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US 12,180,098 B2Granted
Method and device for limiting algae growth in condensate drain lines
AssigneeAlways Clear, LLC
InventorWilliam Herbkersman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device insertable inline in a condensation drain line for preventing algae “plugs” from forming in the drain line. The device has an inlet, an outlet and a reaction chamber therebetween. A charge of algaecide is positioned with respect to the floor of the reaction chamber in a feed channel so that, as condensate enters the inlet of the reaction chamber and is diverted toward the algaecide the algae in the condensate can be killed. Additional flow diverters apply backflow to retain the condensate in contact with the algaecide momentarily before the condensate exist the device and is discharged to the environment.
Claims21
A device, comprising:
- a reaction chamber having a floor, an inlet wall, an outlet wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the floor, the inlet wall, the outlet wall and the first side wall and second side wall define an interior of said reaction chamber;
- a chamber inlet defined in the inlet wall of the reaction chamber adapted to provide a flow of condensate from outside said inlet wall to enter the reaction chamber;
- a chamber outlet defined in said outlet wall and leading out of said reaction chamber, said chamber outlet being spaced apart from said chamber inlet, said floor of said reaction chamber being between said chamber inlet and said chamber outlet, said chamber inlet and said chamber outlet of said reaction chamber being dimensioned to connect to a condensate inlet line and a condensate outlet line for receiving said flow of condensate into said chamber inlet, said flow of condensate continuing across said floor of said reaction chamber, and out of said chamber outlet;
- an algaecide disposed in said reaction chamber and positioned with respect to said floor of said reaction chamber to interact with said condensate entering said reaction chamber via said chamber inlet and flowing across said floor of said reaction chamber from said chamber inlet to said chamber outlet;
- first inlet flow diverter and a second inlet flow diverter, each being positioned to direct movement of said flow of condensate toward a mid-point of a first side of said algaecide;
- and,
- an outlet flow diverter affixed to said floor of said reaction chamber so that said outlet flow diverter is disposed between said algicide and said chamber outlet, wherein said outlet flow diverter has a width that is less than the diameter of the chamber outlet and said outlet flow diverter is positioned within said reaction chamber so that said width does not extend past said chamber outlet and does not touch said first side wall and said second sidewall so that condensate that flows past said outlet flow diverter may flow into said chamber outlet without obstruction by said outlet wall.
4 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a reaction chamber having a floor, a first side wall, a second side wall and an outlet wall;
- a chamber inlet defined in said reaction chamber positioned at a first distance above the floor;
- a chamber outlet defined in said reaction chamber positioned at a second distance above the floor wherein the first distance is higher than the second distance and a first flow into the reaction chamber from the chamber inlet is parallel to a second flow out of the reaction chamber through the chamber outlet;
- an algaecide positioned in said reaction chamber and adapted to interact with a condensate entering said reaction chamber flowing across said floor;
- an inlet flow diverter disposed under the chamber inlet that is positioned adjacent to the chamber inlet so that said inlet flow diverter directs movement of said condensate toward a mid-point of a first side of said algaecide;
- and,
- an outlet flow diverter attached to the reaction chamber and does not touch both said first side wall and said second side wall and has a width that is less than the width of said outlet wall, said outlet flow diverter being positioned adjacent to said chamber outlet and adapted to direct at least a portion of said second flow of the condensate away from said chamber outlet.
4 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a reaction chamber having a floor and a side wall;
- a chamber inlet defined in said reaction chamber operatively associated with an inlet flow diverter, said inlet flow diverter being attached to the reaction chamber and completely disposed under the chamber inlet, wherein said inlet flow diverter has a long axis that is perpendicular to said floor and is positioned so that the angle between said long axis and said flow of condensate from said chamber inlet not perpendicular so that said inlet flow diverter funnels said flow of condensate toward an algaecide disposed in said reaction chamber;
- and,
- a chamber outlet defined in said reaction chamber operatively associated with an outlet flow diverter that does not touch said side wall so that said outlet flow diverter obstructs at least a central portion of said chamber outlet and directs at least a portion of said flow of condensate away from said central portion of said chamber outlet.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.