Air conditioner water treatment and overflow prevention system
OwnerChandler Fairleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-contained apparatus designed to treat condensate produced by an air conditioner and to prevent overflow of condensate from an air conditioner condensate drain pan is provided. The apparatus has an enclosure that includes a plumbing trap, a compartment that holds a chemical that treats condensate from the drain pan, and a reservoir that holds treated condensate. A pump transfers treated condensate from the reservoir back to the drain pan to prevent the growth of microorganisms in the drain pan and associated piping. Condensate may gravity flow from the apparatus to a drain line or may be pumped to the drain line.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure having a wet side and a dry side, wherein the wet side has a water inlet and a water outlet;
- a plumbing trap disposed within the wet side of the enclosure;
- a compartment disposed within the wet side of the enclosure in a position downstream of the plumbing trap, wherein the compartment has a perforated bottom to allow water to flow out of the bottom of the compartment;
- a reservoir disposed within the wet side of the enclosure in a position below the compartment, wherein the reservoir is partially defined by an overflow wall, wherein the water outlet is disposed at a lower end of the wet side of the enclosure on an opposite side of the overflow wall from the reservoir;
- a pump disposed within the dry side of the enclosure, wherein the pump is configured to pump water from the reservoir to a discharge location that is external to the enclosure;
- a battery disposed within the dry side of the enclosure, wherein the battery is configured to supply power to the pump;
- a water level sensor configured to detect a water level within the reservoir;
- and
- a controller configured to control operation of the pump based at least in part on input from the water level sensor.
An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure having a water inlet and a water outlet;
- a plumbing trap disposed within the enclosure;
- a compartment disposed within the enclosure in a position downstream of the plumbing trap, wherein the compartment has a perforated bottom to allow water to flow out of the bottom of the compartment;
- a reservoir disposed within the enclosure in a position below the compartment, wherein the reservoir is partially defined by an overflow wall, wherein the water outlet is disposed at a lower end of the enclosure on an opposite side of the overflow wall from the reservoir;
- a pump configured to pump water from the reservoir to a discharge location that is external to the enclosure.
An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure having a water inlet and a water outlet;
- a plumbing trap disposed within the enclosure;
- a compartment disposed within the enclosure in a position downstream of the plumbing trap, wherein the compartment has a perforated bottom to allow water to flow out of the bottom of the compartment;
- a reservoir disposed within the enclosure in a position below the compartment;
- a first pump configured to pump water from the reservoir to a drain pan of an air conditioning unit;
- a second pump configured to pump water from the reservoir to a drain line;
- a water level sensor configured to detect a water level within the reservoir;
- a controller configured to control operation of at least the second pump based at least in part on input from the level sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.