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US3714795A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Outdoor refrigerant apparatus

Assignee: White Consolidated Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1970-03-31
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1990-03-31
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Abstract

Abstract Covers an outdoor refrigerant condenser-compressor unit operating at a low noise level. The unit consists of an upright housing in which a motor-driven fan having its blades in a relatively horizontal position transmits air under pressure directed upwardly, and a tubular condenser coil is mounted above the blades of the fan so that the air delivered by the fan will flow through the coil and cool and condense the hot refrigerant vapor supplied by the compressor as part of a cooling system. The compressor may be physically positioned adjacent to the fan within the same general housing, but the compressor may occupy a separate ventilated space adjacent to the fan structure. The condenser coil is arranged to substantially occupy the whole top space of the housing unit, or most of that space, in any case positioned well above the blades of the fan. The fan is thus concealed and inaccessible to fingers, pebbles and other impediments. The fan is operated at increased efficiency because relatively cool air is delivered thereto from the ground level.

Inventors

  • 👤 A Fowell
  • 👤 G Knebusch

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 02:37
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F1/00; F24F1/06; F24F1/08; F24F1/10; F24F1/12; F24F1/14; F24F1/16; F24F1/38; F24F1/46; F24F1/48; F24F1/50; F25; F25B; F25B31/00; F25B39/00; F25B39/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quite operation, comprising a substantially flat condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes substantially parallel to the ground, a fan having rotatable blades which are substantially parallel to the ground and positioned underneath the condenser coil, a housing for said fan and said condenser coil having a first opening near the bottom thereof for the admission of air upwardly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent said condenser coil, and air deflection means in said second opening selectively adjustable variably to direct air from the housing, the fan being operated to direct incoming air upwardly as a pressurized stream over the wide intervening space against substantially all the tubes of the condenser coil, so that air moved through the spaces between the tubes will be discharged through the adjustable air deflection means of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quite operation, comprising a substantially flat condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes substantially parallel to the ground, a fan having rotatable blades which are substantially parallel to the ground and positioned underneath the condenser coil, a housing for said fan and said condenser coil having a first opening near the bottom thereof for the admission of air upwardly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent said condenser coil, and air deflection means in said second opening selectively adjustable variably to direct air from the housing, the fan being operated to direct incoming air upwardly as a pressurized stream over the wide intervening space against substantially all the tubes of the condenser coil, so that air moved through the spaces between the tubes will be discharged through the adjustable air deflection means of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 144 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quite operation, comprising a substantially flat condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes substantially parallel to the ground, a fan having rotatable blades which are substantially parallel to the ground and positioned underneath the condenser coil, a housing for said fan and said condenser coil having a first opening near the bottom thereof for the admission of air upwardly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent said condenser coil, and air deflection means in said second opening selectively adjustable variably to direct air from the housing, the fan being operated to direct incoming air upwardly as a pressurized stream over the wide intervening space against substantially all the tubes of the condenser coil, so that air moved through the spaces between the tubes will be discharged through the adjustable air deflection means of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 144 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quite operation, comprising a substantially flat condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes substantially parallel to the ground, a fan having rotatable blades which are substantially parallel to the ground and positioned underneath the condenser coil, a housing for said fan and said condenser coil having a first opening near the bottom thereof for the admission of air upwardly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent said condenser coil, and air deflection means in said second opening selectively adjustable variably to direct air from the housing, the fan being operated to direct incoming air upwardly as a pressurized stream over the wide intervening space against substantially all the tubes of the condenser coil, so that air moved through the spaces between the tubes will be discharged through the adjustable air deflection means of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 1 wherein the air deflection means includes substantially parallel adjustable plates above the condenser coil for discharging the air from the housing in a selected upward direction after it has passed through the spaces between the tubes of the condenser coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 59 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 2 in which the condenser coil is of the finned tube type with its fins positioned in substantially vertical planes which are perpendicular to the tubes and occupy Substantially the entire horizontal space below the second opening of the housing, the fins of the tubes being positioned closely adjacent the parallel plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 3 including a substantially horizontal venturi panel for supporting the fan midway between the condenser coil and the housing base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 166 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quiet operation, comprising a housing, a condenser coil having a plurality of tubes which are substantially parallel to the ground and occupy a position near the top of the housing, a fan having a vertical rotary axis and positioned beneath the condenser coil and having its blades rotatable about said axis over a space substantially parallel to the condenser coil, a compressor positioned in the housing and separately enclosed to segregate the same from the fan and condenser coil, the housing having a first opening near the bottom thereof for receiving air to be delivered upwardly and substantially uninterruptedly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent the condenser coil, the fan blades being spaced from and positioned approximately midway between the condenser coil and the base of the housing, the fan blades delivering pressurized air substantially uniformly to the condenser coil so that air traversing the condenser coil will be exhausted through the second opening of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 166 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for relatively quiet operation, comprising a housing, a condenser coil having a plurality of tubes which are substantially parallel to the ground and occupy a position near the top of the housing, a fan having a vertical rotary axis and positioned beneath the condenser coil and having its blades rotatable about said axis over a space substantially parallel to the condenser coil, a compressor positioned in the housing and separately enclosed to segregate the same from the fan and condenser coil, the housing having a first opening near the bottom thereof for receiving air to be delivered upwardly and substantially uninterruptedly to the fan blades and a second opening adjacent the condenser coil, the fan blades being spaced from and positioned approximately midway between the condenser coil and the base of the housing, the fan blades delivering pressurized air substantially uniformly to the condenser coil so that air traversing the condenser coil will be exhausted through the second opening of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 75 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 5 wherein the condenser coil includes a plurality of parallel plate fins which are arranged in substantially vertical planes and have openings for receiving the tubes of such condenser coil, and wherein the second opening is in the top of the housing and is substantially co-extensive with the width and length of the same, the condenser coil occupying substantially the entire horizontal space below the second housing opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 61 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 6 further including adjustable air deflection means in said second opening, said air deflection means consisting of a plurality of substantially parallel blades overlying the fins of the condenser coil and providing spaces through which air may be discharged in a selected upward direction from the housing after it has traversed the condenser coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 263 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for substantially quiet operation, comprising an upright housing having an opening near the bottom thereof, a venturi panel supported by said housing and having an opening through which relatively cool air received through the opening of said housing may travel, a fan which is mounted so as to revolve about a vertical axis and is supported by said venturi panel and having horizontal blades which are rotatable through a space substantially parallel to the base of the housing, a finned type of condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes all of which are substantially parallel to the base of the housing and are positioned above the fan blades, the venturi panel being substantially parallel to the base of the housing and positioned substantially midway between the condenser coil and the base of the housing, the fins of the condenser coil being parallel to each other throughout the lengths of the tubes of the condenser coil and perpendicular to the tubes of the condenser coil, the fins having openings in which the tubes are mounted, and a grill consisting of a plurality of parallel, panels positioned above said condenser coil and adjacent the top of said housing, whereby air delivered through the opening of the housing to the blades of the fan will be pressurized and transmitted substantially upwardly only against substantially all of the underside of the tubes of the condenser coil and then emitted through the grill in a preselected direction determined by the orientation of the panels of the grill at the top of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 263 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit for substantially quiet operation, comprising an upright housing having an opening near the bottom thereof, a venturi panel supported by said housing and having an opening through which relatively cool air received through the opening of said housing may travel, a fan which is mounted so as to revolve about a vertical axis and is supported by said venturi panel and having horizontal blades which are rotatable through a space substantially parallel to the base of the housing, a finned type of condenser coil having a plurality of interconnected tubes all of which are substantially parallel to the base of the housing and are positioned above the fan blades, the venturi panel being substantially parallel to the base of the housing and positioned substantially midway between the condenser coil and the base of the housing, the fins of the condenser coil being parallel to each other throughout the lengths of the tubes of the condenser coil and perpendicular to the tubes of the condenser coil, the fins having openings in which the tubes are mounted, and a grill consisting of a plurality of parallel, panels positioned above said condenser coil and adjacent the top of said housing, whereby air delivered through the opening of the housing to the blades of the fan will be pressurized and transmitted substantially upwardly only against substantially all of the underside of the tubes of the condenser coil and then emitted through the grill in a preselected direction determined by the orientation of the panels of the grill at the top of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 42 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 8 including a compressor unit which is separately enclosed within a walled compartment within the housing and is positioned away from the flow path of the air delivered by the fan to the condenser coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 42 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 9 including also a wire cage mounted on the venturi panel and supporting the motor of the fan, the wire cage presenting negligible impedance to the air delivered by the fan to the condenser coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 44 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 10 in which the panels of the grill which are adjustable to change the angle of the emitted air, are of sufficient strength to form a protective support for the housing which can withstand substantially large weights.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 217 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit having a housing which is to include a substantially flat condenser coil of the finned tube type and having a top with openings therein, an electrically operated fan, and a compressor, the combination thereof for substantially reducing the generated noise level, the condenser coil being positioned closely adjacent the top of the housing and substantially parallel to the ground, the fan having its blades rotatable about its vertical axis and having its blades extending over a diameter reaching over a large area of the condenser coil undersurface and directing air upwardly only and positioned beneath the condenser coil and substantially parallel to the ground at a location which is widely spaced between the condenser coil and ground, and the compressor being separately enclosed within a walled compartment within the housing and completely removed from the flow path of the air delivered by the fan to a condenser coil, the housing having an opening near its bottom so that incoming relatively cool air will be received uninterruptedly by the fan and impelled by the fan in a substantially vertical and upward direction so that the pressurized air will directly impinge against substantially all of the underside of the condenser coil and then be emitted through the top of the housing in a preselected direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 217 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit having a housing which is to include a substantially flat condenser coil of the finned tube type and having a top with openings therein, an electrically operated fan, and a compressor, the combination thereof for substantially reducing the generated noise level, the condenser coil being positioned closely adjacent the top of the housing and substantially parallel to the ground, the fan having its blades rotatable about its vertical axis and having its blades extending over a diameter reaching over a large area of the condenser coil undersurface and directing air upwardly only and positioned beneath the condenser coil and substantially parallel to the ground at a location which is widely spaced between the condenser coil and ground, and the compressor being separately enclosed within a walled compartment within the housing and completely removed from the flow path of the air delivered by the fan to a condenser coil, the housing having an opening near its bottom so that incoming relatively cool air will be received uninterruptedly by the fan and impelled by the fan in a substantially vertical and upward direction so that the pressurized air will directly impinge against substantially all of the underside of the condenser coil and then be emitted through the top of the housing in a preselected direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 42 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 12, in which the top of the housing includes a grill composed of substantially parallel narrow adjustable plates for controlling the direction of discharge of the air from the housing after traversing the condenser coil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 42 words
An outdoor refrigerant unit according to claim 13 including a venturi panel mounted on the inner walls of said housing and supporting the fan, the venturi panel being also substantially equally spaced from the condenser coil and the base of the housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2475841A Cited
US2920464A Cited
US3508417A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-02-06 1976-08-07 1977-02-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-02-06 1980-08-07 1981-02-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-02-06 1984-08-07 1985-02-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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