US2324620A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1943. A H EBERHART AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/lIl INVENTOR ARTHUR Hiaznunm' WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY July 20, 1943. A. H. EBERHART ,5

AIR conmnomke APPARATUS- Filed ll arch 2, 1940- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI ARTHUR H. EBERHART.

WITNESSES:

y ATTOR Y 5 Sheets-Shee t 4- mm ow III] N as m N E m HUR Hiamunnr. BYW

. ATTOR Y- A. H. EBERHART AIR connmonme APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1940 0 O oll 'o July 20, 1943.

RQ mm W J p Q a1??? m rm ly- 3- A. H. EBERHART 2,324,620 A AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1940 5 Shets-Sheet 5 I ROOM AIR TO CON D.-

ROOM RIR TO zvm=ua? FIG. 8.

WITNESS s: INVENTOR m RRTHUR H.EBE.RHART ATTOR removable duct structure Patented July 20, 1943 Arthur H. Eberhart, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing. Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March- 2, 194i), Serial No. 321,875

10 Claims. (Cl. 62 129 This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus and more especially to an air-cooled room cooler.

Air-cooled room coolers are rather bulky because of the large air ducts required in such apparatus. It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a more compact room cooler.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide 'a simplified room cooler which is economical to construct.

A still further object of the invention is to I2. The window duct structure It js adjustable as to height with respect to the cabinet H) to provide for connection to windows of varying window sill heights.

The cabinet I is divided by a horizontal wall l3 into an upper cooling compartment I4 and a lower compartment. The horizontalwall I3 is supported by a vertical wall 15 and by two end supports l6, which wall and supports are secured at their lower ends to a base plate l1.

' The vertical wall 15 divides the lower compartprovide a simplified manual control for actuating the regulating valves of the air ducts.

These and other objects ,are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 isa view in perspective of the room cooler of this invention, as seen from the front, parts of the cabinet being broken away;

Fig. 2 is another view; in perspective of the room cooler as seen from the rear, parts of the window .ducts being broken away; l

Fig, 31s a view in perspective of the window duct structure withpa'rts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the room cooler installed in a window, the section being taken on the. line IV-IV of Fig. 6 but with the motorcompressor unit removed;

Fig. 5 is an elevation or the side of the room cooler with parts broken away to show the path of the air which enters the room} Fig. 6 is a-horizontal section of the room cooler taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5 but with parts of the motor-compressor unit shown in full;

Figs, '7, 8 and dow duct structure taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6, Fig.7 showing the initial engagement of the operating strip with the contact finger, Fig. 8 showing the initial lift of the room air exhaust valve, and Fig. 9 showing the room air exhaust valve in its fully open position; and, Fig. 10 is an elevation of the side of the room cooler showing the window-connecting duct inits lowermost and in its uppermost position.

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, the

reference numeral It represents/ a cabinet for housingthe room cooler of this invention. A H is secured tothe back of the cabinet l0 and iisadapted to communicate with the air exterior of the room be ing cooled, preferably through an open window 9 are vertical sections of the winment into two chambers which will hereinafter be referred to as the filter compartment l8 and the apparatus compartment l9, respectively.

The window duct structure II is divided by a vertical partition 2| into two passageways, one

serving as an air inlet "duct 22 and the other as an air exhaust duct 23 for the cabinet [0. These ducts communicate through openings 24, and in theback wall of the cabinet ID with the interior thereof.

The passages traversed by the air which enters the room to be cooled hereinafter referred to as the room, and the apparatus for filtering, cir culating, and cooling this air will now be described. The cooled air which enters the room may be taken from the'room itself thereby procated at the base of the corners of the 'filtering viding for a recirculation of the room air or may be taken from the outside through the window inlet duct. Two air inlets are, accordingly,

provided for this air, one being an opening 26 lorear wall of the. cabinet I0 and the other being an opening 24 located a spaced distance above the opening 26 and communicating with the windowv inlet duct 22.. A common closure slide 21 is provided for the two openings 24 and 26, which slide, in its upper position, covers the window duct opening 25 and uncovers the room air opening 26, and, in its lower position, and uncovers the window inlet duct opening 26. Intermediate positions of the closure slide 21 cover and uncover proportional areas of these openings 24 and 26 so that any mixture of room and outside air may be passed through the room cooler. The closure slidemay be moved upwardly by means of a knob 28 secured thereto. The knob 28 projects through a slot 29 in the side of the cabinet l0.

