US3188061A - Evaporative cooler - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1965 l. M. ALGUIRE 3,138,061

EVAPORATIVE COOLER Filed Nov. 27. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l /4 mvsu rox. IVA/v M ALau/fz BY HERBERT C. SCHULZE A rroeusy June 8, 1965 M. ALGUIRE 3,188,061

EVAPORA'I'IVE COOLER Filed Nov. 27. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mgi M5 INVENTOR. IVAN M. ALGA/IRE HERBERT C Sam/1.25

A 7'7'0ENEY and United States Patent Ollice 3,l88,%l Patented June 8, 165

3,188,061 EVAPGRATIVE COGLER Ivan M. Alguire, Riverside, Calitl; Alma P. Alguire and Jackton I. Algnire, executors of said Ivan M. Alguire, deceased Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 154,967

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-24) This invention relates generally to evaporative coolers and particularly to water control and cleansing means therefore.

One of the main objects of the invention is to the provision of mechanism for controlling and refreshing the water bath that is gradually evaporated by the cooling drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide easily operated manual means for removing the cooling drum lowering of the water level, by the evaporation from the cooling drum rotating therein, will refresh, cleanse and re fill the bath.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic control means for the water basic, whereby a substantially equal amount of evaporated Water is drained off prior a complete refilling of the basin.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of manual control means for stopping automatic operation a'nd draining the device during lengthy periods of in action.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a float controlled electrical system for draining a determined amount of water intermittently for the purpose of refreshing the water and exhausting deposits therein.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a dual aXis type of cooling drum that permits easy manual removal and cleansing thereof.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the'device with blower and cooling drum covers removed;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view with part of the cooling drum broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the filter drum with.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the control unit. with valves and solenoids in actuated position;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the control unit showing the manual control lever in positions of use;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view of the hydraulic and electrical systems.

Referring to the drawings, a blower, cooling drum and water bath unit are shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive.

A blower housing 10 surrounds a conventional blower assembly generally referred to as B. The housing 10 is supported on spaced base members 12 and 14. A metal sump 16 extends from the support 14 and has its outer end 16 supported and carried upon a base member 18. A rim portion 20 of sump 16 is continuous with a downwardly curving depression 22 therein which forms a flat circular basin, pan or bath 23 conforming to the cylindrical cooling drum generallyrefer red to as D. The ends of the curved section are welded to the sides of the sump 16 so that the basin alone forms the water bath for the cooling drum when filled to the proper level. The sump or basin may be demountable and lifted out as desired for replacement, cleaning or painting.

The blower B is conventional in structure and is supported within a container 24 that directs the cooled moisture laden air to a room or receptacle to be conditioned. The blower B has the rapidly moving cylinder 26 of any conventional type mounted on a transverse central shaft 28. A large pulley wheel 30 on one end of the shaft 28 is connected by a belt 32 to a small pulley 34 on a drive shaft 36 of the electric motor M. A small pulley 33 on the outer end of the blower shaft 28 has a belt 40 connection with a larger pulley 42 engaging a shaft 44 in a reduction gear mechanism 46. The reduction gear 46 is mounted on a horizontally disposed angle iron support 48.: The cooling drum D is conventional as far as the outer periphery'is concerned. A pair, of spaced cylindrical hardware cloth members 50 and 52 contain a bronze or stainless steel pad 54 therebetween. The outer end of the evaporator or cooling drum has a solid metal outer portion 53 with a central connection 60 on a central supporting tube 62 for the cooling drum. .The cooling drum has spaced metal arms 64 connecting its inner end with a hub 66 onthe central drum supporting tube 62. The tube 62 has a ball bearing 68 connected to its inner end. A pillow block bearing 70 sustains the bearing 68 and is apertured at either side to fit over dowel pins 72 ex tending from the angle iron cross brace 48. The inner bearing support for the drum D and tubular support 62 is demountable. The outer end of the tube 62 has a ball bearing 74 fastened thereto. A pillow block 76 sustaining the bearing 74 is bolted at 78 to a short angle iron support 84) which in turn is attached to an arm 82 rising from a horizontal angle iron portion 84. The portion 84 rests upon the base member 18 and has a demountable connection therewith by means of dowel pins 86 in said base 18 engaging spaced apertures therein. It is apparent that both end supports for the tube 62 and the cooling drum D are demountable with respect to the blower unit and the water bath or basin heretofore described. A driving means for the tube 62 and drum D is provided by a large pulley wheel 88 on the tube 62 anda belt 90 connection with a small pulley 92 attached to a shaft 94 eX- tending from the reduction gear 46. The evaporator or cooling drum D has a louvered protective housing, not shown, that does not interfere with air circulation there- 7 about and therethrough. The cooling drum D is geared down from the fast moving blower and the lower edge thereof rotates slowly in the basin or bath 23 which is filled with water to the desired level.

A special means has been provided for removing the drum D from the water bath for the purpose of manually cleaning any deposit collected thereon that interferes with proper air filtration and circulation therethrough. An inner reinforcing steel tube 188, as shown in FIGURE 4, is insertabie within the tube 62 and rotates therewith. The inner reinforcing tube 180 has a secondary purpose of use since it can be withdrawn manually to form a basis of support for the inner end of the drum D when being demounted for cleansing purpose. The operator first removes the belt 98 from the pulley 88 and then withdraws the tube 188 so that it can rest on the angle iron brace 48 after the drum D is lifted from its dowel pin connections on the angle iron 48 and the base 18. After the drum has been lifted and offset from its dowel connections at each end and withdrawn inner tube 108 is resting on angle iron brace 48, it is a relatively simple matter to elevate the outer end of said drum and pull it completely out of the water bath. During this operation the withdrawn end of tube 190 can be left in place on brace 48 where it will remain because of the downwardly pressing weight of the drum acting at that point. A diflicult manual operation is made easy by the coinciding tubes and the cumbersome cooling drum can be easily replaced after the cleansing operation. It is merely necessary in replacing the drum D to slide it upon the tube 100 until a point is reached at which its ends can be lifted and its mounting hardware installed upon the dowel pin connecting means. Replacement of the belt 98 and inserting of the tube 109 within the tube 62 is easily accomplished.

An automatic control system for the water basin or bath is shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8. A control box or housing 182 in FIGURE 1 shows the location of the water control mechanism to be immediately adjacent the water bath and slowly rotating cooling drum. A tube 1114 leads from the basin 23 to a float chamber 186 in the control box 102. A drain tube 1118 leads from the water bath 23 to a dump valve generally referred to as 110 in FIGURE 8. A replenishing or water supply tube 112 connects the basin 23 with a supply or fill valve generally referred to as 114 in the schematic view of FIGURE 8.

The details of the float controlled valve mechanism is disclosed in detail in FIGURES and 6. A float 116 in the chamber 186 has a stem 118 pivotally connected at 120 to a plate lever 122. The plate lever 122 is pivotally connected at 124 to an extension from thecontrol box or housing 102. An upper mercury bottle switch 126 is clamped at 128 on the plate lever 122. A lower mercury bottle switch 129 is clamped at 138 to the lever 122. The upper mercury switch 126 is electrically connected as shown in FIGURE 8 to a conventional solenoid 132 secured to the housing 102. A pin 134 and coil spring 136 connects the solenoid 132 with a shaft 138 that has a valve member 140 secured to its lower end. As will later be seen, valve member 148 is lifted by the central laminated core of solenoid 132 when that unit is actuated in the manner hereinafter indicated. The lifting motion of valve member 140 is transmitted from the solenoid core through spring 136 since that spring connects shaft 138 to said core by means of pin 134 as indicated above. Spring 136,

:rather than a straight rod or section of wire, is employed apparent. A casing 14-2 surrounding the shaft 138 has a valve housing 144 secured to its lower end. A seat 146 for the valve 148 forms the upper end of drain opening 148. The before mentioned tube 108 leads to the water basin or bath 23. The dump valve generally referred to as 110 is controlled by the solenoid 132 which is energized by clockwise or downward movement of the upper mercury switch 126 operating through a conventional irelay 150. The incoming current is through a conventional connection 151.

The replenishing or water supply valve generally referred to as 114 in FIGURE 8 is conventional in design and the valve and seat elements have not been shown. The fill tube 112 communicates with the valve 114 which is supplied from an outside ordinary water connection through the tube 152 threadedly connected to a washer 154 and easing elements 156 of the valve 114. The dump and supply valves 118 and 114 are suitably supported in the bottom of the control box 182. A lever 158 pivoted at 168 to the supply valve 114 controls the movement of the valve. The lever 158 has an arm 162 pivotally connected thereto at 164. The arm 162 is operatively connected at 166 to a conventional solenoid 168 which controls its movement as well as the operation of the valve 114. A coil spring .170 connected to the valve 114 at 172 and to the solenoid at 174 returns the lever 158 to valve closing position when the solenoid 168 is deenergized. The solenoid 168 is electrically connected through the relay 158 as shown in FIGURE 8 to the lower mercury switch 129.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 a manual means for an on and 'oif operation of the water supply to the basin 23 as shown.

