Patent Application
20050268636
The present invention relates generally to the field of evaporative coolers, and more particularly to a whole building evaporative cooler housing.
Evaporative coolers are well know and used in warm dry climates to both raise the humidity and cool the air. Evaporative coolers work by drawing air from outside through a media soaked with water. As the air flows through the soaked media water is evaporated by the outside air thereby lowering the temperature of the air. The cooled air is then directed into the area to be cooled.
An evaporative cooler includes a number of elements all of which are stored in a housing. These elements typically include an air blower; a media pad; a water distribution system; and an electric motor. Evaporative coolers need to be maintained on a periodic basis to replace the media pads and to clean the water distribution system.
There are three traditional approaches to mounting evaporative coolers. One approach is to mount the cooler on the roof in which the cooled air is blown down into the building. This type of cooler is also referred to as a down-draft cooler. The roof mounted cooler provides the advantage of being out of the way and can be easily connected to a duct system to deliver the cooled air. However, maintenance of the roof-mounted coolers is difficult due to access. Additionally, many roof mounted coolers are being banned under local zoning ordinances due to the aesthetic nature of the cooler located on the roof.
Another method of locating evaporative coolers is by hanging the housing from a window or eve. The cooled air is then blown into the area to be cooled through the side of the cooler and is also referred to as a side-draft cooler. The window or eve hung coolers while being more accessible are typically hung from the eves or proximate a window. This approach has a number of disadvantages including blocking the window from use by the cooler. Additionally, the width of the coolers or the distance from which they extend from the building can be up to three feet or more. This extension from the home may not be aesthetically pleasing and also takes up a portion of the yard. Where the coolers are located in more densely populated areas with housing units close to one another the three feet extension may take up a significant portion of the space between the buildings. In addition to making use of the space between the building more difficult to use for garbage and recycling containers, it may make maintenance of the unit more difficult.
A third method of mounting the coolers is to place them on the ground in which the cooled air is blown upwardly. This type of cooler is also referred to as an updraft cooler. This type of cooler has the disadvantage of requiring even greater yard space than the down-draft and side-draft coolers.
Connecting an evaporative cooler to a central air conditioning (A/C) system is problematic because usually the A/C ducts are too small to efficiently move the air from the evaporative cooler system. One solution has been to use larger registers or relatively short, straight, and free of obstructions ducts. However, such solutions add costs to the system and may require replacement of existing duct work.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an evaporative cooler that could be ground mounted that would be easy to maintain in small tight areas between buildings. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an evaporative cooler housing that was not mounted to a roof to avoid local zoning prohibitions. Further it would be desirable to provide an evaporative cooler housing that did not excessively protrude into the yard from the building. Still further, it would be desirable to provide an evaporative cooler combined with a central air conditioning system using a common duct system in the building.
There is provided a method for supplementing the air quality in a dwelling having an air conditioning system including a duct work system and a compressor. The method comprises the steps of providing an evaporative cooler having a housing with an extension extending therefrom and a high capacity blow wheel. Placing the evaporative cooler adjacent the dwelling. Installing the extensions through an opening in an exterior wall of the dwelling. Coupling the extension to the duct work system of the air conditioning system in the dwelling. Controlling the operation of the evaporative cooler and the air conditioning system. Another embodiment of the method includes the steps of providing a flexible duct having two ends, attaching one end of the flexible duct to the extension and the other end to the duct work system. Another embodiment of the method includes the step of mounting the evaporative cooler housing at a predetermined grade, such as at ground level in relation to the dwelling.
