Patent US4226364A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4226364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single conduit air conditioning system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-02-05
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1999-02-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved air conditioning system of the type wherein a conditioned fluid is conveyed from a central plant to a remote location where the fluid exchanges heat prior to being returned to the central plant for reconditioning. The system is provided with storage means for the fluid at the central plant and the remote location with a single conduit extending therebetween. Nonsimultaneously, pumps convey fluid through the single conduit from the central plant to the remote location and from the remote location to the central plant. In one embodiment, phase change may be employed to augment heat exchange capability at the remote location, or satellite.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred L. Utesch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:42
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/06; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/001; F24F5/00; F24F5/0003; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
In an air conditioning system which utilizes a fluid for transferring energy for air conditioning from a first location to a second location; said system being of the type wherein said fluid is conditioned by a conditioning device at said first location, said fluid is transferred to said second location for exchanging heat with a load, and said fluid is returned from said second location to said conditioning device at said first location for reconditioning; the improvement which comprises: a. a first storage means for storing said fluid prior to said fluid exchanging heat with said load; said first storage means being disposed at said second location and connected for transmitting fluid to said load; b. a second storage means for storing said fluid after said fluid has exchanged heat with said load; said second storage means being disposed at said second location and connected for receiving fluid from said load; c. a third storage means for storing said fluid after it has been returned to said first location prior to being returned to said conditioning device for reconditioning; said third storage means being disposed at said first location and connected for transmitting fluid to said conditioning device; d. connecting means for joining in a fluid flow relation said conditioning device and said first storage means, and for joining in a fluid flow relation said second storage means and said third storage means; said connecting means comprising a single conduit from said first location to said second location; e. a first pumping means disposed in a fluid pumping relation to said connecting means for pumping said fluid from said conditioning device through said connecting means to said first storage means; and f. a second pumping means disposed in a fluid pumping relation to said connecting means for pumping said fluid from said second storage means through said connecting means to said third storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
In an air conditioning system which utilizes a fluid for transferring energy for air conditioning from a first location to a second location; said system being of the type wherein said fluid is conditioned by a conditioning device at said first location, said fluid is transferred to said second location for exchanging heat with a load, and said fluid is returned from said second location to said conditioning device at said first location for reconditioning; the improvement which comprises: a. a first storage means for storing said fluid prior to said fluid exchanging heat with said load; said first storage means being disposed at said second location and connected for transmitting fluid to said load; b. a second storage means for storing said fluid after said fluid has exchanged heat with said load; said second storage means being disposed at said second location and connected for receiving fluid from said load; c. a third storage means for storing said fluid after it has been returned to said first location prior to being returned to said conditioning device for reconditioning; said third storage means being disposed at said first location and connected for transmitting fluid to said conditioning device; d. connecting means for joining in a fluid flow relation said conditioning device and said first storage means, and for joining in a fluid flow relation said second storage means and said third storage means; said connecting means comprising a single conduit from said first location to said second location; e. a first pumping means disposed in a fluid pumping relation to said connecting means for pumping said fluid from said conditioning device through said connecting means to said first storage means; and f. a second pumping means disposed in a fluid pumping relation to said connecting means for pumping said fluid from said second storage means through said connecting means to said third storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The improvement of claim 1 which further comprises: a. a first purging means which joins in a fluid flow relation said connecting means and said second storage means for purging said fluid from said single conduit into said second storage means while said fluid fills, from said conditioning device, said single conduit; and b. a second purging means which joins in a fluid flow relation said third storage means and said connecting means for purging said fluid from said single conduit with said fluid from said third storage means until said fluid from said third storage means fills said single conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of said second locations, said first storage means, said second storage means, said connecting means, said second pumping means, and said first purging means connected respectively in discrete locations and operating entities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said first purging means comprises: a. a first purging conduit which connects in fluid flow relation said connecting means to said second storage means; and b. a first purging valve disposed in a fluid flow regulating relation to said first purging conduit; and wherein said second purging means comprises; c. a second purging conduit which connects in fluid flow relation said third storage means to said connecting means on the intake side of said first pumping means; and d. a second purging valve disposed in a fluid flow regulating relation to said second purging conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improvement of claim 4 which further comprises a fluid temperature sensor disposed for detecting the fluid temperature in said single conduit as said fluid enters or leaves said second location; said sensor allowing said first and second purging means to more accurately purge fluid from said single conduit to prevent energy waste.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein said first and second storage means includes a first vessel containing material capable of changing phase in response to heat exchange with a conditioned fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
197 words
The air conditioning system of claim 6 wherein said first and second storage means includes a first vessel containing the phase change material, a heat exchange coil disposed in said first vessel and in heat exchange relationship with said phase change material; said coil being connected at its inlet end with said single conduit of said connecting means and terminating at its open end in a second vessel; said first and second storage means including a second vessel having the end of said coil terminating there within so as to flow thereinto a conditioned fluid; wherein said first storage means is connected for transmitting fluid to said load by virtue of having a heat exchange coil disposed in heat exchange relationship with said conditioned fluid in said second vessel and connected in series with said load so as to circulate an energy transfer fluid through said load; and wherein a second head exchange coil is disposed in said first vessel in heat exchange relationship with the phase change material and adapted to how said energy transfer fluid flowed therethrough to augment the heat exchange capability of said first heat exchange coil in said second vessel as desired.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
The air conditioning system of claim 7 wherein said discharge end of said first heat exchange coil in said second vessel is connected in parallel with a three way valve and with said second heat exchange coil in said first vessel; the discharge end of said second coil in said first vessel is also connected with said three way valve; a temperature responsive means is drivingly connected with said three way valve so as to effect the desired admixture of affluent fluids from said first and second coils up to and including full series flow through both said coils to effect a predetermined temperature of fluid being circulated through said load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The air conditioning system of claim 8 wherein said second vessel forms a thermocline in which heated fluid rises to the top and in which a suction for a second pumping means is disposed in the portion of the fluid to be reconditioned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US787748A
Cited
US3384155A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |