Patent Publication Number: US-2005121544-A1

Title: Extendable mister with optional light

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are many situations where it is desired to provide evaporative cooling in an area, or of people or other living beings (such as plants or animals) within the area. For that purpose, low pressure (under 100 psi), medium pressure (100-under 200 psi), and high pressure (200+ psi) systems are commercially available. However, most such systems are constructed without aesthetics in mind, and provide a number of non-aesthetic components in clear view. Also, most of such systems are provided as add-on structures, and are not successfully integrated into already existing or common structures, for a particular environment, and may be exposed to damage or corrosion.  
      Examples of current misting systems may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,628,273; 6,175,969 and 6,262,826. These systems are utilized in a marine environment and provide evaporative cooling in designated areas on watercraft.  
      It is desirable to provide misting systems that are compact and unobtrusive. In a related, commonly owned application Ser. No. 10/678,173 (atty. dkt. 4442-7), entitled “Water Misting System And Method,” filed Oct. 6, 2003, there is disclosed a misting system that is incorporated into existing boat components such as railings, canopy frames, and the like. This invention extends the concept in a unique manner to other applications.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, an extendable and retractable misting apparatus is provided that has a number of advantages. Regardless of the environment in which the invention is used, it can provide high pressure (typically between about 200-1000 psi) misting that cools very efficiently. Also, the invention is aesthetic, in that it is built-in to existing support structures, with no obtrusive component parts. By integrating the components of the misting system into already existing support structures, e.g., ceilings or ceiling light fixtures, the number of required parts is reduced and at least some mechanical and/or corrosion protection is provided for the system components.  
      More specifically, in one exemplary embodiment, a retractable mister assembly includes a cylindrical housing that is adapted for mounting in a ceiling or other support structure. One end of the housing is provided with a radial flange that is adapted to engage the visible or external surface of the ceiling or support structure, preferably in an outdoor environment. A hollow piston rod is supported in the housing and includes a misting head at one end thereof projecting beyond the housing. The opposite end of the piston rod remains inside the housing and is formed with an integral piston. A coil spring biases the piston rod and misting head to a normally retracted position, with the misting head seated within an external recess formed in the housing. At the same time, the misting head may be provided with a cover plate so that when in the retracted position, the misting assembly exhibits a clean, non-obtrusive appearance.  
      The misting head is fitted with one or more nozzles adapted to supply a fine mist under high pressure (200-1000 psi) to an area to be cooled.  
      In a second embodiment, the misting head incorporates a light fixture, and in order to accommodate the latter, the recess in the housing is enlarged in both diameter and length (if necessary). While the description is phrased in terms of a misting apparatus that incorporates a light fixture, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention extends to light fixtures that incorporate a misting head as well.  
      Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention relates to an extendable misting apparatus comprising a housing having a recess surrounded by a radial flange at one end, and a hydraulic fitting at an opposite end, the recess defined in part by a bearing block; a hollow piston rod mounted for axial reciprocating movement in the housing between retracted and extended positions, the piston rod passing through the bearing block and having a misting head fixed to one end thereof adapted to be received in the recess when the hollow piston is in the retracted position; at least one misting nozzle mounted in the misting head and in fluid communication with the hollow piston rod and the hydraulic fitting; and a spring located in a chamber defined by the piston and the bearing block, normally biasing the piston rod to the retracted position.  
      In another aspect, the invention relates to an overhead misting apparatus comprising an elongated housing having a flange at one end and a hydraulic fitting at an opposite end, the housing adapted to project behind an exteriorly visible surface of the support structure, with a back side of the radial flange engaged with the exteriorly visible surface; a misting head including at least one misting nozzle secured at one end of a piston rod mounted for reciprocating movement in the housing between extended and retracted positions, the housing having an open-ended recess surrounded by the flange and adapted to receive the misting head in the retracted position.  
      In still another aspect, the invention relates to a misting apparatus for attachment to overhead structures and for supplying cooled air to a designated outdoor area comprising a housing having a flange at a first end and a hydraulic fitting at a second opposite end; a bearing block axially between said first and second ends thereby defining a chamber between the hydraulic fitting and one side of the bearing block and an open recess between the other side of the bearing block and the flange; a piston rod slidable within the housing including through the bearing block and having a piston at one end within the chamber, with a coil spring arranged about the piston rod and engaged with the piston and the bearing block; a misting head fixed to an opposite end of the piston rod including at least one misting nozzle; wherein a flowpath is established from the hydraulic fitting through the piston rod to the misting head and the misting nozzle and further wherein fluid entering the chamber acts upon the piston to drive the piston rod and the misting head from a retracted position where the misting head is received within the recess to an extended position wherein the at least one misting nozzle extends outwardly beyond the flange.  
      In still another aspect, the invention relates to a ceiling light and misting assembly comprising a housing having a flange at a first end and a hydraulic fitting at a second opposite end; a bearing block axially between the first and second ends thereby defining a chamber between the hydraulic fitting and one side of the bearing block and an open recess between the other side of the bearing block and the flange; a piston rod slidable within the housing including through the bearing block and having a piston at one end within the chamber, with a coil spring arranged about the piston rod and engaged with the piston and the bearing block; a misting head fixed to an opposite end of the piston rod including a light fixture and at least one misting nozzle; wherein a flowpath is established from the hydraulic fitting through the piston rod to the misting head and the misting nozzle and further wherein fluid entering the chamber acts upon the piston to drive the piston rod, the misting head and the light fixture from a retracted position where said misting head is received within the recess to an extended position wherein the at least one misting nozzle extends outwardly beyond the flange.  
      The invention will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings identified below.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a sectioned perspective view of an extendable misting apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional perspective view of a combined extendable misting apparatus and light fixture in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , an extendable mister assembly  10  comprises a cylindrical housing  12  that may be mounted in, for example, a porch ceiling, gazebo roof, boat deck cover, or any other supporting structure associated with enclosed or semi-enclosed outdoor areas. The housing  12  is provided with a radial flange  14  that would typically be exposed, and may include screw fasteners  16  or other means for securing the plate to a support structure. In other words, the back side of flange  14  is adapted to engage the external side of a ceiling panel or the like.  
      A mister head  18  is supported at one end of a hollow piston rod  20  mounted for reciprocating movement within the interior of the housing  12 , and operable to extend and retract the misting head  18  as further explained below. The opposite end of piston rod  20  is formed with an integral piston  22 . A coil spring  24  extends within a variable volume chamber  26  defined by the piston  22  and a fixed piston rod bearing block  28 . The latter may be formed integrally with, or as an attachment to the housing  12 , and includes an O-ring seal  30  that prevents leakage of water along the piston rod.  
      The mister head  18  includes a disk-like cover plate  32  overlying a smaller diameter, integral nozzle housing  34  that is adapted to be received in an external recess  36  formed in the housing  12 , axially between the bearing  28  and the radial flange  14 . The misting head  18  is in a retracted position when the nozzle housing  34  is fully seated in the recess  36  and the plate  32  lies flat on the radial flange  14 . Thus, when not in use, the misting apparatus is essentially hidden behind the flange  14  and cover plate  32  that, if desired, may be supplied in any number of decorative styles.  
      The nozzle housing  34  is formed with a blind bore  38  and is counterbored at  40  and threaded to permit attachment of the mister head  18  to the externally threaded end of the hollow piston rod  20 .  
      A plurality of mister nozzles  42  (three shown) are arranged at 90° intervals about the nozzle housing  34 . The nozzles are threaded into the nozzle housing such that the nozzle discharge orifices are substantially flush with the outer surface of housing  34  and communicate via internal nozzle bores  44  with the bore  38  in the housing  34 . Nozzles  42  may be of the type sold by Fogco Systems, Ltd., of New Castle-on-Tyne, U. K., and are preferably constructed of brass or steel. Each individual nozzle  42  may include one or more nozzle orifices  43  (not drawn to scale), each having a diameter of between about 0.2-0.5 mm. When supplied with water at a pressure of between about 200-1000 psi, the orifice(s)  43  of the nozzle(s)  42  deliver a mist of water droplets having a maximum cross sectional dimension of between about 5-100 microns. This provides maximum flash evaporative cooling (the latent heat of evaporation of water is about 600 calories/gm) to reduce the temperature in the area to be cooled by about 12-15° F.  
      At the opposite end of housing  12 , a T-fitting  46  is threaded into the housing and an internally threaded stem portion  48  is adapted to receive a correspondingly threaded end of a water supply tube or pipe. An O-ring  50  provides for a water-tight connection. A flow path is thus established from the supply fitting  46 , through the hollow piston rod  20 , bore  38  and bores  44  of nozzles  42 . Water may be supplied by means of any suitable pump capable of supplying water to the nozzles at pressures between about 200-1000 psi. For example, one suitable pressurizing pump is a Triplex Direct Drive Plunger Pump Model 2SF sold by Cat Pumps of Minneapolis, Minn.  
      In use, upon the introduction of water under pressure into the housing  12 , pressure on the piston  22  will drive the misting head  18  outwardly (overcoming the counter force of spring  24 ), away from the flange  14  to an extended position, exposing the misting nozzles  42  and thereby permitting mist to be discharged into the area to be cooled. When the water pressure is turned off, the coil spring  24  will exert sufficient force on the piston  22  to return the misting head  18  to a retracted position, with housing  34  seated in recess  36  and cover plate  38  engaged with the housing flange  14 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of the invention where the misting head incorporates (or is incorporated in) a light fixture. Because of the overall similarities of the devices in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , similar reference numerals are used in  FIG. 2  as used in  FIG. 1 , but with the prefix “ 1 ” added. In this embodiment, the nozzle housing  134  is axially lengthened to create a light cavity or recess  52  that is open to the exposed side of the cover plate  132 . Note that in this embodiment, the cover plate  132  is separable from the nozzle/light housing  134  by a conventional twist-lock arrangement shown generally at  54 . A light fixture  56  is secured within the housing  134  and a suitable lens  58  may cover the fixture. To accommodate the larger housing  134 , the recess  136  in the housing  112  is enlarged by increasing the diameter (and length if necessary) of housing  112  forward of the bearing block  128 . An electrical wire  60  may then extend from the light fixture, through the housing  134 , recess  136  and bearing block  128 . The extension and retraction of the misting head  118  remains as described above.  
      Note that in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the heads  18  and  118  are shown overextended. In use, the respective inner edge of the nozzle housing  34  and nozzle/light housing  134  need not extend beyond the flanges  14 ,  114 , respectively. The housings need extend only to the point that nozzles  42 ,  142  are fully exposed. The choice of spring constant in relation to water pressure will determine the extent of travel of the piston rods.  
      In addition, while the  FIG. 2  embodiment has been described in terms of a modification of the  FIG. 1  embodiment, it will be understood that the invention also embraces conventional light fixtures that are modified to include an extendable and retractable misting head.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.