US2687136A

US2687136A - Can washing and liquid feeding device

Info

Publication number: US2687136A
Application number: US217000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clark M Moore
Original assignee: Cowles Chemical Co
Current assignee: Brent Chemicals Corp; Cowles Chemical Co
Priority date: 1951-03-22
Filing date: 1951-03-22
Publication date: 1954-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1954 c. M. MOORE CAN WASHING AND LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed March 22, 1951 TICJ...

0 R w O YJE 4 4 w m Z w n WA (La/PK M Moss.

BY, A

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE CAN WASHING AND LIQUID FEEDING V DEVICE Clark M. Moore, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor u to Cowles. Chemical Company,

a corporation of Ohio Cleveland, Ohio,

Application March 22, 1951, Serial No. 217,000

a particularly usefulfor successively feeding predetermined amounts of a detergent solution to an article washing machine wherein a series of articles are automatically washed. It is=sti1l another object of the invention to provide afeeding device for intermittent feeding of discrete quantities or slugs of adetergent solution and wherein the size of the individual slug may be accurately predetermined and readily adjusted. It is a still 0 further object of the invention to provide a detergent solution feed device which is adapted to be so connected to an article washing machine that the number of slugs of solution fed corresponds automatically with the number of articles supplied to the machine for washing. Other objects of theinvention will be in part obvious and in part pointedout hereafter. r r

The many objects and advantages of the present invention may best be understood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the feeding device of the invention applied to a conventional milk can washing machine.

the description proceeds it will become apparent .that the present feeding device is not limited'in its application to a milk can washing machine 0 but may be used. with other types of washing machines, and in fact generally in situations where an intermittentfeed of discrete quantities .ofliquidisrequired.

Inthe drawing: H Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of aportionof a conventional milk can washing machine with the present feeding device operatively connected thereto; and,

. Figure 2 is an enlarged elevationof the solutionfeedingmechanism in the lower part ofthe detergent solution storage tank, with certain of r the parts being shown in section.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing the conventional milk can washing. machine there shownis of the type wherein the milk cans are carried by a conveyor I2 to successive stations designated l4, l6, I8, and .22. The washing operation consists of a series of steps that are carried out at the successive stations of the washi s ma i e O a n t n he can w sh m chine shewninflieure 1- ill e ma h J-l 'i mally includes a number of stations both before 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-49) and after stations [6-22 at which operations are carried out that need not be described herein. As shown in Figure 1, the milk can covers 24 are carried on a conveyor 26 above the row of cans and are likewise subjected to certain washing operations.

The cans at stations I4, l6 and 18 are subjected to internal washing with a detergent solution which is stored in a reservoir 28. The washing solution is withdrawn from reservoir 28 through pipe 30 and pumped by pump 32 through pipe 34 to the sprays 36, 38 and 40, from which the solution is sprayed into the interior of themilk cans at the three stations respectively. (In some machines the outside of each can is also washed with the detergent solution.) It is apparent that as each can moves through the machine it is subjected to three spraying actions with detergent solution, i. e. at stations l4, l6 and I8 successively. After washing the interior surfaces of the milk can, the solution .fiowsback into the reservoir 28. At station 20 each can is permitted to drain without further spraying and the drainage liquid flows down over a baffle 42 into the reservoir 28. At station 22 each can is rinsed and then moves on to other stations at which further operations are performed on it.

At station20 the bottom of each can is subjected to the action of a steam spray. Steam for operating this spray is supplied from a high pressure steam header. 44, shown at the top of Figure 1, and flows through branch pipe 46, to and through a valve 48 and pipe 50 to the spray 52, which is directed toward the bottom of the can.

The valve 48 is a so-called whistle valve of convalve 48 operates to supply steam to the spray 52 while each can is at station 20 and closes when each can leaves station 20.

Prior to the time the cans reach station [4 they have been internally washed with water and arewet. This water dilutes the detergent solution sprayed into the cans at stations I l, l6 and I8 and hence tend-sto reduce the washing effectiveness of the solution over a period of time. Also condensate from spray 52 flows into reservoir 28 anddilutes the solution therein. Moreover as the cans leave station 20 they carry with them smallgamount of detergent solution. For

these and other reasons it is necessary that the necessary to add detergent to the reservoir to maintain the desired detergent concentration therein and the feeding device of' the present invention is particularly well suited to perform this function.

Still referring to Figure 1,. the feeding device comprises a tank 54 adapted to contain a quantity of a stock detergent solution which may be an aqueous solution of alkaline silicates and phosphates. Located within the tank. 54.near the bottom thereof are a screen 56, check valve 58 and pipe cross 62 interconnected in such manner that solution from the tank can flow by gravity successively through the screen, check valve and pipe cross and then downwardly into .3. measuring chamber. The pipe cross 62 is connectedto pipe 50 on the discharge side of whistle-valve 48-by apipe fifircontaining a l-needleetype. regulating valve .58. As pointed out above thevalve. 4B is intermittently actuated to supply steam to pipe E, and thisintermittent steamqpressurezis used, as more fully described below, to periodically force detergent solution :from measuring chamber 64 through a discharge tubeJii tothe reservoir 28.

Referring-now to Figure. 2. the pipe cross 52 is fixed tothe bottom of tank 54 in any suitable manner, such as by brazingor ,welcling, and is positioned in registry with a hole i2 in the bottom of the tank. Thescreen 55 is connected by a pipe 1 4 to check valve 58 which .is inturn connected by pipe 16 and bushing 18130 the righthand opening of cross 62. The steam pipe 66 is connected through bushing 8%).to the left-hand opening of cross62. The connection of pipes .66 and 76 toopposite sides: of the cross has been found advantageous because of the fact that the steam entering throughupipe 66 exerts a pressurethrough pipe 76 that helps to ensure rapid closing of-the check valve. 58, thereby substantially'diminishing back flow of detergent solution into the main body of SOlIltiOIl'iIl tank 54.

.It.will.be understood that the screen 56 functions to prevent suspended solids inv the tank 54 from entering: the measuring system.

The measuring chamber 64 is secured to the bottom of the tank 54 in registry withhole I? .by means of 'thebolts 82.

The bolts engage an annular ring or flange 84 having a frusto-conical -portion=36 that-cooperates with an outwardly flared portion 88 .of chamber 64 to urge it against the bottom of. tank 54. A frusto-conical gasket .80 is interposed between the portion. 86 of flange 184 and the flared portion 88 of chamber 64, and

a :second gasket 92 is provided between the top of chamber 64 and bottom of tank 54 to seal the 'partstagainst leakage. The chamber 64 is preferably madeof glass so that the level of solution therein can be observed.

The dischargetube I0 is mounted in the upper opening of cross'62 and extends downwardly into the measuring chamber 64. As shown in Figure 2 the tube is mounted in a compression fitting 94 of known type which is threaded into abushing 96 that is in turn threaded into the upper opening of .cross 62. The fitting 94. includes a packing nut 98 that may be taken up in known manner to provide a fluid-tight seal between the tube 10 and pipe cross 62 and prevent fiuids'from being discharged -from pipe cross 62 otherwise 4 than through chamber 64. The fitting 94 also provides a means whereby the height of the lower end of discharge tube 10 within measuring chamber 64 can be adjusted to vary as desired the size of each slug of solution i. e. the quantity of detergent solution delivered during each periodic operation '-of a, the 1 feeding device.

This adjustment of the position of the" lower end of tube 10 can be effected either by loosening nut .98 or by initially so adjusting the nut as to permit frictional sliding movement of the tube 10 vwith respect to cross 62 so that the height of the stronger than. that in 1 .the reservoir 23, for example, 30 times-.as strong. .The'solution thus prepared flows, as. previously described, through thescreen 56,,pipe'14, check valve.58,.pipe 15 and cross :62 tothe measuring chamber. and

fills the chamber. When a milk can movesto station, 20 the whistle valve 48; is actuated and steam-is supplied throughipipe -56 to thetop of the measuring-chamber 64,-,thus closing check valve 58 :and forcing liquid out through ,dis-

. charge pipe 10 to the reservoir 28 until the liquid level in chamber-64 has dropped below thebottom of discharge, pipe 10, whereupon steam will flow throughthe discharge pipe but. no further i liquid'will-be discharged. ltist-husclearthat substantiallythe same amount of solution will be discharged :eachtime'the valve 48 is actuated. The needle valve. 68 is adjusted togivethe .de-

sired flowof :steam through-pipefifi. The continuing fiow' of; steam through pipes 56; and :10

after each. slug. of liquid :has been delivered to reservoir 2B-serves toykeepthe, discharge, pipe T0 clean and free from. deposits. ofqdetergent solids.

When each canmoves. awayfromstationy-N whistle valve 48:-.closes and-solutionfiows from tank 54 into-measuring; chamber 64. Duringthe period thatthe: whistle valve. 48 is closed, a portion of the. steam in pipes 66.and;10 and chamber 1 64 condenses thereby producing :a. partial vacuum within the systemthatassists iii-drawing liquid :fromtank54 into themeasuring chamber 54. :As shown in Figurel, the. discharge: end of tube lllgis preferably located .somewhati-below the liquid level =in-reservoir 28 to increase thisvacuum vrefilling effect.

LWhenanother can vmovesto station '20'the above-described operation is repeated. Thus each time a can moves forward onestation a=slug of .stock solution of predetermined size. is discharged into. the reservoir28. "The sizeof the slug is con- :trolled,'.by adjustment of: the height of the-lower end of discharge pipe Hi, to compensate for dilu- :tion of the solution in reservoir 28 due to such factorsas waterlbeing. carried byeach canto the .rdetergent spraystations, and water' being added to the reservoir to maintain the total-volume of detergent solution'constant.

'It :should be noted that the presentfeeding device .servesaatointer-relate movement of *the cans-and replenishment of the solution in-reservoir"28 in such manner: that if, for example, the washing machine is: stopped; the supply-of stock solution to tank '28 is automatically interrupted.

Also if the cansare irregularly fed" to the washing machine; the detergent solution feeding -de- *vice automatically takes this factor into account and supplies a number of slugs of make-up solu- .tionuprecisely. corresponding to thelnumber of quired or desirable. Also the "structure'illustratively described above may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. .For example, the whistle valve 48 may be replaced by a solenoid-operated valve and the desired intermittent flow of pressure fluid achieved electrically rather than mechanically. Also the check valve 58, cross 62 and pipes 66 and can belocated outside tank 54 if desired. However the vacuum refilling effect referred to above has been found to be considerably more pronounced when these parts are located within tank 54 and hence more positive refilling of chamber 64 can be secured byusing the apparatus specifically described herein. Other modifications within the scope of the invention and other usefulapplications of the present feeding device will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantities of a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washing machine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved to successive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluid including detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve is mounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movement of one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article, said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tank adapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, a

measuring chamber positioned below the liquid level in saidtank for measuring a predetermined quantity of said solution, a conduit for conducting solution from said body of solution to said measuring chamber, said conduit containing a check valve to prevent backflow of solution from said measuring chamber to said body of solution, a discharge conduit extending into said measuring chamber to a predetermined point between the top and bottom thereof and leading to said reservoir, and a third conduit connecting the discharge side of said steam valve with the top of said chamber, whereby a predetermined amount of solution within said chamber is periodically forced through said discharge conduit and to said reservoir, and thereafter said measuring chamber is refilled by flow from said tank.

2. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantities of a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washing machine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved to successive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluid including detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve is mounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movement of one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article, said apparatus com"- prising, in combination with said machine,za tank adapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, a measuring chamber positionedbelow the liquidlevel in saidltank for measuring a predetermined quantity of said"solution, .a.conduit for conducting solution fromsaid body of solution to said measuring chamber, said conduit containing acheck valve to prevent backflow of solution from saidimeasuring chamberito said body of solution, a discharge oonduitextending into said measuring chamber to a predeterminedpoint between thetop andbottom thereof andleading to said reservoir, an adjustable connection-between said chamber and dischargeflconduit to permit 'ad justment of the height ofthe endof said discharge conduit i within saidwmeasuring chamber to vary the magnitude of said predetermined discrete quantity of solution, and a third conduit interconnecting the downstream side of said steam valve with the top of said chamber, whereby a predetermined amount of solution within said chamber is periodically forced through said discharge conduit to said reservoir, and thereafter said measuring chamber is refilled by flow of solution from said tank.

3. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantities of a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washing machine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved to successive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluid including detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve is mounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movement of one of said articles to said station to supply steam to said article, said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tank adapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, said tank having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, a measuring chamber secured to the bottom of said tank in registry with said opening, a first conduit within said tank secured to the periphery of said openin for conducting solution to said measuring chamber, said first conduit including a check valve for preventing backflow of solution from said measuring chamber to said body of solution, a second conduit extending from a point within said measuring chamber through the body of solution in said tank to said reservoir, and a third conduit extending from the discharge side of said steam valve through the body of solution in said tank to the top of said measuring chamber, whereby a predetermined amount of solution within said chamber is periodically forced through said second conduit to said reservoir.

4. Apparatus for measuring and feeding predetermined discrete quantities of a detergent solution to the detergent reservoir of an article washin machine of the type wherein articles to be washed are moved to successive stations at which they are automatically washed with fluid including detergent solution from said reservoir, and a steam valve is mounted near at least one of said stations and is actuated by movement of one of said articles to said stationto supply steam to said article, said apparatus comprising, in combination with said machine, a tank adapted to contain a body of said detergent solution, said tank having a discharge opening in the bot-- tom thereof, a measuring chamber secured to the bottom of said tank in registry with said opening, a pipe cross vertically arranged within said tank with its bottom connection secured to the bottom of said'tank'in registry with said discharge opening, a conduit connected to one of the side connections of said pipe cross, said conduit communicating with said body of solution and including a screen and check valve, a discharge conduit adjustably mounted in the top connection of said pipe cross, said discharge conduit extending from a point within 'said measuring chamber through the lower and upper connections of saidpipe cross and said body of solution to said reservoir, and a pressure fluid supply conduit connected'to the other side connection of said'pipe cross and extending through said body-of solution to the discharge side of said steam valve for conducting steam from the discharge side of said steam valve to the top of said measuring chamber, whereby a predetermined 8 amount ofsolu'tion in said measuring chamber is periodically forced through said discharge conduit and thereafter said'measuring' chamber is refilled by flow of solution from said tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,042,106 Grant Oct. 22, 1912 1,537,679 Killman May 12, 1925 1,794,769 Hopkins Mar. 3, 1931 1,972,711 Kendall Sept. 4, 1934 2,101,468 Dale Dec. 7, 1937 2,127,017 Walker Aug; 16, 1938 2,197,602 Wolcott et al Apr. 16,1940 2,395,968

Ornas Mar. 5, 19 16