Door-operated pump assembly

Abstract

A door-operated pump assembly may include a housing defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a displacement member arranged to move within the chamber between first and second positions, an actuator coupled to the displacement member, and a door coupled to the actuator. The actuator may be operable to move the displacement member between the first and second positions. The door may be configured to move the displacement member between the first and second positions when the door is moved between a first door position and at least one second door position. The displacement member may be operable to inhale a substance into the chamber through the inlet and to exhale a substance from the chamber through the outlet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A door-operated pump assembly, comprising: 
 a housing defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet;    a displacement member arranged to move within the chamber between first and second positions;    an actuator coupled to the displacement member, the actuator being operable to move the displacement member between the first and second positions;    a door coupled to the actuator, the door being configured to move the displacement member between the first and second positions when the door is moved between a first door position and at least one second door position; and    wherein the displacement member is operable to inhale a substance into the chamber through the inlet and to exhale a substance from the chamber through the outlet.    
     
     
         2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement member comprises a piston.  
     
     
         3 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing device arranged to bias the displacement member toward the first position.  
     
     
         4 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is associated with an enclosure including at least one wall defining an interior space, and wherein the door is arranged to pivot relative to the wall.  
     
     
         5 . A temperature-controlled assembly, comprising: 
 the pump assembly of  claim 1;     an enclosure associated with the pump assembly, the enclosure including at least one wall defining an interior space, the door being arranged to pivot relative to the wall;    a plurality of temperature control components arranged to control the temperature of the interior space of the enclosure and to dispense waste heat toward a condensate pan outside of the enclosure; and    a collection portion that collects condensate generated inside the enclosure by the plurality of temperature control components.    
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the collection portion comprises an inclined surface of the enclosure, the inlet of the chamber being arranged to receive condensate collected at a lower portion of the inclined surface, and the outlet of the chamber being arranged to direct condensate toward the condensate pan.  
     
     
         7 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the chamber is connected to an insulation cavity, and the chamber, the displacement member, and the door are arranged to transfer a substance away from the insulation cavity when the door is moved between the first and second door positions.  
     
     
         8 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a rod connected to the displacement member, and the door includes an actuation plate arranged to engage the rod when the door moves away from the first door position.  
     
     
         9 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the door includes a guide wheel, and the actuator comprises an actuation cable arranged to engage the guide wheel when the door moves away from the first door position.  
     
     
         10 . A system for transferring a substance, comprising: 
 an enclosure defining a collecting portion that collects a substance;    an inlet connected to the collecting portion;    a transfer device connected to the inlet, and the transfer device having a stationary component and a moveable component, the stationary component defining a holding portion and the moveable component being configured to move toward a first direction when a portion of the substance is drawn into the holding portion;    an outlet connected to the holding portion of the transfer device and a discharge portion outside of the enclosure, the outlet being configured to guide a portion of the substance toward the discharge portion when the moveable component of the transfer device moves toward a second direction; and    a door coupled to the enclosure and the transfer device so as to move the moveable component of the transfer device between the first and second directions.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises an air conditioning device arranged to generate condensate in the collecting portion and to direct heated air to evaporate condensate guided toward the discharge portion.  
     
     
         12 . A temperature control apparatus for a cabinet, comprising: 
 a door providing access to the cabinet, the door being movable between open and closed positions;    a collection portion that collects a substance at a first location within the cabinet; and    a transfer device arranged to transfer the substance from the first location to a second location outside of the cabinet in response to movement of the door between the open and closed positions.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer device comprises a pump actuated by the movement of the door.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is a mechanical pump having a displacement member arranged to be moveable along an intake stroke and a discharge stroke such that a substance can be drawn into the pump from the first location during the intake stroke and output therefrom to the second location during the discharge stroke.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pump has a displacement volume greater than a volume of substance collectable at the first location in response to a single opening and closing cycle of the door to thereby transfer substantially all of the volume of substance from the first location to the second location during each opening and closing cycle of the door.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the collection portion collects a volume of condensate, and the pump is arranged to displace at least a portion of the volume of condensate collected toward the second location when the door is moved between the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a source of waste heat from the temperature control apparatus accumulatable at the second location to evaporate the condensate displaced by the pump.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pump has a displacement member configured to move along an intake stroke and a discharge stroke when the door is moved between the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the door comprises a movable wall of an enclosure defined by the cabinet.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the collection portion comprises an insulation cavity, and the transfer device comprises a displacement member configured to move along an intake stroke and a discharge stroke such that air can be drawn out of the insulation cavity and into the transfer device during the intake stroke and output from the transfer device during the discharge stroke.