Supplemental condensate delivery system having a snap-in drain member

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a blower for delivering process air through an airflow path that includes a rotating drum. A condensation system has a heat exchanger that dehumidifies process air within a condensing portion of the airflow path to produce a condensate. A residual condensing area of the airflow path is positioned upstream of the heat exchanger. The residual condensing area produces secondary condensate. A primary flow path delivers the condensate from the condensing portion to a sump. A secondary flow path delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to the sump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid delivery system for a laundry appliance, the fluid delivery system comprising:
 a heat exchange system that is configured to dehumidify process air and produce condensate;   a sump positioned downstream of the heat exchange system and having a fluid delivery channel, wherein the sump is configured to receive the condensate from the heat exchange system;   a primary flow path that is positioned below the heat exchange system and configured to deliver the condensate from the heat exchange system to the sump;   a residual condensing area positioned within an upstream portion of the heat exchange system, wherein the residual condensing area is configured to produce secondary condensate; and   a secondary flow path that is defined by a drain member that delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to the fluid delivery channel, wherein the drain member includes an inlet end that engages a lint filter housing and an outlet end that engages the fluid delivery channel, and wherein the inlet end and the outlet end each engage interior walls of the lint filter housing and the fluid delivery channel, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet end and the outlet end of the drain member are each biased against the interior walls of the lint filter housing and the fluid delivery channel, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the residual condensing area is positioned proximate a lint screen that separates particulate material from the process air. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the drain member delivers the secondary condensate away from the lint screen to prevent accumulation of the secondary condensate within the particulate material. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the lint filter housing includes an inlet receptacle that receives the inlet end of the drain member. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid delivery channel includes an outlet receptacle that receives the outlet end of the drain member. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary flow path delivers the secondary condensate to the primary flow path at a position downstream of the heat exchange system. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the inlet and outlet receptacles includes an annular structure that matingly engages the inlet end and the outlet end, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein engagement of the drain member with the inlet and outlet receptacles applies a biasing force that biases the inlet end of the drain member toward the outlet end of the drain member. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the annular structure of the inlet receptacle includes an elongated surface that slidably engages an annular recess of the inlet end. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the inlet receptacle includes guide ribs and a through slot that selectively receive abutment structures of the inlet end, and wherein the outlet receptacle includes at least one retaining rib that receives a retaining flange of the outlet end. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet end includes an angled portion of the drain member that engages an underside of the residual condensing area. 
     
     
         13 . A condensate delivery system for an appliance, the condensate delivery system comprising:
 an airflow path having a condensing portion for dehumidifying process air, wherein a primary flow path extends between the condensing portion and a sump;   a residual condensing area positioned upstream of the condensing portion, wherein the residual condensing area is configured to produce secondary condensate; and   a drain member that delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to the sump, wherein the drain member includes an inlet end that engages the residual condensing area and an outlet end that engages the sump, and wherein the inlet end and the outlet end are each biased against interior walls of the residual condensing area and the sump, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the sump includes a fluid delivery channel, and wherein the outlet end of the drain member engages the sump at the fluid delivery channel. 
     
     
         15 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the residual condensing area is positioned proximate a lint filter housing configured to separate particulate material from the process air. 
     
     
         16 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the lint filter housing includes an inlet receptacle that receives the inlet end of the drain member, and wherein the fluid delivery channel includes an outlet receptacle that receives the outlet end of the drain member. 
     
     
         17 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the inlet and outlet receptacles includes an annular structure that matingly engages the inlet end and the outlet end, respectively, and wherein the annular structure of the inlet receptacle includes an elongated surface that slidably engages an annular recess of the inlet end. 
     
     
         18 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the inlet receptacle includes guide ribs and a through slot that selectively receive abutment structures of the inlet end, and wherein the outlet receptacle includes at least one retaining rib that receives a retaining flange of the outlet end. 
     
     
         19 . The condensate delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet end includes an angled portion of the drain member that engages an underside of the residual condensing area. 
     
     
         20 . A condensate delivery system for an appliance, the condensate delivery system comprising:
 a drain member that delivers residual condensate from a residual condensing area within a lint filter housing to a sump, wherein
 the drain member includes an inlet end that engages an inlet receptacle of the lint filter housing and an outlet end that engages an outlet receptacle of the sump; 
 the inlet end and the outlet end are each biased against interior walls of the lint filter housing and the sump, respectively; 
 each of the inlet and outlet receptacles includes an annular structure that matingly engages the inlet end and the outlet end, respectively; 
 the annular structure of the inlet receptacle includes an elongated surface that slidably engages an annular recess of the inlet end; and 
 the inlet end includes an angled portion of the drain member that engages an underside of the residual condensing area.