US2314558A

US2314558A - Apparatus for and method of air conditioning

Info

Publication number: US2314558A
Application number: US21353A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russel Philip Sherman
Original assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Current assignee: Detroit Lubricator Co
Priority date: 1935-05-14
Filing date: 1935-05-14
Publication date: 1943-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1960-03-23

Description

March 23, 194-3. 5 RUSSEL 2,314,558

' APEARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF AIR CONDiTIONING Filed May 14, 1955 1 s Sheets- Sheet 1 Fiel INVENTOR March 23, 1943. P. s. RUSSEL. 2,314,558

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF AIR CONDITIONING Filed May 14, 1935 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a FIG 2 fix ATT NEY March 23, 1943. s, RUSSEL 2,314,558

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF AIR CONDITIONING l i I I 756/ ATTO EY pointed out, and distinctly claimed;

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 APPARATUS FOR AND DIETHOD OF AIR CONDITIONING Philip Sherman Russel, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application May 14, 1935, set-a1 No. 21,353

25Claims.

My invention relates in general to the method of and apparatus for conditioning the air in a room or other enclosed space, and more particularly to the'metlgod of and apparatus for controlling the relative humidity of the air in a room or other enclosed space.

One of the'objects of my invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for maintaining the highest possible relative humidity of the air in a room or other enclosed space for all outdoor temperatures below a given predetermined degree of temperature without resultant precipitation of the moisture of theroom air on a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for controlling the heating of a roomor other enclosed space in a manner so that the supply of heat to the room is expedited and the time period following the demand for heat by the room thermostat or other controlling device is decreased, and to also prevent the temperature of the room air from being heated to a degree of temperature excessively above that for which the thermostat is set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for maintaining a given predetermined desired humidity in a room for all outdoor temperatures above a predetermined-degree of temperature to prevent dehumidifying the air of the room to a point in excess of that necessary forcomfort.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for preventing stagnation of the air in a room or other enclosed space and resultant cold 'zone at the floor of the room-on the of! phase of the burner..

The invention consists inthe method of control and the device or apparatus for performing the same, to b more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly In the "accompanying-drawings, to be taken as a part of this specificatiom l have fully and c1early"illustrated an air conditioning system and the apparatus for controlling the same by which my method may be-performed, in which drawings-v Figure l is a diagrammatic view of air conditioning system invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic --view of a modified a.

embodying features of my.

form of my air conditioning system embodying other features of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of arranging temperature and humidity controldevices of the air conditioning system, with a window pane of a room; I

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view or the temperature and humidity control device employed in the system of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another arrangement of the temperature and humidity control device relative to a window pane.

When cold outdoor air of any relative humidity is heated to a temperature of 70 F., its relative humidity decreases and it is the con-' sensus of opinion. that if the air of a room'is heated to a temperature of 70 F., the relative humidity of the room air should, from the standpoint of health and comfort, be maintained tive humidity without condensation of room air,

moisture on a window pane or other heat transferring room wall surface. when outdoor temperature is below that which will permit the maintenance of the room air at a relative humidity of without condensation taking place on a window pane, the nearest approach to the desired 40% relative humidity of the room air without condensation taking place may be obtained by maintaining a relative humidity of the room air at the window pane just under relative humidity. It is likewise advisable that when the outdoor temperature is above a predetermined temperature thatv the maintenance of the room air atfthe window none at 100% relative humidity be discontinued. When the outdoor temperature has increased above a predetermined temperature, the normal relative humidity of the outdoor atmosphere will not be detailed dscription necessary, and to a-point where indoor temperatures become uncomfortable, an. improved comfort condition mayabe obtained by the dethe drawings for a more of my invention, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown an air conditionin'gsystem for conditioning the air of a room or other enclosed space and this system humidifylng ot the room air.

Refening now to electrically operated, the

includes a heating apparatus l, a humidiiying apparatus of which only the moisture supply control device 2 is-shown, a motor 3 of a dehumidifying apparatus (not shown), and control means designated in general at 4 for controlling the operation of the heating, humidifying and dehumidifying devices. Preferably the heating apparatus is of the oil burning type having a burner (not shown) preferably driven by an electric motor 6. The control mechanism 4 comprises in general a thermostat 1 and a humidostat including a moisture absorption element 8 expansible and contractible in accordance with the moisture content of the ambient or surrounding air. The humidostat and thermostat are preferably mounted on a supporting member, preferably a panel or board 9, and the board 9 is preferably secured on or arranged in close proximity to a window pane I, Fig. 3, or other heat transmitting room wall surface so that the thermostat is affected by outdoor temperature and the humidostat element is affected by the moisture content of the room air cooled by outdoor temperatures.

The thermostat I, in the present system, by reason of its arrangement with the window pane I is in good heat transfer relation with outdoor temperature. It wil. also be seen that the humidostat expansible-contractible element 8 is in the path of circulating room air and is responsive to the moisture content of v the room air but at outdoor temperatures because of its arrangement adjacent the window pane at which point the room air is cooled by and substantially to outdoor temperatures.

Preferably the air conditioning apparatus is humidostat including a contact or switch arm l2 pivotally mounted on the board 9, as at l3, and provided on its free end and on opposite sides thereof with insulated contacts I4 and P5. The 'expansible-contractible element 8 is preferably located at one side of the lever arm l2 and with one end abutting the arm l2 preferably near its pivot point l3 so that relatively small expansion or contraction of the element 8 will result in the free end of the lever being moved through a relatively large are. A spring l8 having one end fixed to the lever 12 and the other to the board 9 is under tension to maintain the lever l2 in engagement with the end of the expansible-contractible element 8.

A contact supporting member which may be in the form of a plate I! is pivotally mounted on the supporting board 9 and carried by the plate I! are two spaced contacts l8 and I9, one on each side of the lever arm l2, and arranged to be engaged by thecontacts I4 and I5 respectively of the lever arm i2. Preferably the plate I1 is provided with a handle 20 by means of which it may be pivoted and by so doing, position one or the other of the contacts 18 and I9, carried thereby, closer to or father away from its respective contact I4 or l5 of lever l2. In winter, the contact ll of the lever l2, cooperates with contact l8 to make and break the circuit through expansion or contraction of the element 8 while in summer, the contact l5 of lever I2 cooperates with contact l9 to make and break the circuit. The contacts I8 and [9 are preferably individually adjustable relative to their respective contacts I and 15 of lever 12 so as to provide for obtaining a second and more accurate spacing between the contacts. To this end contacts l8 and I9 may be fixed on the ends of screws 2| threaded in bosses formed on the plate H. The thermostat 1 has a bimetallic element or arm 22 movable in response to change in outdoor temperature, and on the free end of-a,

the arm 22 and on opposite sides thereof are provided contacts 23 and 24. Mounted on the board 9 are spaced contacts 25 and 26, one on each side of the arm 22 for engagement by the contacts 23 and 24 respectively of the arm 22.

As shown in Fig. 4, the supporting board 9 is provided with substantiallyparallel side members or flanges 21, and preferably the supporting board 9 is arranged in relation to the window pane I0 so that the longitudinal edges of the side members 21 are against or'in close proximity to the inner side of the window pane Ill. The window pane I0 thus cooperates with the inner walls of panel 9 and its side members 21 to define a chamber 28, the top and bottom of which is open for the passage of air therethrough. The thermostat and humidostat are mounted on the inner wall of panel 9 within the chamber 28. By reason of the window pane forming one side of the control device housing, it will be understood that the room air in or passing through chamber 28 is cooled by outdoor temperature transmitted to the chamber or space 28 by the heat transmitting window pane l0 and that the temperature within chamber 28 is substantially the same as the outdoor temperature and varies in accordance with change in outdoor temperature, with the result that the thermostat is responsive to changes in outdoor temperature. Likewise the humidostat element 8 is operable in response to change in the moisture content of the room air but at the temperature of the airpassing through chamber 28. The air flow through chamber 28 is the result of a down draft of air from the relatively cold I window pane.

In order to support the board 9 in relation to the window pane l0 so that the thermostat and humidostat willbe in good heat transfer relation with the outdoor temperature and also so that ready access may be had to the thermostat and humidostat without necessity of removing screws or other attaching means, I provide a hinge 29 for supporting the board 9 and a spring 38 for resiliently maintaining the board 9 against the window pane ID, as shown in Fig. 4. The hinge 29 may be of any suitable type and has one side or leaf fixed to the board 9, and the other side or leaf fixed to the window frame 29*, such as by screws. The spring 39, which may be a coiled spring, has one end fixed to the pivotal side of the hinge with the other end fixed to the other side of the hinge and so positioned as to exert a force on the pivoted side to urge the same toward the window pane. When it is desired to adjust the thermostat or humidostat, it will be seen that ready access may be had thereto by swinging the hinged panel 9 away from the window pane. When the board or panel 9 is swung away from the window to the point where the spring is moved over center, it will be seen that the spring then acts to hold the board 9 away from the window. By providing a hinged board, as above described, for supporting the thermostat and humidostat relative to a window pane, it will be appreciated that the window pane can be washed without inconvenience since the board canbe swung out .of the way and also if desired the window can The contact 25.0f the thermostat is connected by a lead wire 32 to one end of the usual coil 33 of a relay switch 33. The other end of coil 33* is connected to one side of the secondary of a transformer 34. The other side of the secondary of the transformer is connected by a lead wire 35 to the bimetallic element 22 and therethrough to contact 23. A lead wire 31 connects the wire 32 to the contact M of the humidostat lever l2 and a lead wire 33 connects the contact 26 of the thermostat to the contact I of the humidostat. The control device 2 of the humdifying or moisture supply apparatus is located in the moisture supply line or pipe 39 and includes a valve for controlling the admittance of moisture to the air of a room. Preferably the valve is electrically operated such as by a solenoid having the usual movable core 4!] surrounded by a coil 4|. As shown, the valve may be an integral part of the core, if desired, and in .the present arrangement is moved to open the valve port when the coil 4| is energized and moves by gravity to close the valve port when the coil 4| is deenergized. The coil 4| is connected by a lead wire 42 in series with contact l8 of the humidostat device and the secondary of the transformer 34. A manually operated switch 42 may be provided in lead wire 42 between the control valve and the secondary of the trans-' former by means of which the circuit tothe valve may be opened manually.

The dehumidifying device may be of any suitable type, the motor 3 preferably being electrically operated. A lead wire 43 connects the humidostat contact I9 to the controller (not shown) of the motor 3 and a lead wire 44 runs from the controller of motor 3 to the secondary of the transformer 34. The primary of the transformer 34 may be supplied from the usual 110 volt line through lead wires 46 .and 47. In a lead wire 50 is provided a room thermostat 5| in parallel circuit with the primary of the transformer 34 for controlling the operation of the oil burner or other heat supplying apparatus to maintain a predetermined desired temperature in a room.

In series with the room thermostat 5| is a safety control device 53, which may be of any well known type, for preventing the temperature of the heat conveying medium in the furnace boiler, which may be water or steam or any other suitable medium, from being heated to an excessive degree of temperature which might re-- sult in damage to the boiler or to the heating plant in general. The control device 53 may be. mounted on the furnace I, as shown, and may be'of a type which is operable in response to changes in temperature of the heat conveying medium in the furnace boiler, or of a type which is responsive to changes'in pressure within the boiler. If a temperature responsive device is employed, it may be set to operate, when the temperature of the heat conveying medium in the boiler rises to a predetermined degree of temperature, to open the circuit to the burner motor 6 to decrease the burner flame. For convenience of exposition, the temperature at which the control device will operate to open the circuit to the burner motor 6 will be hereinafter referred to as 250 F. It will be understood that normally the room thermostat 5| operates, when the temperature of the room is raised to the required degree, to open the circuit to the burner motor 6, but .if for some reason the room thermostat should fail to do so the safety control device would act to open the circuit after the temperature of the boiler is raised to 250. When the temperature of the boiler decreases below 250, the control device closes the circuit. The electric blower motor 6, of the oil burner, is connected to the control device 53 by lead wire 54 and is connected to the primary lead wire 41 by means of a lead wire 55.

In parallel circuit with the room thermostat 5| and in series circuit with the safety control device 53 is a second control device 56 from which a lead wire 51 connects the same to the primary wire 46. The relay switch 33 is provided in lead wire 51, the energizing and. deenergizing of the switch coil 33 being controlled by the thermostat element 1. The control device 56, which may be termed the minimum control device, may be of any suitable well known type and like the safety control device 53, it may be of a type which is responsive to changes in boiler temperature or one which is responsive to change in pressure in the furnace boiler. The minimum control device 56 may also be mounted on the furnace, as shown, and this control device is adapted to close the circuit at its point of location in the circuit when the temperature or pressure in the boiler is below a minimum established temperature or pressure, and if the relay'switch 33 is closed, the circuit will be completed to the burner motor 6 Whichwill then be energized to operate and raise the temperature or pressure to the desired point. After the temperature of the boiler is raised to the predetermined degree for whichthe control device 56 is set, the control device opens the circuit at its point of location which, however, as will be seen, does not open the circuit to the motor 6 of the oil burner unless the room thermostat contact is in open circuit position. The temperature of the boiler below which thecontrol device will close the circuit will be referred to hereinafter as F.

The various lead wires associated with the control means 4 and connecting the temperature and humidity controls in the electrical circuit may be neatly arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, and be brought together adjacent the lower edge of the board 9 and be enclosed in a sheath. or outer covering 28 In order to provide a neat appearing device and also one which may be readily moved out of the way when it is desired to wash or open the window, I provide a plug and socket connection in the lead wire. The socket, indicated at 3|, may be mounted on the window sill, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, or it may be mounted in any other suitable place and manner. By removing the plug, indicated at 3|, it will be seen that the board 9 and controls carried thereby may be swung away from the window. In

Fig. 6 the control devices, their supporting board devices having a normal position adjacent the window pane and being adapted to be moved away from the window pane l0 with the'hinged board,- when desired. The showing of Fig. 6 differs from that of Fig. 3 in that the control devices and cooperating supporting structure are mounted on a side member of the window sash 3| instead of on the window frame 29, as in Fig. 3, so as tobe movable with the window. One leaf or side of the hinge 29 may be attached to the window sash 3| such as by means of screws, or in any other suitable manner. Since the control device and supporting means are carried by the window sash, the window may be readily raised after removing the plug 3|.

For winter operation, the humidity control device is adjusted so as to maintain the relative humidity of the room air just under the point at which precipitation would take place on a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface, or maintaining the dew point temperature just under that of the window pane. By arranging the humidostat adjacent the window pane 9, it will be understood that-the expansible-contractible element is afiected by the moisture content of the room air but at a temperature dependent upon and variable with the outdoor temperature, or in other words, the expansiblecontractible element is affected by the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane. Accordingly, if the humidostat is set so as to control the admittance of moisture to the room air, to maintain a desired substantially constant relative humidity'slightly less than 100% at the window pane, the relative humid ty of the room air will be maintained at a point below that at which precipitation would take place on a window pane. It is generally agreed that for outdoor temperaturesabove a certain degree of temperature, artificial humidification is not necessary, and this temperature wil be hereinafter referred to as 44 F., for convenience of exposition. Accordingly, the thermostat I is set to open the circuit to the electrically operated moisture control valve when the outdoor temperature rises to a degree of temperature such that the temperature within the room at the window pane is approximately 44 F., and is set to close the circuit when the temperature, at the window pane, decreases below 44 F. When the temperature, at the window pane, decreases below 44 F., the thermostat 1 operates to close the circuit to the motor 6 of the oil burner to raise the temperature of the room, the operation of which is hereinafter described in detail, and as is well known, when more heat is supplied to the room air the relative humidity of the room air decreases. Upon a decrease in the relative humidity of the room air, the humidostat will operate to permit the electrically operated valve to open the valve port to permit moisture to be added to the room air until such time as the relative humidity, at the window pane. is raised to 98% relative humidity. Thus, it will be seen that in winter the thermostatand humidostat in connecti n with a heating plant, coopera e to control the humidity of the air in a heated room so as to maintain the moisture content of the room air substantially at the dew point of outdoor temperature for all outdoor temperatures below a predetermined degree, such as a temperature of 44 F. at the window pane and to maintain the room air at the highest possible relative humidity during outdoor temperatures below a predetermined degree of temperature without resultant precipitation .of moisture from the room air upon the window pane.

The humidostat may .be set to maintain the relative humidity at the window pane at substantially 98% relative humidity by arranging the contact I8 at a distance from contact M of lever I! such that when the relative humidity decreases below 98% the expansible-contractible element 8 will have contracted sufliciently to permit engagement of the contact M with contact l8 and when the relative humidity rises to 98% the expansible-contractible element will have expanded motor 6 of the oil burner.

sufilciently to move contact 14 out of engagement with contact 18. This may be accomplished in the present humidostat device by pivoting the plate I] in a direction to move contact 18 toward contact l4 and to accurately obtain the desired spacing between the contacts, the contact l8 may be adjusted in relation to contact H by means of the screw 2| on the end of which the contact I8 is fixed. For winter operation, the arm 22 of the thermostat 1 is spaced from the contact 25 at a distance such that arm contact 23 will make contact with the fixed contact 25 when the temperature of the room air at the window pane decreases below 44 F. Thus, for all temperatures below 44 F. at the window'pane within the room, the contacts 23 and 25 will be in engagement and if the contacts l4 and I8 of the humidostat are also in engagement, the solenoid valve 40 will be energized by reason of the circuit being closed thereto through

lead wires

35, 31, 42 through the solenoid lead wire 44 and backto the transformer secondary. When the solenoid is energized, the core or valve 40 is raised, thus opening the valve port in the moisture conveying pipe to permit additional moisture to be added to the room air.

If the outdoor temperature should rise to a degree of temperature such that the indoor temperature at the window pane rises to or above 44 F., then the thermostat arm 22 would tend to move away from the contact 25 and move its contact 23 out of engagement with contact 25, thus opening the circuit to the moisture supply means, or should the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane rise above 98%, the expansible-contractible element 8 would expand to move the contact arm l2 and its contact M out of engagement with the contact l8, and as a result, open the circuit to the moisture supply means. Thus, the humidostat and thermostat, operable in response to humidity and temperature respectively, constitute switches in an electric circuit, either of which may operate, without the other, to cause deenergization of the electrically operated moisture control device. Consequently, the solenoid valve will not be energized to admit moisture to the room air unless both the humidostat and the thermostat are in closed circuit position. If the relative humidity at the window pane is less than 98% and as a result the humidostat is in closed circuit position, the solenoid would not be energized until the temperature of the room air, at the window pane, decreased to or below 44 F. to affect the thermostat to close and complete the circuit to the solenoid.

7 When the outdoor temperature decreases to a degree of temperature such that the temperature of the room air at the window pane decreases below 44 F., the contacts 23 and 25 will engage and when this occurs, the relay switch coil 31! is energized through

lead wires

32, 44 and through the transformer secondary 34 and lead wire 35. Upon energization of the relay coil 33 the switch 33 is closed and if the temperature of the boiler is below the control device 56 has operated to close the circuit and the circuit is completed through lead wire 51, control device 53,

lead wires

54 and 55 and the primary lead wire 41 to the It will be understood that on the off phase of the burner, that is, when the room thermostat is not calling for heat and the temperature of the heat conveying medium in the boiler is decreasing, when it decreases below a predetermined point, which may be taken as 110, the heat coz iveying medium in the room radiators is at a still lower temperature and if permitted to continue to cool, the radiators would 2,814,558 become cold wan-the result that room" air on culation would cease.' It is also well known that when room air circulation ceases the air becomes stagnant or stratifles with the colder air settlin'g at the floor or the room. Consequently, be-

fore the colder air rises and affects the room thermostat, which is for all practicable purposes located substantially midway between the floor and'ceiiing 01' a room, the room temperature and the temperature of the heat conveying me-' the outdoor temperature rises to, or above, a certain degree of temperature which maybe taken as approximately 44 F. However, even it the manual switch is left in closed circuit position, the moisture control valve will not be'enersized, for above'ate'mperature of 44 F., the

contacts 23 and 28 of the thermostat, which are' in series circuitwith thecontrol valve 2, will not.

dium in the boiler have continued to decrease so that when the roonr thermostat 'does demand heat there is a relatively long period of time before the boiler heat conveying'medium is heated sufliciently to raise the temperatureoi the room As a result, the

to the required temperature. heat conveying medium inthe boiler is heated to a temperature in excess of that necessary to raise the temperature of the room 'to the temperature for which the thermostat is set and consequen-tly the temperature of the room air is continued' to be raised after the thermostat-has acted to shut oil! the burner.

be in engagement. when the temperature rises to approximately 80? F. outdoor temperaturejr, above, it is also wellknown that artificial dehumidiflcation is desirable in order to maintain a desired-relative humidity of the air 1118.100111,

. for comfort. In the present system, the thermostat and humidostat are-adapted to control the operation of the dehumidifier motor'3 in accord ance with outdoor temperature and the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane In the present'system, it will be seen. that the above mentioned objectionable conditions are obviated by reason of the control 56 cooperating Any suitable minimum temperature may be se-' lected, the temperature of 110 F. being herein used for convenience of exposition. Preferably the minimum temperature selected is such that the heat conveying medium in the boiler will be limited to a degree of temperature just below the boiling point for a steam heating system or in a hot water system to a temperature which will prevent the radiator in the room from becoming cold and therefore prevent resultant stagnation of the room air.

The control device 56 is thus arranged to act in anticipation ofa demand for room heat, when the outdoor temperature decreases and when the temperature of the boiler is belowa predetermined degree of temperature. By maintaining the circulation ofthe room air, it will be understood that the heat thereof is more evenly distributed throughout the room with the result that the room thermostat would be affected sooner upon a decrease in room air temperature than would be the case if the air had become strati-' fied or stagnant, Also, since the temperature of the boiler has been raised to 110, the time period necessary for the burner to raise the temperature of the heat conveying medium to the point at which the temperature of the room will be raised to the' required temperature will be relatively short and as a result, the temperature of the boiler will not be raised to a degree of temperature in excess of that necessary for raising the temperature of the room to the desired degree so that the temperature of the room will not rise substantially above the desired temperatu e for which the room thermostat is set.

For summer operation, the humidifying appae ratus may be dispensed with by opening the circuit by means ofthe switch 42a to the moisture control valve. since it is' generally agreed that artificial humidification is not necessary when respectively, to maintain a desired relativehumidity of-the air in a room. For summer operation, the plate I! is pivoted in a direction so as to move the contact I 9 toward the contact I 5 of the arm 12, to obtain a space therebetween such that the expansible-contractible element 8 will move the arm contact l5 into engagement with contact I 9 when the, relative humidity at the window pane is at, or above, a desired point, for'example relative humidity at the window pane. The contact 2401 the thermostat arm 22 is arranged relative to the contact 26 so that it will engage therewith when the outdoor temperature rises to a temperature at which artificial dehumidification is desired, which temperature may be assumed to be 80 F. Accordingly, if the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane increases to or above 50% relative humidity, the expansiblecontractible element 3 will expand and move the contact l5 into engagement with the contact l9 and if the outdoor temperature is at 80 F. or, so that the contact 24 is in engagement with contact 26, then the circuit is closed to the controller of the motor 3 through lead wire 35, the secondary of transformer 34, lead wire 44 and

lead wires

38 and 53. When the circuit is thus closed to the controller of the motor 3, the motor operates the dehumidifying apparatus, which apparatus may be of the type which supplies dehumidified air to t the room or of the type-which operates on the condensator principle, or any other suitable type. When the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane is decreased to 50% or lower, the expansible-contractible element 8 contracts, breaking engagement between the contacts 15' and i9 andthus opening the circuit-to the controller of the motor 3, or when the temperature of the .room air at the window pane decreases below 80'."F., the thermostat I will operate to open the circuit to the controller of the motor 3.

Referring now to Fig.- 2, there is shown an air conditionin'gsystem similar to the systemshown in Fig.1, except that a diiferent type of humidostat is employed and one which is automatic in that adjustment is not necessary when changing from winter to summer operation or vice versa. This humidostat, like that of Fig. 1, includes a pivotal contact arm or switch 58, an expansiblecontractible element 59 for operating the arm,

pivotal arms 65 and 66 respectively which are mounted on the board 9 and preferably arranged in relation to arm 58 so that the free ends of the arms 58, 65 and 8B are adjacent each other with the contacts BI and 62 of arm 58 between and in alignment with the contacts 63 and 54 of levers 65 and 66 respectively. A spring 61 is provided for urging the pivotal levers 65 and 56 toward each other. The levers 65 and 6B are each provided with an

adjustable stop

68 and 69 respectively which may be screws, as shown, threaded into fixed bracket members mounted on the board 9. The stops or screws 68 and 69 are arranged between the pivotal levers 65 and 66 so that the ends of the screws are in position to bear against the adjacent sides of the lever arms 65 and 66 and toward which the spring 61 under tension tends to move the lever arms. The lever arm 65 cooperates with the lever arm 58 to control the operation of the humidifying means for winter operation while the lever arm 56 cooperates with the arm 58 for controlling the dehumidifying means for summer operation.

Mounted on the board 9 is a bimetallic temperature responsive element I having one end fixed to the board 9, such as by a bracket I2, the other end II being free and in the form of a switch arm for movement in response to changes in temperature at the window pane. The arm is provided with a pair of contacts I3 and I4 which are fixed thereto on opposite sides of the arm and near the end thereof. Contacts I5 and I6 are mounted on the board 9, one on each side of the arm II for engaging with contacts I3 and I4 respectively. Preferably, the contacts I5 and I6 are acfiustable and to this end, the contacts may be mounted on the ends of screws II which are threaded in brackets I8 mounted on the board 9. For winter operation, the contact I5 is positioned relative to contact I3 of the temperature responsive element a distance such that the contact I3 will engage contact I5 when the temperature at the window pane is ator decreases below a predetermined degree of temperature, which may be taken as before at 44 F. The contact I6 is spaced from the contact I4 of arm II such that when the temperature at the window pane increases to or exceeds a predetermined degree of temperature, which may be taken at approximately 80 F., arm II will have moved sufiiciently so that its contact I4 will engage contact I6 and when the temperature at the window pane decreases below 80 F., contact is broken. The contact I6 of the temperature responsive element is connected to the controller of the dehumidifier motor 3 by means of a lead wire BI and the con-' tact 64 of the humidostat is connected to the dehumidifier 3 by means of a lead wire 82. The temperature responsive element I0 is connected by the lead wire 35 to the secondary of the transformer 34 and the arm 58 of the humidostat is connected to the transformer secondary by means of a lead wire 84. The thermostat I0 and humidostat thus being in series circuit so that the dehumidifier motor is not energizable to dehumidify the air of a room unless the circuit thereto is closed by both the thermostat I0 and the humidostat. Or in other words, the dehumidifier motor 3 is not energized unless the temperature at the window pane is above 80 F., and the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane is above 50%.

The humidostat and thermostat are also in trol valve 2 for controlling the admittance of moisture to a room in winter. The moisture control valve is connected by means of a lead line 88 v to the contact 63. of the lever 65 and to the contact I5 of the thermostat element by means of

lead wires

81 and 88 in which a manually operatedswitch 89 may be provided, if desired. It the temperature at the window pane is below 44 F., the thermostat will close the circuit through energization of the relay switch coil 33 to the minimum control device 56. If the temperature in the boiler is below 110 F., then the circuit is closed to the burner motor 6 and the temperature of the boiler raised to 110 F., in anticipation of the operation of room thermostat to close the circuit through control 53 because of decrease in outdoor temperature. The temperature of the boiler is thus prevented from decreasing to an excessive low degree of temperature and sufiicient heat is supplied to maintain room air circulation so that the heat of the room is thoroughly distributed with the result that the room thermostat will be affected sooner than it would be if the air of the room was permitted to stratify. If the relative humidity of the room air at the window pane is below 98%, which is likely after heat is supplied to the room, the control device 2 will be energized, opening the valve port to admit moisture to the air. It will be seen that if either the temperature at the window pane increases above 44 F., or the relative humidity increases about 98%, that the circuit to the moisture control valve will be broken thus stopping the ficw of moisture to the room air.

