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WO-2026096456-A1 - REFRIGERATION SYSTEM EVAPORATOR

WO2026096456A1WO 2026096456 A1WO2026096456 A1WO 2026096456A1WO-2026096456-A1

Abstract

An evaporator has a metallic housing with a water collection pan and an electronics compartment. The evaporator has a power cord with wires electrically coupled to heating elements through an electrical control circuitry. The collection pan has floor that extend to sidewalls having a top edge. The collection pan also has sectional walls with top edges that are positioned only partially up the height of the sidewalls of the collection pan. The three sectional walls form four shallow water compartments. The heating element bar is a positive temperature coefficient heating element (PTC element) wherein the heating element bar has four separate heating elements that are actuated separately.

Inventors

  • HILLER, RAYMOND

Assignees

  • KASON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251028
Priority Date
20241030

Claims (17)

  1. 1. An evaporator for use with refrigeration equipment, the evaporator comprising: a collection pan having a plurality of water collection compartments ; a plurality of heating elements wherein each heating element of said plurality of heating elements is associated with one water collection compartment of said plurality of water collection compartments, wherein each heating element of said plurality of heating elements is controlled independently from the other heating elements of said plurality of heating elements, and an electrical control circuit coupled to said plurality of heating elements to control the flow of electric current to said plurality of heating elements.
  2. 2. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said collection pan includes a floor, sidewalls extending upwardly from said floor, and at least one separation wall extending from said floor to separate each water collection compartment of said plurality of water collection compartments from other water collection compartments of said plurality of water collection compartments.
  3. 3. The evaporator of claim 2 wherein said at least one separation wall includes a top edge with a notch therein, and wherein at least a portion of one said heating element of said plurality of heating elements is positioned within said notch.
  4. 4. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said collection pan includes a floor, sidewalls extending upwardly from said floor, and a plurality of separation walls extending from said floor to separately define each water collection compartment.
  5. 5. The evaporator of claim 4 wherein said plurality of separation walls extend from said floor to a height less than the height of said sidewalls.
  6. 6. The evaporator of claim 4 wherein said plurality of heating elements are in the form of one elongated heating element bar coupled to each separation wall of said plurality of separation walls.
  7. 7. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said plurality of heating elements is a positive temperature coefficient heating clement.
  8. 8. An evaporator for use with refrigeration equipment, the evaporator comprising: a housing having a collection pan with a floor and sidewalls extending from said floor to a sidewall top edge, said collection pan also having a first separation wall extending from said floor, said first separation wall having a first separation wall top edge positioned below the level of said sidewall top edge, said first separation wall defining a first water collection compartment and a second water collection compartment adjacent said first water collection compartment within said collection pan; a first heating element positioned within said first water collection compartment; a second heating element positioned within said second water collection compartment, and an electric control circuit electrically coupled to said first heating element and said second heating element.
  9. 9. The evaporator of claim 8 wherein said first heating element and said second heating element are joined together to form an elongated heating element bar.
  10. 10. The evaporator of claim 9 wherein said top edge of said first separation wall includes a notch therein, and wherein said elongated heating element bar is positioned within said notch.
  11. 11. The evaporator of claim 8 further comprising a second separation wall having a second separation wall top edge positioned below the level of said sidewall top edge, said second separation wall defining a third water collection compailment adjacent said second water collection compartment within said collection pan, and a third heating element positioned within said third water collection compartment and electrically coupled to said electrical control circuit.
  12. 12. The evaporator of claim 11 further comprising a third separation wall having a third separation wall top edge positioned below the level of said sidewall top edge, said third separation wall defining a fourth water collection compartment adjacent said third water collection compartment within said collection pan, and a fourth heating element positioned within said fourth water collection compartment and electrically coupled to said electrical control circuit.
  13. 13. The evaporator of claim 11 wherein said first heating element, said second heating element, and said third heating element are joined together to form an elongated heating element bar.
  14. 14. The evaporator of claim 12 wherein said first heating element, said second heating element, said third heating element, and said fourth heating element are joined together to form an elongated heating element bar.
  15. 15. The evaporator of claim 11 wherein said top edge of said second separation wall includes a second notch therein, and wherein said first heating clement, said second heating elements, and said third heating element are joined together to form an elongated heating element bar, and wherein a portion of said elongated heating element bar is positioned within said second notch.
  16. 16. The evaporator of claim 12 wherein said top edge of said second separation wall includes a second notch therein, wherein said top edge of said third separation wall includes a third notch therein, and wherein said first heating element, said second heating elements, said third heating element, and said fourth heating element are joined together to form an elongated heating element bar, and wherein a portion of said elongated heating element bar is positioned within said third notch and said fourth notch.
  17. 17. The evaporator of claim 8 wherein said first heating element and said second heating element are positive temperature coefficient heating elements.

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION FOR: REFRIGERATION SYSTEM EVAPORATOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT [0003] Not applicable. Technical Field of the Invention [0004] 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 [0005] 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. [0006] 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. [0007] 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. [0008] 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 clement to the proper temperature. [0009] 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 [00010] 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 [0011 ] 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. [0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporator embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. [0013] Fig. 2 is a top view of the evaporator of Fig. 1. [0014] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the evaporator of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS Definitions [0015] 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 [0016] With reference next to the drawings, there is a shown an evaporator 10 for use with refri