# US 5,694,785 A · Condensate evaporator apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,694,785 A - Document ID: US5694785A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/712,862 - Filed: 1996-09-18 - Granted: 1997-12-09 - Earliest claimed: 1996-09-18 - Assignees: Fisher Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Inventors: Dan Balentine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5694785A ## CPC - F25D 21/14: Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 13/22: Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate - F24F 2110/00: Control inputs relating to air properties - F25D 2321/1413: using heat from electric elements or using an electric field for enhancing removal - F25D 2321/144: characterised by the construction of drip water collection pans - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A condensate evaporator apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally includes a dissipator pan for collecting condensate formed on evaporator coils of a refrigeration unit, a heating element for hastening evaporation of the condensate, a frame for housing the dissipator pan, the frame including means for permanently mounting the frame within the refrigeration unit, and structure for enabling the dissipator to be quickly and easily removed from the frame in order to facilitate maintenance, cleaning or replacement thereof. In addition, a magnetized float and guide stem may be included for detecting a level of condensate and for activating the heating element when the condensate has accumulated to a selected level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A condensate evaporator apparatus for a refrigeration unit, said condensate evaporator apparatus comprising: dissipator means for receiving a condensate; heating element means for hastening evaporation of the condensate accumulated in the dissipator means; frame means for housing the dissipator means, said frame means including means for permanently securing said frame means within a refrigeration unit; means for detecting a selected level of the accumulated condensate in the dissipator means; means for activating the heating element when the selected level has been reached; safety means, connected to the heating element means, for providing an indication of a safe time period for removing the dissipator means; and means for removably attaching said dissipator means within said frame means in order to enable the dissipator means to be freely inserted into and removed from the refrigeration unit, thus facilitating cleansing, maintenance and replacement of the dissipator means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The condensate evaporator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for removably attaching the dissipator means to the frame means comprises a pair of quick release fasteners on a proximal end of the dissipator means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The condensate evaporator apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for removably attaching further comprises means, including a resilient clip on a distal end of the frame means, for enabling slidable removal of the dissipator means and heating element from the frame means during manual release of the quick release fasteners. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The condensate evaporator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for detecting the selected level comprises a guide stem including a magnetically activated reed switch, and a magnetized float slidably disposed along said guide stem. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The condensate evaporator apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the safety means includes a light emitting diode electrically connected to the heating element. ### Claim 6 An improved refrigerated storage enclosure of the type having a plurality of upstanding side walls at least one of which has a doorway therethrough, a floor member beneath said side walls, a refrigerator compressor and condenser mounted within said enclosure and operatively connected to an evaporator coil for cooling the inside of said enclosure, wherein the improvement comprises: dissipator mens for receiving a condensate from said evaporative coil; heating element means for hastening evaporation of the condensate accumulated in the dissipator means; frame means for housing the dissipator means, said frame means including means for permanently securing said frame means to the refrigerated storage enclosure; means for detecting a selected level of the accumulated condensate in the dissipator means; means for activating the heating element when the selected level has been reached; safety means, connected to the heating element means, for providing an indication of a safe time period for removing the dissipator means; and means for removably attaching said dissipator means within said frame means in order to enable the dissipator means to be freely inserted into and removed from the refrigerated storage enclosure, thus facilitating cleansing, maintenance and replacement of both the dissipator means and the means for hastening evaporation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The improved refrigerated storage enclosure according to claim 6 wherein the means for removably attaching the dissipator means to the frame means comprises a pair of fasteners on a proximal end of the dissipator means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The improved refrigerated storage enclosure according to claim 7 wherein the means for removably attaching further comprises means, including a resilient clip on a distal end of the frame means, for enabling slidable removal of the dissipator means and heating element from the frame means during manual release of the quick release fasteners. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The improved refrigerated storage enclosure according to claim 6 wherein the means for detecting the selected level comprises a guide stem including a magnetically activated reed switch, and a magnetized float slidably disposed along said guide stem. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The improved refrigerated storage enclosure according to claim 6 wherein the safety means includes a light emitting diode electrically connected to the heating element. ### Claim 11 An improved refrigerated storage enclosure of the type having a plurality of upstanding side walls at least one of which has a doorway therethrough, a floor member beneath said side walls, a refrigerator compressor and condenser mounted within said enclosure and operatively connected to an evaporator coil for cooling the inside of said enclosure, wherein the improvement comprises: dissipator means for receiving a condensate from said evaporative coil; means, comprising a heating element, for hastening evaporation of the condensate accumulated in the dissipator means, said heating element being disposed within and connected to the dissipator means; frame means for housing the dissipator means, said frame means including means for permanently securing said frame means to the refrigerated storage enclosure; and means for detecting a selected level of the accumulated condensate in the dissipator means and means for activating the heating element when the selected level has been reached, said means for detecting comprising a guide stem including a magnetically activated reed switch, and a magnetized float slidably disposed along said guide stem; safety means, connected to the heating element, for providing an indication of a safe period for removing the dissipator means, said safety means including a light emitting diode electrically connected to the heating element; and means for removably attaching said dissipator means within said frame means in order to facilitate cleansing, maintenance and replacement of the dissipator means and means for hastening evaporation, said means for removably attaching including a pair of quick release fasteners disposed on a proximal end of the dissipator means, and means, including a resilient clip disposed on a distal end of the frame mens, for enabling slidable removal of the dissipator means and the heating element upon manual release of the quick release fasteners.