US2289035A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1942. c. R. NEESQN AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Fiied Jan. 25, 19:53

2 Sheets-Sheet l lnrvn fir July 7, 1942.

c. R. NEESQN 2,289,035

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 5 A k h 7/ 72 Ink/Z! 14/7 4 i fya rarafar 72 b k Camenrer INVENTOR C R/V621 NEY Fatente fl vi ility 7,1942

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS- Charles R. Neeson, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Allin B. Crouch, Schenectady, N. Y., as trustee Application January 25, 1933, Serial No. 653,467-

32 Claims. (01. 62-6) This invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatus and more particularly to an improved self-contained room cooler and heater unit.

It is highly desirable to provide a room cooler unit which is efliciently arranged so that it may have suflicient refrigerating capacity to effectively cool a relatively large room or rooms and yet be comparatively'compact so as to require minimum space. It is accordingly one object of my invention to provide a simple, compact and effective self-contained room cooler unit employing a refrigerating cycle preferably of the compression type wherein a compressor, condenser and evaporator are all disposed within the unit and so arranged that the room air may be simply and efiectively passed over the evaporator and returned to the room together with an eifective passage arrangement whereby a source of air exterior to the room air may be employed to cool the condenser which is preferably of the air cooled type.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby condensate on the evaporator will accumulate in a. pan or other suitable receptacle and preferably be pumped or otherwise suitably lifted to a point above the compressor and evaporator so as to drip down over the same to assist in the cooling thereof. A further and more specific object is to provide a simplified arrangement 01' the condenser, evaporator and blower means for circulating the air thereover, together with an improved arrangement between the foregoing elements and a motor-compressor unit which is preferably of the self-contained sealed type.

Another object is to provide improved adjustable means for controlling the humidity of the room air, particularly by controlling the velocity and volume of air passing over the evaporator in the case of cooling the room air or over the condenser in case of heating the air. A

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the unit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified arrangement for elevating the condensed humidity to a point where it can drip down over the condenser;

. Fig. 4 is amodified arrangement for supplying condenser cooling air to the unit whereby multiple units may be supplied from a single source of condenser cooling air;

Fig. 5 diagrammatically shows an installation of multiple units whereby several units may be supplied with condenser cooling air from a common source.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a mechanism for interchanging the evaporator and condenser functions in accordance with whether the unit operates as a cooler or a heater.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention I have shown a cabinet generally indicated at I in which are disposed longitudinal frame chemnels 2 and 3 supporting a motor-compressor unit generally indicated at l. The motor armature and compressor crankshaft rotate on a vertical axis while the compressor pistons reciprocate horizontally although various other types of motor-compressor units may be employed, but in any event they are preferably disposed centrally of the unit both as to its longitudinal and transverse dimensions. Suitably supported as by transverse brackets 5 and '6 carried on channels 2 and 3 is a refrigerant condenser generally indicated at I which may be of any suitable coil or header type and preferably air cooled. An evaporator generally indicated at 8 and of substantially the same size and thermal capacity as the condenser is supported upon brackets 9 and i0 carried by channels 2 and 3.

Disposed beneath the longitudinally aligned condenser, compressor and evaporator is a liquid or condensate pan generally indicated at II. This pan has openings in its bottom beneath the condenser and evaporator whereby a fan passage !3 formed by walls It may project upwardly through the opening beneath condenser 1 while a room air passage l5 formed by walls l6 projects upwardly through the opening disposed beneath evaporator 8.

A condenser air fan rotor H is driven by an electric motor l8 which is-also connected to drive a room air fan rotor l9, while a suitable adjustable resistance 20 is provided in the motor circuit to obtain a variable speed of the evaporator fan for the purpose of controlling the humidity in an improved manner to be described. Instead of resistance 20, any suitable speed control means may be employed depending upon the type of motor or conditions encountered.

A suitable liquid pump of centrifugal or other type may have its rotor directly connected to the outer end of the common motor fan shaft 2| to cause flow oi condensate from receptacle ll down through pipe 22 to pump 20 and thence upwardly through pipe 23 to now through a horizontal spray pipe 23 to cause a series of jets of water 25 to spray over the top of condenser d and also if desired over the outside of the motor-compressor unit 4. The liquid sprayed on these elements will be either evaporated by the heat thereof and the vapor carried out by the circuit of condenser cooling air to be described later or else the liquid itself will be entrained in this current of air. If desired a second pipe 26, also supplied from pipe 23, discharges jets of moisture 21 over the top of heat exchange element 3 to increase the humidity of the room air as when the unit is used as a heater.

The path of condenser cooling air is arranged so as to conduct condenser heat to the outside of the room in which the unit is disposed. To accomplish this, in the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein, I have provided superimposed vertical openings in the rear .side of the cabinet near one end thereof, the inlet opening being generally indicated at while the outlet is at 3|. The inner end of the opening 30 in the back side of the cabinet terminates adjacent a vertical partition 32 as shown in Fig.

1, this opening communicating with a vertical passage 32' formed between partition 32 and the end wall 33 of cabinet I. The lower end of this vertical passage communicates through an opening 34 with an inlet 35 of the condenser fan l1 and also communicates with the other inlet 35 of said fan due to the air flowing from said opening 34 and thence around the outside of the fan scroll case 31 which is preferably of the type having a tangential outlet terminating in walls l4. The air drawn into opening 30 down through passage 32 and into the faninlets 35 and 36 is propelled upwardly by rotor 11 and preferably through a series of ejector openings 38 to entrain condensate 39 in receptacle II, this stream of air and entrained moisture flowing upwardly over the fins and pipes of condenser I and thence out through opening 3| which extends from the inner side of partition 3| to a point near the motor-compressor unit 4.

While air may be supplied to opening 30 from any suitable external source, yet it is preferable that the unit be arranged to receive air through a normal opening in the room wall such as a window and to accomplish this there is provided a rearwardly extending outlet duct 40 and inlet duct 4| formed preferably as a unitary structure having a partition 42 between the two passages. This'unitary casing extends through a suitable opening 43 in a window sealing member 44 upon which the window 45 is seated. The outlet passage 40 extends for the full length of opening 3| while the inlet duct 4| extends not only for the length of passage 4| as indicated by the dotted lines 46 but also for the additionel length of opening 30. If it is desired to have the passages 40 and 4| of the same length, passage 40 may be extended for the full length of passage 4| but in such case a small portion of passage 40 would have an inner end wall 41 formed by the rear side of cabinet I somewhat in the same manner that the passage 4| is partially closed as at 48 by the rear wall of-the cabinet.

The path of room air is from the room and through a grille or suitable opening 50 formed in the lower portion of the cabinet end, and thence through the fan inlet 5| and also around fan casing I6 through the other inlet 52 and thence upwardly through ejector openings 53 to entrain liquid 39 in receptacle H, the room air and entrained liquid passing up over the evaporator 8 to be cooled and discharged to the room through a suitable top grille 54. Humidity in the room air will be condensed on the evaporator surface and this condensate together with the condensate entrained by the upward flow of air will drip back into the right end of receptacle ll. As the condensate accumulates in said receptacle, it will seek its own level resulting in condensate accumulating around ejector openings 38 to be entrained by the condenser air, it being understood that the condensate so entrained will be, at least in part, evaporated and the vapor discharged to the outside atmosphere. In order to allow flow of condensate from the evaporator to the condenser and also to provide a distinct compartment 51 for the evaporator, I have provided a. partition 55 having its lower end 56 spaced from the bottom of receptacle II but projecting into the condensate therein to provide a liquid seal. To complete this compartment insofar as the evaporator fan I9 is concerned, there is also provided a partition 58 between the receptacle H and the bottom pan 59 of the cabinet, thus keepa ing the room air separate from motor l8 which is cooled by air flowing around the fan scroll 31 into inlet 36. The ejector openings.. 38 and 53 may be of any suitable configuration in plan view although preferably they constitute a series of staggered rectangular openings. The arrangement of the evaporator and condenser ejector openings wherein condensate may flow equally to each is particularly useful where the refrigerating cycle is reversed for purposes of heating. in which case the heat exchange element 1 functions as an evaporator and the heat exchange element 8 serves as a condenser over which room air is passed to become heated. It is thus seen that any moisture condensed on element 1 will drip into pan II and be entrained by the upward flow of room air over element 8 resulting in evaporation of the moisture and added humidity to the room. If desired water may be supplied to pan II from any suitable outside source such as the water system of the room or building in which the air conditioning unit is located; this outside system may. of course, be provided with either a float controlled valve to maintain the correct amount of water in pan II or a suitable drain connection. As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6 the functions of the condenser and evaporator may be interchanged by simultaneously rotatable valves 1a and 8a whereby the compressor discharge pipe 4a and suction pipe 4b may be alternatively connected to heat exchange elements 1 and 8. A valve I8 allows expansion in either direction between elements I and 8 de pending upon which is the high side.

