Abstract: A splash bar fill assembly for a splash-type cooling tower includes a plurality of splash bars, each of which includes a one-piece elongated member having a generally convex upper surface of restricted width and also having first and second edges having a pair of converging side surfaces depending downwardly therefrom at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface. The side surfaces of the elongated member are of a restricted depth. The invention includes a means for supporting the splash bar within the cooling tower and an arrangement of successive rows. Each supporting means having a first and second section which intersect at an apex. Adjacent splash bars in the first section are vertically offset in ascending orientation towards the apex. Adjacent splash bars in the second section are vertically offset in descending orientation from the apex.

Abstract: A gas/liquid fill assembly for use in an evaporative cooling tower, chemical scrubbing apparatus or other device includes a plurality of facially-opposed corrugated sheets of material disposed in a substantially vertical, parallel relationship. The corrugations of each sheet are disposed at an angle to the horizontal with each of the corrugations extending continuously in substantially straight lines from one edge of the sheets to another edge. The corrugations in alternate sheets cross the corrugations in the sheets disposed between the alternate sheets. Adjacent corrugated sheets form channels to allow a gas and gravitating liquid to pass through the fill assembly. The sheets are formed of a foraminous material comprising an open-mesh network of interconnected webs. The interconnected webs are arranged to define a plurality of polygonally shaped openings.

Abstract: A drainage collection system for use in an evaporative cooling tower is disposed transversely within a cooling tower below a gas/liquid heat exchanging contact body to receive liquid gravitating therefrom and to collect the same. The drainage collection system includes a plurality of liquid collection plates which are arranged in parallel and inclined from the vertical. Each of the plates includes an upper and a lower end portion with the upper end portion of each overlapping the lower end portion of a respectively adjacent plate. Each plate is shaped over its central portion to form substantially planar upper and lower sections. The lower section is inclined less from the vertical than the upper section. The lower end portion of each of the plates is shaped to form primary and secondary collecting channels extending substantially across the width of the plate for collecting liquid directed thereto by the plate.

Abstract: Improved support means are disclosed for a plurality of vertically arranged transversely oriented fill sheets or grids for direct contact cooling towers.

Abstract: Filling sheets are disclosed for use in a gas and liquid contact apparatus. The sheet members are identical and each of the sheet members has a plurality of male type and female type locking tabs. The tabs are positioned in rows and columns and male type tabs in any row or column are adjacent a female type tab whereby rotation of alternate sheets 180.degree. bring the male and female type tabs of alternate sheets into alignment.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for reducing detrimental wind influence on cooling towers by mounting at the air inlet to the towers a plurality of spaced baffles, each of which have continuous, smooth, curved, low wind resistance surfaces directed outwardly of the air inlet and high wind resistance surfaces directed toward the interior of the tower.