Claims:1) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, wherein said water filling system comprises an embodiment (20) containing water pump (21), water inlet pipe (19), water level sensor (16) and the control mechanism for automatic switching on/off of said water pump (21) of the said automatic water filling system; wherein the water pump (21) is connected to the water tank (15) of the evaporative air cooler (10) through the said water inlet pipe (19) and wherein said water level sensor (16) is installed within the said water tank (14).
2) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein said automatic water filling operation is characterized in one preferred embodiment of the said automatic water filling system that the user switch on the said water filling system by a remote control device or by an electric switch, leading to sense the effective water level by the water level sensor (16) present in the water tank (14) and accordingly start the water pump (21) submersed in the water source (22) to initiate water lifting from said water source (22) and supplying it to the water tank (14) of the air cooler (10), until the water level sensor (16) senses the water level maintained at the effective water level, pre-defined for said water tank (14) of the air cooler (10) so that said automatic water filling system gets deactivated and water pump (21) stops till the start of next cycle of water pumping initiated by said water level sensor (16), once the water level reaches down to a pre-defined level.
3) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein said automatic water filling operation is characterized in one preferred embodiment of the said automatic water filling system that in case of an empty water tank (14) of an evaporative air cooler (10) the user switches on the water pump (21) of the said water filling system by remote control or by an electric switch, and water filling starts from the (portable) water source (22) of to the said water tank (14) of the air cooler and after reaching a pre-defined water level in the said water tank (14), sensed by the water level sensor (16) installed in the water tank (14) said water pump (21) stops automatically.
4) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein said water filling system comprises a connecting as water inlet pipe (19) to connect the external low voltage water pump (21), placed in the water source (22), to the water tank (14) of the air cooler (10).
5) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein one preferred embodiment of the water inlet pipe (19) comprises of a coupling of connector 1 (17) and connector 2 (18), wherein connector 1 (17) is attached to one end of the pipe (19) connected to the water tank (14) of the air cooler (10) and connector 2 (18) is attached to other end of the pipe (19) connected to the water pump (21) of said water filling system.
6) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein the water level sensor (16) is an electronic water level sensor with the provision to sense at least one pre-defined water level in the water tank (14) of the air cooler (10) and wherein said water level sensor (16) is provisioned for sensing the upper water level to towards automatic deactivating the said water filling system and sensing the lower water level towards automatic activating the water filling system again.
7) An evaporative air cooler (10) with the automatic water filling system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water level sensor (16) is electrically connected to the controls of the air cooler (10), and, provide the information signal to the control panel about the level of water in the tank.
8) An evaporative air cooler (10) with the automatic water filling system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means provide an electrical supply to the low voltage pump (21) from the control system of an air cooler (10) itself.
9) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1, wherein said low voltage pump (21) is placed submersed in an optional external bucket/tank/water vessel, located on the floor or at any convenient location or height with regard to the water tank (14) of said air cooler (10).
10) Automatic water filling system for evaporative air cooler, as claimed in claim1 and 7, wherein the low voltage pump (21) is switched ON or OFF by the air cooler’s controls automatically based upon the water level in the air cooler tank – as sensed by the water level sensor (16).
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to an automatic water filling system for an evaporative air cooler, which automatically fills-up water in the water-tank of said air-cooler and maintains the water level therein so that the effective functioning of said air cooler does not get affected.

Background of the invention:
The principles of evaporative air-cooling have been exploited for several decades by people of many countries to obtain relief from uncomfortably warm environments. Air coolers are more effective in dry, hot tropical locations. A conventional evaporative air cooler typically comprises of a body, a water tank, fibre pads (of different possible materials), air moving system (axial or centrifugal or cross flow fans) and water circulation system. A motorized air moving system mounted within the body of the air cooler - with fibre pads on at least one of the sides of the air cooler-blows the cool air from the air outlet (usually at front or top of the air cooler). The loosely woven fibres of the fibre pads are made of hay or cellulose. By using a mechanical means continuous water distribution is maintained all over the fiver pads towards continuous evaporative cooling of the incoming air.

