System and method for delivering hyper-concentrates

• US 7,997,457 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wechem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wechem, Inc.
• Inventors: Wisecarver, Glen P., Laiche, Edwin G., Wisecarver, Richard A., Wisecarver, Michael C., Kuylen, Rosario P., Lindsay, Michael G., Folse, Lawrence J., Phillips, Wiley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US12/343,470
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/334, 222/145.6, 222/190, 222/145.5, 222/608, 222/189.06, 222529-530, 222/527, 222/538, 222/183, 222/372, 222/204, 222/394, 222/401, 239317-318, 239406-407, 239/310, 239/316, 417181-182
• US Class Current: 222/334
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/483 using water for diluting a liquid ingredient, obtaining a predetermined concentration or making an aqueous solution of a concentrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8311 with means for controlling the motor driving the pumps or the other dispensing mechanisms

Abstract

A system is disclosed for delivering hyper-concentrated chemicals in a ready to use non-concentrated state. The present invention affords users with the ability to dispense the hyper-concentrated chemicals in a safe electrical free environment as the system operates from fluid force. The present invention may work off a water supply being used as the primary power supply that is also used to dilute the hyper-concentrated chemical. The present invention may be configured for use in any number of environments, such as refineries, off-shore platforms, food processing facilities, agriculture facilities, and the like.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing hyper-concentrated chemicals, said system comprising:

a pump with at least one pump head;

a selector valve for selecting different modes of operation;

a mixing chamber;

a first hose that provides a flow path for a primary liquid, from a primary liquid supply, to flow to said selector valve;

a second hose that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said selector valve to an input port of said pump wherein said primary liquid drives said pump;

a third hose that provides a flow path for a hyper-concentrated chemical to flow into said pump head;

a fourth hose that provides a flow path for said hyper-concentrated chemical to flow from said pump head to said mixing chamber;

a fifth hose that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said pump to said mixing chamber;

an output hose; and

a fitting that provides a flow path from said mixing chamber to said output hose.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second fitting connected to an output port of said selector valve wherein said second fitting provides a flow path from an output port of said selector valve to a third fitting;

wherein said third fitting is connected to said second fitting and said third fitting provides a flow path from said second fitting to said fitting that provides a flow path from said mixing chamber to said output hose; and

a shut-off valve that can shut-off flow of said primary liquid supply to said first hose.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising

a filter for filtering said primary liquid prior to said primary liquid flowing into said first hose;

and

a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of said primary liquid before said primary liquid flows into said first hose.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising

a backflow prevention device located between said shut off valve and said first hose wherein said backflow prevention device assists in preventing matter within said first hose from flowing back into said primary liquid supply.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an enclosure wherein said pressure regulator, said backflow prevention device, said first hose, said second hose, said fourth hose, said fifth hose, and said pump are positioned within said enclosure.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a stand wherein said stand:

provides a mounting location for said enclosure; and

provides a resting location that is capable of holding a container of hyper-concentrated chemicals.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said stand further comprises wheels mounted to said stand.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said stand further comprises a holder for holding said output hose.

9. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

an insert that can connect to said hyper-concentrated chemical supply;

a coupler connected to an end of said third hose and connected to said insert whereby said connection of said coupler to said insert creates a flow path for said hyper-concentrated chemicals to flow from said hyper-concentrated chemical supply into said third hose.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said insert comprises:

an adaptor member;

an inner threaded portion;

a color coded key member that identifies a color configuration of said insert; and

a tube member.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said coupler comprises:

a vent valve;

a threaded region that is configured to thread into said inner threaded portion of said insert;

a color coded key member that is configured to connect to said color coded key member of said insert only when said color coded key member of said coupler matches the color of said color coded key member of said insert wherein said color coded key member of said coupler and said color coded key member of said insert act as safety identifiers by notifying users to only connect couplers to inserts when the colors of said color coded key members match;

a tube member; and

a handle for assisting a user to fasten said coupler to said insert.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said output hose comprises a nozzle for spraying matter flowing through said output hose out of said output hose.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said output hose comprises:

a first hose that provides a flow path for matter exiting out of said mixing chamber;

a second hose that injects air into said matter exiting out of said mixing chamber thereby creating a foam mixture; and

a nozzle for discharging said foam mixture.

14. A system for (1) mixing a hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical with a primary liquid to create a non-hyper-concentrated chemical mixture, and (2) dispensing said non-hyper-concentrated chemical mixture, said system comprising:

an enclosure;

a mixing chamber located within said enclosure;

a pump with at least one pump head wherein said pump is mounted inside of said enclosure;

a selector valve for selecting different modes of operation mounted outside of said enclosure;

a connector for connecting a primary liquid supply to said system;

a shut-off valve for shutting off a flow of said primary liquid to said system;

a strainer for filtering said primary liquid;

a pressure regulator located inside of said enclosure and connected downline of said strainer wherein said pressure regulator regulates the pressure of said primary liquid entering into said system;

a backflow preventer located inside of said enclosure and connected downline of said pressure regulator;

a first hose located inside of said enclosure that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said pressure regulator to said selector valve wherein said backflow preventer operates to prevent any matter from back-flowing through said first hose into said primary liquid supply;

a second hose located inside of said enclosure that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said selector valve to an input port of said pump wherein said primary liquid supply drives said pump when said primary liquid enters into said input port of said pump;

a third hose that provides a flow path for said hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical to flow into said pump head whereby one end of said third hose connects to said pump and the other end of said third hose connects to a source of said hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical;

a fourth hose located inside of said enclosure that provides a flow path for said hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical to flow from said pump head to said mixing chamber;

a fifth hose located inside of said enclosure that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said pump to said mixing chamber;

an output hose located outside of said enclosure; and

a first fitting that provides a flow path from said mixing chamber to a tee fitting wherein said tee fitting is located outside of said enclosure and provides a flow path from said first fitting to said output hose.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a first check valve located inside of said enclosure and mounted in-between said fourth hose and said mixing chamber; and

a second check valve located inside of said enclosure and mounted in-between said fifth hose and said mixing chamber whereby said first check valve and said second check valve only allow flow to proceed away from said pump and towards said mixing chamber.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a second fitting located inside of said enclosure and mounted in-between said first check valve and said mixing chamber; and

a third fitting located inside of said enclosure and mounted in-between said second check valve and said mixing chamber.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein:

said primary liquid supply is water; and

said hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical mixes with said water in said mixing chamber resulting in a diluted/non-hyper-concentrated chemical mixture.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein:

when said primary liquid flows through said first hose and through said second hose into said pump, said primary liquid;

operates to drive said pump whereby said pump creates a suction force to suck up an amount of said hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical through said third hose into said pump head; and

flows into said pump and out of said pump through said fifth hose.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said pump comprises an adjustment member for adjusting the operation of said pump which adjusts the amount of hyper-concentrated solvent based chemical sucked up into said pump head thereby altering the makeup of said non-hyper-concentrated chemical mixture.

20. A method for dispensing hyper-concentrated chemicals in a non-hyper-concentrated state, said method comprising:

defining a system for dispensing hyper-concentrated chemicals wherein said system comprises;

a pump with at least one pump head;

a three-way selector valve for selecting three different modes of operation comprising an off mode, a solvent mode, and a rinse mode;

a mixing chamber;

a first hose that provides a flow path for a primary liquid supply to flow to said three-way selector valve;

a shut-off valve that can shut-off flow of said primary liquid supply to said first hose;

a fitting that connects said primary liquid supply to said shut-off valve;

at least one fitting that connects said shut-off valve to said first hose;

a second hose that provides a flow path for said primary liquid supply to flow from said three-way selector valve to an input port of said pump wherein said primary liquid supply drives said pump;

a third hose that provides a flow path for a hyper-concentrated chemical to flow into said pump head;

a fourth hose that provides a flow path for said hyper-concentrated chemical to flow from said pump head to said mixing chamber;

a fifth hose that provides a flow path for said primary liquid to flow from said pump to said mixing chamber;

an output hose;

a fitting that provides a flow path from said mixing chamber to said output hose;

a coupler connected to an end of said third hose; and

an insert that is configured to connect to a container housing said hyper-concentrated chemical supply wherein said coupler connects to said insert whereby said connection of said coupler to said insert creates a flow path for said hyper-concentrated chemicals to flow from said container into said third hose;

connect said primary liquid supply to said fitting that connects said primary liquid supply to said shut-off valve;

position said shut-off valve to an on position to allow flow of said primary liquid supply through said shut-off valve;

connect said insert to said container;

connect said coupler to said insert;

position said three-way selector valve to the solvent mode; and

turn on said primary liquid supply.