Modular air conditioning system with adjustable capacity

• US 5,277,036 A
• Filed: 01/21/1993
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unico, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unico, Inc.
• Inventors: Intagliata, Joseph, Dieckmann, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/006,451
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 62/298, 62/448, 62/291, 165/76
• US Class Current: 62/291
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/36 Modules, e.g. for an easy mounting or transport
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems

Abstract

A modular air conditioning system with adjustable capacity includes a cooling module, a heating module, and a blower module which can be assembled in any of a plurality of configurations, including a vertical downflow configuration, a vertical upflow configuration, or a horizontal configuration, using the same set of modules. The same set of modules can be operated over a range of cooling capacities by employing a condensing unit of the required capacity connected to the cooling module and by adjusting the airflow volume rate of air transported through the system. A movable restrictor plate is positioned in partial covering relation to a discharge opening of the blower module and is adjusted to achieve the required airflow volume rate.

Claims

1. A modular air temperature system for use in a selected configuration of a horizontal, vertical upflow, or vertical downflow configuration and comprising:

(a) blower module means adapted to transport air therethrough;

(b) airflow control means flow connected to said blower module means and selectively adjustable to control an airflow volume rate through said blower module means;

(c) air temperature module means adapted to change the temperature of air transported therethrough;

(d) said blower module means and said air temperature module means being flow connected in a selected one of said configurations to cause air to be transported through said air temperature module means to change the temperature of said air;

(e) said blower module means includes means forming an airflow discharge opening;

(f) said airflow control means includes restrictor plate means slidably mounted on said blower module means in partial covering relation to said discharge opening, said plate means being slidably positioned to vary an effective area of said opening;

(g) said blower module means includes a plenum connection positioned in surrounding relation to said airflow discharge opening, said plenum connection including a plenum connection wall;

(h) a restrictor plate slot is formed in said plenum connection wall; and

(i) a restrictor plate operator handle is connected to said restrictor plate, extends through said restrictor plate slot, and provides for manual adjustment of said restrictor plate.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air heater module means.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air cooler module means.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air heater module means; and

(b) air cooler module means.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said air temperature module means includes a refrigerant coil module of a heat pump system.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 and including:

(a) an auxiliary heat module flow connected and positioned between said refrigerant coil module and said blower module means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said blower module means includes a blower module wall through which said airflow discharge opening is formed;

(b) a restrictor plate adjustment guide label is positioned on said blower module wall in spaced relation to said restrictor plate operator handle;

(c) said handle has a handle index positioned thereon;

(d) said label has a plurality of label indicia positioned thereon; and

(e) said handle index and said label indicia being mutually positioned whereby alignment of said handle index with said label indicia positions said restrictor plate respectively to achieve a selected airflow volume rate through said system.

8. A modular air temperature system for use in a selected configuration of a horizontal, vertical upflow, or vertical downflow configuration and comprising:

(a) blower module means adapted to transport air therethrough;

(b) airflow control means flow connected to said blower module means and selectively adjustable to control an airflow volume rate through said blower module means;

(c) air heater module means operable to heat air transported therethrough;

(d) air cooler module means operable to cool air transported therethrough;

(e) said blower module means, said air heater module means, and said air cooler module means being flow connected in a selected one of said configurations to cause air to be transported through said air heater and cooler module means to change the temperature of said air;

(f) said blower module means includes means forming an airflow discharge opening;

(g) said airflow control means includes restrictor plate means slidably mounted on said blower module means in partial covering relation to said discharge opening, said plate means being slidably positioned to vary an effective area of said opening;

(h) said blower module means includes a plenum connection positioned in surrounding relation to said airflow discharge opening, said plenum connection including a plenum connection wall;

(i) a restrictor plate slot is formed in said plenum connection wall; and

(j) a restrictor plate operator handle is connected to said restrictor plate and extends through said restrictor plate slot and provides for manual adjustment of said restrictor plate.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein:

(a) said blower module means includes a blower module wall through which said airflow discharge opening is formed;

(b) a restrictor plate adjustment guide label is positioned on said blower module wall in spaced relation to said restrictor plate operator handle;

(c) said handle has a handle index positioned thereon;

(d) said label has a plurality of label indicia positioned thereon; and

(e) said handle index and said label indicia being mutually positioned whereby alignment of said handle index with said label indicia positions said restrictor plate respectively to achieve a selected airflow volume rate through said system.

10. In a modular air temperature system for use in a selected configuration of a horizontal, vertical upflow, or vertical downflow configuration and including blower module means including a blower module wall and adapted to transport air therethrough, air temperature module means adapted to change the temperature of air transported therethrough, said blower module means and said air temperature module means being flow connected in a selected one of said configurations, the improvement comprising:

(a) airflow control means flow connected to said blower module means and selectively adjustable to control an airflow volume rate through said blower module means, said airflow control means including;

(1) means forming an airflow discharge opening in said blower module wall;

(2) a plenum connection positioned in surrounding relation to said airflow discharge opening, said plenum connection including a plenum connection wall;

(3) a restrictor plate slidably mounted within said plenum connection in partial covering relation to said discharge opening, said plate being slidably positioned to vary an effective area of said airflow discharge opening;

(4) a restrictor plate slot formed in said plenum connection wall; and

(5) a restrictor plate operator handle connected to said restrictor plate, extending through said restrictor plate slot, and providing for manual adjustment of said restrictor plate to thereby vary an effective area of said airflow discharge opening to thereby vary said airflow volume rate through said system.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 and including:

(a) a restrictor plate adjustment guide label positioned on said blower module wall in spaced relation to said restrictor plate operator handle;

(b) said handle having a handle index positioned thereon;

(c) said label having a plurality of label indicia positioned thereon; and

(d) said handle index and said label indicia being mutually positioned whereby alignment of said handle index with said label indicia positions said restrictor plate respectively to achieve a selected airflow volume rate through said system.

12. A modular air temperature system for use in a selected configuration of a horizontal, vertical upflow, or vertical downflow configuration and comprising:

(a) blower module means adapted to transport air therethrough;

(b) airflow control means flow connected to said blower module means and selectively adjustable to control an airflow volume rate through said blower module means;

(c) air heater module means operable to heat air transported therethrough;

(d) air cooler module means operable to cool air transported therethrough and including a cooling coil and a drain pan positioned in mutually spaced relation;

(e) said air cooler module means being operated only in a selected mutual orientation of said cooling coil and drain pan; and

(f) said blower module means, said air heater module mans, and said air cooler module means being flow connected in a selected one of said configurations to cause air to be transported through said air heater and cooler module means to change the temperature of said air, said air cooler module means being positioned with said cooling coil and drain pan in said selected mutual orientation in each of said configurations.

13. A modular air temperature system for use in a selected configuration of a horizontal, vertical upflow, or vertical downflow configuration and comprising:

(a) blower module means adapted to transport air therethrough;

(b) airflow control means flow connected to said blower module means and selectively adjustable to control an airflow volume rate through said blower module means;

(c) air temperature module means adapted to change the temperature of air transported therethrough; and

(d) said blower module means and said air temperature module means being flow connected in a selected one of said configurations to cause air to be transported through said air temperature module means to change the temperature of said air;

(e) said blower module means including means forming an airflow discharge opening;

(f) said airflow control means including restrictor plate means slidably mounted on said blower module means in partial covering relation to said discharge opening, said plate means being slidably positioned to vary an effective area of said opening;

(g) said blower module means including a plenum connection positioned in surrounding relation to said airflow discharge opening, said plenum connection including a plenum connection wall;

(h) a restrictor plate slot formed in said plenum connection wall;

(i) a restrictor plate operator handle connected to said restrictor plate means, extending through said restrictor plate slot, and providing for manual adjustment of said restrictor plate means;

(j) said blower module means including a blower module wall through which said airflow discharge opening is formed;

(k) a restrictor plate adjustment guide label positioned on said blower module wall in spaced relation to said restrictor plate operator handle;

(l) said handle having a handle index positioned thereon;

(m) said label having a plurality of label indicia positioned thereon; and

(n) said handle index and said label indicia being mutually positioned whereby alignment of said handle index with said label indicia positions said restrictor plate means respectively to achieve a selected airflow volume rate through said system.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air heater module means.

15. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air cooler module means.

16. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) air heater module means; and

(b) air cooler module means.

17. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said air temperature module means includes:

(a) a refrigerant coil module of a heat pump system.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 and including:

(a) an auxiliary heat module flow connected and positioned between said refrigerant coil module and said blower module means.