US2240784A - Air conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

B. w. JEWELL 2,240,784

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Nov. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l [N VEN TOR A T T ORNE Y-S- May 6, 1941. s. w. JEWELL AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed NOV. 13, 1939 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 11v V ENTO R Berzzgr/ M -7 W'Z'Z BY I M M, $344414,

A TTORNE Y5.

Patented May 6, 1941 AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Bernard W. Jewell, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 303,969

R Claims.

My present invention relates to air conditioning units, in particular air conditioning units of the compressor-condenser-evaporator type having provision for air cooling of the refrigerant in the condenser. The invention is particularly adapted to a unit of the type which is to be mounted on a window sill or in an opening in a wall of the room to be conditioned.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact arrangement of the mechanism whereby a single motor drives the compressor, a blower for producing a stream of air in thermal exchange with the condenser, and a second blower for producing a stream of aiito be conditioned in thermal exchange with the evaporator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby diiferent speeds of operation of the two blowers may be obtained with the use of a single motor and without the use of complicated and expensive reduction gearing or other speed altering devices, the two speeds being accomplished through the use of simple belts and pulleys mounted in a convenient, inexpensive and simple arrangement.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from a study of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying 'drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the unit of the present invention as mounted in a window, the evaporator or interior end of the unit being referred to as the front;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the unit mounted in a window;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view with the cover and other parts broken away to show details;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the unit taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section on an enlarged scale of a part of the unit taken substantially along line 55 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section of the unit taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 4.

The unit of the present invention comprises a self-contained structure which is adapted to be mounted on a window ledge l2 and retained thereon by lowering the window sash l3 into sash retaining means It and I5 mounted on top of the unit, the unit being provided with a; bracket l6 which may be fastened or at least abutted against the outer edge of the window sill l2 and a clamping bracket H which may be fastened to a portion of the wall. The unit comprises an outer condensing compartment 20 in communication with the outdoor atmosphere and an inner evaporating compartment 2| in communication with the room to be conditioned. Since the unit is preferably made narrow enough to fit most windows it may be provided with lateral wings 22 and 23 to block the openings between the sides of the unit and the sides of the window in case the window is wider than the unit. The wings 22 and 23 preferably extend from substantially the midpoint of the length of the unit or beyond an insulated partition 25 dividing the condensing compartment 20 from the evaporating compartment 2| so that approximately twothirds of the condensing compartment is beyond the plane of the window or wall, and approximately one-third thereof is inside of the plane of the window or wall.

The unit comprises a bottom pan 26 of heavy gauge metal which is provided with a continuous flange 21 so that any moisture which happens to collect in the bottom pan may be retained therein. The bracket I6 is preferably welded to the outer surface of the pan 26 to form a stiffening member therefor, and. the pan may be provided with intruded ridges 28 and 29 which also help to stiffen and brace the unit. A mounting plate 30 is supported in the condensing compartment and provides adjustable mounting means for the driving motor 3| and the compressor 32, the motor 3| being preferably fixedly mounted on the plate 30 and the compressor 32 being preferably attached to the plate 30 by bolts extending through slots 33 by means of which the distance between the compressor and the motor may be varied. The motor 3| is provided with a doubleended shaft 34 extending longitudinally of the unit or from front to rear thereof, and the compressor 32 is preferably provided with a crankshaft 35 substantially parallel to the motor shaft 34. The mounting plate 30 is preferably pro- .vided with depending feet 31 which are so shaped as to provide seats for springs 38' which resiliently support the mounting plate and the apparatus mounted thereon. The springs rest upon the bottom pan 26 and are retained in position by intruded lugs 39 which extend above the bottom of the pan so that any water therein can 'not escape through a central opening in each lu'g through which bolts 40 may be passed into central threaded openings in the feet 31. The bolts 40 may be rotated to draw the feet 31 against the lugs 39 so as to maintain the apparatus in position during shipment of the unit, and may be loosened or removed in order that the apparatus may be yieldably supported by the springs 38 during operation thereof. The springs 38 prevent the transmission of noises and vibrations from the motor, compressor, and blowers to the remainder of the unit, and the unit may be mounted on a resilient pad 4|, and the clamping members I4 and I5 may be provided with resilient strips as shown in Fig. 4 to reduce further the transmission of noises and vibrations to the wall and window.

The compressor 32 is adapted to discharge compressed gaseous refrigerant into a discharge pipe 45 which extends to the condenser 36, the pipe being provided with a long return bend or elbow 41 which permits vibration of the compressor with respect to the condenser 46. The condenser 46 preferably comprises horizontal tubes 48 and vertical fins 49 which form a grid across the entire outer end of the unit and across which a stream of outside air is induced to flow to liquefy the refrigerant in the coning device 5| of any suitable character and communicating with a capillary tube expansion device 52. Other expansion devices may be used, the purpose thereof being to permit the expansion of a controlled amount of refrigerant into the evaporator coil 55 which preferably comprises horizontal tubes 56 and vertical fins 51 forming a grid extending across most of the front of the unit and across which a stream of air to be conditioned is induced. The refrigerant then returns to the compressor through suction pipe 60 which is provided with a return bend or loop 6| permitting vibration of the compressor with respect to the evaporator.

Moisture which will be condensed by the evaporator coil 55 is preferably collected in a moisture collecting pan 65 provided with a drain connection 66 which may be connected through a resilient connecting tube 51 to a drain pipe 68 extending through partition 25 into the con-'- densing compartment wherein it is connected, through a resilient connecting tube 69, to a moisture disposal pan Ill located adjacent the condenser 45.

A propeller, or blower of the propeller type. 15 is mounted upon and connected to the outer end of the double-ended shaft 34, and the propeller is positioned within a substantially cylindrical shroud 16 which is mounted in the pan I0 with a segment thereof below the surface of the water which may accumulate therein. Water which gathers on the surface of the shroud I6 is whipped into a spray by the action of a double sheave flywheel pulley 82 mounted on and fixed to the crankshaft 55 of the compressor so that the compressor is driven at substantially the same speed as the motor, particularly if the operating diameter of pulley 80 provided with suitable bearings journaling the outside of the building. The shroud may be the evaporating compartment.

pulley on the shaft for rotation with respect thereto. The bearings are preferably spaced so as to leave an internal pocket which may be packed with a lubricating medium and the pulley is preferably retained on the end of the shaft by a suitable bolt 86. The pulley 84 is preferably of large diameter so that the evaporator blower 81 which is fixed thereto by bolts 88 connecting the centralportion of the blower to a hub portion of the pulley rotates at a materially reduced speed and in the same direction as the shaft 34.

The partition 25 adjacent which the pulley 84 is located is provided with an opening 9|), preferably of fairly large diameter so that a large hub portion 9| of the pulley 84 may pass therethrough with suitable clearance. The large hub provides a firm support for the blower 81 which is located in the evaporating compartment 2| and in an involute shroud 92 mounted in the evaporating compartment. The clearance space between the edge of the opening 90 and the outer surface of the hub portion 9| may be blocked against air flow by a substantially circular piece of felt or other substantially finpervious material of suflicient rigidity to maintain its shape, the inner edge of the felt piece ,being depressed inwardly when the hub portion 9| of the pulley 84 is passed through the opening 90 so as to form a seal preventing the flow of hot air from the condensing compartment into the evaporating compartment.

The propeller 15, operating at high speed and being of the character disclosed, may create a substantially high pitched or loud noise, which being directed outward is not of any great annoyance to the user of the unit. The propeller l5 induces a stream of air to fiow in through the right end of condenser 56, across the surfaces of compressor 32 and motor 3|, and outward through the left end of condenser 46. The evaporator blower 81 induces a flow of air through the left end of evaporator 55 and outward through the right end of evaporator 55 into the room through an ornamental grill I00. An entrance shroud Mil may be provided to direct the incoming airstream into the involute blower shroud 92 and the outgoing stream may be lconfined by transverse baflles H12 and I03 in The evaporator blower 81 is preferably of. the wheel type, as disclosed, since such blowers are more quiet than propeller type blowers. However, even such a blower, at. the high speed of operation of the motor and compressor, would produce considerable noise. Therefore, the ratio of pulley 80 to pulley 84 is preferably selected so as to operate the blower. 81 at a relatively slow speed, and the blower is of relatively large size so as to produce a sufficient volume of air at a low speed.

The room may be ventilated by opening an exhaust door I05 located in a wall of the unit in the space between the side wing 22 and the partition 25, opening of the door I serving to cause propeller 15 to draw air from the room. The size of the door I05 is preferably selected so that the unrestricted fiow therethrough does not reduce the flow of air through the-right end of condenser 46 more than fifty percent in order that continued air flow across the condenser surface will continue to condense the refrigerant.

The reduction in air volume across the right end of the condenser is compensated for by the lower temperature of the air passing through the exhaust door, which traverses the left end of the condenser on its way out of the unit.

It is apparent from the foregoing specification that the operation of the unit may be considerably varied by the proper selection of pulley ratios and blower and propeller sizes. I prefer to use ratios substantially as shown and described, but it is obvious that the same mechanical structure may be utilized with other ratios of pulley and blower or in other types of units. Any such modification or alteration as comes within the scope of the following claims are considered a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment, a motor, a compressor and a refrigerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relationship, said motor having a double ended shaft and being so placed as to have its shaft substantially normal to said partition, a condenser blower mounted on and connected to the end of said shaft farthest from said partition, a driving pulley fixed to the other end of shaft and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said d'rivm pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley joumaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an opening through which a hub portion of said driven pulley projects into said second compartment, an evaporator blower fixed to said hub portion, and other belt means connecting said driven pulley and said double sheave pulley for rotating said evaporator blower at a different speed than that of the shaft.

2. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment, a motor, a com-.

pressor and a refrigerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relationship, said motor having a double ended shaft and being so placed as to have its shaft sub-' stantially normal to said partition,- a condenser blower mounted on and connected to the end of said shaft farthest from said partition, a driving pulley fixed to the other end of shaft and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said driving pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley journaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an opening through which a hub portion of said driven pulley projects into said second compartment, an evaporator blower fixed to said hub portion, and other belt means connecting said driven pulley and said double sheave pulley for rotating said evaporator blower at a different speedthan that of the shaft, the ratios of said pulleys with respect to each other being such as to drive said evaporator blower at a relatively low speed with respect to the speed of said condenser blower.

3. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment, a motor, a compressor and a refrigerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant fiow relationship, said motor having its shaft so oriented as to be substantially normal to said partition, a driving pulley fixed to an end of said shaft adjacent said partition and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said driving pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley journaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an opening through which a hub portion of said driven pulley projects into said second compartment, an evaporator blower fixed to said hub portion, and other belt means connecting said driven pulley and said double sheave pulley for rotating said evaporator blower at a different speed than that of the shaft.

4. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment,. a motor, a compressor and a refrigerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relationship, said motor having its shaft so oriented as to be substantially normal to said partition, a driving pulley fixed to an end of said shaft adjacent said partition and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said driving pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley journaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an opening through which a hub portion of said driven pulley projects into said second compartment, an evaporator blower fixed to said hub portion, and other belt means connecting said driven pulley and said double sheave pulley for rotating said evaporator blower at a different speed than that of the shaft, the ratios of said pulleys with respect to each other being such as to drive said evaporator blower at a relatively low speed with respect to the speed of said condenser blower.

5. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment, amotor, a compressor and a, refrigerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relationship, said motor having its shaft so oriented as to be substantially normal to said partition, a driving pulley fixed to an end of said shaft adjacent said partition and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said driving pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley journaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an that of the shaft, said driven pulley having a hub portion of large diameter providing a firm support for said evaporator blower.

6. An air conditioning unit comprising a partition dividing the unit into a first compartment and a second compartment,-a motor, a compres.

sor and a refrgerant condenser in said first compartment, an evaporator in said second compartment, said compressor, condenser and evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relationship, said motor having its shaft so oriented as to be substantially normal to said partition, a driving pulley fixed to an end of said-shaft adjacent said partition and through which the extremity of said shaft projects, a double sheave pulley drivingly fixed to said compressor, belt means connecting said driving pulley and said double sheave pulley, a driven pulley journaled on the extremity of said shaft adjacent said driving pulley, said partition being provided with an opening through which a hub portion or said driven pulley projects into said second compartment, an evaporator blower fixed to said hub portion, and other belt means connecting said driven pulley and said double sheave pulley for rotating said evaporator blower at a different speed than that or the shaft, said driven pulley having a hub portion of large diameter providing a firm support for said evaporator blower and said partition having an annular piece of felt mounted thereon and overhanging the edge of said opening so as to contact the surface of said large hub portion and form therewith a seal to prevent the passage of air from one compartment to the other.

BERNARD W. J EWELL.

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