Automatic flushing and draining apparatus for evaporative coolers

Abstract

Apparatus for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water supply in an evaporative cooler during operation thereof and for completely draining the cooler when its operation is terminated. The apparatus includes a siphon drain valve mounted in the sump of the cooler and configured for movement between siphoning and non-siphoning positions with the movement being controlled by a solenoid. When the cooler is in normal operation, the solenoid is deenergized which places the siphon drain valve in the non-siphoning position and when in such normal operation, the water supply will increase in mineral salt concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants. At periodic intervals, such as under control of a time clock, the apparatus is switched to its draining, flushing and water replacing operation mode. This is accomplished by energizing the solenoid to initiate the siphoning action of the siphon drain valve to drain the water from the cooler. The usual make-up water supply device of the evaporative cooler will operate so that the incoming fresh water will dilute the draining water and thus flush the sump. The drainage flow rate is greater than the flow rate of the incoming fresh water, thus, when the drainage is completed, the siphon drain valve will automatically lose its prime, which allows the sump to be refilled with the incoming fresh water. During this refilling, the solenoid is deenergized to return the siphon drain valve to its non-siphoning position and normal cooler operation resumes. To accomplish cooler drainage at the termination of cooler operation, the same solenoid and siphon drain valve operations occur with the cooler's fresh water make-up device shutoff so that the drained water supply will not be replaced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.