Autonomous cleaning mechanism

• US 6,178,987 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eco-Bat Technologies Limited (Quexco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eco-Safe, LLC
• Inventors: Briggs, Eric D., Corenflos, James A., Caruthers, Eddie Lee Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/437,382
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 137/268, 422/264, 422/266, 422/282, 68/17.R
• US Class Current: 137/268
• 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: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0094 Process for making liquid detergent compositions, e.g. slurries, pastes or gels
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0052 Gas evolving or heat producing compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/044 Hydroxides or bases
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/124 Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/128 Aluminium silicates, e.g. zeolites C11D3/1253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and composition provide a long-term, solid cartridge made of cleaning agents mixed at an azeotrope with a solubility limiting agent for controlling an equilibrium concentration of the composition in a solvent, such as water, for example. In use, the cleaning agents are dissolved only to a predetermined concentration needed for a single dose of a cleaning appliance, such as a clothes washing machine, for example. The apparatus may be configured to cyclically expose the solid cartridge to the solvent. A dosing amount of the solvent dissolves a pre-determined concentration of cleaning agents, controlled by the solubility limiting agent. The apparatus discharges the dose of cleaning agent to a cleaning appliance, and readies itself again by dissolving a dose of cleaning agent from a surface of the solid cartridge into the solvent. An azeotrope of sodium bicarbonate with amorphous silica provides the cleaning agent and solubility control, with additional sodium sesquicarbonate for alkalinity control and zeolite for scavenging hard water ions. The putty-like mixture may be cast, cured, and cooled to form a solid, monolithic charge in a desirable shape for controlling surface area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering solvated cleaning agents, the apparatus comprising:

a vessel for containing water in an interior cavity thereof;

a cartridge comprising a gas-releasing component and configured to create mechanically explosive cleaning action at the interface between a soiling agent and a corresponding fiber to be cleaned;

a support for holding substantially the weight of the cartridge comprising a cleaning agent;

an inlet port connected to provide water from a supply to the interior cavity; and

an outlet port for flushing water from the interior cavity into a feed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator and a solubility control component to limit the amount of gas-releasing component in solution.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a valve connected to limit a flow of water available through the outlet port.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the valve is connected to the inlet port.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the valve is configured to deliver a pre-selected amount of water into the inner cavity.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the valve is configured to deliver between 0.5 and 0.9 liters of water into the inner cavity.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the valve is connected to the outlet port.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve is configured to deliver a pre-selected amount of water into the outlet port.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the valve is configured to deliver between 0.5 and 0.8 liters of water into the outlet port.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the valve is selected from a capillary tube, flow control valve, check valve, and metering valve.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cartridge further comprises a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cartridge.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cartridge further comprises a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the gas-releasing component in solution.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the solubility resistant compound is selected by equilibrium concentration.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the solubility control agent is insoluble in water.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the solubility control agent is amorphous silica.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the solubility control agent comprises an amount of from about 5% to 35% by weight of the cartridge.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soluble cleaning agent is selected from the class of carbonates and bicarbonates.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soluble cleaning agent is substantially sodium bicarbonate.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soluble cleaning agent comprises sodium carbonate.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soluble cleaning agent comprises an amount sufficient to clean when diluted in a cleaning appliance after reaching equilibrium concentration in the vessel.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soluble cleaning agent comprises an amount of from about 60% to 90% by weight of the cartridge.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet port comprises a diverter for diverting water from a supply adapted to provide water to a remote cleaning appliance.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support is configured to separate the cartridge from the inlet port.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support is configured to separate the cartridge from the outlet port.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixture is an azeotrope.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a cylinder.

28. An apparatus for delivering solvated cleaning agents, the apparatus comprising:

a vessel for containing water in an interior cavity thereof;

a cartridge comprising a gas-releasing component and configured to create mechanically explosive cleaning action at the interface between a soiling agent and a corresponding fiber to be cleaned;

a support for holding substantially the weight of the cartridge comprising a cleaning agent;

an inlet port connected to provide water from a supply to the interior cavity;

an outlet port for flushing water from the interior cavity into a feed; and

the cartridge further comprising an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the cartridge further comprises a solubility control component to limit the amount of gas-releasing component in solution.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cartridge is formed exclusively of naturally-occurring materials.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the cartridge further comprises a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cartridge.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the cartridge is formed exclusively of naturally-occurring materials.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the cartridge is formed exclusively of biodegradable materials.