Reservoir for collecting dissolved solid detergent solution

• US 5,100,032 A
• Filed: 09/26/1990
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Monsrud, Lee J., Burdorf, Ronald E., Thomas, John E., Groth, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/588,659
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 222/56, 222/65, 222/377, 422/261, 422/264, 422/266, 422/274, 422/277, 134/93, 137/268
• US Class Current: 222/377
• 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: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser (10) for dispensing a wash chemical solution which has been created by dissolving a solid wash chemical (65) in a diluent. The dispenser (10) has a sump (48) which is positioned beneath an outlet port (40) for the wash chemical solution, so that the sump (48) collects the dissolved wash chemical. The sump (48) is contained within a reservoir (17), and overflow from the sump (48) is collected within the reservoir (17). A pick-up tube (27) withdraws the wash chemical solution from the reservoir (17). The sump (48) is retained within the reservoir (17) by flexible tabs (72) and a support member (51) against which the sump (48) is positioned. A screen is provided above the sump (48) for filtering unwanted particulates.

Claims

1. A dispenser of the type which dispenses a solution formed by dissolving a solid wash chemical in a diluent, comprising an outlet for delivering the solution;

a sump positioned beneath said outlet for the solution, said sump collecting the dissolved wash chemical, said outlet being positioned above a level of solution in said sump; and

a reservoir within which said sump is positioned, wherein overflow from said sump is collected in said reservoir.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said sump includes screen means for filtering unwanted particles from said solution.

3. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said sump and said reservoir are made of a polymethylpentene material.

4. The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein retention means removably position said sump within said reservoir.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said sump is generally rectangular in shape and has rounded corners.

6. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein a volume of said sump is smaller than the amount of solution dispensed in a single dispensing cycle.

7. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said retention means comprises tab means proximate a top surface of said sump, and a support member against which said sump is positioned.

8. A dispenser of the type which dispenses a solution formed by dissolving a solid product in water, comprising:

a) a reservoir for storing the dissolved product, said reservoir having a pickup tube having an inlet positioned proximate a bottom wall of said reservoir;

b) a sump positioned within said reservoir so as to receive the dissolved product from a product source wherein a volume of said sump is smaller than the amount of solution dispensed in a single dispensing cycle; and

c) a screen positioned proximate an upper portion of said sump.

9. The dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said sump and said reservoir are made of a polymethylpentene material.

10. The dispenser according to claim 9, wherein said sump is removably positioned within said reservoir by retention means.

11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said sump is generally rectangular in shape and has rounded corners.

12. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said retention means comprises tab means proximate a top surface of said sump, and a support member against which said sump is positioned.

13. A dispenser which dispenses a certain volume of solution in a series of cycles, comprising:

a) a collector portion within which a solution is formed by the dilution of a solid product in a diluent, said collector portion including an outlet;

b) a reservoir within which the solution is stored, said reservoir including retention means;

c) a sump positioned within said reservoir and below said outlet by said containment means, said sump including a screen, a volume of said sump being smaller than the volume of solution dispensed in each dispensing cycle.

14. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said retention means comprises tab means proximate a top surface of said sump, and a support member against which said sump is positioned.

15. The dispenser according to claim 13, further comprising a pick-up tube having an inlet positioned proximate a bottom wall of said reservoir.