Automatic purging device for AC condensation drain lines
First Claim
1. A condensate drain line purge device comprising:
- a housing having a condensate inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet forming a chamber therebetween, said housing securable in an air conditioning condensate drain line;
a plug positioned within said chamber, said plug movable to an upper seat when condensate floods said chamber to seal said inlet and prevent condensate from flowing back through said inlet;
a solenoid valve having a gas inlet coupled to a disposable pressurized gas canister having a gas outlet fluidly coupled to said solenoid and said solenoid having an valve fluidly coupled to said housing chamber, said solenoid valve electrically coupled to a condensate holding pan float switch;
wherein condensate flows through said housing until a drain line clog occurs causing condensate to back up wherein the floating plug seals said condensate inlet and said solenoid valve is actuated by the float switch allowing pressurized gas into said chamber to purge the drain line of the clog.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic condensate line purging device for HVAC condensation lines using pressurized gas. The purging device is installed in the condensate drain line of an air conditioning system allowing condensate flow through the device during normal operation where no clog has occurred in the condensate drain line. Should the drain line become clogged, a plug is displaced to seal the condensate drain causing the condensate to back-up up into the external condensate drain pan located beneath the condenser of conventional HVAC systems. When the drain pan fills with water, the safety float switch used to shut down the air conditioner is coupled to a solenoid valve mounted on the purging device wherein a charge of gas is directed into the drain line for removal of the clog.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A condensate drain line purge device comprising:
-
a housing having a condensate inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet forming a chamber therebetween, said housing securable in an air conditioning condensate drain line; a plug positioned within said chamber, said plug movable to an upper seat when condensate floods said chamber to seal said inlet and prevent condensate from flowing back through said inlet; a solenoid valve having a gas inlet coupled to a disposable pressurized gas canister having a gas outlet fluidly coupled to said solenoid and said solenoid having an valve fluidly coupled to said housing chamber, said solenoid valve electrically coupled to a condensate holding pan float switch; wherein condensate flows through said housing until a drain line clog occurs causing condensate to back up wherein the floating plug seals said condensate inlet and said solenoid valve is actuated by the float switch allowing pressurized gas into said chamber to purge the drain line of the clog. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A condensate drain line purge device comprising:
-
a PVC housing having an condensate inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet forming a chamber therebetween, said housing securable in an air conditioning condensate drain line; a spherical floating ball positioned within said chamber, said floating ball movable to an upper seat when condensate floods said chamber to seal said inlet and prevent condensate from flowing back through said inlet; a solenoid valve having a gas inlet coupled to a pressurized disposable gas canister and an gas outlet coupled to said chamber, said solenoid valve including a pin for piercing said pressurized gas cartridge and a solenoid coil electrically coupled to a condensate holding pan float switch for releasing pressurized gas the coil is energized; wherein condensate flows through said housing until a drain line clog occurs causing condensate to back up wherein the floating plug seals said condensate inlet and said solenoid valve is actuated by the float switch allowing pressurized gas into said chamber to purge the drain line of the clog. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification