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US 12,397,329 B2Granted
Drain cleaner apparatus
AssigneeIflo LLC
InventorJoseph McDonnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus configured to dispense a cleaner composition includes an apparatus outlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the apparatus, a dispenser device configured to be operated to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition through the apparatus outlet, and a controller configured to operate the dispenser device to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet without manual intervention. The apparatus is configured to be electrically connected with a float switch concurrently with dispensing the cleaning composition, and the apparatus is configured to cause at least a portion of an air conditioning system to shut down in response to receiving a signal generated by the float switch.
Claims14
A system for dispensing a cleaning composition into a condensate drain line of an air handler of an air conditioning system, the system comprising:
- a first apparatus configured to dispense the cleaning composition, the first apparatus including
- an apparatus outlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the first apparatus,
- a pump configured to operate to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition through the apparatus outlet,
- a power supply configured to supply power supply electrical power, the power supply including a battery and a wired power connection, and
- a controller configured to operate the pump based on the power supply electrical power from the power supply to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet;
- and
- a dispenser conduit having a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end, the dispenser conduit coupled at the first end to the apparatus outlet and in fluid communication at the second end with the condensate drain line, such that the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus is in fluid communication with an interior of the condensate drain line through at least the dispenser conduit,
- wherein the wired power connection is electrically coupled to the air handler and is configured to receive air handler electrical power from the air handler.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a first apparatus configured to dispense a cleaning composition, the first apparatus including
- an apparatus outlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the first apparatus,
- a pump configured to operate to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition through the apparatus outlet,
- a power supply configured to supply power supply electrical power, the power supply including a battery and a wired power connection, and
- a controller configured to operate the pump based on the power supply electrical power from the power supply to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet;
- coupling a first end of a dispenser conduit to the apparatus outlet and positioning a second end of the dispenser conduit in fluid communication with a condensate drain line of an air conditioning system, such that the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus is in fluid communication with an interior of the condensate drain line through at least the dispenser conduit;
- and
- electrically coupling the wired power connection of the first apparatus to an air handler of the air conditioning system, the wired power connection configured to receive air handler electrical power from the air handler.
5 more elements
A system for dispensing a cleaning composition into a condensate drain line of an air handler of an air conditioning system, the system comprising:
- a first apparatus configured to dispense the cleaning composition, the first apparatus including
- an apparatus outlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the first apparatus,
- a pump configured to operate to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition through the apparatus outlet, and
- a controller configured to operate the pump to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet;
- a dispenser conduit having a first end and a second end, the dispenser conduit coupled at the first end to the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus, wherein the dispenser conduit is a flexible tube that is configured to enable the first apparatus to be adjustably positioned in relation to an opening of the condensate drain line;
- and
- a second apparatus coupled with the condensate drain line, the second apparatus including a rigid cylindrical structure extending at least into the opening of the condensate drain line, the second apparatus coupled with the second end of the dispenser conduit to establish fluid communication between the second end of the dispenser conduit and an interior of the condensate drain line through the second apparatus, such that the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus is in fluid communication with the condensate drain line through at least the flexible tube and the rigid cylindrical structure,
- wherein the flexible tube has a first flexible tube end and an opposite second flexible tube end, the first flexible tube end coupled to the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus, the opposite second flexible tube end coupled to the second apparatus, such that
- the opposite second flexible tube end is in fluid communication with the interior of the condensate drain line through the second apparatus, and
- the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus is in fluid communication with the condensate drain line through at least the flexible tube and the rigid cylindrical structure.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a first apparatus configured to dispense a cleaning composition, the first apparatus including
- an apparatus outlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the first apparatus,
- a pump configured to operate to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition through the apparatus outlet, and
- a controller configured to operate the pump to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet;
- coupling a second apparatus with a condensate drain line of an air handler of an air conditioning system, the second apparatus including a rigid cylindrical structure, the coupling the second apparatus with the condensate drain line including causing the rigid cylindrical structure to extend at least into an opening of the condensate drain line;
- and
- coupling a first flexible tube end of a flexible tube to the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus and coupling an opposite second flexible tube end of the flexible tube to the second apparatus, such that
- the opposite second flexible tube end of the flexible tube is in fluid communication with an interior of the condensate drain line through the second apparatus, and
- the apparatus outlet of the first apparatus is in fluid communication with the condensate drain line through at least the flexible tube and the rigid cylindrical structure.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.