Condensate Transfer Systems for Self-Contained Heat Pump Room Conditioning Units

Abstract

An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building. The air conditioning unit includes an indoor portion configured to be position on an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil, an outdoor portion configured to be position on an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil, a pump, tubing connected to the pump, and a water dispersing device. The pump and the tubing may be configured to pump condensate from one of the indoor portion and the outdoor portion to the water dispersing device disposed at the other of the outdoor portion and the indoor portion such that the water dispersing device disperses the condensate about an area of the other of the outdoor portion and the indoor portion.

1 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil;   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil;   a pump;   tubing connected to the pump; and   a water dispersing mechanism,   wherein the pump and the tubing are configured to pump condensate from one of the indoor portion and the outdoor portion to the water dispersing mechanism disposed at the other of the indoor portion and the outdoor portion.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the pump and the tubing are configured to pump the condensate from the indoor portion to the water dispersing mechanism disposed at the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outdoor portion comprises a fan configured to provide airflow out of the outdoor portion, and   wherein the water dispersing mechanism is configured to disperse the condensate into a space between the fan and the outdoor heat exchanging coil such that the fan disperses the condensate onto the outdoor heat exchanging coil.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispersing mechanism comprises one or more nozzles, a pipe having a plurality of apertures, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the water dispensing mechanism comprises the pipe having a plurality of apertures, and   wherein the plurality of apertures comprises a first aperture having a first size and a second aperture having a second size that is smaller than the first size.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first aperture is disposed at a first longitudinal location on the pipe,   wherein the second aperture is disposed at a second longitudinal location on the pipe, and   wherein the first longitudinal location on the pipe is closer to a longitudinal center of the pipe than that of the second longitudinal location on the pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein each of the apertures comprise a circle, an oval, and/or a slit. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the indoor portion includes a base pan configured to collect the condensate, and   wherein the pump is configured to pump the condensate from the base pan to the water dispensing mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispensing mechanism comprises a filter configured to filter the condensate before it enters the tubing. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil;   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil;   a fan disposed in within the outdoor portion and configured to move air past the outdoor heat exchanging coil; and   a water dispensing mechanism,   wherein the indoor portion includes a base pan configured to collect condensate, and   wherein the water dispensing mechanism is configured to move the condensate from the base pan to a space between the fan and the outdoor heat exchanging coil.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the water dispensing mechanism comprises a pump, tubing, and a filter assembly, and   wherein the pump is configured to pump the condensate through the filter assembly and the tubing.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , wherein the water dispersing mechanism comprises one or more nozzles, a pipe having a plurality of apertures, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprises a first aperture having a first size and a second aperture having a second size that is smaller than the first size. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first aperture is disposed at a first longitudinal location on the pipe,   wherein the second aperture is disposed at a second longitudinal location on the pipe, and   wherein the first longitudinal location on the pipe is closer to a longitudinal center of the pipe than that of the second longitudinal location on the pipe.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 12 , wherein each of the apertures comprise a circle, an oval, and/or a slit. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more nozzles are configured to spray the condensate within the outdoor portion about the outdoor heat exchanging coil such that the fan disperses the condensate about the outdoor heat exchanging coil and out of the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         17 . An air conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be positioned within an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil;   an outdoor portion configured to be positioned about an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil;   a fan disposed in within the indoor portion and configured to move air past the indoor heat exchanging coil; and   a water dispensing mechanism,   wherein the outdoor portion includes a base pan configured to collect condensate, and   wherein the water dispensing mechanism is configured to move the condensate from the base pan to a space between the fan and the indoor heat exchanging coil.   
     
     
         18 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the water dispensing mechanism comprises a pump, tubing, and a filter assembly, and   wherein the pump is configured to pump the condensate through the filter assembly and the tubing.   
     
     
         19 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 17 , wherein the water dispersing mechanism comprises one or more nozzles, a pipe having a plurality of apertures, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprises a first aperture having a first size and a second aperture having a second size that is smaller than the first size. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled)