Cleaning composition for autonomous cleaning system

• US 6,262,004 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eco-Bat Technologies Limited (Quexco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eco-Safe, LLC
• Inventors: Caruthers, Eddie Lee Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyon, Lorna M.
• Application Number:
  US09/438,067
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 510/298, 510/294, 510/440, 510/445, 510/446, 510/507, 510/509, 510/511
• US Class Current: 510/294
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/24 Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/4505 Mixing ingredients comprising detergents, soaps, for washing, e.g. washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/316 with containers for additional components fixed to the conduit
• 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 3/08 Silicates
• 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

Abstract

A cleaning composition in solid state comprises a gas-releasing component as a cleaning agent, a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning composition, an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator, and optionally a water softener.

Claims

1. A cleaning composition in a solid state consisting of:

a gas-releasing component as a cleaning agent selected from the group consisting of carbonates and bicarbonates, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 20% to 60% by weight;

a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning composition, wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 5% to 35% by weight;

an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator, wherein the alkalinity agent is present in an amount from 1% to 10% by weight; and

optionally a water softener to solvate metal ions in a solution of water.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water softener is selected from the group consisting of ion exchange particles and salts of weak acids.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water softener is natural zeolite.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water softener is present in an amount sufficient to soften household water after the composition reaches an equilibrium concentration in a vessel, and the equilibrium concentration is diluted in a cleaning appliance.

5. The composition of the claim 1, wherein the water softener is present in an amount from about 1 to about 20% by weight.

6. The composition in claim 1, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium bicarbonate.

7. The composition in claim 1, wherein the gas-releasing component is sodium carbonate.

8. The composition in claim 1, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount sufficient to release an effective amount of gas after the composition reaches an equilibrium concentration in a vessel, and the equilibrium concentration is diluted in a cleaning appliance.

9. The composition in claim 8, wherein the effective amount of gas generated is from about 5% to about 9.5% by volume with respect to the volume of water.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the solubility control component is selected from the group consisting of insoluble salts, partially soluble salts, crystalline compositions, and silicates.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the solubility control component is amorphous silica.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount sufficient to give the composition an equilibrium concentration in solution.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the equilibrium concentration is from about 0.0014% to about 0.002% by weight in water.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the alkalinity agent is selected from the group consisting of an alkali hydroxide, alkali hydride, alkali oxide, alkali sesquicarbonate alkali phosphate, alkali borate, alkali salt of mineral acid, alkali amine, alkaloid, and alkali cyanide.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the alkalinity agent is sodium sesquicarbonate.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the alkalinity agent is present in an amount sufficient to give a solution of the composition a pH greater than 7.

17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the pH is from about 7.8 to about 8.8.

18. A cleaning composition in a solid state consisting of:

a gas-releasing component as a cleaning agent selected from the group consisting of carbonates and bicarbonates;

a solubility control component which is an amorphous silica to limit the solubility of the cleaning composition;

an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator selected from the group consisting of sodium sesquicarbonate, alkali hydroxide, alkali hydride, alkali oxide, alkali phosphate and alkali borate; and

optionally a water softener which is a natural zeolite to solvate metal ions in a solution of water.

19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the gas-releasing component is present in an amount from 20% to 60% by weight.

20. The composition of claim 18, wherein the solubility control component is present in an amount from 5% to 35% by weight.

21. The composition of claim 18, wherein the water softener is present in an amount from 1% to 20% by weight.

22. The composition of claim 18, wherein the alkalinity agent is present in an amount from 1% to 10% by weight.

23. The composition of claim 18, wherein the alkalinity agent is present in an amount sufficient to give a solution of the composition a pH greater than 7.

24. The composition of claim 18, wherein the alkalinity agent is present in an amount sufficient to give a solution of the composition a pH from about 7.8 to about 8.8.