The Clorox Company

Other

Basf Aktiengesellschaft

Solarpods, Inc.

Michael J Petrin

William L Smith

Lafayette D Foland

James E Deline

Kevin A Klotter

Alfred G Zielske

Thomas W Kaaret

William Ouellette

James W Arbogast

Richard J Uriarte

Clement K Choy

Kerry D Azelton

Maria Garcia Ochomogo

Bryan K Parrish

Martin J Phillippi

Brian Lin

Vismadeb Mazumder

Aram Garabedian

Marisa Macnaughtan

Timothy Mui

Roger V Lee

Vincent E Alvarez

Peter Tormey

Andrew L Leppla

Jennifer R Finigan

Andrew J Skulan

Gregory Van Buskirk

David A Peterson

James D Mitchell

Frank M Knafelc

William P Sibert

Barry A Sudbury

Susan P Huestis

Ulrich Brockel

Ken H Chiang

Victor M Casella

Sarah A Perkins

Jef Tormey

Timothy M Soto

Hans Peter Seelmann-Eggebert

The present disclosure relates generally to electromagnetic coupling modules employed along the outer periphery of floating solar collector pods that can be introduced onto the surface of a body of water that operate to automatically connect to one another so that proximate pods form a reversible self-assembled physically and electrically coupled array that operate to harvest incident solar radiation and also operate to reduce the degree of evaporative water loss from that body of water. Electromagnetic coupling modules are disclosed featuring normally open electrical connection elements that permit electronic coupling under magnetic attraction for improved electrical safety. Electromagnetic coupling modules are disclosed that are gimbaled to provide for increase flexibility and interconnectivity under angular displacement, such as when a floating solar pod array is subject to strong current, wind and wave forces.

Floating solar collector electromagnetic couplers

Devices and methods with a radiant energy convertors on a flotation module operable to dispose the radiant energy convertor in a first direction. A plurality of magnetic connector elements is disposed near one or a plurality of sides of the flotation module and each magnetic connector element is coupled to the radiant energy convertor, wherein said magnetic connector elements operate to magnetically attract and physically couple one or a plurality of adjacent flotation modules and electrically couple a set of electrodes that operate to connect to an adjacent magnetic connector element located on a second similar adjacent flotation module when at least two magnetic connector elements are located in proximity to one another thereby providing a power grid of floating solar power modules.

Self assembling floating solar pods

Cleaning articles including a heat engine incorporated therein. The cleaning article may include a substrate (e.g., a non-woven wipe) including one or more layers. The heat engine may be in the wipe or pad, and includes a reactive metal composition which upon contact with a salt water (e.g., saline) composition, reacts to produce heat. The cleaning article may thus produce water vapor and/or steam upon activation of the heat engine. A venting structure may be provided adjacent to or surrounding the heat engine that includes an impermeable material (e.g., impermeable to water and/or air or other gas), which includes one or more vents through the impermeable material. The venting structure directs water vapor and/or steam to a desired face of the cleaning article, away from the user. A heat barrier layer may insulate a user's hand from the generated heat, and/or a handle may be attachable to the pad.

Heated cleaning articles using a reactive metal and saline heat generator

A combustible charcoal igniting device may include first elongate grid members generally parallel to one another when the device is in an uncollapsed configuration and second elongate grid members generally parallel to one another and transverse relative to the first elongate grid members when the device is in the uncollapsed configuration. The first and second elongate grid members define chimney cells on or above which charcoal briquets may be placed for ignition. The elongate grid members may comprise a combustible material that can be ignited and that will continue to bum, igniting charcoal briquets placed on the chimney cells. The first elongate grid members may include creases that align with one another, so that the device is collapsible from opposed sides towards a crease line defined by the creases to reduce the length of the device when in a collapsed configuration.

Solventless fire ignition systems and methods thereof

Cleaning articles including a heat engine incorporated therein. The cleaning article may include a substrate (e.g., a non-woven wipe) including one or more layers. The heat engine may be in the wipe or pad, and includes a reactive metal oxide which upon contact with water, reacts to produce heat. The cleaning article may thus produce water vapor and/or steam upon activation of the heat engine. A venting structure may be provided adjacent to or surrounding the heat engine that includes an impermeable material (e.g., impermeable to water and/or air or other gas), which includes one or more vents through the impermeable material. The venting structure directs water vapor and/or steam to a desired face of the cleaning article, away from the user. A heat barrier layer may insulate a user's hand from the generated heat, and/or a handle may be attachable to the pad.

Heated cleaning articles using a calcium oxide and water heat generator

A combustible charcoal igniting device may include first elongate grid members generally parallel to one another when the device is in an uncollapsed configuration and second elongate grid members generally parallel to one another and transverse relative to the first elongate grid members when the device is in the uncollapsed configuration. The first and second elongate grid members define chimney cells on or above which charcoal briquets may be placed for ignition. The elongate grid members may comprise a combustible material that can be ignited and that will continue to burn, igniting charcoal briquets placed on the chimney cells. The first elongate grid members may include creases that align with one another, so that the device is collapsible from opposed sides towards a crease line defined by the creases to reduce the length of the device when in a collapsed configuration.

