Chemical Dosing System with Level Detection and Pump Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical dosing systems face challenges such as reliance on pressurized water supplies, viscosity-dependent dosing accuracy, user measurement errors, and potential contamination or leakage, particularly in the cleaning industry.
Innovation Solution
A chemical dosing system that uses a level detector with contactless sensors to accurately dispense a controlled volume of chemical concentrate into any volume of diluent, eliminating the need for pressurized water and user measurement, and incorporating tags for container-specific dosing and concentration adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a Venturi based dosing system is used to automatically dispense chemical concentrate into water, then the user does not need to measure the quantity of chemical and the chemical concentration should be correct, but the system needs to be connected to a pressurized water supply and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water supply requirement from the dosing system by using a pump to draw water from a non-pressurized source. This removes the need for connection to pressurized mains water supply while maintaining the automatic dosing function. The pump-based water delivery system replaces the Venturi effect that required pressurized water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical Venturi-based flow control system with an electronically controlled pump system. The pump is controlled by a microprocessor that receives input from a sensor detecting water level or flow, enabling automatic dosing without relying on water pressure to drive the mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If a Venturi dosing system is used to dispense chemical concentrate, then the quantity of chemical can be controlled, but the dosing accuracy depends on the viscosity of the chemical concentrate which varies with temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a sensor that detects water level or flow and provides feedback to a microprocessor. This closed-loop control system adjusts the pump operation and dosing quantity based on actual conditions, compensating for viscosity variations caused by temperature changes. The system measures actual delivery and adjusts accordingly rather than relying on fixed Venturi characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dynamically controllable pump system that can adjust its operation in real-time based on feedback from sensors. Unlike the fixed Venturi geometry, the pump speed and dosing rate can be varied electronically to maintain accurate dosing despite changes in chemical viscosity due to temperature fluctuations.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed dose system with an optic reservoir is used to measure chemical concentrate, then there is no installation cost and no risk of leakage, but the quantity dispensed depends on the viscosity of the chemical concentrate and user patience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sensor that automatically detects when water is present in the container and triggers the dosing sequence. The system serves itself by detecting conditions and initiating appropriate actions without user intervention for measurement or timing, eliminating the dependency on user patience while maintaining simplicity of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive optic reservoir system with an electronically controlled pump system that is triggered by a sensor. This substitution eliminates the dependency on viscosity-dependent flow through the optic and user-timed dispensing, while maintaining the benefit of no complex installation. The electronic control provides consistent, repeatable dosing independent of chemical properties.
4Measurement precision
If manual or electronically driven pumps are used to dispense a predetermined quantity of chemical concentrate, then a uniform dose can be dispensed, but it is not possible to dispense a smaller quantity of chemical for small tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamically controllable pump system that can adjust its operation based on sensor feedback and user input. The microprocessor controls the pump to deliver variable quantities of chemical concentrate, allowing the system to adapt to different task sizes and container water levels while maintaining uniform and precise dosing through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional dosing system that can deliver both small and large quantities of chemical concentrate by combining a controllable pump with sensor detection. The system universally handles various dosing requirements by detecting water presence and level, then adjusting the pump operation accordingly, eliminating the need for separate systems for different quantity requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a chemical dosing system (1) for adding a chemical concentrate (3) to a diluent (5), the system comprising: a container (4) for holding a diluent (5) and receiving the chemical concentrate (3); a dispenser mechanism (7) for dispensing a known quantity of concentrate (3) into the container (4); a detector (9) arranged to detect the quantity of diluent (5) in the container (4); and a processor (11) arranged to control the dispensing mechanism (7), so as to dispense a volume of concentrate (3) in dependence on the quantity of diluent (5) in the container (4). The invention aims to assist in achieving more accurate and easier dosing of chemical concentrates.