The evaporative air cooler, while functioning, evaporates water for cooling the out-flowing air and therefore after certain period, for example after 3 to 5 hours, the water level in the tank substantially gets reduced and uniform water distribution on the fibre pads gets disturbed, leading to reduced air cooling effect.

Due to reduced or no water in the water tank, the water-pumping system also gets heated and sometimes it may also seize to function anymore.

In such a situation when the water tank gets empty or the water level reduces substantially due to evaporation, at regular intervals, one needs to refill the tank with water.

In case of stationary coolers, it is often possible to connect water supply pipe to the air cooler and the level of water in the tank can be controlled by mechanical or electrical / electronic level control valves.
However, in case of portable air coolers, such water supply pipe can’t be connected, and, hence, the water filling is always manually done through one of the water inlet openings provided in such air coolers.

Problem associated with the prior art:
• It becomes a regular duty for the user to keep strict watch for maintaining availability of sufficient water in the water tank so that the air cooler can function properly and no damage can occur to the motorized water-pump working while submerged in said water tank.
• Manual water filling is achieved by lifting a heavy water container (for example bucket) till the height of water inlet entry of the air cooler. This is cumbersome and strenuous.
• Because of general restriction in the opening of the water entry location in the air cooler, the water filling has to be done slowly.
• While filling the water, an eye has to be kept on water level indicator in order to ensure that water does not get over-filled (and hence does not over-flow) into the tank.
• Often during water filling operation, some water spills off to the floor and this makes the floor wet and unclean.
• Since conventional water filling is manual process, at times, during the night time when we are asleep and can’t attend to water re-filling when the tank gets empty, the cooler runs without water and hence does not cool. If water filling was automated, this disadvantage can be eliminated.
• It becomes very difficult task for an user to keep watch on the water level in the water tank as well as manual filling of the air-cooler, if the air cooler is placed at an inconvenient position, for example on a window from the outside of the house, away from normal reach of the user.
• Automatic water filling through a fixed (through plumbing work) water inlet line is possible only for fixed / steady air coolers. However, this arrangement is not possible for portable air cooler.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
• Prime object of the present invention is to eliminate/substantially alleviates the disadvantages in the prior art air coolers as mentioned hereinabove.
• Another prime object of the present invention is propose an automatic water filling system for an evaporative air cooler wherein the main embodiment of the system comprising the water pump therein remains submersed into the continuous water source and when made functional it maintains effective water level in water-tank of an evaporative air cooler to which it is connected through a water supply pipe.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the above-described type in which the water level in the tank is maintained at a predetermined level by a water level sensor controlled mounted therein.
• Another object of the invention is to propose such an automatic water filling system for an evaporative air cooler which removes several drawbacks of conventional air coolers requiring manual water filling; wherein such novel provisions mainly include: (a) no requirement of keeping watch on the water level in the water tank; (b) no requirement of manual water filling in the water-tank of the air cooler; (c) automatic water filling activity is also effective while the air cooler is mounted/placed at inconvenient position; (d) keeping the mechanical water pump duly submersed in the water tank and does not allow it to dry leading to its extended safe working life; (e) no requirement of stopping the normal functioning of the air cooler while filling-up of water in the water tank.
• Another object of the invention is to propose an automatic water filling system for an evaporative air cooler which comprises a water level sensor for sensing the effective water level in the water tank of the air cooler and accordingly activating and deactivating the water-filling action.
• Further another object of the invention is to propose such an automatic water filling system which is kept submersed in a continuous water source, namely an independent water tank/water filled bucket or container; wherein said system is connected to a water supply pipe wherein the free end (other end) of the said water supply pipe is kept continuously submersed in the water of the air cooler’s water tank.
• Further object of one particular embodiment of the invention is to propose such an automatic water filling system which is kept submersed in a continuous water source, namely an independent water tank/ water filled bucket or container; wherein by the water pump of the said system is switched on, particularly by remote control, and water starts flowing through the pipe to the water tank of the air cooler; and wherein said water filling operation automatically stops once water reaches to a predetermined effective water level in the said water tank to which the sensor of the said automatic water filling system senses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally intended to give convenience to the customer while filling water into the air cooler tank. The air cooler of the present invention is designed to be used for the convenient cooling of any room or similarly enclosed or open space such as house, office, shop, warehouse, manufacturing location, process industry, assembly hall, restaurant etc.

The present invention relates to an improved evaporative air cooler construction having a special automatic water filling system. The invention further relates to the provision of automatic water filling means for an evaporative air cooler having a housing (with side panels, back panel, front panel, top panel) and a water tank (the tank serving as water reservoir inside the body of the air cooler), with at least one of the side/back/front panels comprising of a cooling pad (fibre pad). The water guide tray is located below the cooling pads, the water draining from the bottom of the filter pad is collected by the said guide tray and the water falls on the surface of the water tank, where it is smoothly guided down to said water tank.

The water tank is connected with water inlet pipe on the end of said inlet pipe provisioned with connector 1. The automatic water filling system, mainly through its water pump, is connected with water inlet pipe wherein on other end of said water inlet pipe, a connector 2 is provisioned. The connector 2 is connected with connector 1 and thus the automatic water filling system gets installed with the air cooler wherein main body of the said water filling system including its water pump is kept submersed in optional external water bucket/tank or any other suitable water container, which can be in any shape or size.
When the automatic water filling system gets functional, the water is lifted from optional external water bucket/tank and through said inlet pipe falls in the said water tank of the air cooler and the water level is sensed by water level sensor which is installed in the said water tank of evaporative air cooler. Since the Low voltage pump has very low DC power it is safe to connect and disconnect while in power ON condition through connectors pin for Low voltage pump power.

As per the preferred embodiment of the automatic water filling system, while air cooler gets empty, the user has to just switch on the water pump of the said water filling system by remote control, and water filling starts from given (portable) source of water to the water tank of the air cooler. When the water level reaches to effective water level in the water tank of the air cooler, said pump stops automatically. Thus the user does not require keeping continuous watch and attending during the water filling operation. The water level sensor provided in the tank, and, connected through an intelligent electronic circuit, will cut off the supply to the pump when the tank is full, and hence water filling will stop and prevent overflow or water splashing from air cooler.
As per another preferred embodiment of said automatic water filling system for an evaporative air cooler, the main embodiment of the system alongwith the water pump is kept submersed in the independent water source and is made active, either by a remote controller device or by an electric switch. Once the said system is made functional and is connected to the water tank of the air cooler through a water filling pipe, its sensor part senses the water level and automatically activates and deactivates the water pump of the said water filling system towards maintaining the water level in the water tank of the air cooler. The effective water level sensing mechanism plays important role in activating and deactivating the water pumping and filling action of the said water filling system for the air cooler towards automatically maintaining the effective water level in the water tank therein. The water level sensor senses the water level maintained at the effective water level, pre-defined for said water tank of the air cooler and if the water level is below a pre-defined level it automatically activates the said water filling system and the water pump starts lifting and supplying water from the water source to the water tank of the air cooler. Similarly, once the water level reaches a particular pre-defined upper level in the tank water filling action of the said system gets deactivated and the water pump stop. The water filling system, in its deactivated state waits to the start of next cycle of water pumping, initiated by said water level sensor, once the water level reaches down to a pre-defined level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same numerals are used to denote the same parts. However, it is made clear that the description and the drawings only illustrate the invention and in no way limit the same.
An embodiment is described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings as mentioned hereinbelow:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporative air cooler, in its installed and functional position,
FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the automatic water filling system assembled with said installed air cooler illustrating its main component parts thereof,
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an evaporative air cooler.

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the drawings hereinbelow, an evaporative air cooler (10) comprises an evaporative cooler body (11) which itself comprises front panel (12), back panel (13), base water tank (14), connector 1 (17), connector 2 (18), water inlet pipe (19) and the main embodiment of the automatic water filling system (20) comprises low voltage water pump (21), optionally selected independent water source namely water bucket (22) herein. Adjacent the front panel (12) and back panel (13) in the body (11) of the evaporative air cooler (10), there is located a water tank assembly (15) comprising a base water tank (14), duly connected with the water inlet pipe (19) associated with the water level sensor (16), which are arranged to provide automatic water filling therein. It will be realised that not all parts of the unit have been shown in the figure 2 and/or figure 3. The figures shows the arrangement for auto water filling system (20), installed with the water tank (14) of said air cooler (10).
In accordance with this invention, a provision is made for an automatic water fill assembly parts constructed from injection moulded plastic material, located outside and inside of an evaporative air cooler. In the preferred embodiments as described herein, the automatic water filling system (20) comprises a connector 1 (17), connector 2 (18), water inlet pipe (19), low voltage water pump (21), optional bucket (22) wherein all these components of the water filling system (20, are located outside of the air cooler (10). The water tank assembly (15) of the air cooler comprises a water tank (14), water level sensor (16), water inlet pipe (19), wherein these components of the water tank assembly are located inside of the air cooler (10). The assembly of the automatic water filling system (20) bounded by an upstanding curvature boundary wall, which may formed in one part or more than one. The low voltage water pump (21) is integral part of the automatic water filling system (20), wherein water inlet pipe (19) is connected with said automatic fill assembly (20). Connector 1 (17), attached with one part of the said inlet pipe (19), which is connected with the water tank (14) is coupled with the connector 2 (18), which is present at the end of other part of the inlet pipe (19), going to the water filling system (20). The connector 1 (17) is attached with water tank assembly (15) through inlet pipe (19) and the water level sensor (16) is fixed in the water tank (14) which sense the pre-defined effective water level therein.

The preferred embodiment of water level sensor (16) as provisioned within the said water filling system for an evaporative air cooler (10) is an generally an electronic water level sensor with the provision to sense at least one pre-defined water level in the water tank (14) of the air cooler (10) and wherein said water level sensor (16) is provisioned for sensing the upper water level to towards automatic deactivating the said water filling system and sensing the lower water level towards automatic activating the water filling system again. Said water level sensor (16) is electrically connected to the controls of the air cooler (10) and provide the information signal to the control panel about the level of water in the tank.

A brief consideration of the above embodiment will indicate that the invention is simple. The invention eliminates the manual operation of water filling.

In the figures as above, an evaporative air cooler (10) is shown placed at a level higher than the water supply vessel (22). However, this is not the limiting consideration. The water supply vessel (22) could be even placed in the same level (or even at higher level) as compared to the air cooler (10). Alternatively, as an option, air cooler (10) could be lying on the floor at ground level. In addition to the above mentioned embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications and alterations with regard to the types of the materials used, their method of joining together, and the attachments, and, the shape of the air cooler, the structure of the air cooler, the shapes/dimensions/orientations of the components as described, the absence of certain optional components as described, and/or function may be made to the disclosed embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined by the claims. Accordingly, the above disclosure is not to be considered as limiting and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the entire spirit and scope of the invention.

Advantages of the current invention:
• Eliminates the need for manual filling of water to the water tank of the air cooler.
• Eliminates the need for lifting the water container (for example bucket) till the height of water inlet entry door of the air cooler.
• By means of programming the IC in the electronic circuit of the air cooler and also additionally with the help of water level sensor mounted in the air cooler tank, it is possible to auto-operate the water lifting. Meaning, the water will be lifted into the air cooler only if the water level in air cooler tank is low. Moment the water level in the cooler tank reaches a pre-determined maximum level, the water lifting into the air cooler will stop automatically.
• Above arrangement prevent overflow / splash of water and hence helps maintain the floor clean and dry
• Auto operation is powered by a low voltage supply and hence no risk of electric shock at any point of time.
• Electrical connection and plumbing connection are simultaneously done by a single connector, hence, quite convenient to use.
• Such automatic water filling is possible by this arrangement even for portable air coolers, since the water lifting arrangement is easily attachable / detachable unlike the permanent water inlet connection done by a plumber on a fixed air cooler.