Patents Assigned to Economics Laboratory, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4675215
    Abstract: A method and composition for inhibiting corrosion is disclosed. The method involves forming a coating of from about 1-10 mils thick on a surface, with a composition comprising an over-based alkaline organic sulfonate salt, a drying oil, a copper or rare earth metal drier, a zinc metal drier, an organic solvent, and petrolatum, and curing the coating. Optionally, the composition may include polyisobutylene. The method and composition are particularly useful for metal surfaces in a seawater environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley J. Ciuba, Michael J. Bartelme, III
  • Patent number: 4651907
    Abstract: A preferred cleaning system (10) is disclosed which includes a hydraulic timer valve (22) which is in fluid communication with a cleaning chemical dispenser (14) and a water supply (12). The hydraulic timer valve (22) preferably includes a bearing arrangement (44) which is spring biased toward a first end (56) of a timer housing (52). When a water supply valve (20) is opened, water flows into housing (52) to cause the bearing arrangement (44) to move from its first position to a second position. When the bearing arrangement (44) reaches its second position, water flow from the water supply (12) to the chemical dispenser (14) is prevented. The movement of the bearing arrangement (44) from its first position to its second position takes a preselected period of time determined by the flow resistance produced by a control valve (35) which controls the flow of water to one side of the bearing arrangement (44) of valve (22). When the water supply (12) is blocked, the valve (22) automatically resets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4642258
    Abstract: A reusable permeable dispenser for dispensing solid or semi-solid fabric conditioning agent which can be attached to a machine dryer drum or tumbles loosely in the dryer, comprising a flexible permeable container comprising a composition of a quarternary ammonium anti-static agent, a polyalkylene oxide compound, and silicone dioxide which has a substantially constant release rate regardless of dryer operator temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna M. Majewski, Stephen A. Morganson
  • Patent number: 4632741
    Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of phosphinate salts or bis(alkyl) phosphinate salts by the reaction of an olefinic material with a hypophosphite salt by means of irradiation with UV light in the presence of a photoinitiator is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Wolf, Chung-Tsing Liu
  • Patent number: 4624713
    Abstract: Methods of warewashing utilizing a solid rinse aid, and the solid rinse aid which comprises a surfactant and urea, and preferably a dispensing rate adjusting additive, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Morganson, Erin P. Schneeman
  • Patent number: 4617272
    Abstract: A process for removing the water from an enzyme-containing aqueous medium is disclosed which comprises spraying the medium onto a heated, fluidized bed of inert substrate particles and recovering a dry enzyme concentrate therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Marda K. Kirkwood, Keith E. Olson
  • Patent number: 4595520
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for preparing solid alkaline detergent compositions from aqueous emulsions comprising water, a source of alkalinity, a condensed phosphate hardness sequestering agent and a solidifying agent such as anhydrous sodium carbonate, comprising heating said emulsion to hydrate and melt the solidifying agent and then cooling the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Heile, Terry J. Klos
  • Patent number: 4594175
    Abstract: A low foaming rinse composition that can be used in spray warewashing machines to provide sanitation, bleaching, and rinsing can comprise in an aqueous base a sufficient bleaching-sanitizing amount of an active-halogen composition and a sulfonate rinse agent, optionally in the presence of a threshold agent. The sulfonate rinse agent is a C.sub.1-9 alkyl benzene sulfonic acid or sulfonate composition which is stabilized in solution by a hydrotrope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Copeland
  • Patent number: 4594176
    Abstract: Alkaline compositions useful to form aqueous paint stripping solutions are disclosed which comprise mixtures of an alkali metal hydroxide, a polyoxyalkylene polyamine accelerator and, optionally, a glycol or glycol ether accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis F. Mahoney, William V. Block
  • Patent number: 4590014
    Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of alkali metal phosphinate salts by the reaction of an olefinic material with an alkali metal hypophosphite in the presence of a free radical source is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Wolf, Chung-Tsing Liu
  • Patent number: 4587030
    Abstract: Soil comprising soap scum and hardness components can be efficiently removed by an acidic cleaning composition which comprises a major proportion of water, an acidic component comprising a mixture of a weak organic acid and a weak inorganic acid, a surfactant system comprising a major proportion of an amine oxide surfactant and a cosolvent, which is preferably applied to the soil as a foam from a pumpable or pressurized container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheryl K. Casey
  • Patent number: 4579676
    Abstract: Aqueous alkaline cleaning concentrates and wash solutions are disclosed which comprise an alkali metal hydroxide, a water-conditioning acrylic polymer, an active chlorine source and a fatty or oily soil-dispersing amount of a phosphinopolycarboxylic acid. The wash solutions are particularly useful to clean cleaned-in-place food-processing equipment which has been fouled with greasy or oily soils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandra L. Bull
  • Patent number: 4571327
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) for a detergent (13) is disclosed. A housing (10) defining an inner cavity (12) holds the detergent (13). The cavity (12) has a circular opening. An insert (14) of a substance not chemically compatible with the detergent (13) is retained in the opening of the inner cavity (12). The insert (14) is retained by retaining ring (20) and a cover (26). In a preferred embodiment, the retaining ring (20) defines an inner aperture (21a) and has a plurality of generally upwardly extending resilient fingers (24) cooperatively connected to the retaining ring (20) proximate the inner aperture (21b). A cover (26) is cooperatively connected to and secured by the fingers (24), wherein said insert (14) is placed over said fingers (24) and said cover (26) over said insert (14), whereby said fingers (24) and said cover (26) control the dissolving of the insert (14 ) by controlling the surface area of the insert (14) exposed to the detergent solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer B. Larson, Richard H. Johnson, Thomas L. Hennemann, Jr., James L. Copeland
  • Patent number: 4569781
    Abstract: Solid cast detergent-containing articles are produced for use in automatic washing machines. A liquid detergent composition is cast into a mold where it is allowed to solidify. The solid cast detergent, surrounded on all but its upper surface by the mold, is used in automatic washing machines having a dispensing device designed to dispense a liquid aqueous detergent formed from the solid cast detergent using an impinging liquid spray. The liquid aqueous detergent flows out of the dispensing device generally simultaneously with its formation in the dispenser. The cast detergent composition includes an alkaline hydratable chemical and optionally further includes one or more preformed cores or plugs comprising an available chlorine source, a defoamer, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, James L. Copeland, Richard C. Penttila
  • Patent number: 4569780
    Abstract: Solid cast detergent-containing articles are produced for use in automatic washing machines. A liquid detergent composition is cast into a mold where it is allowed to solidify. The solid cast detergent, surrounded on all but its upper surface by the mold, is used in automatic washing machines having a dispensing device designed to dispense a liquid aqueous detergent formed from the solid cast detergent using an impinging liquid spray. The liquid aqueous detergent flows out of the dispensing device generally simultaneously with its formation in the dispenser. The cast detergent composition includes an alkaline hydratable chemical and optionally further includes one or more preformed cores or plugs comprising an available chlorine source, a defoamer, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, James L. Copeland, Richard C. Penttila
  • Patent number: 4537705
    Abstract: Alkaline compositions useful to form aqueous paint stripping solutions are disclosed which comprise mixtures of an alkali metal hydroxide, a polyoxyalkylene polyamine accelerator and, optionally, a glycol or glycol ether accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis F. Mahoney, William V. Block
  • Patent number: 4518459
    Abstract: Washing methods of deinking secondary cellulose fiber (i.e., removing unwanted non-cellulose materials therefrom) are disclosed. These washing methods (as opposed to flotation methods) generally involve deinking the fiber with surface active agent (surfactant).The present invention utilizes a single foam-suppressing surface active agent consisting essentially ofR--(Ar)--(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4)m--(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6)n--Y;wherein R represents a monovalent higher aliphatic group containing from 6 to 24 carbon atoms,Ar represents an aromatic residue,--(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4)m--being a poly(ethylene oxide) chain,--(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6)n--being a poly(propylene oxide) chain;m is about 6 to about 15,n is about 12 to about 48,m:n is less than 1, andY is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and benzyl ether.The present washing method of deinking reduces or eliminates objectionable foam, potentially provides energy savings yet maintains or improves the quality of the deinked fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Freis, James E. Maloney, Thomas R. Oakes
  • Patent number: 4512908
    Abstract: A stable, highly alkaline liquid warewashing emulsion composition can comprise an effective hardness sequestering amount of a sodium condensed phosphate, a detergent building amount of sodium hydroxide, an effective stain-removing amount of an inorganic source of chlorine, and an emulsion stabilizing amount of a hectorite clay thickener, which can be used in wash water at concentrations of less than about 2% to clean and destain tableware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Heile
  • Patent number: D278515
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bert G. Adams, Patrick J. Manna
  • Patent number: D288954
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Economics Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter B. McDermott, Gerald M. Syrek