Recessed Water Pan Overflow Structure for Vermin-Resistant Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water pans in refrigeration/air-conditioning systems lack an effective overflow discharge design, leading to potential damage from water accumulation and vermin intrusion, compromising structural strength and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A water pan with an integrated, hidden overflow port system featuring a recessed chamber, bridge wall, and ribs that divide the space into multiple overflow holes, preventing overflow and vermin entry while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an overflow hole is directly made on the peripheral wall of the water pan, then overflow discharge function is provided, but structural strength is reduced and vermin may enter
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow port is segmented into multiple small overflow holes formed by ribs, rather than a single large hole. This segmentation provides adequate overflow discharge function while the small size of individual holes prevents vermin entry and the distributed structure maintains better structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow port is nested within the recessed open chamber structure, which is formed by curving the peripheral wall inwards. The recessed chamber contains the overflow holes, creating a hidden overflow system that maintains the aesthetic appearance and structural integrity of the peripheral wall while providing overflow discharge function
2Reliability
If an overflow hole is directly made on the peripheral wall of the water pan, then overflow discharge function is provided, but aesthetic appearance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow port is nested within the recessed open chamber structure, which is formed by curving the peripheral wall inwards. The recessed chamber contains the overflow holes, creating a hidden overflow system that maintains the aesthetic appearance of the peripheral wall from the outside while providing overflow discharge function
3Strength
If the water pan has full structural strength and aesthetic appearance, then structural integrity is maintained, but overflow discharge function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow port is segmented into multiple small overflow holes formed by ribs, rather than a single large hole. This segmentation provides adequate overflow discharge function while the small size of individual holes prevents vermin entry and the distributed structure maintains better structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow holes are formed in the vertical dimension of the peripheral wall through the recessed chamber structure, rather than requiring holes in the horizontal plane. This dimensional approach allows overflow function to be integrated into the wall structure itself without compromising its integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Mounted in a bottom side of a water discharge device of a refrigeration/air-conditioning system for collecting waste water, a vermin-protective, high-strength and high beauty water pan is disclosed to include a bottom portion, and an upright peripheral wall extending along the border of the bottom portion and having at least one overflow port. The upright peripheral wall has a part curved inwards, defining a recessed open chamber, a recessed wall portion that surrounds the recessed open chamber, a bridge wall portion that suspends above the recessed open chamber and has the topmost edge thereof higher than the topmost edge of the recessed wall portion, and a plurality of ribs that are connected between the recessed wall portion and the bridge wall portion and divide the space in between the recessed wall portion and the bridge wall portion into multiple overflow holes that form one overflow port.