Nozzle construction

Oct. 12, 1965

3,211,218

J. A. MEHR ETAL

NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION

<img file="US3211218A_D0001.tif" />

Oct. 12, 1965

3,211,218

J. A. MEHR ETAL

NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION

Sheets-Sheet 2

Filed June 25, 1962

<img file="US3211218A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3211218A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US3211218A_D0004.tif" />

&lt;o ’f u·

INVENTORS.

JOHN A. MEHR.

J. MICHAEL BRENNAN.

<img file="US3211218A_D0005.tif" />

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Office _P ., _n^3,211,218

Patented Oct. 12, 1965

3,211,218

NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION

John A. Mehr, Liverpool, and J. Michael Brennan, East Syracuse, N.Y., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware ®

Filed June 25,1962, Ser. No. 205,002

Claims. (CI. 165—123)

This invention relates to an air conditioning unit and, more particularly, an air conditioning apparatus of the 1( induction type having improved air nozzle construction and to a method of making the same.

Induction type air conditioning units serve to mix primary air from a central station with secondary air induced from the area being treated and to discharge the mixture It into, the area to be conditioned. The induced secondary air. is passed through a heat exchanger which may condition the air as required. The induction type unit relies on the discharge of primary air through a nozzle at a velocity sufficient to induce secondary air into the unit 2C through the heat exchanger for mixture with the primary air. The mixture of primary and secondary air is discharged into the area to condition the area.

The induction unit air nozzle may be formed from two parallel spaced plates, the spaced facing sides of the 25 plates being suitably shaped to form the nozzle per se. In the interest of simplicity and economy, the nozzle plates may be made of sheet metal stampings secured within the induction unit casing by suitable means, such as by welding or metal screws. This construction, while 30 relatively simple and economical, often presents an assembly problem in obtaining an accurate nozzle orifice size throughout the length of the nozzle. The stamped sheet metal nozzle pieces are subject to warping and bending during installation, in part caused by welding 35 or screw attaching. Further, the unit casing to which the nozzle pieces are attached is of sheet metal construction, itself subject to similar warping and bending during assembly. The problem is further augmented by the extreme length of the nozzles, in some cases over four feet.

. It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit of the induction type having an improved nozzle construction and a method of making the same. ⁴⁵

It is a. further object to provide a primary air nozzle construction for an induction type air conditioner utilizing a rigid adjustable spacer effective to maintain selected nozzle, orifice size without interfering with the flow of conditioned air through the nozzle. ⁵⁰

A further object is to present a novel method of nozzle construction wherein an adjustable spacing member is utilized to obtain and retain selected nozzle spacing. Other objects will be apparent from the following dis- ₅₅closure.

The present invention relates to an induction type air conditioning unit including a plenum adapted to communicate with a source of primary air, an air nozzle communicating with the plenum, an inlet and an outlet ₆₀communicating the unit and the area to be conditioned, a heat exchanger, the primary air discharging from the nozzle to induce secondary air through the inlet and the heat exchanger for mixture and discharge with the primary air through the outlet into the area to be condi- _6gtioned, the nozzle comprising first and second elongated spaced parallel plates, a spacer adapted to interconnect the first and second spaced plates intermediate the ends thereof, the spacer having one end hooked for insertion into a cooperating hole in the first nozzle plate, the op- y₀posite end of the spacer being looped for cooperation with fastening means on the second nozzle plate whereby the spacer may be fixedly attached to the first and second nozzle plates to maintain selected nozzle width.

The present invention further relates to a method of forming a slot-like nozzle for a plenum chamber of an 5 induction type air conditioning unit, the steps which consist of fixing a first elongated nozzle member in place in the air conditioning unit, placing a second elongated nozzle member parallel to the first elongated member in the air conditioning unit, moving the second nozzle mem10 ber toward the first nozzle member to establish a predetermined nozzle width between the nozzle members, locking the second nozzle member in position, establishing the predetermined nozzle width at a point between the ends of the nozzle members, forcing the first nozzle 15 member toward the locked second nozzle member at said point, and attaching a spacer to each of the nozzle members at said point to maintain predetermined nozzle width.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which . FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an induction type air conditioning unit;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II—II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25 III—III of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the spacing member.

. Referring to the drawings, an induction type air conditioning unit is shown which includes a base unit 1 and casing 4. Base unit 1 consists of a base 2, sides 3, rear 30 wall 5, front wall 6 and stack 19. Casing 4 includes a front panel 10 and an adjoining top panel 11 attached to the front wall 6 and the stack 19 respectively of the base unit 1 by suitable means (not shown). Front and top panels 10, 11 are provided with louvered openings 13, 35 14 respectively. The exterior of the casing 4 is of suitable decorative design and finish.

The air conditioning unit illustrated is adapted to be furred into a wall or other structure, the exterior of the o ^^ron^ ^antl P^anel^s 1® and 11 of the casing 4 being ⁴⁰ exposed to view. It is understood that should other portions of the base unit 1 be exposed to view, for example, where the unit 1 abuts a wall or other Structure so as to protrude therefrom additional exteriorly finished casing ₄₅ panels adapted to cooperate with the front and top panels 19 and 11 to enclose the sides 3 of the base unit 1 are contemplated.

The base unit 1 includes a plenum chamber 7 and an upper chamber 8. Air nozzle 15 communicates plenum 50 ^c^^am^^er ? with chamber 8. Where a single air conditioning unit is contemplated, an opening 9 is provided in one of the sides 3 or the base 2 of the base unit 1 to communicate the plenum chamber 7 with a source of conditioned primary air. Where plural air conditioning 55 units are contemplated, it is understood that each base unit 1 may be individually connected with a source of conditioned primary air. Alternately, the plural base units may be connected in series fashion by providing an opening 9 in each of the sides 3 of each of the plural 80 units of the series except the last unit which is provided with an opening 9 in only one of the sides 3. Primary conditioned, air from either the central station or an adjacent unit in the system enters one of the openings 9 of the base unit and a portion of the primary air dis85 charges from the other opening 9 of the base unit for transmittal to the next adjacent unit. Since the last unit terminates the series, a single opening permitting entry of primary air into the unit is required. The plenum chamber 7 is provided with an adjustable damper 12 70 which serves to provide even distribution of primary air across air nozzle 15. It is understood that adjustment of damper 12 serves to vary the static pressure at nozzle 15.

3,211,218

Louvered opening 13 in front panel 10 communicates upper chamber 8 with the area to be conditioned, for example, a room. A heat exchanger 18 is attached to the base unit 1 adjacent the louvered opening 13. Heat exchanger 18 is adapted to circulate a suitable conditioning medium, for example, steam, hot or cold water, whereby secondary air induced through the heat exchanger 18 into the upper chamber 8 may be conditioned.

Primary conditioned air from a central station (not shown) enters plenum chamber 7 by means of one or the other of inlets 9. The primary conditioned air flows from plenum chamber 7 through damper 12 and nozzle 15 into upper chamber 8. Flow through nozzle 15 induces a secondary flow of air through louvered opening 13 and heat exchanger 18 into the upper chamber 8 wherein the primary conditioned air and the secondary air mix. The discharge stack 19 in the base unit 1 communicates the upper chamber 8 with louvered opening 14 in top panel 11 whereby the mixed primary and secondary air are discharged into the area to be conditioned, the discharge velocity of primary air from nozzle 15 being sufficient to carry the conditioned mixture into the area.

