Capsule, turbulent distributor and method for obtaining product chemicals from harmful solid products

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to capsules, turbulent dispensers and methods of obtaining product chemicals from harmful solid products. A method and apparatus for obtaining product chemicals from a slide of corrosive material is provided. The product is contained within a capsule (110) positioned inside a turbulent dispenser (10) that erodes the block with a fluid and produces a concentrated solution. Fluid characteristics may be adjusted in situ to achieve a predetermined concentration of the solution. The capsule (110) provides a safe and convenient method for handling, storing and transporting the corrosive block without exposing the operator or handler to harmful materials. The capsule (110) includes a nesting assembly (114, 116) that is rotatable between a closed or sealed position and an open use position.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 201880051850.0 filed on August 10, 2018 and invention name “Solid chemical housing with safety lock for dispensing application”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application U.S. Serial No. 62 / 544,413 filed on August 11, 2017. The provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including but not limited to the specification, claims, and abstract, and any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention generally relates to a dispenser and method of operation for dispensing a solution from a solid chemical product, which may be a corrosive material formulation. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for safely and easily dissolving or eroding a solid product. Background Art

[0005] The dissolution parameters of solid products in liquid solutions (such as liquid detergents for cleaning and disinfection) vary according to the operating parameters and inputs of the dissolution process. It is a technology to spray liquid onto solid products so that they are dissolved into liquid solutions. Utilizing this technology, operating parameters vary based in part on the characteristics in the distributor (such as the distance between the solid product and the spray nozzle and the change in the pressure and temperature of the liquid sprayed onto the solid product). The change in nozzle flow rate, spray pattern, spray angle and nozzle flow rate also can affect the operating parameters, thereby affecting the chemical properties, effectiveness and efficiency of the concentration of the resulting liquid solution. In addition, dissolving solid products by spraying usually requires additional space in the distributor to form the nozzle spray pattern and collect the dissolved products in the basin, which causes the distributor to be larger.

[0006] Recently, dispensing systems using turbulent flow technology have begun to use harder solid chemical blocks, which has resulted in low concentration capabilities inside the dispenser. With turbulent flow technology, there are multiple adjustment options to control the concentration of the solution leaving the dispenser, such as immersion depth, disc to product height, number of perforations in the manifold diffuser, size of holes or slots, layout of holes or slots, water temperature, water pressure, etc. However, these adjustment levels are limited. For example, the perforations in the diffuser can only be made to a minimum diameter before they will congeal with dry chemicals throughout the life of the dispenser. Also, the minimum number of perforations required to completely cover the surface of the solid chemical block to achieve uniform erosion. The turbulent flow technology platform has been evolving toward more challenging solid blocks, including those made of corrosive or hazardous materials. As these blocks become more difficult to handle and dispense, safety margins have become an important factor.

[0007] As is well known, capsules are used to package solid chemicals. However, capsules increase the cost of packaging and processing time compared to plastic shrink-wrapped pressed chemicals. However, capsules or other types of bottles and storage containers provide safety advantages, particularly when used with hazardous solid chemicals. For example, capsules are often sealed with a lid and / or shrink wrap to ensure that no chemicals leak out during transportation. Moreover, capsules are often stored and transported with a lid on the top to further help contain all of the chemicals. In use, the capsule is inverted before being installed in the turbulent dispenser so that the spray nozzle introduces water or liquid upward into the capsule to erode the solid chemical and thereby form a concentrated solution. The installation process can expose the user to the chemical because the lid must be removed, allowing the powder or solid material inside the capsule to escape and potentially injure or damage the user.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that utilizes turbulent flow technology to safely produce solution concentrations from corrosive solid chemical products without risk to operators. Summary of the invention

[0009] Therefore, the primary purpose, features and / or advantages of the present invention are to provide an apparatus and method that improves and / or overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

[0010] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide a turbulent flow technology method and apparatus that utilizes a fluid to erode a solid chemical block made of a corrosive material and thereby form a solution having a desired concentration for dispensing.

[0011] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that allow for safe processing of corrosive materials in turbulent flow technology.

[0012] The solid chemical capsules of the present invention are intended for use with turbulent flow technology to allow safe handling and use of hazardous chemicals such as pressed corrosives. The capsules require less packaging height than spray nozzles because it does not require the development of a full spray cone, thus eliminating user exposure to concentrated chemicals while saving or minimizing storage space and shipping costs due to the shape and size of the capsules.

