US2316704A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

April 13, 1943.

P. B. MooRE AIR CONDITIONER 4 Sheets-Sheiet l Filed Aug. 2, 194C Snnentor (Ittornegs April `13, 1943. P. B. MOORE AIR CONDITIONER Filed Aug. 2, 1940- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (lttornegs April 13, 1943 P. B. MOORE 2,316,704

.A1B coNmTxoNER IFiled Aug. 2, 1940 4 sheets-'sheet s E3" To EVAPORATOR. "ro coN DENSERJ PAN MOTOR. FAN Moroxa.. 4l

` Gttornegs April 13, 1943.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO IOOOOOOOOOOOOOO P. B. MOORE AIR CQNDITIONER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 4 ooooooooooo oooooooooo nventor attornegs l Patente-d Apr. 13, 1943A AIR CONDITIONER Paul B. Moore, York, Pa., assignor tov York Icey Machinery Corporation, York, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 2, '1940, serial No. 349,82'8

a claims. `(ci. ca -129)' l This invention rela-tes to air conditioners of' the refrigerative type and provides a compact unit capable of being mounted on a window sill beneath a raised sash with the condenser air circuit almost completely external to the room and the room air circuit wholly within the room.

The commercial embodiment of the invention has a mechanical output of approximately onehalf horse power and a refrigerating rating of about one-half ton, from which it may be understood that the unit is one of substantial capacity, so that the invention oiers a unit of the window sill mounted type adequate to condition a room whose iioor area is of the order of 275 sq ft. The solution of the problem of enclosing a unit of this capacity within the dimensional limits implied by this class of service requires very careful design and arrangement of parts.'

Thus while the refrigerative circuit is conventional, and the basic components of the conditioning system are known, the novel structure and arrangement hereinafter described in detail represent a substantial advance in this particular field.

The unit combines in a very simple structure a condenser air circui-t in which the air enters in heat exchanging contact with part of the condenser (at least a part of such air ilowing also over the compressor) and after contact with sprayed dripwater is discharged in cooling contact With the remainder of the condenser. The motor which drives the compressor also drives the fan for the condenser air circuit. This fan is used to spray the drip water condensed from the room air circuit by the evaporator. The base pan for the machine is so contrived as to collect this drip Water and deliver it to the condenser fan, the water maintaining a seal between the two air circuits inthe machine and being so conned that it is kept out of the compartment inwhich the compressor and its motor are mounted;

The construction provides a fresh air inlet to the room air circuit, together with a damper controlling the in-iiow of fresh air. Readily accessible means are provided for operating such damper, the damper adjusting means being mounted on top of the unit where it may easily be seen and reached.

The device also includes a so-called pump-out port permitting room air to be admitted to the condenser fan intake when it is desired to free a. room from smoke or to change the air therein for any reason. This pump-out Opening andthe return air inlet for the room air circuit are opened selectively by a single damper so that when the pump-out passage is opened,lthe returnair inlet from the room is closed. By opening 'the' pump-out circuit, and at the same time opening the damper in the fresh air inlet, avery effective Ventilating circuit is afforded with results superior tothose secured with any prior art arrangement for a similar purpose so far as applicant is advised.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a separate xed mount which is supported directly on the window sill and which includes adjustable stays designed to secure the utmost rigidity. This support is the sole sustaining means for the unit, permits the unit to be placed in position safely and permits the window sash ,to be raised and lowered while the unit is in place. This. last is an important feature in those cases where the unit is mounted in a room having only on window.

The preferred embodiment will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isan elevation of the unit mounted on a window sill beneath the sash and viewed from within the room.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the uni-t shown in Fig. 1, portions of the window frame being indicated in section. n

Fig. 3 is asection on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how the llpieces are mounted at the sides of the unit to close the intervals between it and the window frame.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame which ls mounted on the window sill to receive the unit. In this view the frame isshown detached and viewed from its outer (outdoor) end.

Fig. 6 is a plan view lof the unit with the cover removed. This view shows the relative positions of the components of the refrigerating circuit and the positions of the various partitions which direct the air flows.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the base pan with the partitions in place and the components of the refrigerating circuit removed as alsov are the fans.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the device with the mechanical components omitted and with the air paths indicated by arrows and legends.

The supporting framework which is mounted on the window sill comprises a plate Ii with a downwardly extending iiange I2 which rests on the window sill, the ange engaging the outer face of the sill in the plane of the inner side of the lower sash. This plate is connected to the sill by screws passed through the holes i3. Fixed to the plate il and at right angles thereto are two channel side frames id which are connected at their outer end by a strip of angle iron i5. Portions of the lower fiange of the channel members it are offset downwardly, as indicated at l5, and aro provided with a series of holes il'. The offsets provide space for the heads of bolts i8 which pass through the holes il and connect clips I5. Carried by these clips are strut braces 2i which are adjustable aboutpivots 22 and which are fastened to the cuter sill by any suitable means indicated by thelag screw 23. At any rate the framework above described is supported for its full width cn the inner sill and is supported at two points on the outer sill so that a rigid structure is afforded.

Mounted in the channel side members are clips which house slightly convexsponge rubber pads 25 designed to seal with the base or pan portion of the case of the unit hereinafter described, the purpose being to prevent air leakage between each channel i4 and the base of the insertable unit.

The unit is carried on a base pan having a marginal upstanding flange indicated at 26 (see Fig. 8). Thus the base serves also as a water-tight pan. There are two L-shaped divider partitions 21 and 28 whose height approximates the height of themarginal flange 26 of the base pan, the

partitions being welded or otherwise connected water-tight with the bottom of the pan. They thus sub-divide the pan into three isolated spaces: thespace 29 in which the main machinery base is mounted; thespace 3| which is beneath the fresh air inlet duct; and a T-shaped water space 32 which at its head or forward end underlies the evaporator, the stem of the T extending rearward beneath the condenser fan hereinafter described, and between thespaces 29 and 3l.

Extending generally across the rear of the evaporator space and welded to the forward portion of the dividers .21 and 28 is thevertical partition 33 which has an angularly offset portion 34- and afan port 35. Thispartition 33 is the full height of the interior of the unit except that it is spaced above the bottom of the pan, leaving at 36 a water slot or passage so that drip from the evaporator in the head of the T-shaped passage 32 can pass under thepartition 33 into the stem portion of the T-shaped passage 32.

There is a zigzag partition comprising aportion 31 which forms a vertical continuation of a portion ofdivider 28 and is in effect an upward extension thereof, anoffset portion 38 which afing conventional and not shown in the drawings (see Fig. 7).

Theside members 4l, 42 and 43 are carried by theange 25 forming the base pan. It is important to observe that as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 the side members tl and 42 are offset outwardly from the top of themarginal flange 25 of the pan. The height ofthe pan very slightly exceeds the height of the channel side frames ifi and the offset is coextensive with the width of the channel side frames i4. Thus there are rabbets which receive and house the side frames iii. This explains the fact that when the device is viewed in plan (see Fig. 2) the channel side frames are not visible. The side mem bers are preferably made of sheet metal lined with sound deadening and heat insulating material according to principles familiar to those skilled in the art. The top ofthe unit is closed by acover 46 which is removable and which also is formed of sheet metal lined with sound deadening and heat resisting material. The back of the case is open and is spanned by the condenser hereinafter described, except for a small opening coextensive with the fresh air inlet.

Extending substantially the entire width of thecover 46 is a rectangular opening 4l with agrille 48. Slidable inways 49 beneath thegrille 48 is a damper 5l, Whose length is slightly more than half the length of theopening 41. damper may be shifted from end to end of the opening byhandle 52 which extends upward between elements of thegrille 48. This damper selectively opens a return air passage from the room to the evaporator air circuit or from the room to the condenser air circuit, the latter communication being an abnormal setting used when it is desired to utilize the large capacity air fan to draw smoke or foul air from the room.

The evaporator air circuit will now be described. There is a. finned multipass coil conventionally illustrated at 53. It is forward of thepartition 33, 34 and slightly to the rear of thelouvers 45. Behind it afilter 54 is removably mounted in guides so that it may be drawn out at the top after removal of thecover 46. This fords a fan motor chamber communicating with the fresh air duct, and aportion 39 which extends from theportion 38 forward and is Welded to thepartition 33 and also to part of' the L- shapeddivider 21 already described. The relationship of the various partitions can be traced on Fig. 6. The lower margin of offsetportion 38 is above the bottom of the pan to afford a passage for drip water (see 46 in Fig. 7).

The'housing of which the pan forms the base is enclosed byside members 4I and 42 and afront member 43, the latter being removably mounted and `being provided with anair discharge port 44 withadjustable louvers 45. These louvers are individually pivoted in the frame which surrounds theport 44 and are connected so that they may be adjusted in unison, the connecting means befilter is preferably of the spun glass low flow resistance type and offers an area coextensive with the area of the evaporator.

'Ihe air circulating fan is indicated at 55 and is mounted in theport 35. The fan is supported on the shaft of anelectric motor 56 which is mounted on a bracket 51 (see Fig. 7) located to the rear of thepartition 34 and forward of the offset 38. Fresh air enters at 60 and flows through the fresh air duct under the control of adamper 58. This is fixed on a vertical shaft projecting through thecover 46 and carrying a handle 59 (see Figs. 1, 2 and '1) by which the damper may be turned to control the amount of fresh air flowing to thefan 55.

Under normal operating conditions the return air damper 5| is to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the major portion of the air flowing to thefan 55 enters through thegrille 48 from the room. (See Fig. 9.) Fresh air, up to about 25% of the total, may be drawn in ifdamper 58 is opened. All the air propelled by thefan 55 flows first throughfilter 54 and then in contact with the coils and fins of theevaporator 53, after which it is discharged throughlouvers 45 into the room. 'I'hese louvers can be adjusted to deflect the stream of air upward or outward as desired.

The condenser air circuit will now be described.

The

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generally indicated at 6| and extending across the entire open rear end of the housing except for theinterval 60 forming the fresh air opening. Mounted Within the stem portion of the T-shapedcompartment 32, and behind'the offset 38 is the snail shell housing 82 of the condenser air fan.

This -housing is arranged to discharge through the left half of the condenser 6| (see Figs. 6 and 9).v This half of the condenser is sheathed on the outer side with fine meshwire screen cloth 63 which extends over the top of the condenser 6| and downward on the Vinner side for a short distance, as indicated at 64.in Fig. 7.

The condenser air fan atomizes water and the function of thescreen 63 is to keep droplets of l water from being blown out with the condenser air stream. The water is arrested by the screen. Most of it is evaporated but any excess will run back to the water pan and be again sprayed by the-fan.

The compressor generally indicated at 65 and the. electric motor generally indicated at 66 are fixedly mounted on abase 61. This base is mounted on fourcoil springs 68, two at the outer and two at the inner end (see Fig. .6). These springs serve the familiar purpose of allowing the motor and compressor to vibrate slightly within the housing so that .the vibration is not transmitted to the housing and noise is eliminated. Y

Themotor 66 has ashaft 69 which at one end carries a pulley connected by a V-belt 1| with thegrooved fly wheel 12 of thecompressor 65. The other end ofshaft 69 extends through the intake port offan housing 62 and within that housing carries the squirrel cage fan rotor 13.

Theevaporator has twoend plates 14 and 15 which complete the segregation of the evaporator or room circuit air path and the condenser or outside air path by closing gaps between the front 43 of the housing andpartitions 33 and 34.

The condenser air enters through the right hand half of thecondenser 63, as indicated by the arrow A on Fig. 6, flows over themotor 66, some of it flowing in contact with thecompressor 65. All of such air enters the eyes offan housing 62 to reach the rotor 13 of the condenser fan. This fan discharges through the left hand portion of condenser 6|. The condenser airrpath is clearly indicated on Fig. 9. AHousing 62 has at its bottom aslot 16 through `which drip water from theevaporator 53 enters.

Such drip collects in the T-shapedportion 32 of the base pan. Sincethe fan rotor runs at high speed, a portion of this water is entrained by the fast flowing air and sprayed. Some of this water is evaporated in suspension in the air, and some is thrown against the fins of the condenser 6|. In either case the effect is to evaporate the drip in the condenser air stream. This idea of re-evaporating drip is not broadly new but the arrangement above described offers a very simple scheme for delivering the Water from the evaporator to the fan without requiring the evaporator to be elevated and without danger that water will enter the machinery compartment in which the motor and compressor are mounted.

The refrigeration circuit connections will now be traced. The suction line from the evaporator to the compressor is indicated at 11 and the high pressure discharge line at 18. These are looped to permit vibration of the compressor.High pressure line 18 discharges into the condenser -51, from which the liquid line I9 leads to receiver 8|.

From the receiver liquid refrigerant passes'by connection 82 to theautomatic expansion valve 83 of conventional form. This expansion valve feeds the evaporator.,

AElectric current for thefan motor 66 and for themaincompressor motor 66 is supplied by acable 84 which may be plugged into any electrical outlet. Themotor control switch 85 is operated by theknob 86 and may be set to run the fan motor A56 alone or to run both motors Y66 and 66 simultaneously, or to stop both. The electrical connectionsA from theswitch 85 to the two motors are indicated by legend at the top of Fig. 6 and are only partly shown since they are conventional.

The unit as above described and with thecover 46 in place is slid outward between the guiding portions of the channel members I4, the unit being sustained bythe lower horizontal flanges of the channel, which are wider than the upper flanges, and the channel members I4 entering the rabbets described as extending along the lower margins. ofthe side walls-4| and 42 respectively. The sponge rubber blocks 25 produce air seals within the channel.

Since the unitis narrower than the ordinary window sill, means must be provided to close the interval between vthe sides of the unit and the sides of the window opening substantially in the plane of the inner face of the lower sash. To accomplish this result, a pair ofangle irons 81 and 88 are attached to each side 4| and 42' of the unit in such position that when the unit is pushed out as far as it will go, that is until it strikes the flange of the angle iron I5, the outer face of the inner.angle iron 88 will be in plane with th`e outer (flanged) face of the frame member I2. The lower ends of theangle irons 81 and 88 overlap the outer faces of the channel sidefraihes I4 indicated in Fig. 3.

since they extend to the bottom of thebase pan 26. This overlap is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The clip shown at 89 in Fig. 4 is screwed to the inner guide of the lower sash, after which a ller piece 9| of insulating board is cut to proper size and slid into the channels afforded by theangle members 81 and 88 and theclip 89. Asponge rubber gasket 92 is inserted between the ller piece and theangle 81 and anarcuate block 93 of sponge rubber which fits the llet along the edge of top 46 prevents leakage at this point (see Fig. 4).

After the unit is in place aremovable angle strip 94 is mounted byscrew 95 at each end, such screws engaging `a seat formed in the upper end of the angle 88 (see Fig. 4). Then an h-shapedrubber sealing strip 96 is mounted as indicated in Fig. 4'.- The filler pieces 9| extend upward above the top 46 of the case, and are slightly to the rear of the rear face ofangle strip 94. The rubber strip straddles the top edges of the ller pieces 9|, and where it passes over top 46 seats on such top and against the rear face ofangle strip 94. The sash C, when lowered, seals as best It has n'o case-sustaining function and may be raised at any time.

In considering the air ows as described in the next three paragraphs, reference should be made to Fig. 9.

When bothmotors 56 and 66 are operating, thefan 55 circulates air through the filter and the evaporator to the room. This airis drawn in the main from the room, but if thedamper 58 be open more or less, a desired proportion of fresh air may be drawn from out of doors.L The maximum proportion of fresh air delivered to the room is about 25% of the total air circulated by the fan Condenser cooling air is drawn from out of doors, through the right hand half of the condenser, is then sprayed with the cold drip water, and thereafter is discharged through the left hand half of the condenser Si.

If it is desired to change the air in the room rapidly, the damper 5i is shifted to the left, in which event the large port is opened from the room directly to the intake of thefan housing 62 so that the condenser fan draws air from the room and discharges it out-0f doors. At this time the iiow of air from the room to thefan 55 is cut oi, and ventilation c an thcn be assisted by opening thedamper 58 wide so thatfan 55 delivers outdoor air to the room at the same time that fan 'I3 is drawing air from the room. and discharging it out of doors.

Arrangement of the machine elements of the conditioner is believed to be quite important from the standpoint of balance and compactness. The compressor and the motor are mounted in a line from front to back in the machine. Adjacent these two and also arranged in a line from front to back of the machine are the room circuit fan with its motor and the snail shell of the condenser air fan, the runner of the condenser air fan being mounted on the compressor motor.

The space required for these parts produces a very nice rectangular plan for the machine. The fresh air duct then must run along one of the other sides of the unit and the arrangement shown is believed to be the simplest. The mounting of the room circuit motor and fan in an oiset permits this to be aligned transversely with the compressor, an arrangement which makes it possible to use the single damper 5I to control the flow of air from the room alternatively to the room circuit fan or to the condenser air circuit.

The features above outlined are subject to considerable modication within the broad scope of the invention. Basically the problem is one of compact arrangement, accessibility, ease and safety of mounting, and similar features, rather than the basic refrigerating circuit or air conditioning circuit, each of which is known in its broader aspects.

I claim:

1. The combination of a unit air conditioner having means dening two air circuits, a room air circuit having a main inlet from the room whose air is to be conditioned, a secondary inlet of limited capacity yleading from a space external to the room and a discharge into said room, and a condenser air circuit having an l inlet and a discharge both connected with space arranged to be mounted in an opening in the wall of a room with its outer end opent-and thus exposed to air outside the room, said casing having a discharge opening at its front Vand an inlet opening at its top, both within said room; a

extending across said discharge opening, a condenser extending across said open outer end and means in the casing for drawing volatile refrigerant from said evaporator and delivering it atv higher pressure to the condenser; a fan for circulating air over said condenser; means defining a path for air thus circulated, said path passing beneath a portion of the inlet opening and thence to the fan; a fan for circulating air over the evaporator; means for dening the path of air so circulated, such path being from the remaining portion of the inlet opening to the second named fan, and thence over the evaporator to said discharge opening; and a damper serving to close selectively the portion of the inlet opening above the condenser air path, and the remaining portion thereof which leads to the evaporator air path.

3. A unit air conditioner comprising a casing arranged to be mounted in an opening in the wall of a room with its outer end open and thus exposed to air outside the room, said casing hav- .ing a discharge opening at its front and an inlet opening at its top, both within said room; a refrigerative circuit comprising an evaporator extending across said discharge opening, a condenser extending across said open outer end and means in the casing for drawing volatile refrigerant from said evaporator and delivering it at higher pressure to the condenser; a fan for circulating air over said condenser; means dening a path for air thus circulated, said path passing inward through a portion of said condenser, thence in communication with a portion of said inlet opening to the fan and from the fan outward through another portion of the condenser; a fan for circulating air over the refrigerative circuit comprising anevaporator 76 evaporator; means for dening the path of air so circulated, such path being from the remaining portion of the inlet opening to the second named fan, and thence over the evaporator to said' discharge opening; and a damper serving to close selectively the portion of the inlet opening above the condenser air path, and the remaining portion thereof which leads to the evaporator air path. l

4. A unit air conditioner comprising a casing arranged to be mounted in an opening in the wall of a room with its outer end open and thus exposed to air outside the room, said casing having a discharge opening at its front and an inlet opening at its top, both within said room; a refrigerative circuit comprising an evaporator extending across said discharge opening, a condenser extending across said open outer end and means in the casing for drawing volatile refrigerant from said evaporator and delivering it at higher pressure to the condenser; a fan for circulating air over said condenser; means defining a path for air thus circulated, said path passing inward through a portion of said condenser, thence in communication with a portion of said inlet opening to the fan and from the fan outward through another portion of the condenser; a fan for circulating air over the evaporator; means for defining the path of air so circulated, such path being from the remaining portion of the inlet opening to the second named fan, and thence over the evaporator to said discharge opening; a damper serving to close se lectively the portion of the inlet opening above the condenser air path, and the remaining portion thereof which leads to the evaporator air path; and damper controlled means for admitasiavos ting air from outside the room to the intake of the'second named fan.

5. In a unit air conditioner of the window sill mounted type, the combination of a casing approximately square as viewed in plan and having an open rear end and inlet and discharge openings at its forward end; means for mounting said unit on a sill ,beneath a sash with'the rear end projecting out of doors and the forward end projecting into the room; means for closing the intervals between the sides of said casing and the sides of the window opening; a refrigerating circuit containing volatile refrigerant and comprising an evaporator mounted within and across the front of said casing betweensaid inlet and discharge openings, a condenser mounted across the open rear end of the casing, a compressor and circuit connections whereby the compressor draws vaporous refrigerant from the evaporator and delivers it at higher pressure to the con'- denser and the condenser feeds liquid refrigerant to the evaporator; a rotary fan for circulat-A ing outsidev air over the condenser; a motor'on whose shaft said fan is mounted; a belt driving connection between said motor and compressor, the motor, fan and compressor when viewed in pian forming an L-shaped group with the motor to the rear of the compressor and the fan to one side of the motor: a motor and fan driven thereb y for circulating air over said evaporator and located as viewed in plan within the angle of said L-shaped group; and a partition, angular as viewed in plan, separating the evaporator air circuit from the condenser air circuit.

6. In a unit air conditioner of the window sill mounted type, the combination of a casing apv proximately square as viewed in plan and having an open rear end and inlet and discharge openings at its forward end; means for mounting said unit in a sill beneath a sash with the rear end projecting out of doors and the forward end projecting into the room: means for closing the intervals between the sides of said casing and,

circulating outside air over the condenser; a motor on whose shaft; said fan is mounted; a belt driving connection between said motor and compressor, the motor, fan and compressor when viewed in plan forming an L-shaped group with the motor to the rear of the compressor and the fan to one side of the motor; a motor and fan driven thereby for circulating air over said evaporator and located as viewed in plan within the angle of said L-shaped group; a partition, angular as viewed in plan, separating the evaporator air circuit from the condenser air circuit; and'a damper controlled passage leading within said casing fromout of doors to the intake side of the last named fan.

7. In a unit air conditioner of the type mounted on a window sill beneath a raised sash, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be xedly mounted on a sill and having coniining guides; a case adapted tobe guided to and arrested in operative position by said guides, said case enclosing a refrigerative conditioning unit of the compressor, condenser evaporator circuit l combination of a supporting frame adapted to be fixedly mounted on a sill and having connuing guides; a case adapted to be guided to and arrested in operative position by said guides,

carried by said case and so arranged as to be positioned in said window opening beneath the sash when the case is positioned by said guides; a removable gasket support carried by said sustaining means and extending across the top of said case: and a gasket adapted to seal with the sash over its entire width and supported partly by said closure means and partly by said gasket support.

PAUL B. MOORE.

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