Modular condensate pump assembly

Details Modular condensate pump assembly Modular condensate pump assembly

2000-01-21

2001-11-27

Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)

Pumps

Condition responsive control of pump drive motor

Responsive to accumulation of pumped liquid in receiver

C417S279000, C417S360000, C417S410100, C417S423100, C417S423300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322326

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid pumping, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an improved modular condensate pump assembly.
2. Discussion
Especially in the field of heating and air conditioning, as well as in many other installations, liquid condensate is generated such as when moisture or humidity is present in the ambient atmosphere. Condensate runoff from cooled surfaces, such as from coils in air conditioning units, must be collected and appropriately discarded. Failure to do so can cause unwanted condensate collection resulting in environmental damage. For example, environmental damage can occur when condensate off flow spills onto a floor surface or onto anything disposed below the point of condensate drainage.
For many years sump pump assemblies have been available for the collection and disposal of condensation water. Such devices usually have a collection receptacle to receive the condensate, a centrifugal pump and a motor responsive to a liquid level float assembly that intermittently drives the pump to discharge the condensate from the collection receptacle to an available waste outlet or drain. One such prior art device is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,236 issued to Zimmerman. Numerous other such devices have been available commercially for quite some time.
Condensate pump assemblies, sometimes called sump assemblies, must often operate in adverse environmental conditions. Largely unattended, such devices often must provide reliable service over a span of many years. Cost considerations have demanded economy of manufacture, and many if not most commercially available sump assemblies are serviceable largely by replacement. That is, such devices are not economically repaired at field sites.
There is a need for a modular condensate pump assembly that offers economy of manufacture while affording maximum serviceability at the site of installation.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved, modular condensate pump assembly having a collection tank which is disposable at a convenient collection point for liquid condensate collection. A support plate is supported on the collection tank, and the support plate in turn supports a removable pump assembly which extends into the collection tank. A liquid volume control float, supported by the support plate to determine the level of condensate liquid in the collection tank, communicates with the pump to activate the pump to pump liquid from the collection tank when the condensate liquid reaches a predetermined volume.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved condensate pump assembly that is of modular design and which offers installation flexibility, field serviceability and economy of manufacture.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description and drawings when read in conjunction with the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3758236 (1973-09-01), Zimmerman
patent: 5188710 (1993-02-01), Weber et al.
patent: 5562003 (1996-10-01), Lefebvre
patent: 5651259 (1997-07-01), Twyman

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