Apparatus for dispensing a chemical into a fluid

• US 4,350,666 A
• Filed: 08/19/1980
• Issued: 09/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Klutts
• Original Assignee: James H. Klutts
• Inventors: Klutts, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US06/179,507
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 422/37, 422/58, 422/263, 422/264, 422/276, 422/277, 137/268, 4/228, 4/DIG. 10, 239/57, 239/60
• US Class Current: 422/263
• 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 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/10 Water additive or substitute
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for dispensing which incorporates a jacketed compressed pellet of soluble material provided with an effective mixing chamber having a restricted opening to a surrounding ambient fluid to serve as a device to control the rate of dissolution of the chemical into the ambient fluid so that the dispensing apparatus has a service life substantially greater than the devices of the prior art.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a soluble chemical into a solvent fluid, comprising:

pellet means comprising a solid unitary body of said soluble chemical and having substantially planar surfaces for substantially retaining said chemical as a unitary mass prior to dissolving;

substantially encapsulating non-separable case means in contact with all but a small portion of one of said planar surfaces of said solid unitary body for initially permitting a fluid restricted access to only said planar surface portion of said solid unitary body.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said case means comprising:

a jacket having communication with said pellet means;

said jacket provided with an aperture having an area substantially smaller than the area of one of said surfaces; and

said aperture having a common opening to one of said surfaces and to said fluid.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said jacket having impermeability to said fluid.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pellet means comprising a pellet of said chemical.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said pellet having substantial impermeability to said fluid.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

said fluid comprising water; and

said chemical comprising a material having substantial free chlorine.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said aperture having an area comprising 2 percent to 4 percent of the area of one of said surfaces.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pellet means further comprising dye means for indicating at least the imminence of exhaustion of said chemical.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said dye means comprising:

a pocket having communication with a portion of said pellet distal to said aperture; and

a soluble dye filling said pocket.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein:

said dye pocket having a location within said pellet so that release of said dye into said fluid signals the imminent exhaustion of said chemical.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said dye pocket having a location external to said pellet so that release of said dye into said fluid signals complete exhaustion of said chemical.