ADJUSTABLE DRAIN PAN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of India Provisional Patent Application No. 202321059188, entitled “ADJUSTABLE DRAIN PAN,” filed Sep. 4, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure and are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems are utilized in residential, commercial, and industrial environments to control environmental properties, such as temperature and humidity, for occupants of the respective environments. For example, an HVAC system may include one or more heat exchangers, such as a heat exchanger configured to place an air flow in a heat exchange relationship with a working fluid of a vapor compression circuit, a heat exchanger configured to place the air flow in a heat exchange relationship with combustion products (e.g., a furnace), or both. In general, the heat exchange relationship(s) may cause a change in pressures and/or temperatures of the air, the working fluid, the combustion products, and so forth. As the temperatures and/or pressures of the above-described fluids change, liquid condensate may form in or on the associated heat exchangers.

Existing systems may include a drain pan for collecting liquid condensate formed in or on the heat exchangers. Unfortunately, traditional condensate collection and drainage systems are susceptible to various drawbacks. For example, traditional drain pans may be limited to only one type of HVAC system and/or one configuration of an HVAC system. Furthermore, traditional drain pans may be inadequate for collecting and draining the liquid condensate, which may lead to degradation of components of the HVAC system and/or related operating interruptions and inefficiencies in the HVAC system. Traditional drain pans and/or condensate collection and drainage systems may be expensive to manufacture due to large amounts of material usage. Accordingly, it is now recognized that improved condensate management systems for HVAC systems are desired.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be noted that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

In an embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a drain pan configured to receive liquid condensate from a heat exchanger. The drain pan includes a first member and a second member and where the second member is configured to removably couple to the first member in a first installed configuration to define a first size of the drain pan and the first size of the drain pan corresponds to a first heat exchanger size, and where the second member is configured to removably couple to the first member in a second installed configuration to define a second size of the drain pan and the second size of the drain pan corresponds to a second heat exchanger size.

In another embodiment, a drain pan for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a first member, where the first member includes a first base side including a first base side channel. The first member also includes a first arm extending from the first base side in a first direction where the first arm includes a first arm channel, and the first member includes a second arm extending from the first base side in the first direction, where the second arm includes a second arm channel. The drain pan further includes a second member, where the second member includes a second base side with a second base side channel and a third arm extending from the second base side in a second direction, the third arm including a third arm channel. The second member may further include a fourth arm extending from the second base side in the second direction, the fourth arm including a fourth arm channel, where the first member is configured to couple to the second member such that the first base side channel, the first arm channel, the second arm channel, the second base side channel, the second arm channel, and the third arm channel form a drain pan reservoir in more than one installed configurations with corresponding sizes of the drain pan reservoir.

In further embodiments, a drain pan for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided, where the drain pan includes a first member and a second member configured to receive liquid condensate from a heat exchanger of the HVAC system. The first member and the second member of drain pan are configured to removably couple together to define a reservoir configured to collect the liquid condensate and removably couple to define an air flow path of the heat exchanger. The drain pan is further configured to adjust, via relative positioning of the first member and the second member in a coupled configuration, an area of the air flow path based on a size of the heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having an embodiment of heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system for environmental management that may employ one or more HVAC units, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a packaged HVAC unit that may be used in the HVAC system of FIG. 1, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of a residential, split HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a vapor compression system that can be used in any of the systems of FIGS. 1-3, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a drain pan, that may be utilized in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a member of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a member of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a member of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drain pan, that may be incorporated in an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of a drain pan in an installed configuration with a component of an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective side view of an embodiment of a drain pan in an installed configuration with a component of an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional perspective side view of an embodiment of a drain pan in an installed configuration with a component of an HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be noted that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be noted that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be noted that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “generally,” and “substantially,” and so forth, are intended to convey that the property value being described may be within a relatively small range of the property value, as those of ordinary skill would understand. For example, when a property value is described as being “approximately” equal to (or, for example, “substantially similar” to) a given value, this is intended to mean that the property value may be within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, of the given value. Similarly, when a given feature is described as being “substantially parallel” to another feature, “generally perpendicular” to another feature, and so forth, this is intended to mean that the given feature is within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, to having the described nature, such as being parallel to another feature, being perpendicular to another feature, and so forth. Further, it should be understood that mathematical terms, such as “planar,” “slope,” “perpendicular,” “parallel,” and so forth are intended to encompass features of surfaces or elements as understood to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and should not be rigidly interpreted as might be understood in the mathematical arts. For example, a “planar” surface is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be substantially flat or smooth (within related tolerances) using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, a surface having a “slope” is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be oriented at an angle (e.g., incline) with respect to a point of reference using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The present disclosure is generally directed to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The HVAC system may include a vapor compression circuit that circulates a working fluid for conditioning a supply air flow, a furnace system that circulates combustion products for conditioning a supply air flow, or both. For example, the vapor compression circuit may include at least one heat exchanger configured to receive the working fluid. Further, at least one fan may be employed and configured to direct the supply air flow over the at least one heat exchanger. The supply air flow may then be directed into a space to condition the space.

In some circumstances, condensate may form in or on one or more heat exchangers during operation of the HVAC system, such as an evaporator or condenser of the vapor compression circuit and/or the heat exchanger of the furnace system. For example, water vapor of an air flow within the heat exchanger of the furnace system may cool as heat is transferred to the supply air flow, which may cause moisture to condense. As another example, during a cooling mode of the HVAC system, the cooled supply air flow may be directed across the heat exchanger of the furnace system, which may not be operating. Even so, air (e.g., ambient) may be present within the tubing of the heat exchanger of the furnace system. In some instances, the cooled supply air flow may cause the air within the furnace system heat exchanger to cool, thereby causing moisture contained within the air to condense. Existing condensate management systems may be configured to remove and discharge at least some of the condensate from the heat exchanger. Unfortunately, traditional systems may have various limitations. For example, existing systems may include a drain pan for a heat exchanger that is limited to a specific system, such as a specifically sized heat exchanger. That is, existing drain pans may not be configured to operate with or in more than one type of heat exchanger. Further, traditional drain pans may be complicated and/or expensive due to increased componentry. For example, existing HVAC systems having traditional drain pans may utilize numerous additional structural components in the installed configuration.

It is now recognized that improved drain pans (e.g., condensate pans) and related features may be utilized in more than one type of HVAC system or component of the HVAC system. For example, drain pans in accordance with the present techniques may include a first member and a second member configured to be removably coupled to one another. The disclosed configuration enables the first and second members to be positioned in multiple configurations, resulting a variable drain pan size and configuration (e.g., shape). The first and second members may be configured to capture and redirect condensate from a component (e.g., heat exchanger) of the HVAC system in all drain pan configurations. By enabling multiple drain pan configurations, the drain pan may operate with more than one type of HVAC system, increasing versatility and decreasing costs associated with manufacturing.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system for environmental management that may employ one or more HVAC units. As used herein, an HVAC system includes any number of components configured to enable regulation of parameters related to climate characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, air flow, pressure, air quality, and so forth. For example, an “HVAC system” as used herein is defined as conventionally understood and as further described herein. Components or parts of an “HVAC system” may include, but are not limited to, all, some of, or individual parts such as a heat exchanger, a heater, an air flow control device, such as a fan, a sensor configured to detect a climate characteristic or operating parameter, a filter, a control device configured to regulate operation of an HVAC system component, a component configured to enable regulation of climate characteristics, or a combination thereof. An “HVAC system” is a system configured to provide such functions as heating, cooling, ventilation, dehumidification, pressurization, refrigeration, filtration, or any combination thereof. The embodiments described herein may be utilized in a variety of applications to control climate characteristics, such as residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, or other applications where climate control is desired.

In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12 with a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments. The building 10 may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. As shown, the HVAC unit 12 is disposed on the roof of the building 10; however, the HVAC unit 12 may be located in other equipment rooms or areas adjacent the building 10. The HVAC unit 12 may be a single package unit containing other equipment, such as a blower, integrated air handler, and/or auxiliary heating unit. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be part of a split HVAC system, such as the system shown in FIG. 3, which includes an outdoor HVAC unit 58 and an indoor HVAC unit 56.

The HVAC unit 12 is an air-cooled device that implements a refrigeration cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10. Specifically, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more heat exchangers (e.g., microchannel coil heat exchangers (MCHX)) across which an air flow is passed to condition the air flow before the air flow is supplied to the building. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a rooftop unit (RTU) that conditions a supply air stream, such as environmental air and/or a return air flow from the building 10. After the HVAC unit 12 conditions the air, the air is supplied to the building 10 via ductwork 14 extending throughout the building 10 from the HVAC unit 12. For example, the ductwork 14 may extend to various individual floors or other sections of the building 10. In certain embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling to the building with one refrigeration circuit configured to operate in different modes. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more working fluid circuits (e.g., refrigeration circuits) for cooling an air stream and a furnace for heating the air stream.

A control device 16, one type of which may be a thermostat, may be used to designate the temperature of the conditioned air. The control device 16 also may be used to control the flow of air through the ductwork 14. For example, the control device 16 may be used to regulate operation of one or more components of the HVAC unit 12 or other components, such as dampers and fans, within the building 10 that may control flow of air through and/or from the ductwork 14. In some embodiments, other devices may be included in the system, such as pressure and/or temperature transducers or switches that sense the temperatures and pressures of the supply air, return air, and so forth. Moreover, the control device 16 may include computer systems that are integrated with or separate from other building control or monitoring systems, and even systems that are remote from the building 10.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the HVAC unit 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a single package unit that may include one or more independent refrigeration circuits and components that are tested, charged, wired, piped, and ready for installation. The HVAC unit 12 may provide a variety of heating and/or cooling functions, such as cooling only, heating only, cooling with electric heat, cooling with dehumidification, cooling with gas heat, or cooling with a heat pump. As described above, the HVAC unit 12 may directly cool and/or heat an air stream provided to the building 10 to condition a space in the building 10.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, a cabinet 24 encloses the HVAC unit 12 and provides structural support and protection to the internal components from environmental and other contaminants. In some embodiments, the cabinet 24 may be constructed of galvanized steel and insulated with aluminum foil faced insulation. Rails 26 may be joined to the bottom perimeter of the cabinet 24 and provide a foundation for the HVAC unit 12. In certain embodiments, the rails 26 may provide access for a forklift and/or overhead rigging to facilitate installation and/or removal of the HVAC unit 12. In some embodiments, the rails 26 may fit into “curbs” on the roof to enable the HVAC unit 12 to provide air to the ductwork 14 from the bottom of the HVAC unit 12 while blocking elements such as rain from leaking into the building 10.

