Laundry chemical dispenser

• US 5,435,157 A
• Filed: 01/27/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Original Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals
• Inventors: Laughlin, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/188,149
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 68/12, 68/18, 68/17 R, 134/93, 134/99.2, 222/132, 222/133, 137/889, 137/893, 137/597
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87595 Combining of three or more diverse fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87627 Flow control means is located in aspirated fluid inlet

Abstract

The present invention is a chemical dispenser for use in servicing at least two laundry cleaning machines to dispense a plurality of chemical agents utilized in the process of cleaning soiled laundry, wherein at least two of the chemical agents are compatible. The chemical dispenser has a plurality of chemical dispensing systems designed to deliver a selected chemical agent from a source to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system is in flow communication with each chemical source and in flow communication with each washing machine. Each chemical dispensing system has a pump and a delivery conduit. For selected chemical agent delivery, the pump is a venturi injector pump. The chemical dispensing systems utilized for dispensing compatible chemical agents have a common portion and are fluidly independent from chemical dispensing systems utilized for dispensing incompatible chemical agents.

Claims

1. A chemical dispenser for use in servicing at least two laundry cleaning machines to dispense a plurality of chemical agents utilized in the process of cleaning soiled laundry, at least two of the chemical agents being compatible, having a plurality of chemical dispensing systems, each of such chemical dispensing systems being designed to deliver a selected chemical agent from a source to a washing machine, comprising:

control means for controlling the dispensation of chemicals to washing machines, being communicatively coupled to each of said washing machines and receiving signals therefrom and being communicatively coupled to the chemical dispensing systems to provide commands thereto responsive to the received signals, the commands configuring the chemical dispensing systems in order to dispense and withhold selected chemicals; and

at least one chemical dispensing system being in flow communication with one incompatible chemical agent source and being in flow communication with a selected washing machine, arid having a pump fluidly coupled to a delivery conduit, the delivery conduit being in flow communication with the selected washing machine; and

at least one chemical dispensing system being in flow communication with a plurality of compatible chemical agent sources and being in flow communication with a selected washing machine, and having a pump fluidly coupled to a delivery conduit, the delivery conduit being in flow communication with the selected washing machine, wherein the chemical dispensing systems utilized for dispensing compatible chemical agents have a common chemical agent delivery portion designed to convey compatible chemical agents and are fluidly independent from chemical dispensing systems utilized for dispensing incompatible chemical agents and wherein the pump of at least one of the chemical dispenser systems is comprised of venturi injector means for dispensing a chemical agent, the venturi injector means being comprised of a housing having a central fluid passageway defined therethrough and a throat body having a throat defined therein, the throat body being disposed in the central fluid passageway defined in the housing and having a first intersecting fluid passageway intersecting the central fluid passageway proximate the throat, the central fluid passageway being defined between an inlet port and a discharge port with the throat being disposed between the inlet port and the discharge port and a second intersecting fluid passageway intersecting the central fluid passageway between the throat and the discharge port.