Automatic purging device for AC condensation drain lines

• US 8,978,690 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drain Shield, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SAFE-T-FLUSH Corporation
• Inventors: Hubbard, Austin J. Sr., Winter, Louisa E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/897,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 137/237, 137/240, 137/312, 137/209, 137/212, 137/393, 137/398, 137/409, 137/430, 137/432, 137/429, 137/557
• US Class Current: 137/240
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/02 Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0328 by purging the pipe with a gas or a mixture of gas and liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/222 for evacuating condensate
• 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 137/3127 With gas maintenance or application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4238 With cleaner, lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing at valve interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7358 By float controlled valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

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.

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.

2. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 1 wherein said pressurized gas is contained within a threaded gas cartridge.

3. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 2 wherein said gas cartridge is an 88 gram threaded CO₂ disposable cartridge.

4. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 2 wherein said gas cartridge is a threaded 88 gram N₂ disposable cartridge.

5. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 1 wherein said plug is a spherical ball that is constructed and arranged to float on water.

6. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a lower seat adjacent said outlet, said lower seat holding said plug thereby allowing condensate to drain through said condensate inlet to said outlet.

7. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 1 wherein said solenoid valve includes a pin for piercing a pressurized gas cartridge.

8. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 1 wherein said condensate inlet is above said outlet wherein said housing is placed into a vertically positioned condensate drain line.

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.

10. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 wherein said gas cartridge is an 88 gram threaded CO2 disposable cartridge.

11. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 wherein said gas cartridge is a threaded 88 gram N2 disposable cartridge.

12. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 wherein said chamber includes a lower seat adjacent said outlet, said lower seat holding said plug thereby allowing condensate to drain through said condensate inlet to said outlet.

13. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 wherein said condensate inlet is above said outlet wherein said housing is placed into a vertically positioned condensate drain line.

14. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 including an indicator to notify when the gas canister is not pressurized.

15. The condensate drain line purge device according to claim 9 including an indicator to notify when the gas canister is pressurized.