Pre-cooling system for an air conditioning condenser

Abstract

A pre-cooling system for use with a condenser of an air conditioning system is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-cooling system comprises a housing that is coupleable to a top of a condenser of an air conditioner wherein the condenser has a substantially-vertical exhaust. The pre-cooling system further comprises a valve mounted in the housing that is coupleable to a water source and wherein the valve is capable of operating independent of electrical power. The pre-cooling system further comprises a vane that is coupled to the valve and positionable in the substantially-vertical exhaust, wherein the vane has an aerodynamically-shaped cross section useable to operate the valve. The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing the pre-cooling system.

1 . For use with a condenser unit of an air conditioner, a pre-cooling system, comprising: 
 a housing coupleable to a top of a condenser of an air conditioner, said condenser having a substantially-vertical exhaust;    a valve mounted in said housing and coupleable to a water source, said valve capable of operating independently of electrically power; and    a vane having an uppersurface and an undersurface, the vane being coupled to said valve and positionable in said substantially-vertical exhaust, said vane having an aerodynamically-shaped cross section useable to operate said valve, wherein said uppersurface is of a length longer than said undersurface.    
   
   
       2 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said aerodynamically-shaped cross section has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein said leading edge is substantially thicker than said trailing edge.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said vane has a concave undersurface.  
   
   
       5 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a water supply tube coupled to said valve and coupleable to said water source.  
   
   
       6 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a spray nozzle in fluid communication with said valve.  
   
   
       7 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising spray tubing interposed said valve and said spray nozzle.  
   
   
       8 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a filter coupled to said valve and coupleable to said water source.  
   
   
       9 . The pre-cooling system as recited in  claim 8  wherein said filter comprises hexametaphosphate.  
   
   
       10 . A method of manufacturing a pre-cooling system for use with a condenser unit of an air conditioner, said method comprising: 
 providing a housing coupleable to a top of a condenser of an air conditioner, said condenser having a substantially-vertical exhaust;    mounting a valve in said housing, said valve coupleable to a water source and capable of operating independently of electrical power; and    coupling a vane to said valve, said vane having an uppersurface and an undersurface, said uppersurface being of a length longer than said undersurface to form an aerodynamically-shaped cross section and positionable in said substantially-vertical exhaust, said aerodynamically-shaped cross section useable to operate said valve.    
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein coupling a vane includes coupling a vane wherein said aerodynamically-shaped cross section has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein said leading edge is substantially thicker than said trailing edge.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein coupling a vane includes coupling a vane wherein a straight line drawn between said leading edge and said trailing edge defines a chord of said aerodynamically-shaped cross section, and wherein said chord and a direction of said substantially-vertical exhaust define an angle of attack of said vane.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein coupling a vane includes coupling a vane having a concave undersurface.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising coupling a water supply tube to said valve, said water supply tube coupleable to said water source.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising coupling a spray nozzle in fluid communication with said valve.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising interposing spray tubing between said valve and said spray nozzle.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising coupling a filter to said valve, said filer filter coupleable to said water source.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein interposing a filter includes interposing a filter comprising hexametaphosphate.