Dynamic condensate evacuator for high efficiency gas furnaces

Abstract

This invention features a condensate drain that drains condensate from an impeller housing as well as an impeller housing having such a drain. This condensate drain is configured so as to allow the condensate from the exhaust to be continuously drained from the housing while the impeller is or is not operating. Preferably, the impeller housing includes a housing shell having an aperture in fluid communication with the housing interior. A top portion of the aperture extends above an interior surface of the housing shell to minimize the venturi effect of air flowing by the aperture responsive to rotation of the impeller. The interior surface of the housing further includes a dished region proximate the aperture, where the bottom of the dished region is arranged to correspond with a bottom edge of the aperture. The cross-sectional area of the aperture portion below the housing shell interior surface has a cross-sectional area that is in the range of from about 10% to about 50% the cross-sectional area of the aperture and more preferably is about 50% of the aperture cross-sectional area. The impeller also includes a hollow member, where the hollow member and housing are formed as an integral structure using a plastic material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.