The operation of the automatically adjustable humidostat of the air conditioning system of Fig. 2 is as follows: When the outdoor temperature decreases below a predetermined temperature, which may be taken as before at 44" F., artificial humidification of the air of a room may be necessary to the comfort of .persons therein while for temperatures above the predetermined outdoor temperature, artificial humidification is not necessary. Accordingly, the temperature responsiveelement I8 is arranged to move its contact I3 into engagement with its cooperating contact I5, in the circuit of the moisture supply means, when the outdoor temperature decreases below the predetermined temperature of 44 F. The desired relative humidity of the room air to be maintained for all outdoor temperatures below 44 F., is, of course, approximately 100% relative humidity at the window pane but slightly less than 100% or say 98% so that condensation of room air moisture will not take place on a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface. Accordingly, contacts 63 and BI of the humidostat, which are in circuit with the moisture control means 2, are arranged to part and open the circuit to the moisturesup-ply means to discontinue the supplying of moisture to the room air when the relative humidity thereof increases to approximately I00% relative humidity. Since v the contacts I3 and I5 of the thermostat and series circuit with the magnetically operated conthe contacts GI and. 63 of the humidostat are in series circuit with the moisture supply control means 2, it will be seen that additional moisture will not be supplied to the room air unless the contacts of the thermostat and also the humidostat are in closed circuit position. As a result, the opening of either set of contacts opens the circuit to the moisture supply control means whereupon the supplying of moisture to the room air will be discontinued.

As previously stated, it the outdoor temperature decreases below a temperature of 4413, the contacts 13 and of the thermostat will be in engagement, and if the contacts .6i and B3 of the humidostat are in engagement, then additional moisture will be supplied to the room air. the relative humidityof the room air at the windowpane decreases below the desired relative duced to relative humidity, the circuit to the dehumidifying device will be broken after ensagement of arm with its stop member 09.

It willbe noted that between outdoor temperatures from 44 F. to F., conditioning of the room air is not necessary to the comfort of persons therein while below and .above these temperatures the room air is humidified and dehumidified respectively.

The arm will then be moved away from its stop member 68 as shown in Fig. 5.7"

As the relative humidity of the room air is increased, the moisture absorption element ll exmods and moves the pivoted arm ill in a countor-clockwise direction, as seen on the drawings.

As the .arm' 58 is moved .by the element 68, the arm 65 is drawn toward its contact '88 by the spring 61 and the contacts 83 and Si of the pivoted arms are held in engagement by the spring 81. When the relative humidity of the room air surrounding the element 59 is substantially but less than relative humidity, the arm 65 will be in engagement with its stop member 68 after which additional movement of arm 58 will result in the parting of the contacts 6i and 83 and, Q

therefore, the discontinuing of the supplying of moisture to the room air.

When the outdoor temperature rises above a predetermined temperature which may be taken as before at 80 F., then artificial dehumidiflcation of the air of a room may be necessary to the comfort of persons therein. Accordingly, the thermostat i0 is arranged'to move its contact; 16 into engagement with cooperating contact E8, the contacts it and it being in circuit with the dehumidliying device 3. The desired relative humidity of the room air may be determined and which will here be referred to as before as 50% relative humidity, for convenience of exposition, although a lower relative humidity may be desired. The contact 62 and the contact 64 of the humidostat are arranged relative to each other and to the stop member 69 so that the contracts will engage when the relative humidity of the room air at the humidosiat is 50% relative humidity. At this point it will be noted that between 100% and 50% relative humidity contacts BI and 62 will bothbe in engagement with their respective contacts 63 and 64. However, it will be seen that both the moisture supply control means and the dehumidifying means will not be energized for only one of the pairsof cooperating contacts of the thermostat will be in engagement depending upon the temperature of the outdoor atmosphere. When the outdoor temper- From the foregoing description, it will now be seen that .I have provided a new and iinproved method of and apparatus for conditioning the air oi a room or other enclosed space. By utiliza thermostat and a humidostat arranged to c erate in controlling the admittance of moist to the air of a room in accordance with decrease in outdoor temperature below a predetermined degree of temperature, and decrease in relative humidity of the room air at outdoor temperature, respectively, it will be appreciated that the room air will be maintained at the highest possible relative humidity without danger of precipitatlonoi' room air moisture on a window pane. In addition, it will be appreciated that when the outdoor temperature decreases below the predetermined degree of temperature, the thermostat in cooperation with the ,minimum control device prevents the radiators in 'a roomfrom becoming cold to pregent stagnation or stratification of the room air. The advantages of maintaining gravity circulation of the air in a room is that the heat in the room is more evenly distributed by the moving air so that at the level of the thermostat in the room the air is more representative of the general condition of the air throughout the room than itwould be if the air was permitted to stratify with the colder air at the floor. Furthermore, since the temperature of the heat conveying medium in the boiler is brought up to a degree of temperature, for example necessary to maintain the radiators warm when the outdoor temperature decreases below a certain de- 'gree of temperature, it will be appreciated that a demand for heat by the room thermostat is anticipated. Consequently, when the room thermostat does demand heat, it will be understood that a shorter-time period will be required by the burner to raise the temperature of the boiler to ature increases above a temperature of 80 F.,

contacts 14 and 16 of the thermostat will be n engagement and if the relative humidity. of the room air surrounding the' humidostat is above 50% relative humidity'then contacts 62 and 64 of the humidostat will be in engagement through movement of the arm 58 due to t he expansion of the element 59. As a resultfthe circuit of the dehumidifying device will be closed whereupon the dehumidifying device will act to reduce the relative humidity of the room air. relative humidity of the room air has been re- When the degree of outdoor temperature.

the required degree of temperature necessary to satisfy the room thermostat than would be the case if the boiler temperature had decreased to the point where the room radiators would be cold. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the boiler temperature can be quickly raised to the required temperature to satisfy the room thermostat, it will be appreciatedthat the heat conveying medium in the boiler will not be raised to a degree of temperature which would. cause undue increase in room temperature after the thermostat is satistied. Another advantage of the present invention resides in the method of and apparatus for maintaining the relative humidity of the air in a room at the desired relative humidity for comfort for all outdoor temperatures above a predetermined In addition, I have provided apparatus for 'mainta-ining the relative humidity of af room at the desired per cent for both winter and. summer and which is automatic in that no adjustment is necessary when changing from summer to winter or vice versa. Furthermore, I have provided for arranging the thermostat and-humi'dcstat controls in relation with a window pane or'other heat transmitting room wall surface in a new and improved manner whereby the thermostat is affected by changes in outdoor temperature and the humidostat is aiiected by the moisture content of the room air but at outdoor temperature.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of controlling the moisture content of the air in a room or other enclosed space which comprises raising the moisture content of the air in the room substantially to the dew point of the Outdoor atmosphere for all outdoor temperatures below a predetermined degree of temperature, and discontinuing the supply of moisture to the air for outdoor temperatures above said predetermined degree whereby to maintain the room air at the highest possible relative humidity during outdoor temperatures below said predetermined degree without substantial precipitation of moisture from the room air upon a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface.

2. The method of controlling the moisture content of the air in a room or other enclosed space which comprises raising the moisture content of,

the air in the room substantially to the dew point of the outdoor atmosphere for all outdoor temperatures below a predetermined degree of temperature, discontinuing the supply of moisture to the air for outdoor temperatures above said predetermined degree whereby to maintain the room air at the highest possible relative humidity during outdoor temperatures below said predetermined degree without substantial precipitation of moisture from the room air upon a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface, and at a second predetermined outdoor temperature above said first-named predetermined temperature decreasing the relative humidity in the room or space.

3. The method of regulating the temperature and moisture content of the air in a room which comprises supplying a heated heat transfer medium to the room when room air temperature is below a predetermined degree, establishing apredetermined minimum temperature the heating medium for all outdoor temperatures below a predetermined degree to provide circulation of the room air and simultaneously with the establishing of said minimum predetermined temperature supplying moisture to the room air for circulation therewith to raisethe moisture content of the room air substantially equally over and operable upon occurrence of a predetermined low outdoor temperature to render said humidostat eifective to supply moisture to the air of the room or other enclosed space, said responsive means being operable to render said humidostat ineffective upon an increase. in outdoor temperatur'e above said predetermined low temperature 5. In an air conditioning system for controlling the moisture content of the air of a room or other enclosed space, meansincluding a humidostat operable in response to decrease in the moisture content of a portion of the room air the room air whereby to maintain the room air I .at the highest possible relative humidity for all outdoor temperatures below said predetermined degree without resultant precipitation of moisture from the room air upon a window pane or other heat transmitting room wall surface.

6. In an air conditioning system for conditioning the air of a room or other enclosed space, means operable to control admission of moisture to the air of the room or other enclosed space, a humidostat responsive to the moisture content of a portion of the air in the room or other enclosed space and controlling said means, means to cool the portion of the room or space air to substantially the prevailing outdoor temperature thereby to maintain the moisture content of the room air substantially at the same dew point as the outdoor temperature, and temperature responsive means operable upon occurrence of a predetermined high outdoor temperature to render said humidostat ineffective to control admittance of moisture to the air of the room or other enclosed space, said first-named means being operable to admit moisture to the air of the room or other enclosed space only when both said humidostat and said temperature responsive means are calling for moisture.

'7. In a system for conditioning the air of an enclosed space, electrically operated means to control admittance of moisture to the air of the enclosed space, switch means to control said electrically operated means, an expansible-contractible element responsive to the moisture content of a portion of the air in the enclosed space and operable to actuate said switch means, means to cool the air portion to a temperature substantially equal to the prevailing outdoor temperature, and a thermostat responsive to outdoor temperature and in series circuit with said switch means, said thermostat being operable on predetermined decrease in outdoor temperature to increase the moisture content of the air in said space only when saidswitch means is in closed circuit position.

8. In an air conditioning system for conditioning the air of a room or other enclosed space, means operable for controlling the admittance of moisture to the room air, a humidostat within the room and at a window pane thereof operable in response to a decrease in relative humidity at the window pane below a predetermined percent for controlling the operation of said means, and a thermal responsive element operable in response to an increase in outdoor temperature above a predetermined degree of temperature to render said humidostat ineffective for maintaining the room air at the highest possible relative humidity and operable upon a decrease below said predetermined degree to render said humidostat efiective for all outdoor temperatures below said predetermined degree to maintain the room air at the highest possible relative humidity operable to dehumidify the air in the enclosed space, a humidostat responsive to the moisture content of the room air to control said dehumidifying" means, and temperature responsive means operable in response to outdoor-temperature to control said dehumidifying means, said humidostat being inefiective to decrease the moisture content of the air in the enclosed space at outdoor temperatures below a predetermined temperature.

10. In an air conditioning system for controlling the moisture content of the air in a room or.other enclosed space, means for controlling the admittance of a dehumidifying medium to the room air, a humidostat disposed within the room and adjacent a window pane thereof so as to be subjected to substantially outdoor tem perature due to the transfer of heat through the window pane, said humidostat being operable in response to an increase in the relative humidity of the air at the window pane to control said means, and thermal responsive means operable in response to increase in the outdoor temperature for controlling said means to increase the admittance of the medium.

11. An air conditioning system for a room or other enclosed space comprising means for varying a condition ofthe air in said space, a second means for varying a difierent condition of the air in said space, and controlling means operable upon occurrence of a predetermined temperature of the air external of said space for substantially simultaneously rendering effective said firstnamed means and said second-named means.