The plate type air filter 32 comprising spun glass or the like is placed diagonallyaacross the compartment I8, dividing this compartment into an unfiltered air chamber 33 and a filtered air chamber 34. The air filter 32 is removable for replacement. The

covers the room air opening 24 removal of upper portion of the filter compartment I6 above the air filter 32 is blocked ofi by a bafiie 36 and is reserved for the electric control. A centrifugal fan 31 is located in the filtered air chamber 34 and communicates by means of a cloth duct 38 with the central rear portion of the cooling compartment I4. The fan 31 thus effects a cirfront portion of the condenser sheath 56. .The rear of the cabinet is open adjacent the motorcompressor unit 48, 49 and communicates with the air inlet duct 22 of the window duct structure I I so that an air passage is formed connecting the apparatus compartment I9 with the inlet duct 22. The apparatus compartment I9 also culation of air through either or both of the openings 24 and 26, through the unfiltered air chamber 33, through the air filter 32, through the filtered air chamber 34, through the fan 31 itself and through the cloth duct 38 into the air cooling compartment I4.

The cooling compartment I4 is divided by an evaporator or cooling unit 39 and baflies 4I into an air receiving chamber 42 and an air exhaust chamber 43. The evaporator 39 comprises a series of parallel spaced plates 44 through which a refrigerating tube 46 is passed back and forth. The air delivered by the blower to the air receiving chamber 42 passes between the parallel plates 44 of the evaporator 39, is cooled and passes to the air exhaust chamber 43. From this chamcommunicates with the double inlet blower 66 so that the blower 66 draws air through the air inlet duct 22 of the window duct structure H through the portion of the apparatus compartment I9 housing the motor-compressor unit 48,

- 49 and the 'motor 6| and forces the air through her 43 the cooled air issues through a grille 41 at the upper front edge of the cabinet I8 into the room.

The apparatus compartment I9 contains the necessary apparatus for supplying the evaporator 39 with liquid refrigerant and removing the vaporized refrigerant therefrom, which apparatus is well known in the art. It comprises a compressor 48, a motor 49 for driving the same and a condenser 5| for cooling and liquefying the vaporous refrigerant withdrawn from the evaporator 39. The condenser 5|, like the evaporator 39, comprises a series of spaced parallel plates 52 and a tube 53 into which the compressed refrigerant vapor i pumped by the compressor 48.

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The compressor 48 and the motor 49 for driving the'same are contained in a fluid-tight metal casing 54, which casing is housed partly in the upper portion of the apparatus compartment I9 and partly in the air inlet duct 22 of the removable window duct' structure I I. compressor 48 which projects into the removable window duct structure H comprises the cylinder 58 together with the removable cylinder head 55 and valves (not shown) so that these elements are accessible for repair without necessitating the the compressor 48 from the cabi net II. I

The condenser 5I is housed in the upper portion of the apparatus compartment I9 adjacent the motor- compressor unit 48, 49 and is secured to the horizontal wall I3. The condenser 5I is enclosed in a metal sheath 56 which communicates at the rear with the air outlet duct 23 of the window duct structure U through the opening 30 in the rear wall of the cabinet I8. A metal bedplate 58 is secured to the lower. portion of the sheath 56 of the condenser 5I and to the central portion of the vertical wall I5 and supports the motor- compressor unit 48, 49 through springs 59 interposed between the unit 48 49 and the bedplate 58.

A motor 6| having an overhanging shaft 62 The part of the,

at both ends is secured in the lower portion of the apparatus compartment I9 substantially as shown in Fig. 1. One overhanging end of the shaft 62' projects through the vertical wall I5 into the filter compartment I8 and drives the rotor 63 of the centrifugal fan 31. end of theoverhanging shaft 62 carries and drives a rotor 64 of a double inlet blower 66, which blower 66 communicates with the lower The other,

the condenser sheath 56 between the condenser plates 52 and out through the air exhaust duct 23 of the window duct structure I I, thereby cooling th condenser 5| to liquefy the refrigerant vapors therein.

The air entering the cabinet II) from the window inlet duct 22 is not required to flow around the portions of the compressor 48 projecting into the window inlet duct 22 before entering the cabinet I0 because the inlet opening 2'5 of the cabinet surrounds and is partially above the projecting portions of the compressor 48. The compressor 48 therefore does not materially obstruct the fiow of air through the window inlet duct 22.

This placement of the motor-compressor unit where it is evaporated. A further portion .of V

the atomized water is' thrown against the casing of the blower 68. This water will run down and collect in a water pan 69 at the base of the blower casing, entering the pan GS through holes in the lower portion of the casing of the blower 66. When the level of the water in the pan 69 and in the blower casing rises to adjacent the outer circumference of the rotor 64, it is atomized and entrained in the blower air stream; 50

The apparatus of this invention is also adapted for a rapid discharge of the air of the room through the window-outlet duct 23. An opening II is provided for this purpose in the rear wall of the window inlet duct 22. This opening II is normally closed by a flapper valve 12 piv-' oted to the inner wall of the duct immediately above the opening II. The weight of the valve 12 ordinarily holds it in the closed position. A plate 13 is secured to the valve 12 and has a portion extending sidewardly thereof. The sidewardl y-extending portion 14 carries a finger 16 which extends substantially at right angles with the valve plate I2 and inwardly 22 when the valve 12 is closed.

The closure slide 21 is provided with an oper-.

in the air duct When the slide 21 is in an upper position, as indicated in Fig. 'l, the rearwardly-bent portion of the strip 11 strikes the upper edge of the opening 2i, and on. further upward movement of the slide ,21, is forced rearwardly so that one of the slots 18in the upper end of the strip 11 engages the finger 16. A further upward movement of the slide 21 pushes the finger I6 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8 to open the flapper valve 12. When this valve 12 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 9, it obstructs the inlet duct 22 and permits air 'to be withdrawn from the room through the opening II by the blowerfliit and forced over the condenser i and out through the outlet duct 23 of the window-connecting duct II. The elevation of thewindow duct structure H relative to the cabinet l0 determines which of the horizontal slots 18 in the operating strip I1 engages the finger 16. Changes in the elevation of the window-connecting duct Ii can thus be made without effecting the actuation of the valve I2. 1

' The actuation of the various valves 21 and I2 is described and claimed in the inventors copending application Serial No. 347,997, filedJul'y 27,-1940 and assigned'to the assignee of the present application.

The room cooler is provided with the usual switches, one switch 19 for supplying electrical energy to both the compressor motor 49 and the blower motor 6! and another switch 8| in series with the'compressor motor 49, whereby the operations of this motor may be discontinued when mere circulation of the room air is desired or when the room air is being exhausted.

It will be. apparent from the above that this invention provides a room cooler of. compact 1 design in which the motor-compressor unit is partially housed in the air intake duct. The invention also provides a novel control of the air valves of the room cooler.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof; and I desire,

therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in theappended claims. WhatI claim is:

1. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a cabinet, an evaporative cooling unit and a condenser therein, a ducthaving a portion extending exteriorly of said cabinet, said duct circulating air from exterior of said cabinet'oversaid condenser, other devices associated withsaid air conditioning apparatus, said other devices comprising a compressor for withdrawing vaporized refrigerant from said evaporative cooling unit and passing said vapor to thebondenser, and a motor for driving said compressor,

some of said devices being located inthe por-.

tion of the duct extending exteriorly of said cabinet. i

2. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a cabinet, a compressor and a motor for driving the same, a fluid-tight casing sur-- rounding said motor and compressor, a condenser andan evaporator in said cabinet, conduits interconnecting said compressor, condenser, and evaporator into a refrigerating unit, and a duct external of saidjcabinet for conducting cooling air to said'condenser, said casing being housed partially Within said cabinet, the

remainder extending into said duct.

3.'In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a cabinet, aduct removably secured to .said cabinet for conducting air thereto, an evaporator and a condenser in said cabinet, a compressor, and a motor fordriving the same, a fluid-tight casing surrounding said motor and compressor, said casing having a removable head, said casing being located in said cabinet and duct with the removable head in the removable duct, whereby on removing said duct the removable head of said casing may be removed without removing said casing from the cabinet. i

4. In air conditioning apparatus, the combi nation of a cabinet, a removable duct securedto a side wall of said cabinet for conducting cooling air thereto, a condenser and an evaporator located in said cabinet, means in said cabinet for forcibly circulating air through said duct and over said condenser to cool the same, a compressor connected in operative relationship with said condenser and evaporator, a motor for driving the compressor, a fluid-tight casing surrounding said motoranad compressor, said casing having a removable head, said casing be- I ing located partly in said cabinet'and partly in saidremovable duct with said removablehead in said removable duct, whereby on removing said duct the removable head of said casing may be removed without removing said casing from the cabinet.

5. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a cabinet,a duct removably secured to the exterior of said cabinet for circulating air therethrough, an evaporator and a condenser in said cabinet, a compressor in said duct, said compressor withdrawing vaporized refrigerant from" the evaporator and passing it to the compressonand a motor in said cabinet for driving said compressor. I

6. In air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a cabinet, a condenser and an evaporator in said cabinet, a duct communicating with said cabinet and extending exteriorly thereof forcirculating air exterior ofsaid cabinet over said condenser, said compressor being located in said duct exterior of said cabinet and a motor within the cabinet for driving said compressor.

7. In a room cooler, the combination of a cooling unit, an air duct for circulating air over said cooling unit, said air duct having an entrance opening adapted to communicate with the air exterior of the room to be cooled and a second entrance opening adapted to communicate with the air in said room, valve means for each of. said openings, a condenser, an air duct for circulating air over the condenser, said duct having an entrance opening adapted to communicate with the air exterior of the room to be cooled and a second entranceopening adapted to communicate with the air in saidroom, valve means for each of said openings. and a single control communicating with all of said valve means to adjust the same.

A-self-contained air cooling unit comprising a wall structure providing a housing forthe unit and including a window duct portion extending rearwardly from the upper rear portion above said fan motor unit and connected in refrigerant-fiow relation; said fan and motor unit comprising a fan for efiecting flow of air over the evaporator, a second fan for effecting flow of air over the condenser, and a motor disposed between and directly connected to both of said fans for driving the same; the wall structure forming a condenser air passage extending forwardly through the window duct portion, downwardly, through said second fan and through said condenser, upwardly, and rearwardly through the WiDdOWdLlCt .portion, at least a portion of said motor compressor unit being disposed in vertical alignment with said down wardly-extending passage portion and in contact with the air flowing therethrough.

9. A self-contained air cooling unit comprising a wall structure providing a housing for the unit and including a window duct portion extending rearwardly from the upper rear portion of the unit; an evaporator, a motor compressor unit and a condenser disposed in said housing in the upper portion thereof and connected in refrigerant-flow relation; an evaporator fan effecting flow of air over the evaporator', a condenser fan efiecting flow of air over the condenser, and a motor for driving both of said fans disposed in the lower portion of said housing; said evaporator being disposed above the evaporator fan, said motor compressor unit being disppsed at; least partly directly above said fan motor, and said condenser being dis- U posed adjacent and at least partly directly above said condenser fan; the wall structure forming a condenser air passage extending forwardly through the window duct Portion, downwardly in vertical alignment with and in contact with at least a portion of the motor compressor unit, through said condenser fan, through said condenser, upwardly, and rearwardly through the window duct portion.

10. A self-contained air-cooling unit comprising a wall structure-including a cabinet and-including a window duct portion extending rearwardly from the upper rear portion of the cabinet, an evaporator disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet, the wall structure being formed with a condenser air passage extending forwardly through the window duct portion, downwardly in back of said evaporator, then forwardly, laterally and rearwardly below said evaporator, upwardly in back of the vaporator and then rearwardly through the window duct portion, a motor-compressor unit disposed in said passage directly below one of the portions of the passage which extend vertically in back of the evaporator, a fan for effecting flow of outdoor air through said passage, a condenser disposed across said passage and cooled by the air flowing therethrough, said condenser being arranged below and at least partly beneath said evaporator, a fan disposed below said evaporator for effecting flow of air over the surfaces thereof, and a common drive motor for said fans, said fan motor and said motor-compressor unit being disposed directly above and below each other; the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator being connected in refrigerant flow relav tion.

ARTHUR H. EBERHART.

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