US2026029157A1PendingUtilityA1

Condensate management system for an air conditioner appliance

59
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:PHILLIPS RICHARD MICHAEL
F24F 13/224F24F 13/20F24F 13/222F24F 1/027
59
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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, and a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the base pan defines a condensate collection reservoir directly below the outdoor heat exchanger and one or more pan holes passing through the base pan within the condensate collection reservoir.

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; and   a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the base pan defines a condensate collection reservoir directly below the outdoor heat exchanger and one or more pan holes passing through the base pan within the condensate collection reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned in front of a fan shroud. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pan holes are spaced apart from the outdoor heat exchanger by a hole spacing defined along the transverse direction, the hole spacing being less than 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the hole spacing is less than 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned such that the condensate flows unimpeded to one or more pan holes after falling from the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned between lateral sides of the outdoor heat exchanger along the lateral direction. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base pan further defines an elevated wall that defines the condensate collection reservoir surrounding the one or more pan holes. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pan holes are defined between the outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a thermostatic drain valve operably coupled to the one or more pan holes.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the base pan is formed from plastic. 
     
     
         11 . 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). 
     
     
         12 . A base pan assembly 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 base pan assembly comprising: 
 a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the base pan defines a condensate collection reservoir directly below the outdoor heat exchanger and one or more pan holes passing through the base pan within the condensate collection reservoir.   
     
     
         13 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned in front of a fan shroud. 
     
     
         14 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pan holes are spaced apart from the outdoor heat exchanger by a hole spacing defined along a transverse direction, the hole spacing being less than 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . The base pan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the hole spacing is less than 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned such that the condensate flows unimpeded to one or more pan holes after falling from the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pan holes are positioned between lateral sides of the outdoor heat exchanger along a lateral direction. 
     
     
         18 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base pan further defines an elevated wall that defines the condensate collection reservoir surrounding the one or more pan holes. 
     
     
         19 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more pan holes are defined between the outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan along a transverse direction. 
     
     
         20 . The base pan assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a thermostatic drain valve operably coupled to the one or more pan holes.

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