Automatic siphon drain apparatus and method

In an evaporative cooler having a sump for holding water to be pumped upwardly by a pump to soak pads, apparatus for draining the slump by siphoning action comprising in combination:

• an aperture in the slump;
• a standpipe secured in the aperture for draining water from the sump, including a top on the standpipe;
• cylinder means disposed about the standpipe, including
• a cylinder,
• a top wall in the cylinder above the top of the standpipe,
• a bottom wall on the cylinder through which the standpipe extends,
• a plurality of apertures extending through the bottom wall about the standpipe through which water flows into the cylinder during the siphoning action to drain the sump,
• check valve means above the top wall, including
• a check valve chamber for receiving water pumped by the pump,
• a first pipe communicating with the check valve chamber and the pump through which the pumped water flows to the check valve chamber,
• a second pipe communicating with the check valve chamber for receiving the pumped water and through which the pumped water flows upwardly to soak the pads,
• a third pipe communicating with the check valve chamber and with the cylinder below the top wall for receiving water from the second pipe and the check valve chamber through which water flows to flood the cylinder below the top wall to begin the siphoning action through the standpipe upon the cessation of pumping, and
• a valve in the check valve chamber for controlling the flow of water from the first pipe to the second pipe during the pumping of the water by the pump and from the second pipe to the third pipe upon the cessation of the pumping.

Drain apparatus for an evaporative cooler having a sump, water in the sump, an overflow standpipe, and a pump for pumping water comprising in combination:

• a housing in the sump disposed about the standpipe;
• a siphon chamber in the housing communicating with the sump for receiving water from the sump to be drained through the standpipe;
• and
• means for filling the siphon chamber with water to a start a siphoning action to drain the sump including
• a first pipe for receiving water pumped by the pump,
• a second pipe for receiving water from the first pipe,
• a third pipe communicating with the siphon chamber, and
• a valve for diverting water from the second pipe to the third pipe.

A method of draining water from the sump of an evaporative cooler having a standpipe and a pump for pumping water to pads, comprising the steps of:

• providing a chamber about the standpipe;
• providing a path for water from the sump to flow into the chamber;
• filling the chamber with water whereby the water will flow into the standpipe and out of the sump to commence siphoning action to drain the sump;
• providing a drain hose for draining the water from the sump;
• connecting the drain hose to the standpipe;
• providing a horizontal portion for holding a quantity of water drained from the sump:
• lifting the horizontal portion upwardly to cause the quantity of water to flow backwardly in the drain hose to compress air into the chamber;
• and
• lowering the horizontal portion to allow the quantity of water to flow forwardly to allow the compressed air to follow the water to lower the air pressure in the chamber to cause the water to flow into the chamber to fill the chamber to commence the siphoning action.

Apparatus for draining water from the sump of an evaporative cooler having an overflow standpipe disposed in the sump comprising in combination:

• cylinder means disposed above the standpipe to provide a siphon chamber;
• a bottom on the cylinder means through which water from the sump flows into the cylinder means;
• and
• means for decreasing pressure in the siphon chamber of the cylinder means below atmospheric pressure to cause water from the sump to flow into the cylinder means and into the standpipe to begin a siphoning action to drain the sump.