Whole building evaporative cooler

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplementing the air quality in a dwelling with an evaporative cooling system configured to couple to an existing central air conditioning system in the dwelling. The evaporative cooling system includes an evaporative cooling unit supported at ground level adjacent to the dwelling with a portion of the evaporative cooler extending through an exterior wall of the dwelling; between the studs of the exterior wall.

1 . A method for supplementing the air quality in a dwelling having an air conditioning system including a duct work system and a compressor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an evaporative cooler having a housing with an extension extending therefrom and a high capacity blow wheel;    placing the evaporative cooler adjacent the dwelling;    installing the extension through an opening in an exterior wall of the dwelling;    coupling the extension to the duct work system of the air conditioning system in the dwelling; and    controlling the operation of the evaporative cooler and the air conditioning system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is between two studs in the exterior wall of the dwelling and the extension is configured to fit between the studs.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the exterior wall exposes a stud and the extension is configured to fit around the stud.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling includes the steps of providing a flexible duct having two ends, attaching one end of the flexible duct to the extension and the other end to the duct work system.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein one end of the flexible duct has a smaller inside diameter than the other end of the flexible duct.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , including the steps of providing a damper and installing the damper between the evaporative cooler housing and the air conditioning compressor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative cooler housing includes dual inlets.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein one inlet is in one side of the evaporative cooler housing and the other inlet is in another side of the evaporative cooler housing.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of mounting the evaporative cooler housing at a predetermined grade in relation to the dwelling.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the evaporative cooler housing is at ground level.  
   
   
       11 . An evaporative cooling system for use in a dwelling structure having a central air conditioning system, including a duct work system and a compressor, the evaporative cooling system comprising: 
 an evaporative cooling unit, including:    a housing having a front panel and an opposing rear panel having an exhaust extension extending inwardly into the dwelling structure, the housing further including a first and second side panel extending between the front and rear panels, the front panel having an exposed surface area that is uninterrupted to prevent air from entering there through;    a blower located within the housing and aligned with the exhaust extension;    a first and second evaporative media pad proximate the first and second side panels of the housing;    a water distribution system mounted in the housing and configured to permit water to flow downwards through the media pads;    a stand configured to support the evaporative cooling unit located on the ground adjacent to the dwelling structure;    a flexible duct having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end interior diameter is larger than the interior diameter of the second end, with the flexible duct configured to couple to the housing of the evaporative cooling system and the duct work system of the air conditioning system; and    a control unit configured to control the operation of the evaporative cooling unit and the air conditioning system.    
   
   
       12 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust extension enters the dwelling structure between two studs of an exterior wall of the dwelling structure.  
   
   
       13 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust extension is configured to fit around a stud in the dwelling structure exterior wall.  
   
   
       14 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , including a damper mounted between the evaporative cooler housing and the air conditioning compressor.  
   
   
       15 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , including dual inlets, with each inlet including one-way louvers.  
   
   
       16 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 15 , wherein one inlet is in one side panel of the evaporative cooler housing and the other inlet is in another side panel of the evaporative cooler housing.  
   
   
       17 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the blower is configured to overcome high static pressure in the duct work system of the air conditioning system.  
   
   
       18 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to alternately operate the evaporative cooling system and the air conditioning system.  
   
   
       19 . An evaporative cooling system for use in a dwelling structure having a central air conditioning system, including a duct work system and a compressor, the evaporative cooling system comprising: 
 a means for cooling, including:    a means for housing having a means for exhausting extending inwardly into the dwelling structure;    a means for blowing located within the means for housing and aligned with the means for exhausting;    a first and second evaporative media pad mounted in the means for housing;    a means for distributing is mounted in the means for housing to permit water to flow downwards through the media pads;    a means for supporting the means for cooling located on the ground adjacent to the dwelling structure;    a flexible duct having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end interior diameter is larger than the interior diameter of the second end, with the flexible duct configured to couple to the means for housing of the means for cooling and the duct work system of the air conditioning system; and    a means for controlling the operation of the means for cooling and the air conditioning system.    
   
   
       20 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the means for exhausting enters the dwelling structure between two studs of an exterior wall of the dwelling structure.  
   
   
       21 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for exhausting is configured to fit around a stud in the dwelling structure exterior wall.  
   
   
       22 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 19 , including a means for metering mounted between the means for cooling and the air conditioning compressor.  
   
   
       23 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 19 , including dual means for allowing air only into the means for cooling.  
   
   
       24 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the means for blowing is configured to overcome high static pressure in the duct work system of the air conditioning system.  
   
   
       25 . The evaporative cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the means for controlling is configured to alternately operate the evaporative cooling system and the air conditioning system.