Abstract: Described is a louver having a frame that forms an enclosure defining an opening, and a plurality of louver blades disposed within the opening. The louver further includes an elongated member disposed within the frame and in contact with the plurality of louver blades. The elongated member has a body that longitudinally extends between a first member end and a second member end, wherein the first member end and the second member end are fixedly connected to opposing sections of the frame. The described louver may provide improved wind-driven rain resistance and/or impact resistance.

Abstract: An airflow detecting device includes a pivot rod, a first vane portion hingedly secured to the pivot rod and a second vane portion hingedly secured to the pivot rod. The airflow detecting device further includes a sensor assembly coupled to the first vane portion and the second vane portion. The sensor assembly generates a signal when the one of the first vane portion and the second vane portion is moved relative to the other of the second vane portion and the first vane portion when effected by airflow. The airflow detecting device further includes a control module secured to the pivot rod and coupled to the sensor assembly to receive the signal from the sensor assembly. The control module is configured to determine the direction and the amount of airflow based on the signal from the sensor assembly. Other embodiments of airflow detecting devices are further disclosed.

Abstract: A drift eliminator is formed from alternating curved spacers and corrugated spacer members to define tube-like passageways for the flow of air through an evaporative cooling apparatus. The formation of the corrugated blade member with beveled side walls places the back walls of the channels in a different plane than the front walls, with the lower edge of the front walls of the channels being positioned in a common plane along with the lower edge of the blade members. The angled side walls impede the formation of a film of water across the inlet opening into the channel, which requires an increase in horsepower for the fan to push air through the drift eliminator. Mechanical fastening devices molded into the respective members connects the corrugated spacer members and the blade members. A method of forming the corrugated spacer members to provide the angled side walls is also provided.

Abstract: A light eliminator which permits passage of ventilating air but totally eliminates entry of light into the poultry house which includes a plurality of laterally spaced vertical fins or panels each of which is of a unique configuration which breaks the light four times in order to totally block the entry of light into a poultry house while maintaining a minimum air flow resistance with the fins being spaced apart by standoffs that are uniquely positioned with the fins generally being of W-shaped configuration whereby negative pressure within the poultry house provided by air circulating fans will not cause vibration or waffling of the fins when subjected to air velocities induced by high CFM capacity poultry house fans. The light eliminator is constructed of noncorrosive plastic material and can be assembled easily in a short period of time and is extremely durable resulting in low cost operation.

Abstract: A light restricting housing for a ventilating system including a flow-through frame member having a plurality of spaced parallel blade members disposed there, the blade members being contoured to obscure direct passage of light therethrough and including displacement means on the planar surfaces thereof to hold the blade members in spaced relation to each other.