US 4,826,661 A · Solid block chemical dispenser for cleaning systems

Abstract

A dispenser for and method of dispensing a concentrated cleaning solution from a solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the concentrated cleaning solution is dispensed at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning composition. The dispenser comprises (i) a spray nozzle for directing a uniform dissolving spray onto an exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition; and (ii) a spring or hydraulic piston coupled to the nozzle for biasing the nozzle towards the solid block and thereby maintaining a substantially constant distance between the nozzle and the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition even though the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution by the dissolving spray.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A dispenser for a stationary cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provide the concentrated solution at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block, which comprises:
(a) a movably mounted spray means for directing a dissolving spray of a solvent at an exposed surface of a stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(b) a positioning means for positioning the spray means so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition as the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution of the cleaning composition by the solvent spray.

1 more element

A dispenser for a cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provide the concentrated solution at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block, which comprises:
(a) a movably mounted spray means for directing a dissolving spray of a solvent at an exposed surface of a stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(b) a positioning means for positioning the spray means so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of a solid block of cleaning composition as the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution of the cleaning composition by the solvent spray, wherein the positioning means comprises:
(i) a sensing means for sensing the location of the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(ii) an adjusting means in communication with the spray means and operative in response to the sensing means, for adjusting the location of the spray means in response to a change in the location of the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface as the exposed surface recedes.

4 more elements

A dispenser for a stationary cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the solid block of cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provided the concentrated solution at a substantially constant coentration during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning composition, which comprises:
(a) a movably mounted spray means for directing a dissolving spray of a solvent at an exposed surface of a stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(b) a housing for sealingly contacting a container so as to aid in containing, collecting and directing a concentrated solution formed by the dispenser, wherein the housing comprises:
(i) an upper support portion for sealingly engaging and retainer the container;
and
(ii) a funnel shaped collector poriton having a lower outlet port, the funnel shaped collector portion integral with an extending continuously downward from the upper support portion, the collector portion terminating at the lower outlet port from the housing;
the upper support portion and collector portion defining an internal cavity;
and
(c) a position means for positioning the spray means so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition as the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution of the cleaning composition by the solvent spray, wherein the positioning means comprises:
(i) a rigid feeler bracket having a first end coupled to the spray means and a second end extending from the spray means towards the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition;
the feeler bracket maintaining the spray means at a substantially constant predetermined distance from the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition by engaging the exposed surface with the second end of the feeler bracket and physically preventing the spray means from moving any closer to the exposed surfaced;
(ii) a linear tube coupled to the collector portion of the housing and passing through the lower outlet port;
the linear tube having (i) a central bore, (ii) a first portion extending axially into the internal cavity of the housing, (iii) a second portion extending axially outward from the internal cavity of the housing, (iv) an inner annular flange, and (v) at least one aperture in the first portion to allow the concentrated solution to pass from the internal cavity of the housing into the central bore of the linear tube;
(iii) a spring having a central bore, a top end supportably engaging the spray means and a bottom end supportably engaged by the linear tube inner annular flange for biasing the spray means towards the exposed surface of the cleaning composition and maintaining the second end of the feeler bracket in constant contact with the exposed surface of the cleaning composition during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning composition;
a sufficient length of the spring supportably retained within the bore of the linear tube for providing lateral support to the spring;
and
(iv) a shaft coupled to the spray means and extending into the bore of the spring for providing lateral support to the spray means and spring.

15 more elements

A dispenser for a stationary cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provide the concentrated solution at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block, which comprises:
(a) a movably mounted spray means for directing a dissolving spray of a solvent at an exposed surface of a stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
an
(b) a housing for sealingly contacting a container so as to aid in containing, collecting and directing a concentrated solution formed by the dispenser, wherein the housing comprises:
(i) an upper storage portion defining an upper storage cavity sufficient to retain at least one container with a fresh charge of cleaning composition;
the upper storage portion having an upwardly disposed access port for allowing access to the upper storage cavity;
(ii) a door operatively engaged to the housing an sealing by positioned across the access port, the door being movable with respect to the access port to open and close access to the upper storage cavity;
and
(iii) a funnel shaped collector portion integral with and extending continuously downward from the upper storage portion, the collector portion terminating at lower outlet from the housing;
the upper storage cavity and collector portion together defining an internal cavity;
and
(c) a positioning means for positioning the spray means so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the spray means and exposed surface of the stationary solid block of cleaning composition as the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution of the cleaning composition by the solvent spray, wherein the positioning means comprises;
(i) a rigid feeler bracket having a first end coupled to the spray means and a second end extending from the spray means towards the exposed surface of the cleaning composition;
the feeler bracket maintaining the spray means at a substantially constant predetermined distance from the exposed surface of the cleaning composition by engaging the exposed surface with the second end of the feeler bracket and physically preventing the spray means from moving any closer to the exposed surface;
(ii) a linear tube coupled to the collector portion of the housing and passing through the lower outlet port;
the tube having (i) a central bore, (ii) a first portion extending axially into the internal cavity of the housing, (iii) a second portion extending axially outward from the internal cavity of the housing, (iv) an inner annular flange, and (v) at least one aperture in the first portion to allow the concentrated solution to pass from the internal cavity of the housing into the central bore of the tube;
(iii) a spring having a central bore, a top end supportably engaging the spray means and a bottom end supportably engaged by the support tube inner annular flange for biasing the spray means towards the exposed surface of the cleaning composition and maintaining the second end of the feeler bracket in constant contact with the exposed surface of the cleaning composition during the entire useful life of the solid block of a cleaning composition;
a sufficient length of the spring supportably retained within the bore of the tube for providing lateral support to the spring;
and
(iv) a shaft coupled to the spray means and extending into the bore of the spring for providing lateral support to the spray means and spring.

