Refrigeration condensate line assembly

• US 7,624,756 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory Coogle
• Original Assignee: Gregory Coogle
• Inventors: Coogle, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US12/012,988
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 137/240, 137/368, 137/558, 137/271, 137/269
• US Class Current: 137/558
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/222 for evacuating condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/227 Condensate pipe for drainage of condensate from the evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 17/005 Means for draining condensates from heat exchangers, e.g. from evaporators F28B9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/701 Combined with actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8342 Liquid level responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

An assembly mounts between the drain pan that collects condensate water from an air conditioner and the drain line. It includes a housing with a first end connected to the pan. A second end connects to the drain line. A shut off valve shuts off the passage to the pan while maintenance is performed. A connector is mounted on the housing between the valve and the second end. It is a female member of a quick-connect coupling. A male member of the coupling may be plugged in with a single motion to seal it in place. Male members have different terminations, including a barbed tube for resilient tubing, a compressed air tire valve for delivering gas, a female water hose coupling, a tapered funnel for the nozzle of vacuum/blower, and a water sensor.

Claims

1. An assembly for facilitating maintenance of a drain line that drains condensate water from a pan beneath an evaporator, the assembly comprising:

a housing having an internal passage with a first end and a second end;

a first connector on the housing for securely connecting the internal passage at the first end to a water outlet of the pan;

a shut off valve adjacent the first end for manually closing the internal passage;

a second connector on the housing for connecting the drain line to the second end of the passage;

a third connector in fluid connection with the passage, the third connector mounted on an upper surface of the housing positioned intermediate the valve and the second connector, the third connector being a female member of a quick-connect coupling; and

a plurality of male member connectors of the quick-connect coupling compatible with the female member, the male member connectors having terminations selected from the group of terminations consisting of a barbed tube for a resilient hose, a compressed air tire valve, a threaded female water hose coupling, a tapered funnel adapted for receiving a hose from a wet vacuum/blower, a sealing plug, and a two-electrode water sensor.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a receptacle in the housing in fluid communication with the passage positioned directly below the third connector, the receptacle constructed for receiving biocidal material deposited through the third connector.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a fourth connector in fluid communication with the internal passage, the fourth connector mounted on an upper surface of the housing between the first connector and the valve, the fourth connector having sealingly connected therein a water level sensor.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 in which the water level sensor includes a magnet.

5. The assembly according to claim 3 further comprising a receptacle in the housing in fluid communication with the passage positioned directly below the fourth connector, the receptacle constructed for receiving biocidal material deposited through the fourth connector.

6. An assembly for facilitating maintenance of a drain line that drains condensate water from a pan beneath an evaporator, the assembly comprising:

a housing having an internal passage with a first end and a second end;

a first connector on the housing for securely connecting the internal passage at the first end to a water outlet of the pan;

a shut off valve adjacent the first end for manually closing the internal passage;

a second connector on the housing for connecting the drain line to the second end of the passage;

a third connector in fluid communication with the passage, the third connector mounted on an upper surface of the housing positioned intermediate the valve and the second connector, the third connector being a female member of a quick-connect coupling;

a reptacle in the housing in fluid communication with the passage positioned directly below the third connector constructed for receiving biocidal material deposited through the third connector; and

a plurality of male member connectors of the quick-connect coupling compatible with the female member, the male member connectors having terminations selected from the group of terminations consisting of a barbed tube for a resilient hose, a compressed air tire valve, a threaded female water hose coupling, a tapered funnel adapted for a hose from a wet vacuum/blower, a sealing plug, and a water sensor.

7. An assembly for facilitating maintenance of a drain line that drains condensate water from a pan beneath an evaporator, the assembly comprising:

a housing having an internal passage with a first end and a second end;

a first connector on the housing for securely connecting the internal passage at the first end to a water outlet of the pan;

a shut off valve adjacent the first end for manually closing the internal passage;

a second connector on the housing for connecting the drain line to the second end of the passage;

a third connector in fluid communication with the passage, the third connector mounted on an upper surface of the housing positioned intermediate the valve and the second connector, the third connector being a female member of a quick-connect coupling;

a receptacle in the housing in fluid communication with the passage positioned directly below the third connector constructed for receiving biocidal material deposited through the third connector; and

a plurality of male member connectors of the quick-connect coupling compatible with the female member, the male member connectors having at least four different terminations selected from the group of terminations consisting of a barbed tube for a resilient hose, a compressed air tire valve, a threaded female water hose coupling, a tapered funnel adapted for a hose from a wet vacuum/blower, a sealing plug, and a two-electrode water sensor.