AU747982B2

AU747982B2 - An evaporative air conditioner

Info

Publication number: AU747982B2
Application number: AU58379/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Timothy Frank O'Brien
Original assignee: Brivis Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Brivis Climate Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-12
Filing date: 1998-03-12
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-12
Also published as: AU5837998A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): BRIVIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD A.C.N. 004 783 493 Invention Title: AN EVAPORATIVE AIR CONDITIONER *.fl

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1- 2 AN EVAPORATIVE AIR CONDITIONER The present invention relates to an evaporative air conditioner.

Conventional evaporative air conditioners comprise: a housing defined by side walls, a base, and a top wall, with one or more of the side walls comprising water absorbent porous panels which allow air to flow through the panels into the housing; (ii) a water distribution system positioned in 20 the housing to supply water to the panels; (iii) a fan for drawing air into the housing via the panels so that the air is cooled via heat exchange with water in the panels; and (iv) an outlet for discharging cooled air from the housing.

Conventional domestic air conditioners are usually roof-mounted, with the housing being supported well above the roof line by means of a hollow dropper H:\Maria\Keep\BRIVIS PO5733 AIR CONDITIONER.doc 12/03/98 04/04 2002 15:35 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA [01006 3 tube which also defines part of the duct work for supplying cooled air to a house.

A significant component of the design and materials requirements of conventional air conditioners is to provide the housing with sufficient structural integrity to support the housing, the water distribution system, the fan, and other components of the air conditioners. In the final analysis, this is a 1 i0 significant disadvantage because the additional materials requirements increase the manufacturing costs and the weight of the air conditioners. The latter 7: factor is a disadvantage because it increases S: significantly the difficulty of installation of the air conditioners.

An object of the present invention is to provide an evaporative air conditioner which alleviates the disadvantages of conventional air conditioners described 20 in the preceding paragraph.

9o9• According to the present invention there is provided An evaporative air conditioner which includes: a housing defined by a base, side walls extending upwardly from the base, and a top wall, with one or more of the side walls including water absorbent porous panels which allow air to flow through the panels into the housing, and the base including a centrally positioned outlet for discharging cooled air from the ,44housing, and the base defining a water 04/04 2002 15:36 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA [I007 4 storage trough; (ii) a water distribution system positioned in the housing to supply water to the panels; (iii) a fan for drawing air into the housing via the panels so that the air is cooled via heat exchange with water in the 10 panels; and (iv) a support system for supporting the housing and other components of the air conditioner located in the housing from a 15 roof mounted support member, the support system including three or more support arms that in use are connected directly or indirectly to the support member and extend upwardly and are connected to an 20 upper section of the housing, and the support system further including a plurality of suspension members that extend downwardly from the upper section of the housing and are connected to the base.

Preferably, the number of the support arms and the positions of the connection points to the upper section of the housing are selected to provide balanced support for the housing and other components of the air conditioner located in the housing.

In the case of a housing that has a square or 04/04 2002 15:36 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA ]008 rectangular top wall, it is preferred that there be four support arms and that the connection points for the support arms to the upper section of the housing be the top corners of the housing.

Preferably, the outlet of the housing is defined by a wall that extends upwardly from the floor of the trough.

10 With this arrangement it is preferable that the support arms be connected directly to or in the region of the outlet wall and that the support arms extend Supwardly and outwardly to the upper section of the

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housing.

In this context, the support member may be any suitable member, such as a dropper tube, positioned beneath the base of the housing in the region of the outlet wall so that load on the support arms is 20 transferred to the support member.

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The support member may be any other suitable member. By way of example, the support member may be a collar of the type described in the provisional specification of the Australian provisional application entitled "Evaporative Air Conditioner" lodged in the name of the applicant on 12 March 1997. The disclosure in that provisional specification is incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably, there is a suspension member associated with each support arm.

04/04 2002 15:36 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK 4IPAUSTRALIA [a 009 Sa Moreover, preferably each suspension member is connected directly to its aBsociated support arm or to 9*e*

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I S 6 the upper section of the housing in the region of the associated support arm.

The above-described support arms and suspension members provide the major structural support for the housing and other components of the air conditioner located in the housing. As a consequence, the materials requirements for the air conditioner of the present invention are greatly reduced compared to that of conventional air conditioners described above.

Specifically, the base and top wall of the housing may be made from relatively light weight materials.

Moreover, preferably the suspension members form the corners of the side walls of the housing and thereby replace the relatively substantial corners required in the conventional air conditioners.

According to the present invention there is also provided a roof-mounted evaporative air conditioner as 20 described in the preceding paragraphs.

The present invention is described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a housing of one preferred embodiment of an evaporative air conditioner formed in accordance with the present invention with the water absorbent panels that form the side walls of the housing largely cut-away and other components of the air conditioner removed to better illustrate the support system preferred embodiment; H:\Maria\Keep\BRIVIS P05733 AIR CONDITIONER.doc 12/03/98 04/04 2002 15:36 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA [1010 -7- Figure 2 is a side elevation of another preferred embodiment of an evaporative air conditioner in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the air conditioner shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and C. *PFigure 5 is a section a long the line 5-5 in C Figure 3.

*h prfre9modmn fteevprtv i preferrne emodien ofgre the evaporativeai conditorr shopnrige a huig adpedetolbe wapostoe bovesn watro (nobon) pofouse a Ca:. sown)se a beaoeral toogh supprly cooenairfia dut abs: orb(not sownous theel roomsh other hooue t fh wae ditiuinsseCr octdi h osn n 04/04 2002 15:36 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA 0011 8 are not shown in order to simplify the description.

Typically, the components include a water distribution tray positioned immediately below the top wall 9 for distributing water received via a central inlet to the S upper edges of the water absorbent porous panels 7. The components also include a pump for pumping water from the trough 41 to the inlet. In use, the trough 41 receives water from a mains supply and as run-off from the water absorbent porous panels 7. The components also include a bleed valve assembly for continuously or periodically removing water from the system to minimise the build-up of minerals.

The air conditioner further comprises an outlet 15 23 for discharging cooled air from the housing into the duct work.

The outlet 23 is formed centrally in the base and, more particularly, is defined by a moulded 20 upstanding wall 15 extending from the floor of the water trough 41.

The air conditioner further comprises a fan assembly (not shown) positioned in the outlet 23 (and supported by the base 5) for drawing air into the housing 3 via the water absorbent porous panels 7 and for forcing cooled air from the housing 3 via the outlet 23.

The air conditioner further comprises a support system for supporting the housing 3 and other components of the air conditioner, such as the water distribution system and the fan assembly, from a support member.

04/04 2002 15:37 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK 4 IPAUSTRALIA 012 9 The support system comprises 4 support arms 29 that extend outwardly and upwardly from mounting points 29 on the outlet wall 15 to the upper corners of the top wall 15. The mounting points 20 of the outlet wall are positioned directly above corners of an upper end of a support member of the air conditioner that is in the form of a dropper tube 22 that defines part of the ductwork for distributing cooled air discharged via the So: 10 outlet 23.

Therefore, the arrangement is such that load carried by the support arms 29 is transferred to the dropper tube 22.

The support system further comprises 4 suspension members 31 that extend downwardly from the upper corners of the top wall 9 and are connected at lower ends to the corners of the base 5. The suspension members 31 serve the dual purposes of supporting the base 5 from the support arms 29 and forming the corners of the side walls of the housing 3.

It can readily be appreciated that the assembly of the support arms 29 and suspension members 31 provides an effective support for the housing 3 and other components of the air conditioner.

The preferred embodiment of the evaporative air conditioner shown in Figures 2 to 5 is mounted on a roof 11 of a house and is operable to supply cooled air via ,Q-ATs4 ductwork 25 to the rooms of the house.

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1 0 10 With reference to the figures, the evaporative air conditioner includes a housing, generally identified by the numeral 3, having a base 5, 4 side walls including water absorbent porous panels 7, and a top wall 9.

With particular reference to Figure 3, the housing is constructed so that, in use, when the evaporative air conditioner is mounted on the roof 11, the base 5 conforms closely to the pitch of the roof 11, the side wall panels 7 extend vertically, and the top wall 5 extends horizontally. This construction of the housing 3 makes the evaporative air conditioner e compatible with and not a prominent feature of the roof 11. In particular, unlike many conventional air conditioners that are mounted on dropper tubes that locate the air conditioners well above the roof-line, the air conditioner shown in the figures is located close to the roof-line.

With reference to Figure 2, in order to accommodate a range of pitch variations, while maintaining compatibility of the air conditioner with the roof 11, the base 5 includes a wave-like configuration in side elevation, with a convex lower section 13, a concave middle section 15, and a convex upper section 17.

The structural components of the preferred embodiment of the air conditioner are located in or underneath the housing 3 so that the principal purpose of the visible exterior construction of the roof-mounted housing is to optimise the compatibility of the air H:\Maria\Keep\BRIVIS P05733 AIR CONDITIONER.doc 12/03/98 11 conditioner and the roof 11.

With reference to Figure 3, the air conditioner includes a collar 19 located underneath the base- 5 that is connected by bolts (not shown) or other suitable means to the roof 11, and more particularly to the roof frame 21, and defines a support for the housing 3 and the other components of the air conditioner.

The base 5 of the housing 3 is formed with an opening 23 which defines an outlet for cooled air from the housing 3. The collar 19 is aligned with and forms an extension of the outlet opening 23 and provides a mounting surface for the ductwork 25 so that, in use, 15 cooled air from the housing 3 flows via the outlet opening 23 and the collar 19 into the ductwork 25 and, thereafter, is distributed to the rooms of the house.

The air conditioner further includes a water 20 distribution system for distributing water to the side wall panels 7.

The water distribution system includes a water distribution tray 35 mounted in an upper section of the housing 3. With particular reference to Figure 4, the tray 35 has a central opening 47 which defines an inlet for supplying water to the tray 35. Furthermore, the tray 35 has a slightly downwardly sloping surface over which, in use, water flows towards the periphery of the tray 35. The tray 35 further includes an upwardly extending wall 39 at the periphery of the tray 35 and a series of water outlets 37 inboard of the wall 39. The outlet openings 37 are positioned so that, in use, water H:\Maria\Keep\BRIVIS P05733 AIR CONDITIONER.doc 12/03/98 12 from the inlet opening 47 flows through the outlet openings 37 onto the upper surface of the side wall panels 7.

The water distribution system further includes a water trough 41 in the lower section of the base 5, and a means (not shown) for pumping water from the water trough 41 to the inlet in the tray 35. In use, the water trough 41 receives water from a main supply (not shown) and as runoff from the side wall panels 7.

The water distribution system is adapted to supply different flow rates of water to the side wall panels 7 to take into account the different sizes of the 15 panels 7.

The evaporative air conditioner further includes a suspension system for supporting the housing 3 and other components of the air conditioner from the roof 20 11.

The suspension system includes: 4 support members 29 that are connected to the collar 19 and extend upwardly from the collar 19 to the upper corners of the housing 3; and (ii) 4 suspension arms 31 which are arranged so that one suspension arm 31 extends downwardly from each support member 29 and is connected at a lower end to the base H:\Maria\Keep\BRIVIS P05733 AIR CONDITIONER.doc 12/03/98 13 In effect, the housing 3 and other components of the air conditioner are suspended via the above-described suspension system.

In order to further strengthen the support for the housing 3, the air conditioner further includes 4 brace members 33 that extend generally horizontally outwardly from the collar 19 and are connected to the lower ends of the suspension arms 31.

Each assembly of the support members 29, the suspension arms 31 and the brace members 33 define a triangular structure that is a particularly effective 15 support for the air conditioner.

The air conditioner further includes an axial fan (not shown) positioned in the collar 19 and operable to draw air into the housing 3 through the side wall 20 panels 7 and to force cooled air through the outlet opening 23, the collar 19, and the ductwork The air conditioner further includes water management and electronic control systems 51 for controlling the operation of the air conditioner located in a chamber 53 moulded in the base Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

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Claims

4. The air conditioner defined in claim 3 wherein the support arms are connected directly to or in the region of the outlet wall and extend upwardly and outwardly to the upper section of the housing.
5. The air conditioner defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member includes a dropper tube or a collar or any other suitable member secured to a roof frame.
6. The air conditioner defined in one of the preceding claims wherein there is a suspension member associated with each support arm. 04/04 2002 15:37 FAX 61 3 92438333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA @015 16
7. The air conditioner defined in claim 6 wherein each suspension member is connected directly to its associated support arm or to the upper section of the housing in the region of the associated support arm.
8. An evaporative air conditioner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. C.. 6' 10 Dated this 3rd day of April 2002 BRIVIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and T 15 Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia C* C *e