US2414020A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

A P' CLARK AIR counlnom Fil Jm 1. 1944 3 Sheet.s..shest 1 J7 Q l HIM 9 Je Y /6 a.; v uw Ei 7 n 9 ,g :1K

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, A. P. CLARK AIR CONDITIONER Jan. 7, 1947.

Filed Juno 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. P. CLARK 2,414,020

AIR GONDITIONER Filed June 1. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 miams. MDW R CLARK.

Patented Jan.` 7, i947 UNITED S'I'I'IES PATENT GFI-'ICE AIR coNDI'rIoNER Andrew P. Clark, Louisville, Ky. Application June 1, 1944, Vserial No. 538,252

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an air conditioner, and embodies asrone of its principal features the use f stem jets and refrigerated surfaces properly related, to effect a thorough separation of impurities and foreign particles from air passing therethrough. The device of the invention may be constructed in different sizes and capacities, to adapt it to any of the numerous existing circumstances under which the purifying of air may be considered necessary or desirable The device may also temper the air and establish a desired humidity, as Awill be explained, and its operation may be rendered fully automatic by the use of controls such as are disclosed herein. It is capable of rendering wholesome and fit for human consumption, air which is foul and laden with dust, dirt, smoke, odors and such other impurities and particles as are commonly found in unclean air.

The advantages .and accomplishments above stated are among the objects of the invention,

others of which are: to provide an automatic device of the character stated, which Will'operate noiselessly, efficiently, and Without care inv service; to provide a device capable of purifying air to a degree not attainable with the use of air lters or screens; to incorporate in the apparatus an automatic means for periodically disposing of entrapped particles and substances accumulated as impurities during the operating periods of the device.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the meansA described herein and disclosedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a viewl showingthe elements of an electrical automatic control means for the device, including the wiring diagram.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing an automatic defrosting switch.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an air-steam mixer, shown on a smaller scale and in elevation upon Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, parts broken away, showing a modified condensing unit for the device, which is substitutable for the corresponding unit of Fig. 1.

The apparatus of this invention depends upon the use of a steam treatment, followed immediately by a low temperature condensing and separating action of a refrigeratingmeans, for removing foreign particles, smoke, odors and other impurities from air, and restoring to the treated air the wholesomeness, cleanliness, humidity and temperature,characteristics desired in air fit for human consumption or for other uses.

To treat the unclean air, it is rst drawn into the apparatus by means of a fan, and subjected to a, thorough intermixing with steam from a humidifying refrigerating means disposed in the pa'th of air movement.

VThe dehumidifying 'character of the refrigerating'or chilling means for the air undergoing treatment, is to be especially noted and distinguished from chilling means of the character which adds moisture to the air undergoing treatment. Water spraysand the like fall into the category of the latter type of chilling means, and are wholly unsuited for use in an apparatus of the kind herein disclosed. In other words, the air undergoing treatment is not to be subjected to direct Contact with the cooling medium, but should be chilled by passing it along refrigerated surfaces upon which the steam-treated particles and impurities may condense as a slime, while at the same time the air undergoes substantial dehumidication.

lAfter the treatment above described, the air in the thoroughly cleaned condition may be tempered automatically to room temperature, or to any other desired temperature, if necessary or chambers thereof desirable, before being exhausted from the apf paratus.

The operation of the device may be rendered fully automatic by means of certain controls to be herein disclosed, and provision is made for automatic periodic disposal of accumulated particles and impurities from the condensing Proper conditioning of the air for temperature may be attained by associating with the apparatus a suitable t-hermcstatic control, and preferably one including a proportioning thermostat arrangement, although it is feasible to provide a manual control for this purpose as will be explained.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the device comprises in general a casing 'l including an upper aperture preferably furnished with a grill `through which may enter the f'cul air to be cleansed and conditioned. The foul air inlet may be divided into twosections, indicated at 8 and 9, and the space beneath said vgrill sections may be divided into a pair of compartments established by Walls I and I2 whichextend'across the fu'l width of the casing. Each compartment includes a suction fanl for drawing air into the device through the grills 8 and 9, said fans being mdrcated by the characters I3 and I4. The fans are disposed vat the opposite sides of partition wall, I2,

andif desired they may be mounted upon a common shaft with an interposed electric motorl| 5 in driving relationship thereto.

Suction fan I3 operates to draw foul air into the compartment that communicates with grill opening 9, and drives the air past a boiler indicated at B for dissipating surrounding heat and discharging the heated air through an exhaust pipe I6, which may lead to the atmosphere exteriorly of the room or space in which the air conditioning device is located. This same compartment may contain the customary heat transfer coil (not shown) of the compressor 30.

Exhaust fan I4 drives foul air through the grill opening 8 and forces the air into a conduit. I1 leading to mixer I8, where steam from the boiler is intimately associated with the air.' Boiler steam is conveyed to the mixer by means of pipe I9. From the mixer, the air-stream mixture is carried by way of a conduit 2U, to the lower end of a refrigerated condensing chamber 2|, which includes a number of alternately sloping and overlapping baies 22 upon which may accumulate the foreign particles and impurities borne by the airsteam mixture. In traveling upwardly through the refrigerated condensing chamber 2|, the air is forced to travel overv the cold surfaces of ,all of the baiesalong a circuitous path until it reaches the upper end of chamber 2|, where by means of a connecting conduit 23,l the air is transferred to the upper end of a second refr'gerated condensing chamber 24 constructed similarly to the chamber 2|. Air entering the refrigerated chamber 24 passes downwardly along the series of baffles contained therein, and'nally leaves chamber 24 through a duct 25. A suction is maintained in duct 25 by means of an exhaust fan 26 driven by belt or otherwise from a main driving motor M. The character 2l indicates the belt or chain passing over the motor pulley, the pulley 28 of the exhaust fan, and the pulley 29 of a compressor for the refrigerating system. The compressor is indicated by the character 30, and may be of conventional design.

With the aid of exhaust fan 26, air is with- 4 erating` system. The refrigerating system preferably is of the direct expansion type.

' As will be understood, the upper ends of chambers 2|, 33 and 24, are closed by means of a suitable cap bearing insulating material 31. In fact, the entire refrigerating unit comprising the compartments 2|, 33, 24 is preferably encased within an insulating shell, indicated at 38, for enhancing the eiliciency of the device as a whole.

As previously stated herein, the refrigerating coils and the chambers 2|, 33 and 24 are adapted to be periodically defrosted automatically, wherefore, each of said chambers is provided with a drain opening in its bottom wall, as indicated at 39, leading to a common drain pipe 4U that may carry to the sewer such waste products as will be dislodged from the walls and baflies of the several chambers during the defrosting period. The characters 4| indicate sealed flushing tubes through which quantities of water may be introduced for flushing the bailies whenever iiushing of the conipartments seems to be necessary or desirable.

Upon the basis of the foregoing description, it will be understood that the device when in operation, will draw foul air into the grill opening 8, through blower i4, and said air. wil1 pass through the air-stream mixer I8 wherein the temperature of the air is elevated to destroy odors and certain bacteria, while at the same time the air-borne particles of foreign matter are moistened and possibly expanded with a resultant increase of weight or volume. From the mixer I8, the air travels through duct 20 to the lower end of the refrigerated chamber 2|, the walls and baiiles of which are maintained at a very low temperature. During its travel through chamber 2 I, the air loses a great deal of its humidity, while at the same time a considerable amount of foreign particles "and impurities carried thereby are condensed drawn from the refrigerated condensing chamber 24 by way of conduit 25, and projected from the machine through the grill opening 3|.

