US5203366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for mixing and dispensing chemical concentrates at point of use
Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-05
•
Granted: 1993-04-20
•
Expires: 2012-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A modular apparatus (10) for preparing dilute chemical compositions at the point of use, e.g., a customer's plant, is disclosed. The apparatus has upstream and downstream ends and includes an axial manifold (52) having a plurality inlet ports extending radially toward the center of the manifold, a valve (53) operatively connected to each inlet port, component supply conduits (18) operatively connected to the valve (53), at least one component supply vessel heater (23) proximate at least one liquid component supply container (12), a pump (56) in fluid communication with the manifold (52) to draw the liquid components into and through the manifold (52), a microprocessor controller (11) in communication with the valves (53) and (61) and pump (56), a flowmeter (60) in communication with the microprocessor (11) downstream of the manifold (52), a three-way valve (61) in fluid communication with the pump (55), and a container (70) which is in fluid communication with the three-way valve (61 ) in which the chemical composition is formed. Also disclosed is a method for dispensing aqueous cleaning compositions at a point of use.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Czeck
- 👤 Douglas S. Hoerning
- 👤 Richard J. Mehus
- 👤 Timothy A. Gutzmann
- 👤 Richard O. Ruhr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:45
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F35/00; B01F35/80; B01F35/88; B01F35/882; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/49; B01F33/00; B01F33/80; B01F33/84; B01F35/20; B01F35/21; B01F35/211; B01F35/2111; B01F35/21112; B01F35/22; B01F35/221; B01F35/2211; B01F35/2216; B01F35/22162; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324; Y10T137/0329; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6606; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86815; Y10T137/86823
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for forming chemical compositions, the method comprising: (a) selecting a composition to be produced using a microprocessor controller; (b) delivering a plurality of liquid components by energizing a plurality of liquid component supply valves while energizing a positive displacement pump to sequentially draw the liquid components through the manifold; (c) directing predetermined quantities of the liquid components into a container at a filling station to form the chemical composition; (d) directing excess quantities of the liquid components away from the container; (e) measuring the flow of the liquid components delivered; (f) measuring the delivery time of the liquid components; and (g) reporting the liquid component flow and time measurements to the microprocessor controller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for forming chemical compositions, the method comprising: (a) selecting a composition to be produced using a microprocessor controller; (b) delivering a plurality of liquid components by energizing a plurality of liquid component supply valves while energizing a positive displacement pump to sequentially draw the liquid components through the manifold; (c) directing predetermined quantities of the liquid components into a container at a filling station to form the chemical composition; (d) directing excess quantities of the liquid components away from the container; (e) measuring the flow of the liquid components delivered; (f) measuring the delivery time of the liquid components; and (g) reporting the liquid component flow and time measurements to the microprocessor controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the time of delivery of the liquid components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising controlling the volume of the liquid components delivered wherein delivery errors are detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the volume of the liquid components delivered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising controlling the time of delivery of the liquid components wherein delivery errors are detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising directing a liquid component away from the container to establish a steady liquid flow, then directing the predetermined amount of the liquid component to the container, and again directing the liquid component away from the container, wherein delivery accuracy of low delivery amounts is achieved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising flushing the manifold with one of the liquid components after delivery of the other components is essentially complete.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the flushing component is water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the water flush is directed to a drain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the water flush is directed into the dilute chemical composition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for forming chemical compositions, the method comprising: (a) selecting a liquid composition prepared from selected liquid components to be produced using a microprocessor controller; (b) opening a liquid component supply valve while energizing a positive displacement pump to draw a liquid component through the manifold; (c) measuring the flow of the liquid component delivered; (d) measuring the delivery time of the liquid component; (e) reporting the liquid component flow and time measurements to the microprocessor controller; (f) closing the liquid component supply valve after a predetermined quantity of the liquid as measured by the flow detection device; (g) insuring the closure of the liquid component supply valve after a predetermined time; (h) directing the predetermined quantity of the liquid component into a container at a filling station; and (i) repeating steps (b)-(h) for each component in the liquid composition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for forming chemical compositions, the method comprising: (a) selecting a liquid composition prepared from selected liquid components to be produced using a microprocessor controller; (b) opening a liquid component supply valve while energizing a positive displacement pump to draw a liquid component through the manifold; (c) measuring the flow of the liquid component delivered; (d) measuring the delivery time of the liquid component; (e) reporting the liquid component flow and time measurements to the microprocessor controller; (f) closing the liquid component supply valve after a predetermined quantity of the liquid as measured by the flow detection device; (g) insuring the closure of the liquid component supply valve after a predetermined time; (h) directing the predetermined quantity of the liquid component into a container at a filling station; and (i) repeating steps (b)-(h) for each component in the liquid composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising flushing the manifold with one of the liquid components after delivery of the other components is essentially complete.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for preparing chemical compositions, the apparatus having upstream and downstream ends comprising: (a) a manifold having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends, the manifold defining a bore extending longitudinally through the first and second ends and having a plurality radial inlet ports extending radially inward to the longitudinal bore, the inlet ports being arranged and configured in an equidistant manner with respect to the second end of the longitudinal bore whereby the radial inlet ports and axial manifold provide an essentially constant geometry for components delivered through the radial inlet ports; (b) valve means operatively connected to the inlet ports; (c) components supply means operatively connected to the valve means wherein liquid components are transported from liquid component supply containers to the manifold; (d) pump means in fluid communication with the manifold to draw liquid components into and through the manifold; (e) microprocessor means in communication with the valve means and pump means; (f) a flow measurement device in communication with the microprocessor means downstream of the manifold; and (g) three-way valve means in fluid communication with the pump means and having two outlet conduits.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for preparing chemical compositions, the apparatus having upstream and downstream ends comprising: (a) a manifold having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends, the manifold defining a bore extending longitudinally through the first and second ends and having a plurality radial inlet ports extending radially inward to the longitudinal bore, the inlet ports being arranged and configured in an equidistant manner with respect to the second end of the longitudinal bore whereby the radial inlet ports and axial manifold provide an essentially constant geometry for components delivered through the radial inlet ports; (b) valve means operatively connected to the inlet ports; (c) components supply means operatively connected to the valve means wherein liquid components are transported from liquid component supply containers to the manifold; (d) pump means in fluid communication with the manifold to draw liquid components into and through the manifold; (e) microprocessor means in communication with the valve means and pump means; (f) a flow measurement device in communication with the microprocessor means downstream of the manifold; and (g) three-way valve means in fluid communication with the pump means and having two outlet conduits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the inlet port valve means comprises a pneumatic valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein flow measurement device is located downstream of the manifold and upstream of the pump means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the three-way valve is located downstream of the pump means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising component heating means proximate at least one liquid component supply container.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a container in fluid communication with one of the outlet conduits of the three-way valve means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2823833A
Cited
US3034685A
Cited
US3460717A
Cited
US3670785A
Cited
US3826905A
Cited
US3797744A
Cited
US3930598A
Cited
US4090475A
Cited
US4163523A
Cited
US4372666A
Cited
EP0097458A2
Cited
US4538222A
Cited
US4691850A
Cited
EP0196398A2
Cited
US4671892A
Cited
US4941596A
Cited
US4845965A
Cited
US5020917A
Cited
US4989637A
Cited
US4976137A
Cited
US5027284A
Cited
US5056686A
Cited
US5056686B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-19 | 1996-10-19 | 1997-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-19 | 2000-10-19 | 2001-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-19 | 2004-10-19 | 2005-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |