Condensation Collection Pan

Abstract

An improved condensate collection pan with a side exit has a bottom portion with one or more surfaces sloping downwardly towards a drain orifice, with one or more vertical walls around the periphery of the bottom portion, defining an open-top liquid-tight pan. The drain orifice in a wall is horizontally facing to receive a fitting for a horizontally-oriented drain pipe or elbow.

1 . A condensate collection pan comprising:
 a bottom portion having a periphery, having one or more surfaces all of which slope downwardly towards at least one drain orifice; and   one or more essentially vertical walls disposed around the periphery of the bottom portion, wherein the disposition is liquid-tight, thereby defining an open-top condensate collection pan;   wherein the drain orifice is formed in at least one wall and is horizontally facing and configured to receive a fitting for a horizontally oriented drain pipe or elbow, or to receive a drain pipe without a fitting, or to receive both a fitting and a drain pipe, and wherein the drain orifice is positioned at a lowest point in the at least one wall.   
     
     
         2 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion comprises a first essentially planar portion descending from a rear side to the drain orifice, a second essentially planar portion descending from a left side to the drain orifice, and a third essentially planar portion descending from a front side to the drain orifice. 
     
     
         3 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the one or more essentially vertical walls are configured in a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the rectangular shape is approximately 36 inches side-to-side and 31 inches front-to-back. 
     
     
         5 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the one or more essentially vertical walls is configured in a curved shape. 
     
     
         6 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the downward slope of the bottom portion comprises at least a 0.5 inch vertical drop from a bottom edge of the one or more essentially vertical walls to the drain orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the vertical drop comprises at least 1 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the one or more essentially vertical walls form a slight taper from top to bottom, towards the bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein dimensions and materials of the vertical walls bottom portion are configured to retain at least 7 gallons of condensate under conditions of the drain orifice being blocked. 
     
     
         10 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising one or more constraint points for holding the pan in place under an air conditioner or other refrigeration unit, wherein the one or more constraint mounts are configured to hold a weight of at least 7 gallons of condensate. 
     
     
         11 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising molded plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising formed plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising sheet metal. 
     
     
         14 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising one or more fillets in one or more corner junctions between one or more walls or between a wall and the bottom portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method or manufacturing a condensate collection pan comprising the steps of:
 forming a bottom portion having a periphery, having one or more surfaces all of which slope downwardly towards at least one drain orifice; and   disposing one or more essentially vertical walls around the periphery of the bottom portion, wherein the disposition is liquid-tight, thereby defining an open-top condensate collection pan;   wherein the drain orifice is formed in at least one wall and is horizontally facing and configured to receive a fitting for a horizontally oriented drain pipe or elbow, or to receive a drain pipe without a fitting, or to receive both a fitting and a drain pipe, and wherein the drain orifice is positioned at a lowest point in the at least one wall.   
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the forming of the bottom portion comprises forming a first essentially planar portion descending from a rear side to the drain orifice, a second essentially planar portion descending from a left side to the drain orifice, and a third essentially planar portion descending from a front side to the drain orifice. 
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the one or more essentially vertical walls are formed in a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the rectangular shape is approximately 36 inches side-to-side and 31 inches front-to-back. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing as set forth in  claim 15  wherein one or more of the one or more essentially vertical walls is formed in a curved shape. 
     
     
         20 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the downward slope of the bottom portion comprises at least a 0.5 inch vertical drop from a bottom edge of the one or more essentially vertical walls to the drain orifice.