Condensate collection device

Abstract

A condensate collection tank ( 1 ) for an air conditioning system is provided. The tank ( 1 ) comprises a body ( 20 ) for storing condensate liquid, a lid ( 10 ) releasably connectable to the body ( 20 ) to form the tank ( 1 ) and a mounting bracket ( 112 ) for fixing the lid ( 10 ) to a mounting surface. The tank ( 1 ) further includes an inlet port { 50, 90 ) for condensate liquid from the air conditioning system, an outlet port { 40, 80 ) for condensate liquid from the tank ( 1 ), a sensor ( 104 ) for determining whether an amount of condensate liquid in the tank ( 1 ) exceeds a threshold value, and a controller for controlling removal of the condensate liquid from the tank { 1 ) via the outlet port ( 40, 80 ) when the sensor ( 104 ) determines that the threshold value has been exceeded.

1 . A condensate collection tank for an air conditioning system, comprising:
 a body for storing condensate liquid;   a lid releasably connectable to the body to form the tank;   a mounting bracket for fixing the lid to a mounting surface;   an inlet port for condensate liquid from the air conditioning system;   an outlet port for condensate liquid from the tank;   a sensor for determining whether an amount of condensate liquid in the tank exceeds a threshold value; and   a controller for controlling removal of the condensate liquid from the tank via the outlet port when the sensor determines that the threshold value has been exceeded.   
     
     
         2 . The tank according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one resilient clip for releasably connecting the lid to the body. 
     
     
         3 . The tank according to  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier which at least partially surrounds the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein the barrier is mounted on the underside of the lid and extends away from the lid at least as far as the end of the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The tank according to  claim 4 , wherein the barrier is formed integrally with the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein the barrier is formed as a separate component which is retained with respect to the sensor and rotatably and axially moveable relative to the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein a gap of at least 1 mm is provided between the barrier and the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of elongate prongs extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The tank according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor for determining whether an amount of condensate liquid in the tank exceeds a second threshold value. 
     
     
         10 . The tank according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a resilient clip for retaining the sensor in the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The tank according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are located either in the lid or the body and a second inlet port and outlet port are located in the other of the lid or body, and one of the inlet ports and one of the outlet ports are selectively closable by a user. 
     
     
         12 . The tank according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a cable recess for accommodating a cable of the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The tank according to  claim 12 , wherein the cable recess extends from a mounting location of the sensor to more than one location on an edge of the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The tank according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inlet or outlet ports is surrounded by a connector recess. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled)