Chemical dispenser

• US 20060260704A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hydro Systems Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Sand, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/890
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/45 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/483 using water for diluting a liquid ingredient, obtaining a predetermined concentration or making an aqueous solution of a concentrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31232 used simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31243 Eductor or eductor-type venturi, i.e. the main flow being injected through the venturi with high speed in the form of a jet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87346 Including mixing feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87595 Combining of three or more diverse fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87603 Plural motivating fluid jets

Abstract

An improved chemical dispenser includes a plurality of eductors for drawing chemical into a diluent to produce an effluent, each eductor of the plurality selectively discharging via a baffle tube into a single common discharge tube. The effluent flow parameters are insufficient to cause effluent from a selected eductor to flow into a chemical source coupled to a non-selected eductor, and are insufficient to draw chemical from a non-selected eductor into the effluent from a selected eductor.

Claims

1. A dispenser for mixing a diluent and at least one chemical to form a mixed effluent and for discharging said effluent through at least one common discharge tube, said dispenser comprising:

at least two selectable eductors;

each of said eductors operatively coupled to at least one chemical source for drawing chemical into a diluent, selectively passing through each said eductor;

a common discharge tube;

each eductor operatively coupled to said common discharge tube;

each eductor selectively discharging an effluent of mixed chemical and diluent into said common discharge tube operatively connected to each of said eductors; and

discharge of effluent from a selected eductor being insufficient to cause flow of effluent from a selected eductor to a chemical source coupled to a non-selected eductor and being insufficient to draw chemical from a non-selected eductor into said effluent.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein each eductor includes a diffusion chamber;

a baffle tube operatively connected between said common discharge tube and the diffusion chambers of said at least two eductors;

a baffle in said baffle tube defining at least two baffle passages in said baffle tube, each baffle passage having an inlet end operatively coupled to one of said diffusion chambers; and

each baffle passage having an outlet end operatively connected to said common discharge tube for discharging effluent from each eductor into said common discharge tube.

3. A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein each baffle passage has a cross-sectional flow area, wherein said common discharge tube has a cross-sectional flow area, the ratios of cross-sectional flow area of said discharge tube to that of each respective baffle passage being such that effluent flow from a selected eductor into said discharge tube is insufficient to cause a pressure drop in a baffle passage coupled to a non-selected eductor drawing chemical into said effluent from a non-selected eductor.

4. A dispenser as in claim 3 wherein the ratios of said cross-sectional flow of said discharge tube to the cross-sectional flow area of said baffle passages is such that insufficient pressure is created by effluent flow from a selected eductor to force effluent from a selected eductor into the chemical source coupled to a non-selected eductor.

5. A dispenser as in claim 1 including a second discharge tube and wherein at least a third eductor is constructed to produce a different effluent flow rate than said at least two eductors, said third eductor operably connected to said second discharge tube.

6. A dispenser as in claim 5 wherein each eductor includes an effluent deflecting member for causing flooding of each eductor upon passage of a diluent therethrough and wherein the effluent deflecting member of said at least two eductors varies in shape from the effluent deflecting member of said third eductor.

7. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein said eductors are disposed in a single, integral, proportioner body.

8. A dispenser as in claim 1 including at least two sets of eductors, one set of eductors each producing effluent at a similar flow rate when selected and another set of at least one eductor producing a different effluent flow rate, and two discharge tubes, a set of eductors of similar flow rates operably connected to a single common discharge tube.

9. A method of dispensing an effluent of diluent and a chemical therein comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one eductor from a plurality of eductors in a proportioner body by introducing diluent thereto;

drawing a chemical into said diluent in a selected eductor;

discharging said effluent into and from a common discharge tube;

selecting another eductor from said plurality by selectively introducing diluent thereto;

drawing a chemical into said diluent in said other eductor; and

discharging effluent flow from said other eductor into and from said common discharge tube.

10. A method as in claim 9 including the further step of discharging effluent from a selected eductor into a baffle tube, then into said common discharge tube at such a rate as to prevent pressurization of a non-selected eductor by discharging effluent, and at the same time, at such a rate as to prevent suction of chemical from said non-selected eductor.

11. A method as in claim 10 including the further steps of selecting at least one other eductor from other than said plurality and discharging effluent therefrom into another discharge tube.