US2026029156A1PendingUtilityA1

Condensate management system for an air conditioner appliance

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Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INCPriority: Jul 25, 2024Filed: Jul 25, 2024Published: Jan 29, 2026
Est. expiryJul 25, 2044(~18 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:D'SOUZA BRYAN ISAACLONGENECKER JOSHUA DUANEPHILLIPS RICHARD MICHAELPAIRE SPENCERTOBBE JOSEPH ROBERT
F24F 1/02F24F 13/224F24F 1/027F24F 13/222
58
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Claims

Abstract

An air conditioner unit includes a bulkhead mounted within a cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion; a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger, and a thermal distributor element positioned within the base pan in thermal contact with the outdoor heat exchanger.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the air conditioner unit comprising:
 a bulkhead mounted within a cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion;   a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger; and   a thermal distributor element positioned within the base pan in thermal contact with the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element comprises a flat plate. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element is constructed from metal. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element is constructed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element forms a trough under the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element is positioned within 5 millimeters of the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element is in direct contact with fins of the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal distributor element engages the outdoor heat exchanger through brazing or a thermal paste. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein one or more drain holes are defined through the thermal distributor element. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more drain holes are defined under the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the base pan defines one or more pan holes that are aligned with the one or more drain holes of the thermal distributor element. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base pan is formed from plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner unit is a single-package vertical unit (SPVU) or a package terminal air conditioner (PTAC). 
     
     
         14 . A condensate management system for an air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead mounted within a cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion, and an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion, the condensate management system comprising:
 a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger; and   a thermal distributor element positioned within the base pan in thermal contact with the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The condensate management system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal distributor element comprises a flat plate. 
     
     
         16 . The condensate management system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal distributor element is constructed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         17 . The condensate management system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal distributor element forms a trough under the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The condensate management system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal distributor element is in direct contact with fins of the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The condensate management system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more drain holes are defined through the thermal distributor element. 
     
     
         20 . The condensate management system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more drain holes are defined under the outdoor heat exchanger.

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