Chemical delivery system

• US 8,322,367 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonny's HFI Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Hydra-Flex, Inc. (Sonny'S Enterprises, LLC)
• Inventors: Harris, Jaime L., Brown, Gary A., Kensinger, David G., Fritze, Karl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Chee-Chong
• Application Number:
  US12/246,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 137/883, 137/597, 137/315.09, 137/315.27, 137/269, 137/884, 137/892, 264/DIG.76
• US Class Current: 137/597
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/144 the securing element being U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/00 Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/03 comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0352 Controlled by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0441 Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0491 Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6007 Assembling or disassembling multi way valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87587 Combining by aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87627 Flow control means is located in aspirated fluid inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

An expandable chemical delivery system sharing a common bulk fluid inlet and bulk fluid flow path to direct a bulk fluid through one or more selected chemical eductors. Each chemical eductor is slidably insertable into an eductor port on the manifold body such that rotation of the chemical eductor is not required for installation. After installation, the orientation of the chemical eductor can be rotatably adjusted so as to avoid interference with adjacent chemical eductors. Delivery of a bulk fluid to each chemical eductor is controlled via a corresponding valve assembly that selectively allows or blocks flow of the bulk fluid from the bulk fluid flow path to the corresponding chemical eductor. The manifold body can include a plurality of individual manifold bodies approximated with a coupling system to define the bulk fluid flow path. Alternatively, the manifold body can comprise a single fabricated body for high pressure operation.

Claims

1. A chemical delivery system, comprising:

at least a pair of manifold bodies linearly arranged to share a bulk fluid inlet and defining a bulk fluid flow path, wherein the bulk fluid flow path is fluidly interconnected to a dispensing fluid flow path in each manifold body, the dispensing fluid flow path defined between an eductor port and a valve port, the manifold bodies being fixedly coupled with a coupling tube that extends fully through the bulk fluid flow path, the coupling tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second end each include an external tube thread such that tightening a coupling nut over the external tube thread at each of the first and second ends causes the manifold bodies to be sealing engaged, and wherein the coupling tube includes an internal tube thread at the first end for attaching a bulk fluid supply such that the bulk fluid supply enters the coupling tube and is directed into the bulk fluid flow path through a plurality of wall apertures in the coupling tube; and

at least a pair of eductor assemblies, each eductor assembly including an eductor member and a valve assembly, the eductor member and valve assembly operably connected to the corresponding valve port and eductor port, each eductor member including a chemical inlet and a dispensing outlet wherein the valve assembly selectively directs the bulk fluid into the dispensing fluid flow path for drawing a chemical through the chemical inlet for mixing with the bulk fluid and dispensing through to a point of use through the dispensing outlet.

2. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, wherein each eductor port includes a pair of locking bores for slidably receiving a locking member, the locking member adapted to fixedly retain a dispensing inlet on each eductor member.

3. The chemical delivery system of claim 2, wherein the eductor member is rotatably positionable within the eductor port so as to rotatably orient the chemical inlet on the eductor member in a desired connection orientation.

4. The chemical delivery system of claim 2, wherein the dispensing inlet includes a tapered leading edge and a radial locking groove, the tapered leading edge being directed through and past the locking member such that the locking member snaps into the radial locking groove.

5. The chemical delivery system of claim 4, wherein the dispensing inlet includes a radial sealing mechanism so as to seal the dispensing inlet within the eductor port when the locking member is retained within the radial locking groove.

6. The chemical delivery system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises a solenoid valve assembly.

7. A method for dispensing a chemical to point of use, comprising:

arranging at least a pair of manifold bodies to share a bulk fluid inlet and define a bulk fluid flow path;

coupling the pair of manifold bodies with a coupling tube inserted through the bulk fluid flow path, the coupling tube including an external tube thread on both first and second ends of the coupling tube such that a coupling nut is tightened over the external tube thread on each end of the coupling tube;

mounting an eductor member to an eductor port on each manifold body;

mounting a valve assembly to a valve port on each manifold body;

attaching a bulk fluid supply to an internal tube thread at the first end of coupling tube;

directing the bulk fluid supply out a plurality of wall apertures in the coupling tube such that the bulk fluid supply enters the bulk fluid flow path;

selectively opening the valve assemblies to selectively allow the bulk fluid to enter a dispensing flow path defined between the eductor port and the valve port in each manifold body such that the bulk fluid mixes with a chemical in the eductor member; and

dispensing a mixed fluid to point of use through a dispensing outlet of the eductor member.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein mounting the eductor member to the eductor port on each manifold body, further comprises:

advancing a tapered leading edge of the eductor member into the eductor port such that the tapered leading edge is directed past a locking member which snaps into a radial locking groove on the tapered leading edge.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

rotating the eductor member within the eductor port to orient a chemical inlet relative to an adjacent eductor member.