IP Library Granted Patent US 7,059,541
Granted Patent B2
US 7,059,541 · App. 10/757,942 · Granted Jun 13, 2006

Fluid mixing block

Assignee: Harris Research, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,059,541
App. No.
10/757,942
Granted
Jun 13, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid mixing arrangement, referred to as a mixing block, for use in mixing two liquids like an acidic and a basic components of a cleaning solution, which is placed under pressure and sprayed through a conventional spray gun or nozzle at a reduced amount of pressure. In particular, the innovative design of the present invention provides the unique features of allowing manual and visual inspection of the various chambers, inlets, flow-rate or pressure reducing orifices, supply filters, and backflow preventing valves of the mixing block.

Claims (40)

1. A fluid mixing block for mixing fluid components of a reactive solution, comprising:

a mixing block housing;

at least two inlet ports and respective at least two inlet chambers formed within the mixing block housing, wherein the inlet ports and inlet chambers each accept an injection of a fluid from a supply source;

a mixing chamber, formed within the mixing block housing, wherein fluids injected from the inlet chambers are combined and mix to form a solution of desired reactivity at a lower pressure than a pressure of each respective inlet chamber;

a dispensing port, formed within the mixing block housing, wherein the desired solution exits the mixing block housing;

at least three individual chamber plugs, which are removably fastened to the mixing block housing to allow for manual visual inspection, cleaning, and adjustments of the inlet and mixing chambers; and

wherein a supply filter is mechanically fastened to each inlet chamber plug for filtering out suspended particles within a fluid flowing therethrough to prevent clogging of downstream chambers or other parts.

2. The fluid mixing block of claim 1 , further comprising:

a flow control device attached to the mixing block housing between each inlet chamber and the mixing chamber to reduce the rate of flow of fluid flowing therethrough and to prevent fluid from flowing back upstream into a fluid supply source.

3. The fluid mixing block of claim 1 , further comprising a backflow prevention device coupled to one of the two inlet ports.

4. The fluid mixing block of claim 1 , wherein one of the two inlet ports further comprises oriented substantially parallel to the first inlet port, and disposed substantially non-collinear with the orientation of the first inlet port; and wherein the dispensing port comprises being substantially equidistant from the two inlet ports, and oriented substantially orthogonal to the two inlet ports.

5. The fluid mixing block of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mixing block shafts through the housing comprising orientation and dimensions sufficient to receive mounting shafts, whereby the mixing block may be mounted to a surface.

6. The fluid mixing block of claim 1 , further comprising a first flow control device including:

a backflow prevention device; and

a flow rate reducing orifice.

7. A fluid mixing block for mixing fluid components of a reactive solution, comprising:

at least a first and second inlet port and an outlet port;

at least a first and second inlet chamber and a mixing chamber;

a first backflow device coupled between the first inlet chamber and the mixing chamber;

a second backflow device coupled between the second inlet chamber and the mixing chamber;

at least three individual chamber plugs, which are removably fastened to the mixing block to allow for manual visual inspection, cleaning, and adjustments of the first, second and mixing chambers;

a first fluid located in the first inlet chamber at a first pressure, and the first fluid located in the mixing chamber at a second pressure that is less than the first pressure;

a second fluid located in the second inlet chamber at one pressure, and the second fluid located in die mixing chamber at another pressure that is less than the one pressure; and

wherein a supply filter is mechanically fastened to an inlet chamber plug for filtering out suspended particles within a fluid flowing therethrough to prevent clogging of downstream chambers or other parts.

8. The fluid mixing block of claim 7 , wherein the first and second backflow device is configured to reduce a rate of flow of fluid flowing therethrough and to prevent fluid from flowing back upstream into a fluid supply source.

9. A fluid mixing block system for mixing fluids, comprising:

a mixing block housing;

at least two inlet ports and respective at least two inlet chambers formed within the mixing block housing, wherein the inlet ports and inlet chambers each accept an injection of a fluid from a supply source;

a mixing chamber, formed within the mixing block housing, wherein fluids injected from the inlet chambers are combined and mix to form a solution of desired reactivity at a lower pressure than a pressure of each respective inlet chamber;

a dispensing port, formed within the mixing block housing, wherein the desired solution exits the mixing block housing;

at least three individual chamber plugs, which are removably fastened to the mixing block housing to allow for manual visual inspection, cleaning, and adjustments of the inlet and mixing chambers; and

wherein a supply filter is mechanically fastened to each inlet chamber plug for filtering out suspended particles within a fluid flowing therethrough to prevent clogging of downstream chambers or other parts.

10. The fluid mixing block system of claim 9 , further comprising a backflow prevention device coupled to one of the two inlet ports.

11. The fluid mixing block system of claim 9 , wherein one of the two inlet ports further comprises

oriented substantially parallel to the first inlet port, and disposed substantially non-collinear with the orientation of the first inlet port; and wherein

the dispensing port comprises being substantially equidistant from the two inlet ports, and oriented substantially orthogonal to the two inlet ports.

12. The fluid mixing block system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of mixing block shafts through the housing comprising orientation and dimensions sufficient to receive mounting shafts, whereby the mixing block may be mounted to a surface.

13. The fluid mixing block system of claim 9 , further comprising a first flow control device including:

a backflow prevention device; and

a flow rate reducing orifice.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 051612/0858 Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.; NHANCE, INC.
Reel/Frame 065726/0668 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 051016/0255 Recorded Apr 6, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NHANCE, INC.; HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 055846/0219 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.; NHANCE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A,, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051612/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2019
From: BELFOR HOLDINGS, INC.; BELFOR USA GROUP, INC.; ASP BF INTERMEDIATE SUB LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL
Reel/Frame 051016/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 026878/0267 Recorded Jul 11, 2019
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 049733/0872 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 9, 2011
From: HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 026878/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2004
From: JENSEN, DALE S.; DURRANT, EDWARD E.; RODEBACK, SHAWN T.; BOONE, WAYNE; RYAN, CHRIS; BRAIN, MATT
To: HARRIS RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 015126/0348 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050156059A1 · Jul 21, 2005