12. An air conditioning system for a' room or other enclosed space comprising means for varying a condition of the air in said space, means for automatically regulating said condition varying means, a second means for varying a different condition of the air in said space, means for automatically regulating said second-named condition varying means, and controlling means operable upon a predetermined temperature of the air external of said space ,for substantially simultaneously rendering inefiective said first-named means and said third-named means. i

13. An air conditioning system for a room or other enclosed space comprising means for varying a condition of the air in said space, means for automatically regulating said condition-varying means, a second means for varying a condition of the air in said space, means for automatically regulating said second-named condition varying means, controlling means operable upon occurrence of predetermined temperature external of said space to discontinue operation of-said first-named means and said third-named means, and means for initiating operation of said first-named means irrespective of operation of said controlling means.

14. In an air conditioning system for a room or other enclosed space, a casing having inlet and outlet openings for the passageoi; air

, through said casing, said casing having one wall of high heat conductivity exposed to atmosphere external of said space, a thermostat in said casing and operable in accordance with variation in temperature external of said space, a humidity responsive device in said casing operable in accordance with the humidity of the air in said space at the temperature of the air in said casing,

sponsive device controlling the circuit of said moisture supplying means, and said thermostat acting to control irrespective of operation' of said humidity responsive device the circuit of said moisture supplying apparatus and simultaneously acting to control the circuit of said heat supplying apparatus to insure a circulation of air so that the moisture from said moisture supplying apparatus is distributed throughout the enclosed space.

15. In an air conditioning system for a room or other enclosed space, a casing having inlet and outlet openings for the passage of air through said casing, said casing having one wall of high heat conductivity exposed to atmosphere external of said space, a thermostat in said casing and operable in accordance with variation in temperature external of said space, a humidity responsive device in said casing operable in accordance with the humidity of the air in said space at the temperature of the air in said casing, an apparatus for supplying heat to said space to maintain a circulation of the air in the enclosed space and having a controlling circuit, an apparatus for supplying moisture to said space and having a controlling circuit, said humidity responsive device controlling the circuit of said moisture supplying means to maintain the relative humidity substantially at but slightly below one hundred per cent, said thermostat acting to control irrespective of operation of said humidity responsive devicethe circuit of said moisture supplying apparatus to discontinue at an apparatus for supplying heat to said space to maintain circulation of the air in the enclosed spaceand having a controlling circuit, an apparatus for supplying moisture to said space and having a controlling circuit, said humidity rea given temperature the operation of said moisture supplying apparatus and simultaneously acting to control the circuit of said heat supplying apparatus so that air circulation will be established within the enclosed space during the time moisture is being supplied, an apparatus for dehumidifying the air in said space and having a controlling circuit, saidthermostat acting upon rise of temperature above the temperature at which said moisture supplying apparatus is discontinued to establish the controlling circuit of said dehumidifying apparatus, and said humidity responsive device controlling the circuit of said dehumidifying apparatus under the domination of said thermostat.

16. The method of regulating the condition of the air within an enclosed space comprising the supplying of water vapor to the enclosed space to maintain a dew point temperature within the space just below the temperature of a wall sur- ,face having a high rate of heat transfer, rendering said supply effective upon the attainment by the wall of a predetermined minimum temperature, and establishing circulation of the air within the enclosed space so that the supplied water vapor will be evenly distributed to the circulated air and throughout the enclosed space.

17. In a control system for a space having a window, the combination of humidifying means and heating means for the space, the condition of the space adjacent the window varying in accordance with changes in the condition outside of the space, and means located adjacent the window and responsive to the condition 01' the space adjacent the window for controlling the humidifying means and the heating means. 18. In a control system for a space having a window, the combination of, humidifying means and heating means for the space, means responsive to space temperatures for controlling said heating means, the condition of the space adjacent the window varying in accordance with changes in the condition outside of the space, and means including means located adjacent the window and responsive to the condition of the space adjacent the window for controlling the humidifying means and additionally controlling the heating means. i

19. In a control system for a space having a window, the combination of, humidifying means and heating means for the space, the relative humidity of the space adjacent the window varying in accordance with changes in the condition outside of the space, and means including means located adjacent the window and responsive to the relative humidity of the space adjacent the window for controlling the humidlfying means, said third-named means also including means for controlling the heating means.

20. In a humidity control system for a space,

the combination of humidifying means for the space, means responsive to the relative humidity of a portion of the space for controlling the humidiiying means, the temperature of said portion of the space being altered by variations in a condition outside of the space, and means responsive to the temperature of said portion of the space for rendering the humidity responsive means ineffective to control the humidifying means.

21. In a control system for a space, the combination of humidifying means for the space, heating means for the space, means responsive to space temperature for controlling said heating means, and means responsive to the condition of the space which is affected by a condition-outside of the space for controlling said humidifying means and additionally controlling said heating means independently of said first-' named responsive means;

22. In a control system for an enclosed space, means for changing the temperature of the space, means for changing the humidity of the space, control means sensit ve to the temperature of the space and operable to control said first-named means, means within the space and sensitive to the space air at a temperature proportional to the temperature external or the trol said first means, means independent of said first-named sensitive means and positioned within a second portion of the space separate from said first rtion, said independent means being sensitive to the temperature of the space I air in said second portion and operable to control one of said changing means, the temperature of the air in said second portion being-at a temperature variable with the temperature external of the space. V

24. In a control system for an enclosed space, a first means for changing a condition of the space, a second means for changing a condition of the space, means within a first portion of the space and sensitive to the air condition within the space and operable to control said first means, means independent of said first-named sensitive means and positioned within a second portion of the'space separate from said first portion, said independent means being sensitive to the temperature of the space air in said second portion and operable to control both of said changing means, the temperature of the air in said second portion being at a temperature variable with the temperature external of the space.

25. In a control system for an enclosed space, means for humidifying the space, means for heating the space, humidity responsive means within the space and controlling said humiditying means, temperature sensitive means within the space and operable to control said heatin meansto maintain a predetermined temperature in the space, and means independent ofsaid temperature sensitive means and positioned within the space and sensitive to changes in temperature external 01 the space for controlling said first-named and second-named means.

PHILIP SHERMAN RUSSEL.