Portable, self-contained, evaporative air cooler

Abstract

A portable, self-contained, evaporative air cooler. An elongated, vertically oriented cylindrical canister has a lower end containing a watertight basin. A fan assembly has a downwardly directed air inlet port and a horizontally directed air exhaust duct. The fan assembly drops into and rests upon, an open, upper end of the canister. A cutout in the upper sidewall of the canister accommodates the air exhaust duct. At least one air inlet is provided in the median portion of the canister sidewall, between the upper and lower ends. An evaporative air filter, elongated and cylindrical in configuration, is attached to and extends downwardly from the air inlet port. A water pump located in the basin includes a water distribution system, delivering water to the upper edge of the air filter. Air, passing through the saturated air filter, is cooled and humidified, before being discharged through the exhaust duct.

1 . A portable, self-contained, evaporative air cooler, comprising:
 a. an elongated, vertically oriented, cylindrical canister having a sidewall, said canister further having a lower end, an upper end, and a median portion therebetween, said lower end including a watertight basin, said upper end having an open top and including an exhaust duct cutout in said sidewall, and said median portion including at least one air inlet in said sidewall;   b. a fan assembly including a fan housing, a fan motor having a rotary output shaft, and a fan impeller attached to said output shaft, said fan motor and said fan impeller being located within said fan housing, said fan housing further having a lower air inlet port adjacent a suction side of said impeller and an air exhaust duct adjacent an output side of said impeller, said air inlet port being located within and surrounded by said open top, and a portion of said exhaust duct being located within and surrounded by said exhaust duct cutout;   c. an evaporative air filter, said air filter being elongated and cylindrical in configuration, and having an upper end attached to said air inlet port and extending vertically and downwardly therefrom; and,   d. a water pump, said water pump being located in said basin and including a water distribution system, said distribution system delivering water to said upper end of said evaporative air filter.   
   
   
       2 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 1  in which said rotary output shaft is vertical in orientation, and in which said impeller is centrifugal in design, drawing air vertically and upwardly through said air inlet port and discharging air horizontally through said air exhaust duct. 
   
   
       3 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 1  in which said evaporative air filter includes an air permeable element and a foraminous support frame, said support frame being right-circular cylindrical in configuration. 
   
   
       4 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 1  in which said air exhaust duct includes a right-angle turn outside said sidewall of said canister. 
   
   
       5 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 1  further including a water fill fixture including an opening in a region of said sidewall above an upper water level in said watertight basin. 
   
   
       6 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 5  in which said fixture comprises an outwardly and upwardly directed lip with an upper edge in spaced relation from said sidewall and a lower edge attached to said sidewall. 
   
   
       7 . An evaporative cooler as in  claim 1  in which said water distribution system comprises a vertical water supply line and a circular distribution line, said water supply line having a lower end connected to an output fitting on said water pump, and having an upper end connected to said distribution line, said distribution line being positioned around said upper end of said evaporative air filter and including a plurality of apertures for the passage of water therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . An evaporative cooler as in  claim 1  further including at least two air inlets in said sidewall, said air inlets being provided with perforated grills. 
   
   
       9 . A portable, self-contained, evaporative air cooler, comprising:
 a. an elongated, vertically oriented, cylindrical canister having a sidewall, said canister further having a lower end, an upper end, and a median portion therebetween, said upper end having an open top and said median portion including at least one air inlet in said sidewall,   b. water storage means within said canister;   c. a fan assembly including a fan housing, a fan motor having a rotary output shaft, and a fan impeller attached to said output shaft, said fan motor and said fan impeller being located within said fan housing, said fan housing further having a lower air inlet port adjacent a suction side of said impeller and an air exhaust duct adjacent an output side of said impeller, said air inlet port being located within and surrounded by said open top;   d. an evaporative air filter, said air filter being elongated and cylindrical in configuration, and having an upper end attached to said air inlet port and extending vertically and downwardly therefrom; and,   e. a water pump, said water pump having a water input fitting in communication with said water storage means and a water output fitting in communication with a water distribution system, said distribution system delivering water to said upper end of said evaporative air filter.   
   
   
       10 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 9  in which said rotary output shaft is vertical in orientation, and in which said impeller is centrifugal in design, drawing air vertically and upwardly through said air inlet port and discharging air horizontally through said air exhaust duct. 
   
   
       11 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 9  in which said evaporative air filter includes an air permeable element and a foraminous support frame, said support frame being right-circular cylindrical in configuration. 
   
   
       12 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 9  in which said air exhaust duct includes a right-angle turn outside said sidewall of said canister. 
   
   
       13 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 1  further including a water fill fixture outside said sidewall of said canister, said water fill fixture passing through said sidewall and being in communication with said water storage means. 
   
   
       14 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 13  in which said fixture comprises an outwardly and upwardly directed lip with an upper edge in spaced relation from said sidewall and a lower edge attached to said sidewall. 
   
   
       15 . An evaporative cooler as in  claim 9  in which said water distribution system comprises a vertical water supply line and a circular distribution line, said water supply line having a lower end connected to an output fitting on said water pump, and having an upper end connected to said distribution line, said distribution line being positioned around said upper end of said evaporative air filter and including a plurality of apertures for the passage of water therethrough. 
   
   
       16 . An evaporative cooler as in  claim 9  further including at least two air inlets in said sidewall, said air inlets being provided with perforated grills. 
   
   
       17 . A portable, self-contained, evaporative air cooler, comprising:
 a. an elongated, vertically oriented, cylindrical canister having a sidewall, said canister further having a lower end, an upper end, and a median portion therebetween, said lower end including a watertight basin, said upper end having an open top and said median portion including at least one air inlet in said sidewall;   b. a fan means having an air inlet port and an air exhaust duct, said air inlet port being located within and surrounded by said open top;   c. an evaporative air filter, said air filter being elongated and cylindrical in configuration, and having an upper end attached to said air inlet port and extending vertically and downwardly therefrom; and,   d. a water pump, said water pump being located in said basin and including a water distribution system, said distribution system delivering water to said upper end of said evaporative air filter.   
   
   
       18 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 17  in which said evaporative air filter includes an air permeable element and a foraminous support frame, said support frame being right-circular cylindrical in configuration. 
   
   
       19 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 17  further including a water fill fixture including an opening in a region of said sidewall above an upper water level in said watertight basin. 
   
   
       20 . An evaporative air cooler as in  claim 19  in which said fixture comprises an outwardly and upwardly directed lip with an upper edge in spaced relation from said sidewall and a lower edge attached to said sidewall.