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US3841393A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air conditioning apparatus

Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-09-04
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention pertains to an air processing system for an enclosed area that includes a plenum, an air processing unit communicating with the plenum and responsive to a temperature sensing means, light fixtures for lighting the enclosed area, duct means for communicating outside air, return air in a path separate from the light fixtures and return air in heat exchange relationship with the light fixtures, damper means for controlling the passage of air through the duct means, and exhaust means for exhausting air from the plenum to the atmosphere. The damper means are constructed and arranged so as to maximize the use of heat from the light fixtures when additional heating capacity is required for the enclosed area and to discharge such heat from the light fixtures to the atmosphere in order to reduce the cooling requirement when cooling is required in the enclosed area.

Inventors

  • 👤 T Gilles

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 15:52
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/044; F24F3/056

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 347 words
An air processing system for an enclosed area comprising, in combination: a. a plenum; b. temperature sensing means; c. an air processing unit communicating with said plenum and responsive to said temperature sensing means, said air processing unit having an air intake; d. processed air means for directing the flow of processed air from said air processing unit to said enclosed area; e. air passing light fixtures between said enclosed area and said plenum for enabling air from said enclosed area to pass in heat transfer relationship with said light fixtures into said plenum; f. room air means for directing the flow of fresh air outside said enclosed area to said air intake of said air processing unit; g. fresh air means for directing the flow of fresh outside air to said air intake; h. plenum air means for directing the flow of air from said plenum to said air intake; i. control means for regulating said room air means, said fresh air means, and said plenum air means, said control means being responsive to said temperature sensing means; and j. exhaust means for exhausting air from said plenum said control means being operable in a heating state for closing said room air means, variably controlling said plenum air means, and variably controlling said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being off or operative at as being operable in a heating state for closing said room air means, variably controlling said plenum air means, and variably controlling said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being off or operative at minimum fresh air, operable in a first cooling state for controlling said room air means, closing said plenum air means, variably controlling said fresh air means to one-hundred percent fresh air, said exhaust means being operativE to one-hundred percent fresh air, and operable in a second cooling state for variably controlling said room air means, closing said plenum air means, and variably opening said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being operable to minimum fresh air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 347 words
An air processing system for an enclosed area comprising, in combination: a. a plenum; b. temperature sensing means; c. an air processing unit communicating with said plenum and responsive to said temperature sensing means, said air processing unit having an air intake; d. processed air means for directing the flow of processed air from said air processing unit to said enclosed area; e. air passing light fixtures between said enclosed area and said plenum for enabling air from said enclosed area to pass in heat transfer relationship with said light fixtures into said plenum; f. room air means for directing the flow of fresh air outside said enclosed area to said air intake of said air processing unit; g. fresh air means for directing the flow of fresh outside air to said air intake; h. plenum air means for directing the flow of air from said plenum to said air intake; i. control means for regulating said room air means, said fresh air means, and said plenum air means, said control means being responsive to said temperature sensing means; and j. exhaust means for exhausting air from said plenum said control means being operable in a heating state for closing said room air means, variably controlling said plenum air means, and variably controlling said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being off or operative at as being operable in a heating state for closing said room air means, variably controlling said plenum air means, and variably controlling said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being off or operative at minimum fresh air, operable in a first cooling state for controlling said room air means, closing said plenum air means, variably controlling said fresh air means to one-hundred percent fresh air, said exhaust means being operativE to one-hundred percent fresh air, and operable in a second cooling state for variably controlling said room air means, closing said plenum air means, and variably opening said fresh air means to minimum fresh air, said exhaust means being operable to minimum fresh air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The air processing system of claim 1 wherein said air processing system further comprises gravity relief means in said enclosed area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The air processing system of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means senses the temperature of air within said enclosed area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The air processing system of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means is a differential sensor sensing the temperature differential between air within said enclosed area and air outside said enclosed area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The air processing system of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises first damper means, second damper means, and third damper means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
The air processing system of claim 5 wherein said first damper means selectively controls flow either from said room air means or said plenum air means, said second damper means regulates flow through said selected room air means or plenum means, and said third damper means controls said fresh air means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The air processing system of claim 5 wherein said control means includes a motor means for actuating said damper means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The air processing system of claim 7 wherein the second and third damper means are interconnected for conjoint operation by the motor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 138 words
The air processing system of claim 8 wherein in a heating state the first damper means closes the room air means and flow to the air intake through the plenum air means from the enclosed area is variably controlled to vary the entry of fresh air; in a first cooling state the first damper means closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake through the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to one hundred percent fresh air; and in a second cooling state the first damper closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake through the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to minimum fresh air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
The air processing system of claim 9 wherein the exhaust means is operated complementary to the third damper means to exhaust quantities of air substantially equal to the fresh air introduced into the fresh air means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 376 words
An air processing system for a enclosed area, comprising in combination: a. a plenum; b. temperature sensing means; c. an air processing unit communicating with said plenum and responsive to said temperature sensing means, said air processing unit having an air intake; d. processed air means for directing the flow of processed air from said air processing unit to said enclosed area; e. air passing light fixures between said enclosed area and said enclosed plenum for enabling air from said enclosed area to pass in heat transfer relationship with said light fixtures into said plenum; f. room air means for directing the flow of air from said enclosed area to said air intake of said air processing unit; g. fresh air means for directing the flow of fresh outside air to said air intake; h. plenum air means for directing the flow of air from said plenum to said air intake; i. control means for regulating said room air means, said fresh air means, and said plenum air means, said control means being responsive to said temperature sensing means, said control means including first damper means, second damper means and third damper means, said first damper means selectively controlling flow either from said room air means or said plenum air means, said second damper means regulating flow through said selected room air means or plenum means, and said third damper means controlling said fresh air means; and j. exhaust means for exhausting air from said plenum, wherein in a heating state the first damper means closes the room air means and flow to the air intake to the plenum air means from the enclosed area is variably controlled to vary the entry of fresh air, in a first cooling state the first damper means closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake through the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to one-hundred percent fresh air; and in a second cooling state the first damper closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake to the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to minimum fresh air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 376 words
An air processing system for a enclosed area, comprising in combination: a. a plenum; b. temperature sensing means; c. an air processing unit communicating with said plenum and responsive to said temperature sensing means, said air processing unit having an air intake; d. processed air means for directing the flow of processed air from said air processing unit to said enclosed area; e. air passing light fixures between said enclosed area and said enclosed plenum for enabling air from said enclosed area to pass in heat transfer relationship with said light fixtures into said plenum; f. room air means for directing the flow of air from said enclosed area to said air intake of said air processing unit; g. fresh air means for directing the flow of fresh outside air to said air intake; h. plenum air means for directing the flow of air from said plenum to said air intake; i. control means for regulating said room air means, said fresh air means, and said plenum air means, said control means being responsive to said temperature sensing means, said control means including first damper means, second damper means and third damper means, said first damper means selectively controlling flow either from said room air means or said plenum air means, said second damper means regulating flow through said selected room air means or plenum means, and said third damper means controlling said fresh air means; and j. exhaust means for exhausting air from said plenum, wherein in a heating state the first damper means closes the room air means and flow to the air intake to the plenum air means from the enclosed area is variably controlled to vary the entry of fresh air, in a first cooling state the first damper means closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake through the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to one-hundred percent fresh air; and in a second cooling state the first damper closes the plenum air means, the second damper means variably controls flow to the air intake to the room air means, the third damper means variably controls the entry of fresh air to minimum fresh air.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3354946A Cited
US3424233A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-10-14 1978-04-15 1978-10-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-10-14 1982-04-15 1982-10-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-10-14 1986-04-15 1986-10-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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