Negative pressure condensate drain system

Abstract

A drain pan system for receiving, routing, and draining condensate from a dehumidifying, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes a drain pan body that contains one or more walls to mitigate air flow and enable smooth condensate flow into, through, and out of the drain pan system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insert for a drain pan, the insert comprising:
 a vertical portion;   a horizontal portion connected to the vertical portion at a first end of the vertical portion; and   a slanted portion connected to the vertical portion at a second end of the vertical portion opposite the first end, the slanted portion angled relative to the horizontal portion and extending at least partially through an opening in the drain pan, the slanted portion structured to guide condensate through the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected to the horizontal portion. 
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the slanted portion and the horizontal portion is an oblique angle such that a first end of the slanted portion is vertically lower than a second opposite end of the slanted portion, the first end extending through the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 3 , wherein the second end of the vertical portion is connected to the slanted portion at an intermediate position along the slanted portion between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 3 , wherein a width of the first end decreases with increasing distance from the vertical portion. 
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the vertical portion, the handle structured to facilitate placement of the insert. 
     
     
         7 . The insert of  claim 6 , wherein the handle forms a ring. 
     
     
         8 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical portion and the slanted portion are coupled via at least one support rib, the at least one support rib structured to maintain a configuration of the slanted portion. 
     
     
         9 . A drain pan system, comprising:
 a breakwater region having a sloped bottom surface;   a wall adjacent to the breakwater region;   a well fluidly coupled to the breakwater region;   an opening fluidly coupled to the well; and   an insert component positioned between the well and the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the breakwater region includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end is connected to the well. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first end corresponds to a first depth and the second end corresponds to a second depth, and wherein the first depth is less than the second depth. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the insert component comprises a handle, a horizontal portion connected to the handle, and an angled portion connecting the horizontal portion to a vertical portion, wherein the vertical portion is connected to a slanted portion of the insert component. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the slanted portion includes a first section and a second section, and wherein the first section is positioned within the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a first wall and a second wall disposed within the breakwater region, wherein the first wall and the second wall define a channel there between. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first wall, the second wall, and the channel are fluidly coupled to the well. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a condensate generating apparatus comprising an evaporator and a condenser; and   a drain pan positioned below the condensate generating apparatus, the drain pan comprising:
 a plurality of regions configured to receive condensate from the condensate generating apparatus; 
 a well fluidly connected to the plurality of regions; 
 an opening fluidly coupled to the well; and 
 an insert component structured to engage with the well and extend through the opening, the insert component structured to facilitate flow of condensate out of and away from the drain pan. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of regions comprises a breakwater region, the breakwater region comprises a plurality of walls extending vertically upward from the drain pan, each of the plurality of walls structured to inhibit air flow between the drain pan and the condensate generating apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the breakwater region comprises a sloped bottom surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the insert component comprises a horizontal portion, a vertical portion connected to the horizontal portion, and a slanted portion coupled to the vertical portion opposite the horizontal portion. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical portion is connected to the slanted portion at an intermediate position along the slanted portion between a first end of the slanted portion and a second end of the slanted portion.