David D Howland

US Patent:

6819977, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Dec 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/330043

Inventors:

Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN
David Robert Howland - Aptos CA

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700244, 700240, 700266

Abstract:

A dispenser for dispensing and a method of dispensing an ingredient for a machine. An ingredient feed mechanism dispenses the ingredient to the machine. A controller is capable of controlling an amount of the ingredient delivered to the machine by varying an amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active. The controller has a demand mode which varies the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from the machine. The controller compares the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value and switches to a timed mode if the amount of time deviates from the reference value. The controller may have an initial training mode which measures the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active establishes the reference value based upon the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active.

US Patent:

7584762, Sep 8, 2009

Filed:

Dec 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/328497

Inventors:

Robert Eugene May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

B08B 3/00

US Classification:

134113, 134 18

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e. g. , cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution. The present invention senses various types of information associated with the formation of the chemical solution and applies one or more test conditions to the sensed information to determine satisfactory time periods for measuring concentration of the chemical product relative to the chemical solution. Indications of the occurrence of these satisfactory times are presented on a display module in a manner visible to field persons responsible for titrating the chemical solution.

US Patent:

8082764, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Jul 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/506589

Inventors:

Robert E. May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

D06F 33/00

US Classification:

68 1227, 68 1202, 68 1218, 68207

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e. g. , cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution. The present invention senses various types of information associated with the formation of the chemical solution and applies one or more test conditions to the sensed information to determine satisfactory time periods for measuring concentration of the chemical product relative to the chemical solution. Indications of the occurrence of these satisfactory times are presented on a display module in a manner visible to field persons responsible for titrating the chemical solution.