Chemical delivery system for AC drain line

Abstract

A chemical delivery system is provided. The chemical delivery system includes a strand of material having a plurality of chemical delivery tablets secured thereto. The strand of material can be inserted into a drain pipe opening and retained within the drain pipe by a retention disc and/or a removable cap. The chemical delivery tablets are measurably consumed as fluid or other condensate material flows through the drain pipe. The strand of material may then be readily replaced with a new strand on a period basis without necessitating disassembly of the pipe thereby preventing growth of algae or other organic material in the drain pipe.

Claims

1. A chemical delivery system for an air conditioning unit drainage line, comprising: a retention disc having a flat annular surface which is sized to be received within a closure, the retention disc having a central area disposed between the flat annular surface, the central area affixed to a strand of material; the strand of material having a plurality of chemical delivery tablets, each of the chemical delivery tablets affixed to the strand of material to prevent translation along the strand of material; a lid having an annular top wall and depending side wall, the retention disc received within the depending side wall; wherein the strand of material depends away from the lid and the retention disc to which it is secured; wherein the strand of material has a plurality of baskets, each of the plurality of baskets affixed to the strand of material and receiving a respective one of the chemical delivery tablets.

2. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the strand of material is affixed to the retention disc by an adhesive.

3. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the strand of material is mechanically affixed to the retention disc.

4. The chemical delivery system of claim 3 wherein the retention disc has an aperture, the strand retained on the retention disc by the strand extending through the aperture.

5. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the lid has at least one helical thread on an interior surface of the depending side wall.

6. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the lid has at least one inbound lug formed on an interior surface of the depending side wall.

7. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the chemical delivery tablets are bonded to the strand of material.

8. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 further including a Y-shaped connector, the Y-shaped connector having a first entry aperture, a second entry aperture and an output aperture.

9. The chemical delivery system of claim 8 wherein the lid is removably connected to the first entry aperture, the retention disc interposed between the lid and a surface of the first entry aperture.

10. The chemical delivery system of claim 1 wherein the retention disc and the closure are integrated.

11. A chemical delivery system for an air conditioning unit drainage line, comprising: a retention disc having a flat annular surface which is sized to be received within a closure, the retention disc having a central area disposed between the flat annular surface, the central area affixed to a strand of material; the strand of material having a plurality of chemical delivery tablets, each of the chemical delivery tablets affixed to the strand of material to prevent translation along the strand of material; a lid having an annular top wall and depending side wall, the retention disc received within the depending side wall; wherein the strand of material depends away from the lid and the retention disc to which it is secured; wherein the strand of material has a plurality of securing tabs, each of the securing tabs positioned adjacent to a respective chemical delivery tablet.

12. The chemical delivery system of claim 11 wherein the retention disc and the closure are integrated.

13. A chemical delivery system for an air conditioning unit drainage line, comprising: a retention disc having a flat annular surface, the retention disc having a central area disposed between the flat annular surface; a flexible chemical delivery strand of material extending from the retention disc; the chemical delivery strand supporting a plurality of chemical delivery tablets, wherein each of the chemical delivery tablets is prevented from translation along the chemical delivery strand; wherein the chemical delivery strand has a plurality of baskets, each of the plurality of baskets affixed to the chemical delivery strand and receiving a respective one of the chemical delivery tablets.

14. The chemical delivery system of claim 13 wherein the retention disc flat annular surface surrounds a rotational tab formed at an end of the strand of material adjacent the retention disc.

15. The chemical delivery system of claim 13 wherein the retention disc flat annular surface and the central area are on a different elevational plane.

16. The chemical delivery system of claim 13 wherein a fixture at the end of the chemical delivery strand is a ball type formation.

17. The chemical delivery system of claim 13 including a fixture at the end of the chemical delivery strand to aid in negotiating insertion of the flexible chemical delivery strand into a drainage pipe.

18. The chemical delivery system of claim 17 wherein the fixture extends outward and away at a predefined angle from an elbow formed in the chemical delivery strand.

19. The chemical delivery system of claim 14 including a removable lid which retains the rotational tab.

20. The chemical delivery system of claim 19 wherein the retention disc and the removable lid are integrated.

21. A chemical delivery system for an air conditioning unit drainage line, comprising: a retention disc having a flat annular surface, the retention disc having a central area disposed between the flat annular surface; a flexible chemical delivery strand of material extending from the retention disc; the chemical delivery strand supporting a plurality of chemical delivery tablets, wherein each of the chemical delivery tablets is prevented from translation along the chemical delivery strand; wherein the chemical delivery strand has a plurality of securing tabs, each of the securing tabs positioned adjacent to a respective chemical delivery tablet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a chemical delivery system in which a strand of material is depicted with a cap and retention disc for insertion into a drainage pipe.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates the chemical delivery system inserted into a drainage pipe and extending down into the pipe from the illustrated example of FIG. 1, and a secondary example of chemical holding and retention structure.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a Y-connect drain pipe into which the strand of material of FIG. 1 can be inserted into one of two entry apertures and wherein the strand can extend down into the pipe.

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 is side view of a secondary retention structure and strand of material for chemical delivery into the drainage pipe.

(5) FIGS. 6A and 6B are alternative cap implementations for the cap of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 7 illustrates an additional example of a chemical delivery strand of material for use herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Some implementations of the technology described herein are directed to installing a removable and replaceable strand of material into a drainage line in order to prevent algae or other growth in the drainage line due to the presence of water or other condensate.

(8) In some of those implementations, chemical delivery system may be utilized to slowly, directly and measurably deliver an anti-growth chemical into a drainage conduit. The delivery system may be slowly consumed by the fluid in the drain pipe and may also be periodically replaced as needed without the requirement of pipe or conduit disassembly. Variations are included herein whereby the chemical material is held in place on the strand of material depending into the drainage pipe by variant mechanisms. The strand of material may be easily removed and replaced with a new strand of material. Regular replacement can ensure that bacterial or other growth is inhibited within the drainage pipe.

(9) With reference to FIGS. 1-7, various implementations of a chemical delivery system to inhibit the growth of algae, eukaryote, bacteria or other growth organisms which can clog a drainage pipe are disclosed. The chemical delivery system 10 disclosed in the various embodiments include a strand or line of material 51 which may be removably inserted and retained within a drainage pipe in a position such that as condensate or other fluid from, for example an air conditioning unit condensate drain, passes by, the delivery system disclosed herein slowly and measurably delivers an anti-growth chemical. In implementations, the strand of material may be inserted into the drain pipe through the use of a Y-connect entry pipe which may be interposed into the drain line of an HVAC unit. Regular replacement of the strand of material containing the chemical delivery material can prevent buildup of dogging growth organisms.

(10) In variations, the chemical delivery system 10 may include portions of the retention disc and chemical delivery strand of material 50 with associated chemical delivery tablets. Such implementations may incorporate features of the baskets, securing tabs or other features alone or in combination. Further, such implementations may include multiple mechanisms for securing the strand 51 to the retention disc 30. However, such delivery system, in implementations, does not necessarily require the cap/closure 20 and/or may include combinations of the cap/closure 20 and retention disc structures and features thereof.

(11) As is disclosed in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a chemical delivery system 10 is displayed wherein a chemical delivery strand 50 extends down from an optional retention disc 30. The chemical delivery strand 50 may include, in implementations, a plurality of spaced chemical tablets 55 or other chemical delivery structures. The strand or line of material 51 may be adhered to the bottom surface of the retention disc 30 and, once installed, extends down into the drainage pipe of an HVAC unit wherein condensation, fluid or other moisture collected from the HVAC unit is allowed to drain. The line or strand of material may, in embodiments, be variations of plastic, thermoplastic or other non-decaying or moisture resistant material.

(12) For example, in various implementations the line or strand of material 51 may be made of nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene, Dacron or other monofilament or multi-filament material.

(13) Periodically spaced along the line of material 51 may be a chemical tablet 55 or other delivery system. The chemical tablet may be, in variations, a solid tablet of chlorine or other growth inhibiting chemical which measurably delivers constituent chemical as water or other fluid passes over the tablet. For example, alternatively or in addition thereto, the chemical tablet 55 may be a hardened reagent tablet that slowly and measurably dissolves as fluid passes thereby. In implementations, the tablet may be a formed tablet which is formed around the strand 50 of material and which is thereby attached thereto. In other implementations, the chemical tablet 55 may have a central aperture and be strung onto the line 51.

(14) In implementations, a securing tab or nodule 59 may be periodically secured to the line 51 and prevent an adjacent chemical tablet from further sliding down the line. alternatively or in addition thereto, a plurality of baskets 510, as shown in FIG. 2, may be utilized to positionally retain the chemical delivery material on the line 51 extending down into the drain pipe. In such modifications, the baskets 510, in the delivery strand 50D, may have a flow the rough aperture or apertures allowing the fluid in the pipe to directly contact the chemical delivery material contained therein. In implementations, the chemical delivery material may be a hardened tablet or may be small tablets or granules such that slow dissolution of the chemical may be delivered into the drainage pipe as a fluid passes over and through the baskets 510.

(15) In variations, baskets 510 may include a plurality of apertures and may be separately openable so that different chemical delivery materials may be utilized in different baskets. Baskets 510 may also engage the strand 51 once dosed by compression or contact in order to maintain their vertical position on the strand once inserted and depending into drainage pipe.

(16) In implementations and in the various embodiments disclosed herein, the tablets may be secured to the strand of material, may be retained in structures affixed to the strand or may abut additional structures on the strand which thereby prevent or restrict translational movement of the tablets along the strand of material. As a result, spacing of the tablets along the strand of material may be maintained as deemed necessary or as optionally implemented in the embodiments. Such implementations and structures for restriction of translational movement may be in addition to, in replacement of or not included within the variations.

(17) In implementations, the chemical delivery tablets may be a form of a chemical reagent that dissolves in the presence of the fluid in the drainage pipe. For example, the chemical delivery tablet may be chlorine. In implementations, the chlorine tablets provide a relatively slow delivery of growth-inhibiting material in to the water or other fluid passing through the drainage pipe. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, bromide or other growth inhibiting material may be utilized for the tablets and or delivery material. In variations, it is desirable to include a material which slowly dissolves in the presence of the drainage fluid, for example condensate from an air conditioning unit, so that a measurable quantity of growth preventative material is deposited into the fluid stream thereby preventing, inhibiting or reducing the growth of such material.

(18) As depicted in the variation of FIG. 1, the chemical delivery strand of material 50 may be attached, affixed or otherwise restrained by a retention disc 30. The retention disc 30 may include a central aperture 35 to hold the line of material 51. Alternatively the line of material 51 may adhered or otherwise affixed to a lower surface of the retention disc central surface 33. Extending around a periphery of the retention disc 30 may be an annular surface 31 which mates against an exposed annular entry aperture surface of the entry pipe 62 for the Y-shaped connector pipe 60. Thus, by securely affixing the chemical delivery strand with the tablets 55 to the retention disc 30, the strand 50 may be fed into the drainage pipe via pipe entry 62 and the plurality of tablets may extend into the main drainage line of the HVAC system, for example. The annular surface 33 may, in implementations, be wider than the entry aperture for entry pipe 62 so that it is supported thereon.

(19) In implementations, the peripheral annular surface 31 and central annular surface 33 may be on the same plane or may be in a stepped differential plane as depicted.

(20) In the implementations of FIGS. 1 and 2, once the retention disc is inserted into the entry pipe 62 of FIG. 2, a cap or other closure 20 may be provided securely restrain the retention disc in place and thereby maintain the position of the chemical delivery tablets 55 down within the drainage pipe. The tablets 55 may be evenly spaced on the line 51 or may be more concentrated in particular locations as needed by the application. The retention disc 30, when used in one embodiment, may be directly affixed to the chemical delivery strand of material 50 and may be entirely replaced on a periodic basis by removal of the lid or closure 20 from the aperture of the entry pipe 62. Thus, the closure 20 may be reused and the retention disc 30 may be replaceable with the chemical delivery strand 50.

(21) Alternatively, in variations, the line of material 51 may be directly adhered to a lower surface of the cap 20 and may or may not rotate with the cap as it is put into place on the entry aperture of the entry pipe 62. Strand of material 51 can be affixed to a disc that is retained on the underside of the cap or closure 20 and may be fixed thereto or may be rotatable within the closure and cooperating structures of the closure.

(22) In some versions of these implementations, the strand of material may be separate from the material of the retention disc and/or the closure 20. Alternatively, the strand of material 51 may made of the same material or integrated with the closure 20, retention disc 30 or in variations thereof. For example, the strand of material may be integrated with the disc 30 so that the disc 30 and the strand 50 with the tablets is removed concurrently as an integrated unit. Alternatively, the strand of material may be integrated only with the closure and may be removed and or replaced with the closure or with a component thereof. For example, the strand of material may be integrated with a rotatable disc which resides in the interior of the closure/cap 20.

(23) The closure/cap may be snap fitted onto and over the entry aperture of the entry pipe 62 through known techniques such as mating inbound lugs formed on the interior side wall of the closure 20 which interferingly bypass a circumferentially extending groove and/or bead. For example, as depicted in FIG. 6B, inbound lugs or other interference structures 208 may be sized to slide over a bead formed on the exterior of the pipe. Alternatively, the lugs or other interference structure 208 may fit into an alignment groove formed in the pipe to secure the closure thereto.

(24) In other aspects and embodiments, the closure, as depicted in FIG. 6A, may have a helically extending thread extending around the interior side wall of the closure which can matingly engage a thread on the sidewall of the pipe.

(25) Further implementations may be provided in addition or in place of the variations described herein. As depicted in FIG. 7, the chemical delivery system 200 is provided with a strand 251 of plastic material. Of course, the material can alternatively be a more solid material and may be, in addition or combination therewith, an HDPE or any other semi-soft injection molded plastic which retains flexibility thereof. Such material may similarly be used in any of the variations and individual elements and features disclosed including those of FIGS. 1-5. In such embodiment, baskets 255 are implemented on the strand 251 to retain the chemical material which inhibits or prevents growth within the drain line. A retention disc 230 is similarly provided and may include a turning tab 231 with step 232. Tab 231 and step 232, along with elbow 254 and a fixture, such as a ball 253 allow for more ready insertion of the delivery system 200 into the drainage pipe. Elbow 254 may be implemented as a bend in the strand 251 which provides flexion of the pliable and flexible strand allowing it to be inserted and follow along curves, turns and bends in a drainage line. Elbow 254 can be at an angle of more than or less than 90 degrees and variations in such implementation and elbow design fall within the scope hereof.

(26) For example, in situations where the HVAC drainage line include turns or other obstructions, delivery system 200 and strand 251 may be utilized and inserted into the entry aperture of the drainage pipe. Feeding of the system 250 through the entire length of the strand/line 251 may be further enabled by the leading ball 253 as it is fed into the drainage piping. Turns or other elbows in the pipe may be negotiated by the combination of strand 251 flexibility, stem 232, turning of the tab 231 and the lead ball 253 with elbow 254. Such constructions enables more ready traversal of the entirety of the delivery system 200 and placement of the baskets 255 within the drainage line.

(27) Implementations described herein may include portions of the various embodiments not specifically shown in combination within the figures but such combination is included and captured within such disclosure. For example, aspects of the strand 251 shown in FIG. 7 may be combined with aspects of delivery system 10, 500 or aspects thereof. For example, tab 231 may be included in the retention disc 30 which may additionally, in combination or in replacement thereof implement other aspects of the system 200. For example, stem 232 may be utilized in the various embodiments depicted with or without inclusion of the other features as well as ball, 253, elbow 254 and baskets 255. Each such feature, where implemented, is not required to be implemented in the direct combination disclosed in the examples depicted.

(28) In aspects, the closure 20 can have formed thereon a plurality of securing loops 26 formed along the periphery of the side wall 24 to secure the closure to the pipe by locking tab 65 and aperture 66. For example, in embodiments, a secured zip-tie 67, as depicted in FIG. 3, or other structure may be inserted through a loop 26 and also through the aperture 66 thereby preventing removal of the closure 20 without destruction of the zip-tie 67 or other structure extending through the apertures. Thus, upon removal of the chemical delivery strand 50, the zip-tie 67 must be cut or otherwise visibly deformed or broken to remove cap from the entry pipe 62. Thus, corresponding helical threads 206 or snap beads 208 can be implemented such that rotation or removal of the closure 20A, 20B is inhibited or prevented without removal of the zip-tie. For example, in one embodiment, the threads may require rotation farther than allowed by the zip tie. Alternatively, multiple ties or securing structures can be used with one or more locking tabs thereby preventing removal.

(29) In implementations, the entire chemical delivery system may be installed using the closure/cap 20, retention disc 30 and attached chemical delivery strand 50. In implementations, installation alternatively or additionally may require a Y-connect drain pipe portion 60 to be interposed into the drain line of the HVAC or other drainage pipe. When replacing the chemical delivery strand of material 50, the closure 20 is removed from the entry pipe after removal or cutting of the zip-ties or other structure. Disc 30 with the attached strand 50 may be then pulled from the drainage pipe and a new chemical delivery strand 50 may be inserted into the drainage pipe and secured therein by the retention disc 30 and closure 20.

(30) While several implementations have been described and illustrated herein, a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein may be utilized, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the implementations described herein. More generally, all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific implementations described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing implementations are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, implementations may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.