Powdered and liquid chemical dispensing and distribution system

• US 8,763,856 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Livingston, James W., Alhart, Scott D. E., Stead, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh Q
• Application Number:
  US13/483,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129, 222/135, 222/144.2, 222/144.5, 222/148, 222/1, 68/17.R
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A method for distributing powdered and liquid chemicals. The method includes introducing water into an upper end of a measuring chamber, injecting liquid chemical through an inlet located at a lower end of the measuring chamber into a chemical chamber that is fluidly coupled to a lower end of the measuring chamber until a desired volume of the liquid chemical has been introduced, pumping the desired volume of liquid chemical and at least some of the water to a washer, inserting water and a desired dose of a powdered chemical into the upper end of the measuring chamber, and transporting the powdered chemical and at least some of the water to the washer.

Claims

1. A method for distributing powdered and liquid chemicals, comprising:

introducing water into an upper end of a measuring chamber;

injecting liquid chemical through an inlet located at a lower end of the measuring chamber into a chemical chamber that is fluidly coupled to a lower end of the measuring chamber until a desired volume of the liquid chemical has been introduced;

pumping the desired volume of liquid chemical and at least some of the water to a washer;

inserting water and a desired dose of a powdered chemical into the upper end of the measuring chamber; and

transporting the powdered chemical and at least some of the water to the washer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the introducing, injecting, pumping, inserting, and transporting steps are controlled by a controller to distribute liquid and powdered chemicals to the washer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is introduced from a water source via a controllable valve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid chemical is injected from a liquid chemical source via a chemical pump.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pumping and transporting is facilitated by a washer pump.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the powdered chemical is inserted from a powdered chemical distribution apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired volume of the liquid chemical and the desired dose of powdered chemical and water is determined by a level sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising an initial step of calibrating the level sensor.

9. The method of dam 1, wherein the introducing, injecting, pumping, inserting, and transporting steps are repeated to distribute liquid and powdered chemicals to another washer of multiple washers.

10. A method for distributing powdered and liquid chemicals, comprising:

introducing water into an upper end of a chamber adapted to retain the water, a liquid chemical, and a powdered chemical;

introducing a desired volume of liquid chemical into the chamber through an inlet located at a lower end of the chamber;

pumping the desired volume of liquid chemical and at least some of the water to one washer of multiple washers;

introducing a desired dose of a powdered chemical and water into the upper end of the chamber;

pumping the powdered chemical and at least some of the water to the one washer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the water is introduced from a water source via a controllable valve.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the introducing, introducing, pumping, introducing, and transporting steps are controlled by a controller to distribute liquid and powdered chemicals to the washer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising pumping the liquid chemical into the chamber via a chemical pump.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising introducing the liquid chemical through multiple inlets each configured to be fluidly coupled to a different liquid chemical source via a different liquid chemical pump.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the powdered chemical is inserted from a powdered chemical distribution apparatus.

16. A method for distributing powdered and liquid chemicals, comprising:

introducing a desired volume of liquid chemical into a chamber through an inlet located at a lower end of the chamber, the chamber adapted to retain the liquid chemical, a powdered chemical, and water;

pumping the desired volume of liquid chemical to one washer of multiple remote washers;

introducing a desired dose of powdered chemical and water into the chamber;

pumping the powdered chemical and at least some of the water to the one washer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the chamber is external to the multiple remote washers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the introducing, pumping, introducing, and pumping steps are controlled by a controller to distribute liquid and powdered chemicals to the one washer along a single line automatically.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the introducing, pumping, introducing, and pumping steps are controlled by a controller to distribute liquid and powdered chemicals to another washer of the multiple remote washers along another single line automatically.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising

receiving water and the powdered chemical in a first chamber;

directing the water and the powdered chemical to a second chamber; and

at least partially mixing the water and the powdered chemical with the liquid chemical in the second chamber.