U.S. patent application number 11/801374 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for deodorizing and sanitizing employing a wicking device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ecolab, Inc.. Invention is credited to Leonard Kadlec, Patrick Kilawee, Daniel Tallman.
Application Number | 20070212281 11/801374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468887 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070212281 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kadlec; Leonard ; et
al. |
September 13, 2007 |
Deodorizing and sanitizing employing a wicking device
Abstract
A device provides a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or
both. The device includes a first liquid chemical component, a
first container for housing the first liquid chemical component, a
second liquid chemical component, a reaction chamber, and a first
wicked conduit between the first container and the reaction
chamber. The first liquid chemical component is a chlorite and the
second liquid chemical component is an acid. The first and second
liquid chemical components are brought into contact in the reaction
chamber to produce the sanitizing gas, the sanitizing liquid, or
both. The first wicked conduit transports the first liquid chemical
component from the first container to the reaction chamber.
Inventors: |
Kadlec; Leonard; (Woodbury,
MN) ; Tallman; Daniel; (Roseville, MN) ;
Kilawee; Patrick; (Hugo, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KINNEY & LANGE, P.A.
THE KINNEY & LANGE BUILDING
312 SOUTH THIRD STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55415-1002
US
|
Assignee: |
Ecolab, Inc.
Eagan
MN
|
Family ID: |
32468887 |
Appl. No.: |
11/801374 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10316513 |
Dec 10, 2002 |
|
|
|
11801374 |
May 9, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
422/292 ;
422/305 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/18 20130101; A61L
9/015 20130101; A61L 2/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/292 ;
422/305 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/16 20060101
A61L002/16 |
Claims
1. A device for providing a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or
both, the device comprising: (a) a first liquid chemical component,
wherein the first liquid chemical component comprises a chlorite;
(b) a first container for housing the first liquid chemical
component; (c) a second liquid chemical component, wherein the
second liquid chemical component comprises an acid; (c) a reaction
chamber wherein the first and second liquid chemical components are
brought into contact to produce the sanitizing gas, the sanitizing
liquid, or both; and (f) a first wicked conduit between the first
container and the reaction chamber for transporting the first
liquid chemical component from the first container to the reaction
chamber.
2. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a second container
for housing the second liquid chemical component and a second
wicked conduit between the second container and the reservoir for
transporting the second liquid chemical component from the second
container to the reservoir.
3. A device for producing controlled quantities of a sanitizing
and.deliming composition in a liquid form, in a gaseous form, or
both, the device comprising: (a) a liquid component comprising a
metal halite; (b) a first container for holding the liquid
component, wherein the first container is equipped with a first
wick; (c) an acidic component; and (d) a reservoir having at least
one opening, wherein the acidic component is housed in the
reservoir; (e) wherein the liquid component is transported from the
first container to the reservoir through a capillary action of the
first wick, and upon contact with the acidic component, reacts to
produce the sanitizing and deliming composition in liquid or
gaseous form.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the acidic component is provided
to the reservoir from a second container through a capillary action
of a second wick.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second wick is larger than
the first wick.
6. The device of claim 3, wherein the liquid component comprises a
metal chlorite.
7. The device of claim 3, wherein the reservoir further comprises
an outlet port for releasing the sanitizing and deliming
composition in a liquid form when the sanitizing and deliming
composition reaches a level which is at or above the outlet
port.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the reservoir further comprises
an opening at a top end of the reservoir for releasing the
sanitizing and deliming composition in gaseous form.
9. The device of claim 4, wherein the first wick is contained in a
first conduit having a first end open and connected to the first
container and a second end open and in fluid communication with the
reservoir and wherein the second wick is contained in a second
conduit having a first end open and connected to the second
container and a second end open and in fluid communication with the
reservoir.
10. The device of claim 3, wherein the acidic component is in solid
form.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation of Application Ser. No.
10/316,513 filed Dec. 10, 2002 entitled "DEODORIZING AND SANITIZING
EMPLOYING A WICKING DEVICE".
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and device
employing a wicking system which allows continuous and controlled
sanitation and deordorization.
[0003] Chlorine dioxide has been found to be an especially
effective disinfectant. As used herein, the term "disinfecting"
shall be used to include sanitizing, deodorizing, sterilizing, or
otherwise destroying or reducing germ populations. The term "germs"
as used herein shall include bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses or
any micro-organism whose presence, and numbers, are deemed inimical
to human or animal welfare. Its use has been found to be
particularly advantageous where microbes and/or organic odorants
are sought to be controlled on and around foodstuffs, as chlorine
dioxide functions without the formation of undesirable side
products such as chloramines or chlorinated organic compounds that
can be produced when elemental chlorine is utilized for the same or
similar purposes.
[0004] Additionally, at concentrations which have been found to be
effective for deodorization and for most antimicrobial
applications, chlorine dioxide gas is also generally considered as
safe for human contact because the concentrations required are so
low.
[0005] Certain difficulties are encountered with the use of
chlorine dioxide in practice, however. Chlorine dioxide gas can be
toxic to humans at concentrations greater than 1,000 ppm and it can
be explosive at concentrations above about 0.1 atmosphere.
Therefore, chlorine dioxide gas is not manufactured and shipped
under pressure like other industrial gases, and conventional
methods of on-site manufacture require not only expensive
generation equipment but also high levels of operator skill to
avoid generating dangerously high concentrations. These problems
have substantially limited the use of chlorine dioxide to large
commercial applications, such as water treatment and poultry
processing, where the consumption of chlorine dioxide is
sufficiently large that it can justify the capital and operating
costs of expensive equipment and skilled operators for on-site
manufacture. However, it is not practical to ship chlorine dioxide
as a concentrated gas to the medium or small users.
[0006] It has thus become common practice to employ a chlorine
dioxide-liberating compound such as sodium chlorite powder which is
much safer from the standpoints of storage, shipping and handling.
Generation of the chlorine dioxide from sodium chlorite or other
chlorine dioxide liberating compound is usually effected by
addition of acid, bleach (hypochlorite), or chlorine to the
chlorine dioxide liberating compound.
[0007] However, the composition obtained from the interaction of
the relatively high concentrations of sodium chlorite and acid
materials used can be injurious to health. Significantly, the
toxicity problem imposes severe limitations on the general utility
of the disinfectant composition, particularly with respect to the
treatment of human beings.
[0008] Methods have been developed in an attempt to overcome the
aforementioned problems, but improved methods of generating
chlorine dioxide on a small scale are still desired.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention relates to methods and devices for
providing a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or both, to
locations which are difficult to reach, in particular drains for
water flow systems which can plug with mildew and mold, and head
spaces for beverage machines and automatic ice making units, for
example, which have areas which are difficult to clean and sanitize
using standard methods. The methods and devices of the present
invention find utility for providing a continuous and controlled
treatment of such locations.
[0010] In one aspect, the present invention relates to devices and
methods for providing a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or
both, by reacting a first liquid chemical component and a second
liquid chemical component in a reservoir to produce a gaseous
sanitizing/deodorizing composition, a liquid sanitizing/deodorizing
composition, or both. The device includes at least a first
container for the first liquid chemical component and at least one
reservoir wherein the liquid components are brought into contact.
The first liquid chemical component is provided to the reservoir
through the use of a wick or other capillary means. The second
liquid chemical component may be provided in the reservoir, or may
also be provided to the reservoir from a second container through
the use of a wick or other capillary means.
[0011] This device is particularly suitable for the production of
chlorine dioxide wherein the acidic component is provided in excess
either in the reservoir, or by wicking through the use of a wick
which is larger than that employed for wicking of a metal chlorite
composition.
[0012] In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods
and devices for the production of controlled quantities of chlorine
dioxide at concentrations which are effective to function as a
deodorant or a germicide. Aqueous chlorite compositions such as
aqueous sodium chlorite are brought into contact at a controlled
rate through capillary means, e.g. a wick or a capillary tube, with
an acidic liquid composition which will react with the chlorite and
form chlorine dioxide.
[0013] The acidic liquid composition may either be kept stationary
in a reservoir wherein the aqueous chlorite composition is
"dripped" into the acidic liquid composition through the use of a
wick or capillary tube, for example, or the acidic liquid
composition may also be transported by capillary action to the
common reservoir wherein the acidic liquid composition and the
metal chlorite composition can start reacting.
[0014] The reacting mixture may produce a gas which may be released
into an enclosure such as an ice machine head space for deodorizing
and sanitizing, and may also produce a liquid sanitizing and
deodorizing composition which may be released into the drain of a
water flow system such as an ice bin drain and/or a floor drain for
the automatic ice making unit.
[0015] Other systems which employ the use of a drain include wet
bars, beverage machines, and so forth.
[0016] The reacting mixture may be brought into contact with a
drain through the use of gravitational forces through an overflow
outlet, by siphoning, by dripping through a small outlet port or
tube, and so forth.
[0017] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a
sanitizing and/or deodorizing system including a first container
for holding a first liquid composition including at least one
acidic compound, a second container for holding a second liquid
composition including at least one compound capable of reacting
with the acidic compound to form a sanitizing compound, and a
reservoir equipped with an outlet port and/or vent. The first
container further has a first conduit extending from the first
container to the reservoir with a wick disposed in the conduit for
transporting the first liquid to the reservoir. The second
container further has a second conduit extending from the second
container to the reservoir with a second wick disposed in the
second conduit for transporting the second liquid to the
reservoir.
[0018] Alternatively, the second liquid may be provided in the
reservoir in molar excess to the first liquid and the first liquid
provided to the reservoir from the first container to the reservoir
by the capillary action of a wick.
[0019] From the reservoir, the liquid sanitizing mixture may be
allowed to exit via an overflow outlet in the reservoir by
gravitational forces through a conduit and to the location which is
selected for treatment.
[0020] The reservoir may also be vented or otherwise open to the
atmosphere above it where it may be used to deodorize/sanitize
enclosed spaces.
[0021] In one embodiment of this invention, the device is employed
to continuously treat a drain with a sanitizing composition to
prevent a build-up of mold or mildew which may result in a clogged
drain.
[0022] In one embodiment, the device is employed to continuously
provide controlled amounts of gas to the head space of an automatic
ice making unit.
[0023] The present invention finds particular utility for treating
areas which are otherwise difficult to access. The present
invention finds particular utility for the treatment of drains for
water flow systems wherein mold and mildew may build up causing
clogging of the drains.
[0024] Furthermore, the present invention is particularly
advantageous for treating smaller, enclosed spaces because a
gaseous deodorizing/sanitizing composition may be produced in some
embodiments. For example, small amounts of chlorine dioxide gas may
be generated over a sustained period of time in amounts as low as
about 0.5 to about 1.5 ppm. For some applications it is desirable
to generate amounts as low as about 0.1 to about 0.5 ppm and more
suitably about 0.1 to about 0.3 ppm. The latter range is
particularly advantageous for treating the head space above the
sump in an automatic ice making machine.
[0025] Other sanitizing compositions include quaternary ammonium
compounds and peracetic acid, for example.
[0026] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method
of treating a drain for a device having a water flow system
including the step of selectively transporting a liquid deliming
and sanitizing composition from a reservoir to the drain by the
capillary action of a wick, by dripping, or by siphoning of the
liquid composition.
[0027] The liquid deliming and/or sanitizing composition may be
provided to the reservoir by the capillary action of a wick from a
first container and/or second container. The deliming composition
may be acidic and the sanitizing composition may include a metal
chlorite.
[0028] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method
of treating the head space in equipment having an automatic water
circulation system including the steps of providing an acidic
aqueous composition in a reservoir and selectively transporting an
aqueous metal chlorite composition to the acidic aqueous
composition by capillary action of a wick or other capillary means.
Chlorine dioxide gas is emitted to the head space.
[0029] The device and method of the present invention may be
employed in combination with the device and method as described in
commonly assigned copending US patent application attorney docket
no. E14.2-9863/DUAL CLEANING AND SANITIZING SYSTEM incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0030] Other variations and modifications of the present invention
will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by the
following embodiments described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one-wick embodiment of the
device.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of an ice machine incorporating the
device in one embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a front view of a two-wick embodiment of the
device.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a front view of a one-wick embodiment of the
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] While this invention may be embodied in many different
forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of
the invention. This description and the drawings described herein,
are an exemplification of the principles of the invention and are
not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments
illustrated. Variations and modifications will become readily
apparent to those of skill in the art and are intended to be
encompassed within the scope of this invention.
[0036] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 shows generally at 10 one
embodiment of the device of the present invention. In this
embodiment, chamber 17 is sized such that it contains 8 oz. of an
aqueous composition of sodium chlorite at a concentration of about
6%. TYGON.RTM. tubing (1/4 inch) 22 is attached to the container
10, and may actually be molded into the container 10. A wick 21 is
fed through the TYGON.RTM. tubing and into the aqueous chlorite
composition. The wick size may be varied to control the rate of
wicking of sodium chlorite composition. For example, a string
weighing 0.13 g per foot may be employed to achieve a rate of about
1 drop per every 15 minutes. In this particular embodiment, the
quantity of product delivered is such that the reactants will have
a 30 day life expectancy until replenishment is required.
[0037] The type of wick employed may be any standard cotton string
or candle wick, for example. The candle wicks suitable may range in
wick size from about 0.1 g/foot to about 0.5 g/foot including sizes
of about 0.3 g/foot and about 0.4 g/foot.
[0038] A device similar to the one described above is found in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,334,789 the entire content of which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates generally at 10 a two-wick embodiment of
the device according to the present invention. Device 10 has a
first chamber 15 for containing an acid source in liquid form and a
second chamber 17 for containing a chlorite source in liquid form.
Each chamber 15, 17 is equipped with a conduit 18, 22 which each
has a wick 19, 21 respectively. Each wick 19, 21 is fed into a
reservoir 23 where the acid and chlorite are mixed forming chlorine
dioxide. Reservoir 23 is equipped with an outlet 26 and an overflow
tube 27. Once the level of the sanitizing mixture is at or above
the level of outlet 26 then the sanitizing liquid will drain from
reservoir 23 through overflow tube 27 to the desired location such
as a drain for a water flow system. This device may be employed for
treating any type of area which is capable of draining, and which
is conducive for antimicrobial growth such as mold and fungus.
[0040] In the embodiment described above, first chamber 15 may
contain an acidic deliming composition such as LIME-A-WAY.RTM.
available from Ecolab, Inc. in St. Paul, Minn., and second chamber
17 may contain an aqueous sodium chlorite sanitizing composition.
LIME-A-WAY.RTM. is a phosphoric acid based delimer available from
Ecolab, Inc. in St. Paul, Minn. Phosphoric acid is suitable for use
because it not hazardous for contact with food. Other examples of
useful delimers include, but are not limited to: sulfuric acid,
hydrochloric acid, citric acid, and so forth.
[0041] An excess amount of acid may be transported from first
chamber 15 to reservoir 23 by the capillary action of a wick 19
along with the sodium chlorite from the second chamber 17 to
reservoir 23 by the capillary action of a wick 21. Wick 19 is
desirably larger than wick 21 in order to provide an excess amount
of acid over sodium chlorite. A reaction begins in reservoir 23
between the sodium chlorite and the acid wherein chlorine dioxide
in both a gaseous and a liquid state, is produced. This reaction
may be represented by the following general formula: 5
NaClO.sub.2+(4/n)H.sub.nX=4ClO.sub.2+NaCl+(4/n)Na.sub.nX+2H.sub.2O
[0042] Once the level of the acid/sodium chlorite mixture has
reached an overflow level above outlet 26, the aqueous chlorine
dioxide containing composition may then exit through outlet 26 and
proceed by gravitational forces through overflow tube 27 to drain
31 shown below in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the aqueous composition
may be siphoned, may be dripped through a small outlet in the
bottom of the reservoir, or may also be transported by the
capillary action of a wick from reservoir 23 to a drain (shown in
FIG. 3, below), for example.
[0043] Chlorine dioxide gas may also escape through top 41 of
reservoir 23. Alternatively, a vent (not shown) may be provided in
top 41 of the reservoir 23. In this fashion, chlorine dioxide gas
may be used as an antimicrobial agent to treat the head space of an
enclosed area such as in a beverage machine, ice machine, or the
like. This is particularly advantageous for treating areas, such as
corners, or behind equipment parts, which are otherwise difficult
to access for cleaning.
[0044] Chlorine dioxide is particularly suitable for use herein
because it partitions itself in both the gas phase and the liquid
phase. Chlorine dioxide partitions at a ratio of about 5 ppmv
(partial volume) in air and about 1 mg/liter in water under cold
water conditions. This partitioning effect allows for sanitization
of areas that are difficult to reach with a liquid, i.e. the
non-wetted areas. For example, in high humidity and temperature,
mold, yeast, fungi, and other microbes may build in head space
areas of equipment, such as ice machines, where it is difficult to
access for cleaning purposes. Such partitioning makes chlorine
dioxide particularly suitable to sanitize the head space of an ice
machine, for instance.
[0045] However, this is not to say that other sanitizers may not be
employed in a liquid state for treatment of drains, for example.
Such other useful sanitizers include, but are not limited to: a
quaternary ammonium composition, a peracetic acid composition, and
so forth.
[0046] The entire device 10 may be manufactured such that it is
disposable when the reactants have been depleted. Alternatively,
chambers 15, 17 may be removable such that they can be easily
restocked, for example, or each chamber may simply be replenished
with acid and/or sanitizer. As an excess of acid is required, it
may be desirable to provide a larger chamber 15.