[0013] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that can be used in a variety of applications.

[0014] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective method and apparatus.

[0015] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide a reliable, durable and long-lasting device.

[0016] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be easily manufactured, installed, repaired, disassembled, stored and cleaned.

[0017] Another object, feature and / or advantage of the present invention is to provide an aesthetically pleasing device.

[0018] The following provides a list of aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein and does not limit the overall disclosure. It is contemplated that any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in whole or in part with other embodiments, as will be understood from a reading of the present disclosure.

[0019] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a capsule for storing a corrosive solid product to be dissolved and dispensed by a turbulent dispenser includes an upper shell and a lower base, the upper shell and the lower base are coupled together to form a chamber for containing the corrosive solid product, and a disk having perforations inside the chamber. The lower base also has perforations. The upper shell and the lower base can rotate relative to each other between a closed position (wherein the perforations of the disk are not aligned with the perforations of the lower base) and an open position (wherein the perforations of the disk are aligned with the perforations of the lower base). The coupled upper shell and the lower base are configured to fit inside the cavity of the dispenser, where the product is dissolved to produce a solution.

[0020] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the upper housing and the lower base are coupled together to form a cylindrical body.

[0021] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body has a longitudinal axis, and the rotation between the open position and the closed position is about the longitudinal axis.

[0022] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the upper housing and the lower base are twist-locked together.

[0023] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, one of the upper shell and the lower base has a peripheral flange and the other of the upper shell and the lower base has resilient fingers to releasably engage the flange to secure the upper shell and the lower base together.

[0024] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, one of the upper housing and the lower base has a locking button to prevent inadvertent rotation to the open position.

[0025] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, one of the upper housing and the lower base includes a keyway to mate with a key tab in the receiving dispenser to orient the housing in the cavity.

[0026] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the perforations of the tray and the lower base are holes or slots.

[0027] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the perforations of the disk are symmetrically positioned on the surface of the disk.

[0028] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the through holes of the lower base are symmetrically positioned on the surface of the lower base.

[0029] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the perforations of the disk are asymmetrically positioned relative to each axis on the surface of the disk.

[0030] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the through-holes of the lower base are asymmetrically positioned with respect to each axis on the surface of the lower base.

[0031] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the tray includes a side wall that fits within a side wall of the upper housing.

[0032] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the lower base includes a side wall extending around a side wall of the upper housing.

[0033] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, a turbulent dispenser for producing a solution from a solid chemical product comprises: a housing having a cavity therein and a perforated shelf in the cavity; a capsule configured to fit into the cavity and contain the solid chemical product; and a fluid conduit that introduces fluid into the cavity when the capsule is in an open position. The capsule comprises an upper member and a lower member that are rotatable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. The capsule has perforations that are aligned with the shelf perforations when the capsule is in the open position, and the perforations are offset from the shelf perforations when the capsule is in the closed position.

[0034] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the upper member and the lower member are separable for loading the solid chemical product into the capsule.

[0035] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, a shelf supports the capsule in the cavity.

[0036] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the shelf and lower member are keyed together in the cavity to allow the upper member to rotate relative to the lower member.

[0037] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the shelf and the lower member are integrally formed as one solid component.

[0038] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the turbulent distributor is free of injection nozzles.

[0039] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, a method for obtaining a product chemical from a hazardous solid product includes: providing a sealed capsule containing the hazardous solid product; installing the sealed capsule into a cavity of a turbulent distributor; rotating a portion of the capsule to open a perforation in the capsule; and introducing a fluid through the capsule perforation to erode the solid product and produce a solution from the solid product and the fluid.

[0040] According to an additional aspect of the present disclosure, the capsule has an upper shell and a lower base rotatable relative to each other, and the rotating step rotates one of the upper portion and the lower portion.

[0041] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the upper housing and lower base are nested in a coaxial configuration and rotate about a longitudinal axis of the nested portions.

[0042] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the rotating step occurs after installing the capsule in the cavity.

[0043] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the rotating step occurs prior to installing the capsule in the cavity.

[0044] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the perforations are below the solid product in the capsule.

[0045] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes locking the rotatable portion of the capsule to prevent accidental rotation.

[0046] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the capsule is cylindrical and rotates about a longitudinal axis of the capsule.

[0047] According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, operators handle the capsules without being exposed to hazardous solid products.

[0048] These and / or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used for like parts in different views. The present invention is not limited to or by these objects, features, and advantages. No single embodiment is required to provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a turbulence technology dispenser according to the present invention.

[0050] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser to illustrate some of the internal components of the dispenser according to the present invention, including the erosive product capsule.

[0051] Figure 3 is used to accommodate Figure 1 A perspective view of a dispenser for capsules of corrosive or hazardous solid materials.

[0052] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the capsule assembly.

[0053] Figure 5A is along Figure 3A cross-sectional view of the capsule taken along line 5.5.

[0054] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A A cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the capsule is shown, wherein circular holes replace the stadium-shaped slots.

[0055] Figure 6 is a side view of the capsule.

[0056] Figure 7 is a top view of the capsule in a closed position for transport, handling and storage.

[0057] Figure 8 is a plan view of a capsule in an open position for use in a dispenser.

[0058] Fig. 9 This is a top-down plan view of the capsule.

[0059] Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals represent the same parts throughout several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings shown herein are not limitations of various embodiments according to the present disclosure, but are presented for exemplary purposes of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of a dispenser 10 for use with the present invention is shown. However, it should be noted that other types and configurations of dispensers may be used with the present invention, and the description and drawings of dispenser 10 are not limiting. Dispenser 10 is configured to contain solid product chemicals that are combined with a fluid (such as water alone, or a combination of water and air) to form a product chemical solution. For example, the solid product chemical can be mixed with a fluid to form a cleaning detergent solution.

[0061] According to some embodiments, dispenser 10 works by causing a liquid, alone or with a gas, to interact with a solid product to form a product chemistry having a desired concentration for its end use.The liquid may be introduced to the bottom or other surface of the solid product, as described below.

[0062] Therefore, the dispenser 10 of the present invention includes novel turbulence or flow scheme control, which can be adjusted manually or in real time (i.e., automatically) based on the characteristics of either the solid product or another uncontrolled condition (such as environmental conditions). The characteristics can be the density of the solid product, the temperature or pressure of the liquid, the climate (humidity, temperature, pressure, etc.) of the room where the dispenser or solid product is placed, the type of liquid used, the amount of solid product used, or some combination thereof. The dispenser 10 can be adjusted, such as adjusting the characteristics of the existing flow scheme or turbulence. It can be adjusted based on the known relationship between the characteristics of the solid product and the erosion rate and the relationship between different types of turbulence and the erosion rate of the solid product.

[0063] As mentioned, turbulence or flow characteristics / schemes can be adjusted based on known relationships between the characteristics of the solid chemical and the dispensing rate. For example, by knowing the change in rate of product dispensing for each change in the degree of liquid temperature change, turbulence can be adjusted to offset the temperature change. Concentration is adjusted based on known relationships between erosion or dispensing rate and either characteristics or turbulence.

[0064] According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1 The dispenser 10 of the embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 12 including a front door 14 having a handle 16 thereon. The front door 14 is hingeably connected to a front panel 22 via a hinge 20 therebetween. This allows the front door 14 to rotate about the hinge 20 to allow access to the housing 12 of the dispenser 10. The front door 14 also includes a window 18 therein to allow an operator to view the solid product contained within the housing 12. Once it is observed that the contained product has eroded to a certain extent, the front door 14 can be opened via the handle to allow the operator to replace the solid product with a new, uneroded product.

[0065] The front panel 22 may include a product ID window 24 on which a product ID label is placed. The product ID window 24 allows the operator to quickly determine the type of product contained in the housing 12, so that the replacement of the product is fast and effective. The ID label may also include other information, such as health risks, manufacturing information, the last replacement date, etc. The dispenser can be activated in various ways (such as buttons, switches, or touch-sensitive panels). For example, in one embodiment, a button 26 is mounted on the front panel 22 for activating the dispenser 10. The button 26 may be a spring-loaded button so that pressing or pressing the button activates the dispenser 10 to discharge a certain amount of product chemical solution via an outlet 58 formed by a solid product and a liquid. Therefore, the button 26 may be preprogrammed to dispense a desired amount each time the button is pressed, or may continue to discharge a certain amount of product chemical when the button is pressed.

[0066] A rear housing 28 connected to the front panel 22 generally covers the top, sides and rear of the dispenser 10. The rear housing 28 can also be removed to access the interior of the dispenser 10. A mounting plate 30 is positioned at the rear of the dispenser 10 and includes a means for mounting the dispenser to a wall or other structure. For example, the dispenser 10 can be attached to the wall via screws, hooks or other hanging devices attached to the mounting plate 30.

[0067] The components of the housing 12 of the dispenser 10 may be molded plastic or other materials, and the window 18 may be a transparent plastic, such as clear polypropylene, etc. The handle 16 may be connected and disconnected from the front door 14. In addition, a backflow prevention device 62 may be positioned at or within the rear housing 28 to prevent backflow of product chemicals.

[0068] Solid product is placed in cavity 38 surrounded by wall 40. Solid product chemical substance is placed on support member 50, and described support member 50 is shown as product grid containing interlocking wire.Liquid (such as water) is connected to dispenser 10 via liquid inlet 32 ​​on the bottom side of dispenser 10.Liquid is connected to button 26, so that pressing button will make liquid enter dispenser 10, to contact with product chemical substance.Liquid passes through liquid source 34 via accessory separator 36.As shown in the figure, liquid source is a two-channel liquid source separated by different flow paths.Each of the paths contains flow control (not shown) to properly distribute liquid according to the expected amount.This flow control can be changed to change the turbulence of the liquid in contact with the solid product, so as to adjust the turbulence based on the characteristics, so that the formed product chemical substance is maintained within an acceptable concentration range.For example, liquid can pass through liquid source 34 and flow out of liquid source nozzle 44. The liquid source nozzle 44 is positioned adjacent to a manifold diffuser member 46 , which may also be referred to as a disk member, such that liquid passing through the liquid source nozzle 44 will pass through a manifold diffuser port of the manifold diffuser member 46 .

[0069] Furthermore, the present invention contemplates that the product chemistry may be fully submerged, partially submerged, or not submerged at all when positioned on the support member 50. The level of submersion, or lack thereof, depends on many factors, including, but not limited to, the chemistry of the product, the desired concentration, the liquid used to erode the chemistry, the frequency of use of the dispenser, and other factors. For example, for normal use with water as the erode element, it has been shown to be preferable to submerge the bottom approximately one quarter inch of the product chemistry to help control the erode rate of the chemistry. This will allow the product to erode more evenly when used, thereby reducing instances where an abnormal amount of product remains that must be discarded or otherwise wasted.

[0070] The liquid will continue to contact one or more portions of the solid product supported by the product grid 50 in a generally upward orientation. The mixing of the liquid and the solid product will erode the solid product, which will dissolve the portion of the solid product in the liquid to form a product chemical. This product chemical will be collected in the product chemical collector 56, which is generally a cup-shaped member having upright walls and a bottom plate containing the manifold diffusion member 46. The product chemical will continue to rise in the product chemical collector 56 until it reaches the level of the overflow 52, ​​the level of the overflow 52 being determined by the height of the wall containing the product chemical collector 56. According to some aspects and / or embodiments, the product chemical collector 56 is formed by the manifold diffusion member 46 and the wall extending upward from the manifold diffusion member 46. The height of the wall determines the location of the overflow 52. The product chemical will escape or pass through the overflow 52 and enter the collection area 42, in this case a funnel. The liquid source 34 includes a second path ending with a diluent nozzle 60. Therefore, more liquid may be added to the product chemistry in the collection area 42 to further dilute the product chemistry to obtain a concentration of the product chemistry within an acceptable range.

[0071] Other components of the dispenser 10 include a splash guard 54 generally positioned around the top of the collection area 42. The splash guard 54 prevents product chemicals in the collection area 42 from spilling outside of the collection area 42.

[0072] Liquid source 34 includes a second path ending in a diluent nozzle. Thus, more liquid can be added to the product chemistry in collection area 42 to further dilute the product chemistry to obtain a product chemistry concentration within an acceptable range.

[0073] Other components of the dispenser 10 include a splash guard that is generally positioned around the top of the collection area 42. The splash guard prevents product chemicals in the collection area 42 from spilling outside of the collection area 42.

