US2682757A - Attic mounted air conditioning unit - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1954 w. F. BoRGr-:RD 2,682,75'7l ATTIC MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 6, 1954 w. F. BORGERD 2,682,757

ATTIC MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed June 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F5. 2. NM

85 ai I a@ IN VEN TOR.

BYPMQ- Patented July 6, 1954 'I building. f t v Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditnngunit Withmeans foil-:eectivelyf' ,arroom oiEl their 1 10 1911i ,Pfny @mused a a. web Whlch iS. net particuiarly attreciiye man h is Qtaeizeit9-reqi1ire 99.- ,siderahle license Iiihe islarfge enough to coolereral rQpms-ansirculatonibeiweee @he .$001115 is 111 ual-1y,inadequate-de. nreprlwmfve thenvarmreirironicall,paris 0f ihem, ,and objectionable draitsaaenrini by -Qupants i thernamsmlf duets are providedheiwe .the cooling and th iene rQQnS.ihe,-lmit is usuallyplacedina 1.1i; tv eom pr a beem USO that valuableiflerpae is uedf, Tile Present inventiQnLprOYide .air Qvndiiienillg, unit Which has none 0f the @here menden@ disadvantagesronefpbiecnoi interresant. inreriteei tel-provideanair.cenditizamaunii whiehis adaptable for mountinainrtheatti space ioi. e bliilsiie;

,Another object :ofgthe invention is toeplovde aman/ conditioning unitwith a simple-and'inex- 30 pensive duct svsrtemfpr circulating lairr to several rooms of a'blllding.' .i y Anqtneropjet/of the invention is to provide anmair'rconditioning unit soconstructed that the outside air-Without theneoessityof a Waterv-coo1 ingysiiemfl j Another object of the invention is to provide an airconditioning unit whicli-canbe completely assembled at thefactory and-shipped-toflthe 40 "place ofjinstaHat'ion as a package-unit. 1 .L

YAnother object vofy the invention i's-to provide anv air lconditioningh'unit'for -aabuilding-which can be slid intoA place from the outside -ofethe :Another-,object of theinvernrtion iskto provide 50 amaimonditipmng:unit'wiih Ineenspior adjust-r ne theamQimis@feliide'aif end This invention relates generally to an air conditionine, iunitfzandfmerepraarticillrlyiqa @it noise of the machinery and air being circulated therethrough Will not Joe projected into the build- .if beingwcooledor!toneighboring buildings; i Anotherflfqbjectfof 'thefinvention is to provide 5 man attic mounted airrconditioning'uni't which' can Ebe installed in a, building With a minimum .amount of construetionWork"l Anot erobJV ctmof the invention vis to provide an a ic, mounted air "conditioning unitnhaving triehigh gifiefjmachinery' secured' within' a short ,fchirnneyfthrougl `vfhich natral' air `c'zl'lrrents Will Wand cool the machinery.

Qthernobjects, advantages" 'and novel details df Aconst ri 1ction ofv v'ti'efiinfention willbe made moifeapparent' as this description proceeds,r especonsidered'in :connection With the agcompanyingdravvings;Whernz" i Y Figure l1 isa longitidinal'sectional view of an airwconditining' unit,yeirbdying the invention,

204 YIn'iol'iiiteygl'in an ttic'of'a building.

Figure 2 is "afrontfelevational view" of a top P Qrtign of the building "of Figure 1 With part ogfnfth'e louversbroken away tol better shoufv parts M sectiQnaLvieW of the air conditioningr unit taken :imag une 3 3 of .Figure 1. i vmAs sen yin the drawings; a portion of a building lis'illustrated having rafters Il supporting affo'f "'l 2 and 'longitudinallyextending, beams I 3 "'suppo'rtin'gM a rceilingl |451 Ther space beloW the HYceilingflli is divided intoroomsby wa11s. I5, a prtion-offtwo vroomsrlt andl'l 'bingshown in' wFigur'el- IThe space between roofQlZ Vand ceiling #14! is the .attic yl8lofrtherltuilding .andthis is the space l, of a buil'dingtvhich. is., usua'1l y vlconsidered use lzves's;` Thevpresent invention provides en air conditioning unitgl which is located in the attic v' t3 -sothat .theY attie.lspace isiputa to use. The euterlwall ofithe building lil isprovided With a Window ZI .Whichcp-ens inta the atticl [8. This i ivinclovvV providesfaccess into the attic I8 so that the air-'conditionng unit 1,9 caribe mounted `therein; Theiroo I2. projects,outwardlyover outer. Wall-2 0 tolform calves, 22,Whih protect' Winr-L'Dherair conditioning, unit I9 is mounted upon a f-ramej2'3 comprising vchannel Vslaaped ,si :le mem- .wbers 24 andidiandicross members 26 and k21. Theinner .end of ytheframe .2 3 rests uponv a transverse-beam 28V.Whereas-the,other end is secured to A verticalfbeamsfizm and 3 0 byA bolts 3l, adjacent window' 2 l i. Alliighside compartmentcz is enclosed "by a casing 1^. 33 comprisingA sideftwalls, 34 ;andi'p end vvall 36- and bottom-wa11..37.` The located adjacent window 2I. A low side compartment 38 is formed by side walls 39 and 40, top wall 4I and end wall 42. These walls are constructed from heat insulating material and may be secured to the frame 23 or casing 33.

Positioned below frame 23 is a passageway or tunnel 43 enclosed by wall member 44 with an open end communicating with window 2l and the other end connecting to the bottom of low side compartment 38. It is contemplated that wall member 44 be secured to outer wall 29, but it could also be secured to frame 23. An opening 45 is provided in wall member 44 to which an intake duct 46 is connected. The other end of the duct 46 is connected to a grille 41 which is positioned in ceiling I4 and opens into room I5. The open end of low side compartment 38 is enclosed by a short duct 48 made from sound deadening material such as canvas. Bolts 49 secure one end of the duct 48 to the unit I9 and clamp I secures the other end of the duct to outlet duct 58. Outlet duct 50 is connected to a grille 52 which is positioned in ceiling I4 in communication with room I1.

Positioned above high side compartment 32 is a short chimney 53 comprising side walls 54, front wall 56 and rear wall 51 which extend upwardly through roof I2. It is contemplated that this chimney be secured to outer wall with the lower edge of the walls mating with the l upper edge of the walls of high side compartment 32. Removably secured to the upper edges of the chimney walls is a screen 58 which will prevent foreign matter from falling into the chimney. Removably secured around the window 2l is a frame 59 to which horizontally extending louvers 69 are secured. The frame 59 and louvers will protect the high side compartment 32 and tunnel 43 from the weather and will direct air currents thereinto.

Mounted in the high side compartment 32 is a combination motor-compressor unit 6I of a generally cylindrical shape. A finned tube type condenser 62 is secured in front of the motorcompressor unit 6I adjacent window 2l in a slightly tilted position with the upper portion extending through the window into the space enclosed by frame 59. Secured above the condenser 62 and motor-compressor unit 6I by brackets 63 is an electric motor 94 having an armature shaft 85 to which a propeller type fan B6 is secured. The blades of the fan 65 are offset toward the motor 64 in order to allow placement of the motor 94 closely adjacent to the condenser 62 and motor-compressor unit BI. As

wardly through chimney 53 so that the ma-` chinery will be effectively cooled and maintained at proper operating temperatures. The chimney 53 will induce a draft therethrough which will assist in the movement of air while the fan 88 is operating. Convectional air currents willA also move through the chimney when fan 65 is' not operating so that the machinery within compartment 32 will be cooled even when the refrig-1 eration system is on the off cycle. Louvers 60 are pitched downwardly so that they offer practically. no frictional resistance to the air. is large in cross section and relatively short so Chimney 53 4 that it offers very little resistance to air flow therethrough.

Secured within low side compartment 38 adjacent the open end thereof is a. finned tube evaporator 51. Brackets B8 are secured to end wall 42 and carry an electric motor 89 having an armature shaft 10 to which a fan 1I is fastened. The fan 1I comprises a collar 12 to which an inturned spider cup 13 is secured with the fan blades 14 mounted thereon. Surrounding the fan 1I is a circular shaped shroud 15 having stationary Varies 16` extending inwardly toward the center thereof. With motor 89 operating, fan 1I will pull air through the bottom of compartment 38 and pass it through the evaporator 61 into duct 48. The stationary vanes 1B will prevent rotation of the air columns as they enter the duct 48. Spaced slightly below the evaporator 61 is a drip tray 11 having an outlet 18 to which a tube 19 is connected. The opposite end of the tube 19 extends into high side compartment 32A and is connected to an inlet 89 provided in a flat pan 8|. The pan 8| has short upstanding walls 82 and is secured to bottom wall 31 with the outer edge 83 extending slightly outside window 2 I. The pan is tilted slightly downwardly toward outer edge 83 so that any water which collects therein will drain out over edge 83 and drip to the ground below or into a gutter (not shown) positioned therebelow. As warm air is circulated over the cold surfaces of the evaporator 61, it will usually be lowered to its dew point and some moisture will condense on the evaporator. In l the illustrated embodiment, the condensate will drip from the evaporator 61 into tray 11 from where it will gravitate through tube 19 into pan 8|. The outside air being circulated through high side compartment 32 will pass over the pan 8I and will pick up water therefrom and carry it upwardly through chimney 53 into the atmosphere. If conditions should be such that all the water in pan 8I is not picked up by the air, the excess will be drained over edge 83 and disposed of as mentioned above.

The refrigeration system is charged with a suitable refrigerant and since operation thereof is well known in the art, only a short description is deemed necessary. After being compressed by the motor-compressor unit 6I, the refrigerant is conveyed by conduit 84 to condenser B2 where it is cooled by the air circulating thereover. From the condenser 62 the refrigerant passes through a capillary restrictor tube 85 into evaporator 61 where it absorbs heat from the air circulated by fan 1I. The refrigerant is then returned by conduit 86 to the motor-compressor unit 6I to complete the refrigeration system. Suitable controls for automatically controlling the machinery may be provided but are not shown since such controls are well known in the art and are not important to the present invention.

The air conditioning unit I 9 can be completely assembled at the factory and then shipped to the building in which it is to be installed. After the window 2I into the attic is provided for and chimney 53 and tunnel wall 44 are installed, the unit I9 can be easily slid through the window and secured in place. After the ducts 48 and 50 are secured thereto, the unit is ready for operation. A damper 81 is pivotally secured to tunnel wall 44 and is provided with a fixed lever 88 to which rod 89 is pivotally secured. The rod 89 extends into room I6 and may be moved by an operator or automatic controls for changing the position of 4:iscirculated byifanillvover `the evaporator-,61 and `,....(notshdwn) vbetween'. he.roomswill. be open,

and the cool air will movethrough therooms I'I and I6 andbe returned by duct 46. Damper 81 will Ybe. set-toi givthev-des'ired' .'mixture ofA return lf;

room ainandroutsideairztobe cooled. Any condensate formed on evaporator 61 will be collected Diilyvlill pull outside air rough rwindow 2| andi harge it throughc` r Inac hinery in the high 'si' e compartmerit I,will

r in panv vwill be be properly cooled: The' w thwugthegm- .pickedupby the air circula gK partmentpndthen vaporized las it contactsthe "hot surface of condenser V62 with a resultant cooling of the condenser. Canvas duct 48 will absorb any noise being projected thereinto from the machinery and will prevent air circulation noises from entering the room l1. It is contemplated that the motor-compressor unit 6 I, electric motor 64 and electric motor 69 be mounted on resilient supports (not shown) in order toisolate sound and vibration.

It is apparent from the foregoing that an air conditioning unit is provided which will cool rooms within a building with a very simplified duct system therebetween. The unit is adaptable for installation in the attic space so that floor space Within the rooms is not required. The unit is very compact so that it can be easily slid into position in the attic. Since the length of the unit is relatively small with most of the heavy machinery secured in the high side compartment adjacent the window, most of the weight can be carried by the outer wall of the building. Erective means is provided for the removal of condensate and the natural air movement through the high side compartment will aid in the cooling of the machinery therein. The circulation of cooled air through the rooms will maintain comfortable temperatures therein and the proportion of outside air and recirculated room air can be selectively controlled.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity in connection with the illustrated embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or to the specific relations of parts described, as many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents are to be considered as being Within the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air conditioning system for installation by travi] and drained into pan 8| byftubefw.

condenser lelpwsrtlierfeee si?? flei high de i -compartment Afalad .i1 ela and .out anpther .ment .an @van mounted in said 4V,low

pass ,througheaid evporatorend out isideofsaid lowside compartment, ating means for substantially, supporte? one .vall of ,Said .ettiQO .that ed 996.511... ,ing-n sideeompar. 1.1i extends nieidl, ing, a.chimneyposltlenabletiirogh il? said atti@ meansior mountineeaid 9h muerto tesutsnani-.lailasummarised by said Qne @au oli- Sam attic, Said chimnevconnected .to said aaieeside ,orsaidhigh sidasompartment whereby genie- .tiQn ai?. currentsareinroduced whchierlteraid one .Side of .Said his-h. 'side compartment amine .from the ,top 'of j ,saidA himiey, a, duct mounted so thatone'endthereof iscjonnected to said openine', the other end,ofsaidductconnected t0. said r, one side `of said lolw' ,side compazrtnfierit,v a K second .duct mounted so4 vtlfiat1or1e 'end., thereof isfuconnected lto 1 any rooms below said attic, the other end o of lsaid j secondiduct yconnected A`to :said hone ,side of vsaid Iogw `sideccmoartnneot.,.aldanfioer mounted to cooperate with said first and second ducts and operable to proportion the amount of air entering said one side of said low side compartment from said rst and second ducts, a third duct mounted so that one end thereof is connected to any rooms below said attic, the other end of said third duct connected to said another side of said low side compartment.

2. In an air conditioning system for installation in an attic having an opening in one wall thereof, an air conditioning runit comprising a casing of such size as to be readily insertable into said attic through said opening in one wall thereof, said casing comprising a high side compartment and a low side compartment, said high side compartment being provided with a vertical inlet opening on one side thereof and a horizontal outlet opening on the top thereof, means for mounting said casing to said wall of said attic with said vertical inlet openingy in alignment with said opening in said attic Wall, whereby said wall substantially supports the weight of said unit, a refrigerant condenser mounted in said high side compartment between said inlet and outlet openings, a chimney positionable through the roof of said attic, and means for mounting said chimney to be substantially supported by said one wall of said attic, said chimney positionable in said attic roof directly above said horizontal outlet opening and connected thereto, whereby convectional air currents are produced which enter said opening in said one wall of said attic, enter said vertical inlet opening on one side of said casing, oW through said condenser, through said horizontal outlet opening and upward through and out of said chimney.

3. In an air conditioning system as claimed in claim 2, fan means mounted within said high side compartment between said refrigerant condenser and said horizontal outlet opening, said fan operable to draw air into said opening in said one wall of said attic, through said vertical inlet opening, through said condenser, and through said horizontal outlet opening and upward through and out of said chimney.

4. In an air conditioning system for installation in an attic having an opening in one wall thereof, an air conditioning unit comprising a casing of such size as to be readily insertable into said attic through said opening in one wall thereof, said casing comprising a high side compartment and a low side compartment, said high side compartment being provided with a vertical inlet opening on one side thereof and a horizontal outlet opening on the top thereof, said low side compartment being provided with inlet and outlet openings through diierent walls thereof, means for mounting said casing to said wall of said attic with said vertical inlet opening in alignment with said opening in said attic wall, whereby said wall substantially supports the weight of said unit, a refrigerant condenser mounted in said high side compartment between said inlet and outlet openings thereof, a refrigerant evaporator mounted in said low side compartment between said inlet and outlet openings thereof, a chimney mounted through the roof of said attic and mounted to be substantially supported by said one wall of Said attic, said chimney positioned in said attic roof directly above said horizontal outlet opening of said high side compartment and connected thereto, whereby convectional air currents are produced which enter said opening in said one wall of said attic, enter said vertical inlet opening on one side of said casing 8 flow through said condenser, through said horizontal outlet opening and upward through and out of said chimney, and means associated with said inlet and outlet openings of said low side compartment for causing air to flow into the inlet opening of said high side compartment, through said refrigerant evaporator, through said outlet opening of said low side compartment, and

through any space below said attic and back to said inlet opening of said low side compartment.

5. In an air conditioning system as claimed in claim 4, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of ducts, one of said ducts connected to said inlet opening of said low side compartment and any space below said attic, the other of said ducts connected to said outlet opening of said low side compartment and another .portion of any space below said attic, and a fan mounted within said low side compartment between said inlet opening thereof and said refrigerant evaporator, said fan operating to move air through said evaporator, through said two ducts, and through any space below said attic.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,182,569 Peo Dec. 5, 1939 2,290,973 Jewell July 28, 1942 2,304,359 Hommel Dec. 8, 1942 2,321,687 Kucher June 15, 1943 2,336,549 Kucher Sept. 14, 1943 2,376,859 Benn May 29, 1945 2,447,278 Roper Aug. 17, 1948

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