Method for dispensing solid products
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsJason D. Hedlund, John E. Thomas, Richard Ryan Carroll, Louis Holzman, Edward J. Snodgrass, Bernardo Parlange
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dispensing a solution of a solid product in a fluid. A freestanding apparatus comprises an inlet portion through which fluid enters, a reaction portion in which the fluid encounters and dissolves the product to form a solution, and an outlet portion from which the solution exits the apparatus. Fluid may encounter product from a single direction or multiple directions. The apparatus may be configured to receive a particularly shaped solid product, and may comprise a lid or gate to prevent fluid from contacting the product undesirably.
Claims22
A method for dispensing a solution of a solid product, the method comprising:
- providing a stand-alone, free-flowing product dispenser, the dispenser comprising:
- an inlet portion for receiving fluid, the inlet portion further comprising
- a reaction portion in which the solution is formed, the reaction portion further being configured to receive a uniquely shaped solid product, and
- an outlet portion for dispensing the solution;
- and
- directing fluid to the inlet portion, whereby
- the fluid comes into contact with the solid product housed in the reaction portion and dissolves said product, thereby creating a solution of the liquid and the product;
- and
- the solution is dispensed from the outlet portion.
A freestanding product dispenser for dispensing a solution of a liquid and a solid product having a specific shape that indicates the composition of the solid product, the dispenser comprising:
- an inlet portion for receiving a liquid;
- an output drain for dispensing the solution;
- and
- a reaction portion for holding the solid product and in which the solution is formed, the reaction portion having an interior profile of complementary shape to the solid product, whereby the interior profile indicates the composition of solid product to be held, and
- the reaction portion in fluid communication with the inlet portion and the output drain and arranged so that liquid directed into the inlet portion flows into the reaction portion, wherein the fluid contacts and dissolves at least a portion of the solid product to form the solution, and the solution flows out of the outlet portion.
A method for dispensing a solution of a liquid and a specific solid product, the method comprising:
- providing a product dispenser, the dispenser comprising a reaction portion configured to compatibly hold the specific solid product and additionally to be incompatible with other specific products;
- and
- supplying fluid to the dispenser, wherein
- the fluid contacts the solid product in the reaction portion and creates a solution;
- and
- the solution flows out of the dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.