Solid chemistry enclosure with safety lock for dispensing applications
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsDaniel Ronald Schwartz, Ryan Joseph Drake
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for obtaining a product chemistry from a slid block of caustic material is provided. The product is housed within a capsule which is positioned inside a turbulent flow dispenser, which utilizes fluid to erode the block and produce a concentrated solution. The fluid characteristics can be adjusted in the field to achieve a predetermined concentrate level of the solution. The capsule provides a safe and convenient means for handling, storing and shipping the caustic block without exposing the operator or handler to the hazardous material. The capsule includes nested components which can be rotated between a closed or sealed position and an open use position.
Claims18
A capsule for storing caustic solid product to be dissolved and dispensed by a turbulent flow dispenser, comprising:
- an upper housing and a lower base coupled together to form a chamber for holding the caustic solid product;
- a pan inside the chamber;
- the pan having perforations;
- the lower base having perforations;
- the upper housing and lower base being rotatable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the perforations of the pan are misaligned with the perforations of the lower base and an open position wherein the perforations of the pan are aligned with the perforations of the lower base;
- and
- the coupled upper housing and lower base being configured to fit inside a cavity in the dispenser wherein the product is dissolved to produce a solution;
- wherein one of the upper housing and lower base has a lock button to prevent inadvertent rotation to the open positions.
A turbulent flow dispenser for producing a solution from a solid chemistry product, comprising:
- a housing with a cavity therein and a perforated shelf in the cavity;
- a cylindrical capsule configured to fit into the cavity and containing the solid chemistry product;
- the cylindrical capsule including upper and lower members which are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical capsule and relative to one another between open and closed positions;
- the cylindrical capsule having perforations which align with the shelf perforations when the cylindrical capsule is in the open position and which are offset from the shelf perforations when the cylindrical capsule is in the closed position;
- and
- a fluid conduit for introducing fluid into the cavity when the cylindrical capsule is in the open position.
A method for obtaining a product chemistry from a hazardous solid product, comprising:
- providing a sealed capsule containing the hazardous solid product;
- installing the sealed capsule into a cavity in a turbulent flow dispenser;
- rotating a portion of the capsule to open perforations in the capsule;
- introducing fluid through the capsule perforations to erode the solid product and produce a solution from the solid product and the fluid;
- and
- locking the rotatable portion of the capsule against accidental rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.