Drain assembly for heat exchanger system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor heat exchanger coils in residential split air-conditioning systems face issues with drain pans that require large cross-sectional areas due to high loads, leading to increased plastic material usage and weight, complicating assembly and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A drain assembly comprising a bracket, a detachable drain pan, and a support member with inclined arms that distribute the load of the heat exchanger to the bracket, allowing for a smaller drain pan design and reduced plastic usage, while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the drain pan is designed with a large cross-sectional area to withstand the high load of the coil, then the structural strength is improved, but the amount of plastic material used increases and the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into two functional parts: a bracket that provides primary structural support and a drain pan that serves primarily for condensate collection. By segmenting the load-bearing function from the drainage function, the drain pan can be made smaller without compromising overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the drain pan. This bracket acts as a mediator that bears the primary load, allowing the drain pan to be smaller in cross-sectional area while maintaining sufficient structural strength to support the coil.
2Strength
If the drain pan is designed with a large cross-sectional area to withstand the high load of the coil, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight of the drain pan increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into two functional parts: a bracket that provides primary structural support and a drain pan that serves primarily for condensate collection. By segmenting the load-bearing function from the drainage function, the drain pan can be made smaller without compromising overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the drain pan. This bracket acts as a mediator that bears the primary load, allowing the drain pan to be smaller in cross-sectional area while maintaining sufficient structural strength to support the coil.
3Strength
If the drain pan is designed with a large cross-sectional area to withstand the high load of the coil, then the structural strength is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into two functional parts: a bracket that provides primary structural support and a drain pan that serves primarily for condensate collection. By segmenting the load-bearing function from the drainage function, the drain pan can be made smaller without compromising overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the drain pan. This bracket acts as a mediator that bears the primary load, allowing the drain pan to be smaller in cross-sectional area while maintaining sufficient structural strength to support the coil.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a drain assembly for a heat exchanger system. The drain assembly includes a bracket, a drain pan detachably coupled to the bracket, and a support member detachably coupled to the drain pan. The drain pan defines one or more drain channels extending longitudinally therealong. The support member includes a central portion and two or more arms extending outwardly from the central portion, the two or more arms configured to support a heat exchanger thereon. With such arrangement, at least a portion of the drain pan is disposed between the support member and the bracket, such that load of the heat exchanger is transferred from the support member to the bracket via the drain pan.