US3142161A - Air conditioner vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1964 s. G. HOUSE AIR coNnmcNER vAPoRIzER Filed July 26. 1962 United States Patent O 3,142,161 Am CGNDITIONER VAPORIZER Samuel Gresham House, Abilene, Tex., assignor to George W. Owens, Dallas, Tex. Filed July 26, 1962, Ser. No. 212,661 1 Claim. (Cl. 62-238) This invention relates to an evaporative generator for any type of air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner for vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, buses or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner with ample supply of refrigerant to accommodate all types, which is adapted to utilize the heat from the exhaust manifold of the vehicle engine wherein an absorption refrigerating or cooling mechanism will be actuated to eiectively and eiliciently cool a vehicle or other body in a desired manner, and wherein according to the present invention there is provided a pressure control mechanism, and wherein the present invention is adapted to utilize steel wool therein in order to prevent sloshing of the contents of the generator or boiler of an absorption system, as for example when a vehicle is traveling on rough roads, making sharp turns or the like.

A further object is to provide a vehicle air conditioner with refrigerant gas which utilizes the Electrolux motionless refrigeration system, and wherein according to the present invention there has been provided a novel and highly eicient means for preventing sloshing of the contents of the boiler While the vehicle is traveling along highways or the like, and wherein instead of using a flame or electric heat element, according to the present invention the generator or boiler is placed atop or contiguous to the exhaust manifold of the engine to insure that there will be suilicient evaporation, and wherein the present invention is adapted to be attached rigidly to the exhaust manifold in any suitable manner, as for example by means of clamps, studs or bolts, and wherein an automatic pressure control valve is used to control pressure and operation of the air conditioner.

Still another object is to provide an auto-truck air conditioner evaporator boiler to supply needed gases, which utilizesstainless steel and wherein there is provided an improved means for controlling the pressure of the iluid in any system, and wherein there is provided a means for controlling the exact amount of return condensed liquid going back into the boiler on the engine manifold, the stainless steel wool being extremely durable and serving to properly hold back all liquid and wherein only vapor gas is permitted to go on to be condensed and wherein this arrangement insures that there will be a rapid siphoning action for a constant supply of gas and wherein there will be no splash or sloshing.

Still another object is to provide such an air conditioner with'refrigerant boiler that is economical to manufacture and'eflcient in operation, and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing certain constructional details of the pressure control mechanism and the boiler or generator.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a conventional engine such as an internal combustion engine of an automobile, truck or the like, and

j 3,142,161 Patented July 28, 1964 ice y the engine 10 includes the usual exhaust manifold 11,

FIG. 1. According to the present invention, a hollow boiler or generator 12 is arranged contiguous to the exhaust manifold 11, and the numeral 13 indicates one form of clamping means which is arranged in engagement with the boiler 12. As shown in FIG. 3, arcuate ange portions 14 may engage a portion of the boiler 12, and the clamp 13 may include straps 15 which are axed as at 16 to the flange portions 14, and the straps 15 may be provided with spaced apart lips or apertured ears 17 which have a securing element or bolt and nut assembly 18 arranged in engagement therewith. As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the boiler 12 may have stainless steel wool 19 therein, for a purpose to be later described.

According to the present invention there is also proi vided a pressure control unit which is indicated generally by the numeral 20, and the pressure control unit 20 is similar to the automatic pressure control shown and described in prior Patent 2,469,648, dated May l0, 1949. The pressure control 20 includes la cylinder 21 which has closures 22 and 23 on the ends thereof. An adjustment screw 24 extends through the closure 22, and the numeral 25 indicates a bellows in the cylinder 21, and there is provided a coil spring 26 within the bellows 25. The numeral 27 indicates a bellows which is spaced from the bellows 25, and a iloating member 28 is interposed between the bellows 25 and 27, and the floating member 28 is operatively connected to a rotary cut-off valve 29 which is rotatably arranged in a main housing 39, and the floating member 28 is connected to the valve 29 as at 30 'and 31. The valve 29 is provided with a passageway or bore 32 therein which is adapted to move into and out of alignment or registry with spaced apart ports 33 and 34 in the housing 39. The numeral 35 indicates a line or conduit which communicates with the port 33 through the media of a fitting 36, and the numeral 37 indicates `a return line which has one end connected to the port 34 as, for example, by means of a fitting 38, and the other end ofthe return line 37 is connected to an end of the boiler 12, FIG. 2.

The numeral 40 indicates a high pressure line which is connected to the boiler 12, and a by-pass or branch line 41 is connected into the high pressure line 40 as shown in FIG. l, and the branch line 41 is suitably connected to an end of the pressure control cylinder 21, as for example by means of a iitting 42. The numeral 43 indicates a gas refrigerator of the absorption type which is of conventional construction such as that shown in prior Patents 1,949,651 and 2,659,214. The steel wool is only arranged in the boiler.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an air conditioner gas supply, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the boiler 12 is arranged contiguous to the exhaust manifold 11 of the vehicle engine 10 so that heat from the exhaust manifold will be conveyed to the boiler by contact in order to properly actuate the gases to the air conditioning and refrigerating mechanism. The clamp 13 is of the rigid type, and the control valve provides a means for regulating the amount of cooling provided, so that the control valve makes adjustment of the boiler unnecessary.

The high pressure line 40 which is connected to an end of the boiler 12 has the by-pass line or branch line 41V direction and with the member 28 connected as at 39 and 31 to the rotary valve 29, it will be seen that this pressure will cause corresponding rotational movement of the valve 29 so that the passageway 32 will be auto matically moved to the proper position relative to the ports 33 and 34 and this therefore provides a means for automatically regulating the flow of material into the line 37 from the line or conduit 35.

The mechanism 43 is suitably connected to the lines 4i? and 35, for example, as shown in FIG. l and this mechanism 43 can be used for any desired purposes such as supplying cool air to air condition or cool the interior of an automobile, truck, or other vehicle or structure.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The numeral 35 indicates the absorbed liquid return line. In FIG. 2 the numeral 27 indicates the high side bellows, and the numeral 37 indicates the return line, and the numeral 12 indicates the manifold boiler. The unit 20 functions as a manifold evaporator pressure control means or mechanism.

In particular the present invention is adapted to be used to supply gases to any automobile and truck air conditioner and wherein the present invention eliminates the necessity of having a maze of compressors, belts and pulleys and the like, and the present invention embodies a simple and safe construction and operation. The present invention is so ecient that it will keep the cab of a large truck cold for a considerable period of time such as four hours even after the truck engine has been shut off. Also the unit can be attached to a refrigerated trailer on a truck having a Siphon system so as to readily pull the temperature inside the trailer down to a desired temperature in addition to cooling the truck cab, and the present invention operates without requiring any power from the truck engine.

It will be seen that according to the present invention there is utilized the principle of a ame powered refrigeration system without using ame and instead the present invention draws heat by conduction from the manifold unit.

Heretofore gas operated refrigerators have not been adapted to vehicles such as automobiles and it is to be noted that in household refrigerators of the gas operated type, an odd characteristic is usually present. That is, when the door is slammed hard as is sometimes necessary to make a wom catch work, the refrigerator will defrost. According to the present invention it has been discovered that the sloshing of the liquid inside the boiler must be prevented or the balance of the system will be temporarily upset and the refrigeration ceased for a short time. It will be seen that such a system cannot be used on a car or truck where there will be constant jarring movements when the vehicle is on the road and an important discovery has been made that a larger boiler packed with alloy steel wool is adapted to be used and the refrigerant can go through the boiler but movement will not affect it.

As shown in the drawings the large steel wool interior type boiler 12 is attached directly to the manifold.

Thus, it will be seen that the reason that the well known Electrolux motionless refrigeration system has never been adapted to auto and truck air conditioning is as set forth herein, and according to the present invention there has been provided a means for preventing sloshing of the contents of the boiler on rough roads and sharp turns. Also, instead of using a flame or electric heat element as is conventionally utilized in such refrigeration systems, the elongated boiler is placed atop or contiguous to the exhaust manifold so as to insure that ample evaporation will be obtained in a short period of time. In addition, the vehicle will stay cold for hours after the engine is shut off, as for example when the vehicle is being parked or loaded or the like.

The present invention is especially suitable or useful as a supplier to an automobile air conditioner.

The stainless steel wool 19 is durable even under extreme heat and will not be adversely affected even by acid or high pressure fluids acting thereon. The steel wool helps control evaporation and also controls pressure in a desired manner by restraining the return of condensed liquid back to the evaporating boiler chamber and thus it is relatively easy to control the pressure in the desired manner. The present invention makes no claim to the Siphon system of refrigeration per se, but according to the present invention there is utilized a pressure control mean similar to that shown and described in prior Patent 2,469,648 in conjunction with the appendix line 41 which leads from the pressure tank or pressure line to the bellows end of the control unit to open and close the main high Y pressure line, and the adjustment screw 24 can be rotated or adjusted to regulate the desired results. Thus, the present invention provides a means for automatically regulating the exact amount of absorbed refrigerant liquid going back into the boiler or generator tank on the engine manifold and this will therefore also control the vapor pressure and hold it exactly as set for by the ad-I justment screw.

The stainless steel wool will stand up even under adverse conditions such as extreme heat and the steel wool Y will hold back all liquid letting only the vapor go on to be condensed and then be returned to recycle over and over again under just the proper cooling conditions and with rapid siphoning ability for a constant supply of gas and wherein there will be no splashing or sloshing.

As stated previously the cooling system will continue i to function even after the engine is shut of, and this is thought to be due to the fact that as long as the manifold stays warm, the cooling system will continue to operate. Thus, the present invention employs heat converted from the engine manifold to produce gas power for cooling.

` With the present invention there is provided a means for furnishing ample steady supply of refrigerant gases to any existing absorbent system now in use without requiring a llame or electric element to heat the evaporative chamber, and wherein pressure is controlled by stifling the condensed liquids returning to the manifold heated boiler and wherein there is no sloshing due to the metallic wool interior. Thus, the important aspect or feature of the present invention is the use of the manifold heat induction to the generator tank, and wherein there is no splashing or sloshing of the tank contents due to the metallic wool iiltration and this coupled with the pressure control valve serves to govern the amount of absorbed liquid refrigerant returned to the vapor generating tank. No claim is made to the concept of refrigeration by heat per se, but it is within the scope of the present invention to include or embody the manifold heat induction tank.

The present invention is practical and highly elcient and wherein there are no moving parts to readily get out of order, and wherein the device can be made self-con tained and hermetically closed and automatic in operation and wherein there is good and efficient heat exchange in the desired manner. The present invention operates without resort to mechanical power actuated or relaying devices such as circulating and compression pumps and the ypresent invention avoids the use of machinery and apparatus which requires expert knowledge or skillfor its operation and the present invention is safe and reliable and eicient and economical to use. While the present invention has been described specifically for use in conjunction with a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, or the like, it is to be understood that it is capable of being used in other localities or for other purposes, and for example it can be used in household refrigerators or household air conditioners as Well as in large industriali applications, and wherein it can also be used on boats, trains, railroad cars or the like. Also the present invention can be used in cooling the interior of trailers or other units or structures. The steel wool is important, and the present invention will operate even when a vehicle is traveling over rough roads, and the cooling sys-` tem will operate even when the parts are not level. By making the material 19 of a substance such as stainless steel, the material 19 will not rust or corrode and hence is practically indestructible.

The present invention can be used in any application or location where it is desired to produce low temperatures as, for example, when heat is to be removed from a substance. The cooling system is adapted to work on the absorption principle and it uses heat energy as a source of power and it has no moving parts, and liquid ammonia can serve as the refrigerant. During the refrigeration cycle, heat from the manifold is applied to the generator 12, and the generator may contain the strong solution of ammonia gas dissolved in water and the heat will cause the solution to boil and ammonia vapor and some of the solution will rise to the separator which removes the liquid, and the hot gas continues its rise to the condenser where it is cooled and liquefied. Since the water has been separated from the ammonia, the liquid is now almost pure ammonia, and the liquid ammonia can flow through a tube into the evaporator or freezing unit where it vaporizes with hydrogen gas, and the hydrogen equalizes the pressure between the condenser and the evaporator. The vapor absorbs heat and produces refrigeration or cooling, and the heavy mixture passes downward into the air cooled absorber where the ammonia is absorbed by Water. The light hydrogen gas separates from the solution, rises through a pipe above the absorber and returns to the evaporator, and the cool ammonia solution ows back to the generator.

The throttle arm 31 is adapted to extend up far enough to permit full half circular swing of the cut olf disk or valve 29 to fully close ilow in the return line when head pressure rises excessively, and this construction is shown in detail in FIG. 3 of prior Patent 2,469,648.

With further reference to the refrigeration circuits, there is a gaseous pressure output, and absorbed liquid refrigerant to the nameless generator for revaporizing into gaseous refrigerant, and wherein the system does not need any replenishment, as long as the manifold generator temperature is automatically controlled properly.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described, comprising an engine embodying an exhaust manifold, a generator positioned adjacent to said manifold, a clamp arranged in engagement with said generator, a pressure line and a return line connected to opposite ends of said generator, a pressure control unit embodying a cylinder having closures 0n its ends, bellows in said cylinder, an adjusting screw extending through one of said closures, a floating member arranged in said cylinder, a main housing having a cutolr valve rotatably arranged therein, said valve having a passageway therein, ports in said housing adapted to have said passageway move into and out of registry therewith, the return line which has one of its ends connected to the generator having its other end communicating with one of said ports, an absorbed liquid line having one of its ends connected with the other port, a branch line having an end connected to said pressure line and its other end connected to said cylinder, an absorption refrigeration mechanism operatively connected to said pressure line and absorbed liquid return line, metallic material arranged in said generator for preventing splashing and sloshing in the generator, and the metallic material being arranged in the form of a unitary mass which is arranged within the generator from one end of the generator to the other end thereof and said material permitting refrigerant to pass through the generator, said branch line being connected to said pressure line at a point between the generator and the absorption refrigeration mechanism.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,949,651 Maiuri Mar. 16, 1934 2,148,571 Myerhoefer Feb. 28, 1939 2,305,923 Held Dec. 22, 1942 2,469,648 House May 10, 1949 2,659,214 Coggburn Nov. 17, 1953 2,839,274 Polin June 17, 1958 2,840,259 Steidl lune 24, 1958 3,055,187 Rogers Sept. 25, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,878 Australia Oct. 25, 1913

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