Water distribution and return control system for evaporative cooling pad installation

• US 5,966,953 A
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acme Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
• Original Assignee: Acme Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Ellison, Jack Edwin, Murr, James
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/177,129
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 62/171, 62/18, 62/310, 62/188, 261/27
• US Class Current: 62/171
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0082 Water misting or cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0035 using evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/04 using stationary unheated wet elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 5/02 in which the evaporating medium flows in a continuous film or trickles freely over the conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/70 in livestock or poultry
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/76 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 Free-cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/12 using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/50 Livestock or poultry management

Abstract

A multi-stage distribution and return control system for use in an evaporative cooling system including a drip conductor, a plurality of cooling cells along which water from the drip conductor passes and a gutter therebelow, including a tank, a conduit for conveying fresh water to the tank and a valve for regulating flow therethrough, a pump within the tank, a conduit for conveying water from the pump to the drip conductor, a conduit for conveying water from the gutter to the tank; high, mid and low-level switches and a float for movement between the switches, and a control system which when cooling is desired opens the valve for conveying fresh water to the tank until the float engages the mid-level switch and for starting the pump until the float engages the low-level switch, stopping the pump until water fills the tank again to the level defined by the mid-level switch and, moreover, when enough water is evaporated from the cooling cells, and the water level falls below the mid-level switch opening the valve again filling the tank to the level of the mid-level switch and, moreover, turning off the pump and valve when the temperature reaches the predetermined, desirable low level and, moreover, when water returning from the cooling cells is of sufficient volume to activate the high-level switch starting the pump until the float deactivates the low-level switch at which time the pump is turned off.

Claims

1. In an evaporative cooling system including a drip conductor, a plurality of cooling cells along which water from the drip conductor passes and a gutter therebelow, the improvement comprising:

a tank,

a conduit for conveying fresh water to the tank and a valve for regulating flow therethrough,

a pump within the tank,

a conduit for conveying water from the pump to the drip conductor,

a conduit for conveying water from the gutter to the tank,

high, mid and low-level switches associated with the tank and a float for movement between the switches; and

means, when cooling is desired, for opening the valve for conveying fresh water to the tank and for operating the pump conveying water to the drip conductor until the float engages the low-level switch, stopping the pump until water fills the tank again to the level defined by the mid-level switch and, moreover, when enough water is evaporated from the cooling cells and the water level falls below the mid-level switch at which time the float engages the mid-level switch opening the valve again filling the tank to the level of the mid-level switch and, moreover, turning off the pump and valve when the temperature reaches the predetermined desirable low level and, moreover, when water returning from the cooling cells is of sufficient volume to activate the high-level switch starting the pump until the float deactivates the low-level switch at which time the pump is turned off.

2. In an evaporative cooling system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a flush selector switch, a flush valve and a filter operatively connected to the pump and conduit for conveying water from the pump to the drip connector, and a dump valve for regulating the flow of water through a drain line from the tank; and

means for activating the flush and dump cycle for energizing the flush valve, pumping the water remaining in the tank through the filter and out through the flush valve, until the float deactivates the low-level switch energizing the dump valve draining the water remaining in the tank and, thereafter, closing the dump valve.

3. A multi-stage distribution and return control system for use in an evaporative cooling system, comprising:

a tank,

a valve for controlling the introduction of fresh water to the tank,

a pump within the tank,

first and second multi-level switches within the tank,

a float for movement within the tank for actuating the switches,

means responsive to temperature for activating the pump when cooling is desired and for deactivating the pump and for closing the valve when cooling is no longer necessary,

means for deactivating the pump when the float activates the first of said switches, and

means for opening the valve when the float activates the second of the switches.

4. A multi-stage distribution and return control system for use in an evaporative cooling system as in claim 3, further comprising:

a third switch and means for turning the pump on when the water level causes the float to activate the third switch.

5. A multi-stage distribution and return control system for use in an evaporative cooling system as in claim 4, further comprising:

a flush selector switch, a flush valve and a filter operative connected to the pump and conduit for conveying water from the pump to the drip connector, and a dump valve for regulating the flow of water through a drain line from the tank; and

means for activating the flush and dump cycle for energizing the flush valve, pumping the water remaining in the tank through the filter and out through the flush valve, until the float deactivates the lowest of the switches energizing the dump valve draining the water remaining in the tank and, thereafter, closing the dump valve.