US 4,687,121 A · Solid block chemical dispenser for cleaning systems

Abstract

A spray-type dispenser for on-demand dispensing of a solid block of chemical retained within a container in the form of an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration, comprising: (i) an upwardly dispoded spray nozzle, (ii) a three-dimensional support screen for supporting the solid block of chemical above the spray nozzle, and (iii) a housing enclosing the spray nozzle and support screen; the housing and support screen defining an annular cavity. In operation, a container retaining a solid block of a water-soluble chemical is placed within the dispenser such that the support screen contacts the chemical but not the container; thereby allowing the container to descend, by force of gravity into the annula cavity as the chemical retained therein is dissolved. The ability of the container to move in relation to dissolution of the chemical retained therein allows the dispenser to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray nozzle and the exposed dissolving surface of the chemical and thereby maintains a substantially constant concentration of the aqueous chemical solution dispensed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A dispenser for dispensing an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration from a solid block of chemical retained within a container;

the chemical retained within the container such that the chemical and container move as a single unit during dispensing, which comprises:
(a) a spray means for directing a uniform solvent spray such that the solvent impinges an exposed surface of the solid block of chemical;
and
means for supporting the solid block of chemical which, during dispensing of the entire solid block of chemical, maintains a constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of the solid block of chemical while the distance between the spray means and the container decreases.

1 more element

A dispenser for dispensing an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration from a solid block of chemical retained within a container, which comprises:

(a) a fixed position spray means for directing a uniform solvent spray such that the solvent impinges an exposed surface of the solid block of chemical;
(b) a housing, having a central axis, surrounding the container and spray means for containing, collecting and directing the chemical solution formed therein;
and
(c) a means for maintaining a constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of the solid block of chemical which comprises a three-dimensional screen having:
(i) a lower, substantially horizontal, circumferential support and extension portion in supportable contact with the housing and extending towards the central axis of the housing;
(ii) a substantially vertical circumferential wall integrally coupled with the lower support and extension portion;
the circumferential wall extending away from the spray means and defining a generally longitudinally elongated, annular cavity between the housing and the wall;
and
(iii) a substantially flat horizontal top portion integrally coupled with the wall for supporting the exposed surface of the solid block of chemical;
wherein the container is allowed to descend into the generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity as the solid block of chemical is dissolved.

7 more elements

A dispenser for dispensing an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration from a solid block of chemical retained within a container, which comprises:

(a) a housing, having a central axis, for the solid block of chemical, comprising:
(i) an upper storage portion, the upper storage portion defining a storage cavity and having an upwardly disposed access port for allowing access to the storage cavity;
(ii) a door operatively engaged to the housing and positioned across the upwardly disposed access port, the door being movable with respect to the access port to open and close access to the storage cavity;
and
(iii) a funnel shaped collector portion integral with and extending continuously downward from the storage portion and terminating at a lower outlet port from the housing;
(b) mounting means for mounting the housing onto a vertical support;
(c) a three-dimensional screen comprising:
(i) a lower, substantially horizontal, circumferential support and extension portion in supportable contact with the housing and extending towards the central axis of the housing;
(ii) a substantially vertical circumferential wall integrally coupled with the lower support and extension portion;
the wall extending into the storage portion of the housing and defining a generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity between the housing and the wall;
and
(iii) a substantially flat, horizontal top portion integrally coupled with the wall for supporting the block of chemical;
(d) spray means mounted in the collector portion of the housing and below the top portion of the support screen for directing a uniform spray at substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the solid block of chemical retainably supported by the top portion of the support screen;
(e) a chemical solution conduit connecting the outlet port with a utilization point for directing the concentrated chemical solution from the collector portion of the housing to the utilization point;
(f) a water supply line connecting the spray means with a pressurized source of water;
and
(g) a spray control means cooperatively connected to the water supply line for selectively controlling the flow of water through the supply line and spray means, the spray control means being operative in response to receipt of a control signal to open the water supply line to water flow therethrough, causing the spray means to direct a spray of water against substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the solid block of chemical retainably supported immediately above the top portion of the support screen, dissolving that chemical contacted with water which then passes in solution through the support screen to the underling collector portion of the housing, through the outlet port, through the conduit and to the utilization point;
the container being allowed to descend into the generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity as the solid block of chemical is dissolved.

15 more elements

A dispenser for dispensing an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration from a solid block of chemical retained within a container, the chemical retained within the container such that the chemical and container move as a single unit during dispensing, which comprises:

(a) a housing for the solid block of chemical, comprising:
(i) a right circular cylinder upper storage portion, the upper storage portion defining a right circular cylinder storage cavity and having an upwardly disposed circular access port for allowing access to the storage cavity;
(ii) a circular door operatively engaged to the housing and positioned across the upwardly disposed circular access port, the door being movable with respect to the access port to open and close access to the storage cavity;
and
(iii) a circular funnel-shaped collector portion integral with and extending continuously downward from the storage portion and terminating at a lower circular outlet port from the housing;
(b) means for mounting the housing onto a vertical support;
(c) a three-dimensional screen having approximately 2.5 cm openings comprising:
(i) a lower, substantially horizontal, circumferential support and extension portion in supportable contact with the housing and extending toward the central axis of the housing;
(ii) a substantially vertical circumferential wall about 15 to 30 cm high and integrally coupled with the lower support and extension portion;
the wall extending into the storage portion of the housing and defining a generally longitudinal elongated annular cavity between the housing and the wall;
the annular cavity being about 0.6 to 2.5 cm wide from housing to support screen wall and
(iii) a substantially flat, horizontal top portion integrally coupled with the wall for supporting the block of chemical;
(d) a spray nozzle mounted in the collector portion of the housing and below the top portion of the screen for directing a uniform spray at substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of a solid block of chemical retainably supported by the top portion of the support screen;
(e) a chemical solution conduit connecting the outlet port with a utilization point for directing the concentrated chemical solution from the collector portion of the housing to the utilization point;
(f) a water supply line connecting the spray nozzle with a pressurized source of water;
(g) a spray control means cooperatively connected to the water supply line for selectively controlling the flow of water through the supply line and spray nozzle, the spray control means being operative in response to receipt of a control signal to open the water supply line to water flow therethrough, causing the spray nozzle to direct a spray of water against substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the solid block of chemical retainably supported immediately above the top portion of the support screen;
(h) a safety control switch comprising:
(i) an electrically actuated safety valve in the water supply line, normally operable in response to receipt of a first electrical signal to allow free flow of water through the supply line and responsive to receipt of a second electrical signal to block the flow of water through the water supply line and
(ii) an electronic switching means operatively connected with the safety valve for sensing the operative position of the door and selectively producing in response thereto, the first and the second electrical signals, the electronic switching means being normally operative when the door is operatively disposed in a closed position over the access port of the housing, to produce the first electrical signal, and being operable in response to movement of the door away from the closed portion to produce the second electrical signal, causing the safety valve to close;
and
(i) a lower screen in contact with the collector portion of the housing between the outlet port and the nozzle for preventing the passage of undissolved solid block chemical into the chemical solution conduit wherein the container is allowed to descend into the generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity as the solid block of chemical is dissolved.

18 more elements

A method for dispensing an aqueous chemical solution of substantially constant concentration from a container surrounding a solid block of chemical, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the chemical block into a dispenser comprising:
(i) a fixed position spray means;
(ii) a three-dimensional screen comprising:
(A) a lower, substantially horizontal, circumferential support and extension portion in supportable contact with an outer housing, having a central axis, and extending towards the central axis of the housing;
(B) a substantially vertical circumferential wall integrally coupled with the lower support and extension portion and extending upward;
the wall and outer housing defining a generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity;
and
(C) a substantially flat, horizontal top portion integrally coupled with the wall for supporting the block of chemical;
and
(iii) a housing surrounding the container and spray means for containing, collecting and directing the chemical solution formed therein;
such that an exposed surface of the chemical supportably engages the top portion of the support screen and the container is aligned so that it may descend into the generally longitudinally elongated annular cavity as the solid block of chemical is dissolved;
and
(b) spraying water from the spray means onto the exposed surface of the solid block of chemical retainably supported immediately above the top portion of the support screen.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solid block chemical dispenser for cleaning systems

Life of this patent

Solid block chemical dispenser for cleaning systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20