The HVAC unit 12 includes heat exchangers 28 and 30 in fluid communication with one or more refrigeration circuits (e.g., working fluid circuits). Tubes within the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may circulate refrigerant, such as R-410A, through the heat exchangers 28 and 30. The tubes may be of various types, such as multichannel tubes, conventional copper or aluminum tubing, and so forth. Together, the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may implement a thermal cycle in which the refrigerant undergoes phase changes and/or temperature changes as it flows through the heat exchangers 28 and 30 to produce heated and/or cooled air. For example, the heat exchanger 28 may function as a condenser where heat is released from the refrigerant to ambient air, and the heat exchanger 30 may function as an evaporator where the refrigerant absorbs heat to cool an air stream. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may operate in a heat pump mode where the roles of the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may be reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 28 may function as an evaporator and the heat exchanger 30 may function as a condenser. In further embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include a furnace for heating the air stream that is supplied to the building 10. While the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 shows the HVAC unit 12 having two of the heat exchangers 28 and 30, in other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one heat exchanger or more than two heat exchangers.

The heat exchanger 30 is located within a compartment 31 that separates the heat exchanger 30 from the heat exchanger 28. Fans 32 draw air from the environment through the heat exchanger 28. Air may be heated and/or cooled as the air flows through the heat exchanger 28 before being released back to the environment surrounding the HVAC unit 12. A blower assembly 34, powered by a motor 36, draws air through the heat exchanger 30 to heat or cool the air. The heated or cooled air may be directed to the building 10 by the ductwork 14, which may be connected to the HVAC unit 12. Before flowing through the heat exchanger 30, the conditioned air flows through one or more filters 38 that may remove particulates and contaminants from the air. In certain embodiments, the filters 38 may be disposed on the air intake side of the heat exchanger 30 to prevent contaminants from contacting the heat exchanger 30.

The HVAC unit 12 also may include other equipment for implementing the thermal cycle. Compressors 42 increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant before the refrigerant enters the heat exchanger 28. The compressors 42 may be any suitable type of compressors, such as scroll compressors, rotary compressors, screw compressors, or reciprocating compressors. In some embodiments, the compressors 42 may include a pair of hermetic direct drive compressors arranged in a dual stage configuration 44. However, in other embodiments, any number of the compressors 42 may be provided to achieve various stages of heating and/or cooling. As may be appreciated, additional equipment and devices may be included in the HVAC unit 12, such as a solid-core filter drier, a drain pan, a disconnect switch, an economizer, pressure switches, phase monitors, and humidity sensors, among other things.

The HVAC unit 12 may receive power through a terminal block 46. For example, a high voltage power source may be connected to the terminal block 46 to power the equipment. The operation of the HVAC unit 12 may be governed or regulated by a control board 48. The control board 48 may include control circuitry connected to a thermostat, sensors, and alarms. One or more of these components may be referred to herein separately or collectively as the control device 16. The control circuitry may be configured to control operation of the equipment, provide alarms, and monitor safety switches. Wiring 49 may connect the control board 48 and the terminal block 46 to the equipment of the HVAC unit 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a residential heating and cooling system 50, also in accordance with present techniques. The residential heating and cooling system 50 may provide heated and cooled air to a residential structure, as well as provide outside air for ventilation and provide improved indoor air quality (IAQ) through devices such as ultraviolet lights and air filters. In the illustrated embodiment, the residential heating and cooling system 50 is a split HVAC system. In general, a residence 52 conditioned by a split HVAC system may include refrigerant conduits 54 (e.g., working fluid conduits) that operatively couple the indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58. The indoor unit 56 may be positioned in a utility room, an attic, a basement, and so forth. The outdoor unit 58 is typically situated adjacent to a side of residence 52 and is covered by a shroud to protect the system components and to prevent leaves and other debris or contaminants from entering the unit. The refrigerant conduits 54 transfer refrigerant between the indoor unit 56 and the outdoor unit 58, typically transferring primarily liquid refrigerant in one direction and primarily vaporized refrigerant in an opposite direction.

When the system shown in FIG. 3 is operating as an air conditioner, a heat exchanger 60 in the outdoor unit 58 serves as a condenser for re-condensing vaporized refrigerant flowing from the indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58 via one of the refrigerant conduits 54. In these applications, a heat exchanger 62 of the indoor unit functions as an evaporator. Specifically, the heat exchanger 62 receives liquid refrigerant, which may be expanded by an expansion device, and evaporates the refrigerant before returning it to the outdoor unit 58.

The outdoor unit 58 draws environmental air through the heat exchanger 60 using a fan 64 and expels the air above the outdoor unit 58. When operating as an air conditioner, the air is heated by the heat exchanger 60 within the outdoor unit 58 and exits the unit at a temperature higher than it entered. The indoor unit 56 includes a blower or fan 66 that directs air through or across the indoor heat exchanger 62, where the air is cooled when the system is operating in air conditioning mode. Thereafter, the air is passed through ductwork 68 that directs the air to the residence 52. The overall system operates to maintain a desired temperature as set by a system controller. When the temperature sensed inside the residence 52 is higher than the set point on the thermostat, or the set point plus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may become operative to refrigerate additional air for circulation through the residence 52. When the temperature reaches the set point, or the set point minus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may stop the refrigeration cycle temporarily. The outdoor unit 58 may include a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments.

The residential heating and cooling system 50 may also operate as a heat pump. When operating as a heat pump, the roles of heat exchangers 60 and 62 are reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 60 of the outdoor unit 58 will serve as an evaporator to evaporate refrigerant and thereby cool air entering the outdoor unit 58 as the air passes over the outdoor heat exchanger 60. The indoor heat exchanger 62 will receive a stream of air blown over it and will heat the air by condensing the refrigerant.

In some embodiments, the indoor unit 56 may include a furnace system 70. For example, the indoor unit 56 may include the furnace system 70 when the residential heating and cooling system 50 is not configured to operate as a heat pump. The furnace system 70 may include a burner assembly and heat exchanger, among other components, inside the indoor unit 56. Fuel is provided to the burner assembly of the furnace system 70 where it is mixed with air and combusted to form combustion products. The combustion products may pass through tubes or piping in a heat exchanger, separate from heat exchanger 62, such that air directed by the blower 66 passes over the tubes or pipes and extracts heat from the combustion products. The heated air may then be routed from the furnace system 70 to the ductwork 68 for heating the residence 52.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a vapor compression system 72 that can be used in any of the systems described above. The vapor compression system 72 may circulate a working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) through a circuit starting with a compressor 74. The circuit may also include a condenser 76, an expansion valve(s) or device(s) 78, and an evaporator 80. The vapor compression system 72 may further include a control panel 82 that has an analog to digital (A/D) converter 84, a microprocessor 86, a non-volatile memory 88, and/or an interface board 90. The control panel 82 and its components may function to regulate operation of the vapor compression system 72 based on feedback from an operator, from sensors of the vapor compression system 72 that detect operating conditions, and so forth.

In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may use one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 92, a motor 94, the compressor 74, the condenser 76, the expansion valve or device 78, and/or the evaporator 80. The motor 94 may drive the compressor 74 and may be powered by the variable speed drive (VSD) 92. The VSD 92 receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor 94. In other embodiments, the motor 94 may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 94 may include any type of electric motor that can be powered by a VSD or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.

The compressor 74 compresses a refrigerant vapor and delivers the vapor to the condenser 76 through a discharge passage. In some embodiments, the compressor 74 may be a centrifugal compressor. The refrigerant vapor delivered by the compressor 74 to the condenser 76 may transfer heat to a fluid passing across the condenser 76, such as ambient or environmental air 96. The refrigerant vapor may condense to a refrigerant liquid in the condenser 76 as a result of thermal heat transfer with the environmental air 96. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser 76 may flow through the expansion device 78 to the evaporator 80.

The liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporator 80 may absorb heat from another air stream, such as a supply air stream 98 provided to the building 10 or the residence 52. For example, the supply air stream 98 may include ambient or environmental air, return air from a building, or a combination of the two. The liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 80 may undergo a phase change from the liquid refrigerant to a refrigerant vapor. In this manner, the evaporator 80 may reduce the temperature of the supply air stream 98 via thermal heat transfer with the refrigerant. Thereafter, the vapor refrigerant exits the evaporator 80 and returns to the compressor 74 by a suction line to complete the cycle.

In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may further include a reheat coil. In the illustrated embodiment, the reheat coil is represented as part of the evaporator 80. The reheat coil is positioned downstream of the evaporator heat exchanger relative to the supply air stream 98 and may reheat the supply air stream 98 when the supply air stream 98 is overcooled to remove humidity from the supply air stream 98 before the supply air stream 98 is directed to the building 10 or the residence 52.

It should be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the HVAC unit 12, the residential heating and cooling system 50, or other HVAC systems. Additionally, while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of embodiments that directly heat and cool a supply air stream provided to a building or other load, embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to other HVAC systems as well. For example, the features described herein may be applied to mechanical cooling systems, free cooling systems, chiller systems, or other heat pump or refrigeration applications.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a drain pan may be utilized to collect and drain liquid condensate that forms within the HVAC unit 12. The drain pan may be positioned below a heat exchanger (e.g., condenser 76) and may be configured to receive condensate from the heat exchanger coils. In some embodiments, the drain pan may enable air flow into or out of the heat exchanger through an air flow path defined by the drain pan. The drain pan may include a first member and a second member, each including a channel configured to direct captured liquid condensate towards a drain port. As will be appreciated, attachment methods of the first and second members may facilitate a transition between multiple drain pan configurations corresponding to multiple sizes and/or shapes of heat exchangers.

With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a drain pan 100 (e.g., condensate pan), in accordance with the present disclosure. The drain pan 100 may include a first member 110 (e.g., first portion, first section) and a second member 120 (e.g., second portion, second section). The first member 110 and the second member 120 may removably couple to one another to define the drain pan 100 in one or more installed configurations. As discussed above, the drain pan 100 may capture and redirect condensate (e.g., water, liquids) originating from one or more components of an HVAC system, such as a heat exchanger (e.g., condenser 76), mitigating undesirable degradation of HVAC system components. For example, in the installed configuration, the drain pan 100 may be disposed underneath the heat exchanger, and may capture liquid condensate falling from one or more locations of the heat exchanger, such as the coils (e.g., microchannel coils).

The first member 110 and the second member 120 may be mechanically and/or removably coupled by one or more suitable techniques in the installed configuration. For example, the first member 110 and the second member 120 may be coupled to each other using one or more connecting plates 130 and fasteners 140 (e.g., screws). The connecting plate 130 may be connected to both the first member 110 and the second member 120 via the fasteners 140, which are passed through the connecting plate 130 and the first and second members 110, 120 abutting the connecting plate 130. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first member 110 may overlap with at least a portion of the second member such that the fasteners 140 may pass through both the first and second members 110, 120. As will be appreciated, any other suitable method of attachment may be utilized to couple the first member 110 and the second member 120 in one or more drain pan 100 configurations. Further, a greater or fewer number of connecting plates 130 and/or fasteners 140 than those illustrated may be utilized to couple the first member 110 to the second member 120. For example, the first and/or second members 110, 120 may include one or more locking holes 200, where each locking hole of the one or more locking holes 200 may correspond to a size or configuration of the drain pan 100 and/or a size or configuration of the heat exchanger. The locking holes 200 may be configured to couple the first member 110 to the second member 120 with the connecting plate 130 and/or the fasteners 140.

Referring now to FIG. 6 a perspective view of an embodiment of the first member 110 is shown, in accordance with the present disclosure. As discussed above, the first member 110 may at least partially define the drain pan 100, illustrated in FIGS. 5, and 7-15. The first member 110 may include any shape and/or size suitable for capture and discharge of liquid condensate from the heat exchanger of the HVAC system. Indeed, the shape and/or size of the first member 110 may be determined based on a desired shape and/or size of the drain pan 100, and/or a corresponding shape and/or size of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the first member 110 may include a first side portion 150 (e.g., first side, base side), a second side portion 160 (e.g., first arm) extending from the first side portion 150 and a third side portion 162 (e.g., second arm) extending from the first side portion 150 in substantially the same direction as the second side portion 160. In this way, the first member 110 may include a “C-shape”. The first side portion 150 may include a base 152 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 154 and an exterior wall 156, each extending from the base 152, wherein the interior wall 154 defines or is adjacent a portion of an interior of the C-shape and the exterior wall 156 forms an outer boundary of the C-shape. That is, the interior wall 154 and the exterior wall 156 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base 152 (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to a direction of gravity) and substantially along the length of the base 152.

The second side portion 160 may include a base 164 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 166 and an exterior wall 168, each extending from the base 164. That is, the interior wall 166 and the exterior wall 168 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to the direction of gravity) to the base 164 and substantially along length of the base 164. The third side portion 162 may include a base 170 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 172 and an exterior wall 174, each extending from the base 170. The interior wall 172 and the exterior wall 174 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to the direction of gravity) to the base 170 and substantially along the length of the base 170. In some embodiments, the interior walls 154, 166, and 172 may be a single, continuous wall, defining an inner wall 176 of the first member 110. Further, in some embodiments, the exterior walls 156, 168, and 174 may be a single, continuous wall, defining an outer wall 178 of the first member 110. Similarly, the bases 152, 164, and 170 may be a single, continuous floor 179 of the first member 110. As such, the inner wall 176, the outer wall 178, and the floor 179 may define a channel 180 extending through the length of the first member 110, where the channel 180 may be configured to receive and redirect liquid condensate away from the heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the channel 180 may have a slope generally directed towards a drain port 232 (shown in FIG. 7) of the drain pan 100, such that gravity may force or otherwise direct the liquid condensate accumulated in the channel 180 towards the drain port 232. For example, the base 164 and/or the base 170 may be orientated at an angle (e.g., 0.5 degrees, 0.7 degrees, 1 degree etc.) such that gravity may act on the liquid condensate to create a flow of liquid condensate towards the drain port 232.

In some embodiments, at least one of the inner wall 176 and/or the outer wall 178 may extend from the floor 179 in a downward direction, relative to gravity. As such, a portion of the inner wall 176 and/or a portion of the outer wall 178 may extend on both sides (e.g., below and above) of the floor 179. In this way, the inner wall 176 and the outer wall 178 may provide support for the drain pan 100 in the installed position below the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, a separate support member may extend below the floor 179 of the first member 110 to provide support for the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration.

As discussed briefly above, the first member 110 may include one or more locking holes 200 extending through one or more walls (e.g., inner wall 176, outer wall 178) configured to receive one or more fasteners to secure the first member 110 in a desired configuration with the second member 120. For example, the locking holes 200 may be disposed in the exterior wall 174 of the third side portion 162 and/or may be defined in the exterior wall 168 of the second side portion 160. In some embodiments, each locking hole 200 may correspond to a locking position of the first member 110 with the second member 120 to define the drain pan 100. As such, the positions of the locking holes 200 on the first member 110 may at least partially depend on a desired configuration of the drain pan 100 and/or the heat exchanger size. As illustrated, the third side portion 162 includes four locking holes 200, each of which may correspond to a locking position and a desired configuration of the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration.

In some embodiments, the locking holes 200 may be elongated, and may extend substantially along the length of the exterior walls 168, 174 of the second and third side portions 160, 162. In this way, the drain pan 100 may be adjusted to an increased number of desirable sizes to accommodate an increased variety of heat exchanger sizes. Indeed, the number locking holes 200 and locking positions are not limited to four, and the second side portion 160 and/or the third side portion 162 may have any suitable number of locking holes 200 and locking positions to facilitate alteration of the area and/or shape of the drain pan 100. Further, the first member 110 may have any suitable locking features apart from or in addition to the locking holes 200.

In some embodiments, the first member 110 may include one or more attachment extensions 201 configured to mechanically couple the first member 110 to the heat exchanger. For example, the attachment extensions may extend from one or more walls (e.g., inner wall 176, outer wall 178) of the first member 110 and may be configured to align with one or more attachment holes of the heat exchanger. In the installed configuration of the first member 110 and the heat exchanger, the attachment extensions 201 and the corresponding attachment holes of the heat exchanger may be configured to receive one or more fasteners to secure the first member 110 to the heat exchanger. As will be appreciated, the attachment extensions 201 are not limited to the illustrated positions, and may instead be disposed at any suitable location of the first member 110, in addition or alternative to the illustrated placements. As such, the first member 110 may include greater or fewer attachment extensions 201 than those illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, perspective views of an embodiment of the second member 120 are shown, in accordance with the present disclosure. FIGS. 7 and 8 will be discussed concurrently below. As discussed above, the second member 120 may at least partially define the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration. The second member 120 may include any shape and/or size suitable for capture and discharge of liquid condensate away from a component of the HVAC system. Indeed, the shape and/or size of the second member 120 may be determined based on a desired shape and/or size of the drain pan 100, and/or a shape and/or size of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the second member 120 may include a first side portion 202 (e.g., first side, base side), a second side portion 204 (e.g., first arm) extending from the first side portion 202 and a third side portion 206 (e.g., second arm) extending from the first side portion 202 in substantially the same direction as the second side portion 204. In this way, the second member 120 may include a “C-shape,” similar to the first member 110. The first side portion 202 may include a base 208 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 210 and an exterior wall 212 (relative to interior and exterior portions of the C-shape), each extending from the base 208. The interior wall 210 and the exterior wall 212 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the base 208 (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to a direction of gravity) and substantially along the length of the base 208.

The second side portion 204 may include a base 214 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 216 and an exterior wall 218, each extending from the base 214. The interior wall 216 and the exterior wall 218 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to the direction of gravity) to the base 214 and substantially along length of the base 214. The third side portion 206 may include a base 220 (e.g., floor) with an interior wall 222 and an exterior wall 224, each extending from the base 214. The interior wall 222 and the exterior wall 224 each may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular (e.g., downward and/or upward relative to the direction of gravity) to the base 220 and substantially along the length of the base 220. In some embodiments, the interior walls 210, 216, and 222 may be a single, continuous wall, defining an inner wall 226 of the second member 120. Further, in some embodiments, the exterior walls 212, 218, and 224 may be a single continuous wall, defining an outer wall 228 of the second member 120. Similarly, the bases 208, 214, 220 may form a single, continuous floor 229 of the second member 120. As such, the inner wall 226, the outer wall 228, and the floor 229 may define a channel 230 extending through the length of the second member 120, where the channel 230 may be configured to receive and direct liquid condensate away from the heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the channel 230 may have a slope generally directed towards one or more drain ports 232 of the drain pan 100, such that gravity will force or otherwise direct the liquid condensate accumulated in the channel 230 towards the drain ports 232. For example, the bases 208, 214, 220 may be orientated at an angle (e.g., 0.5 degrees, 0.7 degrees, 1 degree etc.) such that gravity may act on the liquid condensate to create a flow of liquid condensate towards the drain port 232.

The drain ports 232 may be any size and/or shape suitable for discharge of liquid condensate out of the drain pan 100. For example, the drain ports 232 may be circular in shape and may include internal threading. In this way, the drain ports 232 may receive one or more circular pipes to discharge liquid condensate out of the drain pan 100. Further, the drain ports 232 are not limited to the location illustrated, and may instead be located at any other locations within the drain pan 100 (e.g., first member 101, second member 120) in addition or alternative to the illustrated position. For example, the drain ports 232 may be located on the first side portion 202, third side portion 206, another location of the second side portion 204, and/or on the first member 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the second member 120 includes two openings, a first opening 232a positioned at a lower elevation, relative to the direction of gravity, than a second opening 232b. In this way, liquid condensate within the drain pan 100 may be expelled through the first opening 232a, the second opening 232b, or both, based on an amount of liquid condensate. In some embodiments, the first opening 232a may include a different size (e.g., circumference, area) than the second opening 232b. Although one drain port 232 is illustrated, it will be appreciated greater or fewer number of drain ports 232 may be utilized to discharge liquid condensate away from the drain pan 100.

In some embodiments, at least one of the inner wall 226 and/or the outer wall 228 may extend substantially perpendicular to the floor 229 in a downward direction relative to gravity. As such, a portion of the inner wall 226 and a portion of the outer wall 228 may extend on both sides of the floor 229. In this way, the inner wall 226 and the outer wall 228 may provide support for the drain pan 100 in the installed position below the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, a separate support member may extend below the floor 229 of the second member 120 to provide support for the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration.

The second member 120 may include one or more locking holes 234 extending through one or more walls (e.g., inner wall 226, outer wall 228 (e.g., exterior wall 218)) configured to receive one or more fasteners to secure the first member 110 in a desired configuration with the second member 120. For example, the locking holes 234 may be disposed in the exterior wall 218 of the second side portion 204 and/or may be disposed in the exterior wall 224 of the third side portion 206. The locking hole 234 may align (e.g., overlap, aligning side by side) with one or more locking holes of the first member 110 (e.g., locking holes 200) to couple the first member 110 to the second member 120 in a desired configuration.

Similar to the first member, the second member 120 may include one or more attachment extensions 235 configured to mechanically couple the second member 120 to the heat exchanger. For example, the attachment extensions 235 may extend from one or more walls (e.g., inner wall 226, outer wall 228) of the second member 120 and may be configured to align with one or more attachment holes of the heat exchanger. In the installed configuration of the second member 120 and the heat exchanger, the attachment extensions 235 and the corresponding attachment holes of the heat exchanger may be configured to receive one or more fasteners to secure the second member 120 to the heat exchanger. As will be appreciated, the attachment extensions 235 are not limited to the illustrated positions, and may instead be located at any suitable location of the second member 120, in addition or alternative to the illustrated placements. As such, the second member 120 may include a greater or fewer number of attachments extension 235 than those illustrated

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 illustrate a perspective view of an embodiment of the drain pan 100, in accordance with this disclosure. FIGS. 9-12 will be discussed concurrently below. As discussed above, the drain pan 100 may include the first member 110 and the second member 120 mechanically coupled to one another, defining an “O” shape. The first member 110 may be configured to slide into or otherwise be inserted into the second member 120 in the installed configuration. That is, the second side portion 160 of the first member 110 may be configured to slide into the third side portion 206 of the second member 120 and the third side portion 162 of the first member 110 may be configured to slide into the second side portion 204 of the second member 120 in the installed configuration. As such, at least a portion of the side portions 160, 162 of the first member 110 may include a smaller width relative to the side portions 204, 206 of the second member 120. In some embodiments, the second side portion 160 of the first member 110 may slide into the third slide portion 206 of the second member while the second side portion 204 of the second member 120 may slide into the third side portion 162 of the first member 110.

In the installed configuration, the first and second members 110, 120 of the drain pan 100 may define an air flow path 236, where air flow may be directed into or out of the heat exchanger through the air flow path 236. As will be appreciated the air flow path 236 may increase or decrease based on a configuration of the drain pan 100. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9, the air flow path 236 may include an area less than the area of the air flow path 238 of FIG. 10. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10, the air flow path 238 may include an area less than the area of the air flow path 240 of FIG. 11. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the air flow path 240 may include an area less than the area of the air flow path 242 of FIG. 12. In view of the adjustability illustrated by the different configurations presented in FIGS. 9-12, the drain pan 100 may be utilized with more than one type (e.g., size) and/or configuration of heat exchanger.

As discussed briefly above, the first member 110 may be mechanically and/or removably coupled to the second member 120 via locking holes 200, 234, connecting plate 130, and fasteners 140. For example, referring to FIG. 9, the first member 110 may be inserted into the second member 120, such that one or more locking holes 200 of the first member align (e.g., overlap, align side by side) with one or more locking holes 234 of the second member 120. One or more fasteners 140 may extend through the aligned locking holes 200 and 234 to couple the first member 110 to the second member 120.

In some embodiments, the drain pan 100 may include an optional base plate, in embodiments where air flow is not directed through the air flow path 236, 238, 240, 242. In such cases, the base plate may be disposed under the drain pan 100 and may include an area substantially similar to the area of the drain pan (e.g., area of the drain pan 100 configuration). That is, the optional base plate may cover or occlude the air flow path 236, 238, 240, 242. In some embodiments, the optional base plate may have an adjustable area to enable utilization with multiple drain pan 100 orientations. For example, the optional base plate may include two panels, where a first panel is coupled to the first member 110 and a second panel is coupled to the second member 120. In the installed configuration, the first panel and the second panel may overlap or abut to define an optional base plate encompassing the entire drain pan 100 area.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 9, the drain pan 100 may include one or more structures configured to support, reinforce, secure, or otherwise hold the heat exchanger, or another component of the HVAC system, relative to the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration. For example, the first member 110 may include a first support structure 244 and the second member 120 may include a second support structure 246, where the support structures 244, 246 may be configured to support the heat exchanger above the drain pan 100, relative to a direction of gravity, in the installed configuration. The first support structure 244 may extend from the base 152 of the first member 110 into the channel 180. Within the channel 180, the first support structure 244 may be positioned such that the first support structure 244 and the interior wall 154 define a first gap 248 within the channel 180. For example, the first support structure 244 may be positioned closer to the exterior wall 156, relative to a distance between the first support structure 244 and the interior wall 154. In this way, liquid condensate may flow through the first gap 248 towards the drain ports 232. The first support structure 244 may include a first bracket 250 configured to support one or more components of the heat exchanger in the installed configuration. For example, the first bracket 250 may include a concavity extending along the length of the first support structure 244 configured to receive a component of the heat exchanger. For example, the concavity may be shaped to receive a corresponding coil of the heat exchanger, to secure the heat exchanger above the drain pan 100. As will be appreciated, the first support structure 244 may be a single, continuous piece with the first member 110, reducing costs associated with manufacture.

In a similar manner, the second support structure 246 may extend from the base 208 of the second member 120 into the channel 230. Within the channel 230, the second support structure 246 may be positioned such that the second support structure 246 and the interior wall 210 define a second gap 252 within the channel 230. For example, the second support structure 246 may be positioned closer to the exterior wall 212, relative to a distance between the second support structure 246 and the interior wall 210. In this way, liquid condensate may flow through the second gap 252 towards the drain ports 232. The second support structure 246 may include a second bracket 254 configured to support one or more components of the heat exchanger in the installed configuration. For example, the second bracket 254 may include a concavity extending along the length of the second support structure 246 configured to receive a component of the heat exchanger. For example, the concavity may be shaped to receive a corresponding coil of the heat exchanger, to secure the heat exchanger above the drain pan 100. As will be appreciated, the second support structure 246 may be a single, continuous piece with the second member 120, reducing costs associated with manufacture. As will be appreciated, the first and second support structures 244, 246 may receive and support the heat exchanger above the drain pan 100, with reduced or without additional components, thereby reducing complexity of the drain pan 100.

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective side view of an embodiment of the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration with a heat exchanger 247 (e.g., condenser 76, evaporator 80), in accordance with the present disclosure. As discussed above, the first and second members 110, 120 may be removably (e.g., mechanically and/or toollessly) coupled together to define the drain pan 100 in a desired configuration (e.g., size). Specifically, the first member 110 may be inserted into or slid into the second member 120 such that the drain port 232 is positioned at the lowest elevation of the drain pan 100. For example, in the installed configuration, the first member 110 floor 179 may be positioned above, relative to gravity, the second member 120 floor 229. Liquid condensate captured in the first member 110 may flow from the first member 110 second side portion (not shown) and/or third side portion 162 to the second member 120 and further out of the drain ports 232 along flow path 256. As such, one or more bases of the first member 110 (e.g., base 152, 164, 170) and/or second member 120 (e.g., bases 208, 214, 220) may be at least partially slanted (e.g., angled) towards the drain ports 232 such that the drain ports 232 are positioned at the lowest elevation. The first member 110 and the second member 120 may be secured in this configuration via a friction fit, fasteners, or the like.

In some embodiments, locking holes 200 of the first member 110 (or second member 120) may be blocked or other wise filled when not in use (e.g., not coupling the first member 110 to the second member 120). For example, the locking holes 200 not receiving a fastener in the illustrated embodiment may be plugged to block liquid condensate from undesirably flowing out of the drain pan 100 before reaching the drain ports 232.

Further, in some embodiments, the drain pan 100 may include one or more sensor ports 258 defining sensor holes. The sensor ports 258 may be configured to receive and/or fluidly couple to sensor equipment (e.g., a sensor) configured to measure a parameter associated with HVAC system. For example, the sensor equipment coupled to the sensor ports 258 may enable detection of a property within the internal volume, such as pressure, temperature, humidity, air quality, flow, chemical composition, and so forth. Further, the sensor ports 258 may be positioned at any location desired, including the first or second members 110, 120.

The sensor port 258 may receive a sensor configured to detect liquid buildup (e.g. pressure sensor, a liquid level sensor) within the drain pan 100. In such an embodiment, a sensor configured to detect liquid buildup may be located proximate to one of the drain ports 232. In this way, the sensor may detect liquid buildup beyond a height of the drain port 232 in certain configurations, which may indicate improper drainage of liquid condensate via the drain port 232. In response to a determination that the internal volume contains a certain threshold volume of liquid, the sensor (or control device 16) may output an indication to the heat exchanger to shut down or adjust in operation. Additionally or alternatively, the HVAC system may output a notification to a user so the user can determine a proper remedial action based on the indication provided by the sensor.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure. Specifically, the third side portion 162 of the first member 110 is illustrated mechanically and removably coupled to the second side portion 204 of the second member 120. As discussed above, the first member 110 may be positioned at a generally elevated position relative to the second member 120. In some embodiments, the exterior wall 174 of the third side portion 162 may include a first ledge 260 extending along the length of the exterior wall 174. In the installed configuration, the first ledge 260 may interact with the exterior wall 218 of the second side portion 204 of the second member 120. That is, the first ledge 260 may be inserted or slid over the exterior wall 218 such that the second member 120 supports or secures the first member 110 in the elevated position. Further, in some embodiments, the interior wall 172 of the third side portion 162 may include a second ledge 262 extending along the length of the interior wall 172. In the installed configuration, the second ledge 262 may interact with the interior wall 216 (e.g., a step of the interior wall 216) of the second side portion 204 of the second member 120. That is, the second ledge 262 may be inserted or slid over the interior wall 216 such that the second member 120 supports or secures the first member 110 in the elevated position. As will be appreciated, the first and second ledges 260, 262 may facilitate adjustment of the drain pan 100 between configurations (e.g., sizes).

FIG. 15 is yet another illustration of a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure. As discussed above, the exterior wall 174 of the first member 110 may include the first ledge 260 extending along the length of the exterior wall 174 configured to interact with the exterior wall 218 of the second member 120. Although an interaction between the third side portion 162 of the first member 110 and the second side portion 204 of the second member 120 is shown, it will be appreciated the second side portion (e.g., second side portion 160) of the first member 110 may interact with the third side portion 206 (e.g., third side portion 206) of the second member 120 in a similar manner to that described above. That is, the second side portion of the first member 110 may include one or more ledges configured to interact with one or more side portions of the second member 120. The interactions between the one or more ledges and walls of the first member 110 and the second member 120 may be configured to block leakage out of the drain pan 100. For example, the interaction between the first ledge 260 and the exterior wall 218 of the second member 120 may provide a liquid seal, blocking premature escape of liquid condensate out of the drain pan 100. In some embodiments, the first member 110 and/or the second member 120 may include a seal (e.g., gasket, rubber seal) positioned relative to the one or more ledges configured to block liquid condensate from leaking out of the drain pan 100 in the installed configuration.

While only certain features and embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, including temperatures and pressures, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, and so forth without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described, such as those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the disclosure, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure. It should be noted that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

ADJUSTABLE DRAIN PAN

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CPC

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Abstract

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Priority Claims (1)