Deodorizing and sanitizing employing a wicking device

• US 7,285,255 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Tallman, Daniel, Kilawee, Patrick, Kadlec, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Corcoran; Gladys JP
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US10/316,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 422/37, 422/305, 210/753, 239/34, 239/44
• US Class Current: 422/305
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005

Abstract

A device and method for sanitizing and deodorizing including the selective transportation of a sanitizing composition by the capillary action of a wick to an acidic composition which may be held in a reservoir, or which also may be selectively transported through the capillary action of a wick to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A sanitizing system for use in an automatic water flow system with at least one drain comprising:

a) a first container for holding a first liquid composition comprising at least one acidic compound;

b) a second container for holding a second liquid composition comprising at least one compound capable of reacting with said acidic compound to form a sanitizing compound;

c) a reservoir having a vent and an outlet port, said outlet port in fluid communication with the drain of the automatic water flow system;

d) a first conduit having an inlet in said first container and an outlet in said reservoir and a first wick disposed in said first conduit and extending from said first container to said reservoir;

e) a second conduit having an inlet in said second container and an outlet in said reservoir and a second wick disposed in and extending through said second conduit from said second container to said reservoir;

wherein said first liquid composition and said second liquid composition form a reactive mixture in said reservoir.

2. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said automatic water flow system is in fluid communication with a second drain via a third conduit which is connected to said reservoir at said outlet port, wherein said reactive mixture in said reservoir is transported through said outlet port of said reservoir to said second drain and is transported through said exit port of said second drain and is transported to said second drain by gravity.

3. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said reactive mixture is transported from said reservoir to said drain.

4. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said outlet port is equipped with a valve system.

5. The sanitizing system of claim 1 where said reactive mixture is transported to said at least one drain when a level of said reactive mixture in said reservoir reaches a same level of said outlet port.

6. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said first liquid composition comprises a delimer.

7. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said second liquid composition comprises a metal chlorite.

8. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said at least one drain is an ice bin drain in an automatic ice making unit.

9. The sanitizing system of claim 2 wherein said second drain is a floor drain.

10. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said reactive mixture in said reservoir produces chlorine dioxide in a gaseous state and in a liquid state.

11. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said automatic water flow system is in an automatic ice making unit having a head space.

13. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said first liquid composition is in excess to said second liquid composition in said reservoir.

14. The sanitizing system of claim 1 wherein said first wick is larger than said second wick.

12. The sanitizing system of claimi 11 wherein said reactive mixture in said reservoir produces chlorine dioxide in a gaseous state and chlorine dioxide in a liquid state and said chlorine dioxide in said liquid state exits said reservoir through said vent into said head space of said automatic ice making unit.