System and technique for extracting particulate-containing liquid samples without filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial textile washing machines face challenges in accurately determining the optimal concentration of chemical additives needed for cleaning and sanitization, as the soiling level of textiles can vary widely, leading to either excessive chemical usage or inadequate cleaning if preprogrammed settings are not adjusted accordingly.
Innovation Solution
A liquid sampling system that extracts and analyzes liquid samples from textile washers without using screens, employing a sensor housing and liquid conveyance device with bidirectional flow capabilities to draw and expel liquid, thereby purging solid materials and preventing fouling, allowing for real-time monitoring of chemical conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screen is placed between the liquid source and the sample extraction device, then the liquid sample can be filtered, but the screen pores will plug with solid material over time, rendering the device inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screen component entirely from the sampling system. Instead of filtering liquid through a screen, the system uses a pump to draw liquid directly through a sampling port into a sample chamber, eliminating the filtration step that causes screen plugging and maintenance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pump as an intermediary device between the liquid source and the sample chamber. The pump actively draws liquid through the sampling port, creating controlled flow that prevents solid material from blocking the sampling path, replacing the passive screen filtration approach.
2Reliability
If the amount of chemical additive preprogrammed is increased to cover heavily soiled articles, then heavily contaminated linens can be properly cleaned, but most wash cycles will overdose on chemical additive, resulting in excessive cleaning cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors that continuously monitor liquid characteristics (such as turbidity, chemical concentration, or particle content) in the wash water and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this real-time information, the system dynamically adjusts the amount of chemical additive dispensed, ensuring optimal cleaning effectiveness while minimizing chemical usage across different soiling conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static, preprogrammed chemical dosing to dynamic, adaptive dosing. The system continuously adjusts chemical additive delivery based on real-time monitoring of wash liquid conditions, allowing the chemical concentration to vary throughout the wash cycle and across different wash loads, optimizing both cleaning performance and chemical efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If the amount of chemical additive preprogrammed is decreased to reduce cost, then chemical usage is optimized, but articles with heavy soil contamination may not be properly cleaned and sanitized
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors monitor wash liquid characteristics and provide real-time feedback to the control system, which adjusts chemical additive delivery accordingly. This ensures that minimum effective chemical concentrations are maintained even when starting with lower preprogrammed amounts, preventing both under-dosing and over-dosing scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and adjusts chemical additive delivery without operator intervention. The sensors and control system work together to self-regulate chemical dosing based on actual wash conditions, eliminating the need for manual programming adjustments and ensuring consistent cleaning effectiveness across varying soil loads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of chemical conditions within the washing process, ensuring appropriate cleaning and sanitization levels without clogging issues, thereby optimizing chemical usage and extending equipment lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid conveyance device may generate a vacuum pressure to draw liquid from the larger source to the liquid conveyance device
Implementation Method 2
the liquid conveyance device may generate a positive pressure expelling the liquid from the sensor housing
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration-free liquid sampling system may be used to extract particulate or debris-containing liquid samples that may otherwise plug a filter over its service life. For example, such a system may be used to extract liquid sample from an industrial textile washer to monitor and/or validate the quality of wash conditions within the washer. In some examples, the system includes a pump that creates a vacuum on a backstroke, drawing liquid into a sensor housing positioned between the pump and the washer. After holding the liquid in the sensor housing long enough to measure its properties, the pump can be driven in a reverse stroke to pressurize the contents in the sensor housing and force the liquid back into the washer. This vacuum fill/pressure purge can keep the sensor housing free of debris.