A lightweight, free-body and buoyant dispenser that is centrifugally actuated for releasing a laundry product following the spin cycle includes a housing that has one or more covered apertures one of which is exposed during the spin cycle. The laundry product, which is a liquid, solid, gel powder, or mixture thereof, however, does not exit the dispenser until the spinning has subsided. Disc-shaped dispensers having two apertures that are covered by biased-doors are especially suited for delivering laundry agents for post-spin cycle treatment.

Rinse release dispensing device

The invention provides liquid cleaning or bleaching compositions containing compounds having the structure of Formula I ##STR1## wherein A is a saturated ring formed by five atoms in addition to the N.sub.1 atom, the five saturated ring atoms being four carbon atoms and a heteroatom, the substituent R.sub.1 bound to the N.sub.1 atom of the Formula I structure including either (a) a C.sub.1-24 alkyl or alkoxylated alkyl where the alkoxy is C.sub.2-4, (b) a C.sub.4-24 cycloalkyl, (c) a C.sub.7-24 alkaryl, (d) a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxy or alkoxylated alcohol, where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, or (e) --CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 CN where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, the R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 substituents are each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, and wherein Y is a generally anionic counterion and Z is in the range of 0 to 10. Additional, adjunct materials commonly found in liquid cleaning and bleaching compositions can be added.

Liquid compositions containing N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile salts

Bleaching compositions are provided that comprise a nitrile containing compound that has the nitrile bonded to a quaternary nitrogen through a methylene unit (where one or both of the normal hydrogens can be substituted), and two of the quaternary nitrogen bonds are part of a saturated ring. This saturated ring contains from two to eight atoms in addition to the quaternary nitrogen. A source of active oxygen will react with the nitrile for bleaching applications. Particularly preferred nitrile containing compounds are N-alkyl morpholinium acetonitrile salts.

N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile bleach activators

Granules are provided that are useful for oxidizing applications when the granules are dissolved in the presence of an active oxygen source. These granules include a salt having the structure of Formula I ##STR1## wherein A is a saturated ring formed by a plurality of atoms in addition to the N.sub.1 atom, the saturated ring atoms including at least one carbon atom and at least one of O, S, and N atoms, the substituent R.sub.1 bound to the N.sub.1 atom of the Formula I structure including either (a) a C.sub.1-24 alkyl or alkoxylated alkyl where the alkoxy is C.sub.2-4, (b) a C.sub.4-24 cycloalkyl, (c) a C.sub.7-24 alkaryl, (d) a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxy or alkoxylated alcohol, where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, or (e) --CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 C.tbd.N where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, the R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 substituents being each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, Z is in the range of 0 to 10, and wherein Y is a counterion. The salt is carried by, coated with, or admixed with a solid particulate such as silica gel, silicic acid, silicate, aluminum oxide, clay, aluminum silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Granular N-alkyl ammonium acetontrile compositions

Preferred embodiments of the invention are heterocyclic cationic activators with the structure of Formula I ##STR1## wherein A is a saturated ring formed by a plurality of atoms in addition to the N.sub.1 atom, the saturated ring atoms including at least one carbon atom and at least one of O, S, and N atoms, the substituent R.sub.1 bound to the N.sub.1 atom of the Formula I structure including either (a) a C.sub.1-24 alkyl or alkoxylated alkyl where the alkoxy is C.sub.2-4, (b) a C.sub.4-24 cycloalkyl, (c) a C.sub.7-24 alkaryl, (d) a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxy or alkoxylated alcohol, where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, or (e) --CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 C.tbd.N where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, the R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 substituents being each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, Z is in the range of 0 to 10, and wherein Y is an anionic peracid activator. When these are dissolved in an aqueous solution in the presence of an active oxygen source, coactivation will occur for improved bleaching.

Mixed peroxygen activator compositions

Nitrile activators, such as N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile activators, are combined with a source of active oxygen as cleaning and bleaching compositions. Preferred activator embodiments of the invention include salts of N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile, N-butyl morpholinium acetonitrile, N-hexyl morpholinium acetonitrile, and N-octyl morpholinium acetonitrile. A particularly preferred activator embodiment is an N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile salt. The nitrile and active oxygen react to form a bleaching agent which is applied to a stain on an article. The treated stain is contacted with dense gas so as to provide substantially non-aqueous stain removal. One embodiment is a composition in which the nitrile and active oxygen are disposed in the dense carbon dioxide.

N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile activators in dense gas cleaning and method

Growing community of inventors

Antioch, CA, United States of America

Michael J Petrin