Abstract:
An in-line P-trap chlorinator that ensures water contact with a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial tablet while water is flowing through the P-trap, and after the flow of water has stopped. The in-line P-trap chlorinator is inserted in a condensation drain line of an air-conditioning or refrigerating unit to prevent formation of growth from bacteria or algae, which would plug the line, and/or to destroy any such growth already in the line. The inlet to the P-trap chlorinator is above the outlet, to prevent back-migration of harmful and/or corrosive gases, vapors, and/or liquids/mixtures/solutions. The P-trap chlorinator performs and combines the functions of a P-trap and a chlorinator. No additional P-trap is required.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on a provisional application No. 60/815,145, filed Jun. 21, 2006. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to condensation lines or cold-water drain lines. More particularly, the invention relates to the prevention of clogging or plugging of such lines by growth of cold-water algae or bacteria. 
     Condensate is formed in all refrigeration systems. This condensate is formed by warm moist air being forced over the cold coils of the evaporator. The evaporator is located in the attic space in most homes. Removing this condensate has always presented many problems. The condensate can be removed in several ways. It can be piped to the outside. This is not an option for most homes because of unit placement and roof design. Another way is to pipe to a sewer vent line in the attic, thereby piping the condensate to the sewer system. The drawback of this second method is that the condensate must be piped through a plumber&#39;s trap, commonly known as a P-trap. A P-trap must be installed to prevent sewer gases from being drawn into the living space of the home by the suction of the evaporator fan. P-traps are notorious for plugging due to the small flow going through the trap, and due to the attic temperature, both of which promote growth of cold-water algae. When the P-trap becomes plugged, the flow of condensate stops. A secondary drain pan is a requirement of the plumber&#39;s code in most if not all areas. The pan is located beneath the evaporator. The pan catches and holds the condensate, or sends the condensate out a secondary drain line. If the condensate is held in the drain pan, a safety shut-off switch, located in the pan, stops the air-conditioner unit. The ability to stop the unit depends on several things, pan installation and condition being the most important. If either is not right, the condensate could drain from the unit onto the ceiling, which causes at least water spots and at worst a ruined ceiling. If the switch stops the unit, the living space is not being cooled. In order for the air conditioner to restart, the P-trap must be unplugged and the secondary drain pan emptied. This is usually done by a service technician on a service call. It is accomplished by disconnecting or cutting the drain line, blowing the plug out, flushing the pipe, and reconnecting. Depending on the unit, the attic temperature, and the quality and time of the last cleaning, this condition can occur two or three times in a normal cooling season. 
     There have been numerous devices patented which deal with the problem of plugging of drain lines by algae/bacterial growths. Most of these patents teach cleaning the line after a plug has formed and stopped water flow. 
     There are few patented devices that could be used to prevent the formation of a plug in a drain line. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,701,740 and 5,402,813 disclose two such devices. The devices are installed in the condensate drain line downstream of an evaporator. If a chlorine-releasing tablet were used with these devices, chlorine gas and/or a chlorine-water mixture/solution could and probably would back-migrate into a condensation line to a cooling unit to which the condensation line is connected. Some units have a plastic tray under the evaporator coil. Unfortunately, the plastic from which the tray is made breaks down over time and leaks. Both chlorine and hydrochloric acid are corrosive. If the chlorine and the water should form hydrochloric acid, both the chlorine and the acid would then attack the sheet metal of the unit, and the result would be catastrophic. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,771 discloses a device for recycling the condensate in the drain line for reuse. There are two P-trap-like fittings on the inlet of the device. There is nothing to keep these fittings from plugging by algae/bacteria-promoting growths. Moreover, a check valve included in the device would also be subject to such plugging. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,813 to Keen discloses an in-line chlorinator for a condensation line. A first disadvantage of the in-line chlorinator disclosed by Keen is that it requires a separate P-trap in the drain line. A second disadvantage is that chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and/or gases from a sanitary sewer line can migrate back through the inlet and the condensation line to a cooling unit to which the condensation line is connected. The present invention provides a solution to both of these problems 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention in a first aspect provides an in-line P-trap chlorinator comprising (a) a container; (b) an inlet for admitting water to the container; (c) an outlet for discharging water from the container; and (d) support means disposed within the container, for supporting a tablet of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance. The inlet and the outlet are disposed above the support means, and the inlet is disposed at or above level of the outlet, whereby water level in the container is at the level of the outlet, so that water flowing through the container would contact a tablet disposed on the support means, and would continue to contact the tablet after flow has ceased; and so that gases and/or vapors are prevented from flowing back through the inlet. 
