Abstract:
A cooling device has a series of baffles that deflect a falling stream of liquid coolant. An air handler, such as a fan, pulls air through the liquid coolant. The air moved by the air handler through the liquid coolant is cooled, and the cooled air exits the device to cool the surrounding environs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cooling devices generally, and is more specifically related to a cooling device having particular utility for outdoor use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for outgoing environs more comfortable during hot weather. It is not practical to provide ordinary air conditioning for spaces that are not enclosed. It has long been known that evaporation of water will evaporate quickly and provide a cooling effect. However, nozzles that simply atomize and spray water do not sufficiently provide a cooling effect for surrounding air, and people and objects in vicinity of the device will be dampened by such a spray. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is a cooling device having a series of baffles that deflect a falling stream of liquid coolant. An air handler, such as a fan, pulls air through the liquid coolant. The air moved by the air handler through the liquid coolant is cooled, and the cooled air exits the device to cool the surrounding environs. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device, with arrows indicating air flow through the device. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectioned view of an embodiment of the invention taken essentially along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a partial view of the upper portion of the device. 
         FIG. 3B  is a partial view of a lower portion of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a patio table having an umbrella  2 . A patio table of this type is a suggestion for a possible use of the invention, however the device is useful for cooling any area as will be seen, and is not necessary that the device have a table or umbrella affixed. 
     A liquid coolant  4 , which may be water, is placed in the base  6  of the cooling tower, and is pumped into a tray that is part of distributor  8 , located in the upper portion of the cooling tower. Water drips from multiple orifices  10  in the distributor, and onto multiple baffles  12  that are positioned around the tower, and underneath the orifices. Air inlets  14  are positioned under the baffles. As the water drips on the baffles, the water is diffused by the baffles. The fan  16  in the upper portion of the tower pulls air through the inlets, and the air passes through the water. Heat is removed from the air and transferred to the water. The air cooled by the water is delivered outside of the tower, through outlets  18  in an upper portion of the tower. The tower may have a dome, or other air directing device, such as an umbrella  20 , which directs the cooled air as it exits the device. 
     Turning now to the drawing figures,  FIG. 2  shows a series of baffles  12  that are positioned within a housing. The series of baffles may be positioned generally vertically, and are preferred to be increasingly closer together toward the bottom of the device. As shown in  FIG. 3A , a liquid coolant is directed on to the top baffle. The liquid coolant, which is preferred to be water, but which could be other liquids, strikes the top baffle, and then drops to the next lower baffle. This process is repeated until the coolant exits the last baffle and is collected in the reservoir in the bottom of the housing. 
     Below each baffle is an air inlet that is formed in the housing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , air is pulled through an inlet that is effectively below the baffle. The coolant is splattered, and somewhat atomized, by striking the baffles, and the air entering the housing through the inlet is cooled by exposure to the multiple surfaces of the water created by diffusing the water by means of the baffles. The air is then pulled through the top of the housing by an air handler, where the cooled air exits the housing. A deflector  22  in the upper part of the housing, and the umbrella, direct the cool air toward the persons sitting around the table  24 , and persons who are otherwise in the area of the device. 
     The coolant, which may be water, is pumped from the reservoir and through the center of the tower and into a liquid coolant source for the baffles. The liquid coolant source may be a distributor having a series of voids that allow the coolant to drip directly on the baffles as shown in  FIG. 3A . The distributor  8  may be an annular trough that receives liquid coolant that is pumped from the reservoir and through the conduit  26  by a pump that is located in the reservoir in a lower portion of the housing. The weight of the coolant in the lower portion of the reservoir assists in stabilizing the device. 
     The reservoir may be either manually filled with water on a periodic basis, or may be plumbed and connected to a larger water source. A float actuated valve  28  may be used to control the level of the water within the reservoir. 
     The air handler pulls air through the plurality of inlets in the housing. It is preferred that at least one inlet is associated with each baffle. As shown in the drawings, the inlet is constructed to direct air below the baffle after the coolant strikes the baffle. The inlets could also be positioned above the baffles. 
     The air handler may be a fan. It is preferred that the fan is positioned above the baffles and below the exhaust as shown in  FIG. 3A . There is a relatively large void through the center of the housing which allows for sufficient air flow. The void in the housing extends through the center of the distributor  8 . 
     Excepting the air inlets and outlets, the device is preferred to be enclosed, so that the liquid coolant is retained within the device. For example, the water falling against the baffles is preferred to not be exposed to an exterior of the device, so that the water is retained in the interior of the housing. 
     The device is preferred to be portable, and capable of movement by one or two persons, so that it can be positioned as desired.