Ronald F Howes

US Patent:

20020150198, Oct 17, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/163923

Inventors:

Luke Thompson - Woodbury MN, US
James Copeland - Apple Valley MN, US
Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G06M003/08

US Classification:

377/013000

Abstract:

A device which measures individual employee usage of a liquid product or hand soap dispenser as part of an overall hygiene compliance program. The dispenser consists of a self-contained keypad/display module which is attached to a standard hand soap dispenser. An employee enters a unique personal ID code and then activates the dispenser. The dispenser counts all inputs to the dispenser in order to generate meaningful data for management. Alternatively, the dispenser may only track and report total usage and not account for individual employee usage.

US Patent:

20040089731, May 13, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/655538

Inventors:

Gregory Griese - Hudson WI, US
Eric Balz - Stillwater MN, US
Steven Lentsch - St. Paul MN, US
Stephan Hubig - Maplewood MN, US
John Thomas - River Falls WI, US
Terry Klos - Victoria MN, US
Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

A61L009/04

US Classification:

239/043000

Abstract:

A product dispenser (, and ) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product () to the surface.

US Patent:

20040122555, Jun 24, 2004

Filed:

Dec 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/330043

Inventors:

Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

International Classification:

G06F017/00

US Classification:

700/240000

Abstract:

A dispenser for dispensing and a method of dispensing an ingredient for a machine. An ingredient feed mechanism dispenses the ingredient to the machine. A controller is capable of controlling an amount of the ingredient delivered to the machine by varying an amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active. The controller has a demand mode which varies the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active as a function of a parameter obtained from the machine. The controller compares the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active with a reference value and switches to a timed mode if the amount of time deviates from the reference value. The controller may have an initial training mode which measures the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active establishes the reference value based upon the amount of time the ingredient feed mechanism is active.

US Patent:

20040122558, Jun 24, 2004

Filed:

Dec 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/328497

Inventors:

Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
David Howland - Aptos CA, US

International Classification:

G05B021/00

US Classification:

700/266000

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e.g., cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution. The present invention senses various types of information associated with the formation of the chemical solution and applies one or more test conditions to the sensed information to determine satisfactory time periods for measuring concentration of the chemical product relative to the chemical solution. Indications of the occurrence of these satisfactory times are presented on a display module in a manner visible to field persons responsible for titrating the chemical solution.

US Patent:

20040220817, Nov 4, 2004

Filed:

Apr 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/427033

Inventors:

Katherine Sanville - White Bear Lake MN, US
Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US
Scott Johansen - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/001000

Abstract:

Remote monitoring of vehicle washing facilities allows a facility operator to more efficiently manage each site, particularly when combined with environmental conditions that influence the rate at which individual chemicals are used. Accurate chemical exhaustion times can therefore be predicted and communicated to the operator, and wash sequences and parameters may be altered in accordance with such environmental parameters. For example, information related to the composition of soil on a car may be monitored and used to alter the chemicals used in the wash cycle for that car. Other environmental conditions may include without limitation weather conditions, road conditions, types of vehicles, mechanical system status, vehicle temperature, etc.

US Patent:

20040220844, Nov 4, 2004

Filed:

Apr 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/427032

Inventors:

Katherine Sanville - White Bear Lake MN, US
David Johnson - Woodbury MN, US
Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc.

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/008000

Abstract:

A method and system for routing a delivery vehicle to a chemical usage facility is disclosed. The chemical usage facility includes one or more chemical dispense systems that dispense one or more chemical product. The quantity of each chemical product remaining is measured and communicated to a central management facility. The central management facility analyzes a trend in product usage to predict when the product quantity will reach a threshold depletion point. The chemical usage facility is scheduled on the route according to the predicted time associated with the threshold depletion point.

US Patent:

20040236522, Nov 25, 2004

Filed:

May 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/444823

Inventors:

Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US
Jeff Peterson - Hudson WI, US

International Classification:

G06F019/00

US Classification:

702/031000

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for controlling chemical dispense operations based on a conductivity offset determined for a chemical solution. The chemical dispense operations are performed by or in conjunction with operation of a utility device, such as a warewashing machine. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank device by combining water with at least one component chemical product. The conductivity offset, which is the conductivity of the water, is used to normalize the conductivity estimated for the chemical solution relative to the component chemical product in the solution. During various points in time during operation of the utility device, the normalized conductivity is compared to a conductivity setpoint, and if the normalized conductivity falls below the conductivity setpoint, a specified volume of the component chemical product is supplied to the solution tank.

US Patent:

20050149273, Jul 7, 2005

Filed:

Dec 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/004478

Inventors:

Jeff Peterson - Hudson WI, US
Ronald Howes - Minneapolis MN, US
Robert May - Lakeville MN, US

Assignee:

Ecolab Inc. - Mendota Heights MN

International Classification:

G06F019/00

US Classification:

702031000

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for controlling concentration of a component chemical product in a chemical solution. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank by combining the component chemical product with water. The component chemical product is dispensed to the solution tank by a chemical dispenser that is controlled by measured conductivity readings of the chemical solution taken in the solution tank. The conductivity readings are analyzed against a conductivity setpoint to determine whether the component chemical product should be added to the chemical solution. A conductivity offset is determined and applied to the analysis thereby taking into consideration any conductivity that may be attributable to constituents of the chemical solution other than the component chemical product. Such constituents include soil washed from the articles and the water used to form the chemical solution.