US 6,584,995 B2Granted

HVAC enviro-clean valve

OwnerAtwood M. Kimbrough, Carl Brian Kimbroughinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Currently, there are no products available which allow a user to treat microbial and bacterial growth inside a HVAC condensate drain line or clear a clogged line without cutting into the drain line. Our valve is an in-line condensate drain line valve that can be installed easily, quickly and economically, either during new construction or onto existing HVAC systems. The HVAC user can add household bleach to the condensate line, which inhibits microbial and bacterial growth without cutting into or disassembling the drain line. The design of our valve allows the user to perform safe routine maintenance to the HVAC drainage system without having to resort to expensive and repetitive service call repairs over the lifetime of the HVAC system. The valve is further designed to prevent undesirable reverse airflows into the HVAC system and home or building, caused by a dry water trap in the condensate drain. The prevention of reverse airflows and reduction of microbial and bacterial growth will have a positive impact of Indoor Air Quality.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A plastic flow control device attached to a HVAC unit and connected to a condensate drain line for sanitizing the condensate line and removal of blockages within the drain line by the introduction of compressed air into the line, and is comprised of

an inlet port of the flow control device having one end connected to a condensate outlet port of the HVAC unit;
an outlet port of the flow control device having the other end connected to an upstream end of the condensate line;
a cleaning port of the flow control device, adapted to allow the introduction of a cleaning fluid for sanitizing and removal of any blockages or microbial growth within the condensate line,
a flushing port of the flow control device, adapted to allow an outside compressed air source to be introduced, for the purpose of flushing any blockages or microbial growth within the condensate line;
and
a single internal check valve disposed between the cleaning port and the flushing port within the flow control device for the purpose of directing compressed air flow therein and simultaneously preventing reverse compressed air and reverse fluid flow into the HVAC unit, whereby during normal operation the check valve is allowed to open freely when fluid flows from the HVAC unit and/or when the cleaning fluid is added through the cleaning port to the condensate line.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/897,557Filed 3 Jul 2001
Published: US 2003/0010381 A116 Jan 2003
Granted: 1 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B08B 9/032
Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages: by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing
A61L 2/18
Using chemical substances: liquid substances
F24F 13/222
Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate: for evacuating condensate
F24F 2221/225
Cleaning ducts or apparatus: using a liquid