REFRIGERATION SYSTEM EVAPORATOR

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive concept relates to the field of evaporators. More particularly, the invention relates to an evaporator that is used with refrigeration equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.

Refrigeration equipment, such as refrigerators, food dispensers, ice machines, point of purchase machines, beverage dispensers, and the like, typically include an evaporator. The evaporator is used to cause a rapid evaporation of the condensation water created by the ambient moisture collecting on the exterior of the condensation coils of the refrigeration equipment when such condensation cannot be drained.

The evaporator includes an evaporator pan in which the water is collected and a heating element within the evaporator pan. The heating element is positioned withing the evaporator pan and is brought to a temperature that boils the water collected within the evaporator pan as the water contacts the heating element. The resulting water vapor is allowed to be dispersed within the ambient air surrounding the refrigeration equipment.

The problem with these evaporators is that the heating element is typically a long metallic rod that extends the entire length of the evaporator pan. As such, the entire rod must be brought up to a temperature that causes the water to boil. Thus, a small amount of water within the evaporator pan still requires a large amount of energy to heat the entire heating element to the proper temperature.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved evaporator for refrigeration equipment that is energy efficient and effective. It is to such that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An evaporator for use with refrigeration equipment comprises a collection pan having a plurality of water collection compartments, a plurality of heating elements wherein each heating element of the plurality of heating elements is associated with one water collection compartment of the plurality of water collection compartments, wherein each heating element of the plurality of heating elements is controlled independently from the other heating elements of the plurality of heating elements, and an electrical control circuit coupled to the plurality of heating elements to control the flow of electric current to the plurality of heating elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the present inventions can be better understood, certain illustrations, charts and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporator embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the evaporator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the evaporator of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Description of Selected Specific Embodiments

With reference next to the drawings, there is a shown an evaporator 10 for use with refrigeration equipment such as refrigerators, food dispensers, ice machines, point of purchase machines, and beverage dispensers, and the like. The evaporator 10 has a metallic housing 12 with a water collection basin or pan 14 and a sealed electronics compartment 16. An electrical or power cord 18 is coupled to the electronics compartment 16 for supplying conventional electric current through internal wires 20. The internal wires 20 are electrically coupled to a heating element or heating element bar 24 positioned within the collection pan 14 through conventional electronics or electrical control circuitry 21 housed within the electronics compartment 16.

The collection pan 14 has a generally V-shaped floor or bottom wall 28 from which extends four upwardly extending sidewalls 30 having a top edge or end 31 that define an open top 32. The collection pan 14 also has three V-shaped baffles or sectional walls 34 extending from the floor 28. It should be noted that the sectional walls 34 have top ends or edges 42 that are positioned only partially up the height of the sidewalls 30 of the collection pan 14. The three sectional walls 34 form four shallow water pool sections, portions, or compartments 36 (first, second, third and fourth compartments) extending to a common large upper portion or compartment 37 above the level of the top edges 42 of the separation walls 34. The collection pan 14 may include bottom feet 37 that may or may not include springs in a conventional manner for evaporators.

The heating element bar 24 is a positive-temperature-coefficient heating element (PTC element) wherein the heating element bar 24 has four, longitudinally aligned, separate PTC heating elements 38 wherein each heating element 38 may be separately or individually controlled to vary the amount of heat produced by the heating elements 38. The heating element bar 24 resides within a notch or recess 40 extending from the top end or edge 42 of the three sectional walls 34. The heating element bar 24 is maintained or provided with an electrical current at a rate of approximately 10 percent of the full electrical current rate so that the heating elements 38 are always producing a low amount of heat. However, these heating elements 38 being positive-temperature-coefficient heating elements automatically increase the output of heat when they are cooled through the contact of water, i.e., when condensation water contacts the individual heating element 38 only that particular heating element 38 automatically increases in temperature to boil and evaporate the water contacting that heating element 38 leaving the remaining heating elements 38 at a lower temperature.

In use, the evaporator 10 is positioned below the evaporation coils of a refrigeration equipment so as to capture or collect condensation or condensate water dripping off the evaporation coils. Alternatively, the condensate water may be collected in a pan and piped to the evaporator 10. The evaporator 10 is coupled to a conventional power source through power cord 18 and associated wires 20 and the electric current to the heating elements 38 is controlled through the electrical control circuitry 21. The electrical control circuitry 21 typically provides approximately ten percent of the maximum current to the heating element bar 24 so that each individual heating element 38 is maintained at a warm state or condition.

As condensate or condensation water forms on the evaporator coils of the refrigeration system, the water will drip off the evaporator coils and drops into the evaporator 10, either directly or through additional pipes, channels, conduits, or the like. The water will preferably collect in one of the four water compartments 36, rather than along the entire water collection pan 14. This collection within only one water compartment 36 will result in the water reaching the level of the heating element bar 24 quicker as the volume of each water compartment 36 is smaller than the volume of the entire water collection pan 14.

As the water approaches the top edge 42 of the separation wall(s) 34, the water comes into contact with the heating element bar 24. Specifically, the water contacts the individual heating element 38 associated with that particular water compartment 36 collecting the water. This is turn, causes that particular heating element 38 to be cooled and therefore automatically activated to increase the heat produced by that particular heating element 38, i.e., drawing or increasing the electrical current to only that one heating element 38. As that heating element 38 is heated, it will boil or evaporate the water within that particular water compartment 36.

If there is a large or fast discharge or accumulation of condensate water, the water may reach a level within that water compartment 36 wherein it flows over the top edge 42 of the sectional wall 34 associated with that compartment 36 and into an adjacent water compartment 36. Should the water within the adjacent water compartment 36 reach the level of the heating element 38 associate with the adjacent water compartment 36, the heating element within the adjacent water compartment will similarly be activated to boil or evaporate the water within that adjacent water compartment 36 too. This activation of additional heating elements 38 may continue until all four heating elements 38 are activated to cause the evaporation of water within all four associated water compartments 36 or even more so if the water overflows all four water compartments 36 and starts filling the upper portion or compartment 37 in fluid communication with the four water compartments 36, these situations being worst case scenarios.

Thus, it should be understood that the present evaporator 10 may use less energy because of the segmented, multiple heating elements than conventional heating elements wherein the entire heating element must be brought up to temperature to cause the boiling of water within a larger water collection pan. In other words, by collecting water within a small water compartment 36 associated with a small heating element and providing additional water compartments for use only in an overflow situation, less electrical current is required to evaporate the entire volume of water when compared to a long or large heating element which required more energy to bring up to the required temperature to boil water.

It is thus seen that an evaporator for refrigeration equipment is now provided that accomplished the task of evaporating water in a more efficient manner. Although the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it should be understood that modifications and variations may be made thereto without departure from its spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.