Evaporator unit

Abstract

An evaporator unit produces condensate liquid in an air cooling system. The evaporator unit includes a reservoir that receives the condensate liquid, and a pump that communicates with the reservoir to pump the condensate liquid out of the reservoir. The evaporator unit also includes a filter to filter the condensate liquid. Further, the evaporator unit includes an outer casing that includes an opening panel adjacent to the reservoir, so that the reservoir is accessible when the opening panel is in an open position. The evaporator unit includes a filter in the reservoir or upstream of the pump.

1 . An evaporator unit that produces condensate liquid, the evaporator unit comprising:
 a reservoir that receives the condensate liquid;   a pump that communicates with the reservoir to pump the condensate liquid out of the reservoir;   a filter to filter the condensate liquid; and   an outer casing that includes an opening panel adjacent to the reservoir, so that the reservoir and filter are accessible when the opening panel is in an open position.   
   
   
       2 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening panel is disposed on a bottom, downwardly-facing surface of the outer casing, so that the reservoir and filter are accessible from under the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       3 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening panel is disposed on a side surface of the outer casing, so that the reservoir and filter are accessible from a side of the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       4 . The evaporator unit of  claim 3 , wherein the side is orthogonal to a wall on which the evaporator unit is mounted. 
   
   
       5 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening panel is fully detachable from the outer casing. 
   
   
       6 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein an edge of the opening panel is pivotally attached to the outer casing. 
   
   
       7 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening panel is transparent so that the reservoir is visible when the opening panel is closed. 
   
   
       8 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the opening panel includes an indicator to indicate at least one of a blocked filter and a predetermined level of condensate in the reservoir. 
   
   
       9 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shelf inside the casing upon which the reservoir is disposed.   
   
   
       10 . The evaporator unit of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is attached to the shelf via at least one of a clip, friction fit, a screw and a hook-and-loop type fastener. 
   
   
       11 . The evaporator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is attached to an inside surface of the opening panel so as to be accessible when the opening panel is in the open position. 
   
   
       12 . A mini-split air conditioner comprising the evaporator unit of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       13 . An evaporator unit that produces condensate liquid, the evaporator unit comprising:
 a reservoir assembly that receives the condensate liquid; and   an outer casing that includes an opening panel adjacent to the reservoir assembly, so that the reservoir assembly is accessible when the opening panel is in an open position, wherein   the reservoir assembly includes a pump to pump the condensate liquid out of the reservoir assembly, and a filter upstream of the pump to filter the condensate liquid.   
   
   
       14 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the opening panel is disposed on a bottom, downwardly-facing surface of the outer casing, so that the reservoir assembly is accessible from under the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       15 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the opening panel is disposed on a side surface of the outer casing, so that the reservoir assembly is accessible from a side of the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       16 . The evaporator unit of  claim 15 , wherein the side is orthogonal to a wall on which the evaporator unit is mounted. 
   
   
       17 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the opening panel is fully detachable from the outer casing. 
   
   
       18 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the opening panel includes an indicator to indicate at least one of a blocked filter and a predetermined level of condensate in the reservoir. 
   
   
       19 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a shelf inside the casing upon which the reservoir assembly is disposed.   
   
   
       20 . The evaporator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the reservoir assembly is attached to an inside surface of the opening panel so as to be accessible when the opening panel is in the open position. 
   
   
       21 . An evaporator unit that produces condensate liquid, the evaporator unit comprising:
 an outer casing that includes a removable panel;   a reservoir that receives the condensate liquid;   a pump that communicates with the reservoir to pump the condensate liquid out of the reservoir; and   a filter disposed between the reservoir and the pump to filter the condensate liquid, wherein the filter is attached to an inside surface of the removable panel so as to be withdrawn from the evaporator unit when the removable panel is removed.   
   
   
       22 . The evaporator unit of  claim 21 , wherein the removable panel is disposed on a bottom, downwardly-facing surface of the outer casing, so that the filter is withdrawn from under the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       23 . The evaporator unit of  claim 21 , wherein the removable panel is disposed on a side surface of the outer casing, so that the filter is withdrawn from the side of the evaporator unit. 
   
   
       24 . The evaporator unit of  claim 23 , wherein the side is orthogonal to a wall on which the evaporator unit is mounted. 
   
   
       25 . The evaporator unit of  claim 21 , wherein the opening panel includes an indicator to indicate at least one of a blocked filter and a predetermined level of condensate in the reservoir.