Near the upper end of Fig. 1 is illustrated a system of cooling or refrigerating coils 32 contained within a coil compartment 33 and passing through a multiplicity of cold conducting fins 34 which, along 'their vertical side edges, are held in intimate contact with the adjacent side walls of both condensing chambers. The coils and fins preferably ll the coil chamber from top to bottom, and are capable of lowering the'temperature of the condensing chambers considerably below the freezing point of water. The coils have terminal` portions 35 and 36 associated in the 'conventional manner with compressor 30 and such accompanyupon the walls and baffles of the chambers. Passing over to the secondary refrigerated chamber 24, by way of duct 23, further condensation of moisture and removal of particles and impurities takes place, until at the end of its travel, the treated air leaves by way of duct 25 and is discharged into the room through the outlet 3|.

It should be appreciated that the air, after having been saturated and thoroughly intermixed with steam and brought to a relatively high temperature in the mixing chamber I8, is immediately subjected to the dry-chilling action of the condensing and dehumidifying bafes and walls of the refrigerated chambers 2| and 24. It is important'to note that the chilling is accomplished in a dry atmosphere, so that the air undergoing treatment is materially dehumidified after having been steam-treated, with the result that it is rendered properly humid for human consumption by the time it is discharged through the outlet 3|. The humidity of the cleansed air may be further controlled, if desired, by adding steam or moisture thereto after it leaves the secondary lcondensing chamber, should the humidity be found too low after the air has been treated as explained.

The explanation which follows is devoted particularly to the automatic controls for the apparatus. At the location 42 is indicated a swinging damper disposed within the conduit 25, and adapted to shunt air from the secondary. condensing chamber 24 to a conduit 43 that enters boiler B and returns from the boiler to connect with conduit 25 at the location 44. The purpose of conduit 43 is to subject the treated air to the tempering action of the boiler, in the event that the treated air is too cold to discharge into the room occupied by the air conditioning apparatus. During the summer season the damper 42 may completely close the conduit 43 so that all of the treated air may pass freely to the blower 26 and be exhausted at 3|. season, it maybe desirable to shunt all or a portion of the treated air to the boiler for tempering it prior to discharge. vided, including preferably a proportioning thermostat control means, for establishing various positions of damper 42 whereby varying amounts of treated air passing through duct may be shunted to the boiler and thereafter mixed with the cold air at the port 44. The mechanism about to hbe explained, and which is illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3, serves to'automatically regulate the po- However, during the winter,

Automatic means are prosition of the damper and to thereby regulate the i temperature of air discharged through the ports.

It may be here pointed out, that conduit 43 enters the boiler B below the water level therein, and continues through the boiler without interruption, so that none of the water or steam of the boiler is placed in contact with the air in said conduit as the air is subjected to the tempering action of the boiler water heat.

The element indicated at 45 of Figs. 1 and.2,

represents an electrical control means for initiating a defrosting period, which occurs whenever the products of condensation w-ithin chambers 2| and 24 become so voluminous as to interfere with the movement of air therethrough.. The device at 45 may comprise a housing having open ends 46 and' 41, which may he screened as shown, and through which may pass a portion of the air flowing through the discharge duct 25. The housing of the element 45 may carry a transversely arranged shaft 48 upon which is rockably mounted a metallic leaf or vane 49 responsive in move- Y ment to the velocity of air entering theopening 46 and leaving through the opening 41. By providing the leaf or vane with a weighted end 50 furnished with a series of openings 5I, the leaf or vane may be so balanced as to assume a nearhorizontal position when acted upon by air of sufcient velocity traveling in the direction of the varrow 52 of Fig. 2. Upon a substantial decrease in whenever the device is operating with a free and relatively unrestricted flow of air through the refrigerated condensing chambers.

With further reference to'Fig. 2, 56 indicates the prime mover, which in this instance is an electric motor, constituting part of a timing switch whose electrical contacts are indicated at 51 and 58. The showing of this timing switch is conventional only, and it is intended that any commercial form of timing switch may be substituted therefor. As shown, the timer includes a worm 59 von the shaft of motor 56 engaging the teeth of a worm wheel 66 rotatably mounted upon shaft 6I that carries a lradial arm 62 adapted to be swung upwardly for moving the electric contact 58 into a position of abutment with contact 51. Suchadvancing movement ofarm 62 is to be performed very slowly, through the gearing associated with motor 56. At any time during which the motor is deenergized, a spring 63 serves to retract arm 62 from the electrical contact 58, for allowing contacts 51-58 to open. The time required for arm 62 to advance to effect a closing of the switch 51-56, should approximate the time required for defrosting of the condensing chambers 2| and 24. For this purpose, the timing switch may include a suitable adjustment which is common to such switches, but not believed necessary to illustrate herein.

At the lower end of Fig. 2 is illustrated a proportioning motor, the purpose of which is to swing the damper 42 to various positions between the fully open and fully closed positions with respect tothe open adjacent end of conduit 43, (Fig. 1), in response tol the changing .demands of a room thermostat T. Motors of this type are available as Minneapolis-Honeywell, Series proportioning controls, and such motors comprise usually a pair of rotors 65 and 66 fixed on a common shaft 61 to be rocked in opposite directions of rotation by the rotors, depending upon electrical energization of one or the other of the field coils 68er. 69. By energizing coil 68, for example, a partial rotation of rotor 65 is effected in the direction of the arrow applied thereto, whereas coil 65 upon being energized causes rotor 66 to partially rotate in the opposite direction,

to thereby change the position of the damper 42, aflxed to shaft 61. The partial or limited rotational movements of shaft 61 and damper 42, are determined by the changing demands of the thermostat T, and the amount of such rotational movements is proportional to thel change of conditions noticed by the thermostat. rI hus, the damper may be automatically adjusted at all times, to shunt varying amounts of air to boiler B for tempering the air finally discharged at grill 3l.

The electrical circuit of the proportioning control comprises a wound resistance A--C over which moves a contact slide P. This resistance may be energized by low voltage current from a transformer 10, whose primary winding is across the main line conductors. The resistanceis connected across the conductors 1l and 12 by means 'of the leads 13 and 14. Connected across said conductors also is the proportioning relay consisting of a pair of coils N-D, operative to shift an armature Q in opposite directions, to open or close the switches 15 and 16 by means of the movable switch blade 11 mechanically connected with the armature.

A balancing potentiometer, associated with the motor shaft 61, is represented by the characters J-K which identify a wound resistance element over which the' contact slide H is moved. The travel of this slide is controlled by operation of the proportioning motor so that as the shaft 61 moves its maximum amount in both directions of rotation, the slide is moved across the balancing potentiometer winding JK. The sliding contact H may be carried by an arm 1B fixed to shaft 61.

y To describe the operation, it may be assumed that the slide contacts P and H are in the center position as shown by the diagram. Under these` circumstances, the resistances AP, P-C, J-H and H-K are all equal, and current owingin coil N is equal to that flowing in coil D, of the switch actuator. The armature Q will then be acted on by equal magnetic forces from coils N and D, and switch blade 11 will be held in a neutral position between the contacts of `witches T will cause the contactor P to move towardA.

This will immediately unbalance the electrical system as the resistance 'A-P will then be less than P-C. The netresult will be that more current will flow in the circuit of coil D, than in the circuit of coil N. Armature Q therefore will kmove, due to the increased magnetic effect of coil D, to carry switch blade 11 to the right, for

closing the switch 16. With this switch closed, current will flow through the circuit 1|, 19,

switch 16 and conductors 80, 69, 8| and 1.2. 15

Thus, the rotor 66 will be energized to partially rotate the shaft l61 and move the damper 42 toward open position.

As the rotor moves, the balancing potentiometer slide H is mechanically moved toward the 20 end of its resistance marked J. When the increase in the resistance H-K has overcome (balanced) the lowered resistance A--P in the thermostat, such that the elect of A--P land H-K is equal to the effect of P-C and J-H, then the coils N and D will again exert equal influence on armature Q. This will cause the armature to Acenter itself again, and to open the switch 16,

stopping the rotor 66. Having taken up this newv position, which is exactly in proportion to the increased heat\ demand at the thermostat, the proportioning motor remains at rest until a new demand at the thermostat again ,unbalances the circuit.

