US4937559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air conditioner drain blockage alarm
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-21
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Granted: 1990-06-26
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Expires: 2009-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An air conditioner drain blockage alarm system which is designed for application to both horizontally and vertically-mounted heating and air conditioning units, which alarm includes in a preferred embodiment, both a normally open drain line liquid level switch and a normally closed drain pan liquid level switch for sensing blockage of a drain line in both the drain line itself and in the condensate drain pan which collects condensate from the air conditioning unit. In addition to the drain line and drain pan liquid level switches, the system is characterized by an alarm which audibly indicates a high water condition in either the condensate drain pan or the drain line and a manual override switch for manually silencing the alarm. In a preferred embodiment, the system is wired through the existing thermostat in the heating and air conditioning unit to facilitate deactivating the air conditioning system by the drain pan liquid level switch when the condensate drain pan is subject to overflow.
Inventors
- 👤 Huey W. Meacham
- 👤 Bradley J. Meacham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:38
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F13/00; F24F13/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water condensate and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining the water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line, vent means provided in said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch for venting air from said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch and alarm means electrically connected to said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said liquid level magnetic reed switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch is closed, and a normally closed liquid level switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed liquid level switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan and opens said normally closed liquid level switch responsive to blockage of the drain line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water condensate and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining the water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line, vent means provided in said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch for venting air from said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch and alarm means electrically connected to said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said liquid level magnetic reed switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open liquid level magnetic reed switch is closed, and a normally closed liquid level switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed liquid level switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan and opens said normally closed liquid level switch responsive to blockage of the drain line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 1 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 1 wherein said normally closed liquid level switch further comprises a magnetic reed switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 1 further comprising a manual override switch electrically connected to the transformer and said alarm means for manually terminating operation of said alarm means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 4 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage system of claim 4 wherein said alarm means further comprises a visual alarm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air conditioner drain blockage system of claim 4 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm and a visual alarm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
208 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open liquid level switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line; vent means extending from said normally open liquid level switch to the drain line for venting air from said normally open liquid level switch to the drain line; alarm means electrically connected to said normally open liquid level switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said liquid level switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open liquid level switch is closed; and a normally closed liquid level switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed liquid level switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally closed liquid level switch is opened.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
208 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open liquid level switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line; vent means extending from said normally open liquid level switch to the drain line for venting air from said normally open liquid level switch to the drain line; alarm means electrically connected to said normally open liquid level switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said liquid level switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open liquid level switch is closed; and a normally closed liquid level switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed liquid level switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally closed liquid level switch is opened.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 8 wherein said normally open liquid level switch and said normally closed liquid level switch each further comprise a magnetic reed switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 8 further comprising a manual override switch electrically connected to the transformer and said alarm means for manually terminating operation of said alarm means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 8 wherein said normally open liquid level switch and said normally closed liquid level switch each further comprise a magnetic reed switch and further comprising a manual override switch electrically connected to the transformer and said alarm means for manually terminating sounding of said alarm means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 11 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 11 wherein said alarm means further comprises a visual alarm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 11 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm and a visual alarm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air conditioner drain blockage system of claim 14 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm and a visual alarm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
220 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open magnetic reed float switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line; a vent line extending from said normally open magnetic reed float switch to the drain line for venting air from said normally open magnetic reed float switch to the drain line; alarm means electrically connected to said normally open magnetic reed float switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said normally open magnetic reed float switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open magnetic reed float switch is closed; and a normally closed magnetic reed float switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed magnetic reed float switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally closed magnetic reed float switch is opened.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
220 words
An air conditioner drain blockage alarm for an air conditioning unit having a thermostat, a transformer for reducing the electric current and voltage applied to the thermostat, a drain pan for collecting water and a drain line attached to the drain pan for draining water from the drain pan, said alarm comprising a normally open magnetic reed float switch attached to the drain line in water-communication with the drain line; a vent line extending from said normally open magnetic reed float switch to the drain line for venting air from said normally open magnetic reed float switch to the drain line; alarm means electrically connected to said normally open magnetic reed float switch, whereby said alarm means is electrically activated when water fills said normally open magnetic reed float switch to a predetermined level responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally open magnetic reed float switch is closed; and a normally closed magnetic reed float switch attached to said drain pan, said normally closed magnetic reed float switch electrically connected to the thermostat and the transformer, whereby the thermostat is deactivated to terminate operation of the air conditioning unit when water rises to a predetermined level in the drain pan responsive to blockage of the drain line and said normally closed magnetic reed float switch is opened.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The air conditioner drain blockage alarm of claim 16 wherein said alarm means further comprises an audible alarm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-25 | 1993-12-25 | 1994-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-25 | 1997-12-25 | 1998-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-25 | 2001-12-25 | 2002-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |