Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.

Hill-rom Services, Inc.

Paxar Americas, Inc.

Terry L Tincher

Richard Henry Heimbrock

Carl William Riley

Irvin John Vanderpohl, Iii

Keith Adam Huster

Williams F Collins, Jr

Craig A McNeely

Paul J McDaniel

Oscar A Manguiat

Stephen J West

Christopher James Dyer

Philip M McDermott

Bryan P Andersen

Sean Lafferty

Taylor M Goon

Jason McDaniel

Donald A Morrison

William F Sand

Matthew S Hayas

John P Brown

Thomas P Haller

Bryan Anderson

Systems, methods, and software program products for dispensing chemical solutions. A controller receives a signal from a pressure sensor indicative of a pressure of a diluent. The controller determines an expected flow rate of the diluent through an eductor based at least in part on the pressure of the diluent. The controller may further determine an expected concentration of a chemical product in the solution dispensed from a discharge port of the eductor. Based on the expected flow rated and concentration of the chemical product, the controller determines a duration of a dispense stage of a dispensing operation required to dispense a predetermined dose of the chemical product. The controller then causes the diluent to flow through the eductor for the determined duration of the dispense stage. A check valve on the output of the eductor prevents dissimilar chemicals from mixing and reduces a response time of the eductor.

Pressure compensated Venturi dispensing system

Systems, methods, and software program products for detecting an out-of-product condition in a chemical dispensing system. An optical sensor includes a photodetector and a light source configured to generate a beam of light. The light source is positioned such that the beam of light is incident on a supply line at an oblique angle. The supply line displaces the beam of light in dependence on the refractive index of a medium in the supply line. The photodetector is positioned so that it is in the optical path of the displaced beam of light when the refractive index of the of the medium in the supply line is indicative of one of a wet state or a dry state. A detection module receives an electrical signal from the photodetector and determines if the out-of-product conditions exists base thereon.

Out-of-product detection using optical sensors

Apparatuses, methods, and software products for analyzing liquids dispensed from a chemical dispensing system. Beams of light having different wavelengths are passed through a liquid dispensed by the dispensing system. The intensity of each beam of light is measured after passing through the liquid. A transmission coefficient is determined by comparing the intensity of the beam of light to a calibration parameter obtained by passing the beam of light through an unadulterated diluent. The transmission coefficients for the beams of light are then compared to corresponding transmission coefficients obtained for one or more known reference solutions to determine one or more characteristics of the liquid being dispensed from the chemical dispensing system.

Wideband optical sensor and use thereof in dispensing systems

A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

Hospital bed and room communication modules

Methods, systems, and computer program products for wirelessly communicating with various system controllers of a facility through a wireless interface module. A mobile computing device may wirelessly connect with the wireless interface module to transmit information to and receive information from the wireless interface module. Specifically, a washing machine may be coupled to the system controller and may require various chemicals to perform the underlying washing tasks. As the chemicals are utilized, system controllers provide usage data and any other relevant data to the wireless machine interface, which may in turn provide the data to the mobile computing device upon request. Similarly, the mobile computing device may transmit system setting information, updated formulas, or other information to the wireless interface module for incorporation into one or more system controllers.

Interface module for chemical dispensing system

Wireless interface module for chemical dispensing system

System and method for dispensing product to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system includes a system controller, machine interface, and pump controller that communicate through serial data buses. The system controller provides a user interface, retrieves washing machine status information from the machine interface, and issues product dispensing commands to the pump controller. The pump controller monitors pump status and dispenses product in response to commands from the system controller. The pump controller: (1) determines pump activation periods based on calibration data stored in a pump controller memory; (2) tracks pump usage and adjusts the activation period to compensate for pump wear as the pump ages; (3) disables the pump if conditions exists that preclude operating the pump; (4) monitors product levels, and (5) reports pump status to the system controller. Integral channels are included in the pump housing to provide stress relief to a squeeze tube.

Intelligent network for chemical dispensing system

A communications network is provided for a water treatment system. A controller is in communication with a plurality of network elements using digital communications. The network elements have a connection configured to connect the network element to the controller or another network element. The controller sends a message to the network elements to configure the network elements for communication with the controller. The controller receives a response from the network elements including a network address and a header. If the network address is a default address, configuration information is sent to the network element for communication on the network. If the network address is not a default address, communication is established with the network element. Messages sent from the controller to a network element having a network address not matching the network address of the network element are sent over the network to a next network element.

Communication network for water treatment

Hospital bed having communication modules

System and method for dispensing product to a washing machine. A chemical dispensing system includes a system controller, machine interface, and pump controller that communicate through serial data buses. The system controller provides a user interface, retrieves washing machine status information from the machine interface, and issues product dispensing commands to the pump controller. The pump controller monitors pump status and dispenses product in response to commands from the system controller. The pump controller: () determines pump activation periods based on calibration data stored in a pump controller memory; () tracks pump usage and adjusts the activation period to compensate for pump wear as the pump ages; () disables the pump if conditions exists that preclude operating the pump; () monitors product levels, and () reports pump status to the system controller. Integral channels are included in the pump housing to provide stress relief to a squeeze tube.

Hospital bed having wireless data and locating capability

A system and method for monitoring the levels of product in a chemical dispensing system. A probe assembly is operatively disposed in a container holding product to be dispensed. A detection circuit including an oscillator sensitive to the impendence coupled to the detector is selectively coupled to the probe assembly and produces a signal in response to the impedance of the probe assembly indicating if the level of product in the container has dropped below the probe assembly. The probe assembly includes conductive probes formed from corrosion resistant material infused with carbon and separated by an angle. The level of the first and second conductive probes is adjustable to provide control over the level of product to be detected. Multiple probe assemblies may be selectively coupled to the detection circuit in a repeating sequence by a multi-probe monitoring unit to allow monitoring of multiple containers by a single remote alarm.

System and method for product level monitoring in a chemical dispensing system

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Lebanon, IN, United States of America

Terry L Tincher