8 solenoid thereupon immediately moves to open the switch 85 to stop the main drive motor M. With the resultant absence of air flow through duct 2-5 and housing 4,5, the switch 49-54 remains closed and keeps in operation the timer motor 56. The timer motor operates for a period of time, perhaps an hour or less, until it advances the arm 62 to position for closing the switch contacts 51-58, whereupon current will be induced to ow to the main drive motor M by way of conductors 83, 84, 92, 58, 51, 93 and 86. By this time, the condensing chambers have defrosted suiiiciently to' permit a free ilow of air therethrough, and the velocity thereof will be sufficient to again open the defroster switch contacts at 5,4--49. As this switch opens, the coil 89 of magnetic switch 85 will be deenergized, and switch 85 wil1 close by spring action to maintain a closed circuit through the main drive motor M, while the timer arm 62 returns to a retracted position under the influence of its spring 63, permitting contacts 51-58 to spring apart to normality. The motor M then continues to operate the air conditioner until defrosting again becomes necessary and isv initiated sity of demand of the thermostat. In less ex- In like manner anV increase of heat at the`thermostat will result in moving the contactar P toward C, making P-C of less resistance than A-P, and increasing the 4current flow through coil N. The corresponding increased magnetic pensive models of the apparatus, however, vthe da-mper 42 may be manually adjusted by providing suitable actuating means accessible exeffect of` coil N will move armature Q to the left, 40

thereby closing the blade 11 upon the contacts of switch 15 and completing the circuit through the eld coil 68 of rotor 65. The rotor 65 will thereby kc energized to rotate shaft 61 and damper 42 in the opposite direction. or toward 45 the closed damper position, until slide H of the, balancing potentiometer reaches a point on the resistance where a balancev -iS eected. Then armature Q will again neutralize the'switch blade 11 tc the Fig. 2 position, to stop the proportioning 50 motor.

It will be noted that the automatic action above described maintains always a balance between the demands of the thermostat and the position of the damper, resulting in true modulation of heat delivery through grill 3|.

Concurrently with the foregoing operation, the

main drive motor M is continuously energized by current flowing from the line wires over con- v ductors 83, 84, switch 85, `and conductor 86, the

l 'switch 85 being normally spring-closed as shown,

while the defrosting control switch 54-49 is` open-circuted. Eventually, however, the condensing chambers of the apparatus will become 4laden with foreign matter that will restrict the 65 the switch contact at 54, as indicated by the broken lines on Fig. 2. Closing of this switch at 54 establishes a ilowvof current .through the circuit comprising the conductor 81, switch 49-54, conductor 9|, motor 56, conductor 88, the solenoid coil 89 of switch 85, and conductor 90. The 7-5 teriorly of the cabinet, as will readily be understood. The proportioning controls then mayl be eliminated, with retention of the automatic defrosting feature, if desired. Upon Fig. 1, vthe character 94 indicates a suitably supported hous ing or casing forv the timing switch, the proportioning motor, and their cooperative electrical adjuncts.

Fig. 4 illustrates a representative form of airsteam mixer, such as is indicated at I8 of Fig. 1. The mixer may comprise the enlarged chamber 95 including a series of bailes 96 to furnish a cireuitous or tortuous path for .the air as steamfrom jets 91 is directed into the flow of air. The steam jets 91 are furnished in suflicient numbers to effect a sterilizing and thorough saturating of the air Within the mixer, and said jets may be fed by a manifold or jet head indicated at 98. Other types of mixers, of course, may be substituted for the mixer herein shown, if desired. The steam generator or boiler B may be operated electrically or by means of liquid or gaseous fuel, and will preferably include the customary safety devices or controls to prevent explosion and to regulate the amount of steam generated. In Fig. 5 is illustrated a condensing .unit of modified design, which may be substituted bodily for the condensing unit disclosed in Fig. 1. In the modified unit, 99 and |06 indicate condensing chambers which are similar to the chambers 2| and 24 of Fig. l, in that each contains a series of baiiies as previously explained, for the purpose of directing steam-treated air along a circuitous route for condensing therefrom the excess moisture laden with foreign particles and impurities. The air-steam mixture enters one condensing chamber through the conduit 20, and after treatment the air leaves the other conandere lWith further reference to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the cooling coil for the condensing chambers is spirally wound exteriorly of the condensing chamber walls, the coil beginning at and ending at- |02. The portion |02 will be carried to the compressor as Fig. 1 illustrates, and coil |0| will include an expansion valve |03 such as is Agenerally employed in connection with direct expansion refrigerating apparatus. In order to establish the best possible conductivity for effectively cooling the condensing chambers,

