ALGAE REDUCTION DEVICE FOR AIR HANDLER SYSTEMS

Abstract

A system, and kit of parts capable of retrofit and use with an air handling system. The system includes housing and a drain pan with a raised edge. The kit includes a fluid reservoir attachable to the housing for holding fluid, a pump mounted on the fluid reservoir, and a tube to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the drain pan. The drain pan includes a drain. A tube clasp made from a single piece of material folded upon itself to define an opening for receiving the tube. The tube clasp has a spring loaded hinge. The open portion includes a flared section to enable the open portion to removeably clasp the raised edge of the drain pan. In one embodiment the pump intermittently pumps fluid into the pan to increase latency of the fluid in the pan and drain to enable the fluid to inhibit algae growth.

Claims

1. A kit of parts capable of use with an air handling system having a housing and a drain pan with a raised edge, comprising: a fluid reservoir attachable to the housing for holding fluid; a pump mounted on the fluid reservoir; a tube in fluid communication with the pump to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the drain pan; a tube clasp made from a single piece of material folded upon itself to define an opening for receiving the tube, the tube clasp having a spring loaded hinged portion and an open portion, the open portion includes a flared section to enable the open portion to removeably clasp the raised edge of the drain pan.

2. The kit of parts of claim 1, wherein the pump mounts within the fluid reservoir, the pump being capable of delivering intermittent pulses of fluid through the tube to the drain pan.

3. The kit of parts of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir has an outer surface, and the pump mounts outer surface of the fluid reservoir.

4. The kit of parts of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir has an outer surface with a recess, and the pump mounts in the recess of the fluid reservoir.

5. The kit of parts of claim 1, wherein the tube is made from silicon to enable the tube to withstand an operating environment of above 150 F.

6. The kit of parts of claim 1, wherein the tube clasp opening is circular, and defines a diameter, the tube defines a diameter, the tube clasp diameter is sized to press fit around the tube diameter.

7. An air handling system comprising: a housing, a cooling element mounted in the housing, a blower for blowing air across the cooling element, ductwork in fluid communication with the housing, and a drain pan with a raised edge removeably mounted within the housing to capture and drain condensation from the cooling element; a fluid reservoir mounted on the housing for holding fluid; a pump mounted on the fluid reservoir, the pump being capable of delivering fluid; a tube in fluid communication with the pump to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the drain pan; a tube clasp made from a single piece of material folded upon itself to define an opening for receiving the tube, the tube clasp having a spring loaded hinged portion and an open portion, the open portion includes a flared section to enable the open portion to removeably clasp the raised edge of the drain pan.

8. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the pump mounts within the fluid reservoir, the pump being capable of delivering intermittent pulses of fluid through the tube to the drain pan.

9. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the fluid reservoir has an outer surface, and the pump mounts outer surface of the fluid reservoir.

10. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the fluid reservoir has an outer surface with a recess, and the pump mounts in the recess of the fluid reservoir.

11. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the tube is made from silicon to enable the tube to withstand an operating environment of above 150 F.

12. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the tube clasp opening is circular, and defines a diameter, the tube defines a diameter, the tube clasp diameter is sized to press fit around the tube diameter.

13. The air handling system of claim 7, wherein the tube extends upwards relative to the pump and then downwards towards the pan, the tube includes a check valve to inhibit fluid backflow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air handler system in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a housing including a reservoir and pump assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a portion of the housing with a button switch assembly for operating the pump assembly.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a tube and tube clasp.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a tube and locking clasp.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram for a push button switch of FIG. 3.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a reservoir enclosure mounted on the housing.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a reservoir enclosure mounted on the housing with a push button switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an air handling system generally designated with the reference numeral 10. The air handling system 10 is an air handler with the housing 12. The housing 12 includes a kit of parts attached to the housing 12 for reducing algae growth.

[0032] The kit of parts includes the reservoir 14 having a removable lid 16 and a pump motor 18. The reservoir 14 is preferably a heat resistant plastic reservoir designed to hold fluids having a pH range of 2-7.

[0033] The tube 20 attaches to the pump motor for delivering fluid from the reservoir 14. The housing 12 includes a pan 22 removeably mounted at the bottom 23 of the housing 12 for capturing fluid such as condensate and leaking fluid. The tube 20 attaches to the pan 22 with a tube clasp 24.

[0034] Preferably the tube 20 is manufactured from a flexible and heat resistant material such as silicon. The housing includes a blower 28 and at least one heat exchanger 30. The blower 28 draws air past the heat exchanger 30 to either heat or cool air. The air flows outwards from the housing 12 into duct work via the opening 26. The housing 12 is further configured with a mount 32 having openings to enable power connection from the pump 18 to a power source. The housing 12 is further configured with a mount 34 for enabling the attachment of control hardware for controlling operation of the pump 18. The control hardware can be mechanical, or electrical. For example, the control hardware may include a wireless networking device integrated therein to enable remote control from a computer or hand held wireless communication device e.g. a smart phone with an enabling software application.

[0035] In the embodiment shown, the air handling system 10 extends vertically from the pan 22 at the bottom to the opening 26. In an alternate embodiment the air handling system 10 lies horizontally, and the pan 22 removeably mounts within the lateral side 25 of the air handling system housing 12 so that the pan 22 lies in a generally horizontal position under at least one heat exchanger 30.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a portion of the housing 12. The reservoir 14 is a fixed on the lateral side of the housing 12 the pump 18 connects to a pair of tubes 20a and 20b respectively. The pump 18 includes a DC motor. Accordingly power inverter 36 is provided to convert AC power into DC power and operatively connects with the DC motor of the pump 18. Utilizing more than one tube 20a and 20b enables a more uniform distribution of fluid from the reservoir to the pan. While two tubes 20a and 20b are shown, it can be appreciated that an array of tubes can be employed in accordance with the present invention. The pump 10 and associated control system can pulse fluid through a single tube at a time, or can deliver fluid from the reservoir through all tubes simultaneously. An advantage of pulsed delivery of fluid through each tube includes the use of an array of tubes without increasing the pump capacity, using an array of tubes and pulsed delivery increases the latency of the fluid in the pan during pump operation because fluid is being delivered intermittently to a number of possible locations in the pan.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a portion of the housing 12 including manually actuated switch 40. To switch 40 includes a button that causes the pump 18 to operate and deliver fluid from the reservoir into the pan. In one embodiment the fluid is non-toxic and capable of draining from the pan into the ambient environment. Preferably the fluid is vinegar having a pH of less than six. More preferably the vinegar has a pH of between two and six. Acidic vinegar is known to inhibit algae growth. Inhibiting algae growth in the pan reduces any possibility of algae growth in any drain system connected to the pan.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows the tube 20 and a tube clasp 42. In this embodiment the tube clasp 42 is fabricated from a single piece of metal 43 having generally rectangular shape. The metal is preferably spring steel. The single piece of metal is folded upon itself creating a hinge 48 that causes two ends of the single piece of metal to press towards each other. Single piece of metal includes two openings. When the single piece of metal is folded upon itself two holes that align creating an opening 44 that enables the tube 22 extend there through. Preferably the opening is sized having an internal diameter of approximately the same diameter as an exterior surface of the tube to enable the tube to press-fit through the opening 44.

[0039] The piece of metal 43 is formed with a flanged end 46 design to receive an edge of the pan and to hold the tube 20 relative to the pan. The tube clasp 42 thus removeably holds the tube 20 and the desired position on the pan.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a variation of the tube clasp 42. Having two holes which align defining the opening 44 for receiving the tube 20. The hole includes extensions 50 that grip the tube 20. The extensions 50 are angled from the tube clasp 42 to allow movement of the tube 20 in only one direction. The extensions thus prevent the tube 20 from retracting from the pan 22. The tube clasp end 46 attaches directly to the raised edge 52 of the pan 22.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a wiring diagram for a push button switch 58. The electrical connections between the push button switch 58 includes a power inverter 56 and an AC plug 54. The power inverter 56 electronically connects to the motor 60 of the pump. The push button switch 58 selectively completes the circuit to enable DC power to operate the motor 60 and pump fluid through the system.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a portion of the housing 12. The kit of parts is enclosed in the enclosure 62. The housing 60 includes the reservoir 14 the inverter 56, the pump 18 and a portion of the tube 20. The push button switch 58, the inverter 56 and the pump 18 electronically connect with each other. The inverter 56 includes an AC plug 54.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows the enclosure 62 with a cover 66 removeably affixed to the enclosure 62. The enclosure 62 mounts on a wall 13. The tube 20 extends from the enclosure 62 and is connectable with an air handling system 10. The plug 54 is electronically connected with a wall outlet 64. Thus the kit of parts of the present invention can be sold as a single unit in an enclosure 62. The kit of parts can be mounted independently of any air handling system 10, and connected with the air handling system pan via the tube 20.

[0044] A method of the present invention includes mounting a kit of parts including a reservoir, a pump and a tube with a tube clasp in an air handler. Filling the reservoir with an algae inhibiting fluid. Attaching the tube to the pan and to the pump. Operating the pump to deliver the fluid to the pan. The timing of the operation of the pump can be manual, scheduled, or remotely regulated. Operation of the pump, when activated, can be continuous or intermittent. Where an array of tubes are used, intermittent operation can deliver fluid through the tubes sequentially.

[0045] Although the present invention is described having an AC power source and an inverter, the present invention can also utilize battery power, preferably with a 12 V system. Alternately the AC power source can be a 220 V power source with the appropriate inverter to connect directly to the power supply of the air handling system. Typically air handling systems have 220 V service.

[0046] Although the tube clasp is shown having been formed from a single piece of metal and can be appreciated that numerous tube clasp designs can be utilized in accordance with the present invention including any that removeably hold the tube on a pan.

[0047] Further while the present invention describes a push button actuation the actuator can be adapted with Wi-Fi capability so that it can be actuated via an electronic device such as a smart phone. Additionally when the reservoir is nearly empty a sensor included with the reservoir can signal the electronic device when a refill is required.

[0048] A timer can be utilized to automatically actuate the pump. The pump can be periodically actuated in an automated fashion to assure that no algae will grow in the pan in any drain system attached thereto. The timer can be mechanical or electronically programmable.

[0049] In an alternate embodiment, the tube includes a check valve to regulate fluid flow. In this embodiment, the reservoir mounts below the blower. The tube extends upwards relative to the pump and reservoir then down towards the pan. The pump pumps fluid upwards in the tube initially and then downwards towards the pan. The check valve prevents backflow of the fluid. This embodiment is preferred where the pump does not include a valve that inhibits fluid flow from the reservoir to the pan.