Refrigeration condensate line maintenance kit

• US 8,752,865 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coogle, Gregory
• Original Assignee: Coogle, Gregory
• Inventors: Coogle, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/317,004
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 137/269, 137/270, 137/271, 137/240, 285/12
• US Class Current: 285/12
• 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: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5283 Units interchangeable between alternate locations

Abstract

A drain pan collects condensate water from an air conditioner. A drain line includes an elbow connecting the pan to a vertical pipe that drains the condensate water to outside. The drain line must be periodically cleaned to prevent clogging. A kit and method is provided to modify the drain line so that it can then be cleaned more easily, and components are provided to facilitate the drain line cleaning process.

Claims

1. A kit for facilitating maintenance of a drain line pipe that drains condensate water from a pan beneath an evaporator, the pipe being three quarter inch pipe or one inch pipe, the kit comprising:

a portable container having an internal volume;

the internal volume containing;

a flexible elbow having a hose clamp at each open end adapted to be sealingly connected to three quarter inch pipe;

a flexible elbow having a hose clamp at each open end adapted to be sealingly connected to one inch pipe;

a flexible straight connector having a hose clamp at each open end adapted to be sealingly connected to three quarter inch pipe;

a flexible straight connector having a hose clamp at each open end adapted to be sealingly connected to one inch pipe;

a rigid straight connector having a first open end adapted for fluid tight insertion into an open end of the flexible connector for three quarter inch pipe and a second open end provided with a threaded female water hose coupling;

a rigid straight connector having a first open end adapted for fluid tight insertion into an open end of the flexible connector for one inch pipe and a second open end provided with a threaded female water hose coupling; and

a rigid fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling and a second open end provided with a barbed tube for a resilient hose;

a rigid fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling and a second open end provided with a tapered funnel adapted for receiving a hose nozzle from a wet vacuum/blower.

2. The kit according to claim 1 in which the flexible connectors are made of material resistant to oxidation.

3. The kit according to claim 1 further comprising:

a rigid fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling and a second open end provided with a compressed gas tire valve housing.

4. A kit for facilitating maintenance of a rigid drain line pipe that drains condensate water from a pan beneath an evaporator, the kit comprising:

a flexible connector having a hose clamp at each open end adapted to be sealingly connected to the drain line pipe;

a rigid straight connector having a first open end adapted for fluid tight insertion into an open end of the flexible connector and second open end provided with a threaded female water hose coupling;

a fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling adapted for fluid tight connection to the rigid straight connector for fluid cleaning of the drain line pipe and a second open end provided with a barbed tube for a resilient hose; and

a fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling adapted for fluid tight connection to the rigid straight connector for fluid cleaning of the drain line pipe and a second open end provided with a tapered funnel adapted for receiving a hose nozzle from a wet vacuum/blower.

5. The kit according to claim 4 in which the flexible connectors are made of material resistant to oxidation.

6. The kit according to claim 4 further comprising:

a rigid fluid connector having a first open end provided with a threaded male water hose coupling and a second open end provided with a compressed gas tire valve housing.