Air Conditioning Drain Line, Anti-Contaminant Device

Abstract

An AC drain line, anti-contaminant device includes a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent, a housing inlet coupled to a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit, and a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent. The drain line couples to and extends from a drip pan of an AC system, and subsequently couples to the device. The anti-contaminant agent comprises anti-algae, anti-mold, or other anti-deleterious material agent comprising a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions wherein the pOH is less than or about 5. The housing may include an internal support to space the anti-contaminant agent apart from the bottom. The anti-contaminant agent may comprise a solid form for placement in the housing, or as part of a removable and replaceable cartridge assembly for the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning drain line, anti-contaminant device comprises:
 a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent;   a housing inlet coupled to a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit;   a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent; and   the anti-contaminating agent.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an end cap to secure the anti-contaminant agents within the housing unit and provide for a closed housing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing unit further comprises a vent to allow ambient air to circulate from the exterior to the interior of the housing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing inlet and the housing outlet are configured at a base portion of the housing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less then 5 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the device further comprises and the housing unit is configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises permeable elements for the drain fluid to interact with the anti-contaminant agent housed within the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning drain line, anti-contaminant device comprises:
 a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent;   a housing inlet coupled to at least one of a drip pan and a drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit;   a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent, and   wherein the housing unit further comprises an internal support element to support the anti-contaminant agent apart from the bottom of the housing unit such that at a portion of the anti-contaminant agent interacts with a portion of the drain fluid entering and exiting the housing unit.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device further comprises and the housing unit is configured to receive a removable and replaceable cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises permeable elements for the drain fluid to interact with the anti-contaminant agent housed within the cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5. 
     
     
         16 . A mechanical system comprises:
 a mechanical unit;   a drip pan positioned under the mechanical unit to capture condensation from operation of the mechanical unit;   a drain line coupled to the drip pan to drain collected condensation; and   a drain line, anti-contaminant device coupled to the drain line to deter growth of mold and algae within the drain line.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the anti-contaminant device comprises;
 a housing unit comprising a volume to receive an anti-contaminant agent;   a housing inlet coupled to the drain line to allow a flow of a drained fluid to enter the housing unit; and   a housing outlet to allow the drained fluid to exit the housing unit upon conditioning by the anti-contaminant agent.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of an anti-mold agent and an anti-algae agent. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises at least one of a tablet, puck, pellet, powdered, crystalline, gelled, solid pressed, and granular form. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the anti-contaminant agent comprises a high concentration of [OH − ] dissociative ions such that the pOH is about or less than 5