Supplemental condensate delivery system having a snap-in drain member
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorDaniel A. Schurr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance includes a blower for delivering process air through an airflow path that includes a rotating drum. A condensation system has a heat exchanger that dehumidifies process air within a condensing portion of the airflow path to produce a condensate. A residual condensing area of the airflow path is positioned upstream of the heat exchanger. The residual condensing area produces secondary condensate. A primary flow path delivers the condensate from the condensing portion to a sump. A secondary flow path delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to the sump.
Claims20
A basement structure for a laundry appliance, the basement structure comprising:
- an airflow path having a condensing portion that is configured to house a heat exchanger for dehumidifying process air;
- a lint filter housing that is positioned upstream of the condensing portion;
- a sump positioned downstream of the condensing portion and having a fluid delivery channel, wherein the sump is configured to receive condensate formed in the condensing portion;
- a primary flow path that is positioned below the condensing portion and configured to deliver the condensate from the condensing portion to the sump;
- a residual condensing area positioned upstream of the condensing portion, wherein the residual condensing area is configured to produce secondary condensate;
- and
- a secondary flow path that is defined by a drain member that delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to the fluid delivery channel, wherein the drain member includes an inlet end that engages the lint filter housing and an outlet end that engages the fluid delivery channel, and wherein the inlet end and the outlet end are each biased against interior walls of the lint filter housing and the fluid delivery channel, respectively.
A basement structure for a laundry appliance, the basement structure comprising:
- an airflow path having a condensing portion that is configured to house a heat exchanger for dehumidifying process air, wherein a primary flow path extends between the condensing portion and a sump;
- a residual condensing area positioned upstream of the condensing portion, wherein the residual condensing area is configured to produce secondary condensate;
- and
- a drain member that delivers the secondary condensate from the residual condensing area to a fluid delivery channel, wherein the fluid delivery channel extends to the sump, wherein the drain member includes an inlet end that engages the residual condensing area and an outlet end that engages the fluid delivery channel, and wherein the inlet end and the outlet end are each biased against interior walls of the residual condensing area and the fluid delivery channel, respectively.
A condensate drain system for an appliance, the condensate drain system comprising:
- a drain member that delivers residual condensate from a residual condensing area within a lint filter housing to a fluid delivery channel, wherein
- the drain member includes an inlet end that engages an inlet receptacle of the lint filter housing and an outlet end that engages an outlet receptacle of the fluid delivery channel;
- the inlet end and the outlet end are each biased against interior walls of the lint filter housing and the fluid delivery channel, respectively;
- each of the inlet and outlet receptacles includes an annular structure that matingly engages the inlet end and the outlet end, respectively;
- the annular structure of the inlet receptacle includes an elongated surface that slidably engages an annular recess of the inlet end;
- and
- the inlet end includes an angled portion of the drain member that engages an underside of the residual condensing area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.