Chemical feeder

• US 7,081,232 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle US 2 LLC (TTWF LP)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Richard H., Dooley, Gerard F. Jr., Schiffman, Frank E., Pickens, Stanley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKane, E. Leigh
• Application Number:
  US10/098,949
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 422/261, 422/279, 422/283, 137/268
• US Class Current: 422/261
• 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: C02F 1/687 Devices for dosing solid compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for dissolving and delivering a solution of a solid chemical material, such as calcium hypochlorite, is described. The apparatus includes in combination: a container, a lid removably mounted on the upper end of the container, and a housing. In operation, the lid is mounted on the container, which contains solid chemical material, and both are inverted and placed on top of the housing. A nozzle within the housing extends through a hole in the lid into the internal space of the container such that dissolving fluid is charged into the container through the nozzle where it contacts the solid chemical material. A solution of chemical material is formed within the container and the solution drains through additional holes formed in the lid and is removed from the housing to a point of use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising, in combination:

(a) a container for housing solid chemical material, said container having a base, side walls and an open upper end;

(b) a lid adapted to be removably mounted onto the open end of said container, said lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening and a plurality of additional openings spaced from said first opening in said lid; and

(c) a housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from said base, the base and side wall defining a cavity, the perimeter of the top of the side wall defining an opening that is substantially the same shape and size as the perimeter of said lid, the top of the side wall being adapted to mate with a section of the top surface of said lid;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending nozzle situated within the cavity of the housing, the upper portion of said nozzle having a distributor head that is adapted to mate with and protrude through the first opening in the lid, the protruding portion of the distributor head having at least one orifice that directs fluid discharged from the orifice in a lateral direction; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port with said nozzle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid is a substantially planar lid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first opening is situated at substantially the geometric center of the lid.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the additional openings are evenly spaced around the first opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base and side wall of the housing form a cylinder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top of the side wall of the housing is adapted to mate with the top surface of the lid at a location near the outer edge of the lid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nozzle and distributor head are cylindrical.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lateral flow directing orifices are spaced around the perimeter of the distributor head.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the distributor head also has at least one vertical flow directing orifice.

10. Apparatus for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising, in combination:

(a) a substantially cylindrical container for holding solid chemical material, said container having a base, side wall and an open upper end;

(b) a substantially planar lid adapted to be removably mounted securely onto the open end of the container, said lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening and a plurality of additional openings spaced from said first opening in said lid; and

(c) a substantially cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from said base, the base and side wall defining a cavity, the perimeter of the top of the side wall defining an opening that is substantially the same as the perimeter of said lid, the top of the side wall of the housing being adapted to mate with said lid near the outer edge of the top surface of said lid;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall of the housing, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending nozzle located within the cavity, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head that is adapted to mate with and protrude through the first opening in the lid, the protruding portion of the distributor head having at least one orifice that directs fluid discharged from the orifice in a lateral direction; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port with said nozzle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lid is mounted onto the container by means of a threaded connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first opening in the lid is near the geometric center of the lid.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inlet and outlet ports are located substantially opposite one another in the side wall of the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the additional openings in the lid are evenly spaced radially around the first opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a plurality of lateral fluid flow directing orifices are spaced around the perimeter of the distributor head.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the distributor head also has at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vertical flow directing orifice is in the top of the distributor head.

18. Apparatus for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising, in combination:

(a) a substantially cylindrical container adapted to hold solid chemical material, said container having a base, side wall and an open upper end;

(b) a substantially planar circular lid adapted to be removably mounted securely onto the open end of the container, the lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening near the geometric center of the lid and a plurality of additional openings around and spaced from the first opening; and

(c) a substantially cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from said base, the base and side wall defining a cavity, the perimeter of the top of the side wall of the housing defining an opening that is substantially the same as the perimeter of the lid, the top of the side wall of the housing being adapted to nest with the lid near the outer edge of the top surface of said lid;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall of the housing, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending nozzle located within and near the center of the cavity, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head that is adapted to mate with and protrude through the first opening in the lid, the protruding portion of the distributor head having at least one orifice that directs fluid discharged from the orifice in a lateral direction; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port with said nozzle, thereby to provide liquid communication between the inlet port and the distributor head of the nozzle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the bottom of the nozzle is attached to the housing base.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the nozzle is in the shape of a T, wherein one arm of the T is affixed to the housing base, the other arm is attached to the distributor head, and the leg of the T is attached to the liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port and the nozzle.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the container has a handle.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein piping means connects the inlet port to a source of dissolving fluid and other piping means connects the outlet port to the point of use of the solution of solid chemical material.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the housing is fabricated from poly(vinyl chloride).

24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the housing, lid and container are each fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, fiberglass reinforced resins, polystyrene, polypropylene and chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride).

25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the lid is mounted onto the container by means of a threaded connection.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the inlet and outlet ports are located substantially opposite one another in the side wall of the housing.

27. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a plurality of lateral fluid flow directing orifices are spaced around the perimeter of the distributor head.

28. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the distributor head also has a vertical fluid flow directing orifice.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the vertical flow directing orifice is in the top of the distributor head.

30. Apparatus for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising, in combination:

(a) a substantially cylindrical container adapted to hold solid chemical material, said container having a closed bottom, a side wall and an open upper end;

(b) a substantially planar circular lid adapted to be removably mounted securely onto the open end of the container, the lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening near the geometric center of the lid and a plurality of additional openings around and spaced from the first opening; and

(c) a substantially cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from said base, the base and side wall defining a cavity, the perimeter of the top of the side wall of the housing defining an opening that is substantially the same as the perimeter of the lid, the top of the side wall of the housing being adapted to nest with the lid near the outer edge of the top surface of said lid;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall of the housing, said ports being spaced from one another;

a vertical nozzle located within and near the center of the cavity, the bottom of the nozzle being adjacent to the base of the housing, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head that is adapted to mate with and protrude through the first opening in the lid, the protruding portion of the distributor head having a plurality of orifices that directs fluid discharged from the orifice in a lateral direction; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port with said vertical nozzle, thereby to provide liquid communication between the inlet port and the distributor head.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the bottom of the nozzle is attached to the base of the housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the lid is mounted on the container by means of a threaded connection.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the inlet port and outlet port are positioned substantially opposite one another in the side wall of the housing.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the housing and nozzle are fabricated from poly(vinyl chloride).

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the container and lid are fabricated from high density polyethylene.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the container is a pail.

37. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the outside of the housing side wall has latching means for securing the container and lid to the housing.

38. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the lower portion of the nozzle has a drain hole in the side of the nozzle near the bottom of the nozzle.

39. Apparatus for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising, in combination:

(a) a solid chemical-containing pail, said pail having a closed bottom, a side wall and an open upper end;

(b) a substantially planar circular lid adapted to be removably attached to the open end of the pail, said attachment providing a liquid seal, said lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening at the substantial center of the lid, and a plurality of additional openings evenly spaced radially around said first opening; and

(c) a substantially cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from said base, the base and side wall defining a cavity, the perimeter of the top of the side wall of the housing defining an opening that is substantially the same as the perimeter of the lid, the top of the side wall of the housing being adapted to nest with the outer edge of the top surface of said lid;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall of the housing, said ports being spaced from one another;

a vertical tubular nozzle located within and near the center of the cavity, the bottom of said nozzle being adjacent to the base of the housing, the upper portion of the nozzle having a tubular distributor head that is adapted to mate with and protrude through the first opening in the lid, the protruding portion of the distributor head having a plurality of lateral fluid flow directing orifices spaced around the perimeter of the distributor head, said nozzle and said distributor head being in liquid communication; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port with said vertical nozzle, thereby to provide liquid communication between the inlet port and the distributor head.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the container is a pail and wherein the closed bottom of the pail has a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the open end of the pail.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the inlet and outlet ports are substantially opposite one another.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the orifices in the distributor head are circular, and the nozzle is attached to the base within the cavity.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the distributor head has at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice in the top of the distributor head.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the lid is attached to the pail by a threaded connection.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the outside of the housing side wall has latching means for securing the pail and lid to the housing.

46. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the orifices in the distributor head are in the shape of rectangular slots.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the distributor head has at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice in the top of the distributor head.

48. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the solid chemical material is calcium hypochlorite.

49. An article of manufacture comprising a cylindrical housing having a flat base and upwardly extending side wall, the base and side wall defining a cavity;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending nozzle located within and near the center of the cavity, the bottom of the nozzle being affixed to the base of the housing, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head that has a plurality of lateral fluid flow directing orifices around the perimeter of the distributor head;

liquid conduit means connecting the nozzle to the inlet port, thereby to provide liquid communication between the inlet port and the distributor head, wherein the lower portion of the nozzle has a drain hole in the side of the nozzle near the bottom of the nozzle and a container having a lid, and wherein the top of the side wall of the housing is adapted to mate with the lid of the container, the lid having a first opening adapted to mate with the distributor head, which distributor head protrudes through the first opening, said lid further having a plurality of additional openings spaced from and surrounding the first opening.

50. The article of claim 49 wherein clamping means are attached to the outside of the side wall of the housing to hold the container to the housing when the combined lid—

container is mounted on the housing.

51. An article of manufacture comprising a cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from the base, the base and side wall defining a cavity;

inlet and outlet ports, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending vertical and tubular nozzle located within said cavity, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head having at least one orifice that directs liquid in a lateral direction, the nozzle and distributor head being in liquid communication;

liquid conduit means connecting the nozzle and the inlet port; and

a container having a lid wherein the top of the side wall comprises a shoulder adapted to mate with the lid of the container and wherein the distributor head is located above the top of the side wall, whereby the distributor head is configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the lid, wherein the bottom of the nozzle is attached to the base, the inlet and outlet ports are substantially opposite one another in the side wall of the housing, and the at least one orifice in the distributor head is circular.

52. The article of claim 51 wherein the distributor head has at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice in the top of the distributor head.

53. An article of claim manufacture comprising a cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from the base, the base and side wall defining a cavity;

inlet and outlet ports, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending vertical and tubular nozzle located within said cavity, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head having at least one orifice that directs liquid in a lateral direction, the nozzle and distributor head being in liquid communication;

liquid conduit means connecting the nozzle and the inlet port; and

a container having a lid, wherein the top of the side wall comprises a shoulder adapted to mate with the lid of the container and wherein the distributor head is located above the top of the side wall, whereby the distributor head is configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the lid, wherein the bottom of the nozzle is attached to the base, the inlet and outlet ports are substantially opposite one another in the side wall of the housing, and the at least one orifice in the distributor head is in the shape of substantially rectangular slots.

54. The article of claim 53 wherein the distributor head has at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice in the top of the distributor head.

55. A method for preparing a solution of a solid chemical material comprising:

(a) providing a housing having a substantially flat base and upwardly extending side wall, the base and side wall forming a cavity, the side wall having an inlet port and an outlet port spaced from the inlet port, the housing further having a substantially vertical nozzle within and near the center of the cavity, the bottom of the nozzle being adjacent to the base and the top of the nozzle having a distributor head, the distributor head having a plurality of lateral flow directing orifices, the distributor head and nozzle being in liquid communication; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port and the nozzle;

(b) providing a container within which solid chemical material is housed, said container having a closed base, side wall and an open upper end, said container further having a substantially planar lid removably mounted on the open end of the container, said lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening near the center of the lid and a plurality of additional openings around the first opening, the perimeter of the lid being substantially the same as the perimeter of the side wall of the housing, the top surface of said lid being adapted to nest with the top of the side wall of the housing, and said first opening in the lid being adapted to mate with the distributor head in a manner such that the upper portion of the distributor head and the orifices contained therein protrude through the first opening;

(c) inverting and mounting the lid—

container combination on top of the housing;

(d) charging dissolving fluid for said solid chemical material to the inlet port of the housing, thereby discharging dissolving fluid from the orifices in the distributor head into the container and into contact with solid chemical material housed within the container, and thereby forming a solution of said chemical material;

(e) allowing the solution of chemical material to fall through the additional openings in the lid and into the cavity; and

(f) removing chemical material solution from the cavity through the outlet port.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the solid chemical material is calcium hypochlorite.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the calcium hypochlorite is in the form of tablets.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the dissolving fluid is water and the water is charged to the inlet port at a rate of from 0.5 to 10 gallons per minute.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the dissolving fluid is water and the water is charged to the inlet port at a rate of from 1 to 5 gallons per minute.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein the orifices are selected from circular holes and substantially rectangular slots.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the distributor head has in addition at least one vertical fluid flow directing orifice.

62. The method of claim 55 wherein the bottom of the nozzle is attached to the base and the inlet and outlet ports are substantially opposite one another.

63. A method for preparing a solution of calcium hypochlorite comprising:

(a) providing a substantially cylindrical housing having a substantially flat base and an upwardly extending side wall, the base and side wall forming a cavity, the side wall having an inlet port and an outlet port spaced from the inlet port, the housing further having a substantially vertical nozzle within and near the center of the cavity, the bottom of the nozzle being attached to the base and the top of the nozzle having a distributor head, the distributor head having at least two lateral fluid flow directing orifices, the distributor head and nozzle being in liquid communication; and

liquid conduit means connecting the inlet port and the nozzle;

(b) providing a container within which solid calcium hypochlorite is housed, said container having a closed base, a side wall and an open upper end, said container further having a substantially planar lid mounted on the open end of the container, said lid having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first opening near the center of the lid and a plurality of additional openings evenly spaced radially around the first opening, the perimeter of the lid being substantially the same as the perimeter of the side wall of the housing, the top surface of said lid being adapted to nest with the top of the side wall of the housing, and said first opening in the lid being adapted to mate with the distributor head in a manner such that the upper section of the distributor head and the orifices container therein protrude through the first opening;

(c) inverting and mounting the lid—

container combination on top of the housing;

(d) charging water to the inlet port of the housing, thereby discharging water from the orifices in the distributor head into the container and into contact with calcium hypochlorite housed within the container, and thereby forming an aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite;

(e) allowing the solution of calcium hypochlorite to fall through the additional openings in the lid and into the cavity; and

(f) removing calcium hypochlorite solution from the cavity through the outlet port.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the calcium hypochlorite is in the form of tablets.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the rate of water charged to the inlet port is from 0.5 to 10 gallons per minute.

66. An article of manufacture comprising a substantially cylindrical housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from the base, the base and side wall defining a cavity;

inlet and outlet ports in the side wall of the housing, said ports being spaced from one another;

a substantially cylindrical container for providing solid chemical material removably mounted atop said housing, said container having a top, a bottom and side wall that is shaped to mate with the side wall of the housing, the bottom of the container being a substantially circular planar member having a plurality of openings radially disposed in the surface of the member, the planar member having a shape that substantially matches the shape of the top of the housing, the openings in the planar member allowing liquid communication between the container and the cavity within the housing;

an upwardly extending nozzle located within said cavity, said nozzle being adapted to deliver liquid for dissolving the solid chemical material to within the lower portion of the container; and

liquid conduit means connecting the nozzle and the inlet port.

67. An article of manufacture comprising a housing having a base and side wall extending upwardly from the base, the base and side wall defining a cavity;

inlet and outlet ports, said ports being spaced from one another;

an upwardly extending nozzle located within said cavity, the upper portion of the nozzle having a distributor head having at least one orifice that directs liquid in a lateral direction, the nozzle and distributor head being in liquid communication; and

liquid conduit means connecting the nozzle and the inlet port;

wherein the top of the side wall comprises a shoulder adapted to mate with the lid of a container and wherein the distributor head and at least one orifice that directs liquid in a lateral direction are located above the top of the side wall, whereby the distributor head is configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the lid.

68. The article of manufacture of claim 67 wherein the nozzle is located near the center of the cavity, the bottom portion of the nozzle being adjacent to the base.

69. The article of claim 68 wherein the bottom portion of the nozzle is attached to the base of the housing.

70. The article of claim 69 wherein the top of the nozzle is closed.

71. The article of manufacture of claim 67 wherein the housing is cylindrical, the nozzle is vertical and tubular, and the bottom of the nozzle is adjacent to the base of the housing.