Abstract:
A refrigeration device is provided having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and tubing to connect the compressor to the condenser, the condenser to the evaporator and the evaporator to the compressor. The condenser coil includes a plurality of tubes arranged in horizontal and vertical rows extending between vertically arranged header plates with return bends interconnecting the tubes to form a serpentine shaped circuit. The header plates are provided with at least one notch in a bottom edge thereof to accommodate a tube extending therebetween. In an embodiment, a wet loop is positioned in the area of the notches in the header plates.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to refrigeration devices, such as room air conditioners, and more particularly, to refrigeration devices having condenser coils from which heat is to dissipated. 
     Refrigeration devices, such as room air conditioners, utilize a condenser coil to dissipate heat from a refrigerant. Such refrigeration devices also typically include an evaporator coil over which warm moist air is directed to cool the air with the further results that moisture is condensed from that air and this condensate is collected below the evaporator. Oftentimes this liquid is directed back to the area where the condenser coil is located. It is known to use this condensate water for cooling, or sub-cooling, the refrigerant flowing through the condenser coil and it is also known to submerge a coil in this water, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,764. 
     Typically the lower portion of the refrigeration apparatus, such as a metal chassis plate, is specially configured to include an embossment or other recessed area for receiving the submerged condenser coil. In some arrangements, the sub-cooling tube or wet loop has a particular configuration which is designed to fit in a specially configured space in the air conditioner base pan. In other arrangements, the use of a sub-cooling tube or wet loop requires the use of additional parts and labor to assemble the submerged coil. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for a wet loop or sub-cooler tube to be used under a full-length condenser coil and to allow the wet loop to fit flush with the bottom of the condenser coil without a sump or emboss below the condenser coil. A condenser unit embodying the principles of the present invention allows a condenser coil to be made, that does not require a wet loop, without additional tooling changes or use of additional parts. Further, the condenser coil according to the present invention maximizes the amount of primary and secondary surfaces that are located in the condensate water while minimizing the required space. 
     In an embodiment, a header plate, located on both ends of the condenser coil, has two symmetrical notches that are placed at the bottom of the condenser coil. These notches are aligned with the tubing of the condenser so that tubes in the bottom row of the condenser coil are received through the fins between the notches and each notch is positioned directly below a tube in the next adjacent row above the notch. If a wet loop tube is required an appropriate distributor is brazed in place for a particular air conditioner configuration, the fin stock of the condenser coil is pushed to flatten the individual fins down in alignment with the groove. The wet loop is then inserted into this groove of the condenser coil and braised in place. An appropriate distributor is then added to complete the assembly. If a wet loop is not required, the coil is inserted into the unit without pushing the fin stock over and no other tooling changes are needed and no additional parts are used to complete the coolant circuit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a room air conditioner in which the present invention can be utilized. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the room air conditioner of FIG. 1, with the outer shroud removed to expose interior components. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the interior of the room air conditioner of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a condenser header plate embodying the principles of the present invention and refrigerant tubing. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the condenser coil. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a wet loop used in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the wet loop of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the wet loop of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the condenser coil with the wet loop in place. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention relates to a refrigeration device, such as a room air conditioner which typically is positioned in a window or in a through the wall sleeve such that a front part of the air conditioner unit is positioned in a space to be cooled and a back part is exposed to the exterior of the space. While the present invention can be utilized in many different types of refrigeration devices, it is shown and described in one particular room air conditioner unit, for illustrative purposes, however the scope of the claims should not be limited to the embodiment illustrated and described. 
     In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a room air conditioner  20  embodying the principles of the present invention which comprises a cabinet portion  22  facing the interior of a space to be cooled, including a front panel  24  with an air flow inlet grill  26  and an air flow outlet grill  28 . A plurality of controls  30  are arranged on a control panel  32  located on the front panel  24 . Room air is pulled into the air flow inlet grill  26  and discharged back into the room through the air flow outlet grill  28 . 
