IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0006325
(2007-12-31)
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등록번호 |
US-7857004
(2011-02-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
Automated condensate drain line cleaning apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a controller, a fluid supply line, and at least one fluid flow regulation device. The at least one fluid flow regulation device may be electrically coupled with the controller to receive at leas
Automated condensate drain line cleaning apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a controller, a fluid supply line, and at least one fluid flow regulation device. The at least one fluid flow regulation device may be electrically coupled with the controller to receive at least one control signal from the controller. The at least one fluid flow regulation device may cause a fluid to flow into a condensate drain line through the fluid supply line responsive to the at least one control signal. Other apparatus as well as methods and kits are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a controller; a fluid supply line, wherein the fluid supply line comprises a water supply line coupled with a source of pressurized municipal water; and at least one fluid flow regulation device electrically coupled with the controller to receive at l
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a controller; a fluid supply line, wherein the fluid supply line comprises a water supply line coupled with a source of pressurized municipal water; and at least one fluid flow regulation device electrically coupled with the controller to receive at least one control signal from the controller, wherein the at least one fluid flow regulation device comprises a first water supply control valve in-line on the water supply line, the first water supply control valve to at least partially open to cause water to flow into a condensate drain line through the water fluid supply line from the source of the pressurized water responsive to the at least one control signal. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flow restriction device coupled with the water supply line and that is operable to prevent the water from the water supply line from damaging a component downstream from the flow restriction device. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flow restriction device comprises a constriction one of an orifice and a valve. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises logic to determine a time to provide the at least one control signal to the at least one fluid flow regulation device based on at least one of: an amount of air conditioner operating time since a last automated introduction of water into the condensate drain line; a duty cycle since the last automated introduction of the water into the condensate drain line; a number of air conditioning on-off cycles since the last automated introduction of the water into the condensate drain line; a sensed level of condensate in a condensate drain pan; information received from a network. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises logic to wait for at least one criteria to be satisfied before causing the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line, and wherein the at least one criteria comprises an air conditioner shutting off. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises logic to provide at least one signal to an external system that is selected from a thermostat, a home control system, a computer system coupled by a local area network, and a computer system coupled through the Internet, wherein the at least one signal is operable to indicate at least one of: (1) that the controller just caused the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line; and (2) a time when the controller will next cause the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anti-microbial surface coating on an inside surface of the condensate drain line. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user input device electrically coupled with the controller to allow a user to cause the controller to provide the at least one control signal to the at least one fluid flow regulation device. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, and coupled to sense a pressure of the fluid from the at least one fluid flow regulation device, wherein the controller is to control the at least one fluid flow regulation device based, at least in part, on the sensed pressure. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water supply line is coupled with one of a faucet and a spigot. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water supply line is coupled with the source of the pressurized municipal water by at least one of a hose and pipe. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a check valve in-line on the condensate drain line and disposed between a drain pan and a point where the water from the water supply line is introduced into the condensate drain line. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user input device is on or near a thermostat and wherein the controller is electrically coupled with the thermostat. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an external system coupled with the controller, wherein the external system is selected from a thermostat, a home control system, a computer system, and an air conditioner monitoring system coupled to the controller by a network, and wherein the controller is operable to signal the external system to indicate at least one of that the controller just controlled fluid to be introduced into the condensate drain line, and a time when the controller will next control fluid to be introduced into the condensate drain line. 15. A kit comprising: a controller; at least one fluid flow regulation device capable of being electrically coupled with the controller, wherein the at least one fluid flow regulation device comprises a water supply control valve; instructions to couple the water supply control valve with a condensate drain line through a path coupled with a source of pressurized municipal water so that the water supply control valve is operable to cause water to flow into the condensate drain line responsive to at least one control signal received from the controller from the source of the pressurized municipal water. 16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a check valve and wherein the instructions include instructions to couple the check valve in-line on the condensate drain line at a point between a drain pan and a point where the water from the source of the pressurized municipal water is to be flowed into the drain line. 17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the source of the pressurized municipal water comprises one of a faucet and a spigot. 18. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a flow restriction device, and wherein the instructions comprise instructions to couple the flow restriction device in the path, and wherein the flow restriction device comprises constriction orifice. 19. The kit of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises logic to determine a time to provide the at least one control signal to the at least one fluid flow regulation device based on at least one of: an amount of air conditioner operating time since a last automated introduction of water into the condensate drain line; a duty cycle since the last automated introduction of the water into the condensate drain line; a number of air conditioning on-off cycles since the last automated introduction of the water into the condensate drain line; a sensed level of condensate in a condensate drain pan; information received from a network. 20. The kit of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises logic to wait for at least one criteria to be satisfied before causing the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line and wherein the at least one criteria comprises an air conditioner shutting off. 21. The kit of claim 15, further comprising at least one user input device selected from at least one button, at least one switch, at least one knob, and at least one dial, and wherein the at least one user input device is operable to be electrically coupled with the controller to allow a user to control when the controller provides the at least one control signal to the at least one fluid flow regulation device. 22. The kit of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises logic to provide at least one signal to an external system that is selected from a thermostat, a home control system, a computer system coupled by a local area network, and a computer system coupled through the Internet, wherein the at least one signal is operable to indicate at least one of: (1) that the controller just caused the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line; and (2) a time when the controller will next cause the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line. 23. The kit of claim 15, further comprising an antimicrobial agent to be applied to the condensate drain line. 24. An apparatus comprising: a vehicle having an onboard air compressor; and an automated condensate drain line cleaning system for the vehicle, the automated condensate drain line cleaning system including: a controller; at least one fluid flow regulation device electrically coupled with the controller to receive at least one control signal from the controller, the at least one fluid flow regulation device coupled with a path from the onboard air compressor of the vehicle to a condensate drain line, the at least one fluid flow regulation device to cause air from the onboard air compressor of the vehicle to flow into the condensate drain line responsive to the at least one control signal. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the onboard air compressor is a conventional onboard air compressor for a vehicle. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller is electrically coupled with an electrical system of the vehicle. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller comprises logic to determine a time to provide the at least one control signal based on at least one of: an amount of air conditioner operating time since a last cleaning of the condensate drain line; a duty cycle since the last cleaning of the condensate drain line; a number of air conditioning on-off cycles since the cleaning of the condensate drain line; and a sensed level of condensate in a condensate drain pan. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller comprises logic to wait for at least one criteria to be satisfied before causing the fluid to flow into the condensate drain line, and wherein the at least one criteria comprises an air conditioner of the vehicle shutting off. 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the vehicle comprises one of a car, a truck, a motorcycle, an industrial vehicle, an airplane, and a tank.
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