[0074] The distributor 10 can incorporate pressurized air into the system to partially displace the water used to dissolve the solid chemical block and produce a higher concentration level in the solution. The use of air allows the system to maintain pressure to prevent shock. The air also maintains the spray area of ​​the solid block while reducing the amount of water required to form the solution. The gas or air is also exhausted from the system and therefore does not become part of the final chemical solution. The use of air also eliminates or at least minimizes condensation or clogging of the perforated manifold.

[0075] The use of air and water helps address the limits on adjustability of solution concentration without imposing drastic structural changes on the dispenser 10. The present invention introduces air into the water line to displace the liquid volume. The air helps the system maintain the injection pressure / volume, and once the erosion job is completed, the air leaves the system.

[0076] The dispenser 10 is wired inside the housing 12 for power. The dispenser 10 may include an electric air pump or gas pump. Their pump includes a connector to which an air delivery tube (not shown for clarity) is attached. The air delivery tube may be a single line, or may be divided into multiple lines for connection to a pipe connection point or a coupler to introduce air into the cavity 38. Thus, liquid (such as water) from the liquid source 34 is combined with gas (such as air) from the pump to effectively dissolve the solid chemical block and produce a concentrated solution. When the dispenser 10 is activated by pressing the button 26, liquid begins to flow into the system. The pump may be activated simultaneously when the button 26 is pressed, or alternatively, a delay circuit of the pump may be used to ensure that a water path is established before air is introduced into the system.

[0077] By combining air and liquid to dissolve solid chemical blocks, solution concentrations can be up to 2 to 3 times greater than with turbulent flow distributors that use water alone. In addition, due to the addition of air, the volume of water can be reduced by at least 25%, saving costs for the operator.

[0078] Thus, the combination of an incompressible liquid and a compressible gas (for uniformly dissolving or etching a solid chemical mass) provides advantages that cannot be achieved without the combination of liquid and gas.

[0079] The present invention also includes a capsule 110, such as Figures 4 to 9 1, which contains a solid chemical product for use in the dispenser 10. The capsule 110 is ideally suited for use with corrosive or other hazardous chemicals that could present a health risk to the user if exposed to the chemical.

[0080] More specifically, the capsule 110 has an overall cylindrical shape and is composed of three nested components, such as Figure 45. These components include an upper housing 112 that contains a solid product, an intermediate tray 114, and a lower base 116. In the figures, a shelf 118 is an internal component of the dispenser 10 that supports the capsule 110. The intermediate tray member 114 has a side wall 120 and a perforated bottom plate 122. Similarly, the lower base 116 has a side wall 124 and a perforated bottom plate 126. The shelf 118 has a side wall 128 with a perforated top 130. As shown in FIG. 5, the wall 120 of the intermediate tray 114 fits within the side wall 132 of the upper housing 112, and the side wall 124 of the lower member 116 extends around the side wall 132 of the upper housing 112. The shelf 118 fits within the side wall 124 of the second intermediate member 116 to support the capsule 110. Alternatively, the present disclosure contemplates that the lower base 116 and the shelf 118 can be integrally formed into one solid component. The upper housing 112 and the lower base 116 can rotate relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the perforations of the bottom plates 122, 126 and 130 are aligned, as shown in FIG5, to allow fluid to spray upward and dissolve the product. In the closed position, the perforations of the bottom plates 122 and 126 are misaligned to prevent the product from flowing through the perforations.

[0081] The upper container 112 includes a peripheral flange 134 having a series of notches 136. The lower base 116 has a plurality of resilient fingers or locking tabs 138, each having an upper hook adapted to retainingly engage the peripheral flange 134 of the container 112. The notches 136 allow the hooks of the tabs to pass upward therefrom without overstressing the tabs during assembly of the upper shell 112 and the lower member 116. The lower member 116 can then be twisted or rotated to lock onto the upper shell 112. Alternatively, the shell 112 and the base 116 can be snap-fitted together via the hooks and the peripheral flange. The lower base 116 also has an upright locking tab 140. The upper shell 112 has a pair of stops (not shown) spaced approximately 30° apart. The tab 140 is located between the stops, and by contacting the tab 140, the stops limit the rotation of the upper shell 112 in either direction to approximately 30°. The shelf 118 has a key 142 extending radially outward from the side wall 128 that is adapted to fit into a slot or groove 143 of the lower base to ensure that the capsule 110 fits properly into the dispenser 10 while still allowing rotation of the upper housing 112 .

[0082] The top of the housing 112 has an opening 144 with one or more cross members 146 defining a handle. It will be appreciated that the handle may take other forms, including a foldable handle.

[0083] The housing 112 also has a plurality of openings that allow for the drainage of a solution formed by the fluid dissolving the chemical block product in the housing 112 during operation of the dispenser.

[0084] When the capsule 110 is inverted and loaded into the cavity of the dispenser 10, the perforations 148 (such as holes or slots in the bottom plates 122, 126 and 130) are adjacent to the spray assembly of the dispenser 10. The perforations 148 in the bottom plates 122, 126, 130 can be formed into a circular shape (such as Figure 5A as shown), ovals, stadiums (as shown Figure 5B 14, the upper housing 112 can be shaped as shown in the dispenser 10, a partial circle (such as a semicircle), a rectangle, a triangle, an irregular polygon, a cone, any other known shape shown, or any combination of the foregoing shapes. When the capsule 110 is installed in the dispenser 10, the key 142 aligns the perforations of the lower member 116 with the perforations of the shelf 118. After the capsule 110 is inserted into the cavity, the upper housing 112 can be turned or rotated by the handle 146 so that the capsule 110 is moved from a closed position in which the perforations are not aligned to an open position in which all the perforations are aligned. Water can then be sprayed through the opening to dissolve or erode the product in the container 112. Before the capsule 110 is removed from the dispenser 10, the upper housing 112 can be rotated to a closed position to prevent any residual product from escaping and thereby ensure that the user will not be exposed to the concentrated chemical again. When the capsule 110 is not in the cavity 38, the lock prevents accidental rotation.

[0085] Preferably, the solid chemical product is shrink wrapped prior to packaging in the container 112. After the capsule 110 is installed in the cavity 38, the shrink wrap plastic will dissolve by exposure to water or other liquids.

[0086] The dispenser 10 according to various aspects of the present disclosure may also include components such as intelligent control and communication components. Examples of such intelligent control units may be tablet computers, phones, handheld devices, laptop computers, user displays, or any other computing devices that are generally capable of allowing input, providing options, and displaying electronic function outputs. Input may be provided to the intelligent control unit via an input device such as a touch screen display, a plurality of knobs, dials, switches, buttons, etc. Yet another example of such an intelligent control unit includes a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or another suitable programmable device) and a memory. The controller may also include other components and may be implemented partially or entirely on a semiconductor (e.g., a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”)) chip (e.g., a chip developed by a register transfer level (“RTL”) design process). In some embodiments, the memory includes a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area may include a combination of different types of memory, such as a read-only memory (“ROM”, an example of a non-volatile memory, which means that it does not lose data when it is not connected to a power source), a random access memory (“RAM”, an example of a volatile memory, which means that it loses data when it is not connected to a power source). Some examples of volatile memory include static RAM ("SRAM"), dynamic RAM ("DRAM"), synchronous DRAM ("SDRAM"), etc. Examples of non-volatile memory include electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ("EEPROM"), flash memory, hard disk, SD card, etc. In some embodiments, a processing unit (such as a processor, microprocessor, or microcontroller) is connected to the memory and executes software instructions that can be stored in the memory's RAM (e.g., during execution), in the memory's ROM (e.g., on a generally permanent basis), or in another non-transitory computer-readable medium (such as another memory or an optical disk).

[0087] A communication module may be included in the dispenser and may be configured to connect to and communicate with another controller (e.g., a computer, tablet, server, or other computing device). This may allow the dispenser to provide data or other information associated with the dispenser (e.g., warnings, status, notifications, etc.) to a remote location of an additional controller to allow real-time information and stored information of the dispenser. The information may be used to determine problems, predict, or otherwise track information related to the dispenser. The communication may also be in the form of an input, such that the communication may include a command from a remote location to the dispenser.

[0088] In some embodiments, the dispenser includes a first communication module that communicates with an auxiliary device (another dispenser or a remote control), and / or a second communication module that communicates with a central location (a server, computer, or other master controller). For simplicity, the term "communication module" applies herein to one or more communication modules that are operable, individually or collectively, to communicate with both the mobile reader and the central location.

[0089] The communication module communicates with the central location via a network. In some embodiments, by way of example only, the network is a wide area network ("WAN") (e.g., a global positioning system ("GPS"), a TCP / IP-based network, a cellular network, such as a global system for mobile communications ("GSM") network, a general packet radio service ("GPRS") network, a code division multiple access ("CDMA") network, an evolution data optimized ("EV-DO") network, an enhanced data rates for GSM evolution ("EDGE") network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications ("DECT") network, a digital AMPS ("IS-136 / TDMA") network, or an integrated digital enhanced network ("iDEN") network, etc.), but other network types are possible and contemplated herein. In certain embodiments, the network is a GSM or other WAN that is operable to allow communication between the communication module and the central location at times of low quality connection (such as, but not limited to, when the cleaning machine is near a window).

[0090] The network may be a local area network ("LAN"), a neighborhood area network ("NAN"), a home area network ("HAN"), a metropolitan area network ("MAN"), an enterprise private network ("EPN"), a virtual private network ("VPN"), or a personal area network ("PAN"), which employs any of a variety of communication protocols (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, near field communication ("NFC"), TCP-based protocols (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP-based protocols (User Datagram Protocol), etc.), although other network types are also possible and are contemplated herein. Communications conducted by a communication module or controller over the network may be protected using one or more encryption techniques, such as those provided in the IEEE 802.1 standard for port-based network security, pre-shared keys, extensible authentication protocol ("EAP"), wired equivalent privacy ("WEP"), temporal key integrity protocol ("TKIP"), Wi-Fi protected access ("WPA"), etc.

[0091] The connection between the communication module and the network is wireless so that the mobile cleaning machine can move and operate freely without being physically tied to a computer or other external processing device to facilitate such communication. Although such communication methods are preferred for at least this reason, it is conceivable that the connection between the communication module and the network can be changed to a wired connection (e.g., a docking station for the communication module, a communication cable or other communication interface hardware that releasably connects the communication module and the computer or other external processing device), or a combination of wireless and wired connections. Similarly, the connection between the controller and the network or network communication module is a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wireless and wired connections in any of the forms just described. In some embodiments, the controller or communication module includes one or more communication ports (e.g., Ethernet, Serial Advanced Technology Attachment ("SATA"), Universal Serial Bus ("USB"), Integrated Drive Electronics ("IDE"), etc.) for transmitting, receiving or storing data.

[0092] The communication module can be powered by a dedicated power source, such as a battery, a battery pack, or a wired power source (e.g., an AC power outlet or other power source). In some aspects of the invention, the communication module can be powered by the same power source as the dispenser, such as by a battery or a wired power source. Still further, it is contemplated that the communication module can be powered wirelessly or via Power over Ethernet.

[0093] The central location may include a centrally located computer, a computer network, or one or more centrally located servers. The central location may be adapted to store, interpret, and transmit data from one or more dispensers 10, and may also interpret the data and transmit the interpreted data to a user.

[0094] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternative processes and structures apparent to those skilled in the art will also be considered in the present invention.

[0095] It can be seen from the foregoing that the present invention achieves at least all of the target states.

[0096] Reference Number List

[0097] The following reference numerals are provided to facilitate understanding and inspection of the present disclosure and are not exhaustive. Whenever possible, the elements identified by numbers may be replaced or used in combination with any element identified by separate numbers. In addition, numbers are not limited to the descriptors provided herein and include equivalent structures and other objects with the same function.

[0098] 10 Distributor

[0099] 12 Shell

[0100] 14Front Door

[0101] 16 handles

[0102] 18 Windows

[0103] 20 hinges

[0104] 22Front Panel

[0105] 24Product ID window

[0106] 26 buttons

[0107] 28 rear housing

[0108] 30 Mounting plate

[0109] 32 Liquid inlet

[0110] 34 Liquid Source

[0111] 36 Accessories separator

[0112] 38 cavity

[0113] 40 walls

[0114] 42 Collection Area

[0115] 44 Liquid Source Nozzles

[0116] 46 Manifold diffuser

[0117] 50 Supporting members

[0118] 52 Overflow

[0119] 54 Splash Guard

[0120] 56 Product Chemical Collector

[0121] Exit 58

[0122] 60 Thinner Nozzle

[0123] 62 Backflow prevention device

[0124] 110 capsules

[0125] 112 upper shell

[0126] 114 intermediate disk member

[0127] 116 Lower base

[0128] 118 Shelves

[0129] 120 side wall

[0130] 122 perforated bottom plate

[0131] 124 side wall

[0132] 126 perforated bottom plate

[0133] 128 side wall

[0134] 130 perforated top

[0135] 132 side wall

[0136] 134 peripheral flange

[0137] 136 Notch

[0138] 138 elastic finger or locking piece 140 upright locking piece

[0139] 142 keys

[0140] 143 slot or groove

[0141] 144 Open

[0142] 146 Transverse member

[0143] 148 perforation (such as hole or slot)

[0144] The present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. The previous detailed description is a description of a few embodiments of implementing the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting in scope. The appended claims set forth various embodiments of the present disclosure in greater detail.

Claims

1. A capsule for storing a corrosive solid product to be dissolved and dispensed by a turbulent distributor, the capsule comprising: an upper shell and a lower base, the upper shell and the lower base being coupled together to form a chamber for containing the corrosive solid product, wherein the lower base has a perforation; a disk within the chamber, the disk having perforations; a shelf having perforations, wherein the shelf is operably attached to the lower base; the upper housing and the lower base being rotatable relative to each other between a closed position in which the perforations of the disk are not aligned with the perforations of the lower base and an open position in which the perforations of the disk, the perforations of the lower base, and the perforations of the shelf are aligned to introduce fluid into the chamber; The capsule is configured to fit inside a cavity of the turbulent distributor, wherein the corrosive solid product is dissolved to produce a solution. 2 . The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the upper shell and the lower base are coupled to form a cylindrical body.

3. The capsule of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body has a longitudinal axis, and the rotation between the open position and the closed position is about the longitudinal axis. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the upper shell and the lower base are twist-locked together.

5. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein one of the upper housing and the lower base is provided with an upstanding locking tab and a resilient finger with a hook, and the other of the upper housing and the lower base is provided with a notched peripheral flange and a pair of stops spaced approximately 30 degrees apart, the stops limiting relative rotation between the upper housing and the lower base to approximately 30 degrees in either direction based on contact with the upstanding locking tab, wherein the resilient finger releasably engages the peripheral flange, the notch allowing the hook to pass upwardly therethrough, And the upright locking piece can move between the stop members by 30 degrees, whereby the lower base can be twisted or rotated to lock to the upper housing.

6. The capsule of claim 5, wherein the resilient fingers releasably engage the peripheral flange to secure the upper shell and the lower base together, wherein the upper shell and the lower base are separable to load the corrosive solid product into the capsule.

7. The capsule of claim 5, wherein the notch allows the hook to pass upwardly therethrough, The resilient fingers are not overstressed during assembly of the upper housing and the lower base.

8. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the shelf fits within a side wall of the lower base.

9. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the shelf and the lower base are integrally formed.

10. The capsule of claim 1, wherein one of the lower base and the shelf comprises a slot and the other of the lower base and the shelf comprises a key, wherein the shelf and the lower base key together in the cavity to allow the upper housing to rotate relative to the lower base.

11. A turbulent flow distributor for producing a solution from a solid chemical product, the turbulent flow distributor comprising: A housing having a cavity therein; The capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 10; as well as A fluid conduit is provided for introducing fluid into the cavity when the capsule is in the open position.

12. The turbulent distributor according to claim 11, further comprising a spray assembly, wherein: When the capsule is inverted and loaded into the cavity of the turbulent dispenser, the perforations of the upper housing, the lower base and the shelf are adjacent to the spray assembly.

13. A method for obtaining product chemicals from hazardous solid products, the method comprising: providing a capsule containing the hazardous solid product, the capsule comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a tray, and a shelf; installing the capsule into the cavity of a turbulent distributor; rotating an upper portion of the capsule relative to a lower portion of the capsule so that three sets of perforations in the capsule are aligned; introducing a fluid through the aligned three sets of perforations of the capsule to erode the solid deleterious product and produce a solution from the solid deleterious product and the fluid; as well as The upper portion is rotated relative to the lower portion to misalign at least two of the three sets of perforations in the capsule.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are nested in a coaxial configuration and the rotating is about a longitudinal axis of the nested portions.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the rotating step occurs after the capsule is installed in the cavity.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the rotating step occurs before the capsule is installed in the cavity.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the perforation is below the hazardous solid product in the capsule.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the capsule is cylindrical and the rotating is about a longitudinal axis of the capsule.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein an operator handles the capsule without being exposed to the hazardous solid product.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising dissolving plastic packaged around the hazardous solid product.

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