US2967051A - Means for treating air to provide comfort in hot and cold weather - Google Patents

Description

MEANS FOR TREATING AIR TO PROVIDE COMFORT IN HOT AND-COLD WEATHER W. R. MOBLEY Jan. 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1956 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1961 w, MQBLEY 2,967,051

MEANS FOR TREATING AIR TO PROVIDE COMFORT IN HOT AND COLD WEATHER Filed Aug. 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY- Jan. 1961 w. R., MOBLEY 2,967,051

MEANS FOR TREATING AIR TO PROVIDE COMFORT IN HOT AND COLD WEATHER Filed Aug. 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR ATTORNEY ftlnited rates MEANS FOR TREATING AIR TO PROVIDE COM- FORT IN HOT AND COLD WEATHER William R. Mobley, P.O. Box 2311, Miami, Fla.

Filed Aug. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 601,765

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-142) The invention relates to a means for conditioning or treating air to create a localized comfort zone of expending air in a ventilated room or area, and has for its objects to provide certain new and useful improvements in former procedure and devices of this character.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a means whereby air may be circulated in a ventilated room after treatment of the air, by discharging the air under pressure into said room or area, thereby creating a zone of comfort for the benefit of the user of the improvement.

A further object is to provide a centrlfugal suction fan, blower, impeller or pump which may be die pressed or cast in a single piece of metal, or which alternatively may be cast from plastic material as a single unit, including the hub of the fan or rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provIde a blower and suction type fluid impeller which may be substituted for all conventional centrifugal or other types of impellers, and adapted to operate in conventional housing for subjecting fluids such as air to pressures above or below atmospheric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more efficient means of exhausting air from a home or buildmg.

Another object of the invention is to provide an impeller to operate within an air inlet opening substantially equal to the diameter of the impe ler to perm't the air to flow freely and thereby eliminate air noise otherwise caused by restricting the air inlet opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of treating air to create and maintain a zone of expanding air which will more readily absorb heat and moisture from the body of the individual and provide comfort in hot weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of treating air as by heating during cold weather to provide comfort in an enclosed room or building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to contract air and to more efiiciently compress the contracted air and to utilize the expansion of the discharged pressurized air to maintain a zone of air in a state of expansion to provide comfort in hot weather by direct absorption of the heat and moisture from the body of the individual using the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple and economical of construction and capable of being conveniently transported for use in any desired enclosed locality, which is preferably under ventilation for ready admission of air thereto.

These objects are accomplished by forming the rotor impeller blades or vanes in uniformly spaced relation around a circular disc which is designed to be axially revolved as by an enclosed electric motor. The air propelling blades or vanes which may be integral with or constitute separate elements attached to the flat rotor disc, are disposed laterally of and at right angles to the Patented Jan. 3, 1951 disc so as to advance in a circular path of travel with the outer terminal edges of the blades disposed coextensive with and in laterally spaced offset relation to the periphery of the rotor disc portion. To this end each blade or vane member comprises an axially extending air propelling flange spaced radially outwardly from the rotor axis, said flange terminating in a right angularly and radially outwardly disposed flange for desired cooperation with the air propelling flange of the blade. Said radially extending terminal blade flanges each includes at its forward end a straight radial edge terminating at its outer end in an arcuate edge coextensive with and generated by the radius of the flat rotor disc body portion.

A rotatable fan or blower unit constructed in this manner and which may also be employed as a fluid pump, has been found to create desirable relative low and high ice pressures on opposite sides of the rotor so that the incoming low pressure air is entrained against the -'mpeller blades in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotor, and thereafter centrifugally projected transversey of said axis for air treatng purposes prior to the air being ejected at superatmospheric pressure into the localized zone or area occupied by the person or persons using the device.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following desc iption, which t ken n coniunction with the drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a view in rear elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, looking toward the low pressure air inlet end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation, looking toward the high pressure outet end of the device.

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe rotatable air exhaust and impelling member of the unit, illustrated as die cut for example from a flat sheet of material such as metal or plastic, all parts of the rotor as illustrated being of uniform thickness.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of the component parts of the apparatus or device for carrying out the present invention, as viewed from the rear or low pressure side thereof.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a slightly modified form of the rotatabe fan or blower unit.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the fan blades or vanes, a plurality of which are illustrated in Fig. 7 as aflixed to the rotatable air propulsion or exhaust fan unit.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, of a slightly modified embodiment of the device wherein a pair of air outlet openings are present in the cabinet.

Fig. 9a is an elevational View of a Calrod heating element which is used to advantage in carrying out the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram.

Fig. 11 is a view of a further modified form of the invention wherein the air is exhausted from the interior of the substantially closed cabinet structure.

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the motor and impeiler assembly illustrated in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, the air conditioning device or unit is illustrated as comprising a rectangular substantially closed cabinet 1t) having an integral or separate front wall 11, rear wall 12, bottom wall 13 and top wall 14, said cabinet being formed of any appropriate material such as metal or plastic, and having the described walls thereof assembled in substantial integral or fluid tight relation. In the illustrated embodiment the rear wall 10 includes an inwardly offset peripheral flange l defining a circular opening 16 in said wall (Fig. 2). An annular housing 17 surrounds the aperture 16 on the outer side of the cabinet and a bracket member 18 (see also Fig. 6) bridges said aperture within the cabinet on the inner side of the aperture. A gasket 19, having a central aperture 19a, is interposed between a laterally projecting peripheral flange 17a of the housing 17 and the diametrically opposed radial flanges 18a of the bracket member 18, said housing and bracket members being secured together and to the rear wall 12 of the cabinet in fluid tight relation by means of bolts or screws 20 or other appropriate fastening devices. Said bracket flanges 18a are seated within diametrically opposed non-circular recess portions 16a (Fig. 6) communicating with the aforesaid aperture to in the rear cabinet wall 12. This serves to anchor the bracket 18 against rotation relative to the enclosing cabinet 19.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer or air inlet end of the housing 17 is provided with an annular flange 21 to provide a seat for a d sc-like air filter eement 22 formed for example or" fibre glass, and the filter element is removably clamped to seat 21 of housing 17 by means of a removable clamping and enclosing member 23 having a central air entrance opening 24 therein.

The bracket member 13 further includes a diametrically extending web 18b (Fig. 6) having a central aperture 25 therein for rotatably receiving therethrough the armature shaft 26 of an electric motor 27. A pair of spaced apertures 28 in the bracket web 1812 respectively receive diametrically spaced bosses 29 on the end of the motor housing for rigidly mounting the motor on the bracket member 18 as by screws or clamping bolts (not shown) engaging the motor bosses and the bracket member web 18b.

A rotor impeller or exhaust fan blower is indicated generally at 30 and may be integrally constructed as illustrated, of metal such as steel or aluminum or of plastic if desired, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Said rotor is provided at one side thereof with a hub 31 secured thereto said hub being centrally apertured at 32 for the reception of the outer end of the motor armature shaft 26. A set screw indicated at 33 is P ovided for securing the rotor hub 31 to the motor shaft 26 for rotation of the hub and fan rotor element with the shaft. Obviously the rotor hub 31 may be keyed to the motor shaft or otherwise secured thereto for unitary rotation therewith.

The rotatable exhaust and propulsion fan element 30 includes a series of circumferentially and uniformly spaced impeller blade or vane members 34 preferably formed integrally with the disc-like body portion 35 of the rotor. Each impeller blade includes an axially extending flange portion 36 and an integral right angularly extending radial flange 37 of arcuate configuration. Said blades are formed from the rotor disc by bending the rotor material along spaced parallel fold lines 38, 39 (Fig. 5). As thus formed the axially extending flange 36 of each rotor blade or vane 34 is flat and of rectangular configuration, while the integral angularly extending radial flange 37 thereof is also flat, but is of arcuate or curved configuration at its outer periphery. Air inlet and discharge pockets are thus formed in each rotor blade or vane, and the leading radially extending edge 37a of each blade is disposed in the direction of forward rotation of the rotor unit. Also the arcuate flanges 37 of the impeller blades are radially coextensive with the periphery of the disc shaped body portion 35 of the rotor to permit the latter to be snugly and rotatively nested between the axially extending flanges 180 of the bracket member with only slight peripheral clearance therebetween.

The forward end 11 of the cabinet is provided with a single central air outlet opening or aperture 38. Additional air filter means similar to filter member 22 may be provided if desired to cover the said air exit opening 38 in the front wall 11 of the cabinet 10.

An imperforate horizontal baffle plate is indicated at 40 and is preferably disposed in closely spaced relation to the upper surface of the motor 27. Said baffie plate is substantially coextensive with the width of the cabinet 10 and is rigidly secured to the interior surface of the front wall 11 thereof by bolt or screw means 41, and to the upper wall 14 of the cabinet by bolt or screw means 42, said screws respectively engaging apertures in integral flange portions 43 and 44 of the baflie member 40. The inner end of the baffle 40 includes an integral medial upstanding flange 45 of less Width than the baffle 40 so as to provide a pair of spaced substantially rectangular air exit openings 46 respectively in horizontal registry with and spaced horizontally inwardly of the cabinet from the air outlet opening 38 in the cabinet front wall. The upper end of the upstanding medial flange 45 of the baffle plate terminates in the aforesaid angular horizontal flange 44 by means of which the baffle plate is rigidly secured to the top wall 14 of the cabinet 10.

The baffle 40 is not necessary where two air exit openings are used, as shown at 38a in the sightly modified form illustrated in Fig. 9. This is because the pressurized air inherently collects in the interior corners of the cabinet and thereafter is discharged readily by the rotor impeller. However Where the one opening 38 is used at the center of the front wall (Fig. 4). the baffle 40 materially aids in passing the air collected at the cabinet corners to such center opening Where it is discharged under pressure by the rotor.

The imperforate fluid tight interior of the cabinet 10 is designed to contain a body of water 47 which may be admitted through the substantially central inlet aperture 48 in the from W?" of the cabinet. A cover plate 49 is preferably removably secured to the opening 48 by means of a threaded screw bolt 50 having a wing nut 51 thereon, a curved clamping plate 52 being interposed between the inner bolt head and the portion of the cabinet front Wall surrounding and defining the opening 48.

In the mod'fication illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the fan or blower rotor unit 39!! is of composite construction, for example when utilized in an exhaust fan or air impelling device of greater size. The disc like body portion 350 of the rotor 30a is die cut from metal or plastic along angular intersecting shear lines 53 and 54 to provide a series of spaced notches of angular configuration in the periphery of the disc. Alternatively the rotor 30a may comprise a circular disc when the blades are riveted thereto as shown in Fig. 7. Each impeller blade or vane 34 is of separate angular construction so as to include a central axially extending rectangular air propelling wall or flange 36a terminating in an angular radially extending wall 37a. An inner angularly extending terminal flange 55 of each impeller blade 36:: is apertured at 56 for the reception therethrough of rivet elements 57 for securing each blade unit to a flat disc-like body portion 35:: of the fan rotor element.

In use the cabinet 10 is transported as by the carrying handle H (Fig. l) to any interior location where it is desired to create a comfort zone for example in a ventilated room or bedroom. The motor 27 of the unit is connected by means of the usual flexible cord (not shown) to a source of electrical current, and a switch (not shown) may be closed to energize the motor 27 to rotate the fan blower unit 30. Unconditioned or untreated air is thus drawn into the cabinet through the filter screen 22 and housing 17 to impinge against the flat disc-like body portion 35 of the rotor. This entrained air on the inlet or low pressure side of the fan is forcibly directed centrifugally outwardly therefrom by the axially extending flange walls 36 of the impeller blades 34, as the blower is rotated by the motor in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. incoming air striking the radially extending blade portions or flanges 37 is arrested thereby so as to be forcibly propelled by the blade portions 36 into the lower interior of the cabinet 10. Since the fan and motor unit are mountcd in the upper portion of the cabinet, the centrifugally propelled air under pressure will be forcibly directed laterally and downwardly along the cabinet Walls and against the surface of the body of water 47, preferably with sufiicient force to break the surface tension of and agitate the liquid. This tends to induce evaporation with attendant slight cooling of the water. The filtered and centrifugally propelled air under relatively high blower pressure from the discharge side of the rotor 30 contacts and is repeatedly swept across the surface of the Water so as to be slightly humidified and cooled thereby prior to being conducted upwardly through the cabinet for forcible exit from the discharge aperture 38 or apertures It Will thus be seen that a localized comfort zone permeated by slightly humidified and cooled air under pressure from the cabinet openings 47 is created in the vicinity of the user of the device. This is of obvious advantage to a person occupying such zone, regardless of whether it is for recreation or for sleeping purposes. Also it is pointed out that the instant invention, particularly the improved rotor 30 or 30a, may be utilized for the purpose of pumping fluids such as Water or air in conjunction with cooperating conduit means.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate the use of the device as an exhaust fan or impeller, under conditions wherein it is desirable to remove the air from a room or enclosed area. In such instance the rotor 30 is mounted for example on the cabinet in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but on the exterior of the cabinet rear wall. When the rotor impeller 30 is driven as by the motor 27, the air on the interior of the cabinet will be drawn outwardly through the aperture 16 in the rear cabinet wall 12, and expelled by the rotor impeller blades laterally and centrifugally, as indicated by the arrows A. The side wall apertures 10:: in the cabinet show the means of entraining the air therewithin prior to exhausting the same by the rotor 30. The cabinet 10 is merely illustrative of any area, such as a room or building, from which it is desired to exhaust the air for the purpose of conditioning the area.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to heat the air prior to expelling the same through the cabinet aperture 38, as in the instance of an unduly chilled room or area to be conditioned. For this purpose an electrical resistance heating unit so of the Calrod type (Fig. 9a) is suitably mounted within the annular housing 17 inwardly of the filter element 22, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Said Calrod resistance elements includes the usual terminal portions 61 by which it may be connected to a source of electrical current. The air stream is drawn into a heating zone on the interior of the annular housing 17, where the air is heated and expanded by the heated resistance element 60. Thereafter the heated air is circulated against the surface of the body of water 47, which causes the air to contract, after which it is discharged through the central opening 38 (Fig. 2), or plurality of openings 38a (Fig. 9), and continuously circulated in the room, area or building to be conditioned.

The heater 60 while contemplated as a permanent part of the device, is only used in a closed room during cold weather.

Fig. 10 illustrates a simple wiring diagram through which the Calrod heater 60 is connected to the motor 27 by means of a pivoted switch arm 62. When it is desired to heat the air, said switch arm is pivotally moved to engage switch contact 63 which places the motor and heater in the series with the power circuit P. When it is not desired to heat the air being discharged into the room or area, the switch arm 62 is moved in the opposite direction into contact with the terminal 64, thereby cutting out the heater and energizing the motor only for the purpose of cntraining and expelling cool air by the rotor impeller 30. Thus it will be seen that the heater can only be placed in operation in the circuit when the motor 27 is in operation, thus insuring against burning out the motor.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the instant improved device may be constructed as an air heater or cooler, or a combination of both, which latter is most preferable.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely exemplary embodiments thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for creating a localized Zone of expanding air in a ventilated room or area, comprising a substantially closed cabinet having an air intake aperture in the upper portion of a wall thereof and an air discharge aperture in the upper portion of an opposite wall of said cabinet for discharging treated air under pressure therefrom, a body of cooling liquid contained within the lower portion of said cabinet, a centrifugal fan rotor of substantially the same diameter as said air intake aperture mounted within said cabinet adjacent said intake aperture for drawing air therethrough into said cabinet, said rotor having circumferentially spaced air impelling blades having their air impelling surfaces disposed normal to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said rotor adapted for centrifugally projecting air radially of the rotor, the periphery of said rotor being substantially unconfined within said cabinet to provide a peripheral zone of substantial thickness surrounding said rotor wherein a revolving air stream is maintained, an electric motor in said cabinet for driving said rotor to centrifugally project the incoming air in a generally circular path through said zone at a pressure greater than atmospheric and also downwardly to impinge against the surface of said body of liquid, whereby the inducted air is repeatedly revolved about said rotor within said cabinet to thereby bring said air into repeated contact with said liquid before being expelled from said discharge aperture.

2. Means for creating a localized zone of expanding air in a ventilated room or area as defined in claim 1, including means adjacent said intake aperture for electrically heating said air prior to its contact with said rotor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 816,371 Platz Mar. 27, 1906 1,042,055 Theisen Oct. 22, 1912 1,842,213 Smellie Jan. 19, 1932 2,030,316 Opitz Feb. 11, 1935 2,054,200 Langford Sept. 15, 1936 2,119,207 Gibbs May 31, 1938 2,182,620 Cano Dec. 5, 1939 2,186,697 Hildebrand Jan. 9, 1940 2,317,543 Livingston Apr. 27, 1943 2,506,656 Wallach et al. May 9, 1950 2,540,136 Oliphant Feb. 6, 1951 2,684.232 Caldwell July 20, 1954 2,759,713 Maniscalco Aug. 21, 1956

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