Slanted heat exchanger-encased fan-dehumidifier

• US 5,901,565 A
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fulton Performance Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Morton, James J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHULMAN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US08/956,485
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 62/285, 165/103, 165/227
• US Class Current: 62/285
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/00 Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/1405 in which the humidity of the air is exclusively affected by contact with the evaporator of a closed-circuit cooling system or heat pump circuit

Abstract

A room dehumidifier includes a closed refrigerant cycle apparatus with an evaporator coil inclined at 20 from vertical on an air inlet side of the dehumidifier, which also includes openings in the cabinetry to allow a substantial portion of inlet air to bypass the evaporator coil, a fan and orifice plate arranged downstream of the evaporator coil, bypass openings to draw air through the cabinet, and a condenser coil arranged vertically on an outlet side of said fan. The fan blows air through the condenser coil and out back side louvers of the cabinet. A drip bucket is located beneath the evaporator coils and a compressor is located beneath the condenser coils.

Claims

1. In an appliance having a closed refrigerant cycle apparatus therein including a condenser, and evaporator, a compressor, and a means for flow connecting refrigerant therebetween, the improvement comprising:

a cabinet having an air inlet opening, a bypass opening, and an air outlet opening;

rotatable fan blades arranged between said air inlet opening and said air bypass opening, and said air outlet opening;

an evaporator coil arranged between said air inlet opening and said fan; and

a condenser coil arranged between said fan and said air outlet opening.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising a plate having an orifice for surrounding said fan blades, said plate substantially optically shielding said evaporator coil from said condenser coil and arranged therebetween.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising a drip bucket arranged beneath said evaporator coils and removable from said cabinet.

4. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said air bypass opening comprises louvered openings arranged through a side of said cabinet between said evaporator coil and said fan.

5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said air bypass opening comprises a top opening through said cabinet.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said bypass opening comprises an open space below said evaporator coils within said cabinet in communication with said air inlet.

7. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said air inlet opening is covered by a grill which is inclined at about 20 to the vertical.

8. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising a fan orifice plate having an orifice therein surrounding said rotatable fan blades and optically shielding said evaporator coil from said condenser coil.

9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said evaporation coil is tilted at about 20 from the vertical.

10. In a dehumidifier having a closed refrigerant cycle apparatus therein including a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and a means for flow connecting refrigerant therebetween, the improvement comprising:

a cabinet having an air inlet opening, a bypass opening, and an air outlet opening;

an air moving device arranged between said air inlet opening and said air bypass opening, and said air outlet opening;

said evaporator arranged between said air inlet opening, and said air moving device, said evaporator coil being tilted from vertical; and

said condenser arranged between said air moving device and said air outlet opening.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, further comprising a plate having an orifice for passing air therethrough substantially optically shielding said evaporator from said condenser and arranged therebetween.

12. The improvement according to claim 10, further comprising a drip bucket arranged beneath said evaporator and removable from said cabinet.

13. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said air bypass opening comprises louvered openings arranged through a side of said cabinet between said evaporator and said air moving device.

14. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said air bypass opening comprises a top opening through said cabinet.

15. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said bypass opening comprises an open space below said evaporator within said cabinet in communication with said air inlet.

16. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said air inlet opening is covered by a grill which is inclined at about 20 from vertical.

17. The improvement according to claim 10, further comprising an orifice plate having an orifice therein surrounding said rotatable air moving device and optically shielding said evaporator from said condenser.

18. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said evaporator is a coil tilted at about 20 from vertical.

19. A dehumidifier comprising:

a cabinet having an angled front panel with front openings therethrough a substantially vertical back panel with back openings therethrough;

an evaporator coil formed in a plane and located within said cabinet behind said front opening, and said plane angled obliquely downwardly toward said front panel;

a condenser coil located within said cabinet in front of said back openings;

a fan located within said cabinet, said fan having a plurality of rotatable blades and an electric motor for turning said blades, and an orifice plate with an orifice closely surrounding said blades; and

said evaporator coil, said condenser coil, and said rotatable blades having substantially the same vertical height and aligned in elevation for substantially horizontal air flow between said front openings and said back openings.

20. The dehumidifier according to claim 19 wherein said plane is angled at about 20 from vertical.

21. The dehumidifier according to claim 19, wherein said cabinet further comprises sidewall openings between said evaporator and said orifice plate to allow air to bypass said evaporator.

22. The dehumidifier according to claim 19, wherein said cabinet further comprises a top opening which is flow open to a space between said evaporator coil and said orifice plate to allow a quantity of air to bypass said evaporator coil.

23. The dehumidifier according to claim 19, wherein said fan is located between said evaporator coil and said condenser coil.

24. The dehumidifier according to claim 19 wherein said evaporator and condenser coils each comprise a serpentine tube.