Inline drain sanitizing system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air-conditioning system drain lines are prone to internal bacterial, algae, and fungal growth, leading to clogging and unpleasant odors, which existing technologies fail to effectively address.

Innovation Solution

An inline drain sanitizing system comprising a manifold assembly with an inlet, outlet, and treatment port, utilizing a chemical-based or light-based treatment subsystem to sanitize condensate, including a sanitizing composition such as silver nitrate, which interacts with unsanitized condensate to generate sanitized condensate, reducing the risk of clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical-based treatment systems are used to sanitize condensate, then sanitizing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitizing effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable sanitizing cartridges containing pre-measured chemical sanitizing compositions. These cartridges are inserted into the treatment chamber, where condensate flows through and becomes sanitized. After use, the cartridges are discarded and replaced. This approach provides reliable sanitizing without requiring complex chemical dosing systems, storage facilities, or maintenance infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light-based treatment subsystem as an intermediary method. UV-C lights are positioned to irradiate condensate as it flows through the treatment chamber, sanitizing the condensate through photodissociation and oxidation of organic compounds. This intermediary approach provides an alternative to direct chemical contact, reducing device complexity while maintaining sanitizing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If light-based treatment systems are used to sanitize condensate, then device complexity is reduced, but sanitizing effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsanitizing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges both chemical-based and light-based treatment subsystems into a single integrated device. The chemical cartridges and UV-C light system work together to sanitize condensate through multiple mechanisms: chemical oxidation, photodissociation, and photo-oxidation. This combination ensures high sanitizing effectiveness while keeping individual subsystems relatively simple and easy to maintain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If transparent materials are used for manifold assembly, then monitoring capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies transparency locally rather than to the entire manifold assembly. The treatment chamber walls are made of transparent or translucent material to allow visual monitoring of condensate flow and treatment process. Other portions of the manifold assembly can be made from standard, cost-effective materials. This localized approach provides monitoring capability while controlling manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively sanitizes condensate, reducing the risk of clogging and odor emission in air-conditioning system drain lines, while maintaining flow rate and performance.

Implementation Method 1

a chemical-based treatment system to sanitize the unsanitized condensate. The chemical-based treatment system may be configured to contain a sanitizing composition. The treatment subsystem may be configured to allow the unsanitized condensate to interact with the sanitizing composition to generate the sanitized condensate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a light-based treatment system to sanitize the unsanitized condensate. The light-based treatment system may be configured to generate ultraviolet light. The treatment subsystem may be configured to allow the unsanitized condensate to interact with the ultraviolet light to generate the sanitized condensate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet light: Light

Implementation Method 3

UV-C lights can be used to irradiate the condensate, which can sanitize the condensate through photodissociation and oxidation of organic compounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-oxidation: Photo-oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS11554973B2Inline drain sanitizing system

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 DRAIN GUARD INC

AI summary

An inline drain sanitizing system, includes: a manifold assembly including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a treatment port, wherein: the inlet port is configured to be couplable to a condensate supply line and receive unsanitized condensate, and the outlet port is configured to be couplable to a condensate drain line and provide sanitized condensate; and a treatment subsystem configured to interface with the treatment port and process the unsanitized condensate to generate the sanitized condensate.