METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING INCOMPATIBLE PRODUCTS

• US 20120048307A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: PELKEY, JOHN THOMAS, URBAN, RYAN JACOB, LIMBACK, SCOTT RUSSELL
• Application Number:
  US12/868,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/36
• 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

Abstract

A method and system provides for dispensing incompatible products. Separate aspirator assemblies (12A and 12B) are connected in fluid communication with a single liquid diluent source (54). A first set of liquid products (48A-51A) are drawn through aspirator assembly (12A) and a second set of liquid products (48B-51B) having a product incompatible with the first set are drawn through another aspirator assembly (12B). Incompatible liquid products are thereby dispensed independent of and in separation from one another to an appliance for use.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing incompatible liquid products from a dispenser, comprising:

providing a first and second aspirator each having a diluent inlet port, a plurality of product inlet ports and an outlet port;

aspirating a first liquid product through a product inlet port of the first aspirator;

aspirating a second liquid product incompatible with the first liquid product through a product inlet port of the second aspirator; and

dispensing the first liquid product out an outlet port of the first aspirator and the second liquid product out an outlet port of the second aspirator in separation from the first liquid product.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of aspirating at least two liquid products through the first or second aspirator.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a liquid diluent at a source pressure and increasing the source pressure to an elevated pressure.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of aspirating the first and second liquid product through the first and second aspirators by passing the liquid diluent at the elevated pressure through the diluent inlet port of each aspirator.

5. The method of claim 1 in combination with a laundry system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first liquid product is an acid and the second liquid product is a chlorine bleach.

7. A method for dispensing incompatible liquid products from a dispenser, comprising:

providing a first and second aspirator each having a diluent inlet port, a plurality of product inlet ports and an outlet port;

aspirating a first set of liquid products through the plurality of product inlet ports of the first aspirator;

aspirating a second set of liquid products through the plurality of product inlet ports of the second aspirator, wherein at least one of the liquid products of the second set is incompatible with a liquid product of the first set; and

dispensing liquid products of the first set out the outlet port of the first aspirator and in separation from the incompatible liquid product of the second set dispensed out the outlet port of the second aspirator to preserve the effectiveness of each liquid product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one incompatible product of the first set of liquid products is an acid.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of aspirating each liquid product of the first set through the first aspirator and the second set through the second aspirator.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one incompatible product of the second set of liquid products is a chlorine bleach.

11. A method for dispensing and preserving the effectiveness of liquid products during dispensing, comprising:

providing at least two aspirators each having a diluent inlet port, a plurality of product inlet ports and an outlet port;

passing a liquid diluent at a pressure elevated from its source pressure through the diluent inlet port of each aspirator;

selectively aspirating a first set of liquid products through the plurality of product inlet ports of the first aspirator separately from a second set of liquid products through the plurality of product inlet ports of the second aspirator; and

dispensing at least one of the liquid products of the first set out the outlet port of the first aspirator and at least one of the liquid products of the second set out the outlet port of the second aspirator in separation from each other to preserve the effectiveness of each product.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the liquid products aspirated from the second set is incompatible with a liquid product aspirated from the first set.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each liquid product is aspirated from a liquid product source by passing the liquid diluent at the elevated pressure through the diluent inlet port of the first and second aspirator.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of aspirating at least two liquid products through the first and second aspirator.

15. A product dispensing system configured to dispense incompatible liquid products, comprising:

a boost pump having a pump inlet for receiving a liquid diluent at a source pressure and a pump outlet for delivering the liquid diluent at an elevated pressure;

a first and second aspirator each having a diluent inlet port for receiving the liquid diluent at the elevated pressure, a plurality of product inlet ports for receiving a liquid product and an outlet port for dispensing;

a first set of the liquid products connected in liquid communication to the plurality of product inlet ports of the first aspirator for aspirating each liquid product into the first aspirator;

a second set of liquid products connected in liquid communication to the plurality of product inlet ports of the second aspirator for aspirating each liquid product into the second aspirator; and

at least one product of the second set of liquid products being incompatible with at least one product of the first set of liquid products.

16. The product dispensing system of claim 15 wherein at least one product of the first set of liquid products is aspirated solely through the first aspirator to prevent combination with an incompatible product of the second set of liquid products.

17. The product dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the incompatible product of the second set of liquid products is a chlorine bleach.

18. The product dispensing system of claim 15 wherein at least one product of the second set of liquid products is aspirated solely through the second aspirator to prevent combination with an incompatible product of the first set of liquid products.

19. The product dispensing system of claim 18 wherein the incompatible product of the first set of liquid products is an acid.

20. The product dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the second aspirator is dedicated for dispensing a liquid product that is incompatible with at least one product of the first set of liquid products.