Abstract: A cooling tower comprising at its lower portion, beneath an exchange surface, a catch basin receiving the cooled water and having an aperture formed therein, a vertical-axis fan mounted in the aperture being adapted to draw air from beneath the basin and force it upwards through the tower, a conventional water streaming mechanism being provided at the upper portion of the tower.

Abstract: A ventilation and air conditioning apparatus operating according to the adiabatic evaporation principle and adapted to be fitted under a roof, the apparatus comprising a prismatic housing of which the bottom portion consists of an annular water-filled tank having in its central portion an upstanding frustoconical element having a vertical axis of which the vertex angle is at least 30 degrees. The major base of the element is connected in an air-tight manner to the tank, the minor base of this frustoconical element being disposed at the top and closed, and receives through it the vertical shaft of an electric motor driving a helical fan provided with relatively large blades rotating at a relatively slow speed and adapted to draw in air through a shaft of which at least the lower section is vertical and opens into the upper portion of the housing, while the upper section of this shaft opens into the external atmosphere.