Heat exchanger drip tube

Abstract

A drip tube has a generally horizontal section, a generally vertical section and a drip loop connecting the sections. The drip loop is positioned so that its exterior surface is lower than the exterior surfaces of the generally horizontal section and the generally vertical section at the points where they meet the drip loop to provide a location where water may drip.

1 . A system comprising:
 a heat exchanger manifold; and   a drip tube in fluid communication with the heat exchanger manifold, the drip tube comprising:
 a generally horizontal section having an exterior surface; 
 a generally vertical section having an exterior surface; and 
 a drip loop having an exterior surface and connecting the horizontal section and the vertical section, wherein a lowest portion of the drip loop exterior surface is positioned lower than the horizontal section exterior surface where the horizontal section and drip loop meet and lower than the vertical section exterior surface where the vertical section and drip loop meet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger manifold and the drip tube are similar metals. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger manifold and the drip tube are dissimilar metals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger manifold is aluminum and the drip tube is copper. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drip tube is an inlet or an outlet for the heat exchanger manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal section is generally perpendicular to the heat exchanger manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal section is connected to the heat exchanger manifold. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a belled section, wherein the belled section connects the heat exchanger manifold and the drip tube. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer surrounds a portion of the heat exchanger manifold and a portion of the drip tube. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer surrounds a portion of the belled section and a portion of the drip tube. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger section comprising:
 first and second manifolds;   a plurality of flow paths extending between the first and second manifolds; and   at least one drip tube in fluid communication with at least one manifold, the drip tube comprising:
 a generally horizontal section having an exterior surface; 
 a generally vertical section having an exterior surface; and 
 a drip loop having an exterior surface and connecting the horizontal section and the vertical section, wherein a lowest portion of the drip loop exterior surface is positioned lower than the horizontal section exterior surface where the horizontal section and drip loop meet and lower than the vertical section exterior surface where the vertical section and drip loop meet. 
   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one drip tube and the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube are dissimilar metals. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one drip tube is copper and the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube is aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one drip tube is an inlet or an outlet for the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11 , wherein the horizontal section is connected to the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11  further comprising a belled section, wherein the belled section connects the at least one drip tube and the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11  further comprising a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer surrounds a portion of the at least one drip tube and a portion of the at least one manifold in fluid communication with the at least one drip tube. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger section of  claim 11  further comprising a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer surrounds a portion of the belled section and a portion of the at least one drip tube. 
     
     
         19 . A method for protecting aluminum surfaces of a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 shaping a drip tube comprising a generally horizontal section, a generally vertical section, and a drip loop connecting the horizontal and vertical sections, wherein the drip tube is shaped so that an exterior surface of the drip loop is positioned lower than an exterior surface of the horizontal section where the horizontal section and drip loop meet and lower than an exterior surface of the vertical section where the vertical section and drip loop meet;   connecting the horizontal section of the drip tube to a heat exchanger manifold; and   connecting the vertical section of the drip tube to a refrigerant line.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a barrier layer to a portion of the drip tube and a portion of the heat exchanger manifold. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of connecting the horizontal section of the drip tube to a heat exchanger manifold further comprises:
 connecting a first end of a belled section to the heat exchanger manifold; and   connecting the horizontal section of the drip tube to a second end of the belled section.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a barrier layer to a portion of the drip tube and a portion of the belled section.