초록 ▼

A condensate secondary pan for a central air conditioning system is herein disclosed whereby overflow protection of the primary condensate removal system for a fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system is realized. The secondary pan is positioned directly beneath the primary pan of the cent

A condensate secondary pan for a central air conditioning system is herein disclosed whereby overflow protection of the primary condensate removal system for a fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system is realized. The secondary pan is positioned directly beneath the primary pan of the central air conditioning system to convey condensate safely outside an enclosure should the primary pan overflow due to clogging of the primary drain line, or leak due to cracks or fissures formed in the primary pan. The condensate secondary pan has a predetermined girth sufficient to extend laterally beyond the primary pan of a conventional fan coil unit. The condensate secondary pan also has a bottom panel which is frustoconical in shape, thus minimizing the pooling of condensate on its surface as well as an integral drain pipe connecting means, thereby eliminating the need for a superfluous user supplied connecting means which is typically made of metal and thus is susceptible to corrosion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A condensate secondary pan for a conventional fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system, said fan coil unit including a box-like structure for encasement of an evaporator coil, a blower assembly, and a primary pan for the receipt and disposal of condensate developing on said evaporator c

1. A condensate secondary pan for a conventional fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system, said fan coil unit including a box-like structure for encasement of an evaporator coil, a blower assembly, and a primary pan for the receipt and disposal of condensate developing on said evaporator coil, wherein said primary pan being in fluid communication with a primary drain line to convey said condensate safely away from an enclosure, said secondary pan being adapted for placement beneath said box-like structure in order to provide overflow protection therefor, said secondary pan adapted to be in fluid communication with a secondary drain line, said secondary pan comprising:a drain line connecting means which is configured to adaptably receive a portion of conventional PVC pipe thereto, said drain line connecting means being adapted to be adhereingly coupled to said PVC pipe using commonly available PVC pipe cement;a bottom panel having a sloping surface from any point on the upper surface of said bottom panel to said drain line connecting means in order to insure that condensate is not allowed to pool thereon, said bottom panel being integrally attached to said drain line connecting means at its lowest elevational apex to convey all condensate from the upper surface of said bottom panel to said secondary drain line; and,a front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall which integrally extend upwards from said bottom panel in order to provide a collection means for the overflow of condensate from said primary pan of said fan coil unit, said secondary pan being of predetermined size to extend laterally beyond said primary pan in order to catch any overflow therefrom that might occur due to failure of said primary pan.2. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said drain line connecting means, bottom panel, front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall are molded from a single piece of thermoplastic material.3. The condensate secondary pan of claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic is a material selected from the list consisting of ABS and PVC.4. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said bottom panel is frustoconical in shape.5. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said drain line connecting means comprises:a cylindrical member which is integrally attached to said bottom panel at its lower apex, wherein inside diameter of said cylindrical member is of predetermined length to adaptably accept a drain pipe of conventional size, said inside surface defining a smooth bore to allow for adaptable attachment of said end of said drain pipe; and,an annular lip integrally attached to said inside surface of cylindrical member which keeps the terminating end of said drain pipe from protruding into said secondary pan during installation.6. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said drain line connecting means is adapted for insertion into a conventional pipe fitting.7. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed in the center of said bottom panel.8. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed on the side of said condensate secondary pan.9. The condensate secondary pan of claim 1, wherein said front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall are sloped outwards from the center of said secondary pan in order to allow additional said pans of similar size to be stacked on top of each other, thereby reducing storage space required for multiple said secondary pans.10. A method for the overflow protection of the primary condensate removal system for a fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system, said fan coil unit including an evaporator coil, a blower assembly, and a primary pan for the receipt and disposal of condensate developing on said evaporator coil, said primary pan being in fluid communication with a primary drain line to convey said condensate safely away from an enclosure, said secondary pan being in fluid communication with a secondary drain line, said steps comprising:providing an improved condensate secondary pan having a drain line connecting means to provide fluid communication of said secondary drain line to said secondary pan, a bottom panel having an upper surface which is frustoconical in shape, said upper surface being concave in order to insure that condensate is not allowed to pool thereon, said bottom panel being integrally attached to said drain line connecting means at its lowest elevational apex to convey all condensate from the upper surface of said bottom panel to said secondary drain line and, a front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall which integrally extend upwards from said bottom panel in order to provide a collection means for the overflow of condensate from said primary pan of said fan coil unit, said secondary pan being of predetermined size to extend laterally beyond said primary pan in order to catch any overflow therefrom that might occur due to failure of said primary pan;placing said condensate secondary pan beneath said primary pan of said fan coil unit such that said secondary pan extends laterally beyond the lateral dimensions of the primary pan in all lateral directions; and,connecting terminating end of said secondary drain line to said drain line connecting means, whereby said secondary pan provides comprehensive redundancy to said primary drain line as well as said primary pan during the operation thereof.11. The condensate secondary pan of claim 10, wherein said drain line connecting means, bottom panel, front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall are molded from a single piece of thermoplastic material.12. The condensate secondary pan of claim 11, wherein said thermoplastic is a material selected from the list consisting of ABS and PVC.13. The condensate secondary pan of claim 10, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed in the center of said bottom panel.14. The condensate secondary pan of claim 10, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed on the side of said condensate secondary pan.15. A condensate secondary pan to provide overflow protection for a fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system, said fan coil unit including an evaporator coil, a blower assembly, and a primary pan for the receipt and disposal of condensate developing on said evaporator coil, said primary pan being in fluid communication with a primary drain line to convey said condensate safely away from an enclosure, said secondary pan being in fluid communication with a secondary drain line, said secondary pan comprising:a drain line connecting means to provide fluid communication of said secondary drain line to said secondary pan;a bottom panel having an upper surface which is frustoconical in shape, said upper surface being concave in order to insure that condensate is not allowed to pool thereon, said bottom panel begin integrally attached to said drain line connecting means at its lowest elevational apex to convey all condensate from the upper surface of said bottom panel to said secondary drain line; and,a front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall which integrally extend upwards from said bottom panel in order to provide a collection means for the overflow of condensate from said primary pan of said fan coil unit, said secondary pan being of predetermined size to extend laterally beyond said primary pan in order to catch any overflow therefrom that might occur due to failure of said primary pan.16. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means, bottom panel, front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall are molded from a single piece of thermoplastic material.17. The condensate secondary pan of claim 16, wherein said thermoplastic is a material selected from the list consisting of ABS and PVC.18. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means is configured to adaptably receive the end of a conventional PVC pipe, said conventional PVC pipe is adapted to be adhereingly received into said drain line connecting means using conventional PVC cement.19. The condensate secondary pan of claim 18, wherein said drain line connecting means comprises:a cylindrical member which is integrally attached to said bottom panel at its lower apex, wherein inside diameter of said cylindrical member is of predetermined length to adaptably accept a drain pipe of conventional size, said inside surface defining a smooth bore to allow for adaptable attachment of said end of said drain pipe; and,an annular lip integrally attached to said inside surface of cylindrical member which keeps the terminating end of said drain pipe from protruding into said secondary pan during installation.20. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means comprises:a cylindrical member which is integrally attached to said bottom panel at its lower apex, wherein inside diameter of said cylindrical member is of predetermined length to adaptably receive a drain pipe of conventional size, said inside surface having threads therein which is adapted to threadably receive said drain pipe of conventional size, said drain pipe having conventional complimentary threads on its outer surface.21. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means is adapted for insertion into a conventional pipe fitting.22. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed in the center of said bottom panel.23. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said drain line connecting means is disposed on the side of said condensate secondary pan.24. The condensate secondary pan of claim 15, wherein said front sidewall, rear sidewall, left sidewall, and right sidewall are sloped outwards from the center of said secondary pan in order to allow additional said pans of similar size to be stacked on top of each other, thereby reducing storage space required for multiple said secondary pans.