Free-standing evaporative air cooling apparatus

Abstract

A free-standing evaporative air cooling system includes a base, at least one air inlet and at least one cooling pad. A neck extends upwardly relative to the base and includes at least one upwardly-oriented air flow passageway in gaseous communication with the air inlet(s). At least one air outlet is disposed proximate to the upper end of the neck and is in gaseous communication with the air flow passageway.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A free-standing evaporative air cooling unit comprising:
 a base having a height, width, interior cavity and a bottom configured to rest on or near the ground;   at least first and second air inlets and at least first and second associated respective cooling pads disposed within said base, said first and second air inlets disposed on opposite sides of said base and configured so that outside air may be drawn therethrough into said interior cavity of said base from opposing sides thereof and pass through said respective associated cooling pads to cool the air;   at least one water distributor configured to provide water onto said cooling pads;   an elongated neck extending upwardly relative to said base, said neck including an upper end, a lower end and at least one upwardly-oriented air flow passageway in gaseous communication with said interior cavity of said base, said neck having an average width that is less than the average width of said base;   at least one air blower assembly disposed within said base and in gaseous communication with said interior cavity of said base and said air flow passageway, said air blower assembly configured to draw outside air into said air inlets from outside the air cooling unit and through said cooling pads and direct cooled air from said interior cavity of said base into said air flow passageway;   a plurality of air outlets in gaseous communication with said air flow passageway and positioned at least 30 inches above said air blower assembly, said air outlets being configured to distribute cooled air from inside the air cooling unit to outside the air cooling unit in a downwardly-angled flow pattern allowing cooled air to be distributed from the air cooling unit in a downwardly-angled direction; and   at least one air acceleration passage in gaseous communication with said interior cavity of said base and said air flow passageway and disposed between said air blower assembly and said air flow passageway, said air acceleration passage configured to increase the velocity of air travelling from said air inlets to said air outlets.   
     
     
         32 . The air cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein said air acceleration passage has an inverted funnel-shape. 
     
     
         33 . The air cooling unit of  claim 31  further including a head disposed at said upper end of said neck, said head including said air outlets and having at least one cavity in gaseous communication with said air flow passageway. 
     
     
         34 . The air cooling unit of  claim 33  further including at least one air diverter disposed within said head above said air flow passageway, said air diverter configured to direct cooled air from said air flow passageway in a 360 degree flow pattern in said cavity of said head and therefrom to outside the air cooling unit through said outlets. 
     
     
         35 . The air cooling unit of  claim 34  wherein said at least one air diverter includes a single said air diverter having a generally V-shaped profile. 
     
     
         36 . The air cooling unit of  claim 33  wherein said air outlets are disposed in an outwardly-facing circular pattern above and around said neck, said air outlets being configured to distribute cooled air from said cavity of said head to outside the air cooling unit in a 360 degree flow pattern around the periphery of said neck. 
     
     
         37 . The air cooling unit of  claim 36  further including a plurality of adjustable louvers, at least one adjustable louver associated with each said air outlet, each said adjustable louver being movable between a plurality of positions to direct cooled air exiting said associated air outlet in any among a plurality of angles. 
     
     
         38 . The air cooling unit of  claim 36  wherein said plurality of air outlets includes at least five air outlets. 
     
     
         39 . The air cooling unit of  claim 36  wherein said air outlets are positioned at least 70 inches above said bottom of said base. 
     
     
         40 . The air cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein each said cooling pad has an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of each said cooling pad being positioned within said base no greater than 24 inches above said bottom of said base. 
     
     
         41 . The air cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein each said cooling pad has an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of each said cooling pad being positioned within said base no greater than 14 inches above said bottom of said base. 
     
     
         42 . The air cooling unit of  claim 31  wherein said air outlets are positioned at least 40 inches above said air blower.