[0047] The above device may be optionally equipped with a battery
operated alarm, or LED, which is capable of indicating when one
and/or both reactants have been depleted.
[0048] In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, a two-wick
embodiment of the device 10 as shown in an enlarged form in FIG. 2,
is shown in combination with an ice machine 50 wherein device 10 is
employed to treat both ice bin drain 31 and floor drain 33. Device
10 is shown with dual chambers 15, 17 wherein chamber 15 may
contain an acid source in the form of a liquid, for example, and
chamber 17 may contain a chlorite source in the form of a liquid. A
wick 19 inside a conduit 18 is in contact with the acid source in
chamber 15 and a wick 21 inside a conduit 22 is in contact with the
chlorite source in chamber 17. Conduits 18, 22 may be formed from a
flexible polymeric material, for example, such as a Tygon.RTM.
tubing. Both wicks 19, 21 are configured and arranged such that
they will transport a steady supply of acid and chlorite to a
reservoir 23 which is equipped with an outlet 26 and overflow tube
27 which continues through ice machine 50 and down to the ice bin
drain 31 from which it drains into floor drain 33 via a plumbing
conduit 35. Alternatively, ice bin drain 31 may be arranged
directly over floor drain 33 such that little or no plumbing
conduit is required.
[0049] Alternatively, overflow tube 27 may be equipped with an
additional branch conduit 37 which drains directly into floor drain
33, as shown. Overflow tube 27 may be used alone, or in combination
with branch conduit 37.
[0050] As an excess of acid is desirable, wick 19 employed for
transporting the acid to reservoir 23 is desirably of a larger
grade than wick 21 employed for transporting the chlorite source to
reservoir 23.
[0051] Additionally, reservoir 23 may be configured such that it is
open to the head space 40 of ice machine 50 as shown in this
embodiment allowing chlorine dioxide gas to escape and treat areas
in head space 40, such as the corners, which are typically
difficult to reach using standard cleaning methods. Head space 40
is also conducive for formation of microbial growth such as molds
and fungus due to the presence of moisture, and it is also warmer
than other parts of ice machine 50.
[0052] The ice bin drain 31 could be arranged such that it is
directly over floor drain 33 or it may be connected to floor drain
33 via a plumbing conduit 35 as shown in this embodiment. In this
manner, both ice bin drain 31 and floor drain 33 are treated with
chlorine dioxide. This will help to prevent clogging of drains 31,
33 by the build up of mold and fungus in those areas. Mold and
fungus tend to propagate in moist areas such as drains for water
flow systems.
[0053] While in this embodiment, the device is shown in combination
with an ice machine, the invention certainly may find utility to
treat drains for any water flow system.
[0054] FIG. 4 shows generally at 10, an alternative one-wick
embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment,
device 10 has only one chamber 17 for containing a chlorite source.
Chamber 17 is equipped with a conduit 22 containing a wick 21.
Device 10 also has a reservoir 23 but in this instance reservoir 23
contains the acid source. Wick 21 transports the liquid having
chlorite ions from chamber 17 to reservoir 23 wherein the acid and
the chlorite ions react to form chlorine dioxide. Reservoir 23 is
further equipped with an overflow conduit 27. Overflow conduit 27
and the reservoir 23 are in fluid communication via outlet 26. When
the level of liquid sanitizer in reservoir 23 reaches a level above
outlet 26, then the liquid drains through overflow conduit 27 to
the desired location such as a drain for a water flow system.
[0055] The device of the present invention may be advantageously
used in combination with other treatment systems for water flow
systems such as those described in copending attorney docket number
E14.2-9863, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,393, and in U.S. Pat. No.
5,289,691, for example, each of which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety. The present invention is useful for
treating areas where a build-up of mold and mildew may occur such
as moist areas. Such build-up may be compounded if the area is also
warm.
[0056] The present invention is particularly advantageous for
treating drains for water flow systems.
[0057] The device of the present invention may also find utility
for deodorizing in small areas such as athletic lockers, food
storage containers, walk-in freezers, storage closets such as those
for cleaning products, and so forth. In such applications where
only deodorizing is required, no outlet 26 or overflow tube 27 are
required.
[0058] The above disclosure is intended for illustrative purposes
only and is not exhaustive. The embodiments described therein will
suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill
in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to
be included within the scope of the attached claims. Those,
familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the
specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also
intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
[0059] The following non-limiting examples further illustrate the
present invention.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0060] A device similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with an 8 oz.
bottle is filled with an acidic delimer composition, LIME-A-WAY, a
phosphoric acid based delimer available from Ecolab, Inc. in St.
Paul, Minn. Standard cotton string having a weight of 0.13 g/foot
was employed. The string was double in order to provide a dosing
based on 8 oz/30 days or 0.2667 oz/day (7.89 ml/day). The rate is
equal to about 1 drop from the wick every 15 minutes. The wick was
contained in 1/4'' TYGON.RTM. tubing.
[0061] The bottle was placed on a balance and monitored over time.
The following data was collected. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Time
Weight loss g/minute 43 min 1.41 g 0.033 g/min 56 min 1.33 g 0.033
g/min 18 hrs 5 min 26.27 g 0.024 g/min 18 hrs 15 min 26.54 g 0.024
g/min 19 hrs 40 min 28.28 g 0.024 g/min 19 hrs 59 min 28.72 g 0.024
g/min 21 hrs 15 min 30.28 g -- 23 hrs 22 min 32.89 g -- 25 hrs 6
min 34.97 g -- 42 hrs 39 min 53.21 g --
Example 2
[0062] The same procedure was followed as in Example 1 with the
exception that the 0.13 g/foot cotton string was not doubled in
this experiment. The data found in the following Table 2 was
collected. The device was found to provide about 0.05 oz/day.
[0063] It was noted that as the level of product drops in the
chamber, the distance that the product needs to travel up the wick
is farther and it appears to slow down the rate of dispensing.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Time Weight loss g/minute (avg wt loss) 17
hrs 12 min 2.24 g 18 hrs 46 min 2.41 g 20 hrs 21 min 2.58 g 0.0022
g/min 22 hrs 28 min 2.72 g 0.0021 g/min 24 hrs 12 min 2.92 g 0.0021
g/min 41 hrs 45 min 3.83 g 0.0020 g/min 43 hrs 11 min 3.93 g 0.0020
g/min 44 hrs 7 min 4.04 g -- 46 hrs 29 min 4.21 g -- 48 hrs 32 min
4.39 g -- 112 hrs 31 min 9.11 g -- 136 hrs 46 min 10.01 g -- 143
hrs 45 min 10.31 g -- 160 hrs 48 min 10.97 g -- 184 hrs 38 min
11.28 g --
Example 3
[0064] A device according to the present invention was tested in a
Manitowoc Automatic Ice Making Unit. A wick feed available from
Clack Corp. using a medium size candle wick of 0.313 g/foot was
filled with a sodium chlorite composition at a concentration of
about 6% sodium chlorite. This dispenser was found to dispense
about 0.40-0.50 oz/day according to the following data.
[0065] The dispenser was installed on the top of a Manitowoc
Automatic Ice Making Unit and the feed tube was fed through a hole
into a 400 ml disposable beaker which was mounted on the inside
wall of the ice machine. The beaker contained 50 g of
LIME-A-WAY.RTM.. The liquid chlorite solution was dripped into the
400 ml beaker. The amount of chlorine dioxide was then monitored in
the head space of the ice machine. The following results were
obtained. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Time Chlorine Dioxide in air (ppm)
8:00 am 0.01 9:40 am 0.55 11:00 am 0.87 11:45 am 0.38 1:05 pm 0.67
2:20 pm 0.61
[0066] The acid/chlorite mixture was also analyzed for chlorine
dioxide in solution by diluting 25 ml at a ratio of 10:1. The
concentration of chlorine dioxide was found to be 0.79 ppm and the
original solution thus had 7.9 ppm chlorine dioxide.
[0067] The same test was repeated and continued for a longer period
of time with the following results. TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Chlorine
Dioxide in air Day Time (ppm) Day 1 7:00 am 0 8:00 am 0.07 9:20 am
0.47 10:40 am 1.23 11:30 am 12:20 pm 2:50 pm Day 2 6:30 am 0.74
8:00 am 0.85 10:00 am 0.78 12:30 pm 0.63 Day 3 6:30 am 0.65 10:00
am 0.67 Day 4 7:30 am 1.05 Day 5 7:30 am 0.39 Day 6 8:10 am 0.42
0.64 Day 7 6:30 am 0.43
[0068] The amount of sodium chlorite contained in the Clack
Dispenser was dropped to the "low level" line between Day 4 and Day
5 to determine if the delivery rate dropped significantly. As can
be seen from the data, the rate did drop off some, but was still
acceptable.
[0069] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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