Dispensing system and method for dispensing a concentrated product and container for use therewith
AssigneeEcolab Inc.
InventorsMaitland R. Edwards, Dale W. Groth, Eric R. Balz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing system and method of dispensing utilize a container housing a concentrated product which is filled with a diluent to form a use dilution, then is subsequently installed into a dispenser having means for automatically opening the container to give the dispenser access to the use dilution. The container includes a cap disposed thereon with a pierceable member that permits access to the interior cavity of the container when pierced. The cap is removable to permit the container to be filled with diluent prior to installation in the dispenser.
Claims19
A dispensing system comprising:
- (a) a container housing a quantity of concentrated product and being sized to permit a quantity of diluent to be added to the concentrated product to form a use dilution;
- wherein the concentrated product is an additive for treating cooling water in a heating system or an air conditioning cooling system and
- (b) a dispenser including:
- (1) a housing forming a sump for retaining a quantity of the use dilution, the housing including an opening for supporting the container;
- (2) opening means for automatically forming an aperture in the container when the container is installed into the dispenser;
- and
- (3) dispensing means comprising a pump, in fluid communication with the housing, for dispensing the use dilution from the container to a point of use, wherein the container forms an atmospheric head to automatically maintain the level of use dilution housed in the sump at a predetermined level so long as a quantity of use dilution is retained in the container.
A method of dispensing a concentrated product;
- wherein the concentrated product is an additive for treating cooling water in a heating system or an air conditioning cooling system;
- housed within an interior cavity of a container, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) filling the interior cavity of the container with a diluent to form a use dilution;
- (b) installing the container into a dispenser having a housing forming a sump for retaining a quantity of the use dilution and an opening means for automatically forming an aperture in the container when the container is installed into the dispenser to place the interior cavity of the container in fluid communication with the dispenser;
- (c) forming an atmospheric head in the container to maintain the level of use dilution in the housing at a predetermined level;
- and
- (d) dispensing the use solution from the dispenser with a pump.
A dispensing system comprising:
- (a) a container housing a quantity of concentrated product;
- wherein the concentrated product is an additive for treating cooling water in a heating system or an air conditioning cooling system;
- and being sized to permit a quantity of diluent to be added to the concentrated product to form a use dilution, the container including a cap removably secured to the container, the cap including a pierceable member disposed thereon;
- and
- (b) a dispenser including:
- (1) opening means for automatically forming an aperture in the container when the container is installed into the dispenser, the opening means including a piercing member for dislodging the pierceable member from the container to form the aperture when the container is placed into an operating position in the dispenser;
- and
- (2) dispensing means for dispensing the use dilution from the container using a metering pump to a point of use.
A method of dispensing a concentrated product;
- wherein the concentrated product is an additive for treating cooling water in a heating system or an air conditioning cooling system;
- housed within an interior cavity of a container, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) opening a cap on the container;
- (b) filling the interior cavity of the container with a diluent to dilute the concentrated product to form a use solution;
- (c) closing the cap on the container;
- (d) agitating the container to mix the concentrated product with the diluent in the container;
- and
- (e) installing the container into a dispenser having opening means for automatically forming an aperture in the container when the container is installed into the dispenser to place the interior cavity of the container in fluid communication with the dispenser;
- the dispenser comprising a metering pump to dispense the use solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.