Slat fill hanger for cooling towers and slat for use in same
AssigneeC.E. Shepherd Company, L.P.
InventorGregory Shepherd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slat fill apparatus includes a hanger and at least one slat. The hanger includes a first plurality of support members oriented in a first direction; a second plurality of support members oriented in a second direction; and at least one slat retainer projecting from, and integrally formed with, one of the support members. The first and second pluralities of support members define at least one slat receiving channel into which the at least one slat retainer projects. The at least one slat is installed in a corresponding one of the slat receiving channels of the hanger.
Claims27
A slat fill apparatus comprising:
- a hanger comprising:
- a first plurality of support members oriented in a first direction;
- a second plurality of support members oriented in a second direction;
- and
- at least one slat retainer projecting from, and integrally formed with, one of the support members,
- wherein the first and second pluralities of support members define at least one slat receiving channel into which the at least one slat retainer projects;
- and
- at least one slat installed in a corresponding one of the at least one slat receiving channel of the hanger.
A cooling tower slat comprising:
- a plurality of installation slots that are configured to receive corresponding support members of a cooling tower hanger,
- wherein the slots have openings that have widths that are substantially the same size as widths of the corresponding support members.
A cooling tower slat comprising:
- a plurality of installation slots that are configured to receive corresponding support members of a cooling tower hanger,
- wherein each slot has two sides and an end that joins the sides.
A hanger for a cooling tower slat fill apparatus, the hanger comprising:
- a first plurality of support members oriented in a first direction;
- a second plurality of support members oriented in a second direction;
- and
- at least one slat retainer projecting from, and integrally formed with, one of the support members,
- wherein the first and second pluralities of support members define at least one slat receiving channel,
- wherein the at least one slat retainer is configured to bend along a first path when a slat is being installed in the hanger, and
- wherein, when a tip of the slat passes the at least one slat retainer, the at least one slat retainer is configured to spring elastically along a second path.
A method of installing a slat in a hanger, comprising the steps of:
- providing a hanger comprising:
- a first plurality of support members oriented in a first direction;
- a second plurality of support members oriented in a second direction, wherein the first and second pluralities of support members define at least one slat receiving channel;
- and
- first and second slat retainers projecting from, and integrally formed with, the first and second pluralities of support members;
- inserting a slat in one of the slat receiving channels;
- aligning a first slot formed in the slat with the first slat retainer;
- bending the first slat retainer from a first rest position to a first activated position;
- positioning a first portion of an outer surface of the slat between a primary support member and the first slat retainer;
- and
- returning the first slat retainer to the first rest position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.