Condensate bypass apparatus

An exhaust system for removing a radon containing gaseous fluid comprising:

• an exhaust fan apparatus comprising a housing having an exhaust port and a suction port and enclosing a fan, wherein the operation of said fan draws a gaseous fluid into said suction port and expels said gaseous fluid from said exhaust port;
• a cylindrical suction conduit comprising a hollow interior, a first open end, and at least one other open end, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and each of said at least one other open ends, said suction pipe being otherwise substantially airtight, wherein said first open end is substantially airtightly coupled with said suction port and each of said at least one other open ends is located proximate to said gaseous fluid so that said gaseous fluid is conducted by operation of said fan from each of said at least one other open ends of said suction conduit through said suction conduit to said suction port;
• a cylindrical exhaust conduit comprising a hollow interior, a first open end, at least one other open end, and an inner surface, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and each of said at least one other open ends, said exhaust pipe being otherwise substantially airtight, wherein said first open end is substantially airtightly coupled to said exhaust port each of said at least one other open ends is located at a predetermined level above ground level so that said gaseous fluid is conducted by operation of said fan from said exhaust port through said exhaust conduit to each of said at least one other open ends of said exhaust conduit;
• a condensate trap located within said exhaust conduit, said condensate trap comprising a first open end having a first diameter, a second open end having a second diameter, and a continuous hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, wherein said first diameter of said first open end is less than said second diameter of said second open end and said condensate trap has a conically-shaped sloping outer surface, said second diameter being dimensioned to fit within said exhaust conduit, said second open end of said condensate trap being arranged within said exhaust conduit in a manner forming a gutter comprising said inner surface of said exhaust conduit and said sloping outer surface of said condensate trap, with the axis of said condensate trap substantially coincident with the axis of said exhaust conduit, said gutter positioned to collect condensate which may drain within said exhaust conduit;
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• a bypass tube comprising a hollow interior having a first open end and a second open end, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, said first open end of said bypass tube communicating through said exhaust conduit to said hollow interior thereof immediately adjacent to said conical surface of said condensate trap and within said gutter, and said second open end of said bypass tube communicating through said suction conduit to said hollow interior thereof in a manner bypassing said exhaust fan, whereby said condensate may be received from said gutter by said bypass tube and conducted through said bypass tube into said suction conduit.

A condensate trap apparatus for collecting condensate which drains within an exhaust system comprising:

• a cylindrical flexible coupling comprising a hollow interior having an inner surface, a first open end, and a second open end, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end;
• a condensate trap located within said flexible coupling, said condensate trap comprising a first open end having a first diameter, a second open end having a second diameter, and a continuous hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, wherein said first diameter of said first open end is less than said second diameter of said second open end and said condensate trap has a conically-shaped sloping outer surface, said second diameter being dimensioned to fit within said flexible coupling, said second open end of said condensate trap being arranged within said flexible coupling in a manner forming a gutter comprising said inner surface of said flexible coupling and said sloping outer surface of said condensate trap, with the axis of said condensate trap substantially coincident with the axis of said flexible coupling, said gutter positioned to collect condensate which may drain within said flexible coupling;
• and
• a bypass tube comprising a hollow interior having a first open end and a second open end, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, said first open end of said bypass tube communicating through said flexible coupling to said hollow interior thereof immediately adjacent to said conical surface of said condensate trap and within said gutter, whereby said condensate may be received from said gutter by said first open end of said bypass tube and conducted through said bypass tube until emerging from said second open end of said bypass tube.

A condensate trap apparatus for collecting condensate which drains within an exhaust system comprising:

• a cylindrical rigid coupling comprising a hollow interior having an inner surface, a first open end, a second open end, and an annular member protruding from said inner surface into said hollow interior, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end;
• a condensate trap located within said rigid coupling, said condensate trap comprising a first open end having a first diameter, a second open end having a second diameter, and a continuous hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, wherein said first diameter of said first open end is less than said second diameter of said second open end and said condensate trap has a conically-shaped sloping outer surface, said second diameter being dimensioned to fit within said rigid coupling, said second open end of said condensate trap being arranged within said rigid coupling in a manner forming a gutter comprising said inner surface of said rigid coupling and said sloping outer surface of said condensate trap, with the axis of said condensate trap substantially coincident with the axis of said rigid coupling, said gutter positioned to collect condensate which may drain within said rigid coupling;
• and
• a bypass tube comprising a hollow interior having a first open end and a second open end, said hollow interior communicating between said first open end and said second open end, said first open end of said bypass tube communicating through said rigid coupling to said hollow interior thereof immediately adjacent to said conical surface of said condensate trap and within said gutter, whereby said condensate may be received from said gutter by said first open end of said bypass tube and conducted through said