     In FIGS. 2 and 3, some of the interior components of the room air conditioner  20  are illustrated including a compressor  34 , a condenser coil  36  and an evaporator coil  38 , all interconnected by refrigeration tubing  40  as is known in the art. A single motor  41  is used to drive a condenser fan  42  and an evaporator blower wheel  43 , also as is known. The air conditioner  20  includes a base pan or chassis  44  to support the evaporator coil  38 , the condenser coil  36  and the compressor  34 , as well as the other internal components. The base plate pan includes a collecting area  45  positioned below the evaporator coil  38  to collect condensate which collects on the evaporator coil during operation of the air conditioner and drips onto the base pan. The base pan  44  also includes a depression  46  that the condenser coil  36  sits in which accommodates and entire width and depth of the condenser coil therein. A flow path  47  extends between the collecting area  45  and the sump  46  to permit condensate from the collecting area  45  to be received in the depression. Although the flow path is illustrated as two channels formed in the base pan  44 , other arrangements could be provided, including a single channel, or more than two channels or conduits and a pump extending between the collecting area  45  and the depression  46 . 
     The condenser coil  36  includes a pair of symmetrical header plates  48 , of which one is shown in detail in FIG.  4 . The header plate  48  as shown in this embodiment has three vertical rows of openings  50  through which are arranged refrigerant carrying tubes  52  which extend across the width of the condenser coil  36  as seen in FIG.  5 . The ends of the tubes are interconnected by return bends  53  so that a continuous single loop, of a serpentine shape, forms the condenser coil. If desired, a large number of closely spaced fins  54 , typically formed of a thin aluminium material are penetrated by the tubes  52  to assist in heat transfer, as is well known. 
     The header plates  48  have two notches  56  formed in a bottom edge  58  of the plates which are sized to receive a wet loop tube. If a particular refrigeration device requires the use of a wet loop for the condenser, such a wet loop  60  as shown in FIGS. 6-8 can be connected to the refrigeration loop, such as by connecting a first end  62  of the wet loop  60  to the lowermost and leftmost opening  50  a in the header plate  48  in the orientation shown in FIG.  3 . This lowermost opening comprises the discharge of the condenser coil  36  and when a wet loop is not utilized, a distributor extends from this opening connecting to the evaporator coil  38  via capillary tubes. The first end  62  of the wet loop  60  is connected to a 180° bend  64 , which, in turn, is connected to a first elongated tube  66  which extends the entire width of the condenser coil  36 . 
     A second 180° bend  68  connects the first elongated tube  66  to a second elongated tube  70  which also extends the entire width of the condenser coil  36 . A 90 degree bend  72  secured to the second tube  70  and is directed upwardly. A flow divider  74  connects to the 90 degree bend  72  to divide the refrigerant flow into two separate paths, one path leading to a distributor tube and strainer assembly  76  and the other to a charge tube  78 . Separate capillary tubes  80 ,  82  (FIG. 2) lead from the distributor tube and strainer assembly  76  and the charge tube  78 , respectively, to the evaporator coil  38  where the condensed refrigerant is allowed to evaporate, and thereby absorb heat as it flows through the evaporator coil. 
     The elongated tubes  66 ,  70  are received in the area of the notches  56  after a part of the fins  54  (if present), in line with the notch nearest the first end  62  of the wet loop coil  60 , is pushed over to form a channel in the lower surface of the condenser coil  36  to receive the first elongated tube  66 . The second 180° bend  68  protrudes beyond the second header plate  48 . The second elongated tube  70  is positioned outside of the fin area, so a pushing over of the fins is not required to accommodate the second elongated tube. 
     It is seen that the notches  56  are aligned with the tubing of the condenser so that they are positioned on either side of a tube  52  a in the bottom row of the condenser coil  36  and are positioned below a tube  52  in the second to lowest row. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, there are only three vertical rows of tubes  52 , however in other arrangements, there could be more or fewer rows. When more rows are utilized, such as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 which has five vertical rows of tubes, a second channel must be formed by pushing over the fins  54  in line with the second notch  56   b  to accommodate the second elongated tube  70 . 
     With any number of vertical rows of tubes, the fins  54  may be provided with slots, in line with the edges of the notches  56 , to facilitate the pushing over of the fins in alignment with the notches. Further, the fins  54  alternatively may be formed with recessed areas aligning with the notches  56  so that the fins are not required to be pushed over in the area of the notches since no fin material would be present in that area, and the channels would be performed, even if no wet loop  60  is utilized. 
     Hence, with the condenser coil  36  embodying the principles of the present invention, a refrigeration device can be constructed without a wet loop  60 , or with a wet loop, as desired, and no special accommodations are required to install the wet loop in a chassis of the refrigeration device, nor are any tooling changes required in the construction of either type of refrigeration device, nor are any additional parts required to complete the refrigeration circuit. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.