17 more elements

A dispenser for a stationary cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provide the concentrated solution at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block, which comprises:
(a) a container surrounding a stationary solid block of cleaning composition, the solid block having at least one exposed surface;
(b) a movably mounted spray means for directing a dissolving spray of a solvent at an exposed surface of the stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(c) a housing for sealing by contacting the container so as to aid in containing, collecting and directing a concentrated solution formed by the dispenser, which comprises:
(i) an upper support portion for sealingly engaging and retaining the container;
and
(ii) a funnel shaped collector portion having a lower outlet port, the funnel shaped collector portion integral with and extending continuously downward from the upper support portion, the collector portion terminating at the lower outlet port from the housing;
(d) a 0.5 to 6 inch long rigid feeler bracket having a first end coupled to the spray means and a second end extending from the spray means towards the exposed surface of the cleaning composition;
the feeler bracket maintaining the spray means at a substantially constant predetermined distance from the exposed surface of the cleaning composition by engaging the exposed surface with the second end of the feeler bracket and physically preventing the spray means from moving any closer to the exposed surface;
(e) a linear tube coupled to the collector portion of the housing and passing through the lower outlet port;
the tube having:
(i) a central bore;
(ii) a first portion 0.5 to 10 inches long extending axially into an internal cavity of the housing;
(iii) a second portion 1 to 20 inches long extending axially outward from the housing;
(iv) an inner annular flange at approximately the terminal end of the second portion of the tube;
and
(v) a plurality of transverse apertures in the first portion of the tube for allowing concentrated solution to pass from the internal cavity of the housing into the central bore of the tube;
(f) a spring having a central bore, a top end supportably engaging the spray means and a bottom end supportably engaged by the linear tube inner annular flange for biasing the spray means towards the exposed surface of the cleaning composition and maintaining the second end of the feeler bracket in constant contact with the exposed surface of the cleaning composition during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning composition;
a sufficient length of the spring supportably retained within the bore of the tube for providing lateral support to the spring;
(g) a shaft coupled to the spray means and extending into the bore of the spring for providing the lateral support to the spray means and spring;
the ration of length of spring to length of shaft being between 2:1 and 10:1;
(h) a concentrated solution conduit connecting the tube with a utilization point for collecting the concentrated solution from the central bore of the tube to the utilization point;
(i) a water supply line connecting the spray means with a pressurized source of water;
an internal portion of the water supply line contained within the housing comprising a flexible material to prevent the water supply line from impeding movement of the spray means;
(j) a spray control means cooperatively connected to the water supply line for selectively controlling the flow of water through the supply line, 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 exposed surface of the cleaning composition;
(k) a 1/3 to 1/4 horsepower pump cooperatively connected to the concentrated solution conduit for selectively controlling the flow of concentrated solution through the concentrated solution conduit;
the pump being operative in response to receipt of a control signal to pump concentrated solution from the housing through the concentrated solution conduit;
and
(1) a level indicator, operatively connected to the spray control means for sensing the level of concentrated solution held within the housing;
and selectively producing a first and a second electrical signal in response thereto;
the level indicator being normally operative, when the level of concentrated solution held within the housing is above a predetermined level, to produce the first electrical signal, causing the spray control means to close to water flow therethrough, and being operable in response to a reduction in the level of concentrated solution within the housing below the predetermined level, to produce the second electrical signal, causing the spray control means to open to water flow therethrough to create the concentrated solution.

29 more elements

A method for dissolving and dispensing a stationary cast solid block of a cleaning composition wherein the cleaning composition is dispensed in the form of a concentrated solution;

the dispenser configured to provide the concentrated solution at a substantially constant concentration during the entire useful life of the solid block, which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing a surface of the stationary solid block of cleaning composition;
(b) placing the solid block of cleaning composition including container into a dispenser comprising:
(i) a spray means for directing a dissolving spray of water at the exposed surface of the stationary solid block of cleaning composition, the spray means capable of movement relative to movement of the first exposed surface caused by erosion of the first exposed surface in order to maintain a constant distance between the spray means and the first exposed surface of the chemical;
(ii) a positioning means maintaining a substantially constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface of the solid block of cleaning composition as the exposed surface recedes due to dissolution of the cleaning composition by the solvent spray, the positioning means comprising:
(A) a rigid feeler bracket having a first end coupled to the spray means and a second end extending from the spray means toward the exposed surface of the cleaning composition;
the feeler bracket maintaining the spray means at a substantially constant predetermined distance from the exposed surface of the cleaning composition by engaging the exposed surface with the second end of the feeler bracket and physically preventing the spray means from moving any closer to the exposed surface;
and
(B) a spring having a top end supportably engaging the spray means and an anchored bottom for biasing the spray means toward the exposed surface of the cleaning composition and maintaining the second end of the feeler bracket in contact with the exposed surface of the cleaning composition during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning composition;
and
(iii) a housing for sealingly contacting the container so as to aid in containing, collecting and directing the concentrated solution formed in the dispenser;
such that the exposed surface of the cleaning composition contacts the feeler bracket;
(c) allowing the weight of the container and cleaning composition to compress the spring until the container sealingly engages the housing;
(d) spraying water from the spray means onto the exposed surface of the cleaning composition for dissolving the cleaning composition and forming a concentrated solution;
(e) allowing the positioning means to adjust the spray means according to the receding movement of the exposed surface of the cleaning composition to maintain a constant distance between the spray means and the exposed surface during the entire useful life of the solid block of cleaning chemical;
and
(f) directing the concentrated solution to a utilization point.

14 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

Claims21