APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALIBRATING A LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20120024080A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: CARBONE, HENRY L. II, MEHUS, RICHARD J., TAUER, KEVIN C., SKIRDA, ANATOLY, TOKHTUEV, EUGENE, CHRISTENSEN, WILLIAM M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.04
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/214 characterised by the means for measuring
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 3/10 Geared or lobed impeller meters

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system providing for calibration and/or control of a liquid dispensing system is disclosed. The hand-held calibration auditing tool includes a flow meter (36-37) with inlets adapted for quick connection to one or more liquid inputs to a liquid dispensing system (10). A sensor (94-95) having a data output of liquid flow information for a liquid input to the dispensing system (10) is operably connected to a controller (12) to receive the liquid flow information for the liquid input. The controller (12) provides a dilution rate and other liquid flow information for a liquid product input to a dispenser.

Claims

1. A handheld tool for calibrating and auditing a liquid dispensing system, comprising:

a flow meter having;

a. an inlet with a connector adapted for connecting the inlet of the flow meter in-line to one or more liquid inputs to a liquid dispensing system; and

b. a sensor having a data output of liquid flow information for a liquid input to the dispensing system.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a first flow meter having an inlet with a quick-connector adapted for connecting the inlet of the first flow meter in-line to a first liquid input of the liquid dispensing system;

b. a second flow meter having an inlet with a quick-connector adapted for connecting the inlet of the second flow meter in-line to a second liquid input of the liquid dispensing system.

3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the flow meters includes means for dampening in-line pressure pulses.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein the dampening means comprises a bladder at the outlet of the flow meter.

5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the dampening means comprises a length of flexible wall tubing at the outlet of the flow meter.

6. The tool of claim 3 wherein the dampening means comprises a check valve at the outlet of the flow meter.

7. The tool of claim 1 further comprising a controller operably connected to the data output of the sensor to receive the liquid flow information for a liquid input.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein said operable connection comprises a data link configured to connect the data output of the sensor to the controller to receive flow information.

9. The tool of claim 7 wherein one liquid input comprises a liquid product and another liquid input comprises a liquid diluent.

10. The tool of claim 8 wherein the controller has at least a dilution rate output comprising a dilution ratio between the liquid product and the liquid diluent.

11. The tool of claim 7 wherein the controller comprises a handheld controller having a readout to display the liquid flow information.

12. The tool of claim 7 wherein the controller comprises a data store for storing liquid flow information for each liquid input to the dispensing system.

13. The tool of claim 1 wherein the flow meter comprises an oval gear meter wherein the flow information for a liquid input is captured by a magnetic pulse count.

14. The tool of claim 1 wherein the flow meter comprises an oval gear meter wherein the flow information for a liquid input is captured by an optical pulse count.

15. The tool of claim 1 in combination with a liquid dispensing system.

16. A liquid dispensing system, comprising:

a dispenser having at least one liquid input connected in fluid communication to a liquid product and another liquid input connected in fluid communication to a liquid diluent;

a flow meter connected in fluid communication to each liquid input, the flow meter having a sensor with a data output of liquid flow information for each liquid input to the dispensing system; and

a controller operably connected to the data output of the sensor to receive the liquid flow information for each liquid input and display a dilution ratio between the liquid product and the liquid diluent.

17. The dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the controller comprises a data store for storing liquid flow information for each liquid input.

18. The dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the controller further comprises a data link configured to connect the controller to a PC to download the flow information and dilution ratio.

19. The dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the dispenser further comprises a liquid output for dispensing a use solution to a end-use application.

20. The dispensing system of claim 19 wherein the end-use application comprises at least one of:

a. an on-site formulator;

b. a laundry system;

c. a warewashing system.

21. The dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the flow meter further comprises pulse dampening means.

22. A portable system for calibrating and auditing a liquid dispenser, comprising:

a pair of flow meters comprising;

a. a first flow meter having an inlet with a quick-connector adapted for connecting the inlet of the first flow meter in-line to a first liquid input to the dispenser;

b. a second flow meter having an inlet with a quick-connector adapted for connecting the inlet of the second flow meter in-line to a second liquid input to the dispenser;

c. each flow meter having a sensor with a data output of liquid flow information for each liquid input; and

a controller operably connected to each data output by a data link to receive the liquid flow information for each liquid input and display a dilution ratio between the first and second liquid inputs to the dispenser.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the controller comprises a handheld controller having a readout to display at least the liquid flow information and dilution ratio.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the controller comprises a data store for storing at least the liquid flow information and dilution ratio.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein at least one of the flow meters includes means for dampening in-line pressure pulses.

26. A method for calibrating, auditing and controlling a liquid dispensing system, comprising:

taking a device in-hand having a flow meter operably connected to a controller;

removably connecting an inlet of the flow meter in-line with a liquid input to the dispensing system;

operating the dispensing system; and

acquiring liquid flow information for the liquid input.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the device comprises a first and second flow meter and the step of removably connecting:

a. an inlet of the first flow meter to a liquid product input; and

b. an inlet of the second flow meter to a liquid diluent input.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of calculating a dilution rate using liquid flow information from first and second flow meters.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of calibrating the liquid dispensing system based upon the measured liquid flow information.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of receiving liquid flow information from the device in real-time.