# US 11,297,986 B2 · Cleaning device for compact heating and/or cooling units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,986 B2 - Document ID: US11297986B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/121,460 - Filed: 2020-12-14 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-12 - Assignees: Net Building Services, LLC - Applicants: NET Building Services, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Clayton Towberman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297986B2 ## CPC - B08B 15/04: from a small area, e.g. a tool {(removing chips B23Q11/0042)} - A47L 9/0693: {Specially shaped nozzles, e.g. for cleaning radiators, tubes, fans or the like; Dusters} - B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} - B08B 5/04: Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action - F28G 1/166: {from external surfaces of heat exchange conduits} - F28G 15/02: Supports for cleaning appliances, e.g. frames - F24F 2221/22: Cleaning ducts or apparatus - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A cleaning device for a compact HVAC unit includes a flexible belt, and a collection element attached to the flexible belt at a first end of the belt. The collection element and the belt form a collection area therebetween, and wherein the collection element has a port therein at the first end of the belt, the port configured to remove debris collected in the collection area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning device for a compact HVAC unit, comprising: a flexible elongate flat belt extending from a first end to a second end; a collection element attached to the flexible elongate flat belt at the first end of the belt; wherein the collection element and the elongate flat sheet-shaped belt form a collection area therebetween, and wherein the collection element has a port therein at the first end of the belt, the port configured to remove debris collected in the collection area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate flat belt has a bent end portion at the second end of the belt opposite from the collection element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the bent end portion is bent in a direction toward the collection element to form a deflection portion that assists in introducing the cleaning device into compact HVAC unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the elongate flat belt includes a first notch to assist in alignment of the cleaning device in an interior of the HVAC unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cleaning device of claim 4, wherein collection element includes a second notch positioned near the port and configured to engage an interior wall portion of the HVAC unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate flat belt comprises an aluminum belt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the collection area is a pocket into which debris is blown. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the port is configured to attach to an external vacuum to allow suction of debris from the collection area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the port is positioned to be at a bottom of the cleaning device when installed for cleaning of the HVAC unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the collection element has a v-shaped notch distal to the port, wherein an open end of the v-shape is directed toward the second end of the belt. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: inserting a cleaning device between a wall and a condenser coil of an HVAC unit, the cleaning device comprising an elongate flat belt that wraps at least partially around the condenser coil, a collection element on the elongate flat belt to collect debris, and a vacuum port configured to remove collected debris from the collection element; blowing debris collected in the HVAC unit toward the collection element along the elongate flat belt; and removing collected debris with the vacuum port and an external vacuum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein inserting comprises inserting at one end of a condenser coil of the HVAC unit and introducing the elongate flat belt around the condenser coil to an opposite side of the HVAC unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum port is positioned at a low part of the HVAC unit for cleaning. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein blowing debris is performed from an end of the cleaning device opposite the vacuum port, toward the collection element and the vacuum port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the collection element and the elongate flat belt form a pocket for collecting debris, and wherein removing collected debris comprises vacuuming the collected debris from the pocket. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: inserting a cleaning device having an elongate flat flexible belt, a debris collection area, and a debris removal port, between a wall and a condenser coil of an HVAC unit; blowing debris collected in the HVAC unit along the elongate flat flexible belt toward the debris collection area; and removing the debris collected in the debris collection area via the debris removal port and an external vacuum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein inserting comprises inserting at one end of a condenser coil of the HVAC unit and introducing the elongate flat flexible belt around the condenser coil to an opposite side of the HVAC unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the debris removal port is positioned at a low part of the HVAC unit for cleaning. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein blowing debris is performed from an end of the cleaning device opposite the debris removal port, toward the debris collection area and the debris removal port. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the debris collection area and the elongate flat flexible belt form a pocket for collecting debris, and wherein removing collected debris comprises vacuuming the collected debris from the pocket via the debris removal port.