Multiple cleaning chemical dispenser

• US 6,240,953 B1
• Filed: 04/13/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Original Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Inventors: Grant, Robert, Laughlin, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/290,743
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 222/132, 222/145.6, 137/268, 137/890, 137/897, 137/888, 137/889, 137/624.18, 137/561.A, 68/17.R, 68/121.8, 682/07
• 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: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87603 Plural motivating fluid jets

Abstract

A cleaning chemical dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes bowl assemblies accommodating inverted containers with solid cast cleaning chemicals. The chemical dispenser generates cleaning chemical solutions by spraying a solvent such as water onto the solid cast concentrates. Concentrates from two of the containers are blended together, but are kept separate from the concentrate from the other container. All concentrate solutions are then further diluted in a venturi containing separate paths for each of the blended and separate solutions. The diluted solutions are then separately routed to the use container.

Claims

1. A laundry chemical dispenser fluidly coupled to a source of diluting liquid comprising:

at least two chemical solution generators for selectively generating at least two chemical solutions, the at least two chemical solutions being chemically interactive; and

a stream splitter for inducting the at least two chemical solutions by venturi effect and for diluting the at least two chemical solutions and having a first independent discharge channel for discharging a diluted first chemical solution and further having a second independent discharge channel for discharging a diluted second chemical solution, said first and second discharge channels being non-intermixed.

2. The stream splitter of claim 1, further comprising a cap and a body, the cap and body being matable and cooperating to define the stream splitter chamber.

3. The stream splitter of claim 2, in which the cap portion at least partially accommodates the inlet channel and the first discharge channel.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a first solenoid switch controlling flow of diluting liquid from the diluting liquid source to the stream splitter.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a second solenoid switch disposed and configured to control the flow of diluting liquid downstream from the stream splitter.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, further comprising means for electrical communication between said first and second solenoid switches and a laundry machine.

7. The dispenser of claim 5, in which said electrical communication means comprises a logic circuit, the logic circuit generating electrical signals to the first or second solenoid switches in response to the electrical signals received from the laundry machine.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, each chemical solution generator comprising a bowl assembly configured to accommodate a solid cast cleaning chemical disposed in an inverted container.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, each chemical solution generator further comprising a nozzle configured to deliver a spray of the diluting liquid onto a surface of the solid cast cleaning chemical, thereby generating a chemical solution by dissolving a portion of the solid cast cleaning chemical.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, in which first, second, and third chemical solution generators are present.

11. A device for dividing a fluid solvent into a supply stream and a plurality of non-intermixed dilution streams and for diluting a plurality of concentrate fluid streams, comprising:

a fluid divider configured to divide the fluid solvent into the supply stream and said plurality of dilution streams; and

a plurality of independent dilution stream pathways comprising a first dilution stream pathway and a second dilution stream pathway, each dilution stream pathway independently accommodating one of said dilution streams and a portion of a concentrate fluid pathway accommodating one of said concentrate fluid streams, each dilution stream pathway comprising structure for generating a partial vacuum proximate said concentrate fluid pathway to draw one of said concentrate fluid streams into the dilution stream pathway and thereby dilute the concentrate fluid stream.

12. The device of claim 11, comprising a cap and a body cooperating to define the fluid divider.

13. The device of claim 12, in which the cap is matable with the body.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a diffuser proportioned to be accommodated in the body and extending through each dilution pathway.

15. The device of claim 12, in which the body at least partially defines the dilution stream pathway.

16. The device of claim 12, in which the fluid divider is in fluid communication with an ingress bore and an egress bore, the fluid solvent entering the fluid divider via the ingress bore and a portion of the fluid solvent exiting the fluid divider via the egress bore.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a vacuum generating member disposed in each dilution stream pathway.

18. A device for generating cleaning solutions by spraying a solvent on first, second, and third solid casts and dissolving a portion thereof, the solid casts being disposed in respective first, second, and third inverted containers, the device blending compatible cleaning solutions and separately delivering incompatible cleaning solutions to a cleaning machine and comprising:

a divider-blender;

a first solvent supply pathway comprising apparatus for conveying a first stream of the solvent to the divider-blender;

a second solvent supply pathway comprising first, second, and third bowl assemblies accommodating respective first, second, and third inverted containers and apparatus for conveying a second stream of the solvent from the divider-blender to each bowl assembly;

separate first and second concentrated solution pathways, each concentrated solution pathway comprising apparatus for conveying at least one concentrated solution generated proximate one of said bowl assemblies to the blender-divider; and

separate, non-intermixed first and second dilution pathways in fluid communication with respective first and second concentrated solution pathways, each dilution pathway comprising apparatus for diluting said concentrated solutions and for conveying said diluted solutions to the cleaning machine.

19. The device of claim 18, in which the divider-blender comprises a cap and a body, the cap and body being matable and cooperating to define a dividing cavity in fluid communication with the first and second solvent supply pathways and the first and second dilution pathways.

20. The device of claim 18, in which the second solvent supply pathway comprises a spray jet configured to direct a solvent spray onto each solid cast.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the first solenoid is opened before the at least one second solenoid is opened.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the first and second solenoids are closed in response to an electrical signal generated by the cleaning machine and in which the first solenoid is closed after the at least one solenoid is closed.

23. The device of claim 18, in which the first concentrated solution pathway comprises a tubular member communicating the divider-blender with said first and second bowl assemblies.

24. The device of claim 18, further comprising a diffuser disposable in said first and second dilution pathways.

25. The device of claim 18, the first solvent supply pathway comprising a first solenoid in electricsl communication with the cleaning machine.

26. The device of claim 25, the second solvent pathway comprising a main solvent pathway and first, second, and third branch solvent pathways, each branch solvent pathway being in fluid communication between one of said bowl assemblies and the main solvent pathway.

27. The device of claim 26, each branch solvent pathway comprising a second solenoid in electrical communication with the cleaning machine.

28. A method of providing at least one diluted cleaning solution to a cleaning machine, comprising:

providing the device of claim 26; and

actuating the first solenoid and at least one second solenoid, thereby generating at least one concentrated cleaning solution by impinging a quantity of a solvent upon at least one of said first, second, and third solid casts, the at least one concentrated cleaning solution thereafter being diluted and conveyed to the cleaning machine.

29. The method of claim 28, in which the first and second solenoids are opened in response to an electrical signal generated by the cleaning machine.

30. The method of claim 28, in which the diluted cleaning solution generated is selected from the group consisting of a detergent solution, a bleach solution, a sour/softener solution, or any compatible combination thereof.