Condensate Pump

Abstract

A condensate pump that provides a ventilation system that efficiently expels warm air surrounding a pump motor is disclosed. The pump has a motor-driven fan, a cover that encloses the fan, and a ventilation opening that allows for air to enter through the cover. The cover has an exhaust opening adjacent to the fan and a discharge outlet. The space between the exhaust opening and the discharge outlet defines a throat. A cutwater is adjacent to the exhaust opening for focusing air outward through the throat and expelling it from the cover through the discharge outlet.

1 . A condensate pump having a motor, a fan driven by the motor, a cover enclosing the fan, and a ventilation opening that allows for the intake of air into the cover, the cover comprising:
 an exhaust opening adjacent to the fan;   a discharge outlet;   a throat defined by a space between the exhaust opening and the discharge outlet; and   a cutwater adjacent to the exhaust opening for focusing the air outward through the throat and exiting the cover via the discharge outlet.   
   
   
       2 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , wherein the motor rotates the fan in a direction that directs the air towards the throat. 
   
   
       3 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is circular and has a fan radius, and the cover has an interior circular portion shaped around the fan, the interior circular portion of the cover having an inner radius greater than the fan radius. 
   
   
       4 . The condensate pump of  claim 3 , wherein the cutwater defines an end of the interior circular portion of the cover. 
   
   
       5 . The condensate pump of  claim 3 , wherein the interior circular portion of the cover is shaped around at least 90 degrees of the fan. 
   
   
       6 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge outlet is in a plane angled relative to a wall of the cover defining the throat. 
   
   
       7 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation opening is located on a side wall of the cover and proximate to the motor. 
   
   
       8 . The condensate pump of  claim 7 , wherein the throat and the ventilation opening are located on opposite sides of the fan. 
   
   
       9 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a base, the ventilation opening being located at the base. 
   
   
       10 . The condensate pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor plate attached below the motor, the motor plate having at least one slit, and a volute casing attached below the motor plate via at least one hook that removably connects to the at least one slit, wherein the shaft extends through the motor plate and drives an impeller disposed in the volute casing, the impeller being used to expel condensate liquid in the pump. 
   
   
       11 . A condensate pump comprising:
 a motor;   a fan rotatably driven by the motor;   a cover enclosing the fan; and   a ventilation opening for permitting air to be drawn into the cover;   wherein the cover is shaped to define a volute to expel air outwardly through a discharge outlet.   
   
   
       12 . A condensate pump having a pump housing, the pump housing enclosing a motor, a collection tank used to store condensate liquid, an impeller driven by the motor to discharge the condensate liquid, and a manual float activation device, the manual float activation device comprising:
 a float disposed in the collection tank, the float communicating with the motor such that when the float is raised it activates the motor;   a float arm that is attached on one end to the main float; and   a tab that is attached on another end of the float arm, the tab extending outside the pump housing, wherein pushing the tab raises the main float.   
   
   
       13 . The condensate pump of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an operating switch lever that activates the motor when engaged; and   a slot in an extension attached to the float arm whereby the slot is shifted when the tab is pushed, the operating switch lever passing through the slot and being engaged when the tab is pushed.