Abstract: An apparatus, method, and composition provide a long-term, solid cartridge made of cleaning cleaning agents mixed at an equilibrium concentration with a solubility limiting agent for controlling an equilibrium concentration of the composition in a solvent, such as water, for example. In use, the cleaning agents are dissolved only to a predetermined concentration needed for a single dose of a cleaning appliance, such as a clothes washing machine, for example. The apparatus may be configured to cyclically expose the solid cartridge to the solvent. A dosing amount of the solvent dissolves a pre-determined concentration of cleaning agents, controlled by the solubility limiting agent. The apparatus discharges the dose of cleaning agent to a cleaning appliance, and readies itself again by dissolving a dose of cleaning agent from a surface of the solid cartridge into the solvent.
Abstract: A cleaning composition in solid state comprises a gas-releasing component as a cleaning agent, a solubility control component to limit the solubility of the cleaning composition, an alkalinity agent as a pH regulator, and optionally a water softener.
Abstract: An apparatus, method, and composition provide a long-term, solid cartridge made of cleaning agents mixed at an azeotrope with a solubility limiting agent for controlling an equilibrium concentration of the composition in a solvent, such as water, for example. In use, the cleaning agents are dissolved only to a predetermined concentration needed for a single dose of a cleaning appliance, such as a clothes washing machine, for example. The apparatus may be configured to cyclically expose the solid cartridge to the solvent. A dosing amount of the solvent dissolves a pre-determined concentration of cleaning agents, controlled by the solubility limiting agent. The apparatus discharges the dose of cleaning agent to a cleaning appliance, and readies itself again by dissolving a dose of cleaning agent from a surface of the solid cartridge into the solvent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 10, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 30, 2001
Assignee:
Eco-Safe, L.L.C.
Inventors:
Eddie Lee Caruthers, Jr., Eric D. Briggs, James A. Corenflos