To control or reduce the humidity of the room when the unit is used as a room cooler, resistance 20 may be suitably adjusted to vary the speed of motor 20 and its evaporator fan [9, thereby causing a variable amount of humidity to be condensed on the evaporator. For example, when the fan is run at any given speed a certain amount of humidity is deposited upon the evaporator because the air in contact with the evaporator flns or pipes is cooled below the entering dew point. Howevenshould the fan be run at a slower speed, the air would pass over the evaporator with less velocity and hence be cooled to a lower temperature with the result that a greater amount of humidity would be condensed upon the evaporator. The converse is also true in case the motor and fan are driven above the given speed. If desired a suitable humidostat diagrammatically indicated at El may be employed to adjust resistance automatically and thus vary the speed of the fan motor to eflect a substantially constant humidity in the room. Also when the unit is used as a room heater, it is seen that if the IOOm humidity rises above a given value, humidostat 8| will cause motor i8 and its fan I! to run at a slower speed and consequently entrain less condensate in the upward flow of air through openings 53 with the result that less condensate will be evaporated by the heat exchange element (now acting as a condenser) and accordingly reduce the amount of humidity injected into the room. In addition the temperature of the air is increased thus tending to restore the room humidity to the desired value. Conversel if the room humidity drops below the given value, humidostat 5| will increase the speed of motor l8 and its fan is to cause more condensate to be entrained in the upward flow of air and thus evaporated by the heat exchange element 8 to increase the humidity of the room. At the same time the increased volume of air passing over the element 8 will allow a smaller increase in the temperature of the air thus facilitating control of the humidity from a temperature standpoint.

Operation.From the foregoing disclosure it is believed that the operation is apparent, but briefly it consists in operating the motor-compressor unit I to compress a suitable gaseous refrigerant, in turn condensed in condenser 1 from which the condensed liquid flows through any suitable valve mechanism to an evaporator 8. The refrigerating system may be of the flooded type or any other suitable type. However, irrespective of the type used the condenser is preferably cooled by air which is supplied from the outside atmosphere through passage 41 and thence into opening formed between partition 32 and the end wall 33 of cabinet I and thence downwardly through passage 32 to flow directly into inlet 35 and also flow around the fan casing 31 to inlet 35, thence to be propelled upwardly by rotor I! through a series of ejector openings 38 to entrain condensate 38 accumulated within receptacle ii. The upward flow of cooling air and condensate entrained therewith passes over the condenser 1 to cool the same, the condensate being evaporated by the heat of the condenser and carried out with the heated air through opening 3| and passage 48. The room air is circulated through grille 58, thence into fan openings 5! and 52 to be propelled upwardly by fan rotor is through ejecter openings 53 and over evaporator 8 to be discharged through a top grille 54 to the room. Any humidity that may be condensed on evaporator 8 will drip down into pan l l and flow beneath the liquid seal 55 and around ejector openings 38. Some of the condensate will be entrained by the upward flow of air through ejector openings 53 disposed below the evaporator, the entrained liquid being deposited on the evaporator surface so that together with any condensed room air humidity it will drip down to the drip pan l I and ultimately be entrained by the flow of condenser air. To facilitate disposal of the condensate and to improve the coefficient of heat transfer of the condenser so as to more nearly balance the rate of heat transfer between the normally wetted evaporator 8'and normally dry condenser I, I have provided a suitable Iill pump 20 provided with a rotor secured to the end of fan shaft 2| to pump condensate from receptacle I l down through pipe 22 and thence upwardly through pipe 23 to be discharged through pipe 2| in the form of spray or drops over condenser and also over the motor-compressor unit to cool the same. In the event that the unit is used as a room heater, the heat exchange elements 1 and 8 are functionally reversed so that element 8 serves as a condenser and element 1 as an evaporator to absorb the heat from the outside atmosphere. This operation has been described, just prior to the caption Operation," together with a description of my improved method and apparatus for controlling the room air humidity by varying the speed of the fan when the unit is used either as a room cooler or heater.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the condensate is pneumatically pumped to a point above the condenser to thereupon drip over the same. This arrangement operates on the ejector principle and includes a tapered inlet communicating with a pipe 88 in which a downwardly closing flap valve 61 is disposed. The funnel is suitably disposed in the stream of condenser cooling air and caused to pass through a suitable ejector 88 to entrain condensate conducted as by pipes 68 to a usual ejector chamber surrounding an ejector nozzle, liquid thus entrained being carried upwardly through pipe 18 and discharged against a suitable bailie H on which moisture will collect and drip down on a water drip ledge 12 overlying the condenser so as to distribute the water thereover in any desired manner. The

: remaining structure of the room cooler or heater unit is the same as shown in an application of H. L. Galson, Serial No. 648,772, (Patent No. 2,130,327) or may be of the preferred form shown herein.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 any number of room cooler or heater units may be disposed in a relatively large room without the necessity of having individual wall. openings for conducting condensing air to each unit. To accomplish this the inlet and outlet openings 30 and 3| are provided with passages extending vertically downwardly behind the rear of each cabinet as generally indicated at (5. An inlet air duct 16 is disposed beneath the floor and extends to the locations of several units 11 shown in Fig. 5, this duct having communication with the opening 38 in each of the units. A similar outlet air duct 18 communicates with the vertical passages leading to each of the outlet openings 3|. The units are otherwise the same as in the preferred form.

From the foregoing description of the several modifications it is seen that I have provided a relatively simple, compact and efiicient combined room cooler or heater which may be effectively used in a room with pleasing and comfortable effeet and without mechanical complications in the installation of the unit. In addition improved means have been provided for controlling the humidity of the room air without the necessity of usual complicated spray systems.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the details of the various elements and arrangements thereof without de.

parting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A room cooler comprising a condenser and evaporator arranged for vertical flow of air over each, one for conducting away condenser heat tween said condenser and evaporator and above said air circulating means.

3. A room cooler comprising a condenser and evaporator arranged for vertical flow of air over each, one for conducting away condenser heat and the other for cooling room air; air circulating mean disposed beneath said evaporator and condenser for effecting said air circulation; a vertical axis motor-compressor unitdisposed between said condenser and evaporator and above said air circulating means; and condensate collecting means disposed beneath said condenser evaporator and motor-compressor unit and above said air circulating means.

4. A room cooler comprising, in combination, a condenser and evaporator, refrigerating mechanism operatively connected thereto, rotary air circulating means, means forming a passage for directing room air over said evaporator, means forming a passage for conducting air over said condenser to cool the same, means for collecting condensate from said evaporator, pumping mechanism driven by said air circulating means for discharging condensate over the top of said condenser, and means for entraining condensate in the flow of condenser cooling air and at the under side of said condenser, whereby said condenser is adapted to be wetted by condensate from opposite sides.

5. A room cooler comprising, in combination, a condenser and evaporator disposed in substantially parallel relation and arranged to receive vertical flows of air thereover, blowers for circulating said air, a motor disposed between said blowers for commonly driving the same, and a refrigerating compressor unit disposed between said condenser and evaporator and over said blower motor.

6. An air conditioning unit comprising, in combination, a pair of complementary heat exchange elements, a. refrigerating mechanism operatively connected to said elements to perform a refrigerating cycle, means to interchange the functions of said elements, means providing a passage through which room air is conducted over one of said elements, means providing a passage through which. outside air is conducted over the other of said elements, motor-driven blower means for effecting circulation of air through said passages, and means for adjusting the speed of blower rotation to control the room air humidity during operation of one of said elements either as a condenser or evaporator.

7. A room cooler or heater comprising, in combination, a pair of complementary heat exchange elements and a refrigerating mechanism operatively connected thereto, means forming a passage for. circulating room air over one of said elements, means forming a passage for conducting outside air over the other of said elements, motordriven blower means for effecting circulation of air over said elements through their respective whichever one of said elements is functionikas an evaporator, means whereby condensate flows over whichever one of said elements is functioning as a condenser, and means for adjusting the speed of operation of said motor to control the humidity of the room air when the unit is operating either as a cooler or heater.

8. The combination set forth in claim '7 further characterized in that said motor adjusting means includes an automatically operable humidostat.

9. A room cooler comprising, in combination, a condenser and evaporator, refrigerating mechanism operatively connected thereto to perform a refrigerating cycle, a condensate collector pan disposed beneath said evaporator, and means forming a compartment for said evaporator including a vertical wall projecting into said condensate pan and spaced from the bottom thereof whereby accumulated condensate may surround the spaced end of said wall to form a liquid seal therefor.

10. A room cooler comprising complementary heat exchange elements, means for interchanging the functions of said elements, means for circulating room air over one of said elements and outside air over the other thereof, means whereby condensate from either of said elements may flow interchangeably between the same, and means whereby when the unit operates as a room cooler the condensate is discharged to the outside atmosphere and when the unit operates as a heater the condensate is discharged to the room air.

11. A room cooler comprising complementary heat exchange elements, means for interchanging the functions of said elements, means for circulating room air over one of said elements and outside air over the other thereof, and means whereby condensate from either of said elements i interchangeably discharged on the other of said elements, whereby when the unit operates as a room cooler condensate is discharged to the outside atmosphere and when the unit operates as a heater condensate is discharged to the room air.

12. A room cooler unit comprising, in combination, a condenser, an evaporator, means 'for simultaneously circulating outside air over said condenser and room air over said evaporator, means for accumulating condensate that drips downwardly from said evaporator, means for elevating condensate from said accumulating means, and means overlying said condenser for receiving condensate from said elevating means and for discharging said condensate downwardly over said condenser into the path of outside air in a direction substantially contrary to the flow thereof. v

13. A room cooler or heater comprising in combination complementary heat exchange elements respectively operative as a condenser and an evaporator or vice versa, means for interchanging the functions of said elements, means for circulating room air over one of said elements passages, means for collecting condensate from and outside air over the other thereof, and means whereby when the unit'operates as a room cooler the condensate removed from the room air in passing over the heat exchange element functioning as an evaporator is discharged to the outside atmosphere and when the unit operates as a heater the condensate removed from the outside air in passing over the heat exchange element functioning as an evaporator is discharged to the room air.

14. A room cooler comprising, in combination,

a condenser and evaporator, a compressor operatively connected thereto, means including a blower for circulating outside air inwardly of said unit and thence over said condenser and back to the outside, means including another blower for circulating room air over said evaporator, a motor for driving said blowers, means for collecting condensate from said evaporator, a condensate pump driven by said blower motor whereby said pump is operative during circulation of outside air and room air over the condenser and evaporator respectively, and means whereby said pump elevates condensate from said collecting means and discharge the condensateinto the outflowing path of outside air.

15. A self-contained air conditioning unit for installation in a room adjacent awindow or other similar wall opening comprising, in combination, an evaporator, means for circulating room air over said evaporator, a condenser. a compressor, and means for circulating outside air in the same vertical direction over said condenser and said compressor including a blower and a passage extending from near the top of the unit to the bottom thereof and thence upwardly to a lateral discharge from the unit for communication through the window.

16. A self-contained air conditioning unit for installation in a room adjacent a window or other similar wall opening comprising, in combination, compressor condenser evaporator elements, a blower disposed in alignment with said condenser for circulating outside air over the same, a blower disposed in alignment with said evaporator for circulating room air thereover, and a motor for commonly driving said blowers, said motor and compressor being disposed in a common plane normal to the motor axis.

17. Heat exchange apparatus of the character described comprising a refrigerating mechanism inclusive of evaporator and condenser units, means for the circulation of air to be cooled about the evaporator unit, means for directing waters of condensation collecting on and dripping from the evaporator unit over the condenser unit, and means for returning part of such waters to the air from which it is removed.

18. Heat exchange apparatus of the character described comprising a refrigerating mechanism inclusive of evaporator and condenser units, means for the circulation of air to be cooled about the evaporator unit, means for directing waters of condensation from the evaporator unit over the condenser unit, and means for directing the water, after its flow over the condenser unit, into the path of flow of the air circulated about the evaporator unit.

19. Heat exchange apparatus of the character described comprising a refrigerating mechanism inclusive of evaporator and condenser units, means for the circulation of air to be cooled about the evaporator unit, means for directing waters of condensation from the evaporator unit over the condenser unit, and means for atomizing and directing the water, after its flow over the condenser unit, into the path of flow of the air circulated about the evaporator unit.

20. A self-contained room cooler unit comprising, in combination, a refrigerant evaporator, means for circulating room air over said evaporator to cool the room air, a refrigerant condenser, means for circulating outsideair over the condenser and back to the outside to conduct away the condenser heat, means for accumulating condensate from the evaporator, and means adapted to circulate and if necessary to recirculate the accumulated condensate into the path of condenser air until the condensate is completely discharged to the outside atmosphere.

21. Heat exchange apparatus of the character described comprising a refrigerating mechanism inclusive of evaporator and condenser units, means for the circulation of air to be cooled about the evaporator unit, means for the circulation of cooling air about the condenser unit, and means for collecting condensate from the evaporator unit and forcibly spraying it into the path of the air circulated about the condenser unit.

22. A room cooler comprising a condenser and evaporator, a compressor operatively connected thereto, means for circulating outside air over said condenser to cool the same, means for simultaneously circulating room air over said evaporator to cool the air and return the same to the room, means for collecting condensate from said evaporator, and means adapted to circulate and if necessary to recirculate at least a portion of said condensate from said collecting means and thence over said compressor and also over the top of said condenser into the flow of outside air thereover.

23. Heat exchange apparatus of the character described comprising a refrigerating mechanism inclusive of evaporator and condenser units, means for the circulation of air to be cooled in heat exchange relation with the evaporator unit, means for the circulation of cooling air about the condenser unit, and means for collecting condensate from the evaporator unit and forcibly spraying it into the path of the air circulated about the condenser unit.

24. A self-contained room cooler unit comprising an evaporator, a compressor, and a motorcompressor unit connected in refrigerant-flow relation, blowers disposed adjacent the bottom of the unit at the opposite ends thereof for effecting flow of streams of air over the evaporator and the condenser, respectively, a motor disposed between said blowers for driving the same, said condenser being disposed at one end of the unit adjacent and at least partly over the associated blower, said evaporator being disposed above its associated blower, and said motor-compressor unit being disposed substantially directly above said blower motor and between the condenser and the evaporator air stream.

25. A self-contained room cooler unit comprising an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser connected in refrigerant-flow relation, means for circulating air to be cooled over said evaporator, means for circulating cooling air over said condenser, and means for collecting condensate from said evaporator and forcibly spraying the same into the path of the cooling air circulated over said condenser.

26. A self-contained room cooler unit as set forth in claim 25, wherein said condensate is sprayed onto the surfaces of said condenser over which said cooling air flows.

27. A self-contained room cooler unit for cooling a room having a window, said unit having means providing communication between the room and the exterior .of the room through the window and further comprising an .evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser connected in refrigerant-flow relation, means for circulating air to be cooled over said evaporator and into the room, means for circulating cooling air over said condenser and discharging the same exteriorly of the room, and means for collecting condensate from said evaporator and forcibly spraying the same into the path of the cooling air circulated over said condenser, the condensate [being removed from the room to the exterior thereof through said communicating means.

28. A self-contained room cooler unit as set forth in claim 27, wherein said condensate is sprayed onto the surfaces of said condenser over which said cooling air flows.

29. A self-contained room cooler unit comprising, in combination, a refrigerant evaporator, means for circulating air to be cooled over said evaporator and into the room, a refrigerant condenser, means for circulating cooling air over the condenser and discharging the same to the outside to conduct away the condenser heat, means for collecting condensate from the evaporator, means for collecting unevaporated condensate from the condenser, and means adapted to circulate the condensate from the first collecting means and the unevaporated condensate from the second collecting means into the path of condenser air and into contact with the con denser until the condensate is completely discharged to the outside atmosphere.

30. A room cooler unit comprising, in combination, means forming substantially three vertically-extending parallel compartments, a condenser element disposed in one of said compartments, an evaporator element in another of said compartments, 9. motor-compressor mechanism disposed in the other said compartments, means for circulating cooling air over said condenser element and room air over said evaporator element, means for interchanging the functions of said condenser and evaporator elements, and means whereby liquid condensed on the surface of whichever of said elements may be serving as the evaporator is adapted to be discharged in the path of air flowing over the other of said elements.

31. A room cooler unit comprising, in combination, means forming substantially three vertically-extending parallel compartments, a condenser element disposed in one of said compartments, an evaporator element in another of said compartments, a motor-compressor mechanism disposed in the other of said compartments, means for circulating cooling air over said condenser element and room air over said evaporator element, means for interchanging the functions of said condenser and evaporator elements, and means whereby liquid condensed on the surface of whichever of said elements may be serving as the evaporator is adapted to be discharged over the top of the other of said elements serving as the condenser.

32. A room cooler'comprising a condenser and an evaporator disposed substantially parallel to each other, blower means disposed beneath said evaporator and said condenser, means for causing condenser cooling air and room air to be circulated by said blower means in a vertical direction over said condemer and said evaporator, respectively, a motor-compressor unit, and a motor for the blower means, said motor and said motor-compressor unit being disposed in superimposed relation to each other.

CHARLES R. NEESON.

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