in normal operation.

per end (see FIGURE 5 for a clear showing of this washer) and move it and stem 118 in a upward direction upon rotation of transverse shaft 182 by manual actuating movement of lever 180. Because of the previously noted pivotal connection between float stem 118 and plate lever 122 to which are clamped mercury bottle switches 126 and 129, the upward movement of said stem upon actuation of lever 188 causes lever 122 to move and tilt the bottle switches sufliciently far in a counterclockwise direction to cause displacement of the mercury away from their internal electrodes and effectivelydeactivate them for as long as they remain in the tilted position. A finger 190 on the shaft 182 moves the spring controlled dump valve to open position thereby draining the basin or bath '23 when the device is to be out of automatic operation for any length of time.

When transverse shaft 182 and lever 188 are in the nonoperative position lever is turned to its extreme clockwise position, as shown on FIGURE 7, and fingers 188 and 1% (thin metal straps affixed to shaft 182 in such fashion as to turn with it when it is rotated) are disposed out of contact with the previously mentioned washer on float stem 118 and solenoid 132, respectively. To actuate the manual control mechanism and accomplish the abovedescribed results, lever 180 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. This d-irection of movement causes transverse shaft 182 to rotate and bring fingers 188 and 190 into contact with the aforesaid washer and solenoid, re-

spectively. The action of finger 188 in causing float stem 118 to move upwardly and deactivate mercury bottle switches 126 and 129 has already been discussed. Finger 190, as it swings upwardly in response to the counterclockwise movement of lever 188 comes into contact with the bottom edge of the nearest of two oppositely pointing projections on the bottom portion of the laminated core of solenoid 132 and, as its movement continues, the finger pushes the solenoid core upwardly to the limit of its travel The upward travel of the solenoid core results in shaft 138, and attached valve 140, being pulled upward and dump valve 110, as a consequence, being opened. Clockwise movement of lever 180 from its extreme counterclockwise position (which is determined by the travel limitations inherent in the system) to its other positional extreme causes fingers 188 and 190 to swing down and out of contact with the washer on float stem 118 and the core of solenoid 132, respectively,

thereby permitting the automaticwater control system to resume its operations. .Two examples of projections of the type engaged by finger 190 in the above-described manual shutdown procedure can be seen in profile on the bottom portion of the downwardly depending core of solenoid' 168 shown in FIGURE 5.

The opera-tion of the automatic means for the water supply to the bath or basin is controlled by the upper and lower mercury switches. When the unit is turned on and the manual lever placed in on position, the lower mercury switch contacts and opens the supply valve filling the pan or basin 23. When the basin is full, the upper mercury bottle switch breaks and the supply valve closes. The manner in which the opening and closing manipulations of the dump and supply valves are coordinated by the actions of the mercury switches to fulfill the purposes taught herein will be clear from the complete description of the automatic water control system to follow. Suflice it to say at this point that the lower mercury switch is so angular-ly positioned on plate lever 1'22 and so geometrically linked to float 116 through float stem 118 that as the water level lowers to a certain point, hereinafter delineated, the mercury within the switch moves to the closed switch position and current is delivered to solenoid 168 actuating it and causing supply valve 114 to open in the below-described manner and permit the delivery of water to basin 23. In addition to energizing solenoid 168, the closing of the lower mercury switch actuates relay 150 which causes a movable cont-act element to move and break the electrical connection between upper mercury switch 126 and solenoid 132, previously adverted to, thus d-e-energizing the latter and causing dump valve 110 to close.

' water that is evaporated and then completely filling the basin or pan. This is accomplished by the particular position of the mercury switches. The upper mercury switch is set to complete the electrical circuit to the dump valve 110 when evaporation of water in the basin has reduced the level approximately one quarter of an inch. Downward movement of the float valve tilts the lever 12 2 and upper mercury switch which contacts and opens the dump valve 110. The water level is lowered by such action approximately one quarter of an inch. The downward movement of the float 116 by such dumping action tilts the lever and lower mercury switch which contacts and energizes solenoid 168 and opens the replenishing valve 114. Fresh water flows into the basin 23 until it is completely filled to desired level at which time the upper mercury switch, which has been moved to upper most position, opens the electrical circuit and shuts off the water supply. The same cycle of automatic operation continues as described until the device is stopped for a substantial length of time by manual lever operation.

Explaining in somewhat greater detail the sequence of movements in the operation of my automatic water control system,.the closing of the upper mercury switch by the downward movement of the float valve energizes solenoid 132 which, as previously indicated, causes its core to lift shaft 138 .with valve member 140 secured to its lower end and thereby open dump valve 110. The angle of tilt of the lower mercury switch differs from that of the upper mercury switch in such direction that it does not close until the water level drops approximately one quarter of an inch below that which causes contact within the upper switch. When the proper amount of water is dumped to cause this much drop in water level in basin 23, the lower mercury switch is actuated causing energization of solenoid 168, operation of relay 150 and consequent opening of supply valve 114 in the manner set forth above in the discussion relating to the filling of basin 23 by the automatic control system here involved. The sequence of operations from this point until the cycle of controlled events repeats itself is the same as described in the above .adverted to discussion of the automatic filling of basin 23;

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention,'it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the broad scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an evaporative cooler comprising a cooling filter drum, a pan adaptable for containing water, means for rotatably supporting said drum in position over said pan whereby the lower portion of the drum dips into water in the pan during operation of the cooler, a blower so positioned as to suck air from the outer surroundings through the walls of the filter drum during operation of the cooler and blow it in the desired direction, and the necessary means for supporting, supplying energy to, and otherwise contributing to the successful operation of the cooler, the improvement comprising:

(a) a shaft fixedly securedlongitudinally and axially of said cooling drum whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the drum;

(b) bearing support means for said shaft;

(0) support structure for said bearing support means adapted to maintain the shaft and drum in proper operating position in service; and

(d) means capable of maintaining said bearing support means on said support structure therefor during operational use of the cooler without the aid of fastening devices to prevent movement whereby the drum and shaft assembly can be readily mounted on and demounted from said support structure for said bearing support means by lifting means alone;

(e) in combination with automatic means for maintaining water in said pan at the proper level and degree of purity during operation of the cooler, said automatic means comprising;

(f) a first line suitable for draining water from said pan connected thereto;

(g) a dump valve in said first line;

(h) a second line connecting said pan to a source of Water supply;

(i) a replenishing valve in said second line;

(j) float-actuated means, controlled by the water level in said pan through the rise and fall of a float member in communication with the water in the pan during operation of the cooler, for opening said dump valve and draining a predetermined quantity of water from the pan after a predetermined quantity of water has evaporated therefrom;

(k) float-actuated means for opening the replenishing valve and closing the dump valve after the aforesaid predetermined quantity of water has been drained from the pan whereby water is fed into said pan; and

(1) means for closing said replenishing valve when an amount of water substantially equivalent to that evaporated and drained from the pan has been supplied thereto.

2. The combination of claim 1 in further combination with manual control means for de-activating said floatactuated means for opening and closing said dump valve and said replenishing valve in proper sequence and, at the same time, opening said dump valve whereby the cooler can be manually shut down and drained prior to anticipated periods of inactivity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,839,206 1/32 Doherty 26192 X (Other references on following page) Plunk 26192 Norris 98-2 X Robinson 261,88 X

Wocd 26192 X Hays 26192 X Alguire 137-391 HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN EVAPORATIVE COOLER COMPRISING A COOLING FILTER DRUM, A PAN ADAPTABLE FOR CONTAINING WATER, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID DRUM IN POSITION OVER SAID PAN WHEREBY THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRUM DIPS INTO WATER IN THE PAN DURING OPERATION OF THE COOLER, A BLOWER SO POSITIONED AS TO SUCK AIR FROM THE OUTER SURROUNDINGS THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE FILTER DRUM DURING OPERATION OF THE COOLER AND BLOW IT IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION, AND THE NECESSARY MEANS FOR SUPPORTING, SUPPLYING ENERGY TO, AND OTHERWISE CONTRIBUTING TO TH SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THE COOLER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A SHAFT FIXEDLY SECURED LONGITUDINALLY AND AXIALLY OF SAID COOLING DRUM WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE SHAFT CAUSES ROTATION OF THE DRUM; (B) BEARING SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID SHAFT; (C) SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SAID BEARING SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN THE SHAFT AND DRUM IN PROPER OPERATING POSITION IN SERVICE; AND (D) MEANS CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING SAID BEARING SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE THEREFOR DURING OPERATIONAL USE OF THE COOLER WITHOUT THE AID OF FASTENING DEVICES TO PREVENT MOVEMENT WHEREBY THE DRUM AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY CAN BE READILY MOUNTED ON AND DEMOUNTED FROM SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SAID BEARING SUPPORT MEANS BY LIFTING MEANS ALONE; (E) IN COMBINATION WITH AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR MAINTAINING WATER IN SAID PAN AT THE PROPER LEVEL AND

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