US2058405A - Air conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1936. K. P. BRACE 5 AIR.CONDITIONING UNIT Fiied-oct. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet? Oc't. 27, 1936. 'K. P. BRACE 2,058,405

' 'AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Oct. 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIII'IIIIIIIIII Wm WW.

ll ll lll l INVENTOR-' MMMB 0W0 I nonuzv- Patented Oct. 27, 1936 Q I v v v UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE OW AIR CONDITIONING UNI'r o Kemper lenn Brace, New York, N. Y. i 7 a; Application October 24, 1932, Serial No. 689,188 I 9 Claims. (01. 62-129) 1 a This inventionrelates in general to air condiactually being conditioned. Because of such artioning and in particular to the conditioning, durrangement these units are subject to some very ing the summer season, of enclosures of limited serious objections. For instanceirin the case of size such as rooms of dwellings; ofllce rooms, small the units which contain the refrigeration apparahalls and the like. tus as a part thereof the noises emitted by the Air conditioning systems for buildings which refrigeration apparatus are enough to prohibit house a plurality of separate enclosures such as their use in rooms such as omces; conference office rooms, dwelling rooms and the like have rooms, and 'the like, whereaminimum 1 di t tbeen proposed. These systems usually include a ing noises is permitted. This same typevof unit is central air conditioning unit from which condisubject to the further objection that it must 10 tioned air is led to the separate rooms by means include some means for removing from the reof suitable duct work. By reason of the duct work frigeratlon apparatus at; least as much heat as r quir d, th s yst a p a ti a ly limited the unit removes from the eonditioning air. .Suoh to new buildings designed to accommodate them means of course increases the initial as well as as th n a y remodelling of existing buildings the operating cost of the unit. If the means just is excessive and its .cost prohibitive, also, after mentioned for any reason does not function propthese systems are installed theycannot be readily efly-not only win the load in the refrigeration modified as may be required by chan ed s of apparatus be increased'but the conditioning of som or ll of th r m Furthermore. control the enclosure will not take place as desired.

0 of conditions at the individual rooms with these B th types f units because of the arrangement systems is extremely limited and the whole bulldof the refrigeration apparatus mentioned above ing is maintained at Substantially t same 0011- are subject to the objection self evident from the t following:

Because Of these n other drawbacks f Assuming that the enclosures are to be condisyst ms ju t referred o a n p p s d t tloned for eight hours per day which is a reasonprovide individual air conditioning units for each able axi um for the typeen'closures heretofore .room, h r y m kin it P bl to on ti n mentioned, that at maximum summer-weather each oom as desired y the Oc p nts t e eo for the locality in which the units are installed T it -p either employ a water spra the out door air has adry bulb of 95 E, a wet as the cooling and dehumidification medium or b lb of 76 F, and a dew .point of 69 F., and produce the cooling and dehumidification result that th enclosure during such maximum weather by contacting the conditioning air with the sur- .15 t b maintained at a dry-bulb or 80 F., a wet face of coils thru which is passed a refrigerant b b f 6 11 d a dew point, 1. 0" A tudy or a cooled heat exchange medium. In some of of the weather records for a large number. of the uni s the Water. 1% r i nt, or heat exlocalities shows that for any locality if the maxi- 5 change m i as he case y i cooled by mum dry bulb temperature during the day is-95 means of r fri ati app u included in F. the hourly temperature readings for the rest the unit; in the other of the units the water, or of the day are approximately as follows:

refrigerant, or heat exchange medium is cooled at centrally located refrigeration apparatus which Dmmnee V, 40 supplies all of the units in the building. For this i Outside dry- $323 reason it is necessary to employ piping in the 1 Time bulb gamed desired installation of the last mentioned type of unit. maid: t s:

Since it is almost invariably necessary to dehumidifyaswell as to cool conditioning air during the a summer season it is necessaryto provide piping for flf g: g: g the disposal of the water condensed with both 11-12111 m: 90 r. 10: r. types of units. The necessity of. the piping both in- {25 33- 1 I g: 12., 1: creases the cost of the units and reduces the 2-3 m 95 F. 16:1. flexibility of the system employing them. 33 3 g: g: :3.

All of the units that I am aware of sufflciently I u a practical to be in use in actual installations are F so arranged that the refrigeration apparatus, I whether located in the unit or at a remote place, From the above it is evident that the refrigeraoperates only during the time the enclosure is tion apparatus associated with either type of unit units operate at their best efficiency for only one quarter of the time. Thus the operating cost of these units is necessarily excessive when it is considered that it is possible, as I will explain hereinafter in the disclosure of my invention, to

accumulate by means of a suitable medium the effect of the refrigeration apparatus. The ex- .cessive capacity and consequently the excessive initial cost of the refrigeration apparatus of the units mentioned is obvious. Thus by accumulating the refrigeration effect and operating the refrigeration apparatus at rated load for" the full eight hour period refrigeration apparatus capable of maintaining a 10.6 F. difierence between the outside and the conditioned space would be sufficient in the example assumed. However, there is no reason why the operation of the refrigera tion apparatus should be confined to the eight hour conditioning period; in installations where noise is not objected to the refrigeration apparatus can be operated for twenty-four hours; in installations where noise is objected to the refrigeration apparatus can be operated for the sixteen hours that the enclosure is not being occupied. Hence it is obvious that the refrigeration apparatus of the present units are from 1.4 times to 435 times the capacity required. Since the refrigeration apparatus cost is the major proportion of the cost of the units, the excessive cost of the present day units is obvious.

In accordance with my invention I provide a portable self-contained air conditioning unit. That is to say, a unit which contains within itself all the elements necessary for coolingand conditioning the enclosure in which it is located,'for disposing of the water condensed during dehumidification of the air in the enclosure, and for dissipation of the heat generated by the refrigeration apparatus, which unit requires only a connection to the ordinary current line, as dis tinguished from a power line, and can be completely installed and put in operation without the need of any piping or duct work whatsoever. The refrigeration apparatus housed in the unit is of such capacity that during the allowed operating time, i. e.-, twenty-four hours per day. Where the noise of the refrigeration apparatus is not objected to and twenty-four hours per day minus the time of occupation of the enclosure, where the noise is objected to, it is able to do the quantum of work necessary to condition 4 the enclosure during a day of maximum weather.

exchange medium the refrigeration apparatus is automatically shut down whenever the heat exchange medium has stored therein the refrigeration effect necessary to condition the enclosure during said day of maximum weather. By this arrangement the refrigeration apparatus operates only asrequired to maintain the stored refrigeration effect at the maximum at the beginning of each occupation period of the enclosure.

Various heat exchange mediums may be used, such mediums may be liquids, gases, solids or solutions. However, in order to maintain the quantity of heat exchange medium to a mimmum, and thus keep down the size ofthe unit, I prefer to use a medium which undergoes a change of phase and/or state at areduced temperature. Because of its low cost and availability and of its comparatively high storing capacity I have found that water fills all the requirements of an ideal heat exchange medium for my purpose.

. In order to dissipate the heat abstracted from the various motors used, conduit means are provided for leading air from the outside into heat exchange relation with the compressor and condenser of the refrigeration apparatus and the various motors used and from thence back to the outside. In order to avoid the necessity of connecting conduits, the inlet and outlet of said conduit means are arranged to flt into the bottom of the window opening adjacent to which the units are generally located. Such inlet and outlet may be attached to an adjustable barrier so that the heat abstracted may be prevented from getting into the enclosuresimply by bringing the ,bottom of the window into contact with the barrier. The water condensed during the dehumid- .the heat exchange medium and generated by ification of the conditioning air is disposedof by spraying it into contact with the condenser of the refrigerator. This results in complete evaporation of the condensed moisture'thereby eliminating the necessity of any drain connection, and also increases the efficiency of the refrigeration apparatus by causing the liquid refrigerant to be condensed at a lower temperature and pressure.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the preferred embodiments thereof illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the conditioning unit as installed in an enclosure;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional end line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a part sectional plan .view taken on line l-Jof Fig. 2; and g Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, of another preferred embodiment.

The unit I0, as shown, may be conveniently located below a window ll of the enclosure I! to be conditioned, the motor elements of unit It later to be described, being connected to the ordinary house current line by means of a cable II and a plug l4 and a settable motor control thermostat l5 being connected by a cable I6. which includes conductors hereinafter described, to certain of the motor elements of unit Ill.

Unit ll includes a-suitable frame, not shown, towhich are fastened front wall ll, side walls It and I9, bottom wall 20, top wall 2|, a1 vertical partition 22. Preferably, wall I! is arranged to be readily removed to allow access to the parts of unit ll described hereinafter. To side walls ll view taken on partition 22 and rear wall'23 being divided byvertical partition 24 to form two air ducts 25 and 26. At the top of unit |9 side walls l8 and", partition 24 and top wall 2| are extended .to cooperate with plate 21 to form extensions of ducts 25 and 26.. These extensions, as shown in Fig. I, serve to communicate ducts 25 and 26 to the atmosphere, and when the window H is closed on them serve to prevent flow of air from the room intoducts 25 and 26 and vice versa.

The space of unit l9 between partitions 22 and front wall I1 is divided into an upper and a lower compartment by partition 28. In the upper compartment is suitably supported from the frame, not shown, of unit l9 a metal tank 29 which is insulated on its sides and bottom by insulation 39. One or more rows of metallic conduits 3| extend through tank 29 and have their ends welded or otherwise made integral with the top and bottom of tank 29. Top and bottom insulation 39 as well as partition 28 and top wall 2| are perforated to allow passage of air from the lower compartment through conduits 3| to enclosure l2.

Near the bottom of side wall I8 is an opening 32 through'which motor operated fan 33 draws air from enclosure l2. Opening 32 is protected by grille 34 and fan 33 is housed in the bottom of a conduit 35 which leads air from opening 32 to the bottom of conduits 3|. Conduit 35 is defined by the members 36 and 31 and portions of'front wall l6, side wall l8 and partition 28. Motor 38 of fan 33 is located in the space between member 36 and side wall l9.

Member-36 has a hole cut thereinto allow com- 7 munication between duct 35 and the lower compartment of unit l9. This hole is controlled by a damper 39 which in its full line position closes communication between duct 35 and the lower compartment of unit l9 and in its dotted line position closes the passage of air to ducts.3|. A

' damper 49 ishinged to top wall 2| and in its closed position closes the outlets of conduits 3|. A damper 4| hinged to rear wall 23, is positioned in duct 25. This damper in its closed position prevents passage of airthrough duct 25. Dampers '39, 49 and 4| are connected we link mechanism to be movable in unison by movement of knob 42-,

- the arrangement beingsuch that when damper 39 is in the full line positiondampers 49 and 4| are in the-open position and when damper 39 is in the dotted line position dampers 49 and 4| are in the closed position.

The edge of member 36 adjacent to the edge of damper 39 nearest side wall I8 is bent to form a channel 43. Channel 43 is adapted to collect the water condensed on the surface of conduits 3| and lead it through pipe 44 to conduit 26.

A compressor 45 which is driven by belt 46 from motor 41 is in the bottom compartment of unit |9. The shaft of motor 41 has fan blades 48 attached thereto which'serve to pass air from the bottom compartment of unit l9 through-circular hole 49 cut in partition 22 into duct 26. v A shaft 59 has its ends journalled in partition 22 and rear wall 23 and is driven by belt 5| from the shaft of motor 41. Shaft 56 has athin disc 52 pinned thereto. Disc 52 is of such size as to approach 26. If desired, a pump may be used in place of disc 52 and the water dripped over condenser 53 through a suitable pipe-(not shown). A hole. 54

is cut in partition 22 and offers communication between duct 25 and the bottom compartment of unit 19. The inlet of compressor 45 is connected to a finned coil 55 located in tank 29. the outlet of compressor 45 being connected to the inlet of condensor 53, the outlet of which is connected towhich is vertically adjustable and supports amercury switch 59 for oscillation relative thereto. Float 58'may have a projecting edge or a pin fastened to it which is adapted to cooperate with the projection on switch 59 to open the circuit controlled by switch 59 when the water in tank 29 has expanded the predetermined amount. By-

adjusting thesupport of switch 59 the switch may operate when all the water or any proportion of it is frozen.

Cable l3, which for convenience will be considered as including two conductors 69 and 6|, supplies the current for motors 38 and 41. Conductor 6| connects directly to one terminal of motor 48 and through conductor 62 connects to one terminal of motor 38. Conductor 69 is connected to one terminal of mercury switch 59 the other terminal of which is connected to one of the terminals of mercury switch 63 by conductor 64. A conductor 65 connects the other terminal of mercury switch 63 to the other terminal of motor 41. A conductor 66 connects to conductor 64 and one terminal of ,settable motor control thermostat l5, the other terminal of which is connected through conductor 61 to the other terminal of motor 38. A switch 69 interruptsconductor 61 and a switch 69 makes'it possible to connect conductors 69 and 61 so that when desired motor- 38 may be manually controlled. Switches 68 and 69' are positioned to be accessible from the outside of unit 19. A switch 19 is also provided by means of which conductors 64 and 65 may be connected thus making it possible to cut out mercury switch 63 when desired. When switch 63 is in the circuit of motor 41, it is impossible for motor 41 to operate when damper 39 is in the full line position.

Unit I9 is installed in enclosure |2 by placing it as shown in Fig.1, and connecting cable l3 to the house current line. Thermostat I5 is then set to the temperature at which it-is desired to maintain enclosure l2 and cable l6 connected to it. The size of tank 29 is such as to hold the volume of ice necessary to maintain enclosure l2 at the predetermined conditions during the period I of occupation of maximum outside weather. The

water required to form such ice is placed in tank 29 through the opening closed by plate 51. The

support of switch 59 is adjusted so that float 58 will operate switch 59 when the predetermined expansion of the water in tank 29 has taken place. Compressor -45 condenser 53 and coil 55 are of such size and capacity that said ice will be rated-load during aselected period of operation.

'-;; The selected period, as heretofore stated, may be twenty-four hours or less.

Assuming now that we are at the beginning of what may be called the charging period, that is, the period during which compressor 45 operates, and that the charging period is 24 hours minus theoccupation"period.=-=-=Switches 68 and=69 are I closed, switch 19 is opened and knob 42 rotated 65 produced with compressor 45 operating at its thus closing the circuits of motors 38 and (also as to set compressor 45 and fan 33 inoperation. With dampers 39, Ill and 4| so positioned,-air will pass from duct 35 into the lower compartment of unit I land from thence through hole '45 into duct 26 and the atmosphere. This current of air will carry away the ,heat generated during the compression of the refrigerant. The refrigerant after'being compressed by compressor 45 passes to condenser 53 wherein it is cooled and condensed. The cooled, compressed refrigerant is.

then expanded and circulated through coil 55 to remove the heat from the water in tank 25 and eventually turn it to ice. As this goes on the volume of the water will increase, thus raising float 58 with the result that when the water reaches the predeterminedlevel, float 58 will cause switch 59 to open thereby shutting'down compressor 45.

Assuming now that a daily conditioning period of maximum weather is about to commence. Knob 42 is rotated to carry damper 40 to the full line position thereby causing mercury switch 63 to open the circuit of motor 41, damper ill to open the outlets of conduits 3| and damper M to move to its open position. Fan 33 will now pass the air through conduits 3|. The air in passing through conduits 3| will transfer heat to the ice l in tank 29, and if the moisture content of the air is excessive condensation take place on the walls of conduits 3 I, thus taking care of the moisture load. As soon as enough of the ice has melted to allow mercury switch 59 to move to the close circuit position, l5 minutes of conditioning will usually be suflicient, switch 69 is opened and the conditioning of the air will from thence on be' controlled by thermostat l5. The flow of conditioning air through unit i0 is at all times suflicient to cause a thorough intermixing of all the air in enclosure l2.

During the next char i g period unit I II will function as heretofore described, but in addition disc 52 will spray the water collected due to the dehumidiflcation of the conditioning air, against condenser 53.- V lected is disposed of and the refrigerant cooled to a lower temperature than would be possible with air alone.

At the beginning of each charging period switch 69 isclosed so that mercury switch 59 will also cause the opening of the circuit of motor 38 when the water in tank 29 is frozen as desired.

When it is desired to charge the unit during the full 24 hours, mercury switch I0 is opened so that motor 41 will be solely under' control of mer- 'cury switch 59. As before. switch as is ,closed at the end of each conditioning period and opened .30 have been omitted and the conditioning air caused to pass around the outside of tank 29. This construction is somewhat cheaper and more satisfactory as all possibility of condensation of moisture on the outside of unit III is eliminated.

While I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention in detail I do not wish to be limited thereto as it isobvious various modiflcations are possible within the scope. 'of the appended claims.

I claim, A A 1. In combination with an. enclosure subiect In this manner the water col-- to a variable weather load, an. air ,conditioninz unit adapted to condition said enclosureduring intermittent. periods of substantial duration, said unit including means for cooling tying air, means for circulating a variable quan- ,5

tity of air from said enclosure into contact said cooling'and dehumidifying means and said enclosure, means for circulating air from the atmosphere through said unit and backtothe atmosphere, means for imparting the heatand-g moisture removed from said variable quantity of air to said other circulated air, and means a1- lowing passage of airfrom said enclosure. to said atmospheric air circulating means during the intervals between said intermittent conditioning 15 periods.

2. In an air conditioning .unit, a casing, partition means dividing said easing into a, f m; and

a rear section, vertical partition means dividing said rear section into a pair of conduits, means extending from the rear of said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair of conduits and allowing air toexit from the other of said pair of conduits, further partition means dividing said front section into compartments, holes in said first partition means allowing passage of air from said air inlet conduit through one of said compartments to said outlet conduit, holes in said casing allowing air to enter another of said compartments and exit from the top thereof, means 30 of the air flowing therethru, refrigeration appa- 35 ratus including a motor driven compressor, a condenser and a flnned expanded refrigerant circulating coil, said condenser being located in said outlet conduit, said compressor being located in said one compartment, and said coil being 40 located in said tank, means for drawing air from said inlet conduit through said one compartment to said outlet conduit, means for collecting the water condensed in said other compartment and leading said water to the bottom of said outlet '45 conduit, and means for spraying said water onto the surface'of said condenser. j

3..In an air conditioning unit, a casing, partition means dividing said easing into a front and a rear section, vertical partition means dividing 50 said rear section into a pair of conduits, means extending from the rear of said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair of conduits and allowing air to exit from. the other of said pair of conduits, further partition means dividing said 55 front 'section' into compartments, holes in saidfirst partition means allowing passage of, air from said air inlet conduit through one of said compartments to said outlet conduit, holes insaid.

casing allowing air to enter another of said compartments and exit from the top thereof, means for passing a variable quantity of air through said another compartment, heat exchange means including a heat absorbing medium storage tank in said another compartment located in the path 5 of the air flowing therethru, refrigeration apparatus including a motor driven compressor, a condenser, and a flnned expanded refrigerant circulating coil, said condenser being located'in said outlet conduit, said'compressor being located 7 in saidone compartment, and said coil'being lo.- cated in said tank, means for drawing air from said inlet conduit through saidone compartment to said outlet conduit; a damper in said inlet conduit, a second damper pivoted to said casing 7 passage of air to said heat exchange means, and

means for positioning said dampers as a unit.

4. In an air conditioning unit adapted to con-, dition air during intermittent periods of substantial duration; a casing; partition means di viding said easing into a front and a rear section; vertical partition means dividing said rear section into a pair of conduits; means extending from the rear of said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair of conduits and allowing air to exit from the other of said pair of conduits; further partition means dividing said'front section into compartments; holes in said first partition means allowing passage of air from said air inlet conduit through one of said compartments to said outlet conduit; means for passing air from said inlet conduit to said air outlet conduit, means in said casing allowing air to enter the bottom of the other of said compartments and exit at the top thereof; means. for passing a variable quantity of air through-saidother compartment; heat exchangemeansincluding a heat absorbing medium storage tank in said other, compartment located in the path of the air flowing therethru; said tank being of a size to hold an amount of heat absorbing medium capable of absorbing the heat required to be absorbed during the conditioning period of maximum weather as said medium undergoes a change of phase and/or state; refrigeration apparatus including a motor driven compressor in said' other compartment,-a condenser in said air outlet con-'- duit, and a finned expanded refrigerant circu-- lating coil in said tank'; and float operated means in said' tank operable to shut down said compressor when the phase and/or state of the heat absorbing medium in said tank is re-established.

5. In an air conditioning unit adapted to condition air during intermittent periods of substantial duration; a casing; means dividing said casing into a pair of conduits and a pair of compartments; means extending from said casing allowing air to enter one of said pair of conduits and exit from the other conduit of said pair; means allowing passage of air from said air inlet conduit to one of said compartments of said pair and from said one compartment to said air outlet conduit; means for passing air from said inlet conduit through said one compartment to said outlet conduit; air inlet means at the bottom of the other compartment of said pair of compartments; air outlet means at the top of said other compartment; means for passing a variable volume of air through said other compartment; a heat absorbing medium storage tank in said other compartment positioned between the air inlet means and air outlet means thereof,

said tank being of a size to hold an amount of heat absorbing medium capable of absorbing the heat required to be absorbed during the condi-,

"tioning of maximum weather as said medium undergoes a change of phase and/or state; "refrigeration apparatus including 'a'compressor in said one compartment. a condenser in said air outlet conduit, and a finned expanded refriger ant circulating coil insaid tank; float actuated means in said tank adapted to shut down said.

' compressor-"when" said medium has aprred'eter mined heat absorbing capacity; and means opadapted to condition the air in an enclosure, a

casing, means for directing a current of air through said casing, means in said casing for cooling and dehumidifying said directed air, means for directing a second current of air through said casing, said second mentioned air directing means including positionable means adapted in one position to allow said second current of air to be drawn from outside of said enclosure and in another position to allow said second current of air to be vdrawn'from said enclosure, and means in said casing for imparting the heat removed from said first current-of air to said second current of air at a substantFally constant rate.

7.,In a device of the kind described, a casing, a heat absorbing medium in said casing, refrigerating apparatus for cooling said heat absorb-' ing medium, a plurality of air, passages thru said casing, means for forcing streams-of air thru said passages, means in said casing, movable to direct oneof said air streams thru said refrigerating apparatus adapted to convey heat from the refrigerating apparatus into said air or to direct said air into heat exchange contact with said heat absorbing medium whereby they air iscooled and dehumidified and means for frigerating apparatus.

8. In a device of the, kind described, a-casing, a heat absorbing medium in said casing, refrigerating apparatus for cooling said heat absorbing medium, including a condenser for there frigerant, means for forcing streams of air thru said casing and for bringing one of said air streams into heat exchange relation with said heat absorbing medium, to cool and dehumidify the air, a liquid reservoir adjacent said condenser for receiving water condensed from the air, means for conducting the water condensed from the air to said reservoir, means for agitating said water to cause it to contact with said condenser thereby assisting in condensing the and permit circulation of the other.

9. A self contained unit for conditioning air 5 in an enclosure comprising a. casing, partition means in said casing separating said casing into two compartments, means for moving streams of air thrusaid casing,,a damper in said partition movable to open one of said compartments to the passage of air therethru, and to close the other to cause the air to travel thru one of said compartments and to prevent its travel thru the other, heat exchange means positioned in heat exchange relation with one compartment for removing heat and moisture from the air passing thru the compartment, and means in the'other compartment for imparting some of the heat extracted from the air passing thru the first compartment to the air passing thru the secondcompartment.

., KEMPER .PENN BRAOIL.

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