Self-cleaning system and method for air conditioners

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-cleaning system for an air conditioner, comprising: a drain pan installed on an evaporator side of the air conditioner, the drain pan operative to collect condensate from the evaporator side; a pump coupled to the drain pan, the pump operative to pump the collected condensate through a set of piping; and a plurality of spray nozzles installed on a condenser side of the air conditioner, the spray nozzles coupled to the set of piping and operative to spray the collected condensate over a condenser in the condenser side, wherein the pump further comprises a control mechanism operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of pumping and spraying of the collected condensate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising an evaporator side and a condenser side, comprising:
 a drain pan installed on the evaporator side, the drain pan operative to collect condensate from the evaporator side;   a pump coupled to the drain pan, the pump operative to pump the collected condensate through a set of piping; and   a plurality of spray nozzles installed on the condenser side, the spray nozzles coupled to the set of piping and operative to spray the collected condensate over a condenser in the condenser side,   
       wherein the pump further comprises a control mechanism operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of pumping and spraying of the collected condensate. 
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism for the pump is comprised of: a float-based mechanism, a timer-based mechanism, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the control mechanism is a timer-based mechanism and is operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of a fixed time length. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the control mechanism is a combination of a timer-based mechanism and a float-based mechanism where the timer-based mechanism is a primary control mechanism and the float-based mechanism is a secondary control mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the control mechanism may further be remotely operated. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an injection mechanism to add one or more cleaning agents to the condensate prior to the cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein the injection mechanism is coupled to the control mechanism such that the injection mechanism is triggered prior to the pump. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein the injection mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the air conditioner for addition and replacement of cleaning agents. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein the cleaning agent comprises one or more decalcifiers. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , where the pump is positioned within the interior of the drain pan. 
     
     
         11 . A self-cleaning system for an air conditioner, comprising:
 a drain pan installed on an evaporator side of the air conditioner, the drain pan operative to collect condensate from the evaporator side;   a pump coupled to the drain pan, the pump operative to pump the collected condensate through a set of piping; and   a plurality of spray nozzles installed on a condenser side of the air conditioner, the spray nozzles coupled to the set of piping and operative to spray the collected condensate over a condenser in the condenser side,   wherein the pump further comprises a control mechanism operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of pumping and spraying of the collected condensate.   
     
     
         12 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the control mechanism for the pump is comprised of: a float-based mechanism, a timer-based mechanism, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the control mechanism is a timer-based mechanism and is operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of a fixed time length. 
     
     
         14 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the control mechanism is a combination of a timer-based mechanism and a float-based mechanism where the timer-based mechanism is a primary control mechanism and the float-based mechanism is a secondary control mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the control mechanism may further be remotely operated. 
     
     
         16 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 11 , further comprising an injection mechanism to add one or more cleaning agents to the condensate prior to the cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         17 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 16 , wherein the injection mechanism is coupled to the control mechanism such that the injection mechanism is triggered prior to the pump. 
     
     
         18 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 16 , wherein the injection mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the air conditioner for addition and replacement of cleaning agents. 
     
     
         19 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning agent comprises one or more decalcifiers. 
     
     
         20 . The self-cleaning system of  claim 11 , where the pump is positioned within the interior of the drain pan. 
     
     
         21 . A kit for a self-cleaning system for an air conditioner, comprising:
 a drain pan for installation on an evaporator side of the air conditioner, the drain pan operative to collect condensate from the evaporator side of the air conditioner;   a pump coupled to the drain pan, the pump operative to pump the collected condensate through a set of piping; and   a plurality of spray nozzles for installation on a condenser side of the air conditioner, the spray nozzles coupled to the set of piping and operative to spray the collected condensate over a condenser in the condenser side,   wherein the pump further comprises a control mechanism operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of pumping and spraying of the collected condensate.   
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the control mechanism for the pump is comprised of:
 a float-based mechanism, a timer-based mechanism, and a combination thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the control mechanism is a timer-based mechanism and is operative to trigger a cleaning cycle of a fixed time length. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the control mechanism is a combination of a timer-based mechanism and a float-based mechanism where the timer-based mechanism is a primary control mechanism and the float-based mechanism is a secondary control mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the control mechanism may further be remotely operated. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 21 , further comprising an injection mechanism to add one or more cleaning agents to the condensate prior to the cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the injection mechanism is coupled to the control mechanism such that the injection mechanism is triggered prior to the pump. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the injection mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the air conditioner for addition and replacement of cleaning agents. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein the cleaning agent comprises one or more decalcifiers. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 21 , where the pump is positioned within the interior of the drain pan.