Dispensing apparatus with line pressure diverter
AssigneeEcolab Inc.
InventorRobert E. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing for dispensing a chemical product mixed with water is connected to a water supply through a line pressure diverter which relieves pressure in downstream of the water supply when the dispensing apparatus is not activated. Pressure is diverted by diverting the flow of water from a water supply to a second outlet port on the diverter. The line pressure diverter permits a dispensing apparatus to be installed on conventional water supply faucets without substantial modification thereto, and without causing damage to any pre-existing backflow prevention devices installed on the water supply.
Claims52
A dispensing apparatus comprising:
- (a) a chemical product dispenser for dispensing a chemical product mixed with a diluent, the chemical product dispenser including a diluent inlet line for receiving a flow of diluent from a diluent supply, and a control valve for controlling the flow of diluent to the dispenser;
- and
- (b) a line pressure diverter, interposed between the diluent inlet line of the chemical product dispenser and the diluent supply, for diverting line pressure away from the diluent supply when the control valve of the chemical product dispenser is closed;
- whereby the line pressure diverter prevents backflow of a substantial proportion of chemical product from the chemical product dispenser into the diluent supply.
In a dispensing apparatus of the type including a chemical product dispenser for dispensing a chemical product mixed with a diluent, the chemical product dispenser including a diluent inlet line for receiving a flow of diluent from a diluent supply having a backflow prevention device installed thereon, and a control valve for controlling the flow of diluent to the dispenser, a line pressure diverter comprising:
- (a) an inlet channel in fluid communication with the diluent supply;
- (b) a first outlet channel, in fluid communication with the inlet channel and the diluent inlet line of the chemical product dispenser;
- and
- (c) a second outlet channel, in fluid communication with the inlet channel through a pressure relief means for diverting diluent to the second outlet channel and away from the diluent supply when pressure downstream of the diluent supply exceeds a predetermined level;
- whereby the pressure downstream of the diluent supply is maintained at a level below that which would cause damage to the backflow prevention device installed on the diluent supply, and whereby backflow of a substantial proportion of chemical product from the chemical product dispenser into the diluent supply is prevented.
A method of communicating diluent from a diluent supply to a diluent inlet line of a chemical product dispenser for dispensing a chemical product in solution, wherein the diluent supply is of the type having an atmospheric vacuum breaker and wherein the chemical product dispenser is of the type having a control valve for controlling the flow of diluent to the dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) when the control valve of the chemical product dispenser is open, directing diluent between the diluent supply and the diluent inlet line of the chemical product dispenser using a line pressure diverter having an inlet connected in fluid communication to the diluent supply and a first outlet connected in fluid communication to the diluent inlet line;
- and
- (b) when the control valve of the chemical product dispenser is closed, diverting diluent out of a second outlet of the line pressure diverter to maintain pressure downstream of the diluent supply at a level below that which would cause damage to the atmospheric vacuum breaker installed on the diluent supply.
A line pressure diverter for use in a dispensing apparatus of the type including a chemical product dispenser for dispensing a chemical product mixed with a diluent, the chemical product dispenser including a diluent inlet line for receiving a flow of diluent from a diluent supply having a backflow prevention device installed thereon, and a control valve for controlling the flow of diluent to the dispenser, the line pressure diverter consisting essentially of:
- (a) a diverter body;
- (b) an inlet channel disposed in the diverter body and in fluid communication with the diluent supply;
- (c) a first outlet channel disposed in the diverter body and in fluid communication with the inlet channel and the diluent inlet line of the chemical product dispenser;
- and
- (d) a second outlet channel disposed in the diverter body and in fluid communication with the inlet channel through a pressure relief means for diverting diluent to the second outlet channel and away from the diluent supply when pressure downstream of the diluent supply exceeds a predetermined level;
- whereby the pressure downstream of the diluent supply is maintained at a level below that which would cause damage to the backflow prevention device installed on the diluent supply, and whereby backflow of a substantial proportion of chemical product from the chemical product dispenser into the diluent supply is prevented.
A dispensing apparatus consisting essentially of:
- (a) a chemical product dispenser for dispensing a chemical product mixed with a diluent, the chemical product dispenser including a diluent inlet line for receiving a flow of diluent from a diluent supply, and a control valve for controlling the flow of diluent to the dispenser;
- and
- (b) a line pressure diverter, interposed between the diluent inlet line of the chemical product dispenser and the diluent supply, for diverting line pressure away from the diluent supply when the control valve of the chemical product dispenser is closed;
- whereby the line pressure diverter prevents backflow of a substantial proportion of chemical product from the chemical product dispenser into the diluent supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.