Evaporative roof cooling system
OwnerRaymond E. Stephens, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control device for evaporative roof cooling systems in which a lack of moisture on a sample surface actuates a valve to spray water onto a roof. The lack of moisture opens the circuit between two spaced electrodes located on the sample surface, causing a control relay to activate a water spray system by supplying a voltage to one or more solenoid water valves.
Claims16
A control switch for evaporative roof cooling systems which spray a thin film of water onto the surface of a roof, comprising:
- a pair of spaced electrodes located on a sample surface;
- means for applying conductive water to said sample surface each time water is sprayed onto the surface of the roof;
- electrical connection means for impressing a voltage differential between said electrodes;
- and
- means for sensing current flow resulting from the presence of water between the electrodes, and actuating said cooling system when said current flow ceases.
A control device for evaporative roof cooling systems which spray a thin film of water onto the surface of a roof, comprising:
- water valve means;
- means for connecting said valve means to a water supply;
- and
- dryness-actuated means for opening said valve means including a pair of spaced electrodes located on a sample surface, means for applying conductive water to said sample surface each time water is sprayed onto the surface of the roof, electrical connection means for impressing a voltage differential between said electrodes, and means for sensing current flow resulting from the presence of water between the electrodes, and actuating said cooling system when said current flow ceases.
A method of cooling a roof which comprises the steps of:
- constructing a non-conductive sample surface having a rate of evaporation of water sprayed thereon similar to that of the surface of the roof;
- activating a wetting mechanism designed to operate through one cycle to apply a thin film of water onto the surface of the roof and a thin film of conductive water onto the sample surface;
- impressing a voltage across a pair of spaced electrodes on the sample surface, thus causing a current to pass through the conductive water therebetween;
- electrically sensing the point in time when said current ceases, indicating that the film of conductive water has evaporated from the sample surface;
- and
- reactivating said wetting mechanism in response to said cessation of current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.