US2582986A - Storage vault conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

1952 w. G. HAERTEL ETAL 2,582,986

STORAGE VAULT CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 10, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zia/endow Jan. 22, 1952 w. G. HAERTEL ETAL 86 STORAGE VAULT CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 10, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AZZarzwys Jan. 22, 1952 w. G. HAERTEL ET AL 2,582,936

STORAGE VAULT CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .5 F29 2245 if fizz/anion;

W417i? 6. H452 TEL 04 1/10 a. 04 IVER 59 VERA/5Q H. 544/111 5. 5m

Patented Jan. 22, 1952 s'i'iiiiliGE VAULT CONDITI'ONfNG UNI Walter: liaertel, David H; Oliver, and Verner l1,- Sm-allbeck; Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Walter Haertel mpaiiy; Minneapolis, Minn;

acorpcrationoflifinnesuta A plication June iil, 1949; S'i'i'al Noi 93,284

(of; Ge -6") 5 ciaiins;

1. This invention relates to conditioning units particularly adapted for such rooms as tur storage vaults, but also adaptable for usein other rooms and chambers. I

To care for furswhen not in use" the furs are hung in storage vaults. In these vaults-forthe proper preservation of the furs the air should be maintained at a uniform rather low temperature and the air should. be maintained; also in a rather dry condition. Attimes it is] desir able to fumigate the vault, andaiter fumigation it is necessary toventilate the vault to eliminate the fumigant. II I It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a conditioning unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults and the like which can be employed for refrigerating, dehumidifying, furnigating and ventilating such room's.

Another object is to provide such a unitwhichj while circulating the air in the room oool' the air automatically to maintain the" rooiii' desired relativelylow temperature and wlii case the relative humidity of the air becom'e'sto'o high will dehumidiiy the air automatically:

A still further object is't'd prov/r I I which can be employed forfre'ir'igeratin and" dehumidifying. the air in such" a room as" furstorage vault and whichat'tiines beoperated to circulate anddisseminate" a fumigant iii-the room and can thereafter be operated to ventilate the room to eliminate the furnigant therefrom, whereupon the unit canb'e again used for refrig: crating and dehumidifying' the air in fine-mom; A further" object is to provide a compact u it which will occupy but small space irithe fur storage vault or other room inwhich it"is used' and which is of relativelysiinpl' and inexpensive construction and is highly efficie'nt use.

The objects and advantageso'f the invention will more fully appear from the followi ng -descrip-tion made in connection with the" "chi panying drawings wherein like refer'en ters refer to the same 01 911311121 'parts tnro'ughout the different views; and inwhich Fig. 1 is a perspective view of aportion-of fur'storage vault wherein oneof the-conditioning.

and other parts beingshown in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a View looking. toward the leftside: 05

' a" uflit 2 the device shown at the right of Fig. 1, a portion of the paneling being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewshowing'the linkagesystem between the louver operating motor and the louvers operated thereby; II I Fig.1 6 is a perspective view showing the linkagesystembetween the damper operating motor and the two dampersop-erated-thereby; II I Figs.- '7, 8, 9, and were diagrammatic views illustrating the conditioning unit as employed respectively for refrigerating,- dehumi'difying, fumigating, and ventilating, the direction of air' circulating being shown by arrows an'd the moi/' able partsand certain other parts being shown in the condition they will be in as the unit is'used for the diii'erent purposes; II

11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principal parts of the refrigeration unit employed} the electrical circuit to the motor operating. this refrigerating unit bein also shown: and

I Fig. i2 is a wiring diagram for the'eoiiditidi'iinguni'tshowing wiring other than to the refrige'ra tion unit motor; I

Referring filst to Figs. 1' i166 inclusive, thf is" ther'' illustrated an air conditioning unit forj ur storage vaults exemplifying the invention: This iifii't ir'icludesa skeleton name [30f rectangular shape in transverse and magnuamai section sup}? porting a base M a shelf or dividing partition i5" abbutniidwayof'tne height of the frame, lower enclosure straps Hi just above the level of the shelf l5" and upper enclosure straps ll' spaced downwardly from the top of the skeleton frame. The'front oi the frame" 53 is closed by anupper fixed'front panel 58', midway lateral front panels IS, and upper and lower removable frontpanels 2D and 2 I having lower edges which willinterlock with portions'of the frame; and handle latches 22 which will interlock with the pfajr'iels I8- and i9 respectively. The right side of the siieleton frame" l 3isclosed by a right side pan'er 23'; while similarly the left side of the skeleton frame is closed by a left side panel 2d".- The' back of the frame is'closed by a backpanel 25 and the top is closed by a toppanel 26.

The shelf or partitioni 5 divides the casing into an'upper plenum-chamber A' and a lower r d frigeiati'onunit chamber 13 within which an parts of a refrigeration unit 0, except'the expari sion coil of the unit, are mounted-to be supported by base M. This refrigerating unit maybe of any standard type and it is thus unnecessary to describe the same in detail. I

An'air intake opening. His formed in the front paneling of the .unit leading into the plenum chamber A. This opening is located between the two removable front panels 29 and ii and between the two lateral front panels 19. Mounted on the shelf l5 immediately behind this inlet opening 21 is an expansion coil 28 for the refrigeration unit, this coil being supplied with liquid refrigerant by a pipe 29 leading from the refrigeration unit and a pipe 36 being connected to the upper portion of the expansion coil for carrying off the refrigerant in gaseous form and conveying it back to the refrigeration unit C. It should perhaps be stated that the expansion coil 28 is a finned coil very similar to a tubular finned radiator.

Mounted at the rear of the expansion coil 28 at the two end portions thereof are a pair of upstanding bars 31 forming a louver frame within which outwardly projecting horizontal pivot pins 32 carried by louvers 33 are journaled. These louvers accordingly are mounted for swinging movement about horizontal axes and all the louvers are connected for swinging movement together by arms 34 fixed to the pins 32 at corresponding ends of the louvers and by a link 35 pivotally connected to the inner ends of these arms 34. The pin 32a at one end of the uppermost louver 33 has secured thereto an operating lever 36 and it will be seen that by swinging this lever all of the louvers 33 can be swung so as to open them to a greater or lesser extent, thereby regulating the amount of air that can pass through the inlet 21 and through the expansion coil 28. For the purpose of swinging the louvers from a full open substantially horizontal position to a partially closed position inclining inwardly and downwardly from their outer edges there is provided a stalled torque motor 31, and this motor may be secured at a convenient point to the skeleton frame l3. The motor 31 has a motor shaft 38 to which an arm 39 is connected, this arm 39 in turn being pivotally connected to one end of a link 48, the remaining end of which is'pivotally connected to the lever 36. The said motor 31 when energized will act to partially close the louvers 33 to carry them to the inclined position referred to and will then stall to hold the louvers in the partially closed position. The pin 32a of the uppermost louver carries near its outer end an arm 4! from which is suspended a weight 42, and this weight will act to open the louvers 33 and thereafter hold the louvers in open position upon de-energization of the stalled torque motor 31.

Below the expansion coil 28 there is located a drip pan 43 for the collection of any water dripping off the expansion coil and a pipe '44 receives from this drip pan and may be carried off to a point to drain into a suitable receptacle or into a sewer.

There are provided through the top panel 26 twin discharge outlet openings communicating with the plenum chamber A and one of these outlets will be called the room outlet 45, while the other outlet will be designated the outside outlet 46. Supported within the upper portion of the plenum chamber A as upon cross bars ll carried by the upper straps I7 is a blower 48 which may be of the squirrel cage type having inlet openings 48a at the two ends of its casing receiving from the plenum chamber A. The shaft of this blower is designated by the numeral 487). A twin branch outlet housing 49 is connected to the outlet mouth of the blower 48 and one branch 49a of this housing projects through the room discharge outlet to discharge into the vault or room within which the unit is placed, while the other branch 49b projects through the outside discharge outlet 46 and is connected to a conduit 58 which will be carried to a point outside the room or vault within which the conditioning unit is located to discharge as to the outside air. A motor bracket 5! is connected by a pivot 52 to the housing of the blower 46 and a blower motor 53 is carried by this bracket 5!. The lower end of the bracket 5i carries a set screw 54 which will be carried by the weight of the motor into engagement with a portion of the housing of the blower and by adjusting the screw 54 the shaft 53a of the motor can be spaced a greater or a lesser distance from the blower shaft 48b. The motor shaft 53a carries a pulley 55 and a belt 56 runs over this pulley and over another pulley 51 carried by the blower shaft 481) at one end thereof, thescrew 54 acting to adjust the tension of this belt.

Mounted at the central portion of the twin housing 49 between the two branches 519a and 4% on a damper shaft 58 is a control damper 59 which will control the discharge from the blower 48 to alternatively direct this discharge through the branch 49a or the branch fib of the housing 49, depending on the position to which the. damper is swung. The damper shaft 58 carries adjacent one end thereof an operating lever 68. For swinging the damper 59 there is provided a stalled torque motor 6| secured in a convenient position to the skeleton frame I3 cf the unit, and this motor 6| has a motor shaft 62 to which an arm 63 is connected. A link 64 v is pivotally connected at one end to the arm 63 and is pivotally connected at its other end to the lever 68. A tension spring 65 is connected at one end to the link 64 and is connected at its other end to a fixed portion of the frame !3, and this spring normally urges the linkage arrangement to such a position that the controldamper 59 closes off the branch 4% passing through the outside outlet 46, thereby leaving the branch 49a running through the room outlet 45 open. When the motor 6| is energized, the parts will be actuated to swing the control damper 59 to a position wherein passage through the branch 59a is obstructed by the damper, leaving passage through the branch 4% open, thereby permitting the discharge of air from the blower through the outside outlet 46 and the conduit 58 to a point outside the room wherein the conditioning unit is located. After the control damper 59 has been swung to close the branch 49a the motor stalls, and while still energized it holds the damper in this position against the tension of the spring 65.

In the upper left portion of the plenum chamber A there is mounted a box-like housing 66 having a frame-like upper portion projecting through an opening 61 formed in the top panel 26. Another opening 68 in the right side panel '23 affords communication between the housing 66 and the room or vault within which the conditioning unit is located. The opening 68 is framed by a frame 69 carrying an air filter 18 for purifying the air passing therethrough. A conduit II is attached to the upwardly projecting portion of the housing 66 and this conduit runs outwardly to a point beyond the room or vault within which the unit is located and will be preferably extended to the outside air. The housing 66 forms in reality a portion of anair inlet conduit which at times may be employed for supplying fresh air to the room or vaultto supplant air discharged through the branch hand conduitlefll- The opening ET is controlled by a damper-l2 secured to a damper" shaft 13 journaled inthe upper portion of thehousing 66. This damper shaft t3 has secured thereto an operating lever M and a link 15' is pivotally connected at one end to the lever '14 and is pivotally connected at its otherend to an arm 16 secured to the opposite end of thecontrol damper shaft 58 from that to which the lever 56 is secured. The linkage is such between the the control damper 59 is swung: to a position to close the branch 49a of the blower housing and open the branch 49b of theblower' housing.

Mounted on the right side panel 23 of the unit is a control panel ll carrying a humidos'tat lit, a thermostat l9 and a casing 80 within which a thermometer and humidity indicator are located. An electric switch 8| which may be called the main refrigeration control" switch is also mounted on this control panel.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11, the refrigeration unit 0 includes a motor 82' driving a compressor 33, the said compressor; communicating with a conditioner receiver 84 wherein the compressed refrigerant is cooled to liquify the same. From the conditioning receiver the refrigerant runs to an expansion valve 85 and hence to the expansion coil 28 from whence the refrigerant in gaseous form is carried'back' to" the compressor $3. Line wires 86' run to a suitable refrigeration unit motor switch 8] which may be located at any desired point either within the room or vault where the conditioning unit is located or outside the roomor vault; From the switch 8? wires 88' run. to a magnetic starter 89' and thence to the motor 821' of the, refrigeration unit.

Referring now to the wiring diagram Fig. 12, there is there diagrammatically illustrated the fan motor 53, the stalled torque louver operating motor Bl" and the stalled torque control valve motor 6i. Also, thehumidostat l8 and the thermostat '59 are shown as is themainrefrigerationcontrol switch 8 I. The switch 8 l is'asingle throw, double contactswitch and includes fixed contacts em and 8H) and movable: contact 8l'c and 81d adapted to respectively engage-with the two fixed contacts 81a and 8|b. There is also provided a double contact relay switch designated'as an entirety by the numeral 90. This switch includes relay 95a, armature 90b; and mova-hle contacts Qlle and 96 carried by the armature 90b and adapted for cooperation respectively with fixed contacts 900 and. 90d when thearmature Sllb is attracted by the energization of" the relay 99a; There is also provided a fumigation switch 91- and a ventilation switch 92, both of which are preferably located at any convenientpoint outsidethe room or vault within which the conditioning unit is located so that they can be thrown without entering the vault or room. The fumigation switch includes a fixed contact QIaand a movable contact 9lb, while the ventilation switch includes a fixed contact. 92a and a movable contact 921);

A pair of line wires running fromany suitable" source of electrical supply'a-re designated by" the all" 6 numerals 93' and 93a respectively;- Erom the line wire 93' a conductor 91 runs to, the fan motor '53 and another conductor- 95' runs: from the fan motor to the fixed contact Bio. of thema-in refrigeration control switch 81 Another conductor 96 runs from the movable contact 8lc' of the. switch 8! to the thermostat 19; and another conductor t7 runs from the thermostat- 19 to the movable contact 81-02 of the switch St. is con-- ductor 98 runs-from the fixed contact BI'bof the switch 8! to the line wire 931:; From the: con-= ductor a4 a conductor 99 runsto the louver-motors! and from thismotor-a-conductor [00 runs to the fixed contact 90d of the relay swit'cl r 99 another conductor lul runs from the conductor to the fixed contact 960 01 the relay; switch 9%; A conductor l 85' connects with: both" movable contacts See and 98' of therelay switch and runs over to tap the conductor 98 A conductor H12 taps the conductor 94 and runs: over to the coil 01? the relay 99a and from the relay coil a conductor 563 runs to the humid'osta't 18. From" the humidostat is a conductor I04 runs tothe movable contact 81d of the main refrigeration switch t l. A conductor I06 taps the conductor it? and runs to the fixed contact '9 la ofthefumi gation switch. A conductor PM is connected tothemovable contact/9 l b'of the fumigation switch and it is also connected to the movable contact 82?) of the ventilatingswitch and this conductor it? connects with the fixed contact 8th of the main refrigeration switch 8 to connect with conductor sea It should be stated that located within the plenum chamber A and resting onthe shelf or partition it behind thelouve'rstl is a tank It? for containing a liquid fumig'ant of the vaporiz ing type. This tank has end walls which project up above thelevel' of the tank and rods- [09'- extend acrossbetween the upper portions of these walls, and these rods in turnsupport hanger arms H0 from which wicks H l are suspended, these wicks running into thetank I08 and acting to" draw liquidfrom' the-tank bycapilla-ry attraction when the tank is filled or partially" filled with liquid; The relation between the louvers" 33-, the tank its and thewicks I1 I is such that when the louvers 33' are partially closed, i. e:, when the louvers incline downwardly and inwardly from their upper edges and air is drawn through the intake 2! and through the'expansioncoil 28-, the louvers will deflect theairdownwardly in and around the various wicks H'l so that if these wicks are wet the air will absorb the moisture therefrom.

Operation Reference will now be made to the diagram-- matic views Figs. 7 to 10; as well as to the: other views of the drawings. It is-normally: desired in fur storage vaults to maintain the. temperature of the vault between 60 and F1, and accord-- ingly the thermostat-l9 may he set so that if the temperature of the vault rises above thetherniostat will close, while'the thermostat will open when the. temperature? in the vault falls below55". It will, of course, be appreoiated'that depending on the desires: of the particular vault operator; the thermostat can beset to close when the temperature in the vaultrises beyond any desired point and open when the temperaturedrops beyond any other lower point. The humidost'at 13 will also be set so that it will close if'the humidity of the air in the vault-rises be:- yond a predetermined point; while"fi"humido-= stat will open when the humidity in the air is decreased slightly below the point for which the closing of the humidostat is set. Generally, the humidostat will be set to close when the relative humidity of the air increases beyond 50% and to open when the relative humidity falls below 45%.

For operating a vault under normal conditions, to maintain the air within the vault at a substantially constant temperature and at a substantially constant humidification, the motor switch for the refrigeration unit 81 will be closed, the main refrigeration switch 8! will be closed, and both the fumigation switch 9| and the ventilation switch 92 will be opened. Assuming that the temperature of the air within the vault is below the point for which the thermostat is set to close and that the humidity of the air in the vault is below the point for which the humidostat i8 is set to close, the louvers 33 will remain open in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 7 and the control damper 59 and fresh air intake damper 12 will be held by the spring 65 to take the position shown in Fig. '7, i. e., the control damper 59 will close off the branch 49b of the housing 49 running to the outside outlet 46 and the branch 49a running to the room outlet 45 will remain open, and the fresh air damper 12 will be closed. Of course, when neither the thermostat 19 nor the humidostat 18 are closed, none of the three motors 53, 31, or 6| will be operated and there will be no circulation of air in the vault within which the unit is located.

Now, let us assume that the temperature of the air in the vault rises beyond the point for which the closing of the thermostat I9 is set but that the relative humidity of the air is still below the requisite relative humidity to close the humidostat 18. The louvers 33, the control damper 59 and the fresh air damper 12 will then be in the position shown in Fig. 7 and an air circulation will be set up as indicated by the arrows in this view. A blower motor circuit will be established from line wire 93 through conductor 94, blower motor 53, conductor 95, fixed contact Ma and movable contact 810 of the main refrigeration switch and conductor 96 to the thermostat l9 and thence through the thermostat, conductor 91, movable contact 8ld and fixed contact 8lb of the main refrigeration switch and conductor 98 to line wire 93a. Accordingly, the blower motor 53 will be energized and air will be drawn from the plenum chamber A into the blower 48 and ejected outwardly from the blower through the branch 49a of housing 49 and room outlet 45 into the vault or room within which the conditioning unit is located. Air will be drawn into plenum chamber A through the air inlet 21 from the vault and this air as it passes through the expansion coil 28 of the refrigeration unit will be cooled inasmuch as the refrigeration unit will now be in operation. As the louvers 33 are open at this time the air passing through the expansion cell will not be dehumidified because of the fact that a large volume of air is being passed through the coil. In other words, when the louvers 93-are fully open, the air passing through the expansion coil will be in such great volume that the air can be cooled without forming frost on the coil or precipitating water therefrom and, of course, this cooled air will pass directly to the blower to be disseminated into the vault.

