Cooling tower structures

Claim 1

In a gas liquid contact structure having a modular apparatus of predetermined perimetric extent for treating a liquid, a plurality of substantially vertically disposed discharge pipes each of which is relatively transversely spaced from the other and positioned inward from the perimeter of the modular apparatus, liquid supply pipe means extending into and within the perimeter of said modular apparatus, said liquid supply pipe means being substantially horizontally disposed and including a plurality of transversely spaced liquid feeder means connected with and disposed substantially normal to said discharge pipes to support said discharge pipes in their substantially vertical disposition and spaced inward from the perimeter of the modular apparatus, a liquid discharge outlet on each of said discharge pipes receiving liquid from said liquid supply pipe means and discharging the same into and within the perimeter of the modular apparatus, said liquid discharge outlets being disposed within the perimeter of the modular apparatus to cause the liquid to be discharged from within the modular apparatus and outward, inward and downward toward the perimeter of the modular apparatus to form a cover of liquid over the interior of the modular apparatus, said plurality of discharge and supply pipes including said feeder means forming a rigid, free-standing, self-supporting module defining the modular apparatus free of exterior supports and connectable with liKe self-supporting modules at said liquid supply pipe means, a liquid catch basin above which said modular apparatus is mounted to catch the liquid discharged from said discharge outlets, a framework about said modular apparatus, and means interconnecting said framework to said modular apparatus to partially support said framework from said modular apparatus.