Патент USA US2008255

July 16, 1935.
L. u. LARKIN
2,008,255
COUNTER FLOW AIR CONDITIONER
Filed Nov. 1e, 193s
2 sheets-sheet 1
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July 16, 1935. -
2,008,255
L, u. L_ARKIN
COUNTER FLOW AIR CONDITIONER
Filed Nov. 16, 1935
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
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LESTER
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Patented July 16, 1935
2,008,255
UNITED STATES
PATENT oFFlcE
12,008,255
COUNTER FLOW
CONDITIONER
Lester U. Larkin, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Larkin
Refrigerating Corporation, Atlanta, Ga., a cor
poration of Georgia
Application November 16, 1933, Serial No. 698,291
2 Claims'. (Cl. 257-244) '
This invention relates generally to Ventilating 1, showing a modified form of the invention; and
air cooling systems; and, more particularly tov
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line
cooling systems adapted for use in the form of 4_4 of Figure 3.
small compact highly efñcient units for cooling
In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the unit
air in refrigerated display counters or cases, is shown as comprising a base plate I, extended
market refrigerators, cold storage rooms, and rearwardly to form a support 2 for a motor 3
the rooms of residences, oñîice buildings, etc.
having its rotor shaft 4 extending in opposite
In residence and office cooling it is ordinarily
desirable to decrease the humidity of the air as
1 O it passes through the conditioner; since, a de
crease in humidity results in a greater rate of
evaporation of perspiration in the persons sub
jected to the conditioned air. In this case, the
cooling unit is comparatively small, and the tem
5
directions from the motor casing. On each side
of the motor there are arranged the blower cas
ings 5 and 6 constructed to communicate at their
upper ends with the conduit -I forming part of an
air cooling casing designated generally by the
numeral 8.
The casing 8 comprises the base plate I, side
perature ‘ difference is likewise comparatively
walls 9 and I0, a top II and partitions I2 and l5
small, since comfortable living conditions never I3 extending across the casing parallel to the
require the air to be lowered anywhere near the base plate I and dividing the casing into three
freezing point. In other Words, a small cooling conduits 1, I4 and I5. The conduits 'I, I4 and
unit circulating hot humid air will decrease the
2O
humidity thereof.
I5 are substantially equal in size, and are di
mensioned so that each conduit can accommo
On the other hand, a comparatively large unit date at least two grids of a cooling coil formed
vE20
used for refrigeration purposes in a cooler or of piping having an outlet I 6 at the Warm air
cold storage room may cause an increase in rela inlet of the conduit l. The top II is connected
tive humidity, since the conditioned air is usually
brought down to temperatures around the freez-A
ing point. This refrigeration, obviously, causes
shrinkage of the air originally in the cooler, and
to the partition I3, at the exit end of the casing
8, by a semi-cylindrical casing Il; and the base 25
plate I is likewise connected by a semi-cylindrical
plate I8 to the motor end of the partition I2.
with a consequent suction of outside air, and its By this arrangement, the conduits l, I4 and I5
moisture content, into the cooler to compensate form a continuous counter?low duct for conduct
for this shrinkage. This results in an increase in ing air from the air inlet I9 of the unit to the air 30
relative humidity of the air in the cooler. This outlet- 20 thereof.
means that decrease or increase in humidity of
As will be apparent from the drawings, the
a compartment or room will depend upon the piping forming the upper grid in the conduit
size of the cooling unit as compared with the 'I extends from the refrigerant outlet or suction
35 size of said compartment or room, and with the connection I6 to the exit end of the casing 8. 35
drop in temperature which the unit is designed to At this exit end, a bend 2I connects the upper
effect.
grid 22 to the lower grid-23 in the conduit l.
The main object of the invention, therefore, is The lower grid 23 at the inlet end of the casing
to provide an air conditioning unit which is 8 is connected by a bend 24, which extends
40 highly efficient in operation, and in which the through the partition I2, to the upper grid 25
relative humidity of the air conditioned may be ' in the condnit I4. At the exit end of the cas
considerably increased by the cooling operation ing 8, which is also the inlet end of the conduit
of the unit, or may be decreased where this is I4, the upper grid 25 is connected by a bend
found necessary or desirable.
25 to the lower grid 2'I in the aforesaid conduit I4.
Other objects of the invention will become ap
At the inlet end of the casing 8, the grid 21 is
45
parent as the detailed description thereof pro connected by a bend 28, passing through the par
ceeds.
tition I 3, with the grid 29 in the upper part of the
In the drawings:
.
conduit I5. The grid 29, at the exit end of the
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an air condition casing 8 and of the conduit I5, is connected by a
3
50
ing unit embodying the present invention, part bend 30 to the lowermost grid 3I, which, at the
50
of the casing being removed to illustrate details inlet end of the casing 8, is connected to the inlet
end 32 of the entire coil system contained with
of construction;
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line in the several conduits 1, I4 and I5.
It will be noted from the foregoing disclosure
2_2 of Figure 1;
A
Figure 3 is a top plan View, similar to Figure thatv the Warm air forced into the conduit 'I by 55
65
2
2,008,255
the blowers contacts with the warmest part of
_the cooling coils. 'I‘his construction and mode
-of operation enables the refrigerant to absorb the
greatest number of heat units possible for lt to
same reference characters. In this form of the
invention, however, the refrigerant inlet 32' of
the coil piping 35 terminates at the cold air out
let 20' of the unit. The coil construction in this
contain at temperatures prevailing at the exit form ofthe invention will be obvious from in
or suction end thereof. In this respect, the pres spection of the drawings.
ent cooling unit operates directly opposite to the
It is intended that either of the units disclosed
Acooling devices of the prior art.V In other words,
the warm air contacts the warmest part of the
10 coil; and the cold or conditioned air emerges
from the coldest end of the unit.
This arrangement and mode of operation have
the effect -of reducing or practically eliminating
in this application may be used in any convenient
position. For example, either unit may be in
stalled with its conduits perpendicular in one end
of a refrigerated counter. The unit may be ar
pinging thereon, the less will be the condensation.
This effect continues throughout the entire length
of the conduits from inlet to exit. In other words,
the decrease in temperature of the air being con
ducted through the air ducts of the unit is ef
fected gradually and not in sharp steps as would
ing from the outlet of the unit along the top
5
ranged with a motor at- the bottom of the counter „
so as to expel cold air out o-f the top of the unit
condensation. It is obvious that the nearer the toward the center of the refrigerator in which
temperature of the coil to that of the air im case it may be convenient to use a duct extend 15
be the case if the warm air were forced initially
against the coldest part of the coil system to
emerge at the warm end thereof.
25
v
'
The grids of each compartment are traversed
by aseries of fins 33, preferably of aluminum,
and extending perpendicularly to the convolu
tions of the grids in each compartment. These
‘ñns are preferably constructed and arranged on
30 the grids substantially as disclosed in the United
of the counter case.
The unit may also be dis
posed with the motor and fans below the tori
of the counter to expel the cold air toward the
center ofthe case and along the bottom thereof. 20
In other words, the operation of the invention
disclosed herein is not in any way dependent
upon its being arranged in any particular posi
tion in any refrigerator or compartment.
While not shown nor described in this appli 25
cation, it is to be understood that the unit will
be provided with the usual adjustable thermo
static controls to regulate the operation of the
refrigerant coils and the temperature of the air
conditioned by the unit. These thermQstatic 30
States patent to Larkin, No, 1,776,235, September switches and valves controlled thereby are very
16, 1930; and each extends substantially the en
tire length of the conduit ln which it is ar
ranged.
well known in this art; and form no essential
part of the present invention.
It is thought that the invention and numerous`
As disclosed in the aforesaid Larkin patent, of its attendant advantages will be understood 35
the coils provided with these vertical flns are from the foregoing description, and it is obvious
highly eñicient and reduce the temperatures of that numerous changes may be made in the form,
air passing therethrough with great rapidity. construction and arrangement of the several
Moreover, the temperature differential between parts Without departing from the spirit or scope
the coils and the air conditioned thereby is so of my invention, or sacrificing any of its at 40
smallthat to bring the air down to any desired tendant advantages, the form herein described
temperature, it is only necessary to maintain the being a preferred embodiment for therpurpose
refrigerant inlet end of the coil at about one de-. of illustrating my invention.
gree below that of the air as it emerges from
What I claim is:
the exit end of the unit.
'
1. An air conditioner comprising: a casing hav 45
It must be distinctly understood >that this in ing a series of superposed conduits extending
vention is not to be considered as in anyway lengthwise therethrough, means for connecting
limited to the number of air conduits arranged the adjacent ends of said conduits in series to
vin the casing, or to the number of grids of cool provide a continuous circuitous air duct through
50 ing coils which may be arranged in-each conduit. all of said conduits, meansífo'r forcing air through 50
It must also be understood- that the invention is said duct, means extending transversely of each
not to be considered as vlimited to-the use of any conduit for cooling the air during its passage ‘
particular number of cooling grids in each con through said air duct, and cooling ñns extending
35
, duit.
It is desirable, of course, that the coldest lengthwise of , each conduit in said air duct and
end of the coils shall be at the exit end of the connected tosaid air cooling means.
casing. This result could obviously be obtained
2. An air conditioner comprising: a casing hav
55
by using three grids zigzagged in the conduit I5. ing a- series of superposed conduits extending
However, the ñnal result is not substantially af
fected by using thetwo grids as shown in con
lengthwise therethrough, means for connecting
the adjacent endsl of said conduits in series to
provide
a'continuous circuitous air duct through
inlet end of the coil system to be positioned at
60 duit I5, and which, therefore, require the cold
the warm air end of the unit. In the ideal sy‘s
all of said conduits”, a refrigerating coil grid
tem, however, the cold inlet of the cooling coils ì mounted in said‘casing and having grid branches
' extending substantially across each of said con- `
should be located at the cooled air exit.
In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, duits, and cooling fins extending lengthwise of
the blower mechanism and casing are substan each conduit and Vin heat conducting contact n
tially the same as the blower mechanism, and across said branches.
y
casing shown in Figures land 2; and the corre
sponding parts thereof are designated by the
»
LESTER U. LARKIN.
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