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US 5,344,074 AGranted
Dispensing apparatus having a removable variable proportioning and metering device
AssigneeEcolab Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Spriggs, James D. Decker, James L. Copeland, Spencer B. Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for diluting and dispensing concentrated liquid products is disclosed. The system includes a dispensing device (10, 150) containing a removable proportioning means such as an aspirator assembly (40, 154). A concentrate pickup tube (114) attaches to the dispensing device and is in fluid communication with the aspirator assembly. The dispensing device can utilize a rigid outlet tube (20, 159) which is removably attached to nozzle tip (18, 158) for dispensing to large containers. Also disclosed is a method for diluting and dispensing chemical solutions using the dispensing device of the invention.
Claims32
A dispensing device for proportioning and dispensing a liquid chemical diluted with a liquid solvent, comprising:
- (a) a removable aspirator means for aspirating a liquid chemical into a liquid solvent and being contained within an aspirator housing, said aspirator housing being removable from a remainder of said dispensing device, said aspirator means being operatively interconnected to a conduit for a concentrated liquid chemical and to a conduit for a liquid solvent;
- (b) a locking means for attaching and detaching said aspirator mean so as to interconnect said aspirator means within said dispensing device;
- (c) a sealing means disposed on said aspirator means, said sealing means being biased to cover a channel in said aspirator means when said aspirator means is removed from said dispensing device;
- and
- (d) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one end of a concentrate pickup tube extending into said concentrate container and the other end connected to said aspirator means.
2 more elements
A dispensing device for proportioning and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- a) a are movable proportioning means being contained within a barrel housing;
- b) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said dispensing device;
- c) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said dispensing device;
- and
- d) a second sealing means biased to cover an opening in said barrel housing when said proportioning means is removed therefrom.
2 more elements
A dispensing device for proportioning and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- a) a removable proportioning means;
- b) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said dispensing device;
- and
- c) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said dispensing device, and wherein said first sealing means comprises a sheath which is spring biased into a closed position covering said channel when said proportioning means has been removed from said dispensing device.
1 more element
A dispensing device for proportioning and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- a) a removable proportioning means, wherein said proportioning means is an aspirator;
- b) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said dispensing device;
- and
- c) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said dispensing device.
1 more element
An apparatus for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a delivery means attached to and in fluid communication with a diluent supply hose which carries a diluent, said delivery means comprising:
- (i) a removable aspirator means for aspirating a chemical into said diluent;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching and detaching said aspirator means so that said aspirator means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said delivery means;
- and
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said aspirator means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said aspirator means when said aspirator means is removed from said delivery means;
- and
- (b) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one end of a concentrate pickup tube extending into said concentrate container and the other end connected to said aspirator means, wherein said concentrate container is supported on a rack.
4 more elements
An apparatus for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a gun means attached to and in fluid communication with a diluent supply hose which carries a diluent, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a removable proportioning means, wherein said proportioning means is an aspirator;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said gun means;
- and
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said gun means;
- and
- (b) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one end of a concentrate pickup tube extending into said container and the other end connected to said gun means wherein said concentrate container is supported on a rack.
4 more elements
An apparatus for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a gun means attached to and in fluid communication with a diluent supply hose which carries a diluent, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a removable proportioning means contained with a barrel housing;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said gun means;
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said gun means;
- (iv) a second sealing means biased to cover an opening in said barrel housing when said proportioning means is removed therefrom;
- and
- (b) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one end of a concentrate pickup tube extending in said concentrate container and the other end connected to said gun means, wherein said concentrate container is supported rack.
4 more elements
An apparatus for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a gun means attached to and in fluid communication with a diluent supply hose which carries a diluent, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a removable proportioning means;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said gun means;
- and
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said gun means, wherein said first sealing means comprises a sheath which is spring biased into a closed position covering said channel when said proportioning means has been removed from said gun means;
- and
- (b) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one end concentrate pickup tube extending into said concentrate container and the other end connected to said gun means, wherein said concentrate container is supported on a rack.
4 more elements
An apparatus for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a gun means attached to and in fluid communication with a diluent supply hose which carries a diluent, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a removable proportioning means;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching and detaching said proportioning means so that said proportioning means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said gun means;
- and
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said proportioning means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said proportioning means when said proportioning means is removed from said gun means;
- and
- (b) at least one concentrate container containing a concentrated chemical, with one of a concentrate pickup tube extending into said concentrate container and the other end connected to said gun means, wherein said concentrate container is supported on a rack, wherein said rack includes a holster sized and configured to accommodate said gun means.
4 more elements
A system for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of concentrate containers for storing concentrated chemicals, each of said storage containers having a pickup tube extending therefrom, said concentrate storage containers being supported upon a rack;
- (b) a gun means having a first water inlet end and a second outlet end, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a barrel housing;
- (ii) a valve for controlling water flow disposed within said housing;
- (iii) a removable aspirator disposed in said barrel housing, said aspirator attached to one of said pickup tubes;
- (iv) a locking means for attaching and detaching said aspirator so that it locks and aligns in a predetermined position in said gun means;
- (v) a first sealing means disposed on said aspirator, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said aspirator when said aspirator is removed from said gun means;
- and
- (vi) a nozzle with a removable rigid outlet tube attached thereto;
- wherein said gun means is mountable upon said rack and said pickup tubes each have an aspirator attached thereto;
- and
- (c) at least one storage container for storing a diluted chemical, said outlet tube being insertable within said storage container for dispensing of said diluted chemical.
9 more elements
A system for diluting and dispensing a chemical, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of concentrate containers for storing concentrated chemicals, each of said storage containers having a pickup tube extending therefrom, said concentrate storage containers being supported upon a rack;
- (b) a gun means having a first water inlet end and a second outlet end, said gun means comprising:
- (i) a barrel housing;
- (ii) a valve for controlling water flow disposed within said housing;
- (iii) a removable aspirator disposed in said barrel housing, said aspirator attached to one of said pickup tubes;
- (iv) a locking means for attaching and detaching said aspirator so that it locks and aligns in a predetermined position in said gun means;
- (v) a first sealing means disposed on said aspirator, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said aspirator when said aspirator is removed from said gun means;
- and
- (vi) a nozzle with a removable rigid outlet tube attached thereto;
- wherein said outlet tube includes an attachment selected from the group consisting of a brush attachment, a spray nozzle, and a foaming means;
- wherein said gun means is mountable upon said rack and said pickup tubes each have an aspirator attached thereto;
- and
- (c) at least one storage container for storing a diluted chemical, said outlet tube being insertable within said storage container for dispensing of said diluted chemical.
10 more elements
A method for diluting and dispensing liquid solutions, comprising the steps of:
- (a) interconnecting a first concentrate pickup tube to a delivery means, said delivery means comprising:
- (i) a first removable aspirator means for aspirating concentrate into a diluent, said aspirator means being attached to said first pickup tube during the interconnecting step;
- (ii) a locking means for attaching and detaching said aspirator means so that said aspirator means locks and aligns in a predetermined position within said delivery means;
- and
- (iii) a first sealing means disposed on said aspirator means, said first sealing means biased to cover a channel in said aspirator means when said aspirator means is removed from said delivery means;
- wherein said delivery means is in fluid communication with a water supply and has a water control valve disposed therein;
- (b) positioning an outlet end of said deliver means into a storage container;
- and
- (c) opening said water control valve to provide a diluent stream, thereby aspirating concentrated chemical into said diluent stream via said pickup tube with said aspirating means.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.