Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Pumping
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-29
2003-03-18
Bushey, C. Scott (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Pumping
C261S100000, C261S112200, C428S185000, C428S543000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06533253
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the attenuation of light in conjunction with evaporative cooling pads, more particularly to the use of light attenuating evaporative cooling pads used with evaporative coolers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Evaporative cooling has been a source of inexpensive cooling in the residential and commercial market since the early 1900's. In general, an evaporative cooling unit includes a housing having a fan and one or more water saturated cooling pads mounted therein. The fan is designed to draw air through the housing and across the water saturated pads. The air is cooled by moisture evaporation as the air passes through the pads. Evaporative coolers are particularly suited for outdoor use, or applications where air conditioning is impractical or cost prohibitive, such as warehouses, aircraft hangars, auto repair shops, and gymnasiums.
However, the benefit of evaporative cooling in farming and particularly in the poultry market was not known until the late 1950's and early 1960's. During this period, research efforts developed methods of raising poultry on a large-scale commercial farm environment. Evaporative cooling was found to be a very effective solution to increase the production and population of the flocks.
During the same period, research also discovered that ambient light intensity affected the feed conversion and growth characteristics of poultry. The use of devices to attenuate the light source coming into the containment building were tested with varying results. The tests showed that by decreasing light from natural-ambient levels, it was possible to grow healthier and more mature poultry. The tests indicated that the overall performance of the bird increases with a decrease in the light during development.
The typical evaporative cooling pad does not provide sufficient light attenuation to encourage the increased growth and productivity due to its relatively translucent structure. To date, farmers have had to use light attenuation systems for evaporative coolers that incorporate separate devices called “light traps.” Light traps are typically fabricated from extruded or vacuum formed plastic profiles that form a blade having a series of surfaces at angles to each other. Multiple blades are assembled to form a complete light trap having “zigzagging” passages. The passage of light through the light traps is reduced by the indirect passages. The light traps can then be installed at the air inlet and/or outlet locations of he evaporative cooler. The light traps add complexity to the design, require extra space for shipping and installation, and add costs to the system. However, until the present invention, users of light attenuation devices have been relegated to the use of light traps for several decades without apparent options.
Therefore, a need exists to provide light attenuation in conjunction with cooling pads independent of light traps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an evaporative cooling pad and method of making and using the same. The cooling pad features a low reflective, low light transmissive surface finish incorporated directly into the cooling pad. In one embodiment, this surface finish would be a dark color, gray to black, with a low gloss surface. The coupling of this type of finish and colored sheet with the plurality of angled cross-corrugated flutes featured on the cooling pad serves the function of breaking the light source at various flute angles and attenuating the light value during its passage through the cooling pad.
While such features may represent an incremental step in the progress of cooling pad technology, such features heretofore have not been available. Prior to the invention, those in the art of evaporative coolers were relegated to the inclusion of separate light traps with the attendant costs of manufacturing and assembly of the light traps to an evaporative cooling fan system. The need for light attenuation has been long felt and the technology may have existed to solve the need. However, those with ordinary skill in the art did not appreciate or appropriate the solution offered by the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3262682 (1966-07-01), Bredberg
patent: 3265550 (1966-08-01), Lindqvist
patent: 3655468 (1972-04-01), Bastone et al.
patent: 3682747 (1972-08-01), Munters
patent: 3862280 (1975-01-01), Polovina
patent: 3947532 (1976-03-01), Skold et al.
patent: 4989502 (1991-02-01), Ospelt
patent: 5133692 (1992-07-01), Koop
patent: 5238451 (1993-08-01), Wulf et al.
patent: 5248454 (1993-09-01), Thomas
patent: 5601485 (1997-02-01), Gigola
patent: 6079365 (2000-06-01), Medlin et al.
patent: 6223548 (2001-05-01), Clavert
patent: 6331223 (2001-12-01), Wylie et al.
patent: 6378322 (2002-04-01), Calvert
patent: 6409157 (2002-06-01), Lundin et al.
Bushey C. Scott
General Shelters of Texas S.B., Ltd.
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
LandOfFree
Light attenuating evaporative cooling pad does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Light attenuating evaporative cooling pad, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Light attenuating evaporative cooling pad will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3056892