• TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Inspection
    • Heat Treating
    • Lubrication
    • Materials
    • The Gear Industry
    • Gears by Type
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe
  • VIDEO
    • Gear Technology TV
      • Ask the Expert Live
      • Revolutions
    • Industry Videos
  • BLOGS
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • ADVERTISING
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
    • Print Advertising
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • Print: Specifications
    • Online Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-mail Advertising
      • E-mail: E-Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
  • CONTACT US
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Blogs » Gear Talk With Chuck » Of Swamp Coolers and Window Vents

Gear Talk With Chuck
Gear Talk With Chuck RSS FeedRSS

Design / Relief / Temperature
Charles schultz
Chuck Schultz is a licensed engineer, Gear Technology Technical Editor, and Chief Engineer for Beyta Gear Service. He has written the "Gear Talk with Chuck" blog for Gear Technology since 2014.

Of Swamp Coolers and Window Vents

July 27, 2015
Charles D. Schultz
No Comments
Mr. Carrier did not invent modern air conditioning until 1902 but he was just another in a long line of inventors to seek relief from the summer heat. In some ways the success of Carrier’s invention has made us forget the often effective ways folks beat the heat. A few years ago, during a spike in summer temperatures, I was involved in a project in Chicago’s former meat packing district. The operations were spread between two buildings, a modern metal sided industrial crane building and a pre World War Two brick edifice. When the ambient hit triple digits it was impossible to keep working in the modern building but the old structure remained tolerable thanks to the very efficient system of vent windows over the peaked roof. The crane operator could turn cranks connected via rods and universal joints to open the windows and cause a noticeable vertical air flow without any external power source. One of the cable TV car restoration shows found an odd looking torpedo shaped object in the back seat of a car recovered from a desert salvage yard. It turned out to be an early 1950s “swamp cooler” that used water, a piece of fabric, and the forward motion of the car to cool the passenger compartment during cross country trips. The show restored the device and it worked fairly well. Plans for home built versions have shown up on line recently claiming great cooling at very low cost. Having been raised on 4/40 air conditioning, as in 4 open windows and 40 miles per hour, I remember my dad and uncles being upset with the disappearance of vent windows on new cars in the late 1960s. When air conditioning became expected on cars the vent windows were an easy cost saving target. None of the guys who vowed to never buy a car without vent windows followed through. Sometimes the new way of doing things makes the old way look silly.

Recent Comments

Thank you for this - Happy Saint Patrick's...

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • Laser Gear Inspection with Douglas Beerck of Gleason
February 28, 2022
RECOMMENDED
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Kapp Niles Examines Intelligent Rolling Grinding for E-mobility

    April 25, 2022
    Opening Image.jpg
  • The New Age of Bronze

    April 25, 2022
    Barton1.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • AGMA
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2022 Gear Technology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact