Condensate collection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191734-A1
Application number	US-201514984326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A condensate collection system for use in HVAC equipment configured to remove condensate from a coil assembly before unintentional release into the surrounding environment and increase energy efficiency by preventing substantial air mixing within the air conditioner itself. The condensate collection system comprising, a tray configured to collect condensate and a lid configured to both prevent the mixing of air and collect condensate, operatively connected by a plurality of standoffs attached to the base of the tray and the bottom of the lid wherein the lid is supported by the tray and the plurality of standoffs. The system further may include one or more condensate drain channels configured to collect and drain condensate from the top of the lid into the tray and subsequently drain from the tray through an exit port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A condensate collection device for use with an air conditioner coil assembly, comprising:
a tray configured to be mounted in a horizontal orientation adjacent to the air conditioner coil assembly to collect condensate, the tray including:
a base defining a perimeter of the tray, and
an exit port configured to allow condensate to exit;
a lid configured to restrict air movement across the air conditioner coil assembly, the lid including:
a top,
a bottom,
a front,
a back,
a condensate drain channel configured to collect and drain condensate from the top of the lid into the tray,
a coil header port configured to accept a portion of the air conditioner coil assembly, and
a coil frame port configured to accept a housing of the air conditioner coil assembly; and

a plurality of standoffs coupled between the base of the tray and the bottom of the lid.

2 . The condensate collection device of claim 1 , wherein the condensate drain channel includes a drain slot, opposed sides, and a trough, where the trough is an elongated slope extending from the front of the lid to the back of the lid, the drain slot located proximate to the back of the lid and open to the tray, the opposed sides of the condensate drain channel directed inward toward the trough.

3 . The condensate collection device of claim 1 , wherein the lid contains a plurality of condensate drain channels disposed horizontally along the top of the lid.

4 . The condensate collection device of claim 1 , wherein the condensate collection device is composed of material that is anti-microbial.

5 . The condensate collection device of claim 1 , wherein a back wall of the tray and the back of the lid are operatively connected by a living hinge.

6 . A condensate collection system for use with an air conditioner coil assembly, comprising:
a first condensate collection device including:
a tray mounted in a horizontal orientation adjacent to the conditioner coil assembly and configured to collect condensate, the tray having a gravity assist exit port configured to allow condensate to drain;
a lid disposed on top of the tray, and configured to restrict air movement across the air conditioner coil assembly, the lid having a condensate drain channel configured to collect and drain condensate from the top of the lid into the tray;
a condensate drain tube connected to the gravity assist exit port of the first condensate collection device;
a second condensate collection device including:
a tray mounted in a horizontal orientation adjacent to the air conditioner coil assembly configured to collect condensate;
a lid disposed on top of the tray, and configured to restrict air movement across the air conditioner coil assembly, the lid having a condensate drain channel configured to collect and drain condensate from the top of the lid into the tray and an entrance port to receive condensate from the condensate drain tube.

7 . The condensate collection system of claim 6 where the second condensate collection device is mounted beneath the air conditioner coil assembly.

8 . The condensate collection system of claim 7 where the first condensate collection device is mounted above the second condensate collection device.

9 . The condensate collection system of claim 6 , wherein the first condensate collection device further includes:
a coil header port configured to accept a portion of the air conditioner coil assembly, a coil frame port configured to accept a housing of the air conditioner coil assembly; and a plurality of standoffs attached to the tray and the lid, wherein the lid is supported by the tray and the plurality of standoffs.

10 . The condensate collection system of claim 9 , where the second condensate collection system further includes:
a coil header port configured to accept a portion of the air conditioner coil assembly, a coil frame port configured to accept a housing of the air conditioner coil assembly; and a plurality of standoffs attached to the tray and the lid wherein the lid is supported by the tray and the plurality of standoffs.

11 . An air conditioner comprising:
a first air conditioner coil assembly configured to cool air; and a first condensate collection device including:
a tray configured to be mounted in a horizontal orientation below the first air conditioner coil assembly to collect condensate;
a lid configured to restrict air movement across the first air conditioner coil assembly, the lid including a condensate drain channel configured to collect and drain condensate from a top of the lid into the tray, and a coil header port configured to accept a portion of the first air conditioner coil assembly.

12 . The air conditioner of claim 11 , wherein the first condensate collection device further includes a coil frame port configured to accept a portion of a housing of the first air conditioner coil assembly.

13 . The air conditioner of claim 11 , wherein the first condensate collection device further includes a plurality of standoffs disposed between the tray and the lid, wherein the lid is supported by the tray and the plurality of standoffs.

14 . The air conditioner of claim 11 further comprising:
a second air conditioner coil assembly disposed below the first condensate collection device and configured to cool air; and
a second condensate collection device including:
a tray configured to be mounted in a horizontal orientation below the second air conditioner coil assembly to collect condensate;
a lid configured to restrict air movement across the second air conditioner coil assembly, the lid including a condensate drain channel configured to collect and drain condensate from a top of the lid into the tray, and a coil header port configured to accept a portion of the air conditioner coil assembly.

15 . The air conditioner of claim 14 , wherein the second condensate collection device further includes a coil frame port configured to accept a portion of a housing of the second air conditioner coil assembly.

16 . The air condition of claim 14 , wherein the second condensate collection device further includes a plurality of standoffs disposed between the tray and the lid, wherein the lid is supported by the tray and the plurality of standoffs.

17 . The air condition of claim 14 , further comprising a condensate drain channel fluidly connected between the first condensate collection device and the second condensate collection device.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric It Corp

Inventors

• Grantham Roy L

Classifications

• F28F17/005

  Means for draining condensates from heat exchangers, e.g. from evaporators (F28B9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D23/006

  for mounting refrigerating machinery components · CPC title

• F28B9/08

  for collecting and removing condensate · CPC title

• F24F13/222

  for evacuating condensate · CPC title

• F25D21/14 Primary

  Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays · CPC title