Patent ID: 6736298
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B01D,B67D,F25B

Abstract:
In a water cooler having a reservoir for receiving and storing a supply of water, dispense means for dispensing water from the reservoir, chiller means for chilling at least a portion of the water within the reservoir, and heat dissipation means for dissipating heat extracted from the water within the reservoir, said heat dissipation means including a heat sink, a fan for providing a flow of cooling air across said heat sink in heat transfer relation therewith, and a filter for collecting airborne contaminants from said flow of cooling air, a filter monitoring system, comprising:timer means for tracking a predetermined filter service interval; switch means for actuating said timer means to initiate said predetermined service interval; and indicator means actuated by said timer means at the conclusion of said predetermined service interval for prompting filter service; said timer means further tracking a predetermined maximum time period longer than said predetermined filter service interval, said switch means actuating said timer means to initiate said predetermined maximum time period, and said timer means further including means for de-activating said chiller means at the conclusion of said predetermined maximum time period.