Device for collecting refrigerant leaking from an appliance

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system including a heat exchanger assembly and a refrigerant collection device. The refrigerant collection device has a body axially aligned with a perimeter of the heat exchanger assembly. The body has at least one channel formed therein to capture a refrigerant and direct the captured refrigerant to a detection location of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 a heat exchanger assembly;   a refrigerant collection device having a body axially aligned with a perimeter of the heat exchanger assembly, the body having at least one channel formed therein to capture a refrigerant, wherein the body is configured to direct captured refrigerant to a detection location of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a generally horizontal configuration relative to the heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a generally sloped configuration relative to the heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel having a base and at least one sidewall extending at an angle from the base. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein a configuration of the at least one channel varies about the body of the refrigerant collection device. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one sidewall includes an inward sidewall and an outward sidewall arranged at opposite sides of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the outward sidewall is formed by another component of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein a height of the inward sidewall is different than a height of the outward sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one channel includes a front portion, a back portion, and a side portion fluidly connecting the front portion and the back portion. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one cross piece extending between and fluidly connected to the front portion and the back portion of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one cross-piece has a V-shape. 
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one cross-piece is vertically offset from the base of the at least one channel. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly further comprises a tube bank and the at least one cross-piece is axially aligned with a central portion of the tube bank. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly further comprises a condensate drain pan and the body of the refrigerant collection device is coupled to the condensate drain pan. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly further comprises a condensate drain pan and the body of the refrigerant collection device is integrally formed with the condensate drain pan. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly includes an apex and the body of the refrigerant collection device includes a plurality of cutouts, the apex being receivable within the plurality of cutouts. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the refrigerant collection device is formed from a plurality of separate pieces. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly includes an apex, and the plurality of separate pieces includes a first piece and a second piece, the first piece extending from the apex in a first direction and the second piece extending from the apex in a second, opposite direction. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system of  claim 18 , wherein the second piece is a mirror image of the first piece. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detection sensor mounted to the refrigerant collection device adjacent to the detection location.