Solid product dispenser

• US 20070253876A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Carlson, Brian P., Limback, Scott R., Berg, Thomas P., Williams, Kristine J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/266
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• 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: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/4021 in the form of tablets stored in containers, canisters or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/316 with containers for additional components fixed to the conduit
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2115 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/718051 being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

A solid product dispenser includes a housing and a product holder. The housing includes a concentrated solution outlet, a diluent outlet, and an outlet tube in which concentrated solution from the concentrated solution outlet and diluent from the diluent outlet are mixed to form a use solution. Proximate the housing and the product holder is an overflow outlet from which a vacuum breaker is at least 3.50 inches.

Claims

1. A solid product dispensing assembly for dispensing a solid product with a pressurized diluent, comprising:

a) a first housing having a top, a first cavity, and at least a portion a manifold within the first cavity, the top adapted and configured to support the solid product, the manifold having a first passageway, a second passageway, and a second cavity;

b) a first diluent inlet adapted and configured to receive the pressurized diluent and in fluid communication with the first passageway;

c) a second diluent inlet adapted and configured to receive the pressurized diluent and in fluid communication with the second passageway and the second cavity;

d) a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the first passageway and the first cavity;

e) a concentrated solution outlet in fluid communication with the first cavity;

f) a diluent outlet within the concentrated solution outlet and in fluid communication with the second cavity; and

g) wherein the pressurized diluent is in fluid communication with the first diluent inlet and the second diluent inlet, wherein a portion of the diluent flows through the first diluent inlet into the first passageway, into the spray nozzle which sprays the diluent onto the solid product to create a concentrated solution, and the concentrated solution flows through the first cavity into the concentrated solution outlet, and wherein another portion of the diluent flows through the second diluent inlet into the second passageway, into the second cavity, and into the diluent outlet, the diluent flowing through the diluent outlet at a rate sufficient to create a venturi effect to draw the concentrated solution out of the concentrated solution outlet, the diluent and the concentrated solution flowing out of the diluent outlet and the concentrated solution outlet respectively substantially concurrently and mixing outside of the respective outlets to create a use solution.

2. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the diluent flows through the first diluent inlet at a rate of up to 1.0 gpm and the diluent flows through the second diluent inlet at a rate of up to 4.0 gpm.

3. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising the manifold having a third passageway and a third diluent inlet adapted and configured to receive the pressurized diluent and in fluid communication with the third passageway and the second cavity, wherein the pressurized diluent is in fluid communication with the third diluent inlet, wherein another portion of the diluent flows through the third diluent inlet into the third passageway, into the second cavity, and into the diluent outlet.

4. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 3, wherein the diluent flows out of the diluent outlet at a rate of up to 8.0 gpm, the concentrated use solution flows out of the concentrated use solution outlet at a rate of up to 1.0 gpm, and the use solution flows at a rate of up to 9.0 gpm.

5. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 3, wherein the concentrated use solution outlet has an inner diameter of approximately 0.54 to 0.60 inch and the diluent outlet has an inner diameter of approximately 0.35 to 0.41 inch and an outer diameter of approximately 0.45 to 0.50 inch thereby creating a space between the diluent outlet and the concentrated use solution outlet of approximately 0.03 and 0.07 inch.

6. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 5, wherein the diluent flows out of the diluent outlet at a rate of up to 8.0 gpm, the concentrated use solution flows out of the concentrated use solution outlet through the space between the diluent outlet and the concentrated use solution outlet at a rate of up to 1.0 gpm, and the use solution flows at a rate of up to 9.0 gpm.

7. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 3, further comprising a temperature control valve in fluid communication with the third diluent inlet, wherein the temperature control valve allows diluent to flow through the third diluent inlet when the diluent reaches approximately 105 to 120°

F. and the temperature control valve prevents diluent from flowing through the third diluent inlet when the diluent is below approximately 105 to 120°

F.

8. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 3, wherein the diluent flows through the second passageway at a rate of up to 4.0 gpm and the diluent flows through the third passageway at a rate of up to 4.0 gpm.

9. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a solid product having a first shape.

10. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 9, further comprising a product housing having a product holder, the product holder having a third cavity with a second shape corresponding with the first shape of the solid product, the first shape being a smaller scale than the second shape, the third cavity being configured and arranged to receive the solid product, the first and second shapes creating a lock-out to assist in preventing another solid product from being placed within the third cavity.

11. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 10, wherein the first shape and the second shape are squares.

12. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 11, wherein the solid product is a floor care product.

13. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 10, wherein the first shape and the second shape are pentagons.

14. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 13, wherein the solid product is an all purpose cleaner.

15. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 10, wherein the first shape and the second shape are hexagons.

16. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 15, wherein the solid product is a sanitizer.

17. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a product housing including a product holder having a bottom and an overflow outlet proximate the bottom, the bottom and the overflow outlet being proximate a bottom surface of the solid product thereby lowering a flood plane of the solid product dispensing assembly.

18. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

a) an extension flange extending downward from proximate the bottom of the product holder;

b) a base portion operatively connected to the bottom of the product holder;

c) a support flange supported by the top of the first housing;

d) a railing extending upward from proximate the support flange; and

e) an angled portion proximate the railing extending upward toward the product holder at an angle and creating an overflow outlet proximate the product holder, the extension flange and the angled portion preventing diluent sprayed onto the bottom surface of the solid product from exiting the overflow outlet.

19. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 18, wherein the angle is approximately 38 to 46°

.

20. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 18, wherein the overflow outlet is a slot having a width of 0.020 to 0.045 inch and a height of 0.100 to 0.130 inch.

21. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 18, further comprising a connector interconnecting the extension flange, the railing, and the support flange.

22. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 18, wherein the flood plane is proximate a height of the railing.

23. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 22, further comprising a vacuum breaker approximately 3.50 inches from the flood plane.

24. The solid product dispensing assembly of claim 18, wherein the railing extends around the overflow outlet.

25. A product housing for use with a solid product, a solid product dispenser, and a vacuum breaker, the solid product having a bottom surface and being dispensed in the solid product dispenser, comprising:

a) a product holder having a bottom, the product holder being configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom, the product holder being positioned above the solid product dispenser and below the vacuum breaker;

b) an overflow outlet proximate the bottom; and

c) a flood plane proximate the overflow outlet, the vacuum breaker being at least approximately 3.50 inches from the flood plane.

26. The product housing of claim 25, further comprising:

a) an extension flange extending downward from proximate the bottom of the product holder;

b) a base portion operatively connected to the bottom of the product holder;

c) a support flange supported by the top of the first housing;

d) a railing extending upward from proximate the support flange; and

e) an angled portion proximate the railing extending upward toward the product holder at an angle and creating an overflow outlet proximate the product holder, the extension flange and the angled portion preventing diluent sprayed onto the bottom surface of the solid product from exiting the overflow outlet.

27. The product housing of claim 26, wherein the angle is approximately 38 to 46°

.

28. The product housing of claim 26, wherein the overflow outlet is a slot having a width of 0.020 to 0.045 inch and a height of 0.100 to 0.130 inch.

29. The product housing of claim 26, further comprising a connector interconnecting the extension flange, the railing, and the support flange.

30. The product housing of claim 26, further comprising a flood plane proximate a height of the railing.

31. The product housing of claim 30, further comprising a vacuum breaker approximately 3.50 inches from the flood plane.

32. The product housing of claim 26, further comprising a solid product having a first shape and the product holder having a third cavity with a second shape corresponding with the first shape of the solid product, the first shape being a smaller scale than the second shape, the third cavity being configured and arranged to receive the solid product, the first and second shapes creating a lock-out to assist in preventing another solid product from being placed within the third cavity.

33. The product housing of claim 32, wherein the first shape and the second shape are squares.

34. The product housing of claim 33, wherein the solid product is a floor care product.

35. The product housing of claim 32, wherein the first shape and the second shape are pentagons.

36. The product housing of claim 35, wherein the solid product is an all purpose cleaner.

37. The product housing of claim 32, wherein the first shape and the second shape are hexagons.

38. The product housing of claim 37, wherein the solid product is a sanitizer.