Dual solution application system

• US 5,593,091 A
• Filed: 11/07/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harris Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WELDON, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US08/335,210
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 239/754, 239/130, 239/131, 239/532, 239/303, 239/304, 239/124, 239/127, 222/145.06, 222/146.02, 222/146, 15/321, 15/322
• US Class Current: 239/127
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/105 Mixing heads, i.e. compact mixing units or modules, using mixing valves for feeding and mixing at least two components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/833 Flow control by valves, e.g. opening intermittently
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes

Abstract

A system for the mixing of two or more interacting heated solutions and the simultaneous application of the mixed interacting solutions to a fabric surface. The system is made up of a mobile supply base and an elongate applicator having a valved mixing chamber at the proximal end and a fluid distributing manifold at the distal end. The mobile supply base houses multiple containers, each adapted for holding and heating solutions to a desired temperature. The supply base also contains one or more pumps for the delivery of solutions from each container through interconnecting lines to the valved mixing chamber at the proximal end of the applicator. The applicator is an elongated support structure such as a wand. At the proximal end of the applicator, the valved mixing chamber is configured to receive and meter solutions from the supply base through the interconnecting lines into a mixing chamber maintained at substantially ambient pressure. An outflow line connects the mixing chamber with the distribution manifold. The solutions mix and interact in the mixing chamber and the mixed solutions pass through the outflow line to the distribution manifold at the distal end of the applicator. The system is preferably adapted for the mixing of hot carbonate salt and organic acid solutions resulting in the production of a hot carbonating solution in the mixing chamber and the delivery of the carbonating solution through the distribution manifold onto a fabric surface.

Claims

1. A solution application system for mixing at least two solutions and applying the mixed solutions to textiles comprising:

supply means on a mobile base said means containing containers for separately holding each solution, means for heating the solution in each container to a desired temperature and means for delivery of solution from each container to a feed means,

applicator means comprising a portable elongate support structure having a proximal solution receiving end and a distal solution application end said support frame being contoured from the proximal to distal end outwardly and downwardly and containing an intermediate handle means between said proximal and distal ends, valve means attached to said proximal end containing a valve for each solution to be delivered, each valve having a connector for receiving solution from a container through a feed means and adapted to deliver said solution to a mixing means, mixing means for receiving said solutions from said valve means and causing said solutions to form a mixed solution at essentially ambient pressure, conveying means for directing said mixed solution at essentially ambient pressure from said mixing means to an application manifold means and application manifold means attached to the distal solution application end of said support structure for receiving mixed solution from said conveying means, said manifold means having exit ports to direct said mixed solution to a textile fiber, and

feed means interconnecting each container of said supply means to a connector of said valve means of said applicator means for conveying solution from each of said containers of said supply means to said valve means of applicator means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for delivery of solution from each container to a feed means is a pump.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said mixing means for receiving solutions from said valve means and causing said solutions to form a mixed solution at essentially ambient pressure, comprises a chamber having an inlet orifice in communication with each valve of said valve means and an outlet orifice in communication with said delivery means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said inlet orifices have a diameter sufficiently small that activation of said valve means causes solution flowing through said valve means to enter said mixing means through said inlet orifices with an accompanying pressure drop to form said mixed solution and wherein the outlet orifice is sufficiently large that said mixed solution flows from said mixing means to said delivery means at essentially the same pressure said mixed solution attained in said mixing means.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said mixing means contains means for promoting the mixture of solutions entering said inlet orifices.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said manifold means is surrounded by a shroud having an open bottom which shroud is connected to said distal solution application end of said frame such that when the bottom of said shroud is in contact with a surface said exit ports in said manifold will be in close proximity to but will not touch said surface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said exit ports will be approximately 0.5 to 2.0 inches above said surface.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said exit ports are sized such that solution exiting said ports will be as large droplet, or a sheet or film of solution and not an atomized spray.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein said frame further contains lever means at said proximal end operatively connected to said valve means and positioned such that the movement of said lever means toward said frame causes said valve means to be actuated to allow the flow of solution through said valve means to said mixing means.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein said frame further contains means holding a pressurized canister such that said canister is positioned to delivery a pressurized spray to a surface just forward of said shroud when activated.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said means holding a pressurized canister is supported between said intermediate handle means and said distal end of said frame.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said intermediate handle means contains means for activating said pressurized canister.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein said feed means comprises outflow and recirculating feed lines interconnecting each container of said supply means with said valve means such that solution from each container is circulated to said valve means and recirculated from said

valve means to said container when said valve means is in a closed position.

14. The system of claim 3 for the mixing and applying of two solutions.