Condensate removal apparatus and method

1 . A coupling assembly for an air conditioning system, the coupling assembly configured for coupling an indoor coil section of the air conditioning system to a condensate drain line, the coupling assembly comprising:

a conduit that is attachable at one end to the indoor coil section; and

a pump enclosed within the conduit having a suction port and a substantially parallel discharge port, the suction port operably connected to a condensate collection member of the indoor coil section and the discharge port operably connected to the condensate drain line.

2 . The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein the pump comprises a reservoir for collecting a volume of condensate in fluid communication with the suction port.

3 . The coupling assembly of claim 2 wherein the pump comprises a housing that is formed integrally with the reservoir.

4 . The coupling assembly of claim 2 further comprising a switching circuit controlling operation of the pump in relation to an amount of condensate in the reservoir.

5 . The coupling assembly of claim 4 wherein the switching circuit operably energizes the pump when an amount of condensate in the reservoir exceeds a first predetermined amount.

6 . The coupling assembly of claim 5 wherein the switching circuit operably de-energizes the pump when the amount of condensate in the reservoir is less than a second predetermined amount.

7 . The coupling assembly of claim 6 wherein the switching circuit operably signals an alarm when the amount of condensate in the reservoir exceeds a third predetermined amount.

8 . The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein the discharge port is adapted for operably connecting directly to the condensate drain line that is operably disposed substantially parallel with a plane defined by accumulated condensate in the condensate collection member.

9 . The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein the conduit defines a passage extending continuously from the one end to an opposing end and is sized for routing the condensate drain line and at least one of an electrical lead and a fluid-bearing conduit to the indoor coil section.

10 . The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein the conduit defines a substantially straight member.

11 . A method for removing condensate from an air handler, comprising:

providing a coupling assembly having a conduit enclosing a pump with suction and discharge ports disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other;

connecting the pump suction port to a condensate collection member of the air handler;

connecting the pump discharge port to a first segment of a condensate drain line;

connecting one end of the conduit to the air handler; and

pumping condensate from the condensate collection member to the condensate drain line.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the providing step is characterized by the pump having a reservoir for collecting a volume of condensate at the pump suction port.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the providing step is characterized by a switching circuit controlling operation of the pump in relation to an amount of condensate in the reservoir.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the providing step is characterized by the switching circuit energizing the pump in relation to an amount of condensate in the reservoir.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the providing step is characterized by the switching circuit de-energizing the pump in relation to the amount of condensate in the reservoir.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the providing step is characterized by the switching circuit signaling an alarm in relation to the amount of condensate in the reservoir.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the providing step is characterized by the switching circuit de-energizing the air handler in relation to the amount of condensate in the reservoir.

18 . The method of claim 111 wherein the providing step is characterized by the conduit defining a passage extending continuously from the one end to an opposing end and sized for routing the condensate drain line and at least one of an electrical lead and a fluid-bearing conduit to the air handler.

19 . The method of claim 111 wherein the pumping step is characterized by pumping the condensate through a second segment of the drain line that is disposed non-parallel to the first segment.

20 . A condensate removal system for an air conditioner, comprising:

a condensate collection member disposed to collect condensate from a heat exchanging member; and

means for pumping the condensate from the collection member to a distant drainage location with a minimal static head loss.