Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Automatic control of flow cutoff or diversion – Level or overflow responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2003-07-28
2004-11-23
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Automatic control of flow cutoff or diversion
Level or overflow responsive
C141S009000, C141S100000, C222S067000, C239S302000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820661
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to systems for dissolving solid chemical concentrates to make solutions for cleaning tanks, boilers, cooling towers and similar equipment internally. Mineral deposits and scale due to evaporation and corrosion are formed on the insides of the walls of such equipment during the time it is in service and must be removed. More particularly, this invention relates to a simplified mechanical system for dissolving solid concentrates and storing the resulting solutions in a reservoir in the quantities needed for circulation through the equipment to be cleaned. When the stored quantities are drawn off, a further supply of concentrate solution is readily made and obtained.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various kinds of apparatus for supplying concentrated chemical products in solutions to combat scale or corrosion have appeared recently. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,638, issued Aug. 22, 2000, and in its predecessor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,034, issued Dec. 29, 1998, containers on which pierceable caps may be fastened are partly filled with concentrated chemicals. A diluent, such as water, is added in a sufficient amount to create a desired use dilution. The cap is placed on the container, and the container and its contents are agitated. Thereafter, the container is upended onto a dispenser with a piercing head. The head punctures the cap, forming an aperture in the container and enters to withdraw the use dilution for circulation in a cooling tower or the like.
A different apparatus is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,694, issued May 25, 1993. In the system shown in that patent, when make-up water is added to a cooling tower, a float valve in the tower controls the level of water in the tower. Chemical additives are added to the water entering the tank by having a vacuum valve draw them from a chemical holding tank.
Another system is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,958 B1, issued Jul. 16, 2002. That patent is directed to a chemical feed system which has spray nozzles directed upwardly into a pair of feed bowls into which solid chemicals have been poured. The bowls measure the conductivity of the chemicals which they dispense. When water is introduced into the bowls by the sprays, the bowls drain into a sump in which the conductivity of the solution is constantly monitored. The system is arranged to maintain a solution of constant conductivity in the sump, and when more water is needed in the sump to reduce conductivity, it is introduced by a separate piping system independently of the sprays so as to avoid contact with the chemicals.
The systems illustrated in these patents reveal numerous drawbacks, especially in the manner of introducing chemicals into their respective systems. The containers used to hold the chemicals in transit are often large and unwieldy, and when the chemicals are removed or drawn from them, spills and other handling accidents often occur. The present invention addresses these problems by providing equipment which is simply constructed, clearly organized, and easily accommodates small canisters of solid concentrates which are safe and convenient for an operator or a shipper to handle. Such containers are lightweight, compact, readily installed, easy to store and convenient to dispose of when they are empty. The new dissolver disclosed herein accommodates them readily and quickly, and it produces proper treatment solutions almost immediately when the containers are set in place. The solid concentrates which the equipment handles also produce large quantities of treatment solutions in a highly economical manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is embodied in a solid chemical dissolver unit which comprises at least one bowl for receiving and holding at least one container of solid chemical and for channeling a liquid solution containing the chemical to a reservoir as the solid chemical in the container is dissolved in a liquid spray. A spray nozzle for fluid under pressure is aimed at the solid chemical in the container to dissolve a portion of the chemical in the spray and form a solution containing the chemical in the bowl. A reservoir is provided for the dissolved chemical solution. A drain member leads out of the reservoir for withdrawing the dissolved chemical solution from the reservoir. There is also a fluid level detection switch assembly disposed in the reservoir controlling the amount of fluid from the nozzle and the level of dissolved chemical solution in the reservoir.
From the foregoing, and from what follows, it will be apparent that the present invention solves numerous problems which operators of tanks, boilers, cooling towers and similar equipment have had.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a solid chemical dissolver which accepts small quantities of solid chemicals in containers which are easily handled by one person.
It is another object of this invention to provide a solid chemical dissolver which is easily loaded with a quantity of solid chemical without removing the chemical from its conventional container, such as the pail or jar in which it is shipped or stored.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a solid chemical dissolver which accepts small quantities of solid chemicals which can be handled without spills or other accidents which faulty handling can cause.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a bowl in which a small container, or group of small containers, which has or have been opened may be easily upended in the bowl and a solution obtained by spraying the solid chemical at an open end of a container.
Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of making equipment for forming and dispensing solutions which combat corrosion and scale in equipment such as boilers and cooling towers from an examination of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of this invention and of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1681362 (1928-08-01), Pike
patent: 3574561 (1971-04-01), Nickerson
patent: 5404594 (1995-04-01), Ring et al.
AP Tech Group, Inc.
Beggs Gregory B.
Douglas Steven O.
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