Refrigerator appliance having a drain pan

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is provided with a drain pan mounted below a condenser of the refrigerator appliance. The drain pan includes features such as a channel for directing air through the drain pan. The channel can, e.g., increase the efficiency of the condenser and/or promote evaporation of liquid contained within the drain pan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 an evaporator;   a condenser; and   a drain pan disposed below said condenser and in fluid communication with said evaporator so as to receive liquid condensate from said evaporator, said drain pan defining a containment volume configured for holding liquid directed from said evaporator, said drain pan also extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, said drain pan comprising:
 a bottom plate; 
 an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said outer wall also extending around a periphery of said bottom plate; and 
 an inner wall extending upwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said inner wall defining a channel for directing a flow of air through said drain pan along the vertical direction between the bottom of said drain pan and the top of said drain pan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a hood disposed on a top of said inner wall. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured for selectively urging a flow of air through said condenser. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said plurality of legs elevating said bottom plate relative to a support surface such that a gap is defined below said bottom plate for permitting a flow of air beneath said bottom plate. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of posts extending upwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said plurality of posts configured for supporting said condenser. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said condenser is positioned adjacent said drain pan such that heat energy from said condenser assists in evaporating liquid contained in the containment volume of said drain pan. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said drain pan is constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 an evaporator;   a condenser; and   a drain pan disposed below said condenser and in fluid communication with said evaporator so as to collect liquid condensate directed from said evaporator, said drain pan extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, said drain pan defining at least one channel for directing air through said drain pan along the vertical direction between the top and the bottom of said drain pan.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein an outer wall of said drain pan partially encloses the at least one channel. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein an outer wall of said drain pan encloses the at least one channel. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a hood disposed adjacent a top of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a fan configured for selectively urging a flow of air through said condenser. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said drain pan along the vertical direction, said plurality of legs positioning said drain pan relative to a support surface such that a gap is defined below said drain pan for permitting a flow of air beneath said drain pan. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of posts extending upwardly from said drain pan along the vertical direction, said plurality of posts configured for supporting said condenser. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said condenser is positioned adjacent said drain pan such that heat energy from said condenser assists in evaporating liquid contained in said drain pan. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said drain pan is constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A drain pan for an appliance, the drain pan defining a containment volume configured for holding liquid, the drain pan extending between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction, the drain pan comprising:
 a bottom plate;   an outer wall extending upwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said outer wall also extending around a periphery of said bottom plate; and   an inner wall extending upwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said inner wall defining a channel for directing a flow of air through the drain pan along the vertical direction between the bottom of the drain pan and the top of the drain pan.   
     
     
         18 . The drain pan of  claim 17 , further comprising a hood disposed adjacent a top of said inner wall. 
     
     
         19 . The drain pan of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said bottom plate along the vertical direction, said plurality of legs positioning said bottom plate relative to a support surface such that a gap is defined below said bottom plate for permitting a flow of air beneath said bottom plate.