Patent ID: 6711934
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: D06F,G06Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for dispensing a defined volume of chemical and water to a first process unit that makes use of such chemical and water in its operation, comprising the steps:(a) establishing a system adapted to practice such method, said system comprising: (i) a first container of known volume and uniform cross-sectional area for holding a first supply of said chemical; (ii) a second container for holding a second replenishment supply of said chemical; (iii) a third container for holding a contained supply of said water and connected through a remotely controllable water valve to a larger supply of said water; (iv) a first stationary sensing means mounted proximate the bottom of said first container and operative to continuously measure and produce a first signal corresponding to the pressure at the bottom of said first container as an indicator of the level of said chemical in said first container; (v) a second sensing means mounted proximate the top of said first container and operative to create a second signal indicative of said first container being full; (vi) a third sensing means mounted on said third container and operative to create a third signal indicative of the level of water in said third container; (vii) a first pipe having an intake end connected to said third container and a discharge end connected to said first process unit through a remotely controllable output pump; (viii) a second pipe connected through a remotely controllable chemical output valve between the bottom of said first container and said first pipe; (ix) a remotely controllable chemical refill pump connected on its input side to said second container and on its output side to said first container; (x) a fourth sensing means connected to said first pipe proximate said first process unit and operative to continuously produce a fourth signal corresponding to the pressure in said first pipe at said first process unit; (xi) a controller communicating with each said first, second, third and fourth sensing means, chemical output valve, output pump, and chemical refill pump and operable to receive input signals from and transmit commands to each said sensing means, valve, and pump and having programmed formulas, including amount of chemical and water to be used, the time for each liquid to be infused into said first process unit, and having in memory pressure sensor values at varied conditions pursuant to a calibration protocol, whereby: (1) said output pump operates for such time needed to verify that said fourth signal from said fourth sensing means connected to said first pipe are within a given range appropriate for the process being performed; (2) after said output pump has been activated, said chemical output valve is opened to permit said chemical to flow into said first pipe until said controller determines from said first signal received from said first sensing means that the requested volume of said chemical has entered said first pipe and said controller then commands said chemical output valve to close; and (3) said chemical refill pump then operates only when said first sensing means indicates a pressure corresponding to a volume of said chemical in said first container less than adequate for a future requst from said first process unit; and (b) dispensing said volume of chemical and water utilizing said system.