There is further provided an evaporative cooling system for use in a dwelling structure having a central air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes a duct work system and a compressor. The evaporative cooling system comprises an evaporative cooling unit, including a housing having a front panel and an opposing rear panel that has an exhaust extension extending inwardly into the dwelling structure. The housing further includes a first and second side panel extending between the front and rear panels. The front panel has an exposed surface area that is uninterrupted to prevent air from entering therethrough. A blower is located within the housing and aligned with the exhaust extension. A first and second evaporative media pad is mounted proximate the first and second side panels of the housing. A water distribution system is configured to permit water to flow downwards through the media pads. A stand is configured to support the evaporative cooling unit located on the ground adjacent to the dwelling structure. A flexible duct having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end interior diameter is larger than the interior diameter of the second end. The flexible duct is configured to couple to the housing of the evaporative cooling system and the duct work of the air conditioning system. A control unit is configured to control the operation of the evaporative cooling unit and the air conditioning system.
There is also provided an evaporative cooling system for use in a dwelling structure having a central air conditioning system that includes a duct work system and a compressor. The evaporative cooling system comprises a means for cooling, including a means for housing having a means for exhausting extending inwardly into the dwelling structure. A means for blowing is located within the means for housing and aligned with the means for exhausting. A first and second evaporative media pad is mounted in the means for housing. A means for distributing is mounted in the means for housing to permit water to flow downwards through the media pads. A means for supporting, a means for cooling is located on the ground adjacent to the dwelling structure. A flexible duct having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end interior diameter is larger than the interior diameter of the second end, with the flexible duct configured to couple to the means for housing of the means for cooling and the duct work system of the air conditioning system. A means for controlling the operation of the means for cooling and the air conditioning system.
Referring to the Figures, an evaporative cooling system 25, including an evaporative cooler 30 is attached to a dwelling structure 10. Evaporative cooler 30 includes an evaporative cooler housing 32, a media assembly 66, 68 a blower assembly 60, and a water distribution system 70. For purposes of convenience, the rear panel 36 of evaporative cooler housing 32 will be the side that is adjacent the dwelling 10. Accordingly, front panel 34 of the evaporative cooler 32 faces away from the dwelling. The right side 42 and left side 44 of evaporative cooler 30 is on the right and left, respectively as viewed from an observer facing front panel 34. (See
In an exemplary embodiment, evaporate cooler housing 32 is formed from a rear panel 36, a front panel 34, a pair of right and left side panels 42, 44, a base, and a top panel. Referring to
Rear panel 36 can be formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent to form the various panels. It is also possible to form rear panel 36 from two or more pieces of material. The front panel 34 can be formed from a single piece of sheet metal or from two or more pieces of material. The front panel 34 does have an exposed surface area 38 that is uninterrupted to prevent air from entering therethrough.
The inwardly extending exhaust extension 40 can be configured to fit through an opening 16 between two spaced studs 14 of dwelling 10 (see
A housing 32 is formed from the base, top panel, rear panel 36 and front panel 34. An access door may be provided to allow access to the interior of the housing 32. The width of the sides 42, 44 of evaporator cooler housing 32 is typically determined by the width of the evaporative media pads, 66, 68.
Exhaust extension 40 includes an opening 41 which serves as the air outlet from the evaporate cooler housing 32. It should also be noted that the front side 34 of housing 32 does not include any openings. However, it is possible in an alternative embodiment to provide louvered openings alone or in any combination in the other panels. The air inlets 46, 48 of an exemplary embodiment of an evaporator housing 32 is accomplished through the right and left side panels 42, 44 that are located on the right and left sides of the housing 32.
In one embodiment, (See
Water is sprayed through each nozzle such that it sprays the water against surface of the evaporative media pads 66, 68. The size of the nozzle outlet is sufficient to minimize cleaning required due to mineral buildup. The portion of the water flow that hits the media pads 66, 68 is then directed downward.
In another embodiment, (See
Water is sprayed through each distributor tube such that it sprays the water upward against the water distributor surface which spreads the water evenly as it reaches the evaporative media pads 66, 68. The size of the distributor holes is sufficient to minimize cleaning required due to mineral buildup. The portion of the water flow that hits the media pads 66, 68 is then directed downward.
Turning to
In an exemplary embodiment, the blower 60 is a rotary blower having a ⅛ hp motor and blower wheel. Additionally, the position of the blower permits the air entering the media pad 66, 68 to move directly into the blower. Of course air entering either the top or bottom of the media will enter the blower at an angle. However, greater efficiency is achieved since the inlet or openings of the blowers face the right and left sides of the evaporative cooler and media. An increased blower wheel diameter would require a larger blower housing which in turn would require a large evaporative cooler housing. A larger housing would project further from the building structure. Alternatively, the air flow could be increased if the length of the blower wheel is increased as measured along a longitudinal axis about which the blower wheel rotates. However, the increased length of the blower wheel along its longitudinal axis would require a larger size opening in the building if a portion of the blower housing would fit within the extension portion. Coupling the evaporative cooling system 25 to the existing air conditioning system 20 of a dwelling 10 requires the blower 60 to be configured to overcome the typical high static air pressure, for example 0.6 to 2.0 inches of water, of the duct work system 22 of the air conditioning system 20.
Turning to
The flexible duct 80 has a first end 82 and second end 86. An exemplary embodiment, the first end 82 has an interior diameter ID larger than the interior diameter ID of the second end 86 with the flexible duct 80 configured to couple to the housing 32 of the evaporative cooling system 25 and the duct work system 22 of the air conditioning system 20. A typical air conditioning system 20 duct work 22 may have twelve inch diameter ducts. An exemplary embodiment of a flexible duct 80 will have an ID of eighteen to twenty inches at one end and an ID of twelve inches at another end that connects to the air conditioning system. The high capacity blower 60 and flexible duct 80 combine to overcome the high static air pressure in the existing air conditioning system duct work.
The evaporative cooler housing 32 is mounted at a predetermined grade in relation to the dwelling 10. The predetermined grade in one exemplary embodiment is at ground level with the evaporative cooling housing 32 supported on a stand 74 located on the ground G adjacent to the drawing structure 10. The stand 74 can be composed of any material that is suitable for the environment in which it is located and provide sufficient strength to support the evaporative cooler housing 32. The stand 74 may be a slab, for example of concrete or it may be a framework on legs and it may include decorative features that are compatible with the evaporative cooler housing 32.
The evaporative cooling system 25 includes a control unit 90 which is configured to control the operation of the evaporative cooling unit 30 and the air conditioning system 20. Dampers 92 can be mounted between the evaporative cooling housing 32 and the air conditioning compressor 24. The control unit 90 is typically configured to alternately operate the evaporative cooling system 25 and the air conditioning system 20.
For existing dwellings 10 and buildings a method for supplementing the air quality in the dwelling 10 having an air conditioning system 20 is provided. The air conditioning system 20 which includes a duct work system 22 and a compressor 24. The method includes the steps of providing an evaporative cooler 30 having a housing 32 with an extension 40 extending therefrom and a high capacity blow wheel 61. Placing the evaporative cooler 30 adjacent to the dwelling 10 and installing the extension 40 through an opening 16 in an exterior wall 12 of the dwelling 10. Coupling the extension 40 to the duct work system 22 of the air conditioning system 20 in the dwelling 10 and controlling the operation of the evaporative cooler 30 and the air conditioning system 20.
Additional steps include providing a flexible duct 80 having two ends 82, 86 and attaching one end of the flexible duct 80 to the extension 40 and the other end of the duct to the duct work system 22. A damper 92 can be provided and installed between the evaporative cooling housing 32 and the air conditioning compressor 24 to provide additional control for the air quality in the dwelling 10. Additional dampers 92 may be installed for additional air quality control. A controller 90 coupled to the evaporative cooling system 25 and the air conditioning system 20 and their attendant equipment (ex. dampers, vents, and the like) alternately operates the evaporative cooling system 25 and the air conditioning system 20.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the evaporative cooler housing as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g. variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as expressed in the appended claims.