Nozzle 15 is composed of two parallel spaced members 27, 28 extending between the sides 3 of the base unit 1. Member 27 includes a suitably formed nozzle side 27' and may be designated the front or first nozzle member. Member 27 is attached at the base thereof to the front wall 6 of base unit 1 and at the opposite edges thereof to the sides 3 of the base unit 1 by suitable means, such as screws 35. Member 28 includes a suitably formed nozzle side 28' and may be designated the rear or second nozzle member. An elongated rear nozzle member support 25 is attached to the sides 3 of the base unit 1 and to the inside of the rear wall 5 by suitable means such as welds. Suitable insulation 29 is provided on the inside surface of the front nozzle member 27 and the rear nozzle member support 25. The insulation 29 may also be provided on the inside surface of the rear and front walls 5, 6 of the base unit 1 in the nozzle area.

Rear nozzle member 28 is mounted on support 25 for limited slidable movement in a direction perpendicular to the rear wall 5. Rear nozzle member 28 is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel slots 30 throughout its length. Screws 31, attached to support 25, are inserted in the slots. The cooperating slots and screws 30, 31 serve to limit sliding movement of rear nozzle member 28. Screws 31 also serve to fixedly secure the rear nozzle member 28 in adjusted position.

Front nozzle member 27 is provided with a hole 32 intermediate the ends thereof. A slot 30' and screw 31' in rear nozzle member 28 and nozzle support member 25 respectively are directly opposite hole 32.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, a spacing member 40 is shown. While spacing member 40 is illustrated as round, it is understood that other cross-sectional configurations, for example, rectangular, are contemplated. Spacing member 40 is curved at 43 through an arc of 180° whereby a portion of the member 40 including the end 42 extends parallel to the central section 41. A portion 46 of the member 40 including the opposite end 47 extends perpendicular to the plane including center section 41 and looped end 42. The end 47 thereof extends perpendicular to section 46 in the plane of section 46 to form a hooked end. The hooked and looped ends 47 and 42 respectively of the member 40 are adapted to cooperate with hole 32 in front nozzle member 27 and screw 30' in rear nozzle support member 25 in a manner to be explained to establish and maintain correct nozzle width.

In assembly, the base of front nozzle member 27 is attached to the front wall 6 and the opposite ends thereof attached to the sides 3 of the base unit 1 by suitable means, for example, screws 35. Rear nozzle member is positioned for slidable movement on nozzle support 25, slidable movement thereof being limited by the aforementioned cooperating slots and screws 30, 31. A suitable measuring means, for example, a gauge block 5 (not shown), is used to set the nozzle width. The nozzle side 27' of the front nozzle member 27 at the opposite ends thereof is used as a reference point in setting nozzle width. As noted heretofore, the front nozzle member opposite ends and base are rigidly attached to 10 the base unit 1. The nozzle side 28' of rear nozzle member 28 is thereafter adjusted to the desired nozzle width, slots 30 permitting slidable movement thereof. Screws 31 are tightened to lock rear nozzle member 28 in the adjusted position.

It is understood that hooked end 47 of spacing member 40 is in hole 32 of front member 27 and looped end 42 slidably rests on rear nozzle member 28 under screw 31'. To insure uniform nozzle width throughout the length of the nozzle, rear nozzle member 28, 20 now fixed in position by screws 31, is used as a reference point to set nozzle width. The nozzle width is established from the nozzle side 28' of member 28 at a point intermediate the ends thereof by suitable measuring means, for example, the aforementioned gauge block.

The upper portion of member 27 is forced either inwardly or outwardly as required until the nozzle edge 27' intermediate the ends thereof corresponds to the desired nozzle width established from a point intermediate the ends of member 28.

It is understood that the spacing member 40, the hooked end 47 of which is disposed in hole 32 of nozzle member 27, moves with nozzle member 27. Upon the establishment of the desired nozzle width at the point intermediate the ends of the nozzle members 27, 28, screw 35 31' is tightened to lock the looped end 42 of spacing member 40 to nozzle member 28. The spacing member 40, securely attached to each of the spaced nozzle members 27, 28, thereafter serves to maintain the established nozzle width.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.