Programmable dispenser

• US 5,584,079 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sek M.G. Wong, Yin P.P. Lee
• Original Assignee: Sek M.G. Wong, Yin P.P. Lee
• Inventors: Wong, Sek M. G., Lee, Yin P. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US08/509,545
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 4/223, 4/224, 4/225.1, 4/226.1, 4/309
• US Class Current: 4/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/031 Devices connected to or dispensing into the flushing pipe

Abstract

The present invention is a programmable dispenser for dispensing the appropriate amount of cleansing agents during peak period and adequate amount of cleansing agents during off-peak period without compromising the overall bacteria kill rate. The dispenser features a microcontroller coupled to a solenoid valve for allowing users to program the dispensing of cleansing agents over a predetermined number of peak-hour intervals and at least one cut-off period. The dispenser of the present invention also incorporates a float subassembly within a bucket for receiving measured amounts of cleansing agents and accomplishing two important functions in response to the actual usage of urinal: (1) dosing the urinal upon demand when the urinal is flushed, and (2) dosing the urinal directly when the urinal is either not flushed or flushed infrequently. Dosing on demand is carried out when a portion of the flushed liquid from the flush pipe is diverted to the bucket over a connecting pipe and an elbow channel. A float compartment of the float subassembly topples the subassemby which is pivoted over a hinge in the bucket. The cleansing agents mix with the flush liquid before returning to the flush pipe. Direct dosing results from the overflow of cleansing agents from a tongue portion of the float subassembly through the elbow channel and connecting pipe into a discharge tube within the flush pipe. As such, a given supply of cleansing agents is guaranteed to meet the pattern of actual urinal usage without compromising the overall bacteria kill rate in urinals.

Claims

1. In a system for dispensing cleansing agents automatically, said system comprising:

a controller circuit for controlling a valve coupled to a reservior of cleansing agents, said controller circuit releasing controlled amounts of cleansing agents in response to a programmed pattern of usage;

a conduit for coupling to a flushing pipe for diverting partially liquid therefrom;

a bucket for receiving cleansing agents from said valve and for pre-mixing said agents with liquid from said conduit, said bucket having an opening at a bottom for receiving liquid from said conduit, said bucket further having a float assembly pivoted internally for controlling the amount of liquid flowing therein, said float assembly further having a tongue portion and a float compartment for allocating cleansing agents between direct dosing and dosing on demand;

whereby a given supply of cleansing agents is dispensed to meet the pattern of actual urinal usage.

2. The dispensing system as in claim 1 wherein said controller circuit comprising a solenoid.

3. The dispensing system as in claim 1 wherein said conduit further having an elbow channel at the end closer to the flushing pipe for diverting flushing liquid into said bucket at the beginning of a flushing action and directing a mixture of cleansing agents and liquid away from said bucket at the end of the flushing action.

4. The dispensing system as in claim 3 wherein said elbow channel is coupled to a discharge tube positionable in the flushing pipe for directing a mixture of cleansing agents and liquid directly into the urinal.