Cleaning solution mixing and metering process

• US 5,234,268 A
• Filed: 01/07/1993
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chemstation International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chemstation International, Inc.
• Inventors: Homan, George F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US08/001,336
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 366/160-162, 366/177, 366/336, 134/100, 137/351, 137/567, 222/134, 222/135, 222/144.5, 222/148, 239/172
• US Class Current: 366/160.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/50 Movable or transportable mixing devices or plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2217 Volume of at least one component to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8311 with means for controlling the motor driving the pumps or the other dispensing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning solution delivery system for mixing and metering cleaning solution from liquid bulk storage containers of liquid cleaning concentrate. The mixing and metering station includes a first set of hydraulic cylinders each of which is connected to one of a plurality of liquid bulk storage containers containing liquid cleaning concentrate, a second hydraulic cylinder connected to a source of water, and a third set of hydraulic cylinders each of which is connected to one of a plurality of liquid chemical additive tanks. Various cleaning solution formulas can be mixed with this system and metered through a single delivery hose. The mixing and metering station may be used at a variety of locations to ultimately provide cleaning solution to on-site individual usage dispensers.

Claims

1. A process for mixing, metering and delivering a number of different cleaning solutions from liquid bulk storage containers into a plurality of on-site individual usage dispensers, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a portable mixing and metering station adapted for input to be connected to a plurality of liquid bulk storage containers containing different liquid cleaning concentrates, adapted to be connected to a source of water, and adapted to be connected to a liquid chemical additive tanks, said portable mixing and metering station being self contained and being mounted on a frame so that it can be transported to a desired location,

b) connecting said mixing and metering station to a plurality of liquid bulk storage containers, a source of water, and liquid chemical additive tanks,

c) metering a predetermined amount of water from said source onto a single outlet pipe with minimum air entrapped and metering predetermined amounts of said liquid cleaning concentrate from said containers and said chemical additive from said tanks to said single outlet pipe with minimum air entrapment,

d) mixing simultaneously and under pressure, in said single outlet pipe of said mixing and metering station, said predetermined amounts of said liquid cleaning concentrate and said chemical additive with said water to form a cleaning solution,

e) providing a plurality of on-site individual usage dispensers, and

f) delivering said cleaning solution through said single outlet pipe into said plurality of on-site individual usage dispensers.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said single outlet pipe has a single delivery hose connected thereto.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said portable mixing and metering station is located on a delivery truck.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said delivery truck also has thereon a plurality of said liquid bulk storage containers of liquid cleaning concentrate, said delivery truck also having thereon a plurality of said liquid chemical additive tanks.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein one of said liquid chemical additive tanks contains perfume and another of said liquid chemical additive tanks contains dye.

6. The process of claim 3 wherein a reeled delivery hose on said delivery truck is used to delivery said cleaning solution into said on-site individual usage dispensers.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said mixing and metering station includes a first set of hydraulic cylinders which is controlled by potentiometer and solenoid operated flow control valves so as to predetermine the amounts of liquid cleaning concentrate conveyed to said outlet pipe.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said mixing and metering station includes a second hydraulic cylinder which is controlled by a potentiometer so as to predetermine the amounts of water conveyed to said outlet pipe and further including a third set of hydraulic cylinders which is controlled by solenoid operated fluid control valves so as to predetermine the amounts of liquid chemical additive conveyed to said outlet pipe.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein said mixing is done by a stationary mixer.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein said water inlet, said cleaning concentrate inlets, and said liquid chemical additive inlets each include a quick connect coupling for easy connection and disconnection from the water source, the liquid bulk storage containers, and the liquid chemical additive tanks, respectively.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each of said liquid cleaning concentrate inlets has two check valves and each of said liquid concentrate outlets has two check valves for continuous pumping of liquid cleaning concentrate.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said water inlet has two check valves and said water outlet has two check valves for continuous pumping of water.