US3828575A — Compact heating and cooling system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 358 words

In an air conditioning system, the combination of a central, generally cylindrical hollow core, a vertical cylindrical refrigerant vapor generator assembly adapted to receive liquid to be vaporized and being contained within said cylindrical core, gas fuel combustion means disposed within said core beneath said generator for heating liquid therein, a helically wound tubular condenser supported on and surrounding said central core connected in fluid communication with said generator to receive refrigerant vapor therefrom, fan means mounted on said central core above said generator and condenser for producing ambient air flow for cooling refrigerant vapor flowing in said condenser, a tubular refrigerant heat exchanger supported on and surrounding said central core and connected in fluid communication with said condenser for receiving liquid therefrom, an evaporator, and first restriction means providing fluid communication between said refrigerant heat exchanger and said evaporator, whereby cooled refrigerant liquid is supplied to said evaporator for cooling a heat exchange medium flowing therein, said refrigerant heat exchanger receiving vapor from said evaporator countercurrently from liquid flowing therethrough from said condenser, thereby to cool said liquid from said condenser prior to passage thereof through said restriction means; a helically wound tubular absorber supported on and surrounding said central core adjacent said condenser and operatively connected to said refrigerant heat exchanger to receive refrigerant vapor from said evaporator, said refrigerant vapor flowing in said absorber being cooled by ambient air flow produced by said fan means, a helically wound tubular solution heat exchanger supported on and surrounding said central core and connected in fluid communication between said generator and said absorber for supplying weak refrigerant solution to said absorber for absorbing said refrigerant vapor therein, second fluid flow restriction means located between said solution heat exchanger and said absorber, and solution pump means for pumping refrigerant solution from said absorber and supplying a first portion thereof directly to the upper portion of said generator and a second portion thereof to said solution heat exchanger wherein strong refrigerant solution flows in heat exchange relation to said weak solution, whereby heat is added to said second portion of the strong refrigerant solution prior to passage into said generator.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 358 words

In an air conditioning system, the combination of a central, generally cylindrical hollow core, a vertical cylindrical refrigerant vapor generator assembly adapted to receive liquid to be vaporized and being contained within said cylindrical core, gas fuel combustion means disposed within said core beneath said generator for heating liquid therein, a helically wound tubular condenser supported on and surrounding said central core connected in fluid communication with said generator to receive refrigerant vapor therefrom, fan means mounted on said central core above said generator and condenser for producing ambient air flow for cooling refrigerant vapor flowing in said condenser, a tubular refrigerant heat exchanger supported on and surrounding said central core and connected in fluid communication with said condenser for receiving liquid therefrom, an evaporator, and first restriction means providing fluid communication between said refrigerant heat exchanger and said evaporator, whereby cooled refrigerant liquid is supplied to said evaporator for cooling a heat exchange medium flowing therein, said refrigerant heat exchanger receiving vapor from said evaporator countercurrently from liquid flowing therethrough from said condenser, thereby to cool said liquid from said condenser prior to passage thereof through said restriction means; a helically wound tubular absorber supported on and surrounding said central core adjacent said condenser and operatively connected to said refrigerant heat exchanger to receive refrigerant vapor from said evaporator, said refrigerant vapor flowing in said absorber being cooled by ambient air flow produced by said fan means, a helically wound tubular solution heat exchanger supported on and surrounding said central core and connected in fluid communication between said generator and said absorber for supplying weak refrigerant solution to said absorber for absorbing said refrigerant vapor therein, second fluid flow restriction means located between said solution heat exchanger and said absorber, and solution pump means for pumping refrigerant solution from said absorber and supplying a first portion thereof directly to the upper portion of said generator and a second portion thereof to said solution heat exchanger wherein strong refrigerant solution flows in heat exchange relation to said weak solution, whereby heat is added to said second portion of the strong refrigerant solution prior to passage into said generator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 103 words

An air conditioning system as defined in claim 1 which includes an analyzer column contained within said generator assembly and comprising a helically wound tubular weak solution conduit having an open lower end located adjacent the base of said generator for receiving weak solution therefrom and an upper end in fluid communication with said solution heat exchanger for supplying weak solution thereto; and a plurality of mass transfer plates mounted in said generator between windings of said weak solution conduit for removing and purifying refrigerant vapor from said strong solution while weak solution flowing through said conduit is cooled by said strong solution.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 105 words

An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2 which includes a rectifier mounted above said analyzer comprising a tubular conduit and a hollow cylindrical core, said tubular conduit being helically wound about said core and having one end thereof connected in fluid communication to said pump means and an opposite end open to the interior of said generator to supply strong solution from said pump to said analyzer, whereby srong solution flowing therein is heated, and refrigerant vapor flowing upwardly in said generator is cooled by contact with said conduit to condense water vapor in said refrigerant vapor, thereby to purify said refrigerant vapor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

An air conditioning system as defined in claim 3 wherein said solution heat exchanger is constructEd as a cylindrically wound tube within a tube whereby said weak solution flows countercurrently in one of said tubes with respect to said portion of the strong solution flowing in the other of said tubes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 141 words

An air conditioning system as defined in claim 1 wherein said evaporator comprises a generally cylindrical shell having a central hollow cylindrical core contained within said shell to define an annular fluid flow chamber therebetween, said evaporator core having an aperture therein providing fluid communication between the interior thereof and said annular fluid flow chamber, a helically wound vane secured to said evaporator core and extending between said core and said shell, thereby to define a spiral conduit in said shell for said heat exchange medium flowing therein; and a helically wound tubular heat exchanger concentric with said central generator core and extending through said fluid flow chamber, said last mentioned heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication to said first restriction means and said refrigerant heat exchanger, thereby to cool said heat exchange medium flowing in said fluid flow conduit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 5 wherein said evaporator heat exchanger comprises a fluted tube having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and being helically wound along its longitudinal axis, said refrigerant and said heat exchange medium flowing countercurrently in said fluted tube and said spiral conduit respectively, for efficient heat exchange therebetween.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 6 wherein said first restriction means comprises a capillary tube extending through said evaporator central core and connected through said core to said fluted heat exchanger adjacent the base of said core, said core providing a reservoir chamber for heat exchange medium flowing in said fluid flow conduit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 255 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 1 wherein said vapor generator assembly comprises a vessel for fluid to which heat is to be transferred and having a heat transfer wall with an outer surface located in spaced relation to the interior surface of said central cylindrical hollow core thereby to define a flue therebetween for products of combustion flowing upwardly from said combustion means, and a plurality of heat exchange fins located in said flue and being operatively connected to said vessel in intimate heat transfer relationship therewith, said heat transfer fins extending longitudinally in the flow direction of said products of combustion to define flow passages for said products of combustion between adjacent fins and having a width dimension which tapers along a predetermined pattern from a minimum dimension adjacent the base of said vessel to a maximum dimension adjacent the top of said vessel, which maximum dimension is equal to the width of said flue, whereby the space between the edges of said fins and the interior wall of said core decreases in the flow direction of said products of combustion and said products of combustion encounter said edges and flow through said passageways to transfer heat to said fins and said vessel, said predetermined width pattern for said fins being selected in accordance with the temperature of said products of combustion to allow heat to pass into the fins from said products of combustion at the optimum rate at which heat passes through said fins without damage to the fins.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 8 wherein said fins are formed in pairs, with each of said pairs of fins comprising a generally U-shaped member in section having a bight portion welded to said heat transfer wall of said vessel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 274 words

An air conditioning system comprising a generally vertically extending refrigerant vapor generator adapted to receive strong refrigerant solution, gas fired combustion means below said generator for heating strong solution contained therein, a heat exchange condenser connected in fluid communication with said generatOr for receiving and cooling refrigerant vapor from said generator, a refrigerant heat exchanger connected in fluid communication with said condenser for receiving cooled refrigerant liquid therefrom, a heat exchange evaporator, and first restriction means providing fluid communication between said refrigerant heat exchanger and said evaporator whereby cooled refrigerant liquid is supplied to said evaporator for cooling a heat exchange medium flowing therein, said refrigerant heat exchanger being adapted to receive refrigerant vapor from said evaporator and pass it countercurrently with refrigerant liquid from said condenser prior to passage through said first restriction means, a heat exchange absorber connected to said refrigerant heat exchanger in fluid communication for receiving and cooling refrigerant vapor therefrom, a solution heat exchanger connected in fluid communication with said generator and said absorber for supplying weak refrigerant solution from said generator to said absorber for absorbing refrigerant vapor therein; second fluid flow restriction means between said solution heat exchanger and said absorber for maintaining a pressure differential therebetween, and a solution pump means for pumping strong refrigerant solution from said absorber and supplying a first portion thereof directly to the upper portion of said generator and a second portion thereof to said solution heat exchanger, wherein said strong refrigerant solution flows in heat exchanger relation to said weak solution whereby heat is added to said second portion of the strong refrigerant solution prior to passage into said generator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 274 words

An air conditioning system comprising a generally vertically extending refrigerant vapor generator adapted to receive strong refrigerant solution, gas fired combustion means below said generator for heating strong solution contained therein, a heat exchange condenser connected in fluid communication with said generatOr for receiving and cooling refrigerant vapor from said generator, a refrigerant heat exchanger connected in fluid communication with said condenser for receiving cooled refrigerant liquid therefrom, a heat exchange evaporator, and first restriction means providing fluid communication between said refrigerant heat exchanger and said evaporator whereby cooled refrigerant liquid is supplied to said evaporator for cooling a heat exchange medium flowing therein, said refrigerant heat exchanger being adapted to receive refrigerant vapor from said evaporator and pass it countercurrently with refrigerant liquid from said condenser prior to passage through said first restriction means, a heat exchange absorber connected to said refrigerant heat exchanger in fluid communication for receiving and cooling refrigerant vapor therefrom, a solution heat exchanger connected in fluid communication with said generator and said absorber for supplying weak refrigerant solution from said generator to said absorber for absorbing refrigerant vapor therein; second fluid flow restriction means between said solution heat exchanger and said absorber for maintaining a pressure differential therebetween, and a solution pump means for pumping strong refrigerant solution from said absorber and supplying a first portion thereof directly to the upper portion of said generator and a second portion thereof to said solution heat exchanger, wherein said strong refrigerant solution flows in heat exchanger relation to said weak solution whereby heat is added to said second portion of the strong refrigerant solution prior to passage into said generator.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 101 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 10 wherein said generator includes an analyzer column contained therein comprising a helically wound tubular weak solution conduit having an open lower end located adjacent the base of said generator for receiving weak solution therefrom and an upper end in fluid communication with said solution heat exchanger for supplying weak solution thereto; and a plurality of mass transfer plates mounted in said generator between windings of said weak solution conduit to remove and purify refrigerant vapor from said strong solution while weak solution flowing through said conduit is cooled by said strong solution.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 11 wherein said generator further includes a rectifier mounted therein above said analyzer, said rectifier comprising a tubular conduit and a hollow cylindrical core, said tubular conduit being helically wound about said core and having one end thereof connected in fluid communication to said pump means and an opposite end to open to the interior of said generator to supply strong solution from said pump to said analyzer, whereby strong solution flowing therein is heated, and refrigerant vapor flowing upwardly in said generator is cooled by contact with said conduit to condense water vapor in said refrigerant vapor, thereby to purify said refrigerant vapor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 56 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 12 wherein said first restrictor means comprises a capillary tube extending through said evaporator central core and connected through said core to said fluted heat exchanger adjacent the base of said core, said core providing a reservoir chamber for heat exchange medium flowing in said fluid flow conduit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 141 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 10 wherein said evaporator comprises a generally cylindrical shell having a central hollow cylindrical core contained within said shell to define an annular fluid flow chamber therebetween, said evaporator core having an aperture therein providing fluid communication between the interior thereof and said annular fluid flow chamber, a helically wound vane secured to said evaporator core and extending between said core and said shell, thereby to define a helical conduit in said shell for said heat exchange medium flowing therein; and a helically wound tubular heat exchanger concentric with said central Evaporator core and extending through said fluid flow chamber, said last mentioned heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication to said first restriction means and said refrigerant heat exchanger, thereby to cool said heat exchange medium flowing in said fluid flow conduit.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 14 wherein said evaporator heat exchanger comprises a fluted tube having a generally square cross-sectional configuration and being helically wound along its longitudinal axis, said refrigerant vapor and said heat exchange medium flowing countercurrently in said fluted tube and said spiral conduit respectively for efficient heat exchange therebetween.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 267 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 10 wherein said vapor generator comprises a pressure vessel for refrigerant solution to which heat is to be transferred and having a heat transfer wall with an outer surface, confining wall means surrounding said vessel and having a wall portion spaced from said outer surface, thereby to define a flue therebetween for products of combustion flowing upwardly from said gas fired combustion means, and a plurality of heat exchange fins located in said flue and being operatively connected to said vessel in intimate heat transfer relationship therewith, said heat transfer fins extending longitudinally in the flow direction of said products of combustion to define flow passages for said products of combustion between adjacent fins and having a width dimension extending between said pressure vessel said confining wall which tapers along a predetermined pattern from a minimum dimension adjacent the base of said vessel to a maximum dimension adjacent the top of said vessel, which maximum dimension is equal to the width of said flue, whereby the space between the edges of said fins and said confining means wall portion decreases in the flow direction of said products of combustion, whereby said products of combustion encounter said edges and flow through said passageways to transfer heat to said fins and said vessel, said predetermined width pattern for said fins being selected in accordance with the temperature of said products of combustion to allow heat to pass into the fins from said products of combustion at the optimum rate at which heat passes through said fins without damage to the fins.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The air conditioning system as defined in claim 10 wherein said fins are formed in pairs, with each of said pairs of fins comprising a generally U-shaped member in section having a bight portion welded to said heat transfer wall of said vessel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-08-12	1978-02-11	1978-08-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-08-12	1982-02-11	1982-08-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-08-12	1986-02-11	1986-08-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Compact heating and cooling system

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