Vehicle AC Condensate Drain Valve With Pendulum Anti-Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioner condensation water evacuation systems, particularly those with 'duckbill' valves, tend to clog when not in use for extended periods, requiring maintenance to unblock, as the flexible tubes can remain compressed and fail to reopen reliably.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner system incorporates a condensation water evacuation pipe with a valve configuration featuring a flap and pendulum mechanism, where the lower end is offset in height, utilizing a wire and weight to prevent blockage, allowing a column of water to exert hydrostatic pressure and automatically unblock the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a duckbill valve is used in the condensation water discharge pipe, then condensation water can be discharged while preventing outside air from entering, but the valve becomes blocked when the air conditioner is not used for a long period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing a pendulum mechanism that proactively prevents valve blockage before it occurs. The pendulum, suspended above the duckbill valve, continuously oscillates to prevent the flexible lips from adhering together during periods of non-use, thereby eliminating the need for maintenance unblocking operations while preserving the valve's sealing performance.
2Productivity
If a flexible tube valve is used to allow water flow, then condensation water can be discharged, but the flexible pipe remains compressed and fails to clear after a long period of use
Solution Approach 1:
The pendulum mechanism performs preliminary action by continuously oscillating the flexible lips of the valve during non-operational periods. This prevents the lips from remaining in a compressed, stuck position and ensures they remain ready to open reliably when condensation water needs to be discharged, thereby maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through the oscillating pendulum mechanism that physically agitates the flexible valve lips. This vibration prevents the lips from adhering or remaining compressed, ensuring the valve can reliably open and close in response to condensation water flow without failing after prolonged periods of inactivity.
3Extent of automation
If the lower end of the discharge pipe is offset in height by 1-5 meters, then hydrostatic pressure can automatically unblock the valve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulics by utilizing the weight of a water column (hydrostatic pressure) generated by offsetting the discharge pipe's lower end 1-5 meters below the upper end. This hydraulic pressure automatically opens the duckbill valve when condensation water accumulates, eliminating the need for manual intervention and achieving automatic unblocking with minimal additional device complexity.
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
This solution eliminates the need for maintenance to unblock the valve, as the hydrostatic pressure from accumulated water automatically opens the valve, ensuring continuous operation and reducing maintenance costs by preventing condensation water accumulation and air leakage.
Implementation Method 1
the valve comprises lips and a pendulum to prevent it from being blocked and the pendulum is formed of a wire and a weight
Implementation Method 2
the valve is automatically unblocked by a column of water accumulating in the drain pipe and exerting hydrostatic pressure on the valve
Implementation Method 3
the weight is located outside the valve and lower than the valve, and the pendulum wire passes between the lips of the valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioner (5) for a vehicle (1), suitable for installation on the roof (111) of the vehicle, comprising at least one condensate drain pipe (53) having an upper end (531) connected to a main unit (51) of the air conditioner (5) and a lower end (533) equipped with a valve (55). The lower end (533) of the drain pipe (53) is configured to be offset vertically, downwards, from the upper end (531) of the air conditioner (5), by a height (H) of between 1 and 5 meters when the air conditioner (5) is installed on the roof (111) of the vehicle. The valve (55) has lips and a pendulum to prevent clogging. The pendulum is formed of a wire and a weight, with one attachment point of the pendulum wire being located above the level of the lips of the flap, the weight being located outside the flap and lower than the flap, and the pendulum wire passing between the lips of the flap.