Autonomous cleaning apparatus and method
US6689276B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC11D2111/12
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and composition provide a long-term, solid cartridge made of cleaning agents mixed at an equilibrium concentration with a solubility limiting agent for controlling an equilibrium concentration of the composition in a solvent, such as water, for example. In use, the cleaning agents are dissolved only to a predetermined concentration needed for a single dose of a cleaning appliance, such as a clothes washing machine, for example. The apparatus may be configured to cyclically expose the solid cartridge to the solvent. A dosing amount of the solvent dissolves a pre-determined concentration of cleaning agents, controlled by the solubility limiting agent. The apparatus discharges the dose of cleaning agent to a cleaning appliance, and readies itself again by dissolving a dose of cleaning agent from a surface of the solid cartridge into the solvent. An equilibrium concentration of sodium bicarbonate with amorphous silica provides the cleaning agent and solubility control, with additional sodium sesquicarbonate for alkalinity control and zeolite for scavenging hard water ions. The putty-like mixture may be cast, cured, and cooled to form a solid, monolithic charge in …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.