초록

A condensate overflow prevention assembly prevents condensate overflow in an air cooling system using a fluid level sensor and a pump activated by the fluid level sensor to pump the condensate away from a drainage system when a blockage occurs in the drainage system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:a hollow body having an inlet that is attachable to a condensate drainage system;a fluid level sensor coupled to the hollow body, at least a portion of the sensor located within the hollow body, the sensor sensing a fluid level within the holl

1. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:a hollow body having an inlet that is attachable to a condensate drainage system;a fluid level sensor coupled to the hollow body, at least a portion of the sensor located within the hollow body, the sensor sensing a fluid level within the hollow body; anda pump coupled to the hollow body, the pump is activated by the sensor to pump the fluid from the hollow body and the drainage system when the sensor senses a predetermined level of the fluid in the hollow body that is indicative of a blockage in a drainage flow path of the drainage system.2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a tube having a first end coupled to the pump and a second end located within the hollow body.3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a tube having a first end coupled to the pump, at least a portion of the tube located within the hollow body, and having a second end that extends out through the inlet of the hollow body for location within the drainage system.4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a tube having a first end coupled to the pump, the tube is located external of the hollow body.5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:a clip that clips the tube to a side of a drain pan of the drainage system such that a portion of the tube that includes a second end of the tube can be placed inside the drain pan.6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tube has a second end attachable to a condensator drain pan outlet of the drain pan.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is attached to a surface of the hollow body and pumps fluid directly from within the hollow body.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the senor includes a float coupled to a switch that activates the pump when the float, which is located within the hollow body, reaches a predetermined level in the hollow body.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a probe having at least two contacts, the probe conducts electrically when the fluid makes contact with the at least two contacts.10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a timer coupled to the pump, and that sets a time interval during which the pump operates.11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises an annunciator coupled to the sensor and that is activated by the sensor when the predetermined level of the fluid is sensed by the sensor.12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the annunciator is wirelessly coupled to the sensor.13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a second pump, coupled to the hollow body, to pump at least one chemical into the drainage system to remove or prevent the blockage in the drainage system.14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow body further comprises an outlet.15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:a cap that removably covers the outlet.16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is threaded.17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is transparent.18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is externally attachable to a drain pan of the condensate drainage system.19. An air-handling system comprising:an air cooling system that generates condensate;a condensate drainage system that collects the condensate produced by the air cooling system and drains the condensate through a first drain line; andthe condensate overflow prevention apparatus of claim 1, coupled to the condensate drainage system, wherein the pump pumps the condensate from the condensate drainage system to a second drain line when the sensor activates the pump.20. The system of claim 19, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is attached to an outlet of a drain pan included in the condensate drainage system.21. The system of claim 19, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is attached to the first drain line of the condensate drainage system.22. The system of claim 19, wherein the inlet of the hollow body is attached upstream of a fluid-trap provided in the condensate drainage system.23. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:a hollow body having a first open end that is attachable to a condensate drainage system;a tube having a first end that extends out through the first open end of the hollow body;a sensor having a sensing portion located at the first end of the tube; anda pump coupled to the hollow body and that is activated by the sensor to pump fluid away from the condensate drainage system when the sensor senses a predetermined level of the fluid that is indicative of a blockage in a drainage flow path of the condensate drainage system, the pump is in fluid communication with the tube.24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the pump is located within the hollow body and is connected to a second end of the tube.25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the pump is located external of the hollow body and is connected to a second end of the tube that protrudes from a second open end of the hollow body.26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensor includes at least two contacts, and conducts electricity when the fluid makes contact with the at least two contacts.27. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a timer coupled to the pump and that sets a time interval during which the pump operates.28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising an annunciator coupled to the sensor and that is activated by the sensor when the fluid is sensed by the sensor.29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the annunciator is wirelessly coupled to the sensor.30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:a second pump coupled to the hollow body to pump at least one chemical into the condensate drainage system to remove or prevent the blockage in the condensate drainage system.31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is externally attachable to the condensate drainage system.32. A system comprising:an air conditioner/heat pump;a condensate conduit attached to a first drain line, the condensate conduit channeling condensate produced by the air conditioner/heat pump to the first drain line; andthe condensate overflow prevention apparatus of claim 19, coupled to the condensate conduit, wherein the pump pumps the condensate from the condensate conduit to a second drain line when the sensor activates the pump.33. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:a hollow body having an inlet that is attachable to a condensate drainage system;a fluid level sensor coupled to the hollow body, at least a portion of the sensor located within the hollow body, the sensor sensing a fluid level within the hollow body; anda reversible type pump coupled to the hollow body, wherein in a first mode, the pump is activated by the sensor to pump the fluid from the hollow body and the drainage system when the sensor senses a predetermined level of the fluid in the hollow body, and in a second mode, the pump is activated to pump a cleaning chemical into the drainage system through the hollow body.34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:a timer that activates the pump to pump the cleaning chemical into the drainage system.35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus is externally attachable to a drain pan of the condensate drainage system.36. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:a hollow body having an inlet that is attachable to a condensate drainage system;a tube having a first end that extends out through the inlet of the hollow body;a sensor having a sensing portion located at the first end of the tube; anda reversible pump coupled to the hollow body, wherein in a first mode, the pump is activated by the sensor to pump fluid away from the condensate drainage system when the sensor senses the fluid, the pump is in fluid communication with the tube, and in a second mode, the pump is activated to pump a cleaning chemical into the condensate drainage system.37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:a timer that activates the pump to pump the cleaning chemical to the drainage system.38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the apparatus is externally attachable to a drain pan of the condensate drainage system.39. A condensate overflow prevention apparatus comprising:sensing means for sensing that a blockage has occurred in a condensate drainage system, the blockage causing a level of fluid in the condensate drainage system to rise; andpumping means for pumping fluid from the condensate drainage system via an overflow fluid path if the sensing means senses the blockage.40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising alarm means for annunciating that the blockage has occurred.