Material delivery systems and methods

• US 8,002,898 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Chan, Wai Yin Cedric, Baars, Evert P., Schepers, Frederik J., Cocking, Andrew J., Livingston, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAN, NICOLE R
• Application Number:
  US11/960,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 134/18, 134/25.1
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0023 Water filling A47L15/4244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity

Abstract

A method of determining one or more operational parameters of a washing system having a wash tank to which water and material are added. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring a concentration of material, which is decreased at least partially due to water being added to the wash tank. The method also includes maintaining the concentration of material by dispensing material into the wash tank during a material dispensing operation. Additionally, the method includes generating a parameter indicative of a rate at which the material is dispensed during the material dispensing operation. The method also includes determining a presence of a water flow abnormality based at least partially on the generated parameter.

Claims

1. A method of determining one or more operational parameters of a washing system having a wash tank to which water and material are added, the method comprising:

monitoring a concentration of material, the concentration of material being decreased at least partially due to water being added to the wash tank;

maintaining the concentration of material by dispensing material into the wash tank, the material being dispensed during a material dispensing operation;

determining a material dose rate indicative of a rate at which the material is dispensed during the material dispensing operation over a predetermined duration;

determining an approximate water flow entering or exiting the washing system based at least partially on the determined material dose rate; and

determining a presence of a water flow abnormality based at least partially on the determined water flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of material is monitored by evaluating a signal generated by a conductivity sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of material is maintained within a predetermined operating range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the material dispensing operation includes dosing a predetermined quantity of material using a material dispensing system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating the presence of a water flow abnormality to a user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising indicating a water flow that is above a normal water flow.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising indicating a water flow that is below a normal water flow.