Condensate removal system
First Claim
1. A condensate removal system for use with equipment that produces condensate during operation, the system comprising:
- a trough, the trough defining a chamber and a first port, the first port configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an area external to the trough, the trough further providing an exhaust port, the exhaust port being configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an area external to the trough;
a fan connected to the trough and aligned with and coupled to the first port such that the fan is in fluid communication with the chamber, the fan being configured to draw and to receive air from an area external to the trough and being further configured to force drawn-in air into the chamber such that air within the chamber is induced to flow from the chamber through the exhaust port to an area external to the trough;
an inlet connected to the trough, the inlet configured to receive the condensate from the equipment and to provide the condensate into the chamber, the inlet being further disposed and configured to operatively couple to one of the equipment and a collection device associated with the equipment; and
at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the trough to provide ultrasonic vibration to condensate contained in the trough.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A condensate removal system is provided for use in association or connection with equipment that produces a liquid or condensate during operation. The condensate removal system is configured to receive a liquid or condensate produced by equipment and is configured to induce the liquid or condensate to flow from the system as liquid or condensate droplets and/or liquid or condensate vapor. The system is configured to contain and to vibrate a liquid or condensate received from equipment in an ultrasonic frequency zone to induce the liquid or condensate to form into droplets and/or vapors. The system is configured and arranged to force the droplets and vapors from the system and can be further configured to expel the droplets and vapors to an area external to the system and/or into a duct, for instance, to exhaust the droplets and vapors or to recirculate the droplets and vapor to equipment to provide cooling to the equipment and/or components of the equipment.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A condensate removal system for use with equipment that produces condensate during operation, the system comprising:
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a trough, the trough defining a chamber and a first port, the first port configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an area external to the trough, the trough further providing an exhaust port, the exhaust port being configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an area external to the trough;
a fan connected to the trough and aligned with and coupled to the first port such that the fan is in fluid communication with the chamber, the fan being configured to draw and to receive air from an area external to the trough and being further configured to force drawn-in air into the chamber such that air within the chamber is induced to flow from the chamber through the exhaust port to an area external to the trough;
an inlet connected to the trough, the inlet configured to receive the condensate from the equipment and to provide the condensate into the chamber, the inlet being further disposed and configured to operatively couple to one of the equipment and a collection device associated with the equipment; and
at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the trough to provide ultrasonic vibration to condensate contained in the trough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A condensate removal system for use with equipment that produces condensate during operation, the system comprising:
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a housing, the housing defining a chamber and a first port, the first port configured to provide fluid communication between the chamber and an area external to the housing;
an inlet connected to the housing, the inlet configured to receive the condensate from the equipment and to provide the condensate into the chamber, the inlet further disposed and configured to operatively couple to one of the equipment and a collection device associated with the equipment; and
a nozzle connected to the housing and being configured such that a side of the nozzle couples to the first port and the nozzle is in fluid communication with the chamber, the nozzle comprising a tapered portion, the tapered portion being disposed and configured to induce air to flow through the tapered portion and across an area defined by the first port and being further configured such that when air flows through the tapered portion, the air increases velocity and decreases in pressure and draws air within the chamber from the chamber into the tapered portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An air conditioning system comprising:
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an inlet that draws air into the system;
a cooling assembly to cool the air brought through the inlet into the system;
an exhaust assembly to vent cool air from the system; and
a condensate removal system coupled to the system including a housing defining a chamber and an inlet, the inlet configured to receive condensate produced by the system and to provide the condensate into the chamber; and
means for inducing the condensate to flow from the chamber as one of droplets and vapor wherein the condensate removal system is disposed and operatively coupled to the air conditioning system at an exhaust side of the air conditioning system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of removing a condensate produced by equipment during operation of the equipment, the method comprising:
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inducing a flow of the condensate into a chamber through an inlet in the chamber;
inducing the condensate to form into at least one of droplets and vapor; and
exhausting the droplets and the vapor from the chamber to an area external to the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification