US3589378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Receptacle cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
•
Filing: 1968-11-07
•
Granted: 1971-06-29
•
Expires: 1988-11-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cleaning a receptacle such as a bulk milk tank having an entrance and an exit comprising means for flowing a prerinse liquid such as water through the receptacle without substantial recirculation for a selected time to flush out foreign material, means for thereafter circulating a quantity of rinse liquid such as an additional amount of water through a circuit including the receptacle by way of its entrance and exit for a selected time for a further rinsing action, means for removing this latter liquid at the end of its selected time, means for thereupon circulating a quantity of detergent liquid such as aqueous detergent solution through the circuit and means for removing this detergent liquid. In the preferred structure these various cleaning means are operated automatically at the proper time for the preselected time. Also, in a further preferred structure, there is provided means for circulating a preselected quantity of cleaning rinse solution such as a weak aqueous acid solution through the receptacle circuit for a selected time subsequent to the removal of the detergent liquid to produce a final removal of foreign material from the interior of the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald F Swanson
- 👤 Wynn G Winkler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:00
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line directly to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line directly to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation fLow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; and timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line directly to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line directly to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation fLow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; and timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation flow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence, said spray nozzle being supplied from said lines through a supply conduit and said liquid circulation flow conduit emptying into said supply conduit; and a check valve means in said flow conduit for permitting flow therethrough toward said nozzle only.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation flow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence, said spray nozzle being supplied from said lines through a supply conduit and said liquid circulation flow conduit emptying into said supply conduit; and a check valve means in said flow conduit for permitting flow therethrough toward said nozzle only.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation flow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence; a manifold conduit connected to said cold water supply line to receive water therefrom, connected to said hot water supply line to receive water therefrom, and connected to said detergent reservoir to receive detergent therefrom; a hot water line to said detergent reservoir; and a flow control valve in said detergent hot water line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for cleaning a bulk milk tank having an exit opening, comprising: a cold water supply line; a hot water supply line; a water soluble detergent reservoir; a spray nozzle insertable into said tank; an energizable pump having an intake connectable to said tank exit opening and an outlet; conduit means for directing cold water from said cold water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line to said nozzle; conduit means for directing hot water from said hot water supply line through said detergent reservoir to said nozzle; a liquid circulation flow conduit from said pump outlet to said nozzle; a liquid exhaust line from said pump outlet; an energizable flow control valve in each of said lines; timer means for energizing said pump and energizing said valves in preselected sequence to control flow through the corresponding said lines in said sequence; a manifold conduit connected to said cold water supply line to receive water therefrom, connected to said hot water supply line to receive water therefrom, and connected to said detergent reservoir to receive detergent therefrom; a hot water line to said detergent reservoir; and a flow control valve in said detergent hot water line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein there are provided a rinse composition reservoir, a conduit from said rinse reservoir to said manifold, a cold water line to said rinse reservoir, and a flow control valve in said rinse reservoir water line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said valves in said hot water line to said detergent reservoir and said rinse reservoir line is energizable, and said timer means is for energizing these valves also in preselected sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said spray nozzle is supplied from said lines through a supply conduit, said liquid circulation flow conduit empties into said supply conduit, and there are provided means for preventing flow in the reverse direction through each of said reservoirs and a check valve means in said flow conduit for permitting flow therethrough toward said nozzle only.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said timer means preselected sequence energizes said hot water, cold water and exhaust line valves to open positions and energizes said pump to provide a water prerinse through said tank without recirculation, then deenergizes said exhaust line valve to closed position and deenergizes said pump to supply a quantity of water to said tank, then energizes said pump whiLe maintaining said exhaust line valve deenergized to circulate said water in a circuit including said tank, pump, circulation flow conduit and nozzle, and then energizes said exhaust line valve while maintaining said pump energized to remove said water from the tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein there are provided a manifold conduit connected to said cold water supply line to receive water therefrom, connected to said hot water supply line to receive water therefrom, and connected to said detergent reservoir to receive detergent therefrom, a hot water line to said detergent reservoir and a flow control valve in said detergent hot water line, each of said valves in said hot water line to said detergent reservoir and said rinse reservoir water line is energizable, said timer means preselected sequence after said removal of the water from the tank then energizes the valve in said detergent hot water line and the valve in said hot water supply line to open positions while maintaining said pump deenergized to introduce a quantity of hot aqueous detergent solution to said tank, then energizes the pump while maintaining the exhaust line valve deenergized to circulate said detergent solution in said circuit, and then energizes said exhaust line valve while maintaining said pump energized to remove said detergent solution from the tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein there are provided a rinse composition reservoir, a conduit from said rinse reservoir to said manifold, a cold water line to said rinse reservoir, and a flow control valve in said rinse reservoir water line, said timer means preselected sequence after said removal of said detergent solution from said tank then energizes said valve in said water line to said rinse reservoir and said valve in said hot water supply line to open position while deenergizing said exhaust line valve to closed position and deenergizing said pump to introduce a quantity of rinse solution to said tank, then energizes the pump to circulate said rinse solution in said circuit, and then energizes said exhaust line valve while maintaining said pump energized to remove said rinse solution from the tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |