Environmental air control system

• US 7,770,405 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AC DC LLC
• Original Assignee: AC DC LLC
• Inventors: Dillon, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US11/329,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 621/73, 621/75, 621/761, 621/766, 621/765, 62/92, 62/93, 236/44.C
• US Class Current: 62/176.5
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/153 with subsequent heating, i.e. with the air, given the required humidity in the central station, passing a heating element to achieve the required temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02741 using one four-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02742 using two four-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/0292 related to reversing valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/11 Fan speed control
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity

Abstract

An air control apparatus having a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, an evaporator coil, and a reheat coil associated with a four way valve to selectively regulate flow of refrigerant to and from the condenser, evaporator coil and reheat coil to control the temperature and humidity of an enclosed environment.

Claims

1. An air control apparatus for an enclosed environment comprising:

a refrigerant compressor having a refrigerant inlet and outlet, a condenser, an evaporator coil, a reheat coil, a first tube for carrying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator coil, an expansion valve in communication with said first tube adjacent the evaporator coil, a first check valve connected to the first tube between the condenser and the expansion valve for allowing the flow of liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the expansion valve and preventing the flow of liquid refrigerant from the expansion valve back to the condenser, a second tube for carrying liquid refrigerant from the reheat coil to the first tube between the expansion valve and first check valve, a second check valve connected to the second tube for allowing liquid refrigerant to flow from the reheat coil to the expansion valve and preventing liquid refrigerant from flowing from the expansion valve and first check valve back to the reheat coil, a four way valve in communication with said condenser, evaporator coil, reheat coil and inlet and outlet of the compressor, a third tube connecting the reheat coil with the four way valve, and an outlet pressure regulator connected to the third tube operable to open when the outlet pressure of the refrigerant falls below a preset pressure to inhibit formation of ice on the evaporator coil, said four way valve being selectively operable to connect the outlet of the compressor to the condenser and the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator coil and the reheat coil and to connect the outlet of the compressor to the reheat coil and the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator coil and condenser to control the temperature and humidity of the enclosed environment.

2. The air control apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the expansion valve is a thermostatic expansion valve.

3. An air control apparatus comprising:

a furnace for heating air having an air return inlet, an evaporator coil and reheat coil located in the air return inlet, a condenser, a refrigerant compressor having a refrigerant inlet and outlet, a first tube for carrying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator coil, an expansion valve in communication with said first tube adjacent the evaporator coil, a first check valve connected to the first tube between the condenser and the expansion valve for allowing the flow of liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the expansion valve and preventing the flow of liquid refrigerant from the expansion valve back to the condenser, a second tube for carrying liquid refrigerant from the reheat coil to the first tube between the expansion valve and first check valve, a second check valve connected to the second tube for allowing liquid refrigerant to flow from the reheat coil to the expansion valve and preventing liquid refrigerant from flowing from the expansion valve and first check valve back to the reheat coil, a four way valve connecting the compressor with the condenser and evaporator coil and reheat coil, a third tube connecting the reheat coil with the four way valve, and an outlet pressure regulator connected to the third tube operable to open when the outlet pressure of the refrigerant falls below a preset pressure to inhibit formation of ice on the evaporator coil, said four way valve being selectively operable to connect the outlet of the compressor to the condenser and the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator coil and the reheat coil and to connect the outlet of the compressor to the reheat coil and the inlet of the compressor to the evaporator coil and condenser to control the temperature and humidity of air and provide a dehumidification mode while the furnace is heating air to allow the humidity of the air to be reduced while heat is required and retaining the humidity level above a desired level.

4. The air control apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the expansion valve is a thermostatic expansion valve.