Abstract: A floor pan for use in the cabinet of an evaporative cooler is formed with an elevated central platform which is surrounded by an endless upwardly opening trough for containing the operating water supply of the evaporative cooler. The floor pan is configured so that the endless trough is disposed below the wettable pads of the evaporative cooler so as to catch unevaporated water returning from the pads to the water supply, and the trough is sized so as to be as small as possible to facility periodic draining and replacement of the water supply and otherwise reduce water induced damage of the cooler.

Abstract: A cooler pad assembly for use in evaporative coolers is provided with an improved wire rod grill structure for demountably holding a wettable pad medium in the air passage defined by the frame of the cooler pad assembly. The grill structure is demountably connected to the water distribution trough at the top end of the frame and depends therefrom in engagement with the pad medium to hold it in place. The grill structure, which may be formed of one or more independent grill segments, is mounted and configured so as to be in spaced non-engaging relationship with the frame other than its demountable attachment to the water distribution trough, and the grill is demountably held in place by an elongated bar which extends transversely of the frame structure and is in demountable engagement therewith.

Abstract: A trap device for placement on the overflow standpipe provided in the sump of an evaporative cooler for blocking the high velocity inflow of sewer gasses or other contaminants through the standpipe into the cooler during operation thereof without interfering with the water draining functions of the standpipe. The trap device is in the form of an inverted cupshaped body which is mountable in substantially concentric relationship with the standpipe and has a closed top which is spaced above the top of the standpipe and an open bottom end which is submerged in the operational water supply contained in the sump of the evaporative cooler. The closed top of the trap device is provided with a knock-out plug so that the drain hose of a bleed-off system may be sealingly inserted therein when the cooler is so equipped.

Abstract: Improved water distribution troughs are disclosed for use in the cooler pad assemblies of evaporative coolers. The troughs are provided with a primary channel and at least one secondary channel both of which are coextensive in a side-by-side relationship longitudinally of the trough and both are provided with multiple water outlets. The coextending plural channels provided in the troughs results in improved water distribution capabilities so that they can be used to overcome the water distribution problems of the large cooler pad assemblies used in industrial size evaporative coolers. The troughs can also be used in the relatively small pad assemblies of residential size evaporative coolers with such use providing overflow protection in the event of restricted water outlet flow resulting from mineral deposition and the like.

Abstract: An impeller assembly for use in a blower structure including a blower wheel which defines a centrally located peripheral groove in which a special endless metallic pulley band is fixedly mounted and having a hub sleeve which is demountably carried on a tubular axle shaft which demountably carries a stub shaft in each of its opposite ends for rotatable journalling in the bearings of the blower structure.

Abstract: A fan-type evaporative cooler having an improved air handler assembly which locates the rotational path of the fan remotely from the air delivery outlet so that an open mesh grill may be safely used in the air delivery outlet opening, and the improved air handler includes a moisture extraction baffle which protects the internal and external workings of the fan drive motor from corrosion and mineral deposits.

Abstract: Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the operational water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a special siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler so as to be normally in an unprimed non-siphoning state and when in such a state, the evaporative cooler will operate in the normal manner. When the cooler is in normal operation, its water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other contaminants, such as dirt, bacteria and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler and configured for movement between siphoning and non-siphoning positions with the movement being controlled by a solenoid. When the cooler is in normal operation, the solenoid is deenergized which places the siphon drain valve in the non-siphoning position and when in such normal operation, the water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants. At periodic intervals, such as under control of a time clock, the apparatus is switched to its draining, flushing and water replacing operation mode. This is accomplished by energizing the solenoid to initiate the siphoning action of the siphon drain valve to drain the water from the cooler.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically draining the water from an evaporative cooler when operation thereof is terminated and for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water during operation of the cooler. The apparatus includes a comparatively small reservoir tank, which depends from the bottom of the cooler, for containing the cooler's water supply and a pump, a siphon drain valve and at least the float of a float controlled water supply shutoff valve. The water is recirculatingly supplied from the tank to the cooler and returns to the tank and that water will increase in mineral concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants during such recirculation. When both the pump and water supply are shutoff, such as upon termination of cooler usage, the apparatus will automatically commence its drainage operational mode wherein the returning water will raise the water level in the tank to prime the siphon drain valve which drains the water from the tank.

Abstract: A pump, siphon drain valve, and at least the float portion of a float controlled shutoff valve are located in a comparatively small water reservoir tank which is dependingly formed in the floor pan of an evaporative cooler to locate the cooler's water supply externally of its cabinet and are operative to recirculatingly supply water to the cooler and receive the returning water. The water, which increases in mineral concentration during such recirculation, is periodically drained from the tank by shutting off the pump so that the returning water will elevate the water level in the tank and prime the siphon drain valve. When the pump and water inlet supply are both shutoff, the tank completely drains, and when the pump alone is shutoff, tank draining, flushing and refilling is accomplished.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage and utilization system including at least a pair of especially configured liquid containing tanks interconnected by a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy therebetween so that one of the tanks becomes a cold storage tank and the other becomes a heat storage tank. Various types of thermal energy input and output devices are connected to the liquid containing tanks for selectively supplying and/or utilizing the thermal energy stored therein.

Abstract: A baffle is mounted in spaced coextending relationship with the water outlet slots formed in the water distribution troughs of the cooler pad assemblies of an evaporative cooler to block moisture entrainment which otherwise occurs as a result of high velocity air entering the interior of the evaporative cooler trough through the water outlet slots of the troughs.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower assembly including a blower wheel rotatably journaled within a housing on easily fabricated low-cost rotor support braces which are designed to provide rigid versatile structures which may be combined with an especially configured blower housing to improve serviceability of the assembly.

Abstract: A pump, siphon drain valve and float controlled water inlet valve are located in a comparatively small water supply tank which is mounted below an opening formed in the floor pan of an evaporative cooler to locate the cooler's water supply externally of its cabinet and are operative to recirculatingly supply water to the cooler and receive the returning water. The water, which increases in mineral concentration during such recirculation, is periodically drained from the tank by shutting off the pump so that the returning water will elevate the water level in the tank to prime the siphon drain valve. When the pump and water inlet supply are both shut off, the tank completely drains, and when the pump alone is shut off, tank draining, flushing and refilling is accomplished.

Abstract: An air conditioning structure having a depending centrally located outlet opening and auxiliary air inlets disposed laterally with respect thereto in combination with an air handling mechanism coupled to the outlet and auxiliary air inlets thereof. The air handling mechanism is located within a special support frame for the air conditioning structure, with the frame being adapted to retain and protect insulative material adjacent the exterior surfaces of the air handler mechanism. The air handling mechanism includes a central supply duct for conducting air from the air conditioning structure to a point of use and has a pair of laterally disposed return air handler ducts for conducting and treating the air returned from the point of use to the air conditioning structure, and further includes an exhaust duct extending from the supply duct by which air from the point of use may optionally be exhausted to ambient.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an evaporative cooler construction having a frame comprising corner posts, a sump pan and a cover pan, together with pivotal access doors above and between the corner posts adapted to overlie and expose upper portions of evaporative cooler pad assemblies between the corner posts; said access doors also adapted to lock into place louver grills disposed between the corner posts and substantially flush with the outer extremeties thereof; the disclosure also relating to novel structural interconnection of the corner posts, the sump pan and the cover pan, as well as novel bayonet hinge structure connecting the access doors with the cover pan of the evaporative cooler construction.

Abstract: The top and sump pans of an evaporative cooler housing are formed of sheet metal and each have a planar surface with folded marginal flanges and are formed with diagonally folded corners that are structurally strong, leakproof and facilitate interconnection of the pans with interconnecting structural members.

Abstract: The top and sump pans of an evaporative cooler housing are formed of sheet metal and each have a planar surface with folded marginal flanges and are formed with diagonally folded corners that are structurally strong, leakproof and facilitate interconnection of the pans with corner posts or other suitable interconnecting structural members.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler with superimposed pad assemblies adapted to provide for efficient operation of an evaporative cooler having substantially greater elevation and corresponding area, than conventional evaporative coolers of a comparable horizontal cross section, wherein progressive redistribution of water from rearward lower portions of superimposed pad assemblies toward upper inlet sides of the respective pad assemblies provides for great cooling capacity in proportion to the horizontal cross section of a cooler. The disclosure also including details of disposable pad assemblies for superimposed disposition relative to each other in an evaporative cooler in spaced relation to an inlet louver grill thereof. The disclosure being additionally related to the normal operation of superimposed evaporative cooler pad assemblies to prevent thinning of the saturated pad area of evaporative cooler pads near their lower portions in response to air flow from the inlet to the outlet sides of such pad assemblies.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an adjustable V belt pulley which is readily adjustable so as to vary the pitched diameter of the pulley at which a conventional V belt operates between outwardly diverging annular sheave faces of the adjustable pulley. The disclosure also relating to a novel means including a compressible bushing adapted to surround a shaft and lock the adjustable pulley of the invention on the shaft when the relatively adjustable sheave members are clamped together by bolts which extend therethrough generally axially parallel to the axis of shaft receiving openings in the hubs of the sheave members.