If the relative humidity of the air being circulated should rise to a point sufilcient to close the humidostat I8, and irrespective of whether or not the thermostat I9 is closed, the louver motor 31' will be energized to partially close the louvers 33 whereupon the parts will appear as shown in Fig. 8, and the air will be circulated as is there indicated by the arrows. When the louvers are partially closed, the volume of air passing through the expansion coil 28 is materially reduced and this air is intensely cooled. thereby causing the condensation of moisture from the air on the coil 28 in the form of water or frost. Water condensing on the coil 28 may drip into the pan 43 and be carried off therefrom through the pipe 44.

As the humidostat 18 closes, a relay circuit will be established from line wire 93 through conductor 94 and conductor I92 to the coil of the relay 99a and thence through conductor I03 to the humidostat i8 and thence through the humidostat, conductor I94, movable contact ills! of the main refrigeration switch 8| and fixed contact 8Ib thereof through conductor 98 to line wire 930.. Accordingly, the relay a will be energized to attract the armature 9017, thereby causing engagement between the movable contact 99c and the fixed contact 900 and between the movable contact 90 and the fixed contact 90d of the relay switch 99. As the relay switch 90 closes, a blower motor circuit is established from line wire 93 through conductor 94 to the blower motor 53 and thence through the conductor 95, conductor 19!, fixed contact 990, movable contact 9912, conductor I05, and conductor 98 to line wire 93a and, accordingly, the blower 48 if not already in operation will be placed in operation. Similarly, as the relay switch 90 closes, a louver motor circuit will be established from line wire 93 through conductor 94 and conductor 99 to the louver motor 31 and thence through conductor I39, fixed. contact 90d, movable contact 90f, conductor I95 and conductor 98 to line wire 93a. The louver motor 31 will thus be energized and this motor will act through the linkage mechanism shown in Fig. 5 to partially close the louvers 33. When the air in the vault has been sufiiciently dehumidified for the humidostat 18 to open, and irrespective of whether or not the thermostat I9 is closed, the relay circuit will be broken, thereby causing the relay switch 90 to open, breaking the circuit to the louver motor 31 and breaking the circuit to the blower motor 53 unless the first described blower motor circuit is established through the fact that the thermostat 19 is closed.

It will be seen that when the main refrigeration switch BI is closed and the refrigeration unit is in operation, the air within the vault will be automatically conditioned both as to temperature and as to humidity so that the air within the vault will be maintained at a certain relatively low temperature level and the relative humidity of the air will be maintained at a certain relatively low level. It is customary in most refrigeration units that controls be provided for automatically defrosting the unit and while such controls are not illustrated, it will be understood that the refrigeration unit may be run through a defrosting cycle from time to time while the main refrigeration switch 8| is closed.