the coil should be`made to contact the walls of .the chambers along the extent of its length. In-

timacy of contact may be enhanced by thermally uniting the coil with the walls of the condensing chambers, as by soldering, bracing, or the like. The reference character |04 indicates the convolutions of the direct expansion coil disposed about the exterior surfaces of the condensing chambers.

The flow of air through the condensing chambers, and the reaction obtained thereby, are precisely as was explained in c'onncction with Fig. i.

Thus, a connecting duct |05 is shown spanning y the condensingv chambers.' The length of duct |05 will depend upon the space between condensing chambers, which space may be much less than is illustrated by Fig. 5 when compactness is required in manufacture of the apparatus. Each condensing chamber is closed by means oi' a top wall E06, and the bottom wall |01 of each is provided with a drain opening |00 leading to a drain pipe |09 for disposing of condensation products when the condensing chambers are de frosted periodically, in accordance with previous explanation.

It may be noted that the condensing chambers are completely encased within a shell ||0 spaced therefrom, in order that water of condensation may gravitate down the outside surfaces of the condensing chambers during defrosting, and enter a drain opening I2 provided in the bottom wall H3 of the shell. From the foregoing,

it will be evident that the condensing chambers of Fig. 5 require drainage both interiorly and exteriorly thereof during the deirosting period, but that the interiors of the chambers will contain the foreign particles and impurities directed thereto through the duct 20.

In order to conserve energy and enhance the eciency of the unit, all outer surfaces of the shell i I0 may be furnished with insulating material as indicated at ill. The condensing chambers may be equipped with normally sealed flushing tubes such as are indicated at 4| of Fig. 1, said tubes being represented at I I5 in the Fig. 5 modiiication. As stated, the condensing unit of Fig. 5 may be bodily substituted for the coresponding structure disclosed in Fig. 1, wherefore, it is deemed unnecessary to include in Fig. 5 the duplicate showing of the boiler, mixer, fans and control units of Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive. The understanding is that all of the mechanism ofFig. 1 shown at ,the right of the insulating panel H6, is associated with the unit illustrated by Fig. 5.

It is to be understood that in commercial practice. various modifications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claimsI without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimedv is: I

1. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination, a steam generator having a steam discharge jet, .means for moving foul airgpast the let to effect an intimate intermixing of the air with steam, a chamber including refrigerated surfaces in the path of air-steam movement, acting upon the mixture to dehumidify same and to extract and accumulate condensation products therefrom, means dependent upon a reduced velocity of air through the chamber resulting from accumulation of the condensation products, for defrosting the refrigerated surfaces of said chamber, and thermostatically controlled means rfor shunting to the steam generator a portion of the cleansed `and dehumidied air discharged from said chamber to rehcat the same.

2. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination. a steam generator having a steam discharge jet, means for moving foul air past the iet to effect an intimate intermixing of the air with steam, a chamber including refrigeratedA surfaces in the path of air-steam movement, acting upon the mixture to dehumidify same and to extract and accumulate condensation products therefrom, means dependent upon a reduced velocity of air through the chamber resulting from accumulation of the condensation'prcducts, for defrosting the refrigerated surfaces of said chamber, and means for shunting to the steam generator a portion of the cleansedand dehumidiiled air discharged from said chamber to reheat the same.

3. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination, a steam generator having a steam discharge jet, means for moving foul air past the jet to eiect an intimate intermixing of the air with steam, a chamber including refrigerated surfaces in the path of air-steam movement, acting upon the mixture to dehumidify same and to extract and accumulate condensation products therefrom, means dependent upon a reduced velocity of air through the chamber resulting from accumulation of the condensation products, for defrosting the refrigerated surfaces of said chamber, meansfor conveying a dushing duid to the chamber, and a drain for disposal of the flushing iiuid and the foreign substance dislodged thereby in passing over the refrigerated surfaces and through the chamber.

4. An air conditioning` apparatus comprising-in combination, a steam discharge jet, means for moving unclean air past the jetand into intimate association with the steam, 'to destroy odors and saturate the air with moisture, a dehumidifying condensing Achamber including an air entry port and an air discharging port, for the continuous movement of a current of air through the cham` ber, refrigerating means located exteriorly oi' said chamber for maintaining the chamber walls below the freezing temperature of wtaer, spaced baille means within the chamber and associated with the cold walls theerof to transfer to said walls the heat of the air-steam mixture moving through the chamber and across the baille means therein, and means for draining the chamber of accumulated matter condenser upon the Walls and baiiies thereof.

5. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination, a steam discharge jet, means for 1 1 moving unclean air past the jet and into intimate association with the steam, to destroy odors and saturate the air with moisture. a dehumidifying condensing chamber including an air entry port and an air discharging port, for the continuous movement of a current of air through the chamber, refrigerating means located exteriorly of said chamber for maintaining the chamber walls below the freezing temperature of water, spaced baille means within the chamber and associated with the cold walls thereof to transfer to said walls the heat of the `air-steam mixture moving through the chamber and across the baille means therein, means for draining the chamber of accumulated matter condensed upon the walls and baffles thereof, and means responsive to a reduced velocity of air leaving the discharging port of the condensing chamber, for initiating a temporary suspension of operation of the 'refrigeraty ing means.

6. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination. a steam discharge jet, means for moving unclean air past the jet and into intimate association with the steam, to destroy odors and saturate the air with moisture, a dehumidifying condensing chamber including an air entry port and an air discharging port, for the continuous movement of a current of air through the chamber, refrigerating means located exteriorly of said chamber for maintaining the chamber walls below the freezing temperature of water, spaced baffle means within the chamber and associated with the cold lWalls thereof to transfer to said walls the heat of the air-steam mixture moving through the chamber and across the baille means therein, and means for draining the chamber of accumulated matter condensed upon the walls and baiiles thereof, a conduit for conveying 12 cleansed air from the discharging port, a suction fanassociated with said conduit, a bypass duct in the conduit between the i'an and the port last mentioned, means for heating a portion of said bypass duct, and adjustable damper means for controlling the proportion of air shunted through the bypass duct from said conduit.

7. An air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination, a steam discharge jet, means for moving unclean air past the jet and into intimate association with the steam, to destroy odors and saturate the air with moisture. a dehumidifying condensing chamber including an air entry port and an air discharging port, for the continuous movement of a current of air through the chamber, refrigerating means located exteriorly of said chamber for maintaining the chamber walls below the freezing temperature of water, spaced baiiie means within the chamber and associated with the cold walls thereof to transfer to said walls the heat of the air-steam mixture moving through the chamber and across the bale means therein, and means for draining the chamber of accumulated matter condensed upon the walls and baiiies thereof, a conduit for conveying cleansed air from 'the discharging port, a suction fan associated with said conduit, a bypass duct in the conduit between the fan and the port last mentioned, means for heating a portion of said bypass duct, a damper for controlling the proportion of air shunted through the bypass duct from said conduit, and proportioning control means thermostaticaliy governed to establish various adjusted positions of the damper in correspondency with changes in the surrounding air temperatures.

ANDREW P. CLARK.

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