US3181604A

US3181604A - Air conditioning system for subdivided inhabitable enclosures

Info

Publication number: US3181604A
Application number: US164843A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard W Kritzer
Original assignee: Peerless of America Inc
Current assignee: Peerless of America Inc
Priority date: 1962-01-08
Filing date: 1962-01-08
Publication date: 1965-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-04

Description

y 1965 R. w. KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l WEST EXPOSURE /2-- 20 EAST EXPOSURE a4 7 :84 6-? g5??? 76 O Y L76 9o /04 If? a; 404- I 7 0 7a 32 l fa; T :4 34 /2- P/CHARD W. AR/TZER May 4, 1965 R. w. KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l-P/CHARD W K/P/ TIER y 1965 R. w. KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 5 [66/720 I F 5' I /40 INVEN TOR. R/CHARD w. KR/TZFR United States Patent 3,181,604 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUB- DIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Richard W. Kritzer, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Peerless of America, Incorporated, a corporation of Illinois Filed .Ian. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,843 1 Claim. (Cl. 16522) The improved air conditioning system comprising the present invention has been designed for use primarily in connection with a modern multi-story apartment building, a single or multi-story motel, a house or other building which is subdivided into individual inhabitable quarters or enclosures, the present day architectural trend in designing such a building being well adapted to accommodate the principles of the present invention. The invention is, however, capable of other uses and an air conditioning system embodying such principles may, with or without modification, be employed for cooling, dehumidifying and heating an oflice building, a factory building, a large residential building or any other subdivided inhabitable enclosure where the comfort of human life is to be considered Whether the building be of the multistory type or whether all of the enclosures thereof be at a single level. Irrespective, however, of the particular use to which the invention may be put, the essential features thereof are at all times preserved.

Where large inhabitable buildings are concerned, and Where such buildings are supplied with both heating and cooling facilities for the individual subdivisions or apartments thereof, two types of air conditioning systems are now commonly in use. While the individual installations may vary widely in the details thereof, the system, nevertheless, may be broadly classified as either a four-pipe systom or a three-pipe system, depending upon the number of feed and return pipes which are used for feeding the heating and cooling media generally to and returning the same from the individual apartments which are to be heated or cooled at will.

In the four-pipe system, a hot water feed pipe and a hot water return pipe carry the water in a closed path through whatever heat exchange device may be installed in the individual apartments and the use of such hot water is under the selective control of the individual tenant who, by opening or closing a valve or valves, may cause the hot water to be circulated through the heat exchang units of his individual localized heating installation. The hot water employed for this tenant-controlled heating is furnished by the management and generally emanates from a water heater or boiler which usually is installed in the basement of the building. Chilled water is similarly furnished by the management and this water generally emanates from a cooler which is also usually located in the basement of the building. The chilled water is pumped to the heat exchange units in the individual apartments through feed and return pipes which are entirely separate from the riser and return pipes for the hot water and thus,

collectively, four such feed and return pipes are embodied in such a system. The heat exchange devices or units in the individual apartments which serve for heating the air to be circulated through the apartments in some instances arc the same heat exchange devices which serve for cooling such air. In other installations, separate heat exchange devices are employed for heating and cooling respectively. In either event, four manifold or feed and return pipes are employed in the system and, invariably, the feed pipes for hot and cold water respectively, and sometimes the return pipes, are heavily insulated or jacketed to prevent heat losses. In a four-pipe system of this character, the tenant, by turning suitable valves, may establish or discontinue the heating or cooling effect, but his control is usually subject to the seasonal control by sustain Patented May 4, 1965 the management which supplies hot or cold water according to its own dictates as determined by the Weather.

In a three-pipe system, the basement installation, including the boiler and Water cooler, remains the same as in the four-pipe system. A hot Water feed pipe and a cold water feed pipe furnish hot and cold water, respectively, to the various heat exchange devices in the individual apartments, but a common return pipe is employed for both hot and cold water. Again, it is found necessary heavily to insulate or jacket the feed pipes. Likewise, as in the case of a four-pipe system, the limited tenant control whereby the tenant may initiat or discontinue heat ing or cooling effects, is subject to management control on a seasonal basis. In the three-pipe system, quick change-over operations from heating to cooling and vice versa are not possible inasmuch as it frequently requires many hours for the system to rid itself of heat when cooling is to be initiated, or to assimilate heat after a period of cooling. Furthermore, the individual tenant is not always aware of any act taken by the management with respect to the system as a whole and, unless notified by the management, he may not be apprised of the fact that either cooling or heating facilities are available to him.

Both the four-pipe system and the three-pipe system briefly outlined above are possessed of numerous disadvantages, principal among which is the high cost of the initial installation, as Well as the cost of maintenance. Additionally, in any temperate zone climate, there are oil-seasonal periods when certain tenants may have a demand for heating while other tenants may, at the same time, have a requirement for cooling. It frequently happens that the tenants who are located on the east side of an apartment building will have a demand for cool air during morning hours when the sun is on their side of the building, while at the same time, the tenants on the west side of the building will have a demand for hot air. Conversely, during the afternoon hours, the tenants on the east side of the building may feel the need for heat while the tenants on the west side of the building may require or desire cooling. In the four-pipe system, the necessary selective controls for both heating and cooling may be made available to the tenant by the management but only at the comparatively great cost of maintaining both the heating plant and the cooling plant in simultaneous operation. In actual practice, few managements Will go to such expense. In the three-pipe system, such selective controls are not effective to the tenant even if the management were willing to maintain both the heating and the cooling system in simultaneous operation, such unavailability being due to the aforementioned length of time required for change-over operations, and also to the fact that the mixing of hot and cold water in the return pipe lowers the eificiency of the water circulating system in both the heating and the cooling plants.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of both four and three-pipe systems of air conditioning and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a two-pipe system involving the use of only a feed pipe and a return pipe in series in a closed hydraulic circuit, the water furnished by the feed pipe being made available to the individual tenants on a seasonal basis for direct use for heating purposes, or for indirect use by the tenant for cooling purposes, the tenant thus being able, optionally, to use such water either for heating or for cooling, according to his individual preference. Thus, according to the present invention, although the same Water at a given temperature is furnished to all of the apartments in common, certain tenants, feeling the need for heat, may use this Water for heating purposes, while other ten-ants, feeling the need for cooling, may use the same water for cooling purposes.

Generally speaking, the improved two-pipe airconditioning system embodying the present invention comprises a feed pipeand a return pipe in series and the vicinity or proximity of the various building enclosures (apartments) to be air conditioned; means for flowing moderately warm current which is used infoperating the air conditioner,

water (85 to9.0.,F.) successively through the feed and enclosure, an air conditioning unit disposed in each enreturn'pipes; a heat exchange device disposed in each enclosure, connected toreceive water-fromthe feed pipe and to return the, water to. the return pipe, and adapted y hen rendered operative to heat the air in its associated closure, embodying a water-cooled condenser, having the a condenser: connected to receive Water from the feed pipe and to return the water to the return pipe, and adapted ,when rendered operativeto, cool the 'air in its associated enclosure; and means associated with each-enclosure for selectively rendering operative the heat exchange device or the air conditioning unit of the associated enclosure.

Briefly, in carrying out the invention, it iscontemplated that the management shall have control over a supply of water and be able either to heat suchwater .orvto i.e., in operating the electric motor which drives the refrigerant compressor and the current which is used inopcrating the fan which circulates'the air through the cooler. It is the individualcooler in each apartment which, in the last analysis, performs the'cooling function. on the air undergoing circulation. The single water cooler or; T

chiller under the control themanagement need be used ;only" to maintainthe water" in the closed circuit or pipe system'below a predetermined maximum on'th'e order of from 85 to 90 F., providingsuch water is not automatically maintained below such temperature by normal tenant'us'e. Frequently, and for' long periods ofytime,

the system willmaintain' itself in a condition of balance wherein the management need neitherheat or cool the water in thejsystem inasmuch as such tenants as are-using their equipment for cooling purposes will discharge hot 7 water'intothe return pipe, such water having been heated 'by heat exchange phenomena incidentto cooling of the hot compressed refrigerant in the condenser. Conversely, suchqtenants as are using their equipment for heating cool it to a desired or predetermined temperaturelona seasonal basis. For this purpose, .there may; be, provided a water heater or boiler and a water cooler or chiller, both instrument-alities being preferably. located in the basepurposes will. discharge relatively cool ,water into the 'return pipe. Ininstancessuch ashave been briefly outlined above where the tenants on the opposite sides of thebuildment of the building in which the system is installed.

Additional equipment under the control of the management includes a pump and suitable valve means whereby either the boiler or the cooler, each to the exclusion of a the other, maybe placed in series in a closed hydraulic circuit including the feed andv return pipes which are common to all of the apartments The valve means also is operable to exclude both the boiler and the cooler from the closed circuit flow of Water through the feed and'return pipes. Each tenant has under his own exclusive control two heat exchange units, one for heating purposes and'the other for coolingpurposes, and a fan or. blower common to both units. The heater, which is employed for heating purposes, will hereinafter be referred to simply as the hot water-heater, or simply the heater, is oppipe.

ing havedifferent airconditioning requirements, one group havingfa demand [forheat' and-.the other group having thermostatic control'of the temperature of the water in the 'eratively connected to thefeed pipe and to the return A shut-off valve in series with the heater, when" open, allows the water to' flowfrom the feed pipe through theheater and to be discharged to the return pipe. 'Theheat exchange unit which is employed for cooling purposes will hereinafter be referred to as the water cooler or:simply the cooler constitutes the evaporator unit of a complete so-called' electricallypowered air conditioner of conventional design and including a compressor, a Water-cooled condenser, an expansion valve or its equivasystem during in-between season weather where the water is to be maintained 'within a predetermined temperature range" where it is available tothe tenants on a selective basis for either heating or cooling purposes as determined 'by the individual tenants. If the water in the return pipe runs too hot so that the necessary temperature ditferential for-eifective and economical cooling of the condenser tubes cannot be maintained, provision is made for cutting in the master water cooler to bring the temperature of such water down to the predetermined range. Conversely, if the water in the return pipe runs too cold'for use i by the tenants in their respective heaters,.provision is lent, andthe above-mentioned evaporator unit or cooler.

The compressor, condenser, expansion valve. and evaporato! or coolerare operativelyconnected together in series 111 a refrigerant circuit in the usual manner of connecting such;instrumentalities, and the water phase of the.

water-cooled condenser is operatively connectedrto the means. a g V 7 With this equipment under his exclusiveicontrol, each tenant may open one valve and allow water at a seasonally predetermined temperature; to flow through the heater for heating purposes or, alternatively, he may, by.closing that valveand opening another valve, supplysthe same water to the water-cooled condenserof his air" conditioning equipment for removing heat from the compressed refrigerant'which flows to the condenser from the compressor so that after the thus cooled and compressed refri erant has passed through the expansion valve and entered the evaporator, the desired cooling effect will'be attained.

Many advantages accrue from such a two-pipelsystem,

feed and return pipes under controlof suitable valve both from the standpoint of the management and of the various tenants. From the managements point of view, a

distinct advantage resides inthe fact that the major'cost 1 of cooling the air in any given apartment' is almost entire.-

ly borne by each tenantwho must pay for the electrical 7 made'for cutting in the water heater or boiler to bring the temperature of such waterup to the predetermined range. Thislea ves onlywell defined seasonal temperature differentials' for the management to reckon with. A final advantage ofthe present heating system to the management resides in the fact that only two manifold pipes are required and neither of these need be insulated or jacketed because the water flowing through the closed circuit or pipe system is always above the dew point.

From the tenants point of view, the system has the advantagetthat, during middle temperature periods, it is elective with him whether. the air in his quarters be heated or cooled and this election on his part is availab1e to. him twenty-four hours during each day when there is a 'possibilitythat hemayjrequire one or the ;other" type of flair conditioning." The election is made unavailable to him only durin g'extremely'cold weather, i.e.,midwintertemperatures when the management normally is supplying hot water for heating purposes and it is reasonably certain that no tenant will'have a demand for coolingeffects. V j

[1A further advantage of the present system accruing to both the management and the tenant arises from the fact that at no time when the system is in operation and during normal use thereof will the temperature of Water in the system fall below thcdew point, either in the feed,

pipe or the return pipe or in the lead-in or branch pipes leading to the individual apartments. For this reason not only is there no need for pipe insulation at any point in the system, but no drainage system for moisture condensation is required.

The provision of an air conditioning system such as has briefly been outlined above and possessing the stated advantages being among the principal objects of the invention, numerous other objects and advantages will become readily apparent as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a typical inhabitable enclosure of the apartment building type and showing, somewhat schematically, the improved air cooling and heating system operatively installed therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, also schematic in its representation, of certain tenant-controlled equipment employed in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially centrally through a control valve employed in connection with the present invention and showing the same in the condition it assumes when thesystem is being operated on a seasonal basis for apartment heating purposes only;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the control valve in the condition it assumes when the system is being operated on a seasonal basis for apartment cooling purposes only;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the control valve in the condition it assumes during in-between season operation;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical circuit for a solenoid-actuated control valve employed in connection with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical circuit for one of a series of control thermostats employed in connection with the invention.

Brief description Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1, a preferred form of the present invention has been somewhat schematically shown as being applied to the air conditioning of a typical multi-story apartment building, the building being fragmentarily shown and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. As heretofore indicated, the present air conditioning system is capable of being used in a single-story building. As shown in FIG. 1, only the central portion of the building 10 in the vicinity of the ground floor and second floor levels of the building has been illustrated, but it will be understood that the building may extend up ward to any desired floor level. Two opposed inside building

walls

12 and 14 form a part of a generally rectangular ventilating shaft 16, such a shaft being conventional and usually being disposed in the masonry of the building. The shaft 16 may constitute one of several such shafts associated with the building 10. The shaft 16 may, if desired, communicate with the atmosphere above the building roof so that the shaft may constitute a passageway for air to assist in ventilating the various apartments in associated relation with the shaft but, if desired, the upper end of the shaft may be closed to the atmosphere. In either event, the shaft 16 extends at least to a point above the level of the uppermost apartment floor and preferably to a point adjacent to the uppermost apartment ceiling. A feed pipe 18 for water extends upwardly through the ventilating shaft 16 and has its upper end connected through a reduction orifice device R to the upper end of a return pipe 20 which also extends through the ventilating shaft 16. The feed and return pipes constitute portions of a closed circuit water supply or pipe system as will be described presently.

In the illustrated portion of the building, the ground floor 19 constitutes the ceiling for the basement enclosure 22. A second floor 24 constitutes a ceiling for two

apartment enclosures

26 and 28. A third floor 30 constitutes a ceiling for two

additional apartment enclosures

32 and 34. The building may have additional floors and apartment enclosures above the previously-mentioned doors and apartment enclosures. The layout or plan of the

various floors

19, 24 and 30 may be substantially identical and it may follow any acceptable apartment building layout, the various apartment subdivisions or walls which divide the apartments into kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. remaining undisclosed herein since the details thereof do not affect the air conditioning system of the present invention. The present air conditioning system is available, in the form illustrated herein, or in modified forms, for use in connection with a wide variety of apartment layouts or subdivisions.

The air conditioning system of the present invention includes two sets of instrumentalities, namely, instrumentali'ties which are common to all of the apartments, are operable under the control of the apartment building management, and are operated by and are the responsibility of the janitor, building engineer, superintendent or other similar personnel, and instrumentalities which are individual to each apartment and are operable under the control of the individual tenant. The instrumentalities which are operable under the control of the management of the apartment building are preferably located in the basement enclosure 22 or at least in a separate building enclosure provided for these instrumentalities. Such instrumentalities include means for selectively heating and cooling the Water whichis supplied to the closed circuit water system or, specifically, to the feed pipe 18. The instrumentalities which are operable under the control of the tenant are located in the

individual apartment enclosures

26, 28, 32, 34.

Management controlled instrumentalities The instmmentalities which are operable under the control of the apartment building management include a conventional hot water heater or boiler 40 which is installed on the basement floor 42 and has the usual lead-in and lead-out

hot water pipes

44 and 46 associated therewith. The lead-out pipe 46 is connected to one of four ports of a four-way main control valve V. The valve V has another port connected through a pipe 48, a four-way fitting 50, and a pipe 52 to the outlet side 54 of a water pump 56 of conventional construction. A third port of the valve V is connected through a pipe 58 to a conventional water cooler or chiller 60, this latter pipe constituting the lead-out pipe for such cooler. vThe lead-in pipe 62 of the cooler is connected to the four-way fitting 50. A fourth port of the valve V is connected directly to the lower end of the feed pipe 18 which extends upwards through the shaft 16 of the building 10. The return pipe 20 has its lower end connected to the inlet side 64 of the water pump 56. A main control thermo stat 66, the nature and function of which will be made clear presently, is interposed in the return pipe 20 and serves as a control instrumentality for the valve V, the latter being of the solenoidactuated type.

The tenant controlled instrnmentalities The instrumentalities which are operable under the con trol of the individual tenants occupying the

apartment enclosures

26, 28, 32, 34 are identical and, therefore, a description of one set of such instrumentalities will sutlice for them all. Each apartment enclosure, for example, the enclosure 28, is provided with a sub-ceiling which is of limited extent and is disposed below the level of the ceiling 20. This ub-ceiling 70, in combination with a pair of vertical side walls 72 and 74 (see FIG. 2) and an end wall 76, defines an elevated plenum chamber 78, one end of which is open as at and communicates with the interior of the "ventilating shaft 16. The end wall 76 i V is provided with a louvered grille 82' establishing communication between the interiof of the plenum chamber 78 and the apartment enclosure 28., Aimotor driven fan assembly which has been designated in its entirety bythe reference numeralfiil is disposed immediately behind the grille 82 and serves, when energized, to drawair from the interior of the plenum chamber 78 andforce the satirev intothe apartment enclosure 28. v

Disposed within each plenum chamber 78 is a heat ex change device 90. of the finned tubing "type; This heat exchange device, in combination with the fan; assembly 84, constitutes an air circulating heater and it will hereinafter be referredto as such. The heater 90 is operatively connected by a branch conduit 92 to the feed pipe 18,

and by a branch conduit 94 tothe return pipe 20. A shut-01f valve V2 iisinterposed in the conduit 92 where it is accessible. to the tenant occupying the apartmenten closure 28. v Y

Also disposed within the plenum chamber 78 is a complete so-called air conditioning assembly or unit 96 which;

is of'the compressor-condenser-evaporator type and is identified il'l'thC drawings by the rectilinear dotted line enclosure of FIG. 2. The unit 96 includes theusual coma pressor' 100', condenser 102 and evaporator 104. These three devices or units of the air conditioning unit are 'may be of any suitable type capableof selectively estabglishing communication betweenthe pipes '18 and 48, be-

tween the pipes 18'and 44, or between the

pipes

18 and 58. p The valve Vselected for illustration herein is of-the solenoid-actuated'tYpe and it includes a valve casing 130 (see FIGS. 3', .4 and Otf generally-cylindrical configuration and within which there is disposed a rotatable valve body 132.? "The valve body 132-is formed'with an'bffset passage 134' therethrough. The valve V is essentially a three-position valve and is provided with arcontrol handle 136 which, when in the position labelled A and shown in'FIG. 3 causes the feed pipe 18 tobe connected through .the passage 134 to the pipe 48.1eading from the four-Way w fitting '50; -At the same tirne,'portions of the valve body S tfof ithe pump 56.;

132 block-the ports leading to flthe pipes 46. and 58 sothat thefeed pipe 18 is effectively connected tothe'outp'ut side when the control handlef 136 fis in thepos-ition labelled operatively connected together in a closed refrigerant circuit including a line 106 which leads from the compressor 100' to the condenser 102,;a line 108 which leads from the condenser 102 to the. evaporator 104, and a return refrigerant line 110 which leads from the evaporator104 back to the compressor 100.- The usual expansion valve,

112 is interposed in the line 108. The compressor 100-. is adapted to be driven by means of a belt and pulley conattached at closely spaced, regions a series-of heat-radi-' ating fins 123 which are formed from flat stock. In the illustrated form of evaporator, the tube stock 1 21 is of'serpentine configuration in that it consists of straight parallel reach sections connected together at their adjacent ends by reverse bends, only the reverse bend being visible in FIG. 2. Thehea'ter 90' may be similarly formed of finned tubing. A manual shut-ofi valveVS which is accessible to the tenantof the apartment; enclosure 28 is interposed in the conduit 118. The air conditioning unit 96 is purelyconventional and no claim is made.

herein to any novelty associated with the same other than its association withthe overall air conditioning system of the present invention, f 7 V p Asa precautionarymeasure, a thermostat 122 is operativelydisposedin the branch conduit 118 ahead of the valve V3 and operates to open the electriccircuit for the motor 116 when the temperature of- Water in the riser pipe: 18 is above a predeterminedmaximumso that the tenant and shown in FIG. 4, the" feed pipef18 is connected" through the passage 134 to the lead-out pipe .46 for the boiler 40 While portions of the valve body 132 block the ports leading to the

pipes

48 and 58 so that the-feed pipe 7 is effectively connected to'the lead-out pipe extending from the boiler 40. a v, u a 7 When the control handle 136 is in theposition labelled C and shown in FIG. 5, the feed, pipe- 18 isconnected through the passage 13 4 tofthe lead-out pipe 58 for the cooler 60, while portions of the valve body 132 block the ports leading to the pipes46 and 48. 'Theteed pipe 18 is thus effectively connected to fthe cooler .60.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control valve V is operable under the control ofa dual solenoid winding 140 having sections B and C. "The'valve body 132 is normally biased so that-when neither sectionof the solenoid winding 140 is energized, the valve assumes the condition wherein it is illustrated inFIG. 3 with the control handle 136 in-the position'indicated at A,; The. closed circuit for 7 water in the. system will then bethr'ough the pump 56 and the feed and return pipes 18 and to the exclusion of will 'be unable to operate'the air conditioning assemblyw 96 unless thetemperature of the cooling water supplied to the condenser 102 is within a predeterr'nined' eflicient T' cooling range. u

The two heat, exchange units,

and the heater '90 are disposed in tandem relationship and in close proximity to each: other, so that the fan'asi.e the evaporator:104 Y sembly. 84 may'operate to draw airsuccessively through these units, the air being selectively'heatedor cooled, ac:- p

cording to: which of the units is in operation.

The main: control valve The four-way maincontr-ol valve Vwhich is operable under control of the, management, either manually or automatically through the medium of the thermostat 66,

both the heater 40-and the cooler 60. -When the winding section B is energized, the valve body 1321will assume the position wherein it is shown in F IG. 4 with the control handle in the position indicated at B. The closed circuit for water in the system will then be through thepump 56,

the" cooler 60, and the .feed and return

pipes

18 and 20.

When the winding section C is energized, the valve body 132 will assume the position wherein it is shown in FIG.

5 with the control handle in the position indicated at C.

The closed circuit for water in the systemrwill then be through the pump 56, boiler 40, and the feed and return pipes 1 8"and 20. v i

7 Thecir cuit' diagi'am of FIG. 6

In FIG. 6, the control circuitry for operating the valve ;V.in order selectively to operate the boiler 40 and the cooler whenthe' system is set for normal automatic operationhas been disclosed. The thermostat 66 may be of any well-known'type, either bulb or contact, and its function in the system is to shift theposition of the valve body 132 of the valve from its normal position wherein the

pipes

18 and 48 are in communication to a position ,wherein the

pipes

18 and 46 are in communication at such time as' the temperature of Waterin the return pipe 20 fallssbelow the predetermined to F. range, and to shift thevvalve body to a position wherein the

pipes

18 and 58 are in communication'when the temperature of water in the return pipe rises above this predetermined range. e a

'The thermostat 66 s elected tor illustration is of the multi-contacttypeemploying a movable bi-metallic strip which is operable at a predetermined low temperature to close the #1 contacts and open the #2 contacts of a'contact group 152, andisoperable at a predetermined higher temperature to open the #1 contacts and close the #Zcontacts. Upon -closure of the #1 contacts due to a flexing of the bi-metallic strip 150, a circuit will exist from one side 11 of the power line, through lead 13, #1 con- .tacts of the contact group 150, leads 15 and 17,

section pipes

18 and 48, thus establishing a closed hydraulic cir-' described is employed only in the event that the boiler is electrically powered as, for example, provided with a burner construction, the operation of which is initiated by electrical means.

Upon closure of the #2 contacts of the contact group 152 due to a flexing of the bi-metallic strip 150, a circuit will extend from the line 11, through lead 13, #2 contacts, lead 35, B section of the solenoid winding 140, and leads 36, 23, back to the line 25. Energization of B section of the winding 140 will cause operation of the valve V so as to establish communication between the

pipes

18 and 58, thus establishing an hydraulic circuit through the cooler 60 in a manner that will be described subsequently. Upon closure of the #2 contacts, a parallel circuit will also extend from the line 11, through lead 13, #2 contacts of the contact group 152, lead 37, cooler 60 and leads 39, 33, back to the line 25. The cooler 60 may be comprised of the functional elements of a complete air conditioning unit including the usual pump, condenser, and evaporator instrumentalities operatively connected together in series in a closed refrigerant circuit.

'A manually operable disabling switch 41 is interposed in a control valve circuit, for example, in the lead 23, and may be opened when it is desired to operate the valve V manually as, for example, when continuous boiler or cooler operation is required.

An overriding control switch 43 may be provided for independent operation of the boiler 40. This switch may be connected between the line 11 and the lead 29 so that upon closure of this switch 43, a circuit will extend from the line 11, through the switch 43, lead 29, boiler 40 and leads 31, 33, back to the line 25. A similar overriding control switch 45 may be provided for independent operation of the cooler 60 and may extend between the line 11 and the lead 37. Upon closure of this latter switch, a circuit will extend from the line 11 through the switch 45, lead 37, cooler 60 and leads 39, 33, back to the line 25.

An independent circuit may be provided for the pump 56, such circuit extending from the line 11, through lead 47, switch 49, lead 51, pump 56 and lead 53 back to the line 25.

Disabling means may be provided for both the boiler 40 and the cooler 60. These means may assume the form of disabling switches 55 and 57 disposed in the leads 27 and 37, respectively. During automatic operation of the apparatus, both of these switches will remain closed.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 7

The electrical circuitry, which is operable under the control of the individual tenant for operating his air conditioning unit 96, is shown in FIG. 7 and includes an electrical circuit for the electric motor 116 which drives the compressor 100. This circuit extends from one side of a source S of current, preferably the house current, through a lead 71, a pair of contacts '73 in associated relation with the thermostat 122, a lead 75, motor 116, and a lead 77 back to the current source. A starting switch SW is interposed in the leads 71 and 77. The contacts 73 are operable under the control of a bi-metallic strip 79 and, when the temperature of water in the branch conduit 118 is above a relatively high temperature, for example, 140 F.,

the contacts 73 become open so that the motor 116 may not be operated despite closure of the starting switch SW By reason of the thermostatic contacts 73, useless heat exchange relationships in the condenser 102 involving small temperature differentials are avoided.

Operation of the system The system of the present invention is susceptible to flexibility of operation and such operation will be varied according to seasonal temperature changes. However, purely for purposes of discussion herein, it may be assumed that the management of the apartment house will be prepared to operate the controls which are available to it and furnish water within a temperature range of from 140 to 160 F. during a cold period and to furnish relatively cold water Within a temperature range of from to F. during the hot period. When operating on this basis and the decision is made to furnish water in the higher temperature range, the switch 41 is opened and the switch 43 is closed. The valve V is then manually set to the position wherein it is shown in FIG. 4 so that the passage 134 in the valve body 13-2 establishes communication between the lead-out pipe 46 of the boiler 40 and the feed pipe 18. The boiler will be set into operation and water will flow in a closed hydraulic circuit extending from the outlet side 54 of the pump 56, through pipe 52, four-way fitting 50, lead-in pipe 44, boiler 40, lead-out pipe 46, valve V, feed pipe 18, reduction orifice device R and return pipe 20 to the inlet side 64 of the pump 56. HCIIZ water within a range of from to F. will thus be made available at the various floor levels for selective use by the tenants occupying the

apartment enclosures

26, 28, 32, 34, and such tenants may, simply by opening their respective valves 72, cause hot water to flow from the feed pipe 18, through branch conduits 92, heaters 90, and branch conduits 94 back to the return pipe 2%.

During extreme hot weather when there is little or no likelihood that a tenant will have a demand for heating, the boiler 40 may be disabled by opening the disabling switch 55 and allowing the switch 57 to remain closed so that the cooler may be operated to the exclusion of the boiler. Then, upon closure of the switch 45, the overriding cooler circuit previously described will maintain the cooler in operation continuously. It is to be noted that the cooler 60 is provided, not for the purpose of supplying cooling water to .the various apartment enclosures for direct use in the air cooling devices 104, but merely for cooling the refrigerant tubes of the condensers 102. Therefore, the cooler 60 need not have a high cooling rating since water supplied in a temperature range of from 85 to 90 F. is capable of effecting such heat extraction in the condensers as to maintain the various air conditioning units under the control of the individual tenants in efficient operation. Actually, the system will function efficiently in the absence of any overriding control for the cooler 60 inasmuch as the thermostat 6 will, during extremely hot weather, maintain its #1 contacts continuously closed.

During mild weather, such as may occur in inbetween periods when the weather is not sufliciently cold as to justify continuous operation of the boiler 40 or continuous operation of the cooler 60, the demands of the various tenants of the building may differ widely. For example, the tenants who occupy easterly exposed apartment en closures, such as the

enclosures

28, 34 in FIG. 1, may have a demand for cooling during the morning hours when their side of the building becomes heated by the sun. Similarly, the tenants who occupy westerly exposed apartment enclosures, such as the

enclosures

26, 32, may have a demand for heating during such morning hours. Conversely, during the afternoon hours when the sun is heating the west side of the building, the demands of these tenants may be the opposite. It is during such days as these that the management will set the ssytem into automatic operation by closing the switches 4-1, 5s and s7;

and opening switches 43 and 45. If thetemperatures of waterin the system is within the range of'f'rom .85 to 90 7 F the bime'tallic strip 150 of the thermostat fio will' main:

tain b'oththe' #1 and the #Z contacts of the thermostat open so that the valve Vw'ill ass-ume the condition where? in it is shown in FIG. 3 Withthe'pipes1f8 and 48 in communication and e the closed hydraulic circuit extending four-way fitting 50, pipe 48, valve V, fee-d pipe 18, re-

instrurnentalities associated temperature of the water within the closed hydraulic system will-be promptly restored .to ,the predetermined range of from 85.to 90f'F. This temperature range' is.:f adequate on the one hand for heating purposesinsofar' i from the outlet side 54- of. the pump '56, through pipe '52,

duction orifice 19, and return pipe to the inlet side 64 of the pump. Water withinizthe predetermined 85 to 90 F. range is thus available in the feed pipe 18 toany tenant who chooses to avail himself of it for'condenser cooling purposes and all he, needs to do to obtain such water is to open the'val ve Vii-and close the starting switch 1 SW associated with the air conditioning'instrumentalities under his" control.

The relatively cool water conducted to theficonde nserg 7 20.

102 through lead-inbranch conduitil l-fi assimilates much heat and is discharged through the lead-out conduit'f 120 to the return pipe 20 at an elevated temperature.

Thus, any tenants in the easterly exposed

apartment enclosures

28, 34 etc. who, at any given time, resort to'cooling facilities, will automatically cause a rise in'tem-perature of the Water in the return pipe 2%. If'this rise in temperature carries the Water above they predetermined 85 to 90 ,F. range, the thermostat 66 will function to close the #2 contacts thereof and set the co:oler 60, into operation in the mannerpreviously described in -connec tion with the circuit diagram of FIG; 6. The closed hydraulic circuit involving thecooler will extend from the outlet side 54 of the pump 56, through'pip'e 5'2, four-way fitting 50, pipe 62, cooler 6%, Pipe 58, valve V, feed pipe 18, reduction device 19 and return pipe 20 to the inlet side 7 64 ofthe pump 56.

The heatedwater discharged by the tenants inthe apartment enclosures having easterly exposures-will not necessarily raise the temperature of Water in the return pipe 20 above thepredetermined range of from 85 to 90 F., inasmuch as Water in this temperature range is adequate forheat exohangepurposes when used in the heaters 90 of the various apartment enclosures having westerly exposures. The tenants occupying apartment enclosures having Westerlyexposures, being shielded from the sun, may have a demand for heating and, in such case, it is necessary merely for the individual tenant to open the valve V2 and admit water to the heater 90. Such tenants as have a demand for heating will thus tend to balance,

so to speak, the tenants who have a demand; for cooling inasmuch as, by-their'use of hot water in the heaters 90,

. 1 2 therewith, in either event, the

as, such tenantsasymay, have a demand for heating facilities are concerned. fotgcnoling purposesiinsofar assuch tenants as'may'have a idemandjvfor cooling facilities are concerned. Stated otherwise and briefly, the system will automatically remain in thermal balance if the tenant demand at any given time forheatingand cooling, respectively, is equal.

If Qnedemand eXceeds the other to an appreciable de-k gree,.either' the heater 40 or the cooler 60 will. operate to restore the'thermal balance.

,The invention is not to be limited tothe exact arrangef ment of parts shown in the accompanying drawings 'or describedin this specificationas various changes. in the details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the'inventi'on. For example, while the electrical circuitry shown herein .in FIG. '6 embodies.

di'rectacting thermostatic control of the valve,V, boiler.

40 and cooler 60, utilizing a thermostat of the movable contact type, other circuitry isfcontemplated. ;.In some instances, it maybe deemed advisable to employ relayactuated circuitdevice's, including or not as desired,

J thermionic: vacuum tube or other amplifier devices.

Duplication "or multiplication of heating and cooling instrumentalities or other parts of the "system is also con.-

;.templated within the scope of the invention. Therefore, 'only 'insofar asthe inventionfhasiparticularly been pointed out in the accompanying claim'is the same to be limited. g 7

Having thus described ,the invention, what I claim as new and. desire to secure .by Letters Patent is;

' @In an air conditioningfsystem of the .character de scribed;iin combination, a multi-story building having a basemennsuperimposed floors, a ceilin'g'above each floor Qdefining, in combination with the floor immediately therebeneath, an inhabita'ble enclosure, a structural shaft extending upwardly through, the building from the basement ceiling through the floors, there being a lateral.

opening in said shaftat each enclosure-level establishing communication between the shaft and the enclosure at said level, awater riser pipe and a water return pipe extending upwardly in: said shaft from the basement toa region adjacent the uppermost enclosure-level, a heat exchange device in each enclosure,'branch pipes extending through said lateral; openings and connecting the heat the temperature of the water is reduced and returned to the pump 56 through the return pipe 20. Therein lies one of the principal features of the present invention."

It'is obvious that, during the afternoon hours, the demands ofthe various tenants will be reversed but a condition of balance will still obtain when the number of ten ants resorting to cooling facilities is substantially equal to the number of tenants resorting to heating facilities.

If'the number of tenants resorting to heating facilities materially exceeds thenumberof tenants resorting to cooling facilities so that, by their discharged and cooled water, the temperature of water'in the closed'hydraulic system falls below'the predetermined =to F.i-

range, the #1 contacts of the thermostat .66 will become closed and the boiler 40 will be set into operation in the manner previously described. in connection with the circuit diagram of FIG. 6.1 The closed hydraulic cirside of the pump 54, through pipe 52', four-way fitting 50, pipe 44,b1oiler 40, lead-out'pipe 46, valve V, feed.

20 to the inlet side ,64 of the pump56.

by the action of the thermostat 66 and the electrical exchange devices with" the water riser and'water return pipes, a shut-off valve 'for .each .heat'exchange device and disposed in one of the branch pipesleading thereto, an air conditioning unit disposed in each enclosure and including'a compressor,*a condenser and ;an evaporator operativly connected together in a refrigerant circuit, an

electric circuit forthe. motor, the condenser being. of the electric circuit forfdisabling the same when the tem- V perature of water is above a predetermined degree, said water riser and return pipes being .operatively. connected in a closed hydraulic circuit,fa Water circulating pump disposedin said hydrauliccircuit andjpositioned in the cuit involving the boiler willextend from the outlet ppe 18, pressure reduction device 19, and return pipe V 1 Whether the boiler orthe cooler be set into operation basement, a waterheater insaid basement, .a .water cooler in said basement, a solenoid-actuated control valve oper;

able selectively to connect the" heater and the cooler in ,the hydraulic circuit, eachto. the exclusion of the other,

and to exclude both theheater and the cooler from the hydraulic, circuit, a thermostat responsive 'to' the temperature of water in said return pipe, said latter thermo- It is adequate on the other hand j stat being operable when the temperature of water in the return pipe falls below a predetermined degree to actuate the control valve to connect the heater in the hydraulic circuit and being operable when the temperature of Water in the return pipe rises above a predetermined degree to actuate the control valve to connect the cooler in the hydraulic circuit, said heat exchange unit and evaporator being of the finned tubing type and being physically disposed in tandem, and an electrically operable fan in each enclosure common to the evaporator and heat exchange unit for drawing air successively through the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cornell 165-22 Berry 236-1 Stair 165-22 Blurn 163-22 Hermann 165-22 Kritzer 165-50 10 CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Examiner.