Remote access to chemical dispense system

• US 7,292,914 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Weber, Bruce W., Bailey, Clyde A., Wu, Jun, Zoll, James M., Jungmann, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kosowski; Alexander J
• Application Number:
  US10/188,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700239-241, 700281-285, 700/83, 222/71
• US Class Current: 700/285
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/21112 Volumetric flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2211 Amount of delivered fluid during a period
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8311 with means for controlling the motor driving the pumps or the other dispensing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/833 Flow control by valves, e.g. opening intermittently
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A system for controlling and monitoring operations of a chemical dispense system from a remote location is disclosed. The chemical dispense system includes a formulator for preparing a chemical product using one or more component chemical concentrates. The chemical dispense system also includes an allocator for managing the distribution of formulated chemical products to a point-of-use such that the formulated products are distributed to the point-of-use by a specified plan or sequence. The allocator may also be used to manage the formulation of chemical products such that the chemical products are formulated based on a plan or sequence. The chemical dispense system includes a communications system that enables system operators to control and monitor allocation and/or formulation operations from a remote location. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling operations of the chemical dispense system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a chemical dispense system comprising;

a formulator that prepares a chemical product by combining a plurality of component chemical concentrates at a dispense location; and

an allocator that distributes the chemical product to a point-of-use;

a controller that manages operation of the chemical dispense system;

a network sewer that receives an instruction file that requests formulation of a specific chemical product using a specified plurality of component chemical concentrates and requests distribution of a plurality of formulated chemical products in a specified sequence and stores the instruction file in a queue for a predetermined period in time; and

a universal communicator communicatively connected to the network sewer by way of a communications network that receives instruction file from the network server, wherein the universal communicator is operable to automatically provide the received instruction file to the controller at the end of the predetermined period in time, wherein the controller administers performance of the specified task pursuant to the instruction file, wherein thc controller generates a data file that specifics a volume of the specific chemical product formulated over a given period in time, and wherein the universal communicator transfers the data file from the controller to the network server.

2. The system method of claim 1 wherein the controller creates an invoice statement that lists a balance due on the specific chemical product based on the volume formulated over the given period in time.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically transfers device data associated with operating conditions of the chemioal dispense system to the network server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically transfers account data related to business or demand/supply aspects of the chemical dispense system to the network server.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically transfers the data files from the chemical dispense system to the network server via a network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically transfers the data files system to the network server via at least one of a wide area network, a local area network or the Internet.