maintainedibelow aligned openings 42 and 43 in said respective walls. I a I V g In the operation in this form of the invention, which is otherwis like that already described; the action 'ofthe' fan also serves to drawg air through the openings 42 and '43 into the passageway formed by the wall 15. As the air-dc drawn throughtheopeiiings 42 and fltit collects water vapor above the level of the water 41: be: tween walls IT" and I8", whiehwater is heated because the wall I8 is exposed: to the heated gases of' the combustion chamber- The water vaporthusdrawnintothe passage defined by the wall I5 is iiii'--gled with the air and gases drawn into said" passage through the cover of theunit and from the combustioncharnber i n the manner already described. It isfwell uhderstoodthat a room having moisture in the air contained therein" is comfortable at a much lower temperature thana room containing'dry air, and that-a room containing the roper amount or moisture iii-the air therein is more" healthful than arrested room filled with dry air.-- The unit of Figure 2, accordingly, is a heating and air conditioning device.-

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, a short conduit S isshow'ii, having" one end S open to the space in which the isdisposed and the other open ends in communication with the combustion chamber adjacent the upper end thereof. In this form of' the invention, the flange 24 is maintained imperrerate so that the products of' combustion are dis charged through conduit 3 The end s" of said conduitmay be connected to a suitable pipe-that serv's 't'o convey the products of combustion to a chimney or to the open air. When this form of the invention is employed, the products of combustion are discharged from the room heated by the unit. In other respects the unit of Figure 3 is like that of Figure 1 and its operation is the same with the exception that, as already indicated, the fan circulates only air taken from the room through the passage provided by wall I5.

It will be understood that the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 may, if desired, be designed to discharge the products of combustion from the combustion chamber after the manner just described with reference to the form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, a heating and air conditioning unit is shown, embodying the principles of the present invention but of the type adapted for use in a closet or in the basement of a dwelling or the like from which heat is to be supplied to a room or rooms on the same floor or overhead. The heating unit comprises a combustion chamber 44, which may be a coal burning furnace including a grate 45, an ash-pit 46, and a fuel supply opening 41. The products of combustion are discharged through a conduit T leading to a chimney or the open air. Any other burner, such as an oil or gas burner, may be included in chamber 44. The combustion chamber 44 is supported on a base having legs 48 serving to space said chamber above the floor of the basement. The walls of the combustion chamber 44 are made of heat transmitting material such as sheet metal. Surrounding the walls of the combustion chamber 44 is a double walled casing comprising spaced walls 49 and 50 connected together to provide a water jacket. The wall 49 has a plurality of openings 5| above the expected water level 52 within the jacket. Further openings 53 are provided in the wall 50, the latter openings being preferably aligned with the openings 5| in the wall 49. The outer wall of the combustion chamber 44 and the wall 50 of the water jacket define an angular passageway between them. The top of the unit is provided with aseries. of turthei: openings 55 through which: airmay be drawn into 'the p'a'ssage provided between the combustion chamber and the water jacket; Acondu'it 56 is i n communication with the passage between the wan 59 and the when the fan 5'! is put in operation, an is drawn into the passageway between the water jacketand the combustion chamber through the openings55 at the top of the unit. Further air is likewise from the outside of the heating and air conditioning unit through the openings 5| and 53 in the respective walls 49 and '50. As the air passes through said o enings the water vapor above the water in thejacket is entrained in the current of air which is heated by contact with the outer wall of the combustion chamber 44. The heated air and entrained vapor is delivered to the rooms of the dwelling by the fan 51.

It will be observed that the combustion chamber is properly insulated from the basement in which the unit is located, thus conserving the heat generated by the consumption of the fuel therein, and that said heat i transmitted to the air stream flowing along the outer wall of the combustion chamber.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An air heater comprising a series of vertical concentric spaced walls, the space between the inner two walls forming an annular combustion chamber, and the two outer walls providing a double-walled casing; a burn-er adjacent the lower part of said combustion chamber, the inner wall forming a central passageway open at the bottom and communicating at the top with said combustion chamber, a closure adjacent the top of said walls forming part of the communication between said chamber and passageway; adjustable air inlet means in said closure; means adjacent the bottom of said central passageway for drawing combustion gases from said chamber downwardly into said passageway and air through said air inlet means to cool the upper part of said heat-er and temper said gases, and deflector means below said passageway for distributing the heated air horizontally in all directions. 2. A portable heater, comprising spaced inner and outer walls forming an annular combustion chamber, the inner of said walls providing a centrally disposed passageway, means to cause a circulation of air from the room in which the heater is disposed and from said combustion chamber through said passageway, means outwardly of said outer wall to minimize heat transfer from said chamber directly into said room, and means to direct the flow of heated air through said passageway toward the floor of said room.

j;3; Aj;por table room heater; comprising a an externalcasing: providing a hollow wall, asubstan'cejnsaid wall to minimize heat transfer through. said casing, an internal heat transmittin'gfwall forming a combustion chamber with said, casing and a passageway paralleling said last-named, wall. of ,the combustion chamber, means disposed in said casing to cause a downward circulation of air through said passageway and laterally of said casing in every direction parallel and relatively close to the floor of said room, and adjustable means adjacentthe top of said passageway foradmitting air from said room tosaid passageway. I

4. A portable heater, comprising an external casing providing a hollow wall, water within said wall, an internal heat transmitting wall formin a combustion chamber with said casing, said, lastnamed wall defining a passageway extending lengthwise of said casing and of saidchamber, means to cause a circulation of air downward through said passageway, and openings through said hollow Wall forming passages above the water level from the atmosphere to said passageway whereby water vapor is caused to enter said passageway by said means.

5. A portable heater comprising a vertically disposed hollow-walled jacket, a Wall within and spaced from said jacket providing an annular combustion chamber, said last-named wall forming a passageway extending longitudinally of-said chamber and said'jacket, a cover extending across thetop of said jacket and wall and having openings therein communicating with said passageway, a fan and motor arranged to circulate air drawn thr u h s d openings downward-through said passageway, passages to discharge said airin everydirection laterally of the heater at-the base thereof, and means to selectively control the discharge of air from said passageway. i a

6.,The heaterdefined in claim 5 in which-said jacketcontains water and is provided with openings extendingcompletely therethrough above the water level therein whereby water vapor is drawn into the passageway by said fan. 1 i v '1. A portable heater and air conditioner com prising a vertically extending hollow casing'having water therein and openings extending com,- pletely-through said casing above the level; of water therein, a heat-transmitting wall within said casing and spaced therefrom, said w-all providing a-combustion chamber and a passageway parallelto said wall, said chamber and passage way being at oppositesides of said wall,- and fan means to cause circulation of air downwardly through said passageway, said fan means bein efiectiveto cause some air to pas through said openings whereby water vapor from thewater in said casing is caused to enter said passageway.v BION C. PLACE,

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