Device and method for dilution control

Abstract

A dilution control device and method of operating the same. The dilution control device can include a structure for dispensing concentrate and diluent fluid in a desired dilution ratio utilizing volumetric dosing. In some embodiments, diluent fluid drives a wheel or compresses a pliable concentrate bag in order to dispense concentrate in the desired ratio with the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, one or more floats can be used to drive a pump or actuate a valve to dispense concentrate at a particular rate proportional with the flow rate of the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, a rocker is responsive to the flow of diluent fluid to pump concentrate. In some embodiments, the dilution control device can be operable to automatically modulate the dispense rate of concentrate when the diluent fluid flow rate is varied in order to maintain a predetermined dilution ratio.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chemical dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining a fluid passageway adapted to receive a diluent from a diluent source;   a wheel coupled to the housing and in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, the wheel driven by the impact or weight of diluent flowing through the fluid passageway;   a shaft coupled to the housing and the wheel, wherein the shaft is adapted to rotate with the wheel; and   a pump coupled to the housing and the shaft, wherein the pump is in fluid communication with a reservoir containing a concentrated chemical and wherein the pump is actuated by rotation of the shaft to deliver concentrated chemicals to diluent flowing through the fluid passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit at least partially positioned in the housing to deliver the concentrated cleaning chemical from the pump to diluent passing through the fluid passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the conduit is positioned to deliver the concentrated cleaning chemical to the wheel to allow the concentrated chemical to be mixed with the diluent in the wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir containing the concentrated chemical is contained within the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir containing the concentrated chemical is located remotely relative to the housing and in fluid communication with the housing via a conduit extending between the pump and the reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a set of gears coupled to the housing and positioned to provide power from the shaft to the pump. 
     
     
         7 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the set of gears include a gear ratio that is selected to provide predetermined dilution ratio. 
     
     
         8 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         9 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the positive displacement pump is a gear pump. 
     
     
         10 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is dimensioned and configured to deliver a predetermined amount of concentrated chemical to the diluent per each rotation of the wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a funnel along the fluid passageway, upstream from the wheel, and wherein the funnel gathers water without connection to a source of diluent and directs the diluent to the wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a backflow prevention device coupled to the housing and wherein the backflow prevention device is directly connected to the source of diluent. 
     
     
         13 . A chemical dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining a fluid passageway adapted to receive a diluent from a diluent source and the housing is coupled to a concentrated chemical reservoir;   a wheel coupled to the housing and in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, the wheel driven by the impact or weight of diluent flowing through the fluid passageway; and   a shaft coupled to the housing and the wheel and adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the wheel, the shaft is positioned within an aperture of the concentrated chemical reservoir and is adapted to selectively dispense concentrated chemicals from the reservoir via rotation of shaft.   
     
     
         14 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft is a first shaft and the chemical dispensing apparatus further comprises a second shaft and a set of gears, wherein the second shaft is directly coupled to the wheel and adapted to rotate with the wheel, the set of gears are positioned to provide power from the second shaft to the first shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the set of gears include a gear ratio that is selected to provide predetermined dilution ratio. 
     
     
         16 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft includes a rotary metering device in communication with the aperture of the concentrated chemical reservoir, wherein rotation of the shaft causes the rotary metering device to dispense concentrated chemical from the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the rotary metering device comprises a flatted portion of the shaft in selective communication the aperture in the concentrated chemical reservoir, rotation of the flattened portion adjacent the aperture provides metered dispensing of a concentrated chemical in the chemical reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the rotary metering device comprises a disc coupled to the shaft and having at least one aperture for receiving concentrated chemical when in communication with the concentrated chemical. 
     
     
         19 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a funnel along the fluid passageway, upstream from the wheel, and wherein the funnel gathers water from a free flowing source of diluent and directs the diluent to the wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The chemical dispensing apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a backflow prevention device coupled to the housing and wherein the backflow prevention device is directly connected to the source of diluent.