US3628350A

US3628350A - Wall air conditioner

Info

Publication number: US3628350A
Application number: US48309A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel M Ruth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-22
Filing date: 1970-06-22
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21

Abstract

A wall air conditioner having an external face simulating the appearance of the wall in which it is mounted, the face having a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal openings melding with the external face, each opening connecting to the inlet side of an elongated rotary air compressor, the air compressor being interconnected to a single drive source, the drive source also driving a plurality of air compressors for external makeup air and a single air compressor for evaporator circulation.

Description

United States Patent inventor Samuel M. Ruth 226 South Burnet St., East Orange, NJ. 07018 Appl. No. 48,309

Filed June 22, I970 Patented Dec. 21, 1971' WALL AIR CONDITIONER 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 62/429, 62/426, 415/60, 415/122, 165/127, 62/263 Int. Cl F25d 17/06 Field 01 Search 415/60,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES [PATENTS 1,949,993 3/1934 Dahlstrand 165/127 3,180,403 4/1965 Breen 165/127 Primary Examiner-William J. Wye AttorneyPopper, Bain, Bobis 8; Gilfillan ABSTRACT: A wall air conditioner having an external face simulating the appearance of the wall in which it is mounted, the face having a plurality of spaced rt, horizontal openings melding with the external face, e c opening connecting to the inlet side of an elongated the air compressor bei source, the drive sou sors for external ma evaporator circulation.

ry air compressor, 'nterconnec to a single drive driving a plurality of air compresp air and a single air compressor for [Ill WALL AIR CONDITIONER BACKGROUND Oi INVENTION it has been found that central air conditioning is not economically feasible in certain building construction. in particular, many apartment buildings are being provided with wall-type air conditioners for each apartment.

The usual wall-type air conditioner includes an external face comprising a bank of relatively thin fins connected to the condensing coils of the air conditioner. Such an external face is esthetically ugly and defaces the building.

Air conditioners are available which have more esthetically pleasing external faces but which nevertheless are obviously an air conditioner.

lt is esthetically more acceptable to provide a wall-type air conditioner having an external appearance which melds with the external appearance of the wall in which it is mounted. For instance, many buildings, including small office buildings and apartments are provided with a wall facing of brick or simulated stone. lt is desirable to provide an external face on each conditioner which merges with and becomes a part of the same brick or stone facing of the building.

in order to provide the wall air conditioner with a face which blends with the building wall, a plurality of openings must be provided for the admission of air to circulate over the condensing coils. If the usual rotary or blade fan is employed, there will be an excessive reduction in air flow over the condensing coils caused by the impedance generated by the facing construction. Thus, new means must be provided for the more efficient suction of air through the facing and circulation over the condensing coils.

in the present invention, the means comprise a plurality of elongated rotary air compressors the inlet side of each one of which is connected to one of the longitudinally elongated horizontal openings in the face. The rotary compressors are driven by a plurality of interengaged gears on the ends thereof, one of the gears being connected to a drive gear from a single motor. This motor also drives a fan for circulation of air over the evaporated coils.

Since each opening in the face is provided with its own rotary air compressor, there is not only a substantially increased air flow at each opening but there is an even distribution of air flow over the condensing coils.

SUMMARY OF lNVENTlON A wall air conditioner comprising a housing, a sidewall on the housing having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart openings, a plurality of elongated rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel to the openings, the inlet side of each compressor being connected to at least one open ing, a refrigerant condenser coil in the housing in air intercepting relationship to the rotary compressors, means for driving the rotary compressors, a refrigerant evaporator coil in the housing, refrigerant compressor and cycle means connected to the evaporator and condenser coils and means for circulating air from without the housing over the evaporator coils.

PREFERRED EM BODlMENT OF INVENTION The objects and advantages aforesaid as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by the wall air conditioner claimed herein, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawings in which:

FlG. l is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the wall air conditioner taken along line 1-1 in FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FlG. 2 is a top plan view of the wall air conditioner with the top thereof removed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the wall air conditioner comprises a housing 11 having sidewalls l2 and 13, a bottom 14, a top 15 and an interior face 16. The front of the housing 11 is provided with a face 17 which conforms to and blends with the wall, the structure in which the air conditioner is mounted. The face 17 comprises a support member 18 having a plurality of elongated generally horizontal spaced apart openings i9, 19 etc. The structural member is provided with a piurality of simulated

bricks

20, 20 etc. mounted thereon between the

openings

19, 19. The bricks 20 are secured to the structural member 18 by means of a seat 22 having generally opposed

flange members

23 and 24.

While the face 17 has been shown and described as having simulated

bricks

20, 20 applied thereto, any material which conforms to the material from which the wall of the building in which the air conditioner is mounted is suitable. For instance, the

bricks

20, 20 could be wooden or synthetic siding, simulated or genuine stone, granite or the like. In addition, the particular seat means 22 shown and described is not in and of itself critical to the invention. Rather, the structural member 18 should be provided with some means for the application of a facing material which blends with and simulates the facing material from which the wall in which the air conditioner is mounted is fabricated.

The structural member 18 is provided with a plurality of passages 25 communicating between the openings 18 and the inlet side of rotary compressors 26.

The rotary compressors 26 are elongated, extending across the face 17 of the housing 11 opposite each of the passages 25 so that each opening 19 is provided with a rotary compressor 26.

Each of the rotary compressors 26 is provided with a bevel gear 27 on one end thereof. The respective bevel gears 27 of adjacent rotary compressors 26 are interchanged so that the compressor blades 28 of adjacent compressors 26 must be oppositely oriented so that the inlet or vacuum side of each of the compressors 26 connects with each of the passages 25 in the structural member 18.

The outlet or high-pressure side 29 of each of the compressors 26 lies in just a position to a bank of refrigerant condenser coils with course laterally parallel to each of the rotary compressors 26 generally along their length. The condenser coils 30 may be wrapped with aluminum in the usual fashion.

A second bank of rotary compressors 32 are provided in front of the same openings l9, 19 but on the opposite side of the face 17. Compressors 32 are also provided with bevel gears 33 which are interengaged with each other and are positioned in general opposition to the bevel gears 27 on the other rotary compressors 26. Compressors 32 may be employed alternatively for the expulsion of waste air after passing over the condenser coils or for the admission of fresh air makeup which may be passed over the evaporator coils 47. In order to employ the compressors 32 as a source of makeup air, baffle means 35 must be provided in the housing 11 extending from the top to the bottom thereof dividing the compressors 26 from the compressors 32. An appropriate ventilating damper 34 may be provided in the baffle 35 which walls off the evaporator coils 47. In addition, the side 13 of housing 11 may be provided with an open louver for the ventilation of reject air passing over the condenser coils. The particular orientation of air circulation in the housing 11 is a matter of choice but the use of two independent banks of

rotary compressors

26 and 32 is novel.

In addition, if the face ll7 of the housing 11 is to be flush with the wall of the building in which it is mounted, means must be provided for the escape of air passing over the condenser coils. Under such circumstances, the rotary compressors 32 would normally be employed to reject air from the housing 11 rather than for makeup air. A separate ventilating damper 36 may be provided in the weather barrier 35 for the admission of fresh air passing into the housing from the bottom 14. in this regard it should be noted that the housing 11 is normally mounted with a space between the bottom member 37 of the facing 17 and the opening of the wall in which it is mounted.

In order to drive the

rotary compressors

26, 32, a single motor 38 is employed. The motor 38 is mounted in the housing 11 and includes a generally horizontal drive shaft 39 extending in the direction of the

rotary compressors

26 and 32.

The terminal end of the output shaft 39 is provided with a bevel gear 40'which is meshed with one each of the

bevel gears

27 and 32 connected respectively to rotary compressors 26 and32. Thus rotation of shaft 39 causes simultaneous rotation of all of the

rotary compressors

26, 32.

The motor 38 is also provided with an output shaft 41 on the opposite side thereof extending through the weather barrier 35. Shaft 41 is provided with a propeller type of evaporator fan 42 for the circulation of air over the evaporator coils 33. The usual filter 43 is provided in front of the evaporator coils 33. Normally the fan 42 draws air through the filter 43 over the coils 33 and rejects through a vent 44 in the top of the housing 11. It should also be noted that a squirrel cage or rotary fan may be substituted for the blade fan 42.

The usual refrigerant cycling means such as a compressor 45 is mounted in the housing 11 andthe condenser coils 30 and evaporator coils 33 are connected therethrough. In addition, the usual electrical controls or electromechanical controls may be employed and are a matter of choice. Moreover, the usual condensate disposal ports 46, are provided.

It will be observed that the plurality of rotary compressors 32 provide not only increased circulation through the relatively small openings 19 in the face 17 but also better distribution of air over the condensing coils 30. Moreover, the second bank of rotary compressors 32 provide rapid rejection of heated air from the housing 11 thus in combination with rotary compressors 26 provide positive push-pull air circulation over the condensing coils insuring the most efficient operation possible. Moreover, although a large number of rotary compressors are employed, only one motor 38 is needed to drive all

rotary compressors

26 and 32 as well as the evaporator fan 42. This results not only in mechanical and space efficiency but also thermal efficiency by limiting the amount of heat generated by the motor. In this regard, a single, large relatively powerful motor generates less heat than a plurality of relatively inefficient smaller motors which might be employed to drive each of

rotary compressors

26 and 32. In addition, the position of the motor 38 intermediate the

rotary compressors

26 and 32 insures efficient cooling air flow over the motor 38.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention.

I claim:

1. A wall air conditioner comprising a. a housing,

b. a front face on the housing having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart openings,

c. a plurality of elongated, rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel to the openings, the inlet side of each rotary air compressor being connected to at least one opening,

d. a refrigerant condenser coil in the housing in an intercepting relationship to the outlet side of the rotary air compressors,

e. means for driving the rotary air compressors,

f. a refrigerant evaporator coil in the housing,

g. refrigerant compressor and recycling means connected to condenser and evaporator coils, and

h. means for circulating air from without the housing over the evaporator coils.

. A wall air conditioner comprising,

. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the rotary air compressors are driven from a single power source. 7 I

. A wall air conditioner comprising the structure in accordance with claim 2 in which each of the rotary air compressors is operatively connected to the immediately adjacent compressors for mutual rotation.

. A wall air conditioner comprising the structure in accordance with claim 1 and a first bank of elongated rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel to the opening, the inlet side of each compressor in the first bank being connected to at least one opening, and

c. a second bank of elongated rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel and connected to the openings.

5. A wall air conditioner comprising the structure in accordance with claim 4 in which the outlet side of each rotary air compressor in the second bank is connected to at least one of the openings.

. A wall air conditioner comprising the structure in accordance with claim 5 in which the rotary air compressors are driven from a single source of power.

. A prime air mover comprising a wall housing a plurality of elongated spaced apart openings,

a plurality of rotary air compressors mounted on one side of the wall positioned generally parallel to the openings in the wall, each rotary air compressor being connected for forced air passage with at least one opening.

8. A prime air mover comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 7 in which b. the face of the supporting wall is provided with decorative members intermediate the openings.

9. A prime air mover comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 7 in which b. the rotary air compressors are mechanically operatively interconnected for drive by a single power source.

10. A prime air mover comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 8 and b. a mechanical coupling means on one end of each rotary air compressor, the said mechanical coupling means of immediately adjacent compressors being mechanically operatively interconnected,

c. drive means,

d. the drive means being operatively connected to one of the said mechanical coupling means to drive each of the compressors simultaneously.

Claims

1. A wall air conditioner comprising a. a housing, b. a front face on the housing having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart openings, c. a plurality of elongated, rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel to the openings, the iNlet side of each rotary air compressor being connected to at least one opening, d. a refrigerant condenser coil in the housing in an intercepting relationship to the outlet side of the rotary air compressors, e. means for driving the rotary air compressors, f. a refrigerant evaporator coil in the housing, g. refrigerant compressor and recycling means connected to condenser and evaporator coils, and h. means for circulating air from without the housing over the evaporator coils.

2. A wall air conditioner comprising, a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which b. the rotary air compressors are driven from a single power source.

3. A wall air conditioner comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 2 in which b. each of the rotary air compressors is operatively connected to the immediately adjacent compressors for mutual rotation.

4. A wall air conditioner comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 1 and b. a first bank of elongated rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel to the opening, the inlet side of each compressor in the first bank being connected to at least one opening, and c. a second bank of elongated rotary air compressors in the housing positioned generally parallel and connected to the openings.

5. A wall air conditioner comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 4 in which b. the outlet side of each rotary air compressor in the second bank is connected to at least one of the openings.

6. A wall air conditioner comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 5 in which b. the rotary air compressors are driven from a single source of power.

7. A prime air mover comprising a. a wall housing a plurality of elongated spaced apart openings, b. a plurality of rotary air compressors mounted on one side of the wall positioned generally parallel to the openings in the wall, each rotary air compressor being connected for forced air passage with at least one opening.

10. A prime air mover comprising a. the structure in accordance with claim 8 and b. a mechanical coupling means on one end of each rotary air compressor, the said mechanical coupling means of immediately adjacent compressors being mechanically operatively interconnected, c. drive means, d. the drive means being operatively connected to one of the said mechanical coupling means to drive each of the compressors simultaneously.