When it is desired to fumigate the vault the main refrigeration switch 8! will be opened and the refrigeration unit switch 81 will be opened. Thereupon the conditioning unit will be allowed to stand idle for perhaps a period of twelve to twenty-four hours without the refrigeration unit in operation and without the blower operating in order that the temperature in the vault may be 9 raised. When. the; temperature of the vault. is proper the: fumigation switch 9|. which is. located outside the vault will. be closed, the ventilation switch 92. being retained in open position, the main refrigeration switch 8| being in open position and the refrigerationv unit switch it? being also maintainedin open. position. Prior to the closing of. the fumigation switch 9| a. liquid fumi fant of volatile type will be supplied to the tank 398 and the wicks II! will attract this liquid fumigant by capillary attraction. Now, as the fumigation switch 9| is closed, a relay circuit is established from line wire 93 through conductor 9d and conductor I512 to the Winding of the relay 33a and thence through conductor 13 and. conductor Hi6 to-the fixed contact 9 la of thefumigation switch, thence through the movable contact 911) of the fumigation switch, conductor it? and conductor 38. to line wire 93a. Accordingly, the armature th of. the relay switch 96 will be attracted through energization of the relay 9 3a, thereby bringing movable contact 96c into engagement with movable contact 960 and movable contact Bilf into engagement with fixed contact 95d of the relay switch. A blower motor circuit will then be established from line wire 93 through conductor 94 to the. blower motor 53. and thence through the conductor 95, conductor lat, fixed contact tile, movable contact. Ste, conductor 65 and conductor 93 to line wire 93a, and. the blower will thus be set in operation. Also, a louver motor circuit will. be established from line wire 93 through conductor 94 and conductor 55. to the louver motor 31 and thence through conductor Hit, fixed contact. 98d, movable contact flilf, conductor H35 and conductor 98 to line wire eta. The louver motor will. accordingly be energized and the louvers will be to the partially closed position shown in Fig. 9. Air will now be drawn from the vault through the inlet 2? throughthe inactive expansicn coil 28 to be deflected downwardly and inwardly into the plenum chamber A by the partially closed louvers 33 against the wicks ill carrying the fumigant. The air will absorb the volatile fumigant and will be drawn into the blower 48 and forced out from the blower through the branch 5.9a of the housing 49 and back into the vault through the room. outlet 45. The fumigant accordingly will be circulated to all portions of the vault where it may perform its usual function to kill any insects or bacteriological life within the vault. The conditioning unit as it appears during the fiunigation cycle is. shown in Fig. 9. a

After the vault-has been sufiiciently fumigated it is. necessary to eliminate the fumigant from the vault, and this is done by ventilating the vault. The fumigation switch. ill remainingv closed and the main refrigeration switch 8| remaining open and the refrigeration unit switch 81 remaining open, the ventilation switch 92 is now closed. The circuits previously established by closure of the fumigation switch 91 remain established so as to cause operation of the blower motor 53 and the louver motor 37. As the ventilation switch 92 is closed, a damper motor circuit is established running from line wire 93 rough conductor 94, conductor 99-, a conductor i i 2 running from the conductor 99 to the damper motor ti, thence through the damper motor 6! and a conductor H3 running from this motor to the fixed contact 92a of the ventilating switch and thence through the movable contact 92b,

conductor lei and conductor 9'8 to the line wire 10 83a. As the damper motor circuit. is established, the damper motor 9| is. energizedand the control damper ":39v and. the fresh air inlet damper '52. are moved to the position shown in Fig. 10 and held inv thisv position. In. other words, the control damper 55 is swung from. a position closing flow through the branch. 49b of the discharge casing 49 to a position. where the damper 49 closes the branch 49a of the casing. Also, the fresh air damper E2 is swung to open position. The blower it now draws air from within the vault through the inlet 2i into theplenum chamber A and forces this air through the outside outlet 45 and conduit Eel to a point outside the vault. As the air Within the vault is exhausted therefrom, the pressure within the vault is lowered and, hence, air from outside the vault will be drawn through the conduit H into the casing $6 and from the casing through the air filter l0 and the opening 68 into the vault to replace the air exhausted. The unit will be operated in the ventilating condition as shown in Fig. 10 until all the fumigant is expolled from the vault, whereupon on opening the ventilating switch 92 and the fumigation switch 8|, all the circuits will be broken to de-energize all three motors 53, 31, and 6|, whereupon the louvers 33 will be swung back to full open position and the two dampers 59 and 12 will swing back to the position shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The vault having been cleared of the fumigant, the-unit can be again operated on the refrigeration and dehumidification cycle.

It will be seen that a highly efficient conditioning unit for refrigerating, dehumidifying, fumigatingand ventilating such rooms as fur storage vaults hasv been provided. It will be obvious that the; device. can also be employed for many other uses. Thus, for example, a heating iiuid can be supplied to the coil 28 for heating the air if it should be desired to raise the temperature of. the air in. the room being treated. Also, it is possible to employ the. tank IE8 and the wicks for humidifying the air to increase the humidity in the air if. such is desired.

While it is not essential that the louvers 33 be. partially closed during the ventilation cycle of operation, there is some advantage in this to simplify the wiring of the apparatus and to also prevent, overload of the blower and to prevent the entrance of air into the vault through the inlet 68 beyond the capacity of the air filter E0 to properly handle the same.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes. may be made in the form; details, arrangement. and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown, and described, and setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration, dehumidification, and fumigation unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults comprising a casing having a plenum chamber provided with a receiving inlet adapted to receive from the room and a discharge outlet adapted to discharge into the room, a motor operated blower receiving from said plenum chamher and discharging through said outlet, a refrigeration unit having an expansion coil located in said plenum chamber in the path of the air from said inlet to said outlet, a humidifier within which a liquid fumigant may be placed. located within said plenum chamber, louvers controlling the flow of air throughv said expansion coil and located within said plenum chamber in such 11 relation relative to said humidifier that when the louvers are partially closed the air passing from said inlet to said outlet will be deflected around said humidifier, a thermostatic switch reflecting the temperature in said room and closing when the temperature in the room rises above a particular setting and opening when the temperature lowers below a lower particular setting, a humidostat reflecting the humidity of air within the room and closing when the humidity in the room rises above a particular setting and openin when the humidity in the room lowers beyond a lower particular setting, a louver operating motor, a linkage between said louver operating motor and said louvers for partially closing said louvers when said louver operating motor is energized, means normally urging said louvers to open to full open position when the louver operating motor is not energized, means for controlling the operation of said refrigeration unit, a main refrigeration switch, a first blower motor circuit adapted to be established to said blower motor when said main refrigeration switch is closed as said thermostat closes, a second blower motor circuit adapted to be established when said refrigeration switch is closed upon the closing of said humidostat, a louver operating motor circuit adapted to be established to energize said louver operating motor when said main refrigeration switch is closed and as said humidostat closes, a fumigation switch, a third blower motor circuit adapted to be established to said blower motor when said main refrigeration switch is open and said fumigation switch is closed, and a second louver motor circuit adapted to be established to energize said louver motor when said refrigeration switch is open and said fumigation switch is closed.

2. A refrigeration and dehumidification unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults comprising a casing having a plenum chamber provided with a receiving inlet adapted to receive from the room and a. discharge outlet adapted to discharge into the room, a blower receiving from said plenum chamber and discharging through said outlet, a motor for operating said blower, driving means between said blower motor and said blower, a refrigeration unit having an expansion coil located in said plenum chamber in the path of the air from said inlet to said outlet, louvers controlling the flow of air through said expan sion coil, a louver operating motor, a linkage between said louver operating motor and said louvers for partially closing said louvers when the louver operating motor is energized, means normally holding said louvers open, a thermostat for reflecting the temperature in the room and adapted to close when the temperature in the room rises above a particular setting and adapted to open when the temperature in the room lowers below a lower particular setting, a humidostat for reflecting the humidity of air within the room and adapted to close when the humidity rises above a particular setting and adapted to open when the humidity lowers below a lower particular setting, a first blower motor circuit adapted to be established through said thermostat when closed to operate said blower motor, a second blower motor circuit adapted to be established as said humidostat closes to operate said blower motor and a louver motor circuit adapted to be established as said humidostat closes to energize said louver operating motor.

3. A conditioning unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults comprising a casing having a i2 plenum chamber provided with a receiving inlet adapted to receive from the room, a room discharge outlet adapted to discharge into the room and a outside discharge outlet adapted to discharge to a point outside the room, a blower adapted to receive from said plenum chamber and having twin discharge branches, one of which leads to said room discharge outlet and the other of which leads to said outside discharge outlet, a refrigeration unit having an expansion coil located in said plenum chamber in the path of the air from said inlet to said blower, a humidifler located within said plenum chamber and within which a liquid fumigant may be placed, louvers controlling the flow of air through said expansion coil and adapted when partially closed to deflect the air passing to said blower around said humidifier, a conduit for admitting air from a point outside the room to the room. a control damper mounted for alternate positioning to selectively close off one of said two twin branches, a fresh air damper mounted to control flow through said conduit, a blower motor, means for driving said blower from said blower motor, a louver operating motor, a linkage between said louver motor and said louvers for partially closing said louvers when said louver motor is energized, means normally holdin said louvers open when said louver motor is not energized, a damper motor, a linkage between said damper motor and said two dampers for opening said fresh air damper and for swinging said control damper to close the branch leading to said room inlet when the damper motor is energized, means normally holding said fresh air damper closed and said control damper positioned to close the branch leading to said outside discharge outlet, a refrigeration unit switch controllin the operation of said refrigeration unit, a main refrigeration switch, a fumigation switch, a ventilation switch, a thermostat reflecting said room temperature and adapted to close when the temperature in the room rises above a certain point and adapted to open when the temperature in the room lowers below a certain lower point, a humidostat switch reflecting the humidity of the air within the room and adapted to close when the humidity in the room rises above a certain point and adapted to open when the humidity in the room lowers below a certain lower point, a first blower motor circuit adapted to be established when said main refrigeration switch is closed and said thermostat is closed, a second blower motor circuit adapted to be established when said main refrigeration switch is closed and said humidostat is closed, a louver motor circuit adapted to be established to energize said louver motor when said main refrigeration switch is closed and said humidostat is closed, a third blower motor circuit adapted to be established when said main refrigeration switch is open and said fumigation switch is closed, a second louver motor circuit adapted to be established to energize said louver motor when said main refrigeration switch is open and said fumigation switch is closed, and a damper motor circuit adapted to be established to energize said damper motor when said main refrigeration switch is open and said ventilation switch is closed.

4. A refrigeration, dehumidification, fumigation and ventilation unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults, comprising a casing provided with a plenum chamber having a room receiving inlet, a room discharge outlet and an outside discharge outlet adapted to be connected to discharge outside the room; a fresh air conduit section carried by said casing, having a receiving portion adapted to be connected with a source of air supply located outside the room and having a discharge portion for dischargin into the room; damper means controlling said two outlets and said fresh air conduit section and normally urged to a first position closing said outside discharge outlet, opening said room discharge outlet and closing said fresh air conduit section, but capable of being moved to a second position opening said outside discharge outlet, closing said room discharge outlet, and opening said fresh air conduit section; a blower mounted in said casing to receive from said plenum chamber and discharge through which ever of said outlets is open; a refrigeration unit having an expansion coil located within said plenum chamber and through which the air must pass in its travel from said room receiving inlet through said plenum chamber to said blower and through which ever discharge outlet is open; a humidifier located within said plenum chamber and within which a liquid fumigant may be placed; thermostatically controlled means for operating said blower in association with the expansion coil of said refrigeration unit to maintain the temperature of the room within a certain low temperature range when said damper means is in its first position and the humidity in the room is below a certain low humidity range; humidostatically controlled means for operating said blower in association with the expansion coil of said refrigeration unit to maintain the humidity of the room within the said low humidity range irrespective oi the temperature of the room; a control device which can be operated to throw both said thermostatically controlled means and said humidostatically controlled means out of operation; independent means for operating said blower when said damper means is in the first position, said control device is operated and a liquid fumigant is placed within said humidifier to fumigate the chamber; and other independent means for simultaneously operating said blower, moving said damper means to its second position and for maintaining said damper means in its second position to ventilate the room when said control device is operated.

5. A refrigeration, dehumidification fumigation and ventilation unit for such rooms as fur storage vaults comprising a casing provided with a plenum chamber havin a room receiving inlet, a room discharge outlet, and an outside discharge outlet adapted to be connected to discharge outside the room; a fresh air conduit section, carried by said casing, having a receiving portion adapted to be connected with a source of air supply located outside the room and having a discharge portion for discharging into the room: damper means controlling said two outlets and said fresh air conduit section and normally urged to a first position closing said outside discharge outlet, opening said room discharge outlet, and closing said fresh air conduit section, but capable of being moved to a second position opening said outside discharge outlet, closing said room discharge outlet and opening said fresh air conduit section; damper operating means adapted when energized to move sair damper means from its first position to its second position and to hold said damper means in its second position; a blower mounted in said casing to receive from said plenum chamber and discharge through which ever of said outlets is open; a refrigeration unit having an expansion coil located within said plenum chamber and through which the air must pass in its travel from said room receiving inlet through said plenum chamber to said blower and through which ever discharge outlet is open; means controlling the cooling effect of said expansion coil relative to the air passing there through to in a first setting cool air passing there through to a certain temperature and to in a second setting cool air passing there through to a certain temperature well below said first mentioned temperature; a thermostat mounted to reflect the room temperature and adapted to close when the temperature in the room rises above a certain range, and adapted to open when the temperature in the room lowers below that certain range; a humidostat reflecting the humidity of the air within the room and adapted to close when the humidity in the room rises above a certain range and adapted to open when the humidity in the room lowers below that certain range; a main switch; a circuit adapted to be established through said main switch and said thermostat when closed to set said controlling means in its first setting and operate said blower motor, to cool the air in the room when the humidity of the air in the room is below the range for which said humidostat is set; a circuit adapted to be established through said main switch and said humidostat when closed to set said controlling means in its second setting and operate said blower motor when the humidity in the room rises above the range for which the humidostat is set, to control the humidity in the room; a switch controlled circuit adapted to be established to said blower motor when said main switch is open and a liquid fumigant is placed within said humidifier, to circulate fumigant through the room; and a switch controlled circuit adapted to be established to said blower motor and to said damper operating means to energize the same, to ventilate the room.

WALTER G. HAERTEL. DAVIDH. OLIVER. VERNER. H. SMALLBECK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,890,888 Sherman Dec. 13, 1932 2,180,479 Philipp Nov. 21, 1939 2,234,037 Anderson Mar. 4, 1941 2,297,970 Merz Oct. 6, 1942

Images