Abstract: A floor cleaning system may include a docking station to which an autonomous floor cleaning machine can dock between cleaning operations. The docking station can provide power to the autonomous floor cleaning machine to recharge the batteries of the machine when not in use. The docking station may also supply fresh cleaning fluid to the floor cleaning machine and remove collected waste from the machine. In practice, the floor cleaning machine may itself become dirty over repeated use, such as when cleaning greasy floor surfaces. Accordingly, the docking station may include flushing orifices to clean the floor cleaning machine itself, such as with a degreasing composition.
Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for purifying and/or removing oily particles, and/or contaminants suspended or dissolved in water. In particular the process relates to an additive composition that has the appropriate surfactant characteristics for effectively removing an oil phase from an oil/aqueous mixed phase via foam fractionation. According to the invention, a hydrophobically modified polymer that acts as an associative thickener is combined with surfactant in appropriate ratios to facilitate oil removal for water purification in any of a number of commercial, environmental and industrial applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 8, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Victor Fuk-Pong Man, Michael Charles Denoma, Steven E. Lentsch
Abstract: Liquid peroxycarboxylic acid laundry compositions, namely bleaching and disinfecting compositions combining mixed peroxycarboxylic acids to provide synergistic efficacy are disclosed. Methods of using the liquid peroxycarboxylic acid laundry compositions for low temperatures and a use pH with detergent and water from about 6 to about 10 are also disclosed. Beneficially, the liquid peroxycarboxylic acid laundry compositions and methods of using the same do not include sulfonated peroxycarboxylic acids and sulfonated carboxylic acid, such as peroxy sulfonated oleic acid/sulfonated oleic acid (PSOA/SOA).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 17, 2020
Date of Patent:
August 1, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Junzhong Li, Allison Prideaux, David Dotzauer, Jonathan P. Fast, Richard K. Staub
Abstract: A non-Newtonian concentrate composition includes a sensitizer or irritant, a surfactant, an anti-mist component and optionally a stability component. Example sensitizers and irritants include, but are not limited to, acids, quaternary compounds, and amines, and example anti-mist components include, but are not limited to, polyethylene oxide and polyacrylamide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 21, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 25, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Charles A. Hodge, Christopher M. McGuirk, Mark D. Levitt, Dale Larson, Elizabeth R. Kiesel, Amanda R. Blattner
Abstract: In an adaptive route wireless network and bi-directional protocol, each computing device along a route to a gateway appends the previous node's network address to downstream messages as they are transmitted along the route from an originating computing device to the gateway. The list of appended network addresses thus records the route taken by the downstream network message through the adaptive route network. A server computing device maintains a route table including the list of appended network addresses received with each downstream message. To send unsolicited upstream messages to any computing device on the wireless network, the server generates an upstream network message that includes the appended network address(es) from the portion of the route table corresponding to the destination computing device. The upstream route to the destination computing device is thus contained in the list of appended network addresses within the network message.
Abstract: A solution including an associative polymer, a cyclodextrin polymer, and a solvent is provided. The associative polymer is a powder in the absence of the solvent. Additionally, a method of making down an associative polymer powder to form a solution is provided. The method includes blending a mixture of the powder, a cyclodextrin polymer, and a solvent to yield the solution, wherein the powder includes particles having been dry-cut to a median particle size of from about 200 microns to about 10,000 microns. Additionally, a powder product is provided. The powder product includes from about 80 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. % associative polymer; and from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a cyclodextrin polymer.
Abstract: Described herein are treated polymers comprising a polyacrylamide homopolymer or a copolymer thereof having at least 30 mol % acrylamide residue content and a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1×105 g/mol to 1×108 g/mol, and 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a C1-C6 alkyl ricinoleate based on the weight of the mixture of polymer and alkyl ricinoleate. The polymers are in powder form and include less than about 30 wt % water based on the powder weight. The treated polymer powders dissolve rapidly in water and develop very little or even no insoluble gel upon diluting with water, even when the water is produced water or connate. The treated polymer solutions are useful for in-the-field rapid dilution for applications such as papermaking, flocculation, beneficiation, wastewater treatment, and enhanced oil recovery.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 4, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 25, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Suresh R. Sriram, Ramasubramanyam Nagarajan
Abstract: Methods of cleaning waxy, oily and/or greasy soils, including lipsticks and lip gloss, are disclosed. Methods of removing lipstick and lip gloss stains in laundry applications are disclosed through application of alkaline cleaning compositions comprising branched polyamines.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 1, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 18, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Kerrie E. Walters, Jennifer Stokes, Carter M. Silvernail, Paige Owens, Ali Bichler, Sukhwan Soontravanich
Abstract: A strainer basket system may include a reservoir in which a strainer basket is positioned and a chemical dispensing docking station. The chemical dispensing docking station may have a cavity that receives a container of chemical to be dispensed and a retention mechanism that is configured to mechanically engage and retain the container of chemical, when inserted into the cavity. The docking station may also include a piercing member positioned to pierce the container of chemical as the container of chemical is inserted into the cavity, thereby releasing chemical into the reservoir and/or strainer basket.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 11, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Kenneth Thomas Dobizl, Emily Gaynor, Tracy Graham, Amber Langley, Gina McDowell, Elaine Money, Shravan Prasad, Benjamin Schaefer, Daniel Wald, Daniel Anderson, Daniel August Gentilini
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to high alkaline cleaners, cleaning systems and methods for removing polymerized zero trans fat soils. The high alkaline cleaner of the present invention generally includes one or more alkaline wetting and saponifying agent(s), a chelating/sequestering system and a surface modifying-threshold agent system. In various embodiments, the cleaners may include, at least one cleaning agent comprising a surfactant or surfactant system and/or a solvent or solvent system and/or a cleaning booster such as a peroxide or sulfite type additive. The cleaners may also include one or more components to modify the composition form and/or the application method in some embodiments. All components described above may also be optimized optionally, to provide emulsification of a composition (both as a usable product or a concentrate that can be diluted to form a usable product).
Abstract: Disclosed are molybdenum-containing complexes used in compositions and methods for inhibiting or reducing the deposition of foulant on equipment.
Abstract: An apparatus, method and system providing for calibration and/or control of a liquid dispensing system is disclosed. The hand-held calibration auditing tool includes a flow meter (36-37) with inlets adapted for quick connection to one or more liquid inputs and/or liquid outputs of a liquid dispensing system (10). A sensor (94-95) having a data output of liquid flow information for a liquid input to the dispensing system (10) is operably connected to a controller (12) to receive the liquid flow information for the liquid input. The controller (12) provides a dilution rate and other liquid flow information for a liquid product input to a dispenser. The tool may include any number of flow meters, and may also include a flow meter connected to an outlet of a dispenser (22) for providing flow information.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 4, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Henry Louis Carbone, II, Richard J. Mehus, Kevin C. Tauer, Anatoly Skirda, Eugene Tokhtuev, William M. Christensen
Abstract: Corrosion inhibitor compositions are provided that can include a mixture of one or more alkaline earth metals, one or more organic phosphates, one or more inorganic phosphates, optionally a dispersant, and hydroxyphosphono acetic acid and/or salts thereof and/or derivatives of hydroxyphosphono acetic acid and/or salts thereof. Methods of mitigating or inhibiting corrosion of metal surfaces are also disclosed. The methods can include the steps of adding a corrosion inhibitor composition as described in the present disclosure to a medium in contact with the metal surface and optionally to the metal surface before it is contacted by the medium.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 2021
Date of Patent:
July 4, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Ana Ferrer Carrera, Yolanda Maria De-Abreu
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel class of multiple charged cationic or anionic compounds that are derived from an aza-Michael Addition reaction between a polyamine (Michael donor) and an activated olefin (Michael acceptor), methods of making the same, and use thereof. Also disclosed herein are the methods of using multiple charged cationic or anionic compounds disclosed herein in a reverse emulsion breaker composition to break reverse emulsion commonly found in a produced fluid in oil and gas operations. The disclosed REB methods or compositions are found to be more effective than those methods or compositions including commonly used for oil/solid and water separation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Ashish Dhawan, Keith A. Monk, Carter M. Silvernail
Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a detergent composition for removing hydrophobic residues and pigments on manufacturing or packaging devices or any other hardware used for manufacturing or packaging cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, said detergent composition including: a non-ionic surfactant selected from among the alkoxylated fatty alcohols; a non-aromatic co-surfactant selected from among the amine oxides, alkyl sulfates and alkyl sulfonates; and an organic alkaline agent selected from among the amino alcohols, excluding monoethanolamine, the non-aromatic co-surfactant being contained in the detergent composition in an amount of from 1 to 15 wt % in relation to the total weight of the composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 3, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2023
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Gaétan Rauwel, Jacques Criquelion, Sebastién Terrier, Bertrand Letartre
Abstract: Methods of dishwashing to remove soils are disclosed, including a first detergent wash step, wherein the detergent is substantially-free of water conditioning agents including polycarboxylic acid polymers and phosphonates, followed by a second step of rinsing under high temperature with a water conditioning agent, namely polycarboxylic acid polymers. The methods result in little to no precipitation forming on the treated ware due to the treating of the hard water before it contacts the alkalinity source which prevents precipitation and/or flocculation from occurring.
Abstract: The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 13, 2022
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Stefan Seemeyer, Eric D. Morrison, Stephan Scharrenbach, Claudia Caussin de Schneck, Stefan Kupper, Peter Rich, Colin Court
Abstract: The present invention relates generally to peroxyformic acid forming compositions, methods for forming peroxyformic acid, preferably in situ, using the peroxyformic acid forming compositions. The present invention also relates to the peroxyformic acid formed by the above compositions and methods. The present invention further relates to the uses of the peroxyformic acid, preferably in situ, for treating a surface or a target. The present invention further relates to methods for treating a biofilm using peroxyformic acid, including peroxyformic acid generated in situ.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 9, 2020
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Junzhong Li, Allison Brewster, Richard Staub, Steven J. Lange, Taz Cheritu, Jonathan P. Fast, Catherine Hanson
Abstract: Methods and systems for temperature-controlled, on-site generation of peracids, namely peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions are disclosed. In particular, methods for using an adjustable biocide formulator or generator system overcome the limitations of temperature on the kinetics of the peracid generation and/or peracid decomposition inside an adjustable biocide formulator or generator system. The methods include the controlling of the temperature of at least one raw starting material, namely water, to improve upon methods of on-site generation of peracids. The methods allow for the generation of user-selected chemistry without regard to the ambient temperatures of the raw starting materials and/or the biocide formulator or generator system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2022
Date of Patent:
June 20, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Brandon Herdt, Richard Staub, Thomas C. Rustad, Junzhong Li, David D. McSherry, Paul R. Kraus, Richard Walsh
Abstract: Solid rinse aid compositions and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Solid rinse aid compositions include in a single concentrate composition a pyrithione preservative system to replace conventional preservatives in the isothiazolinone family, such as chloromethylisothiazolinone. Beneficially, the pyrithione preservative systems eliminate the need for any personal protective equipment to handle the solid rinse aid compositions. Methods of making and use using the rinse aids are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2022
Date of Patent:
June 20, 2023
Assignee:
ECOLAB USA INC.
Inventors:
Tobias Foster, Andrew M. Jensen, Katherine Molinaro, Nathan D. Peitersen, Elaine Black