Patent Abstract:
A refrigerator has a machine compartment located at its top end. The refrigerator includes a drain tube and a pump coupled to the drain tube and located at the bottom end of the refrigerator. The pump transfers the accumulated condensation from the drain tube to a pan located at the top end of the refrigerator. The heat and airflow generated by the machine compartment then evaporates the condensation from the pan.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a refrigerator. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a condensation removal system for a refrigerator. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    It is common practice in modern day refrigerators to provide a self-defrosting feature in which, from time to time, the frost build up on the evaporator is melted and the condensation (i.e., water) is directed to the outside of the refrigerated compartments. Typically this condensation is collected in a pan or similar container in the machine compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator. The heat in the compartment from the compressor and other devices, and the air flowing through the compartment, will then evaporate the water. 
         [0003]    Most stand-alone type of refrigerators have the machine compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator. However, other types of consumer and commercial refrigerators, such as built-in types of refrigerators, have a machine compartment located at the top of the refrigerator. Therefore, extra components must be used to evaporate the water that builds up at the bottom of the refrigerator. 
         [0004]    For example,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bottom end of a prior art refrigerator  50  that has its machine compartment located at its top end. Refrigerator  50  includes a drain pan  52 , and a drain pan frame  54  for holding drain pan  52 . As with other prior art refrigerators, condensation collects through a drain tube (not shown) into pan  52 . However, because the machine compartment of refrigerator  50  is located at its top end, additional components must be used to evaporate the accumulated water. The additional components include a condensate tube  56 , which extends into drain pan  52  and provides heat, and a fan  55  which pushes air across drain pan  52 . Sometimes a secondary electrical heater is also required to evaporate the condensation. 
         [0005]    Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an improved condensation removal system that does not require as many additional components. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention is a refrigerator that has a machine compartment located at its top end. The refrigerator includes a drain tube and a pump coupled to the drain tube and located at the bottom end of the refrigerator. The pump transfers the accumulated condensation from the drain tube to a pan located at the top end of the refrigerator. The heat and airflow generated by the machine compartment then evaporates the condensation from the pan. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bottom end of a prior art refrigerator that has its machine compartment located at its top end. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a refrigerator that implements one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bottom end of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top end of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pan which encapsulates and covers a pump and valves. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    One embodiment of the present invention is a condensation removal system for a refrigerator that has a top mounted machine compartment. Condensation is pumped from the bottom to the top of the refrigerator, where the existing machine compartment components can be used for evaporation. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a refrigerator  10  that implements one embodiment of the present invention. Refrigerator  10  includes a freezer section door  12  and a refrigerator section door  14 , shown in closed positions. Freezer door  12  includes a through the door ice and water dispenser  18 . Dispenser  18  includes levers  17  and  16  that can be pressed via an object such as a drinking glass. Pressing on lever  17  initiates delivery of ice (cubed or crushed) to the drinking glass. Pressing on lever  16  initiates delivery of water to the drinking glass. Refrigerator  10  is a built-in type of refrigerator, and has a machine compartment located on its top end. 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bottom end of refrigerator  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Refrigerator  10  includes a pump  22  and an attached motor  20 . In one embodiment, pump  22  is a peristaltic pump that does not require priming. Motor  20  is coupled in parallel to the defrost heater (not shown) of refrigerator  10 , so that motor  20  is activated electrically at the same time as the defrost heater. In another embodiment, the pump is activated by a control source independent of the defrost heater. 
         [0015]    Refrigerator  10  further includes an input tube  26  and an output tube  27  coupled to pump  22 . Input tube  26  is coupled to the drain tube of refrigerator  10 , and receives all condensation drained from refrigerator  10 . Condensation received on input tube  26  is pumped by pump  22  to output tube  27 , which runs through a channel  23  along the back of refrigerator  10  to the top end of refrigerator  10 . 
         [0016]    Refrigerator  10  optionally includes a condensate tube  25  that provides heat to eliminate moisture gathered at the bottom of refrigerator  10 . Additional components of refrigerator  10  include water valves  28  and  29  for providing water to dispenser  18 , and wheels  30  for aiding in moving refrigerator  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top end of refrigerator  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As disclosed above, the machine compartment of refrigerator  10  is located at this top end. The machine compartment includes a compressor  40 , a condenser  42  and a condenser fan  41 . Compressor  40 , condenser  42  and condenser fan  41  are standard components on prior art refrigerators having a top mounted machine compartment. 
         [0018]    Refrigerator  10  further includes a pan  45  coupled to output tube  27  that is received from the bottom end of refrigerator  10 . Condensation from output tube  27  accumulates in pan  45 . The heat from compressor  40 , condenser  42 , and the warm air blown from compressor fan  41  causes the condensation in pan  45  to evaporate. 
         [0019]    Pan  45 , because of the additional clearance on the top end of refrigerator  10 , can be much larger than prior art pan  52 . In one embodiment, pan  45  has double the capacity of pan  52 . Further, the condensation system of  FIG. 4  is more efficient than the prior art condensation systems because pump  22  only operates during a defrost cycle. In contrast, in the prior art system fan  55  is continuously running. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, output tube  27  is connected to an additional water heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the condenser  42  before being inserted into pan  45 . In this embodiment, the water in tube  27  circulates through condenser  42  to help cool condenser  42  and therefore increase the efficiency of refrigerator  10 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, a pan is coupled to the bottom of refrigerator  10 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the pan  60  which encapsulates and covers pump  20  and valves  28  and  29 . Pan  60  collects water condensation and water that may leak from valves  28  and  29  and the associated tubing and valves. Pan  60  includes two cavities  70  and  72 , and further includes water valve inlets and outlets  62 , water spillover outlet  64  and condensate pump inlet  68  and outlet  69 . Output tube  27  (not shown) is coupled to condensate pump outlet  69  and carries water to the top of refrigerator  10  as in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . Pan  60  further includes a float switch  66  which activates pump  20  when the water level in pan  60  exceeds a predetermined amount. Therefore, in contrast to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  where pump  20  only operates during a defrost cycle, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  pump  20  operates when triggered by float switch  66 . 
         [0022]    As disclosed, embodiments of the present invention utilize a pump to transport condensation to the top of the refrigerator, where it is evaporated by existing machine compartment components. 
         [0023]    Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5