US3604630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic lather generator and dispenser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-23
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An automatic lather generator and dispenser for objects undergoing laundering, as motor vehicles, and including means for preparing and maintaining a nonpressurized supply of concentrated aqueous detergent solution. The solution is pressurized and intimately mixed with pressurized air before release and expansion as a thick stable lather into a closed storage chamber. The storage chamber is maintained full of fresh lather so that the formation of fresh lather displaces other lather through flow restrictor means onto the object undergoing laundering. Lather generation and dispensing is initiated automatically as the object advances and actuates control means governing the supply of pressurized air and detergent solution and terminates as the object passes.
Inventors
- 👤 Nick Conti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A substantially closed lather generator for use in automatic vehicle-laundering equipment comprising an elongated lather expansion and storage chamber closed except for lather-dispensing port means adjacent one end thereof, unitary means remote from said lather-dispensing means with nonmoving parts for simultaneously jetting air and liquid detergent lathering solution in finely divided form against foraminous material and into the adjacent area of said laTher expansion chamber, and separate means for supplying compressed air at several p.s.i. and pressurized lathering solution to said unitary jetting means to generate a stable lather and for maintaining sufficient air pressure at the closed end of said chamber to dispense lather from said dispensing port means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A substantially closed lather generator for use in automatic vehicle-laundering equipment comprising an elongated lather expansion and storage chamber closed except for lather-dispensing port means adjacent one end thereof, unitary means remote from said lather-dispensing means with nonmoving parts for simultaneously jetting air and liquid detergent lathering solution in finely divided form against foraminous material and into the adjacent area of said laTher expansion chamber, and separate means for supplying compressed air at several p.s.i. and pressurized lathering solution to said unitary jetting means to generate a stable lather and for maintaining sufficient air pressure at the closed end of said chamber to dispense lather from said dispensing port means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said lather expansion and storage chamber is in continuous communication with the atmosphere by way of said lather-dispensing port means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said foraminous material comprises multiple layers of fine mesh screen through which said pressurized liquid lathering solution and air passes into said lather expansion and storage chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said lather expansion and storage chamber is tubular and opens at one end into a tubular substantially closed flow restrictor chamber of substantially smaller diameter having at least one valveless lather-dispensing port in the sidewall thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said unitary jetting means and said foraminous material are mounted centrally of the closed end of said tubular lather storage chamber and remote from the entrance into said flow restrictor chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said expansion chamber extends generally vertically and said tubular flow restrictor chamber extends generally horizontally from the lather outlet end of said expansion chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said lather-dispensing port means comprises an elongated flow restrictor chamber having an internal cross-sectional area which is relatively small compared to the cross-sectional area of said lather expansion and storage means, and at least one lather-dispensing port having a cross-sectional area a small fraction of the cross-sectional area of said flow restrictor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said lather-generating and storage chamber comprises a relatively large diameter upright tube opening near the lower end thereof into a generally horizontally disposed tubular flow restrictor chamber of substantially smaller cross-sectional area and provided with lather-dispensing port means at a level above the interior bottom surface thereof to trap liquid-lathering solution until the same expands into a lather.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of a plurality of valveless normally open lather-dispensing openings disposed and sized to dispense an array of lather slugs therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that unitary air- and liquid-jetting means comprises a main housing having an adjustable normally open needle valve controlling a lather solution outlet port opening axially into said lather expansion chamber, and said main housing having a valveless air outlet means for jetting compressed air into the jet of lathering solution issuing past said needle valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said needle valve includes control means manipulatable from the exterior of said expansion chamber to vary the size of the flow passage for said lathering solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said air outlet means comprises a radially narrow annular port closely concentric to the jet of lathering solution issuing past said needle valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said air- and liquid-jetting means is mounted on the interior side of an end cap sealed to one end of said expansion chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said foraminous material is detachably mounted over the discharge end of said air- and liquid-jetting means in the path of the air and lathering solutioN jets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1, characterized in the provision of control means for simultaneously initiating and discontinuing the jetting of air and lathering solution into said expansion chamber whereby said expansion and storage chamber remains full of lather at the end of a lather-generating cycle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A foam generator as defined in claim 15, characterized in the provision of means normally biasing said control means to the closed position thereof, and actuator means for holding said control means in the open position thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 16 characterized in that said actuator means for said control means is positioned sufficiently close to said lather-dispensing port means that the movement of an object into position to receive dispensed lather is positioned to hold said actuator means in the open position for said control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 17 characterized in that said actuator means includes off-on switch means normally biased to one position thereof and having means extending into the path of a vehicle moving past said lather-dispensing port means and operable by contact with the vehicle to hold said switch means in the other of said off-on positions so long as the vehicle is in actuating contact therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for supplying lathering solution to said unitary jetting means includes: means storing a supply of liquid detergent, tank means for storing a limited intermixed supply of water and liquid detergent, pump means for withdrawing said intermixed water and detergent from said tank means and introducing the same into said unitary jetting means under pressure, and means responsive to the withdrawal of intermixed water and liquid detergent from said tank means to replenish into said tank means proportionate quantities of water from a supply thereof and liquid detergent from said stored supply.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for supplying lathering solution to said unitary jetting means comprises: means for utilizing a pressurized source of water to entrain a predetermined proportionate quantity of liquid detergent into a storage chamber for lathering solution and operable to replenish said lathering solution in response to the withdrawal of lathering solution from said storage chamber, and pump means for introducing lathering solution from said storage chamber into said unitary jetting means under pressure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 20 characterized in that said pump means comprises a nonpositive-displacement pump operating continuously and irrespective of the demand for lathering solution and including pressure-relief valve means operable to return lathering solution to said storage chamber until there is a demand for lathering solution at said lather expansion and storage chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 21 characterized in the provision of normally closed control valve means for each of said separate means for supplying pressurized air and lathering solution to said unitary jetting means, and means for opening and closing each of said control valve means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 21 characterized in that said means for opening and closing each of said control valves operates both control valves substantially in unison.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lather generator as defined in claim 19 characterized in that each of said means for storing liquid detergent and lathering solution is under atmospheric pressure.
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) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |