Patent ID: 8261568
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: F24F

Abstract:
1. An air conditioning unit packaged with a condensing gas heat exchanger for heating a space within a building, the unit comprising: a return duct opening for connecting the unit to a return duct that delivers air to the unit from the space within the building; a supply duct opening for connecting the unit to a supply duct that delivers air from the unit to the space within the building; the condensing gas heat exchanger for heating the air; a collector connected to the condensing gas heat exchanger; an inducer fan having an inlet connected to the collector; a drain line opening penetrating the collector; a condensate drain line connected to the drain line opening penetrating the collector, wherein the condensate drain line extends to the return duct opening for routing through the return duct for disposal of the condensate; a tubular conduit through which the condensate drain line passes between the drain line opening penetrating the collector and the return duct opening; an outdoor section wherein the condensate drain line passes through the outdoor section and the tubular conduit protects the condensate drain line from freezing where the condensate drain line passes through the outdoor section; a heating section containing the condensing gas heat exchanger; a return section containing the return duct opening; an interstitial space between the condensate drain line and the tubular conduit; an inlet passageway from the heating section to the interstitial space; and an outlet passageway from the interstitial space to the return section; and wherein air is allowed to flow from the heating section, through the inlet passageway, through the interstitial space along the condensate drain line, and out the outlet passageway to the return section to keep the condensate drain line from freezing where the condensate drain line passes through the outdoor section.