Patents Assigned to Ecolab USA
  • Patent number: 11903545
    Abstract: A dishwashing apparatus may include a sump. The sump may include a sump pan configured to couple with a wash chamber of the dishwashing apparatus. The sump may include a sump well coupled to the sump pan and configured to collect the liquid from the sump pan. The sump well may include a well inlet in communication with the sump pan. The sump pan may convey the liquid to the well inlet. A recirculation port extending through a first wall of the sump well. A drain port may extend through a second wall of the sump well. The second wall defines a bottom of the sump well. The dishwashing apparatus may include a controller. The controller may monitor electrical characteristics of a pump. The controller may provide a notification if fluid is not flowing through the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Mueggenborg, Jason Heintz, Marvin Harris York, Nathan Evans
  • Patent number: 11905493
    Abstract: Consumer and industrial 2-in-1 cleaning compositions providing both detergency and rinseability in a single cleaning composition are disclosed. Alkaline-based cleaning compositions containing a surface modification polymer and an alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactant, and methods of using the same provide user-friendly, solid, detergent compositions without the need for using a separate rinse aid composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Steven Lundberg, Monique Roerdink Lander
  • Patent number: 11905497
    Abstract: Stabilized use solutions of low phosphorus, alkali metal carbonate detergents employing enzymes for cleaning compositions are disclosed. In particular, the present invention is a composition for, and method of, removing soils, preventing redeposition of protein soils and reducing foam, using stabilized enzyme cleaning compositions, namely use solutions of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Wendy Chan, Jennifer Stokes, Lyndal Jensen, Carter M. Silvernail, Terrence P. Everson, Graig Legatt, Nathan Richard Ortmann, Devon Beau Hammel
  • Patent number: 11905655
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of black liquor. Also provided are methods of inhibiting deposition of scale and methods of processing black liquor. In some embodiments, the compositions include a carboxylate-containing polymer and an inorganic salt. In some embodiments, the compositions include a carboxylate-containing polymer, an inorganic salt, and a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA Inc.
    Inventors: Luiz Wanderley Bratfisch Pace, Prasad Yogendra Duggirala
  • Patent number: 11905498
    Abstract: Stabilized peroxide-containing compositions stabilized with urea and urea/chelator stabilizer blends are provided. The compositions are particularly suitable for, but not limited to, cleaning applications on surfaces within food and beverage industries which may require the use of materials that are acceptable for incidental food/food products/feed contact. Further, the stabilized compositions are particularly suitable for applications requiring materials that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) or for applications where non-GRAS materials must be minimized. Methods of stabilizing peroxide-containing compositions and methods of using the compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Chris Nagel, Junzhong Li
  • Patent number: 11903537
    Abstract: A wireless dispenser beacon module for a product dispenser comprises a bottle presence trigger configured to detect one of presence or absence of a product bottle in the product dispenser; an actuation sensor configured to detect actuation of the product dispenser; and a module controller configured to wirelessly transmit dispenser data indicative of the detected one of presence or absence of the product bottle in the product dispenser associated with each detected actuation of the product dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rospierski, David L. Snodgrass, Andrew M. Schultz, Viktor Slobodyan, Cheryl A. Littau, Kenneth T. Dobizl
  • Patent number: 11891309
    Abstract: A method of controlling cooling water treatment at a cooling tower may involve measuring operating data of one or more downstream heat exchangers that receive cooling water from the cooling tower. For example, the inlet and outlet temperatures of both the hot and cold streams of a downstream heat exchanger may be measured, optionally along with a flow rate of the cooling water stream passing through the heat exchanger. Data from the streams passing through the heat exchanger may be used to determine a heat transfer efficiency for the heat exchanger. The heat transfer efficiency can be trended over a period of time and changes in the trend detected to identify cooling water fouling issues. A chemical additive selected to reduce, eliminate, or otherwise control the cooling water fouling can be controlled based on the changes in heat transfer efficiency detected at the downstream heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anupam Prakash, Stephen J. Hinterlong, Hung-Ting Chen, Craig Myers, Walter H. Goodman, Daniel Meier
  • Patent number: 11889963
    Abstract: An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel Marie McGinness, Jonathan Charles Butwinick, Paul R. Kraus, Alissa R. Ellingson, Conor Sylvester Smith, Paul Dominic Christian
  • Patent number: 11889832
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to antimicrobial compositions and their methods of use and manufacture. In particular, the antimicrobial compositions described herein comprise an antimicrobial active, a primary foaming agent, and an L-amino acid to provide rapid antimicrobial efficacy. In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial compositions are dermal cleansers. In a most preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial compositions comprise a foam structure enhancing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lilian Lam Josephson, Daniel E. Pedersen, Dale Curtis Larson
  • Patent number: 11891588
    Abstract: General purpose liquid deliming compositions are disclosed. The compositions include acids, surfactants, and pH modifiers and are adjusted to a pH of 2 to 7. The composition may be used without personal protective wear or transportation restriction and demonstrate similar lime removal to other traditional lime removal compositions which are extremely low in pH and require protective gear by the user. The compositions also do not require the use of chelants, or builders for effective cleaning. Methods of using the deliming compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventor: Seth Louis Marquard
  • Patent number: 11891586
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multi-purpose cleaning compositions, methods of manufacturing the multi-purpose cleaning compositions, and methods of using the multi-purpose cleaning compositions to clean a surface. Beneficially the multi-purpose cleaning compositions are capable of removing soil and providing antimicrobial activity. The compositions are especially useful on hard surfaces and are preferably low streaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Amanda Bakken, Mark D. Levitt, Avila Abelseth
  • Patent number: 11883552
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a system to automatically conduct hygiene cycles for a confined space such an interior space of a box suitable for storing and/or carrying packaged food. The system may include a hygiene device that can be attached to the box to conduct the hygiene cycles and a mobile device that can wirelessly communicate with the hygiene device to control the conduction of the hygiene cycles. The method may include automatically collecting information related to the hygiene cycles using the hygiene device and transmitting the collected information to a network directly or through the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbin Wei, Ying Zhang, Zhili Ding, Huarong Yu
  • Patent number: 11882826
    Abstract: Peroxyformic acid compositions for removal of biofilm growth and other contaminants and impurities from industrial processing hard surfaces are disclosed. In particular, peroxyformic acid compositions may be dosed on site and/or generated in situ for the reduction and prevention of biofilms on the hard surfaces. Methods of employing the peroxyformic acid compositions for removal of biofilm growth and other impurities such as aldehydes and alcohols from industrial CO2 effluent are also disclosed which beneficially provide ambient biofilm control and break down more rapidly than other peracids, allowing for extended runs between CIP cleaning, including a reduction and/or elimination of cleaning of the scrubbers and other industrial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: John Bolduc, Chris Nagel, Junzhong Li, Catherine Hanson, Peter Fernholz
  • Patent number: 11885747
    Abstract: An optical sensor may include a housing, a printed circuit board, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The housing can define a channel configured to receive a transparent tubing line through which fluid can flow during operation. The housing can have multiple optical pathways, including a primary optical pathway transecting the channel, a light emission optical pathway, and a light detection optical pathway. The optical emitter and optical detector can each be mounted on the printed circuit board. Further, the housing may be positioned on the printed circuit board with the optical emitter aligned to emit light into the light emission optical pathway and the optical detector aligned to receive light from the light detection optical pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Matthew Davis, Stephen J. Hinterlong, David Alan Ambrose
  • Patent number: 11879111
    Abstract: Cleaning systems employing detergent compositions in combination with builders comprising alkalinity and chelants are provided. The detergent compositions include amine oxide surfactant and alcohol ethoxylate surfactant blends having a mixture of chain lengths and branching provided. The detergent compositions are particularly efficacious for flexible cleaning systems for cosmetic and other soils as they provide the benefit of separate dosing of surfactants in the detergent from alkalinity sources in a builder composition. Methods of using the detergent compositions and/or the cleaning systems are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Hubig, Susan Maloney Viall
  • Patent number: 11873465
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are detergent compositions containing extended chain surfactants that form microemulsions with and can remove greasy and oily stains. In certain embodiments the extended nonionic surfactant includes Guerbet C10 or C12(PO)8(EO)n. The detergent compositions and methods of employing the same beneficially clean soils from textiles including difficult to remove cosmetic soils and food oils, even those comprised of non-trans fats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Victor Fuk-Pong Man, Derrick Anderson, Gang Pu, Jimmy Stokes, Kaustav Ghosh
  • Publication number: 20240010916
    Abstract: Polymerization inhibitor compositions are provided. The polymerization inhibitor compositions include at least a first inhibitor compound having a stable nitroxide radical or a derivative thereof, a second inhibitor compound having a phenothiazine or a derivative thereof, and a functional solvent. Methods of inhibiting the polymerization of monomers using the compositions of the disclosure are also provided. The methods of inhibiting polymerization of monomers include a step of adding a composition of the disclosure to the monomer. In some instances, the monomer is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Such ethylenically unsaturated monomers include, but are not limited to, (meth)acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylamide sulfate, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, acrolein, acrylates, methacrylates, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, isoprene, and combinations thereof. Methods of preparing the polymerization inhibitors and compositions of the disclosure are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Meng KONG, Kameswara VYAKARANAM
  • Publication number: 20240010758
    Abstract: Polymerization inhibitor compositions are provided. The polymerization inhibitor compositions include at least a first inhibitor compound having a phenothiazine or a derivative thereof, a second inhibitor compound having a phenylenediamine or a derivative thereof, and a solvent. Methods of inhibiting the polymerization of monomers using the compositions of the disclosure are also provided. The methods of inhibiting polymerization of monomers include a step of adding a composition of the disclosure to the monomer. In some instances, the monomer is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Such ethylenically unsaturated monomers include, but are not limited to, (meth)acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylamide sulfate, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, acrolein, acrylates, methacrylates, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, isoprene, and combinations thereof. Methods of preparing the polymerization inhibitors and compositions of the disclosure are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Meng KONG, Kameswara VYAKARANAM
  • Patent number: 11865219
    Abstract: A concentrated liquid sanitizing and rinse composition containing peroxycarboxylic acid(s) and compatible rinse aid surfactants is disclosed. The sanitizing and rinsing compositions are formulated in a single liquid concentrate, replacing a traditional dual product of a sanitizer and rinse aid. The sanitizing and rinsing chemistries are particularly effective at neutral pHs against gram negative organisms at elevated temperatures. Methods of using the concentrated liquid sanitizing and rinse composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Lange, Junzhong Li, Xin Sun, Allison Brewster, Richard Staub
  • Patent number: 11866631
    Abstract: Described are compounds, compositions, and methods that include a nitrogen- and oxygen-containing aromatic compound, such as an aminophenol-based compound, which can be used for inhibiting polymerization of a monomer (e.g., styrene) composition. The compound includes a tertiary amine group wherein the nitrogen is attached to carbon-containing groups, and at least one of oxygen atom separated from the nitrogen by one or more carbon atoms. The antipolymerant can provide excellent antipolymerant activity in a monomer-containing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Masere, Ashish Dhawan