Environmental test chamber

Abstract

A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber a first duct communicating with the chamber and including therein selectively operable heating coils, a second duct communicating with the chamber and including therein selectively operable refrigerating coils, and a damper for closing the second duct when the heating coils are operating so that the refrigerating coils are isolated from air flow in the chamber.

I claim: 
     
       1. A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber, and   means for circulating and alternatively heating and cooling the air in said chamber, said means including   alternatively operable heating means and refrigerating means,   a first duct having said heating means therein and including a first end communicating with said chamber, and a second end,   a second duct having said refrigerating means therein and including a first end, and a second end communicating with said chamber, and   means for selectively connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct when said refrigerating means is operating, and for selectively isolating said refrigerating means when said heating means is operating by opening said second end of said first duct to said chamber and closing said first end of said second duct.   
     
     
       2. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second end of said first duct has a first opening communicating with said first end of said second duct and a second opening communicating with said chamber, and wherein said means for connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct includes a damper selectively and alternatively operable between a first position wherein said damper opens said first opening and closes said second opening, and a second position wherein said damper opens said second opening and closes said first opening, with said second end of said second duct remaining in communication with said chamber. 
     
     
       3. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second duct is generally vertically oriented with said second end being the lower end, and wherein said device further includes means in said second end for draining water condensed on said refrigerating means. 
     
     
       4. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first end of said first duct communicates with said chamber through a third opening having said fan therein, and wherein said device further comprises a boot registering with said third opening and extending into said chamber for directing the air from said first duct onto an object within said chamber. 
     
     
       5. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said third opening is downwardly facing, wherein said boot extends downwardly into said chamber, and wherein said chamber is adapted to have the object positioned beneath said boot. 
     
     
       6. A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber,   a first duct having therein selectively operable heating means and including a first end communicating with said chamber, and a second end,   a second duct having therein selectively operable refrigerating means and including a first end, and a second end communicating with said chamber,   said second end of said first duct having a first opening communicating with said first end of said second duct and a second opening communicating with said chamber, and   means for connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct when said refrigerating means is operating, and for opening said second end of said first duct to said chamber and closing said first end of said second duct when said heating means is operating, said means including a damper selectively and alternatively operable between a first position wherein said damper opens said first opening and closes said second opening, and a second position wherein said damper opens said first opening and closes said second opening.   
     
     
       7. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for circulating the air further includes a fan positioned in said third opening in said first end of said first duct for blowing air from said first end of said first duct into said chamber. 
     
     
       8. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for circulating the air further includes a fan positioned in said first end of said first duct for blowing air from said first end of said first duct into said chamber. 
     
     
       9. A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber,   a first duct having a first end communicating with said chamber and a second end including a first opening, and a second opening communicating with said chamber,   a second duct extending generally vertically and having an upper end communicating with said first opening and a lower end communicating with said chamber,   alternatively operable heating means and refrigerating means, said heating means being located in said first duct and said refrigerating means being located in said second duct,   means in said lower end of second duct for draining water condensed on said refrigerating means.   a fan in said first end of said first duct for blowing air into said chamber,   a flexible boot registering with said first end of said first duct and extending generally downwardly into said chamber for directing the air from said first duct onto an object positioned beneath said boot within said chamber, and   a damper selectively and alternatively operable between a first position wherein said damper opens said first opening and closes said second opening so that said second end of said first duct communicates with said first end of said second duct, and a second position wherein said damper opens said second opening and closes said first opening so that said first end of said second duct is closed to said chamber and said second end of said first duct communicates with said chamber, with said second end of said second duct remaining in communication with said chamber. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber, air heating means, air refrigeration means said heating and refrigerating means being alternatively operable, means for .[.preventing.]. .Iadd.controlling air flow over both said heating and refrigerating means and further operative to prevent air flow over said refrigerating means when said heating means is operating, and single means for circulating air over said heating means and into said chamber when said heating means is operating and for circulating air over said refrigerating means and into said chamber when said refrigerating means is operating. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A test chamber device as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising a first duct having therein said heating means and communicating with said chamber, and a second duct having therein said refrigerating means and communicating with said chamber, and wherein said single means circulates air through said first duct when said heating means is operating and circulates air through said second duct when said refrigerating means is operating. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second duct is generally vertically oriented and has a lower end, and wherein said device further includes means in said lower end for draining water condensed on said refrigerating means. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.13.  A test chamber device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first duct includes a first end communicating with said chamber and a second end, wherein said second duct includes a first end and a second end communicating with said chamber, and wherein said device further comprises means for selectively connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct when said refrigerating means is operating, and for opening said second end of said first duct to said chamber and closing said first end of said second duct when said heating means is operating. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second end of said first duct has a first opening communicating with said first end of said second duct and a second opening communicating with said chamber, and wherein said means for connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct includes a damper selectively and alternatively operable between a first position wherein said damper opens said first opening and closes said second opening, and a second position wherein said damper opens said second opening and closes said first opening, with said second end of said second duct remaining in communication with said chamber. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd. 5.  A test chamber device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first end of said first duct communicates with said chamber through a third opening, and wherein said device further comprises a boot registering with said third opening and extending into said chamber for directing the air from said first duct onto an object within said chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said single means includes a fan which circulates air through said first duct when said heating means is operating and which circulates air through said second duct when said refrigerating means is operating. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said single means includes a fan which circulates air over said heating means when said heating means is operating and which circulates air over said refrigerating means when said refrigerating means is operating. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.18.  A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber, first duct means having therein heating means and communicating with said chamber, second duct means having therein refrigerating means and communicating with said chamber, said heating and refrigerating means being alternatively operable, and means for preventing air flow over said refrigerating means when said heating means is operating, said means for preventing air flow comprising damper means for controlling air flow through both of said first and second duct means, said damper means being selectively operable in a first mode for directing air flow through said second duct means and over said refrigerating means, and said damper means being selectively operable in a second mode for directing air flow through said first duct means and over said heating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first duct means includes a first end communicating with said chamber, and a second end, wherein said second duct means includes a first end, and a second end communicating with said chamber, wherein said damper means is operable in said first mode for connecting said second end of said first duct to said first end of said second duct, and wherein said damper means is operable in said second mode for opening said second end of said first duct to said chamber and closing said first end of said second duct. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     A test chamber device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said second end of said first duct means has a first opening communicating with said first end of said second duct means and a second opening communicating with said chamber, and wherein said damper means is operable between first and second positions corresponding to said first and second modes, respectively, said damper means operating in said first position to open said first opening and close said second opening, and said damper means operating in said second position to open said second opening and close said first opening, with said second end of said second duct means remaining communication with said chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said first end of said first duct communicates with said chamber through a third opening, and wherein said device further comprise a boot registering with said third opening and extending into said chamber for directing the air from said first duct onto an object within said chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second duct means is generally vertically oriented and has a lower end, and wherein said device further includes means in said lower end for draining water condensed on 
     
     
        said refrigerating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A test chamber device as set forth in claim 18 and further comprising single means for circulating air through said second duct means when said damper means is in said first mode and for circulating air through said first duct means when said damper means is in said second mode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 23 wherein said single means includes a fan which circulates air through said second cut means when said damper means is in said first mode and which circulates air through said first duct means when said damper means is in said second mode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A test chamber device as set forth in claim 18 and further comprising a housing enclosing said chamber, said first and second duct means and said 
     
     
        damper means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  A test chamber comprising, in combination, means defining an enclosed chamber,   heating means,   refrigerating means,   said heating means and refrigerating means being alternatively operable,   duct means associated with each of said heating and refrigeration means and with said chamber so that air can be circulated through said duct means, over said heating and refrigerating means and through said chamber,   means for circulating air through said duct means, over said heating and refrigerating means and to and from said chamber, and   damper means associated with said duct means for controlling air flow over both said heating and refrigerating means, said damper means being operative to provide air flow over said refrigerating means and to and from said chamber, and said same damper means being further operative to provide air flow over said heating means while simultaneously interrupting   
     
     
        said air flow over said refrigerating means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  The test chamber of claim 26 wherein said circulating means comprises a single fan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The test chamber of claim 26 and further comprising a housing enclosing said chamber, said heating and refrigerating means, said duct means and said damper means. .Iaddend.