Liquid chemical dilution and dosing system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for preparing a chemical composition by diluting a chemical concentrate with a diluent, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) metering means for controlling the output of a diluent from a diluent source;
(b) a source of a chemical concentrate;
(c) a mixing manifold, in fluid communication with the metering means and the source of chemical concentrate, for mixing the diluent with the chemical concentrate to form a chemical composition, and wherein the mixing manifold includes an outlet port;
(d) control means for determining a dilution ratio and generating the control signal for the metering means; and
(e) a source of air, operatively connected to the outlet port for pushing the chemical composition to the utilization point, wherein the time required to deliver the chemical composition to the utilization point is reduced.
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Abstract
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for diluting a chemical concentrate. More particularly, dilution control is achieved by monitoring two flow meters, comparing the flow rate information, and adjusting the diluent flow to achieve a predetermined dilution of the chemical concentrate. An air push is preferably used to deliver the chemicals to the utilization points. Also a controller is used to prioritize requests from the utilization points in a hierarchal fashion.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preparing a chemical composition by diluting a chemical concentrate with a diluent, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) metering means for controlling the output of a diluent from a diluent source; (b) a source of a chemical concentrate; (c) a mixing manifold, in fluid communication with the metering means and the source of chemical concentrate, for mixing the diluent with the chemical concentrate to form a chemical composition, and wherein the mixing manifold includes an outlet port; (d) control means for determining a dilution ratio and generating the control signal for the metering means; and (e) a source of air, operatively connected to the outlet port for pushing the chemical composition to the utilization point, wherein the time required to deliver the chemical composition to the utilization point is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for preparing a chemical composition by diluting a chemical concentrate with a tempered diluent, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a tempered diluent source, wherein the a diluent output flow rate from the source is restricted by a metering means, wherein the metering means comprises; (i) a plurality of diluent metering devices connected in parallel with one another, for varying the tempered diluent output flow from the metering means when the combination of metering devices through which the tempered diluent flows is changed; and (ii) a first digital flow meter for generating a first signal indicating the flow rate of the tempered diluent from the metering means, and (b) at least two sources of a chemical concentrate; (c) a mixing manifold, for mixing the tempered diluent with the chemical concentrate to form a chemical composition, the mixing manifold having an inlet port in fluid communication with the source of a chemical concentrate, an inlet port for the tempered diluent in fluid communication with the diluent output flow from the metering means, and an outlet port for the chemical composition; (d) a second digital flow meter for generating a second signal indicating the flow rate of the chemical composition from the outlet port of the mixing manifold; (e) first computer controllable valve means operatively connected to the diluent metering means, for automatically changing the combination of diluent metering devices through which the diluent is flowing; (f) second computer controllable valve means operatively connected to each chemical concentrate inlet port, the valve means being operable for sequentially admitting a separate chemical concentrate into the mixing manifold; (g) a gear pump in fluid communication with the mixing manifold for moving the chemical composition from the mixing manifold to a utilization point; and (h) a controller means for controlling the operation of the first computer controllable valve means, the second computer controllable valve means and the gear pump in accordance with the first and second signals to maintain a predetermined dilution of the chemical concentrate. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of preparing chemical compositions with improved control of dilution precision, comprising the steps of:
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(a) pumping a diluent from a diluent supply into a metering system having variable diluent metering means; (b) generating a first signal indicating the flow rate of the diluent from the metering system into a mixing manifold by means of a first flow meter; (c) drawing a chemical concentrate from a container into the mixing manifold whereby a chemical composition is formed; (d) generating a second signal indicating the flow rate of the chemical composition from an outlet port of the mixing manifold by means of a second flow meter; (e) determining the dilution of the chemical concentrate by comparing the first and second signals and generating an error signal from a predetermined difference and the actual difference between the first and second signals; and (f) pushing the diluted chemical concentrate to a utilization point with air, wherein the accuracy of the desired chemical composition dilution is improved and the delivery time is shortened. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for preparing a chemical composition by diluting a chemical concentrate with a diluent, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) metering means for controlling the output of a diluent from a diluent source, wherein the metering means comprises; (i) diluent metering means, responsive to a control signal, and (ii) first flow rate measuring means for generating a first signal indicating the flow rate of the diluent; (b) a source of a chemical concentrate; (c) a mixing manifold, in fluid communication with the metering means and the source of chemical concentrate, for mixing the diluent with the chemical concentrate to form a chemical composition, and wherein the mixing manifold includes an outlet port; (d) second flow rate measuring means for generating a second signal indicating the flow rate of the chemical composition from the outlet port; and (e) control means, including a central processor, for receiving the first and second signals, determining a dilution ratio and generating the control signal to control the dilution of the chemical concentrate, whereby the control signal adjusts the diluent flow rate by adjusting the diluent metering means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for preparing a chemical composition by diluting a chemical concentrate with a tempered diluent, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a tempered diluent source, wherein the a diluent output flow rate from the source is restricted by a metering means, wherein the metering means comprises; (i) a plurality of diluent metering devices connected in parallel with one another, for varying the tempered diluent output flow from the metering means when the combination of metering devices through which the tempered diluent flows is changed; and (ii) a first digital flow meter for generating a first signal indicating the flow rate of the tempered diluent from the metering means, and (b) at least two sources of a chemical concentrate; (c) a mixing manifold, for mixing the tempered diluent with the chemical concentrate to form a chemical composition, the mixing manifold having an inlet port in fluid communication with the source of a chemical concentrate, an inlet port for the tempered diluent in fluid communication with the diluent output flow from the metering means, and an outlet port for the chemical composition; (d) a second digital flow meter for generating a second signal indicating the flow rate of the chemical composition from the outlet port of the mixing manifold; (e) first computer controllable valve means operatively connected to the diluent metering means, for automatically changing the combination of diluent metering devices through which the diluent is flowing; (f) second computer controllable valve means operatively connected to each chemical concentrate inlet port, the valve means being operable for sequentially admitting a separate chemical concentrate into the mixing manifold; (g) a gear pump in fluid communication with the mixing manifold for moving the chemical composition from the mixing manifold to a utilization point; (h) a source of air selectively connectable downstream of the mixing manifold in response to an air control signal, wherein the chemical concentrate is pushed by the air to a utilization point and the time required for the chemical concentrate to be delivered to the utilization point is decreased; and (i) a controller means for controlling the operation of the first and second computer controllable valves and the gear pump in accordance with the first and second signals to deliver a predetermined amount of the chemical concentrate and to generate an air push signal. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method of preparing chemical compositions with improved control of dilution precision, comprising the steps of:
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(a) pumping a diluent from a diluent supply into a metering system having variable diluent metering means; (b) generating a first signal indicating the flow rate of the diluent from the metering system into a mixing manifold by means of a first flow meter; (c) drawing a chemical concentrate from a container into the mixing manifold whereby a chemical composition is formed; (d) generating a second signal indicating the flow rate of the chemical composition from an outlet port of the mixing manifold by means of a second flow meter; (e) determining the dilution of the chemical concentrate by comparing the first and second signals and generating an error signal from a predetermined difference and the actual difference between the first and second signals; and (f) adjusting the flow of diluent into the mixing manifold by varying the diluent metering means in accordance with the error signal, whereby the accuracy of the desired chemical composition dilution is improved. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification