Condensate management system for an air conditioner appliance

Abstract

A condensate management system for an air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit including 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 includes a base pan positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger for collecting condensate that drips off the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein a pan hole is defined through the base pan, a thermostatic drain valve operably coupled to the pan hole for selectively allowing the collected condensate to flow through the pan hole, and a thermal connection element that thermally couples the outdoor heat exchanger to the thermostatic drain valve.

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, wherein a pan hole is defined through the base pan; and   a drain assembly comprising:
 a thermostatic drain valve operably coupled to the pan hole for selectively allowing the collected condensate to flow through the pan hole; and 
 a thermal connection element that thermally couples the outdoor heat exchanger to the thermostatic drain valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element is a refrigerant conduit of the thermostatic drain valve that is thermally coupled to the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element is a metal bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element is formed from aluminum, copper, or steel. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element is a solid contact bar extending from the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the pan hole is positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger and the thermal connection element extends downward along the vertical direction to contact the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the pan hole is spaced apart from the outdoor heat exchanger along the transverse direction and the thermal connection element extends along the transverse direction to contact the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element is positioned in direct contact with the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal connection element engages the thermostatic drain valve through brazing or a thermal paste. 
     
     
         10 . 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). 
     
     
         11 . 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, wherein a pan hole is defined through the base pan;   a thermostatic drain valve operably coupled to the pan hole for selectively allowing collected condensate to flow through the pan hole; and   a thermal connection element that thermally couples the outdoor heat exchanger to the thermostatic drain valve.   
     
     
         12 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element is a refrigerant conduit of the thermostatic drain valve that is thermally coupled to the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element is a metal bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         15 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element is a solid contact bar extending from the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the pan hole is positioned under the outdoor heat exchanger and the thermal connection element extends downward along a vertical direction to contact the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         17 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the pan hole is spaced apart from the outdoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction and the thermal connection element extends along the transverse direction to contact the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         18 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element is positioned in direct contact with the thermostatic drain valve. 
     
     
         19 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal connection element engages the thermostatic drain valve through brazing or a thermal paste. 
     
     
         20 . The condensate management system of  claim 11 , wherein the air conditioner unit is a single-package vertical unit (SPVU) or a package terminal air conditioner (PTAC).