Conduit Adaptor and Drill Guide for Condensate Drain Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning systems face challenges in efficiently delivering cleaning compositions to condensate drain lines to remove biological substances like mold, algae, and fungi, which can cause blockages and condensate backflow, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system involving an installation guide device to create an access point in the conduit sidewall and an adaptor device to establish fluid communication, allowing a cleaning composition to be dispensed into the condensate drain line, using a drill bit and guide conduit with a protrusion stop to control drilling depth, and a clamp for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an access point opening is created in the conduit sidewall to deliver cleaning composition, then the ability to clean condensate drain lines is improved, but the conduit structure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidconduit integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions the adaptor device on the conduit exterior with the outlet aligned to the access point opening before cleaning operation. This preliminary setup allows the cleaning composition to be delivered through the pre-established access point without requiring modifications to the conduit structure during operation, thus maintaining conduit integrity while achieving cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptor device serves as an intermediary component that bridges the cleaning composition supply source and the conduit interior. It provides a controlled interface through the access point opening, allowing cleaning fluid delivery while the clamp mechanism maintains the conduit's structural integrity by securing the adaptor without compromising the conduit wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the drill bit drills through the entire sidewall thickness, then complete access to conduit interior is achieved, but the risk of conduit damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess point creationVSAvoidconduit wall damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion stop structure is pre-configured on the drill bit assembly before the drilling operation begins. This preliminary setup establishes the correct drilling depth limit that penetrates just through the sidewall thickness to create adequate access. By having the stop structure in place beforehand, the operator can drill with confidence knowing the conduit wall will not be excessively damaged, thus achieving ease of operation while preventing harmful over-penetration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion stop structure replaces the need for complex depth control mechanisms or operator judgment during drilling. This mechanical stop provides automatic depth limitation, substituting precise manual control with a simple mechanical feature that physically prevents the drill bit from exceeding the safe penetration depth, thereby protecting the conduit wall while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the adaptor device is securely clamped to the conduit, then stable fluid delivery is achieved, but the conduit surface may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid delivery stabilityVSAvoidconduit surface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp mechanism is designed to apply localized pressure at specific contact points on the conduit surface rather than distributed pressure across the entire adaptor-conduit interface. This local quality approach concentrates the clamping force on small areas that can withstand the pressure without damage, while the broader adaptor-conduit interface maintains stable fluid delivery through adequate contact area, thus achieving both reliability and surface protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250305615A1Adaptor devices, installation guide devices, and methods

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 JOEY MAC INVENTIONS LLC

AI summary

Adaptor devices, installation guide devices, and methods provide a fluid connection into a conduit section interior of a conduit section of a conduit through a sidewall thickness of a conduit section sidewall of the conduit section. A method includes coupling an installation guide device to the conduit, operating a drill bit device while the installation guide device is coupled to the conduit to cause the drill bit device to move longitudinally to a protrusion distance that is equal to or less than a particular protrusion distance defined by a protrusion stop structure to drill through the sidewall thickness of the conduit to form an access point opening through the sidewall thickness of the conduit into a conduit interior of the conduit, and coupling an adaptor device to the conduit section at the exposed access point opening, to establish fluid communication into the conduit section interior through the adaptor device.