Inline drain line access device with cleanout adapter

Abstract

An access device for installation to a condensation drainage system, such as a drain line of an HVAC unit, includes a main body with connecting ports at opposite ends for sealed, fluid flow inline connection to the drainage system. A top cover releasably secures to the main body to completely cover and seal an open top and interior cavity. A cleanout adapter has a flange that surrounds a bottom opening. The flange includes a seal around its outer periphery and is structured for sliding receipt within either of two transverse slots within the interior cavity to position the bottom opening of the adapter in sealed alignment with either of the connection ports, whereby a pressurized gas or liquid flow source, or a vacuum source can be connected to a top opening of the adapter for clearing a clog in the drain line either upstream or downstream of the access device.

Claims

1. An access device for inline installation to a drain line of a condensation producing source, said device comprising: a main body having an open top communicating with an interior chamber, and said main body including at least one connecting port sized and configured for sealed connection with the drain line; a top cover releasably securable to said main body to completely cover the open top of the main body, and the top cover being at least partially releasable from the open top for accessing the interior cavity of said main body; a slot formed within the interior chamber and adjacent to the at least one connecting port; and a cleanout adapter including a top opening, a bottom opening and a fluid flow passage between the top and bottom openings, and the cleanout adapter further including a flange surrounding the bottom opening, and the flange being structured and disposed for sliding receipt within the slot within the interior cavity for allowing insertion of the cleanout adapter within the interior chamber and alignment of the bottom opening of the cleanout adapter with the at least one connecting port and the drain line, and wherein the top opening of the cleanout adapter is structured for connected attachment with a pressurized flow source or vacuum source to direct a pressurized flow or vacuum force within the drain line with the cleanout adapter inserted within the interior chamber and the bottom opening aligned with the at least one connecting port and drain line.

2. The access device as recited in claim 1 wherein the cleanout adapter further includes a seal fitted about a periphery of the flange for sealed engagement with a surface of the interior chamber within the slot.

3. The access device as recited in claim 2 wherein said main body includes an input connecting port sized and configured for sealed connection with a first segment of the drain line extending between the condensation producing source and said device and an outlet connecting port sized and configured for sealed connection with a second segment of the drain line extending between said device and a drain discharge.

4. The access device as recited in claim 3 wherein the cleanout adapter has a generally L-shaped configuration so that the bottom opening is oriented approximately 90 degrees relative to the top opening.

5. The access device as recited in claim 4 wherein the interior chamber of the main body includes a first slot formed therein and adjacent to the input connecting port and a second slot formed therein and adjacent to the outlet connecting port, wherein the cleanout adapter can be inserted within the slot formed within the interior chamber with the flange slidingly received within either the first slot or the second slot for selectively positioning and aligning the bottom opening of the cleanout adapter with either the input connecting port or the outlet connecting port.

6. An access device for inline installation to a drain line of a condensation producing source, said device comprising: a main body having an open top communicating with an interior chamber, and said main body including an input connecting port sized and configured for sealed connection with a first segment of the drain line extending between the condensation producing source and said device and an outlet connecting port sized and configured for sealed connection with a second segment of the drain line extending between said device and a drain discharge; a top cover releasably securable to said main body to completely cover the open top of the main body, and the top cover being at least partially releasable from the open top for accessing the interior cavity of said main body; a first transverse slot formed within the interior chamber and adjacent to the input connecting port, and a second transverse slot formed within the interior chamber and adjacent to the outlet connecting port; and a cleanout adapter including a top opening, a bottom opening and a fluid flow passage between the top and bottom openings, and the cleanout adapter further including a flange surrounding the bottom opening, and the flange being structured and disposed for sliding receipt within either of the first or second transverse slots within the interior cavity for allowing insertion of the cleanout adapter within the interior chamber and selective alignment of the bottom opening of the cleanout adapter with one of the input connecting port or outlet connecting port, and wherein the top opening of the cleanout adapter is structured for connected attachment with a pressurized flow source or vacuum source to direct a pressurized flow or vacuum force within the drain line with the cleanout adapter inserted within the interior chamber and the bottom opening aligned with one of the input connecting port or outlet connecting port.

7. The access device as recited in claim 6 wherein the cleanout adapter has a generally L-shaped configuration so that the bottom opening is oriented approximately 90 degrees relative to the top opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of the drain line access device of the present invention shown with the top cover open and a cleanout adapter positioned above the open top of the main body of the access device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the drain line access device of the present invention shown with the top cover open and the cleanout adapter fitted within an interior cavity of the main body of the access device in operable position for clearing out a drain line connected to the access device;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, shown in cross section showing the cleanout adapter positioned above the access device with the top cover open and being ready for insertion into the interior cavity of the main body of the access device for alignment with one of the connecting ports of the access device and a drain line connected thereto;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, shown in cross section showing the cleanout adapter fitted within a transverse slot adjacent to one of the connecting ports within the interior cavity of the access device showing the bottom opening of the cleanout adapter aligned with the connecting port and attached drain line of the drainage system and indicated a forced flow of liquid or gas, as indicated by the arrows, that is directed through the top opening of the cleanout adapter and into the drain line for clearing a clog therein; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the cleanout adapter of the present invention showing a flange surrounding the bottom opening.

(7) Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) Referring to the several views of the drawings, the drain line access device of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10.

(9) As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the access device 10 includes a main body 12 surrounding an interior chamber 14. The main body 12 has an input connector port 16A and an outlet connector port 16B. The input and outlet connector ports 16A and 16B are positioned on opposite ends of the main body and are each sized and configured for engaged receipt of opposing ends 102, 104 of drain line extensions 100A and 100B of a drain line system 100, thereby allowing for inline installation of the access device 10 to the drain line system. In one embodiment, input port 16A attaches to a drain line extension 100A extending from a condensation producing source (e.g., an air handler unit of an HVAC system) and outlet port 16B is sized and configured for engaged receipt of a drain line extension 100B leading to a drain discharge. An annular shoulder 18 formed within each of the connector ports 16A and 16B serves as a stop member to limit inward movement of the respective ends 102, 104 of the drain line extensions 100A and 100B into the connector ports 16A and 16B so that the ends 102, 104 do not enter into the interior chamber 14 of the access device 10. The top of the main body is open and is surrounded by a rim 15. In a preferred embodiment, the top rim 15 is structured for sealed engagement with a gasket 17 that is fitted within a groove in the underside of a top cover 22 that normally covers and closes the open top of the main body. In a preferred embodiment, the top cover 22 is hingedly secured to one end of the main body 12 by a double pin separating hinge assembly 24. The top cover 22 is releasably secured to the main body 12 by a latch mechanism 26 on the side opposite to the hinge assembly 24. When secured to the main body 12, the top cover 22 covers and seals the open top of the main body 12 closed to define an inner channel 28 between input and outlet connector ports 16A and 16B.

(10) The top cover 22 is easily opened and/or removable from the main body 12 at the double pin separating hinge assembly 24. The latch 26 on the opposite side of the main body hinges upwardly into engagement with fastening member 40 on the top cover 22 for holding the top cover 22 tightly closed against the top rim of the main body in covering and sealed relation to the open top. To open or remove the top cover, the latch 26 is hingedly rotated away from the top cover 22 so that the latch separates from the fastening member 40. The top cover 22 can then be opened (and completely removed if desired) to gain access to the interior chamber 14 of the main body 12 as seen in FIGS. 1-4.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a cleanout adapter 30 is removably received within either of two transverse slots 54 located at opposite ends of the interior chamber of the main body adjacent to the respective input and outlet connector ports 16A and 16B. The cleanout adapter 30 includes a top opening 32, a bottom opening 33 and a fluid flow passage 34 between the top and bottom openings. As seen throughout the drawings, the cleanout adapter 30 has a generally L-shaped configuration so that the bottom opening 33 is oriented approximately 90 degrees relative to the top opening 32. A flange 36 surrounds the bottom opening 33 and includes a rubber seal 37 fitted within a groove 38 about the periphery of the flange 36. The flange 36 is structured for sliding receipt within either of the two transverse slots 54 at opposite ends of the interior chamber 14. When fully inserted within either of the transverse slots 54, the rubber seal 37 of the flange 36 engages the inside surfaces of the interior chamber 14, within the transverse slot 54, and the bottom opening 33 of the cleanout adapter 30 aligns perfectly with the respective input or outlet port in sealed, fluid flow relation therewith. The cleanout adapter 30 allows for connection of virtually any pressurized gas or liquid flow source, or a vacuum source, as well as pouring of a liquid (e.g., anti-clogging agent) either upstream or downstream in the drain line for flushing out and/or preventing a clog in the drain line. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the generally L-shaped (i.e., 90 degree angle) cleanout adaptor 60 is shown installed within the transverse slot 54 adjacent the inlet connector port 16A. When fully inserted within one of the transverse slots 54, the bottom opening 33 of the cleanout adapter aligns perfectly with the connector port (either 16A or 16B) as well as the attached drain line extension (100A or 100B), and the adapter 30 is held in place without the need of the user to hold onto the adapter 30 during the drain line clearing operation.

(12) While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which are not to be limited except as defined in the following claims, as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents.