Air Conditioning Drain Line, Anti-Contaminant Device

Abstract

An AC drain line, anti-contaminant device includes a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent, a housing inlet coupled to a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit, and a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent. The drain line couples to and extends from a drip pan of an AC system, and subsequently couples to the device. The anti-contaminant agent comprises anti-algae, anti-mold, or other anti-deleterious material agent comprising a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions wherein the pOH is less than or about 5. The housing may include an internal support to space the anti-contaminant agent apart from the bottom. The anti-contaminant agent may comprise a solid form for placement in the housing, or as part of a removable and replaceable cartridge assembly for the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This disclosure is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/651,104 filed Aug. 21, 2017; the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to a device to deter the introduction and accumulation of contaminants by an AC (Air Conditioning) System. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a device to deter the introduction and accumulation of algae, mold or other deleterious materials of an AC system by implementing a distribution device that can house and present anti-contaminant elements to drain fluid at a drain piping line of the AC system.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Evaporation coils in an air conditioning (AC) unit produce condensation when warm air passes over them, and this condensation collects in a collecting drain pan. This drain pan generally comprises a drain line that may incorporate draining elements, such as a "T" type fitting, so that the condensation drains and ventilates properly. However, such ventilation promotes the development of mold and algae amidst humid conditions. Mold and algae development subsequently causes blockages within the piping network and results in overflows of a drain pan, thereby causing the air conditioning unit from operating properly as well as diminishing the operating life of the unit. Drain pan overflows can cause further damage to a ceiling, a floor and/or other surrounding items as well. Often, to remove mold and algae, bleach is poured down an open end of a "T" fitting, but such cure is generally conducted after the fact and fails to mitigate long-term damage. What is desired and absent from the prior art is an on-going, passive, contaminant preventative and treatment system.

[0004] It is an object of embodiments described herein to disclose an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device that deters the introduction and accumulation of algae, mold, or other deleterious materials to an AC system and/or its various components. Generally, the algae, mold or other deleterious materials are deterred by implementing a distribution device to house and present anti-contaminant elements to drain fluid within a drain piping line.

SUMMARY

[0005] Among various embodiments, an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device comprises; a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent, a housing inlet coupled to a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit, and a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent. The drain line couples to and extends from a drip pan of an AC system. The anti-contaminant agent comprises an anti-algae agent, anti-mold agent, or other anti-deleterious agent comprising a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions wherein the pOH is less than or about 5. The housing may include an internal support to space the anti-contaminant agent apart from the bottom. The anti-contaminant agent may comprise a solid form for placement in the housing, or as part of a removable and replaceable cartridge assembly for the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary AC system comprising an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device coupled to a drain line;

[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device;

[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a longitudinal cross-section view of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device showing an anti-contaminant agent housed within and a directional flow of a drain fluid;

[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a longitudinal cross-section view of another embodiment of an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device showing anti-contaminant agents supported apart from a bottom of a housing unit; and

[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a longitudinally cross-section view of yet another embodiment of an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device showing a removable and replaceable cartridge that comprises an anti-contaminant agent.

[0011] Elements and/or steps in the FIGS. are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, any steps shown may be performed concurrently or in different order as depicted in the FIGS. to help to improve understanding of embodiments.

[0012] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the FIGS. illustrate the general manner of construction, however, descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device and any methods of manufacture. Additionally, elements in the FIGS. are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, any illustrative dimensions of elements in the FIGS. can and may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of embodiments of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device and any methods of manufacture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Embodiments of an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device described herein may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware components configured to perform specified functions and to achieve various results. For example, an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device may employ various components to effectuate providing anti-contaminant agents to drain fluid within a drain line, e.g., various housing configurations, inlet and outlet pipes and/or ports, anti-contaminant agents, internal housing agent supports, housing inlet/outlet filters and screens, housing lids and/or caps, agent cartridges, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device may be practiced in conjunction with any number of settings, such as for typical residential or commercial AC use, but may also be incorporated to any mechanical system that relies upon a drain line to drain a fluid susceptible to promote the growth of mold, algae, and other deleterious materials detrimental to the mechanical system.

[0014] Any devices and/or methods described are merely exemplary applications for the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device, and the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacturing, distributing, marketing, packaging, shipping, selling, and the like.

[0015] Various embodiments are applicable to any device or method to produce any AC drain line, anti-contaminant device. Turning now to the FIGS., FIG. 1 depicts a typical AC system comprising; an AC unit 101, a drip pan 102 to collect condensed fluid from an operating AC unit 101, and a drain line 105 to drain collected fluid by drip pan 102. FIG. 1 further depicts an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device 110 that appends to drain line 105 and discussed in detail below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while AC drain line, anti-contaminant device 110 is shown incorporated as part of an overall AC system, device 110 may also advantageously be incorporated into other systems other than AC systems that comprise a drip pan, drain lines, and the like fluid drain systems so as to deter algae, mold and other deleterious elemental growth.

[0016] Turning now to FIG. 2, device 110 comprises housing unit 220 comprising an interior volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent. Device 110 also comprises housing inlet 222 that couples to drain line 105 to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter housing unit 220, and device 110 further comprises housing outlet 224 to allow the drained fluid to exit housing unit 220 upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent. While housing inlet 222 and housing outlet 224 are depicted as piping type structures, either one or both of housing inlet 222 and housing outlet 224 may alternately comprise a mere orifice opening or port type configuration.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, housing unit 220 comprises a cylindrical configuration, wherein housing inlet 222 and housing outlet 224 are positioned slightly above a base portion 226 of housing unit 220 and opposite each other as shown by FIG. 2. Those skilled in the art though will appreciate that housing unit 220 may comprise any of a variety of regular or irregular geometric configurations, as well as comprise of any of variety of materials, be it natural, synthetic, metallic, etc. Moreover, while the preferred embodiment shows a single housing inlet 222 and a single housing outlet 224 positioned slightly above the base portion 226 of housing unit 220, any other number and positioning of housing inlets and housing outlets may be employed by device 110. For example, in an embodiment, housing inlet 222 and housing outlet 224 may be positioned at 90.degree. to one another rather than as depicted by the various FIGS. In another embodiment, housing unit may comprise of a single housing inlet, such as housing inlet 222 and a plurality of housing outlets (not shown); or vice versa.

[0018] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that housing inlet 222 and housing inlet 224 are of appropriate size to effectively couple to the corresponding drain line for any AC and/or mechanical system comprising a drain line. And in some embodiments, device 110 may further comprise housing inlet and/or housing outlet adapters to "upsize" or "downsize" the housing inlets/outlets so as to be able to effectively couple to the corresponding drain line for any AC and or mechanical system comprising a drain line. Moreover, device 110 and/or elements of device 110 may comprise various dimensional sizes, i.e. housing units, housing inlets/outlets, etc., to accommodate various systems having drain flow of varying rates. For example, a residential AC system may require a device 110 comprising a size that is significantly smaller than a commercial AC system requiring a much larger device 110; and device 110 is not limited to a single size configuration in this regard.

[0019] Turning now to FIG. 3, device 110 may further comprise end cap 312 to secure anti-contaminant agents 340 within the housing and thereby provide for a closed housing unit. End cap is preferably a screw-on type lid, but other cap elements now known or developed in the future may be employed, such as, snap caps, friction fit caps, hinged caps, etc. Among various embodiments, device 110 may also comprise vent 314 to allow ambient air to circulate from the exterior to the interior of housing unit 220.

[0020] As mentioned, device 110 comprises anti-contaminant agent 340, and in a preferred embodiment, anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent. However, device 110 may comprise other anti-contaminant agents that are effective to deter a growth of or essentially eliminate completely all other deleterious bio-hazardous materials and/or microbes. As a side note, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by asserting an anti-contaminant agent may effectively "kill" any algae, mold, and/or other deleterious bio-hazardous materials and/or microbes, such assertions may subject the device and/or the anti-contaminant agent to various stringent government regulations. In a preferred embodiment, no such assertion is made, but this disclosure nonetheless contemplates other embodiments where such an assertion may be made.

[0021] To deter mold and/or algae growth, anti-contaminant agent 340, or an elemental component thereof, comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less then 5, but other anti-contaminant agents may be employed that comprise other components to deter contaminant growth. For example, instead of an anti-contaminant agent comprising a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions, the anti-contaminant agent may comprise a material or elemental component that comprises a high concentration of [H.sup.+] dissociative ions such that the pH is about or less than 5. Moreover, the anti-contaminant agent may not comprise either one of a material or elemental component comprising a pH or pOH of less then or about 5, but rather may comprise some other biological or chemical agent known to those skilled in the art to deter and/or effectively eliminate algae, mold and other like deleterious bio-hazardous materials and/or microbes. Among various embodiments, the anti-contaminant agent may comprise a form that allows for the active ingredient of the anti-contaminant agent to be released slowly over time. For example, the anti-contaminant agent may comprise at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, or granular form. In a preferred embodiment though, anti-contaminant agent 340 is produced in a puck form that is placed within housing unit 220, and based on AC unit use and subsequent drain flow, designed to last approximately 3-6 months. Note, however, that device 110 should not be construed to such strict time limit period.

[0022] Turning now to FIG. 4, an embodiment comprises device 410 comprising housing unit 420 that further comprises an internal support element 450 to support an anti-contaminant agent 440 apart from the bottom of housing unit 420 such that at least a portion of anti-contaminant agent 440 interacts with at least a portion of the drain fluid entering and exiting housing unit 420. In this manner, any anti-contaminant agents placed within housing 420 does not impede the flow of drain fluid through the device, but rather spaces the anti-contaminant agents slightly apart from the bottom by internal support element 450. The drain fluid is still conditioned by anti-contaminant agent 440, but the drain fluid is more free to flow through the device. As can be best seen by drain fluid, flow arrows 442 and 444 of FIG. 4, it is evident how such spaced apart conditioning operates.

[0023] Among the various embodiments described herein, and among others, any housing inlets and/or housing outlets may further comprise a filter screen or other filtering mechanisms to prevent debris from entering the housing unit and/or leaving the housing unit. For example, a device embodiment that relies upon slow releasing puck type, anti-contaminant agents may witness the breakdown of the puck over time into smaller particles. By incorporating a filter to the housing outlet, such smaller particles are maintained within the housing unit rather than being flushed out and down the downstream drain line. In this manner, the smaller particles prevent any clogging of the downstream drain line as well as preserving the anti-contaminant agent within the housing unit to continue to condition drain fluid through the device.

[0024] At this point, it should be noted that the term "conditioning" throughout this specification is meant to include the process by which drain fluid enters the housing unit of the disclosed device; comes into at least partial contact with the anti-contaminant agent such that the active ingredient of the of the anti-contaminant agent, such as the dissociative ions mentioned above, interacts with the drain fluid; and subsequently the drain fluid moves out of the device for appropriate draining.

[0025] Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment 510 comprises, and a housing unit 520 is configured, to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge 560, wherein cartridge 560 comprises permeable elements 562 for a drain fluid to interact with anti-contaminant agent 540 housed within cartridge 560. In this manner a user need not handle anti-contaminant agents that may cause irritation or burning due to it's high concentration levels of [OH.sup.-] or [H.sup.+], but rather a user friendly cartridge may be placed within housing unit 520. Once the anti-contaminant agent within the cartridge is depleted, it may be removed, discarded, and a replacement cartridge may be inserted. In an embodiment, although not shown, cartridge 560 may comprise a life indicator to display to a user when cartridge 560 requires replacement. Among such embodiments, the indicator may be passive such that the user can view device 510 to establish if cartridge 560 needs replacing, or the indicator may be interactive, such that a signal emanates and/or transmits to the user to indicate replacement of cartridge 560. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while a life indicator is discussed for an embodiment comprising a cartridge, such as cartridge 560 described, the other disclosed embodiments may similarly comprise an indicator to notify a user that a device requires replenishing of the anti-contaminant agent. For example, embodiments 110, 410 and/or 510 may further comprise a viewing window incorporated into the respective housing unit or end cap such that a user can view a remaining amount of anti-contaminant agent. In an active alert embodiment, a calibrated sensor may be placed in the downstream portion of the drain line, wherein as the sensor detects a drop or a pre-determined threshold met of measured anti-contaminant agent in the drain fluid, the sensor emanates and/or transmits a signal to notify the user to replenish the system with additional anti-contaminant agent material.

[0026] Returning briefly now to FIG. 1, device 110 is shown placed at a distal end of drain line 105, however those skilled in the art will appreciate that device 110 may be appended to drain line 105 at any position along drain line 105. In a preferred embodiment, device 110 as well as the other devices disclosed, is appended to drain line 105 proximate to a location where drain line 105 couples to drip pan 102. And in one embodiment, a drain line, anti-contaminant device may comprise a positioning wherein a device housing inlet couples directly to a drip pan, such as drip pan 102, and a drain line, such as drain line 105, originates at a device housing outlet.

[0027] In the foregoing specification, described is an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device with reference to various embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device as set forth in the claims. The detailed description and FIGS. are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the various embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of any embodiments should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by merely the various embodiments described.

[0028] For example, steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, components and/or elements recited in any article, system, apparatus and/or device claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to specific configurations recited in the claims.

[0029] Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or components of any or all the claims.

[0030] As used herein, the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprising", "having", "including", "includes" "is" or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of an AC drain line, anti-contaminant device, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

[0031] As used herein, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

[0032] The terms "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "bottom," "side," "under," "over," and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that embodiments of the AC drain line, anti-contaminant device and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in a physical, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or other manner.

Claims

1. An air conditioning drain line, anti-contaminant device comprises: a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent; a housing inlet coupled to a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit; a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent; and the anti-contaminating agent.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising an end cap to secure the anti-contaminant agents within the housing unit and provide for a closed housing unit.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the housing unit further comprises a vent to allow ambient air to circulate from the exterior to the interior of the housing unit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing inlet and the housing outlet are configured at a base portion of the housing unit.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less then 5

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the device further comprises and the housing unit is configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises permeable elements for the drain fluid to interact with the anti-contaminant agent housed within the cartridge.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5.

10. An air conditioning drain line, anti-contaminant device comprises: a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent; a housing inlet coupled to at least one of a drip pan and a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit; a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent, and wherein the housing unit further comprises an internal support element to support the anti-contaminant agent apart from the bottom of the housing unit such that at a portion of the anti-contaminant agent interacts with a portion of the drain fluid entering and exiting the housing unit.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises and the housing unit is configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises permeable elements for the drain fluid to interact with the anti-contaminant agent housed within the cartridge.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5.

16. A mechanical system comprises: a mechanical unit; a drip pan positioned under the mechanical unit to capture condensation from operation of the mechanical unit; a drain line coupled to the drip pan to drain collected condensation; and a drain line, anti-contaminant device coupled to the drain line to deter growth of mold and algae within the drain line.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the anti-contaminant device comprises; a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent; a housing inlet coupled to the drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit; and a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH.sup.-] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5