Vertical dehumidifier

Abstract

A portable dehumidifier comprising a crossflow fan supported in a chassis for rotation about a vertical axis. The compressor and heat exchanger are oriented vertically. The vertically-oriented configuration enables the size of the heat exchanger and fan to be increased to increase the dehumidifying rate without the need for an increase in the footprint.

1 . A dehumidifier comprising: 
 a housing comprising a peripheral wall, an inlet formed in one portion of the peripheral wall, an outlet formed in another portion of the peripheral wall, an air flow path extending through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, with the housing, inlet, outlet, and air flow path all having an elongated and vertically extending orientation;    an evaporator coil located within the air flow path;    a condenser coil located within the air flow path downstream of the evaporator coil;    a crossflow blower located within the air flow path for moving air along the air flow path, from the inlet to the outlet and through the evaporator coil and condenser coil; and    a compressor fluidly connected to the condenser coil and the evaporator coil.    
   
   
       2 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the crossflow blower is vertically oriented within the air flow path.  
   
   
       3 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 2 , wherein the crossflow blower has an elongated configuration.  
   
   
       4 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a scroll located within the housing and defining at least a portion of the air flow path.  
   
   
       5 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 4 , wherein the scroll extends at least from the crossflow blower to the outlet.  
   
   
       6 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 4 , wherein the scroll is downstream of the evaporator.  
   
   
       7 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a first internal chamber in which the compressor is enclosed.  
   
   
       8 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 7 , and further comprising a collection bucket removably mounted within the first internal chamber.  
   
   
       9 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 8 , wherein the collection bucket forms a recess in which the compressor is received when the collection bucket is mounted within the first internal chamber.  
   
   
       10 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 9 , and further comprising a fan located in the first internal chamber for cooling the compressor.  
   
   
       11 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 10 , wherein the fan is coupled to a drive shaft of the crossflow blower such that rotation of the crossflow blower rotates the fan.  
   
   
       12 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 7 , and further comprising a blower motor coupled to the crossflow blower drive shaft for rotation of the crossflow blower.  
   
   
       13 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 12 , and further comprising a second internal chamber housing the blower motor.  
   
   
       14 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the first and second internal chambers is located above the cross flow blower, and the other of the first and second internal chambers is located beneath the cross flow blower.  
   
   
       15 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second internal chambers is separated from air flow path.  
   
   
       16 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the evaporator coil and the condenser coil has an arcuate configuration complementary to the cylindrical surface of the crossflow blower.  
   
   
       17 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator coil is upstream of the condenser coil.  
   
   
       18 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 17 , wherein the condenser coil is upstream of the evaporator coil.  
   
   
       19 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 16 , wherein the peripheral wall comprises a front cover having the inlet and a rear cover having the outlet.  
   
   
       20 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 19 , and further comprising a base in supporting registry with the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       21 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 20 , and further comprising a cap in supported registry with the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       22 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 19 , wherein the front cover comprises an arcuate portion complementary to the surface of one of the evaporator coil and the condenser coil.  
   
   
       23 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 23 , wherein the inlet is located in the arcuate portion.  
   
   
       24 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 19 , wherein the rear cover comprises a planar portion.  
   
   
       25 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 24 , wherein the outlet is located in the planar portion.  
   
   
       26 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , and further comprising an air filter located within the air flow path.  
   
   
       27 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 26 , wherein the air filter is located upstream of the outlet.  
   
   
       28 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and the crossflow blower comprise an integrated module.  
   
   
       29 . A dehumidifier according to  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of integrated modules can be vertically interconnected to increase the dehumidifying capacity of the dehumidifier.