Antimicrobial batch dilution system

• US 10,640,403 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Silver, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Applied Silver, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, David E., Morham, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Spamer, Donald R
• Application Number:
  US15/180,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/26 Textiles, e.g. towels, beds, cloths
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/74 with air aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 31/00 Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/008 for disinfecting the tub or the drum
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 : by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 : With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

An antimicrobial supply system employs a process water supply and incorporates a metallic ion supply connected to the process water supply to provide a high ion concentrate to an output. A dilution reservoir is connected to the metallic ion supply output and has an input from the process water supply. A pump is connected to an output of the reservoir. A manifold connected to the pump provides a dilute concentrate to at least one washing system and a recirculation loop to the dilution reservoir for enhanced mixing of the dilute concentrate. An electronics control module is connected to a first flow controller between the process water supply and the metallic ion supply and a second flow controller between the metallic ion supply and the reservoir for dilution control establishing a desired metallic ion concentration.

Claims

1. An antimicrobial supply system comprising:

a metallic ion supply comprising a high metal ion concentrate supply and an output for providing the high metal ion concentrate;

a dilution reservoir, wherein the dilution reservoir is a bulk reservoir, in fluid connection to the output of the metallic ion supply and having an input from a process water supply, and wherein the dilution reservoir is configured to form a dilute concentrate from (i) a process water received from a process water supply via the input of the dilution reservoir and (ii) the high metal ion concentrate received from the metallic ion supply via the output of the metallic ion supply;

a concentration probe in the dilution reservoir and configured to measure an ion concentration of the dilute concentrate in the dilution reservoir;

an output of the dilution reservoir coupled to at least one washing system; and

,

an electronics control module connected to (i) a first flow controller between a process water supply and the dilution reservoir and (ii) a second flow controller between the metallic ion supply and the dilution reservoir,

wherein the electronics control module is configured to;

receive, from the concentration probe, an indication of the ion concentration of the dilute concentrate in the dilution reservoir, and

control, based on the indication of the ion concentration, the first flow controller and the second flow controller to achieve a desired ion concentration of the dilute concentrate in the dilution reservoir.

2. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 1, wherein the electronics control module is connected to a third flow controller that controls the flow of the dilute concentrate to the at least one wash system.

3. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 1, further comprising a deionizer for process water.

4. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 1, further comprising a reverse osmosis filter for process water.

5. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with the electronics control module,

wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a water temperature sensor, a water pressure sensor, an air pressure sensor, or a flow sensor.

6. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the sensor consists of the water temperature sensor.

7. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the sensor consists of the water pressure sensor.

8. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the sensor consists of the air pressure sensor.

9. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the sensor consists of the flow sensor, wherein senses a flow of the dilute concentrate supplied from the dilution reservoir to a manifold.

10. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the electronics control module is configured to:

receive data from the sensor; and

log the data received from the sensor.

11. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the electronics control module is configured to:

receive data from the sensor;

determine that the data received from the sensor deviates from a parameter associated with the sensor; and

responsive to a determination that the data received from the sensor deviates from the parameter, transmit, via a communication network, an alert signal to a remote system.

12. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 11, wherein the electronics control module is configured to:

receive, via the communication network, a control signal; and

responsive to the control signal, adjust the parameter associated with the sensor.

13. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 5, wherein the electronics control module is configured to:

receive data from the sensor;

transmit, via a communication network, the data to a remote monitoring system.

14. The antimicrobial supply system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold coupling the output of the dilution reservoir to the at least one washing system.