COMPACT DEHUMIDIFIERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dehumidifier, comprising:
- a portable housing having a first molded portion and a second molded portion positioned above and joined to the first molded portion, at least one of the first and second portions including an airflow inlet, at least one of the first and second portions including an airflow outlet, the housing enclosing a linear flowpath from the airflow inlet to the airflow outlet; and
a refrigeration cycle, comprising;
an evaporator positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the airflow entrance and the airflow outlet, the evaporator being carried by the first portion;
a compressor positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the evaporator and the airflow outlet, the compressor being carried by the first portion;
a condenser positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the compressor and the airflow outlet, the condenser being carried by the first portion and being oversized relative to the evaporator; and
an airflow driver positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the airflow entrance and the airflow outlet, the airflow driver being carried by the first portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Compact dehumidifiers and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes a housing having an airflow entrance, and airflow exit, and a linear flowpath between the entrance and exit. The system further includes a refrigeration cycle having, in sequence along the flowpath, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an air flow driver. A controller is operatively coupled to the evaporator, compressor, condenser, and airflow driver to operate the refrigeration cycle for removing moisture from an entering airflow.
33 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A dehumidifier, comprising:
-
a portable housing having a first molded portion and a second molded portion positioned above and joined to the first molded portion, at least one of the first and second portions including an airflow inlet, at least one of the first and second portions including an airflow outlet, the housing enclosing a linear flowpath from the airflow inlet to the airflow outlet; and a refrigeration cycle, comprising; an evaporator positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the airflow entrance and the airflow outlet, the evaporator being carried by the first portion; a compressor positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the evaporator and the airflow outlet, the compressor being carried by the first portion; a condenser positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the compressor and the airflow outlet, the condenser being carried by the first portion and being oversized relative to the evaporator; and an airflow driver positioned in the housing along the linear flowpath between the airflow entrance and the airflow outlet, the airflow driver being carried by the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A system for removing moisture from air, comprising:
-
a housing having an airflow entrance, an airflow exit and a linear flowpath between the entrance and the exit; a refrigeration cycle that includes, in sequence along the flowpath, between the entrance and the exit; an evaporator; a compressor; a condenser; and an airflow driver; and a controller operatively coupled to the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser and the airflow driver to operate the refrigeration cycle to remove moisture from an entering airflow. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of manufacturing a compact dehumidifier, the method comprising:
-
positioning an evaporator in a first housing portion, the first housing portion having an exterior wall and an interior wall, the exterior wall and the interior wall together defining a slot; positioning a compressor adjacent to the evaporator in the first housing portion; positioning a condenser adjacent to the compressor in the first housing portion; inserting a first end of a controller into the slot; rotating and moving the controller to position a second end, opposite to the first end, into the slot; horizontally sliding the controller to securely attach the controller to the first housing portion; operatively coupling the controller to the evaporator, the compressor, and the condenser; fastening the first housing portion to a second housing portion to form an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet; wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion enclose a linear flowpath passing through the airflow inlet, the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, and the airflow outlet. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of positioning a dehumidifier relative to a floor, the floor having a downwardly-facing floor surface and floor joints extending below the downwardly-facing floor surface, the method comprising:
-
selecting a compact dehumidifier having a housing smaller than an interval between two neighboring joists below the downwardly-facing floor surface, the compact dehumidifier having at least one adjustable strap coupled to the housing; positioning the compact dehumidifier between the two neighboring joints; coupling the adjustable strap to the floor; and moving the compact dehumidifier upwardly toward the downwardly-facing floor surface by adjusting the adjustable strap. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
Specification