USRE21913E - Heater - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1941. c. E. MEYERHOE'FER Re; 21,913

HEATER Original Filed May 7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 'INVENTOR. (arl E fieyerlzmy'er BY I MQ W ATTORNEYS P 1941- 'c. E. MEYERHOEFER Re. 21,913

HEATER Original Filed May '7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR. 47 7 ('ar/ A? l/a away By will \RQMLQMK MW ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1941. c. MEYERHOEFER Re. 3

HEATER Original Filed May 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

MXQWMW ATT RNEYS Sept. 30, 1941. V c. E. MEYERHOEFER HEATER Original Filed May '7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I-NVENTOR. BY ('ar/Mryir/me/er MNQMJ L W ATTORNEYS Reissued Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HEATER Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. ,Y., a corporation of New York Original No. 2,087,160, dated July 13, 1937, Serial No. 141,273, May 7, 1937. Application for re- 1 issue July 19, 1941, Serial No. 403,240

16 Claims. (oi.' 257-137) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved heater, capable of use in numerous different associations, but ideally adapted for employment in connection with vehicles, and especially within the bodies of vehicles driven by internal combustion motors or similar sources of power and in the circuit of which it maybe connected.

may be eiilciently distributed in a novel manner, such distributionat the will of the operatoroccurring in any desired direction.

Another object of the invention is that of constructing a heater which will not alone serve to eillciently warm a pre-determined space, but which will also incorporate a structure such that proper volumes of air may be intensely and locally distributed. Accordingly, and for example, the heater, while serving to properly condition air within the interior 'of a vehicle or otherwise, may also distribute, in concentrated form, a blast of air to the surface of the windshield or to an air deflector in a portion of the vehicle or room relatively remote from the heater body.

still another object is that of constructing a unit of this character and which,'consistent with the achievement of the foregoing, will occupy only a very small amount of space. Accordingly, it may" be conveniently mounted against practically any proper supporting wall and without interfering with the desired use of the enclosure within which it is disposed.

An additional object is that of jfurnishing a heater embodying relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in' -construction and a which, when assembled, will operate over long: periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

- With these and other objects mama, referalong the lines H and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the main units of the heater and showing the same in disassembled condition;

Fig. 5 is a partly sectional side view of the heater;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightly different form of construction; and

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 6, and with certain of the parts broken away to disclose underlying construction. Referring primarily to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the numeral Ill indicates a heat transfer unit such as a core and which is provided with header portions. ll extending from its opposite side edges. These portions are connected to tubes If, one being associated with the lower portion of one header, while the other is associated with the upper portion of the second header. In this manner a thermally-induced now through the core is assured and the heater may be turned through 90 without such turning interfering with this action. The core may, of course, include any desired construction, such as a conventional cellular structure, tubes and woe is had to the attachedsheets-of drawings vention, and in which:

' illustrating practical embodiments of the in- Fig, 1 is a sectional plan view of .a heater 4 taken along the line l- I and in thedirection ofthe arrows as indicated in Fig. 2'with the "g pipe, 'core and motor casing not sectioned: i

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

5 F 85. 3 is a transverse sectional vi av' heat transfer strips, or otherwise.

The core is enclosed within a casing II which maybe formed of any desired material and have any acceptable finish. This casing presents an open face in line with the core body and a shroud plate 14 may be fixed to its rear edge and secured against movement in any desired manner. The shroud plate is formed with an opening in line with the center portion of the unit II, and this opening may, be defined by a forwardly inclined flange I5. At this time it is also to be noted that plate I 4 may present any desired number of inwardly extending portions ll, cooperating with bumpers l secured to the heat transfer structure or core. are preferably of rubber, or similar material, andthus provide a resilient mounting in addition to allowing for expansion and contraction of the core without consequent rattling or straining of the parts.

Now referring additionally to'Fig. 4, it will be noted that plate ll mounts-as for example by screws or bolts ll-a housing II. A secondary casing 2| isdisposed within housing II and may have external flange portions 21 by means of These bumpers of casing and extends tangentially therefrom in line with such opening. The outer end of this duct may, for example, be connected to a conduit member 24 through which air may be distributed upwardly and/or downwardly according to the position of a valve 25 conveniently controlled by a shaft 26. Before concluding consideration of housing I9, it will be observed that the latter is formed with an opening 21, through which duct 23 may extend outwardly, and this housing is also formed with a series of openings 29, adjacent the outer edges of which louvers or deflector panels 29 may be disposed, to direct any air discharge through the upper or lower openings outwardly and rearwardly in the direction of the core. In this connection, it will be understood that the heater will generally be mounted with its front side facing the rear of a vehicle. In any case, the openings 28 and the louvers 29 will be disposed in a manner to direct the air discharge in such direction; with respect to the heater portion as may be useful or desirable. As shown, air discharged through one of the sets of side openings may be similarly directed but the deflectors or louvers associated with the opposite set of openings conveniently deflect the air downimpeller is employed. The motor includes a casing 39 which may be mounted upon a plate 3 I the face of which may be recessed as at 32 to accommodate a central pair of bolts 33 mounted in grommets 34 of rubber or similar material and supporting the motor casing. As indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, there may extend from the motor casing and at points intermediate the grommets 34 a pair of rubber studs 35 which bear against the inner face of plate 3I. In this manner the motor is mounted against shocks and motor noises will not be transmitted to any considerable degree to the heater structure. Heater mounting bolts 36 extend through openings in the corner recesses o-r countersunk portions 32 and have their bodies securedagainst movement by nuts 31. In this manner, it is feasible to drill the dash of a vehicle or any other wall so that bolts 36 may be passed through the same and these bolts at points beyond the wall may have lockwashers and nuts applied to them to secure the heater against displacement.

The inner end of the motor shaft 39 extends into the opening deflned by flange I5, and at this including an outer ring 49, an annular series of blades H and a rear plate 42 is coupled to hub 39 by having this rear plate extend forwardly and inwardly as indicated at 43. The space de-. flned by the inner edges of blade? 4I may be substantially equivalent to that o the opening in shroud plate I4. The diameter of opening 22 in secondary plate 29 is sufiicient to properly accommodate this blower-wheel, it being apparent that when the parts are positioned as in Fig. 1, portions of the Wheel extend into the secondary casing 29, but for example, the major portion of the wheel extends between the rear edge of casing 29 and the corresponding edge of'housing I9.

As afore brought out, secondary casing 29 is preferably attached to plate I4 by spot w'elding.

This plate is also attached conveniently to casing I3 by welding, and the same is true of plate 3| and housing I9. Thus, the heater is assembled in two major units. One of the these comprises core III, casing I3, plate I4 and casing 29, while the second of the same conveniently includes plate 3I and housing I9. Motor 30 is, of course, assoeiated with plate 3|, and the blower-wheel is attached to the motor shaft, and housing I9 is secured to shroud plate I4. However, under these circumstances, all parts may be tested with facil-v ity, and after the test has been successfully concluded, all that remains for the operator to do is to employ securing elements III, or their equivalents, to join the two major portions. It is obvious that, if desired, the motor mounting plate 3| may be formed with an opening 44 through which the motor hearing may be lubricated.

In use, a suitable supporting surface is provided with openings for the accommodation of tubes I2 and bolts 36. Thereafter, the latter are clamped against movement and the tubes are connected to a suitable source of heated fluid, as, for example, the cooling system of an internal combustion motor. Motor 30 being connected to a source of suitable current supply (not shown), it follows that shaft 38 will revolve, thereby driving the blower-wheel. It may be mentioned in passing that 'the control to the motor, in accordance with conventional practice, preferably includes a variable resistance or other suitable control so that the speed of drive of the motor may be varied as desired. However, in any event, it is obvious that air will be drawn through the core l0 and opening defined by flange I5 and discharged through secondary casing 29 & wellas housing I9. The air in moving in contact with core I II will obviously have its temperature raised so that the air discharged by the blower-wheel will be in proper condition. Air flowing through duct 23 will be distributed by the conduit member 24, for example, to the windshield and/or rear compartment of the vehicle. The remainder of the air will seek to flow through openings".

These openings may be uncontrolled if desired, in which case such flow will be unimpeded.

If control is desired however, this may be secured" by, for example, the structure especially shown in Fig. 5. In this view it will be observed that a sleeve 45 is slidably mounted on guides and encloses housing I9. This sleeve has a configuration allowing advance and retraction'of its body over casing I3, and motor mounting plate 3| with as small a clearance as is practicable. An actuator 46 may serveto shift this *sleeve forwardly and rearwardly. With a form of construction such as this, the louvers 29 are dispensed with in so far as' housing I9 is concerned.

They may however, be conveniently disposed sdjacent openings formed. in sleeve 45; such louvers having been indicated by the numeral 41. The sleeve openings in adjacent faces ofthe sleeve are so arranged with reference to the openings formed in housing III that it is necessary to shift the sleeve to different positions to more or less align the sleeve openings with the housing openings. Conditions being substantially equal, 1t is apparent that air will follow the path of least resistance. Accordingly. if the sleeve is moved to a position at which it overlaps mounting plate 3|, air will be discharged in substantially equal 'volumes throughout the openings in its various faces. If, however, the parts are in the position shown, for example, in Fig. 5, air will flow through the lowermost set of louvers. Rearward move- 21,918 ment of control 46 will induce air to flow through in detail. However, it will be observed that the shroud plate indicated at 48 is formed with a materially larger opening. Also, the secondary casing 49 corresponding to casing is located adjacent the motor mounting plate 3| rather than adjacent plate I. Additionally, the blowerwheel 50 may conveniently be of slightly less diameter than the wheel indicated at 4043. However, secured to the same hub which supportsthis wheel, or, in fact, forming a part 01' the wheel, is a fan 5| which lies adjacent the forward end of the wheel. Moreover, the secondary casing 49 may have welded to it a deflector or baiile plate in the form of a ring 52, curved in section, and 'of a diameter such that it extends in line with and beyond the bodies of blades 5|.

As is well appreciated, the inner portions of fan blades are relatively inefllcient; the maximum volume of air driven by the fan being impelled by zones of the blades situated adjacent the tips of the latter. On the other hand, a

blower-wheel is relatively efficient. Thus, in this form of construction, those portions of the fan which would not be contributing to any material extent to the flow'of air are eliminated and instead there is presented a passage through.

which air may flow to be impelled by the wheel. In common with the previously described .construction, a portion of the air may be diverted outwardly to pass through the openings in housing l9, while the remainder of the air distributed by the wheel is discharged into and through the secondary casing. However, incident to the provision of the fan blades a greatly augmented volume of air will be drawn through the core and the opening in the shroud plate and be directed into the housing to pass through the openings of the latter. This flow will be particularly eflicient'if a baflie plate or deflector such as 52 is employed, and it is to be appreciated that such' a structure is preferably employed.

While the present invention has been described particularly in connection with a. heater for which use it is primarily intended, it will be understood that portions or all of the presently suggested structures might be advantageously utilized in connection with heat exchange] in general. Moreover, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

elated with said impeller for accelerating the flow of air through at least one of said passages.

-2. An apparatus of the character described including a heat transfer core, an air impeller arranged beyond said core to receive air flowing therefrom and to distribute the same radially, means for driving said impeller, a housing enclosing said impeller and providing, a passage for the flow of air therefrom, a casing also disposed adjacent said impeller and providing a passage for the flow of air distinct from said first named passage, and a further impelling means secured to rotate with said first named impeller for increasing the volume of air distributed through one of said passages.

3. An apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, air impelling means positioned adjacent said core, a motor connected to said means to rotate the same to draw-air through said core and to distribute the same radially, and means for deflecting the radially distributed air forwardly toward said core and outwardly beyond the edges of the same.

4. An apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, air impelling means positioned adjacent said core, a motor connected to said means to rotate the same to draw air through said core and to distribute the same radially, means for deflecting a portion of the radially distributed air forwardly toward said core and outwardly beyond the edges of the same, and means enclosing a portion of said impelling means and providing a passage for the tangential distribution of a column of air.

5. An apparatus-of the character described including in combination a core, a motor disposed to the rear of the same, a shaft extending from said motor, a blower wheel secured to said shaft and disposed to the rear of said core to suck air therethrough, a fan secured to said wheel for also drawing air through said core, and distributing the same rearwardly, means for deflecting said rearwardly distributed air outwardly and forwardly beyond the edges of said core, and a casing encircling said blower wheel to receive air radially distributed thereby and in turn to distribute the same in the form of a column extending tangentially from said wheel. I

6. An apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, a motor disposed I to the rear of the same, a shaft extending from said motor, a blower wheel secured to said shaft and concentrically disposed with respect to said motor, a fan associated with said wheel to rotate therewith, a casing'extending around said wheel and to. receive air drawn through said core and radially distributed by said wheel, said casing being formed with an outlet through which the air flowing therethrough is distributed in the form of a column, and a deflector ring disposed to the rear of said fan to receive air discharged thereby.

7. An apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, a motor disposed to the rear of-the same, a shaft extending from said motor, a blower wheel secured to said shaft and concentrically disposed with respect to said motor, a fan associated with said wheel to rotate therewith, a casing extending around said wheel and to receive air drawn through said core and radially distributed by said wheel, said casing v being formed with an outlet through which the air flowing therethrough is distributed in the form of a column, and a deflector ring disposed to the rear of said fan to receive air discharged thereby, said ring being secured to said casing and being curved in section whereby the air impelled by said fan is distributed forwardly and outwardly beyond the edges of said core.

, 8. An apparatus of the character described, including in combination a core, a motor shaft disposed to the rear of the same, a blower wheel secured to said shaft and in line with said core, a fan associated with said wheel to rotate therewith, said wheel and fan both acting to draw air through said core and rearwardly thereof, and a casing extending around said wheel to receive air radially distributed thereby and to, in turn, distribute such air in the form of a column.

9. An apparatus of the character described, including, in combination, a core, a motor shaft disposed to the rear of the same, a shroud plate also disposed to the rear of said core, a blower wheel secured to said shaft and to the rear of said plate, a fan associated with said wheel to rotate therewith, said fan extending within the opening of said plate and acting in conjunction with said wheel to draw air through said core and through said plate opening, and a casing extending around said wheel to receive air radially distributed thereby and to in turn distribute such, air in the form of a tangentially extending column.

10. An, apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, a blower wheel positioned adjacent said core, a motor connected to said wheel to rotate the same, to draw air through said core and to distribute the same radially and means for deflecting the radially distributed air forwardly. towards said core and out- I wardly beyond the edges of the same.

11. An apparatus of the character described including in combination a core, a blower wheel positioned adjacent said core, a motor connected to said wheel to rotate the same, to draw air through said core and to distribute the same radially, means for deflecting a portion of the radially distributed air forwardly towards said core and outwardly beyond the edges of the same and means enclosing a portion of said wheel and providing'a passage for the tangential distribution of a column of air.

' 12. An air conditioning device comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings, a radiator supported in the casing for conditioning the airas it enters the casing at the inlet opening, an air propelling unit within the casing comprising a motor having a shaft, a propeller type fan on one end of said shaft for expelling air through the outlet opening, an impeller also mounted on said shaft, and in advance of the motor and to the rear of said fan, a housing surrounding the impeller, said housing having an air intake opening receiving conditioned air from the interior of the casing and an outlet conduit extending beyond a wall of the casing, and

air inlet and outlet openings and including a radiator for conditioning air as it enters at the inlet opening, an air propelling unit within the casing comprising a motor having a shaft, a propeller type fan on one end of said shaft for expelling air through the outlet opening, an impeller also mounted on said shaft in advance of the motor and to the rear of said fan; a housing surrounding the impeller, said housing having an air intake opening receiving conditioned air from the interior of the casing and an outlet conduit extending beyond the wall of the casing, and means for supporting said unit within the casing.

14. A unit heater comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet openings and including a radiator for conditioning air as it enters at the inlet opening, an air propelling unit within the casing comprising a motor having a shaft, a propeller type fan on one end of said shaft arranged to draw air through said radiator and expell said air through the outlet opening, an impeller also mounted on said shaft and in advance of the motor and to the rear of said fan, said impeller being arranged to draw air through said radiator, a housing surrounding the impeller, said housing having an air intake opening receiving conditioned air from the interior of the casing and an outlet conduit extending beyond the well of the casing, and means for supportingsaid unit within said casing.

15. A unit heater comprising casing members defining the confines of said heater and forming air inlet and outlet openings, said casing members including a radiator for conditioning air as it enters at the inlet opening, an air propelling unit within said confines comprising a motor having a shaft, a propeller type fanon one end of said shaft arranged to draw air through said radiator and expel air through the outlet opening, an impeller also mounted on said shaft and in advance of the motor and to the rear of said fan, a housing surrounding the impeller, said housing havingan air intake opening receiving conditioned air. from the interior of the casing and an outlet conduit extending beyond the wall of the casing, and means for supporting said unit within the casing.

16. A unit heater comprising a heat transfer core, an air impeller arranged beyond said core to draw air through said core and to distribute the same radially, a motor having a shaft, said impeller being mounted on said shaft in advance of said motor, a housing enclosing said impeller and providing a passage for the flow of air there from, a casing providing a. passage for the flow of air distinct from said flrstnamed passage, and a propeller type fan mounted on said shaft in advance of said-impeller for drawing air through means for supporting said unit within the casing.

13. A unit heater comprising a casing having said core and for discharging the same through said last-named passage.

CARL E. MEYERHOEFER.

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