Air conditioners
First Claim
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1. An air conditioner comprising:
- a sump for collecting condensate that forms during the cooling of air-passing, in use, through the conditioner, andan electrically-driven pump for periodically pumping said condensate from the sump when the condensate level in the sump, as determined by a level detection device, rises to a pre-determined level,wherein said level detection device comprises a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor located at said pre-determined level, an electrical power supply for providing power to said resistor so as to cause said resistor to heat up and operate, when surrounded by air, substantially at a critical temperature thereof, and detection and control means to detect the reduction in resistance of the resistor upon the condensate reaching said pre-determined level and as a consequence to cause the pump to operate, and to cause the pump to stop when the resistor has re-attained said critical temperature consequent on a drop in the condensate level,said detection and control means including an ambient temperature compensation circuit to ensure correct operation of the pump at any ambient air temperature within pre-determined upper and lower limits.
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Abstract
An air conditioner condensate sump pump controller comprising a self heated PTC resistor located in the sump including an ambient compensation circuit. When the condensate reaches the resistor level due to decreased resistance the sump pump is energized reduce the condensate level.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An air conditioner comprising:
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a sump for collecting condensate that forms during the cooling of air-passing, in use, through the conditioner, and an electrically-driven pump for periodically pumping said condensate from the sump when the condensate level in the sump, as determined by a level detection device, rises to a pre-determined level, wherein said level detection device comprises a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor located at said pre-determined level, an electrical power supply for providing power to said resistor so as to cause said resistor to heat up and operate, when surrounded by air, substantially at a critical temperature thereof, and detection and control means to detect the reduction in resistance of the resistor upon the condensate reaching said pre-determined level and as a consequence to cause the pump to operate, and to cause the pump to stop when the resistor has re-attained said critical temperature consequent on a drop in the condensate level, said detection and control means including an ambient temperature compensation circuit to ensure correct operation of the pump at any ambient air temperature within pre-determined upper and lower limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification