Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With mobile tank-type supply means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-20
2003-04-29
Douglas, Lisa A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With mobile tank-type supply means
C239S373000, C222S145500, C222S399000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554207
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The current invention relates to an apparatus which combines two or more separate reactive solutions within a base unit, with or without additional heating of the combined solution, for presentation to a cleaning applicator connected to the base unit for remote application to a surface to be cleaned.
The use of cleaning agents to remove soil, oils, and other stains from textiles in the form of carpet and upholstery is well known. The vast majority of these cleaning agents are composed of soaps and other detergents which are generally referred to as “surfactants.” A surfactant is defined as a synthetic, water soluble, amphipathic molecule which has a large non-polar hydrocarbon end and a polar end. Typically, a composition of this kind is premixed by adding the components to a common solution tank beforehand, where they are mixed and held until they are applied to the textile surface by an applicator.
Other compositions derive their cleaning properties from the fact that they are self-carbonating. They may be held in separate containers and, immediately before they are applied, are mixed to produce carbon dioxide. Some are mixed on the surface to be cleaned. Each component may be pre-heated before mixing or the combination may be heated after mixing, in order to increase solution reactivity. One example of such self-carbonating cleaners is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,468, issued on Sep. 14, 1993, to Harris, in which a solution consisting of a carbonate salt, an acid, and urea is prepared in a single pressurized container at a gauge pressure of from about 0.5 to 15 atmospheres. Another example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,729, issued on Feb. 17, 1998, to Harris, in which a carbonate salt solution and an acid solution are separately heated and both directly applied to a textile surface where they react to form a carbonating solution which effervesces and cleans the textile fibers. Still another example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,465, issued on Apr. 29, 1997, to Harris, in which separate solutions of a carbonate salt and an acid are heated at ambient pressure and combined to produce a carbonating cleaning solution. U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,697, issued on Oct. 3, 2000, to Ebberts, describes combining two different carbonate salts and an acid under pressure to produce a carbonating cleaning solution.
Many types of application systems have been developed for preparing these multiple component solutions and then applying the prepared solution to various types of textiles. Such preparation by a base unit may consist of heating the components of the solution (either separately or together after mixing), mixing the components, adding optional agents, and pumping the solution to the applicator under pressure. Application by an applicator may consist of bringing the solution into close proximity to the textile; adding specialty preparations such as scents or disinfectants; spraying the solution onto the fabric as a fine spray or sheet of liquid; removal of excess liquid after it has been in contact with the textile; or scrubbing the textile surface while the solution is on the surface by means of brushes which are activated either manually, by the pressure of the cleaning solution, or by means of motors. Applicators featuring various combinations of these activities have been developed by many different manufacturers.
Those application systems adapted for application of a single, premixed solution use a system of centrifugal or diaphragm pumps contained in the base unit to deliver the prepared solution to the applicator. Many such systems have a ‘Y’ connection in the line containing the prepared solution, which allows two technicians to use the same prepared solution and work from the same base unit at the same time; however, several different systems must be employed when each technician requires use of a different prepared solution. Other types of application systems produce a prepared solution by combining multiple cleaning solution components at the job site and applying the result under pressure to the textile surface.
One system for the preparation and application of a multiple component cleaner is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,091, issued Jan. 14, 1997, to Harris. It describes an application system consisting of a base unit for heating two or more solutions and presenting each heated solution in a separate line under pressure to an applicator, where each line is connected to a common mixing chamber in the proximal end of the applicator. Each container is adapted for holding a heated solution at a desired temperature. One or more pumps are used for the delivery of the solution from each container through separate lines to the applicator. The solutions are mixed in a mixing chamber which features special baffles for thorough agitation and mixing of the components to ensure complete reaction between the components to produce carbonation. The resulting carbonated prepared solution is applied to a textile surface through a manifold in the distal end of the applicator which is immediately proximate to the textile surface.
Another, much older, mixing and spraying apparatus is found in U.S. Pat. No. 748,971, issued on Jan. 5, 1904, to Millspaugh, which describes a system consisting of a pair of air-tight tanks holding different liquids, an air pump having free connection with both tanks so as to exert equal pressures on the two liquids, an outlet hoses from each tank having a junction to a common discharge pipe, and a means for regulating the flow of each liquid by inserting one of a set of disks having different diameter holes into the flow. Proportional mixing of the liquids is accomplished by using disks with dissimilar holes. Hand controlled valves are provided between each system component for cutting off the flow of liquid, with a check valve being provided in common air pump line to prevent backflow into the air pump.
However, it has been found that these systems and methods for combining multiple component solutions for cleaning textiles, with or without preheating the component solutions, have certain disadvantages. First, it can be necessary to change out containers so that a prepared solution containing different components may be used in the base unit. This is necessary when, for example, a strong cleaning solution for use on commercial carpets must be replaced by a different solution for cleaning fine upholstery fabric that would be susceptible to heat damage, fading, shrinkage or discoloration. Sometimes the application system must be completely drained and purged to ensure no residue of the previous solution remains in the recirculating hoses, injectors, mixing chamber, applicator, etc. Such a drain and purge operation would be necessary when changing, for example, from a detergent to a solvent. This is done for either because a small amount of the detergent residue may damage some upholstery fabrics or because a mixture of detergent and solvent will solidify and thus plug the pumps, hoses, and applicators. This drain and purge process can be time consuming and removes the application system from service.
Second, those existing systems which generally employ a heating and/or pressurization process for the component containers are cumbersome and complicated. A pump in the base unit is used to pump a liquid solution, either a component to be mixed or a premixed solution, from its container for presentation under pressure to the applicator. Two separate pumps are generally used when two containers are involved where the solutions contained therein must be kept separate until they are mixed. For example, self-carbonating cleaners requiring mixture of a strong acidic solution and a strong carbonate salt solution held in two separate containers must be kept separate and mixed under certain conditions to take advantage of the self-carbonating action which results. However, it is difficult to maintain a consistent, equal pressurization from two separate pumps because of variations in manufacture and wear of the pumps over time. The problem is furth
Douglas Lisa A.
Harvey III James F.
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