     The container has a bottom, and first and second lateral walls. Water is provided to the container by a conduit having a horizontal portion connecting first and second vertical portions to one another. The interior wall of the horizontal portion of the conduit is the bottom of the container, and has an opening for discharging water into the container. The interior wall of the first vertical portion of the conduit is a lower portion of the first lateral wall of the container. The interior wall of the second vertical portion of the conduit is a lower portion of the second lateral wall of the container. The inlet is to the first vertical portion of the conduit. The outlet is to the second vertical portion of the conduit. Water is discharged from the horizontal portion of the conduit into the container through the opening in the bottom of the container. 
     In a second aspect, the invention provides an in-line P-trap chlorinator comprising (a) a container having a bottom, and first and second lateral walls; (b) an inlet for admitting water to the container; (c) an outlet for discharging water from the container; (d) a conduit connecting the inlet and the outlet to one another, the conduit having interior and exterior walls, and a horizontal portion connecting first and second vertical portions to one another, the interior wall of the horizontal portion of the conduit being the bottom of the container, and having an opening for discharging water into the container; and (e) support means disposed within the container, for supporting a tablet of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance. The inlet and the outlet are disposed above the support means, and the inlet is disposed at or above level of the outlet, whereby water level in the container is at the level of the outlet, so that water in the container would contact a tablet disposed on the support means. 
     In a third aspect, the invention provides an in-line P-trap chlorinator comprising (a) a container; (b) an inlet for admitting water to the container; (c) an outlet for discharging water from the container; (d) a conduit connecting the inlet and the outlet to one another, the conduit comprising a lower horizontal portion connecting higher first and second vertical portions to one another, the container and the conduit being so constructed and arranged that water is discharged from the lower horizontal portion of the conduit into the container; and (e) support means disposed within the container, for supporting a tablet of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance. 
     The inlet and the outlet are disposed above the support means, and the inlet is disposed at or above level of the outlet, whereby water level in the container is at the level of the outlet, so that water flowing through the container would contact a tablet disposed on the support means, and would continue to contact the tablet after flow had ceased. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the in-line P-trap chlorinator, with water flowing therethrough. 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the in-line P-trap chlorinator, after water flow has ceased. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of third and fourth embodiments of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a lateral cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     More specifically, reference is made to  FIG. 1 , in which is shown a first embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the numeral  2 . 
     The in-line P-trap chlorinator  2  comprises a container  4 ; an inlet  6  for admitting water to the container  4 ; an outlet  8  for discharging water from the container  4 ; and elevated support means  10 , disposed within the container  4 , for supporting and immersing a tablet  12  of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance in the water, for maximum leachability. The inlet  6  and the outlet  8  are disposed above the support means  10 , whereby water level in the container  4  is at level of the inlet  6 , so that water flowing through the container  4  would contact and surround a tablet  12  disposed on the support means  10 , and would continue to contact and surround the tablet  12  after flow has ceased. 
     The container  4  has a bottom  4   a , and first and second lateral walls  4   c  and  4   d . Water  13  is provided to the container  4  by a conduit  14  having an interior wall  14   a , an exterior wall  14   b , and a horizontal portion  14   c  connecting a first vertical portion  14   d  and a second vertical portion  14   e  to one another. The interior wall  14   a  of the horizontal portion  14   c  of the conduit  14  is the bottom  4   a  of the container  4 , and has an opening  14   f  for discharging water into the container  4 . The interior wall  14   a  of the first vertical portion  14   d  of the conduit  14  is a lower portion  14   g  of the first lateral wall  4   c  of the container  4 . The interior wall  14   a  of the second vertical portion  14   e  of the conduit  14  is a lower portion  14   h  of the second lateral wall  4   d  of the container  4 . The inlet  6  is to the first vertical portion  14   d  of the conduit  14 . The outlet  8  is to the second vertical portion  14   e  of the conduit  14 . If desired, a second algicide and/or antibacterial tablet  12   a  may be disposed between the support means  10  and the interior wall  14   a  of the conduit  14 . If desired, a granule or granules  12   c  of an algicide and/or antibacterial substance may be disposed between the support means  10  and the interior wall  14   a  of the conduit  14 . The container  4  is beneficially closed by a cap  4   e.    
     The support means  10  includes a first and second vertical wall extending from the bottom wall  4   a  and disposed on opposite sides of the opening  14   f  for supporting a tablet  12  of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance in an elevated position over the opening  14   f . The opening  14   f  in the bottom wall of the container  4   a  is disposed directly below and between the first and second walls of the support means  10  for the tablet  12 . The container  4  includes an upward-directed lip positioned inside the container  4  and around the opening  14   f  between the first and second walls of the support means  10 , and the lip tapers from narrow to wide in an upward direction. 
     The algicide and/or antibacterial substance is preferably an algicide. Even more preferably, the algicide is a material that includes an ingredient which gradually releases chlorine to a flowing stream of water. An example of an ingredient which functions in this manner is calcium hypochlorite, variously referred to as bleaching power, chloride of lime, chlorinated lime, and calcium oxychloride. Examples of other such ingredients are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,813 to Keen. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , in which is shown a second and preferred embodiment of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the numeral  3 . The second embodiment  3  is identical with the first embodiment  2  of the in-line P-trap chlorinator, with the important exception and difference that in the first embodiment  2 , the inlet  6  and the outlet  8  are disposed at the same vertical level, whereas in the second embodiment  3 , the inlet  6  is disposed above the outlet  8 . To prevent gases, vapors, and/or liquids from the algicide and/or antibacterial substance, and/or from a sanitary sewer system from flowing from the container  4  back and through the inlet  6  and a condensation line (not shown) to an air-conditioning or refrigeration unit (not shown) to which the P-trap chlorinator  2  or  3  is connected, the inlet  6  must be disposed above the outlet  8 . For this reason, the second embodiment  3  is preferred to the first embodiment  2 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which illustrate the preferred method of using the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows the in-line P-trap chlorinator  3  with water  13  flowing therethrough. The in-line P-trap chlorinator  3  has been inserted into a condensation drain line (not shown) of an air-conditioning or refrigerating system (not shown). This is done by breaking the drain line, and connecting the inlet  6  and outlet  8  of the P-trap chlorinator  3  to the broken ends of the drain line. When the air-conditioning or cooling unit is “on,” there is a flow of water  13  at a water level  13   a  through the in-line P-trap chlorinator  3 , and the algicide and/or antibacterial substance is preventing and/or destroying any algidical and/or bacterial growth from the water  13  as it flows in contact with the algicidal and/or antibacterial substance. 
       FIG. 4  shows that, when the air-conditioning or refrigeration unit is “off,” the water  13  remains in contact with the algiciadal and/or antibacterial substance, thereby ensuring the prevention and/or removal of any algicidal and/or bacterial growth that might otherwise occur, and preventing gases, vapors, and/or liquids such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, water solutions of chlorine and/or hydrochloric acid, and/or gases, vapors, and/or liquids from a sanitary sewer line (not shown) from passing back from the container  4  through the unit. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5-7 , in which are shown third and fourth embodiments of an in-line P-trap chlorinator, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the numerals  5  and  7 , respectively. The only difference between the third embodiment  5 ,  FIG. 6 , and the fourth embodiment  7 ,  FIG. 7 , is that in the third embodiment  5  the inlet  16  and the outlet  18  are at the same level, whereas in the fourth embodiment  7 , the inlet  16  is disposed above the outlet  18 . For the reason given regarding the second and third embodiments  2  and  3 , viz., to prevent back-migration of gases, vapors, and/or liquids, the fourth embodiment  7  is preferred to the third embodiment  5 . 
     Both third and fourth embodiments  5  and  7  comprise a container  20  having a bottom  22 , and first and second lateral walls  24 ,  26 . Water enters the container  20  through the inlet  16  at the first lateral wall  24 , flows through a conduit  28  having a lower horizontal portion  28   a , and higher first and second vertical portions  28   b ,  28   c , and is discharged from the container  20  through the outlet  18  at the second lateral wall  26 . Water flowing through the conduit  28  is discharged into the container  20  through an opening  30  in the lower horizontal portion  28   a  of the conduit  28  near the bottom  22  of the container  20 . Support means  10  are constructed and arranged for disposition thereon of a tablet (not shown) of a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial substance. The support means  10  are elevated, to immerse the tablet in water for maximum leachability. The lower horizontal portion  28   a  of the conduit  28  is disposed below the support means  10 , so that water flows upward and around a tablet (not shown) disposed on the support means  10 , to provide maximum leachability. The container  20  may beneficially be closed by a cap (not shown) similar to the cap  4   e  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     To manufacture the third and fourth embodiments  5  and  7  of the P-trap chlorinator, the inlet  16 , the outlet  18 , and the container  20  can be fabricated/molded as a single integral unit. The conduit  28  can be fabricated/molded separately. The inlet-outlet-container unit  16 ,  18 ,  28 , and the conduit  28  can then beneficially be assembled to provide the P-trap chlorinator  5 ,  7 . Because of ease of fabrication, and because it prevents back-migration of noxious gases, vapors, and/or liquids from the container through the inlet of the P-trap chlorinator, the fourth embodiment  7  is the most preferred embodiment of the P-trap chlorinator 
     While certain specific embodiments and details have been disclosed to illustrate the principles of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications thereof are possible within the scope of the claimed invention.