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US5647391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sensing arrangement for sensing the addition of reactants to a solution
Assignee: Diversey IP International BV
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Filing: 1996-04-11
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Granted: 1997-07-15
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Expires: 2016-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A sensing arrangement for sensing the addition of reactants to a solution within a tank which includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets. The first inlet is configured to supply a first reactant to the tank and the second inlet is configured to supply a second reactant to the tank. The sensing arrangement comprises a detector, such as a conductivity detector or an ion concentration detector, having a probe for measuring the presence of the reactants in the solution within the tank. The probe is positioned substantially adjacent the second inlet. The detector provides a mechanism for measuring the presence of and concentration of the first reactant in the solution while the first reactant is added to and mixed with the solution. The detector also provides a mechanism for measuring the presence of the second reactant in a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Cedric Chan
- 👤 James Livingston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:41
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/02; G05D11/13; G05D11/135; G05D11/138; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324; Y10T137/0329; Y10T137/034; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499; Y10T137/2509; Y10T137/2514; Y10T137/2521; Y10T137/2529
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for controlling the mixing of a solution comprising: a) a tank including a first and a second inlet, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank, and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank; b) a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of the first and second reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets; c) a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned in the tank substantially adjacent the second inlet such that the probe substantially immediately detects the addition of the second reactant when the second reactant is added to the solution, the detector providing a mechanism for measuring the concentration of the reactants within the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and the detector providing a mechanism for detecting the addition of the second reactant within a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for controlling the mixing of a solution comprising: a) a tank including a first and a second inlet, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank, and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank; b) a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of the first and second reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets; c) a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned in the tank substantially adjacent the second inlet such that the probe substantially immediately detects the addition of the second reactant when the second reactant is added to the solution, the detector providing a mechanism for measuring the concentration of the reactants within the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and the detector providing a mechanism for detecting the addition of the second reactant within a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector is a conductivity detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector is an ion concentration detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus is a washing machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus is a dish washing machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first and second reactants are a two part detergent, the first reactant being a chemical energy component of the two part detergent made up of sodium hydroxide and water and the second reactant is a chelant component of the two part detergent made up of a sequestering agent and water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
238 words
A sensing arrangement for sensing the addition of reactants to a solution within a tank, the tank including a first inlet, a second inlet, and a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank, the arrangement comprising: a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned substantially adjacent the second inlet such that the probe substantially immediately detects the addition of the second reactant when the second reactant is added to the solution, the detector providing a mechanism for measuring the concentration of the reactants in the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and the detector providing a mechanism for detecting the addition of the second reactant in a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting the verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
238 words
A sensing arrangement for sensing the addition of reactants to a solution within a tank, the tank including a first inlet, a second inlet, and a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank, the arrangement comprising: a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned substantially adjacent the second inlet such that the probe substantially immediately detects the addition of the second reactant when the second reactant is added to the solution, the detector providing a mechanism for measuring the concentration of the reactants in the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and the detector providing a mechanism for detecting the addition of the second reactant in a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting the verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the detector is a detector selected from the group consisting of a conductivity detector and an ion concentration detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the tank is a dish washing machine tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein the first and second reactants are a two part detergent in which the first reactant is a chemical energy component of the two part detergent including sodium hydroxide and water and the second reactant is a chelant component of the two part detergent including a sequestering agent and water.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for controlling the mixing of a solution, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a tank including a first and a second inlet, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank, and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank; b) providing a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of the first and second reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets; c) providing a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned in the tank substantially adjacent the second inlet, d) using the detector, measuring the concentration of the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and e) using the detector, detecting the addition of the second reactant in a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby substantially immediately detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting the verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for controlling the mixing of a solution, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a tank including a first and a second inlet, the first inlet being configured to supply a first reactant to the tank, and the second inlet being configured to supply a second reactant to the tank; b) providing a reactant supply controller for controlling the addition of the first and second reactants into the tank through the first and second inlets; c) providing a detector having a probe for measuring the ionic concentration of the reactants in the solution within the tank, the probe being positioned in the tank substantially adjacent the second inlet, d) using the detector, measuring the concentration of the solution while the first reactant is added to and allowed to mix with the solution such that the detector substantially detects the ionic concentration of the mixed solution, and e) using the detector, detecting the addition of the second reactant in a portion of the solution substantially adjacent the second inlet as the second reactant is being added to the solution thereby substantially immediately detecting the influx of the second reactant as it is introduced into the tank thereby permitting the verification of the influx of the second reactant in real time without having to wait for mixing to occur.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the detector is a conductivity detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the detector is an ion concentration detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the detector is in communication with the reactant supply controller and wherein the steps of measuring the concentration and influx of the reactants in the solution include the step of providing the information from the detector to the reactant supply controller to determine whether more reactants need to be added to the solution to obtain the desired concentrations of reactants.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein during the steps of measuring the influx of the reactants in the solution, if the influx of the reactants are not detected, the controller initiates a predetermined action.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the tank is a washing machine tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the tank is a dish washing machine tank.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the first and second reactants are a two part detergent in which the first reactant is a chemical energy component of the two part detergent including sodium hydroxide and water and the second reactant is chelant component of the two part detergent including a sequestering agent and water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-14 | 2001-01-13 | 2001-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-14 | 2005-01-13 | 2005-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-14 | 2009-01-13 | 2009-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |