Agents for cleaning hard surfaces, such as crockery, containing a xcex2-glucanase and compatible cleaning constituents, and having good cleaning effect on polysaccharide stains.

This invention relates to compositions for cleaning hard surfaces, more particularly tableware, which contain xcex2-glucanase to improve their cleaning performance.
Enzymes, especially proteases, lipases and amylases, are widely used in laundry detergents, washing aids and dishwashing detergents. They are primarily used to remove protein, fatty and starch soils.
In connection with polysaccharide soils, there is the problem that naturally occurring polysaccharides, for example as present in foods, do not normally consist solely of starch, but also contain other saccharides or differently linked saccharides. Whereas xcex1-amylases intended for use in dishwashing detergents are generally very suitable for hydrolyzing the starch component of polysaccharide soils into water-soluble oligosaccharides, their soil removal capacity can be unsatisfactory when the soils in question are soils of other polysaccharides or when these other polysaccharides make up relatively large parts of the polysaccharide soils. Thus, unrefined or low-refined cereals in particular, for example oat flakes, muesli, corn flakes or whole grain dough, contain relatively large amounts of glucans and lichenans which lead to obstinate soils on tableware which has come into contact with them.
The problem addressed by the present invention was to remedy this situation and to provide a composition suitable for cleaning hard surfaces, for example for cleaning tableware, particularly in dishwashing machines, which would have an improved cleaning performance with respect to polysaccharide soils.
The present invention, which is intended to solve the problem stated above, relates to a composition suitable for cleaning hard surfaces, particularly tableware, which contains a xcex2-glucanase in addition to typical ingredients compatible with this enzyme.
xcex2-Glucanases in the context of the present invention are enzymes from the class of endo-1,3-1,4-xcex2-D-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases (EC 18.104.22.168; lichenases). xcex2-Glucanases in the context of the invention also include endo-1,3-xcex2-D-glucosidases (EC 126.96.36.199; laminarinases). xcex2-Glu-canases cleave mixed glucans, which are linked alternately by 1,3- and 1,4-xcex2-glucoside bonds, into oligosaccharides. Polymeric mixed glucans such as these are present in varying amounts in virtually all cereal products. Hitherto, enzymes capable of cleaving them have been used above all in the food, beverage and animal feed industry, in the textile industry and in the processing of starch (R. Borriss, xe2x80x9cxcex2-Glucan-spaltende Enzymexe2x80x9d, in H. Ruttloff: xe2x80x9cIndustrielle Enzymexe2x80x9d, Chapter 11.5, Behr""s Verlag, Hamburg, 1994).
xcex2-Glucanases suitable for use in accordance with the invention are obtainable from microorganisms, for example Achromobacter lunatus, Athrobacter luteus, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, Disporotrichum dimorphosporum, Humicola insolens, Penicillium emersonli, Penicillium funiculosum or Trichodenna reesei. A commercial product is marketed, for example, under the name of Cereflo(copyright) (manufacturer: Novo Nordisk A/S). Preferred xcex2-Glucanases include an enzyme obtainable from Bacillus alkalophilus (DSM 9956) which is the subject of hitherto unpublished German patent application DE 197 32 751.
xcex2-Glucanase is preferably incorporated in compositions according to the invention in such quantities that they have glucanolytic activities of 0.05 U/g to 1 U/g and more particularly in the range from 0.06 U/g to 0.25 U/g. The determination of the glucanolytic activity is based on modifications of the process described by M. Lever in Anal. Biochem. 47 (1972), 273-279 and Anal Biochem. 81 (1977), 21-27. A 0.5% by weight solution of xcex2-glucan (Sigma No. G6513) in 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 9.0) is used for this purpose. 250 xcexcl of this solution are added to 250 xcexcl of a solution containing the agent to be tested for glucanolytic activity and incubated for 30 minutes at 40xc2x0 C. 1.5 ml of a 1% by weight solution of p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH) in 0.5 M NaOH, which contains 1 mM bismuth nitrate and 1 mM potassium sodium tartrate, are then added, after which the solution is heated for 10 minutes to 70xc2x0 C. After cooling (2 minutes/0xc2x0 C.), the absorption at 410 nm is determined against a blank value at room temperature (for example with a Uvikon(copyright) 930 photometer) using a glucose calibration curve. The blank value is a solution which is prepared in the same way as the measuring solution except that the glucan solution is added after the PAHBAH solution. 1 U corresponds to the quantity of enzyme which produces 1 xcexcmole of glucose per minute under these conditions.
The present invention also relates to the use of xcex2-glucanase for removing polysaccharide soils from hard surfaces, particularly tableware, and to a process for removing polysaccharide soils from hard surfaces, particularly tableware, by using xcex2-glucanase. For the use according to the invention and for the process according to the invention, the xcex2-glucanase may be applied to polysaccharide-soiled tableware either on its own or as part of a pretreatment composition in the course of a pretreatment step preceding the dishwashing process. However, the xcex2-glucanase is preferably used as part of an aqueous cleaning solution which may additionally contain typical ingredients of cleaning or dishwashing liquors. Glucanolytic activities of 0.1 U/l to 6 U/l and, more particularly, 0.15 U/l to 1.5 U/l in the aqueous cleaning solution are preferred. In manual or more particularly machine dishwashing processes, for example in routine domestic washing-up using dishwashing machines, the glucanolytic activities mentioned do not have to be maintained over the entire washing cycle to achieve the required washing result providing it is guaranteed that a glucanolytic activity in the range mentioned prevails for at least a short time, for example for about 1 to 20 minutes and more particularly 5 to 15 minutes.
xcex2-Glucanase may be adsorbed onto supports and/or encapsulated in shell-forming substances to protect it against premature inactivation, particularly where it is used in particulate compositions as described, for example, in European patent EP 0 564 476 or in International patent applications WO 94123005 for other enzymes.
Since the cleaning performance of amylolytic and xcex2-glucanolytic enzymes, especially in dishwashing detergents, is unexpectedly increased when they are used in combination, a composition according to the invention preferably contains at least one amylase in addition to xcex2-glucanase. A composition according to the invention is distinguished in particular by an amylolytic activity of about 0.5 U/g to about 3 U/g and, more particularly, in the range from about 1 U/g to about 2 U/g. The amylase activity is determined by a method similar to the standardarized method described above for the glucanase activity using soluble starch instead of glucan.
Besides the xcex2-glucanase used in accordance with the invention, the compositions according to the inventionxe2x80x94which may be present as granules, powder-form or tablet-form solids, as homogeneous solutions or suspensionsxe2x80x94may in principle contain any known ingredients typically encountered in such compositions. More particularly, the detergents according to the invention may contain builders, surfactants, bleaching agents based on organic and/or inorganic peroxygen compounds, bleach activators, water-miscible organic solvents, additional enzymes, sequestering agents, electrolytes, pH regulators and/or other auxiliaries, such as silver corrosion inhibitors, foam regulators and dyes and perfumes.
In addition, a composition according to the invention for cleaning hard surfaces may contain abrasive ingredients, more especially from the group consisting of silica flours, wood flours, polymer powders, chalks and glass microbeads and mixtures thereof. Abrasives are present in the compositions according to the invention in quantities of preferably not more than 20% by weight and, more particularly, in quantities of 5% by weight to 15% by weight.
In principle, the water-soluble builder component of compositions according to the invention may be selected from any of the builders typically used in machine dishwashing detergents, for example alkali metal phosphates which may be present in the form of their alkaline, neutral or acidic sodium or potassium salts. Examples of such alkali metal phosphates are trisodium phosphate, tetrasodium diphosphate, disodium dihydrogen diphosphate, pentasodium triphosphate, so-called sodium hexametaphosphate, oligomeric trisodium phosphate with degrees of oligomerization of 5 to 1,000 and, more particularly, 5 to 50 and the corresponding potassium salts and mixtures of sodium and potassium salts. They may be present in quantities of up to about 60% by weight and preferably between 5% by weight and 20% by weight, based on the detergent as a whole. Other possible water-soluble builder components besides polyphosphonic acids and phosphonatoalkyl carboxylates are, for example, organic polymers of native or synthetic origin of the polycarboxylate type which act as co-builders, particularly in hard water areas. Examples of builders such as these are polyacrylic acids and copolymers of maleic anhydride and acrylic acid and the sodium salts of these polymeric acids. Commercially available products are, for example, Sokalan(copyright) CP 5, CP 10 and PA 30 (BASF). The polymers of native origin suitable as co-builders include, for example, the oxidized starches known, for example, from International patent application WO 94/05762 and polyamino acids, such as polyglutamic acid or polyaspartic acid. Other possible builder components are naturally occurring hydroxycarboxylic acids such as, for example, mono- and dihydroxysuccinic acid, xe2x96xa1-hydroxypropionic acid and gluconic acid. Preferred organic builder components are the salts of citric acid, more especially sodium citrate. The sodium citrate used may be anhydrous sodium citrate and is preferably trisodium citrate dihydrate. Trisodium citrate dihydrate may be used as a fine or coarse crystalline powder. The acids corresponding to the co-builder salts mentioned may also be present, depending on the pH value ultimately established in the detergents according to the invention.
In one preferred embodiment, a machine dishwashing detergent according to the invention contains the usual alkali carriers, for example alkali metal silicates, alkali metal carbonates and/or alkali metal hydrogen carbonates. The alkali carriers normally used include carbonates, hydrogen carbonates and alkali metal silicates with a molar SiO2:M2O ratio (M=alkali metal atom) of 1:1 to 2.5:1. Alkali metal silicates may be present in quantities of up to 40% by weight, based on the detergent as a whole. However, the highly alkaline metasilicates are preferably not used at all as alkali carriers. The alkali carrier system preferably used in the compositions according to the invention is a mixture of carbonate and hydrogen carbonate, preferably sodium carbonate and hydrogen carbonate, which is present in a quantity of up to 50% by weight and preferably in quantity of 5% by weight to 40% by weight. The ratio of carbonate used to hydrogen carbonate used varies according to the pH value ultimately required.
Another embodiment of compositions according to the invention contains 20% by weight to 60% by weight of water-soluble organic builder, more particularly alkali metal citrate, 3% by weight to 20% by weight of alkali metal carbonate and 5% by weight to 40% by weight of alkali metal disilicate.
Suitable peroxygen compounds are, in particular, organic peracids or peracidic salts of organic acids, such as phthalimidopercaproic acid, perbenzoic acid or salts of diperdodecane diacid, hydrogen peroxide and inorganic salts which release hydrogen peroxide under the washing conditions, such as perborate, percarbonate and/or persilicate. Hydrogen peroxide can also be produced by an enzyme system, i.e. an oxidase and its substrate. If solid peroxygen compounds are to be used, they may be used in the form of powders or granules which may also be coated in known manner. In a particularly preferred embodiment, alkali metal percarbonate, alkali metal perborate monohydrate, alkali metal perborate tetrahydrate or hydrogen peroxide is used in the form of an aqueous solution containing 3% by weight to 10% by weight of hydrogen peroxide. If a detergent according to the invention contains peroxygen compounds, the peroxygen compounds are present in quantities of preferably up to 50% by weight and, more preferably, 5% by weight to 30% by weight. The addition of small quantities of known bleach stabilizers, for example phosphonates, borates or metaborates and metasilicates and magnesium salts, such as magnesium sulfate, can be useful.
The bleach activators may be compounds which form aliphatic peroxocarboxylic acids containing preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms and more preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms and/or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid under perhydrolysis conditions. Substances bearing O- and/or N-acyl groups with the number of carbon atoms mentioned and/or optionally substituted benzoyl groups are suitable. Preferred bleach activators are polyacylated alkylenediamines, more particularly tetraacetyl ethylenediamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, more particularly 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), acylated glycol-urils, more particularly tetraacetyl glycoluril (TAGU), N-acylimides, more particularly N-nonanoyl succinimide (NOSI), acylated phenol sulfonates, more particularly n-nonanoyl or isononanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (n- or iso-NOBS), carboxylic anhydrides, more particularly phthalic anhydride, acylated polyhydric alcohols, more particularly triacetin, ethylene glycol diacetate, 2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran and the enol esters known from German patent applications DE 196 16 693 and DE 196 16 767, acetylated sorbitol and mannitol and the mixtures thereof (SORMAN) described in European patent application EP 0 525 239, acylated sugar derivatives, more particularly pentaacetyl glucose (PAG), pentaacetyl fructose, tetraacetyl xylose and octaacetyl lactose, and acetylated, optionally N-alkylated glucamine and gluconolactone, and/or N-acylated lactams, for example N-benzoyl caprolactam, which are known from International patent applications WO 94/27970, WO 94128102, WO 94/28103, WO 95/00626, WO 95/14759 and WO 95/17498. The substituted hydrophilic acyl acetals known from German patent application DE 196 16 769 and the acyl lactams described in German patent application DE 196 16 770 and in International patent application WO 95/14075 are also preferably used. The combinations of conventional bleach activators known from German patent application DE 44 43 177 may also be used. Bleach activators such as these are present in the usual quantities, preferably in quantities of 1% by weight to 10% by weight and more preferably in quantities of 2% by weight to 8% by weight, based on the detergent as a whole.
In addition to or instead of the conventional bleach activators mentioned above, the sulfonimines known from European patents EP 0 446 982 and EP 0 453 003 and/or bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes may also be present as so-called bleach catalysts. Suitable transition metal compounds include, in particular, the manganese-, iron-, cobalt-, ruthenium- or molybdenum-salen complexes known from German patent application DE 195 29 905 and the N-analog compounds thereof known from German patent application DE 196 20 267, the manganese-, iron-, cobalt-, ruthenium- or molybdenum-carbonyl complexes known from German patent application DE 195 36 082, the manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and copper complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands described in German patent application DE 196 05 688, the cobalt-, iron-, copper- and ruthenium-amine complexes known from German patent application DE 196 20 411, the manganese, copper and cobalt complexes described in German patent application DE 44 16 438, the cobalt complexes described in European patent application EP 0 272 030, the manganese complexes known from European patent application EP 0 693 550, the manganese, iron, cobalt and copper complexes known from European patent EP 0 392 592, the cobalt complexes known from International patent applications WO 96/23859, WO 96/23860 and 96/23861 and/or the manganese complexes described in European patent EP 0 443 651 or in European patent applications EP 0 458 397, EP 0 458 398, EP 0 549 271, EP 0 549 272, EP 0 544 490 and EP 0 544 519. Combinations of bleach activators and transition metal bleach catalysts are known, for example, from German patent application DE 196 13 103 and from international patent application WO 95/27775. Bleach-boosting transition metal complexes, more particularly with the central atoms Mn, Fe, Co. Cu, Mo, V, Ti and/or Ru, are used in typical quantities, preferably in a quantity of up to 1% by weight, more preferably in a quantity of 0.0025% by weight to 0.25% by weight and most preferably in a quantity of 0.01% by weight to 0.1% by weight, based on the detergent as a whole.
Surfactants, more especially low-foaming nonionic surfactants, optionally in admixture with anionic and/or zwitterionic surfactants, may also be added to the compositions according to the invention to improve the removal of fatty-containing soils, as wetting agents and optionally as granulation aids in the production of the detergents. They may be added in quantities of up to 10% by weight, preferably in quantities of up to 5% by weight and more preferably in quantities of 0.5% by weight to 3% by weight. Extremely low-foaming compounds are normally used, especially in machine dishwashing detergents. Such compounds are preferably C12-18 alkyl polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol ethers containing up to 8 moles of ethylene oxide units and up to 8 moles of propylene oxide units in the molecule. However, other known low-foaming nonionic surfactants may also be used, including for example C12-18 alkyl polyethylene glycol polybutylene glycol ethers containing up to 8 moles of ethylene oxide units and up to 8 moles of butylene oxide units in the molecule, end-capped alkyl polyalkylene glycol mixed ethers and the foaming, but ecologically attractive C8-14 alkyl polyglucosides with a degree of polymerization of about 1 to 4 (for example APG(copyright) 225 and APG(copyright) 600 of Henkel KGaA) and/or C12-14 alkyl polyethylene glycols containing 3 to 8 ethylene oxide units in the molecule. Surfactants from the glucamide family, for example alkyl-N-methyl glucamides in which the alkyl moiety preferably emanates from a C6-14 fatty alcohol, are also suitable. In some case, the described surfactants may also be advantageously used in the form of mixtures, for example in the form of a mixture of alkyl polyglycoside with fatty alcohol ethoxylates or a mixture of glucamide with alkyl polyglycosides. Suitable anionic surfactants are, in particular, soaps and those which contain sulfate or sulfonate groups with, preferably, alkali metal ions as cations. Suitable soaps are preferably the alkali metal salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Fatty acids such as these may also be used in non-completely neutralized form. Suitable surfactants of the sulfate type include the salts of sulfuric acid semiesters of fatty alcohols containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms and sulfation products of the nonionic surfactants mentioned with a low degree of ethoxylation. Suitable surfactants of the sulfonate type include linear alkyl benzenesulfonates containing 9 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety, alkanesulfonates containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms and olefin sulfonates containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms, which are formed in the reaction of corresponding monoolefins with sulfur trioxide, and xcex1-sulfofatty acid esters which are formed in the sulfonation of fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters.
Enzymes suitable for use in the compositions besides the xcex2-glucanase crucial to the invention and the oxidase mentioned above are those from the class of proteases, lipases, cutinases, amylases, pullulanases and peroxidases and mixtures thereof, for example proteases, such as BLAP(copyright), Optimase(copyright), Opticlean(copyright), Maxacal(copyright), Maxapem(copyright), Alcalase(copyright), Esperase(copyright), Savinase(copyright), Durazym(copyright) and/or Purafect(copyright) OxP; amylases, such as Termamyl(copyright), Amylase-LT(copyright)D, Maxamyl(copyright), Duramyl(copyright) and/or Purafect(copyright)OxAm; lipases, such as Lipolase(copyright), Lipomax(copyright), Lumafast(copyright) and/or Lipozym(copyright). Enzymes obtained from fungi or bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformnis, Streptomyces griseus, Humicola lanuginosa, Humicola insolens, Pseudomonas peudoalcaligenes or Pseudomonas cepacia are particularly suitable. The additional enzymes optionally used may also be adsorbed to supports and/or embedded in shell-forming materials for protection against premature inactivation, for example as described in European patent 0 564 476 or in International patent application WO 94/23005. They are present in the compositions according to the invention in quantities of preferably up to 10% by weight and, more preferably, from 0.05% by weight to 5% by weight, enzymes stabilized against oxidative degradation, as known for example from International patent applications WO 94102597, WO 94/02618, WO 94/18314, WO 94/23053 or WO 95/07350, being particularly preferred. Proteases preferably used in compositions according to the invention include the enzymes known from International patent applications WO 91/02792, WO 92/21760 and WO 95/23221.
Silver corrosion inhibitors may be used in dishwashing detergents according to the invention to protect silverware against corrosion. Preferred silver corrosion inhibitors are organic sulfides, such as cystine and cysteine, dihydric or trihydric phenols, optionally alkyl- or aryl-substituted triazoles, such as benzotriazole, isocyanuric acid, manganese, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, cobalt or cerium salts and/or complexes in which the metals mentioned have the oxidation number II, III, IV, V or VI, depending on the metal.
If the compositions foam too vigorously in use, for example where anionic surfactants are present, preferably up to 6% by weight and more preferably about 0.5% by weight to 4% by weight of a foam-suppressing compound, preferably from the group of silicone oils, mixtures of silicone oil and hydrophobicized silica, paraffins, paraffin/alcohol combinations, hydrophobicized silica, bis-fatty acid amides and other known commercially available defoamers, may be added to them. Other optional ingredients in the detergents according to the invention are, for example, perfume oils.
The organic solvents suitable for use in the compositions according to the invention, particularly where they are present in liquid or paste-like form, include C1-4 alcohols, more especially methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and tert. butanol, C2-4 diols, more especially ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof and ethers derived from the classes of compound mentioned. Water-miscible solvents such as these are present in the compositions according to the invention in quantities of preferably not more than 20% by weight and, more preferably, between 1% by weight and 15% by weight.
To establish a desired pH value which is not spontaneously adjusted by the mixture of the other components, the compositions according to the invention may contain system-compatible and environmentally compatible acids, more particularly citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid and/or adipic acid and also mineral acids, more especially sulfuric acid, or alkli metal hydrogen sulfates, or bases, more especially ammonium or alkali metal hydroxides. pH regulators such as these are present in the compositions according to the invention in quantities of preferably not more than 10% by weight and, more preferably, between 0.5% by weight and 6% by weight.
In one preferred embodiment, dishwashing detergents according to the invention contain 30 to 60% by weight of sodium phosphate, 5% by weight to 25% by weight of sodium carbonate or a mixture thereof with polymeric polycarboxylate, 5% by weight to 15% by weight of sodium perborate or percarbonate, 0.5% by weight to 7% by weight of a bleach activator which releases peroxocarboxylic acid under perhydrolysis conditions, 0.5% by weight to 7.5% by weight of surfactant, 2% by weight to 30% by weight of sodium silicate and 0.1% by weight to 2% by weight of silver corrosion inhibitor, more particularly benzotriazole or a benzotriazole derivative.
Compositions according to the invention in the form of aqueous solutions or other solutions containing typical solvents are prepared with particular advantage simply by mixing the ingredients which may be introduced into an automatic mixer either as such or in the form of a solution.
The compositions according to the invention are preferably present as powder-form, granular or tablet-form preparations which may be produced by methods known per se, for example by mixing, granulating, roller compacting and/or spray drying the heat-resistant components and subsequently adding the more sensitive components, including in particular enzymes and optionally bleaching agents.
To produce compositions according to the invention in the form of tablets, all the ingredients are preferably mixed together in a mixer and the resulting mixture is tabletted under pressures of 200xc2x7105 Pa to 1500xc2x7105 Pa in conventional tablet presses, for example eccentric presses or rotary presses. Fracture-resistant tablets which still dissolve sufficiently quickly under in-use conditions and which have flexural strengths of normally above 150 N are readily obtained in this way. A tablet thus produced preferably weighs between 15 g and 40 g and more preferably between 20 g and 30 g for a diameter of 35 mm to 40 mm.
Compositions according to the invention in the form of storage-stable free-flowing powders and/or granules with high bulk densities of 800 to 1000 g/l, which do not emit any dust, can be produced by mixing the builder components with at least part of the liquid components in a first process step where the bulk density of this premix is increased and subsequently combining the other ingredients of the composition, including the bleach catalyst, with the premix thus obtained, if desired after intermediate drying.
Dishwashing compositions according to the invention may be used both in domestic dishwashing machines and in institutional dishwashing machines. They are added either by hand or by means of suitable dispensers. The in-use concentrations in the wash liquor are generally of the order of 1 to 8 g/l and preferably in the range from 2 to 5 g/l.
A machine dishwashing program is generally augmented and terminated by a few rinse cycles with clear water after the main wash cycle and a final rinse with a conventional rinse aid. After drying, completely clean and hygienically satisfactory tableware is obtained using compositions according to the invention.

Cleaning agent for hard surfaces, containing glucanase


A process for cold-producing an oil-in-water emulsion having enhanced consistency and tactile properties involving: (a) providing an oil component; (b) providing an aqueous wax dispersion containing: (i) a wax component; and (ii) an emulsifier; (c) providing water; and (d) cold-stirring (a)-(c) to form the emulsion.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP99/05906 filed Aug. 11, 1999.
This invention relates generally to cosmetic emulsions and more particularly to the use of special wax dispersions as consistency providers.
Today, fine-droplet cosmetically elegant emulsions are often produced by the PIT process. In this process, the constituents of the emulsion are first heated beyond the phase inversion temperature and then slowly cooled. It is obvious that this process is time- and energy-consuming and that it would be desirable to produce comparable emulsions by so-called cold techniques. Although it is of course possible in principle to stir the liquid constituents of an emulsion in the cold state, this has a number of disadvantages in relation to the PIT method. Thus, the emulsions are generally coarser and separate quickly, especially at elevated temperatures, and in particular have unattractive sensorial properties, i.e. feel insubstantial. If known consistency providers, for example fatty alcohols or partial glycerides, are added to the xe2x80x9ccold-producedxe2x80x9d emulsions, they are unable to develop viscosities as high as those obtained, for example, by the PIT method and, in addition, destabilize the emulsions.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to find a way of obtaining o/w emulsions that would be distinguished by fine droplets, storage stability, heat resistance, sufficiently high viscosity and pleasant sensorial properties by the cold route.
The present invention relates to the use of aqueous dispersions containing
(a) waxes and
(b) emulsifiers
as consistency providers for the cold production of o/w emulsions.
Waxes
Suitable waxes are, for example, alkylene glycol esters; fatty acid alkanolamides; partial glycerides; esters of polybasic, optionally hydroxysubstituted carboxylic acids with fatty alcohols containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms; fatty compounds such as, for example, fatty alcohols, fatty ketones, fatty aldehydes, fatty ethers and fatty carbonates; ring-opening products of olefin epoxides containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms with fatty alcohols containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and/or polyols containing 2 to 15 carbon atoms and 2 to 10 hydroxyl groups; and mixtures thereof.
Alkylene glycol esters. The alkylene glycol esters are normally monoesters and/or diesters of alkylene glycols corresponding to formula (I):
R1CO(OA)nOR2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
in which R1CO is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen or has the same meaning as R1CO and A is a linear or branched alkylene group containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms and n is a number of 1 to 5. Typical examples are monoesters and/or diesters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol or tetraethylene glycol with fatty acids containing 6 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, such as caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and technical mixtures thereof. Ethylene glycol monostearate and/or distearate is/are particularly preferred.
Fatty acid alkanolamides. Fatty acid alkanolamides which are suitable as waxes correspond to formula (II)
R3COxe2x80x94NR4xe2x80x94Bxe2x80x94OHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
in which R3CO is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R4 is hydrogen or an optionally hydroxysubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and B is a linear or branched alkylene group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Typical examples are condensation products of ethanolamine, methyl ethanolamine, diethanolamine, propanolamine, methyl propanolamine and dipropanolamine and mixtures thereof with caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and technical mixtures thereof. Stearic acid ethanolamide is particularly preferred.
Partial glycerides. Partial glycerides which have wax properties are monoesters and/or diesters of glycerol with fatty acids, i.e. for example caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and technical mixtures thereof. They correspond to formula (III):
in which R5CO is a linear or branched acyl group containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R6 and R7 independently of one another represent hydrogen or have the same meaning as R5CO, x, y and z together stand for 0 or for a number of 1 to 30 and X is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, with the proviso that at least one of the two substituents R6 and R7 is hydrogen. Typical examples are lauric acid monoglyceride, lauric acid diglyceride, coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride, coconut fatty acid triglyceride, palmitic acid monoglyceride, palmitic acid triglyceride, stearic acid monoglyceride, stearic acid diglyceride, isostearic acid monoglyceride, isostearic acid diglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride, oleic acid diglyceride, tallow fatty acid monoglyceride, tallow fatty acid diglyceride, behenic acid monoglyceride, behenic acid diglyceride, erucic acid monoglyceride, erucic acid diglyceride and technical mixtures thereof which may still contain small quantities of triglyceride from the production process.
Polybasic carboxylic acid and hydroxycarboxylic acid esters. Other suitable waxes are esters of polybasic, optionally hydroxysubstituted carboxylic acids with fatty alcohols containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms. The acid component of these esters may be selected, for example, from malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, dodecanedioic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and, more particularly, succinic acid and also malic acid, citric acid and, more particularly, tartaric acid and mixtures thereof. The fatty alcohols contain 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 and more preferably 16 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Typical examples are caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, capric alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, elaeostearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol and technical mixtures thereof. The esters may be present as full or partial esters; monoesters and, above all, diesters of carboxylic or hydroxycarboxylic acids preferably being used. Typical examples are succinic acid mono- and dilauryl ester, succinic acid mono- and dicetearyl ester, succinic acid mono- and distearyl ester, tartaric acid mono- and dilauryl ester, tartaric acid mono- and dicocoalkyl ester, tartaric acid mono- and dicetearyl ester, citric acid mono-, di- and trilauryl ester, citric acid mono-, di- and tricocoalkyl ester and citric acid mono-, di- and tricetearyl ester.
Fatty alcohols. Another group of waxes are long-chain fatty alcohols corresponding to formula (IV):
R8OHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(IV)
in which R8 is a linear alkyl group containing 16 to 48 and preferably 18 to 22 carbon atoms. The substances mentioned are generally based on vegetable or animal fatty acids or are oxidation products of long-chain paraffins.
Fatty ketones. Fatty ketones suitable as component (a) preferably correspond to formula (V):
R9xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94R10xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(V)
in which R9 and R10 independently of one another represent alkyl and/or alkenyl groups containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that they contain a total of at least 24 and preferably 32 to 48 carbon atoms. The ketones may be prepared by known methods, for example by pyrolysis of the corresponding fatty acid magnesium salts. The ketones may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical, although the two substituents R9 and R10 preferably differ from one another by only one carbon atom and are derived from fatty acids containing 16 to 22 carbon atoms. Stearone is distinguished by particularly advantageous properties.
Fatty aldehydes. Fatty aldehydes suitable as waxes correspond to formula (VI):
R11COHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VI)
in which R11CO is a linear or branched acyl group containing 16 to 48 and preferably 18 to 22 carbon atoms.
Fatty ethers. Other suitable waxes are fatty ethers corresponding to formula (VI):
xe2x80x83R12xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94R13xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VII)
in which R12 and R13 independently of one another represent alkyl and/or alkenyl groups containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that they contain a total of at least 24 and preferably 32 to 48 carbon atoms. Fatty ethers of the type mentioned are normally prepared by acidic condensation of the corresponding fatty alcohols. Fatty ethers with particularly advantageous properties are obtained by condensation of fatty alcohols containing 16 to 22 carbon atoms such as, for example, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and/or erucyl alcohol.
Fatty carbonates. Component (a) may also be selected from fatty carbonates corresponding to formula (VIII):
R14Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94OR15xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VIII)
in which R14 and R15 independently of one another are alkyl and/or alkenyl groups containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that they contain a total of at least 24 and preferably 32 to 48 carbon atoms. The substances are obtained by transesterifying dimethyl or diethyl carbonate, for example, with the corresponding fatty alcohols by methods known per se. Accordingly, the fatty carbonates may be symmetrical or non-symmetrical. However, carbonates in which R14 and R15 are the same and represent alkyl groups containing 16 to 22 carbon atoms are preferably used. Transesterification products of dimethyl or diethyl carbonate with cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and/or erucyl alcohol in the form of their monoesters and diesters and technical mixtures thereof are particularly preferred.
Fatty acids. Other suitable waxes are fatty acids corresponding to formula (IX):
R16COxe2x80x94OHxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(IX)
in which R16CO is a linear or branched, optionally hydroxy-functionalized acyl group containing 16 to 24 carbon atoms. Palmitic acid, stearic acid, hydroxystearic acid and in particular behenic acid are preferably used.
Epoxide ring-opening products. The ring-opening products are known substances which are normally obtained by acidcatalyzed reaction of terminal or internal olefin epoxides with aliphatic alcohols. The reaction products preferably correspond to formula (X):
in which R17 and R18 represent hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum total of carbon atoms of R17 and R18 is between 10 and 20 and R19 is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and/or the residue of a polyol containing 2 to 15 carbon atoms and 2 to 10 hydroxyl groups. Typical examples are ring-opening products of xcex1-dodecene epoxide, xcex1-hexadecene epoxide, xcex1-octadecene epoxide, xcex1-eicosene epoxide, xcex1-docosene epoxide, i-dodecene epoxide, i-hexadecene epoxide, i-octadecene epoxide, i-eicosene epoxide and/or i-docosene epoxide with lauryl alcohol, cocofatty alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and/or erucyl alcohol. Ring opening products of hexa- and/or octadecene epoxides with fatty alcohols containing 16 to 18 carbon atoms are preferably used. If polyols are used instead of the fatty alcohols for the ring opening reaction, they are selected for example from the following substances: glycerol; alkylene glycols such as, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol and polyethylene glycols with an average molecular weight of 100 to 1,000 dalton; technical oligoglycerol mixtures with a degree of self-condensation of 1.5 to 10 such as, for example, technical diglycerol mixtures with a diglycerol content of 40 to 50% by weight; methylol compounds such as, in particular, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, trimethylol butane, pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol; lower alkyl glucosides, more particularly those containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain such as, for example, methyl and butyl glucoside; sugar alcohols containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms such as, for example, sorbitol or mannitol, sugars containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms such as, for example, glucose or sucrose; amino sugars such as, for example, glucamine.
Emulsifiers
Suitable emulsifiers are, for example, nonionic surfactants from at least one of the following groups:
(1) products of the addition of 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide and/or 0 to 5 moles of propylene oxide onto linear fatty alcohols containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms, onto fatty acids containing 12 to 22 carbon atoms and onto alkylphenols containing 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group;
(2) C12/18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of products of the addition of 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide onto glycerol;
(3) glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms and ethylene oxide adducts thereof;
(4) alkyl mono- and oligoglycosides containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and ethoxylated analogs thereof;
(5) adducts of 15 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide with castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;
(6) polyol esters and, in particular, polyglycerol esters such as, for example, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polyglycerol poly-12-hydroxy-stearate and polyglycerol dimerate. Mixtures of compounds from several of these classes are also suitable;
(7) products of the addition of 2 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide onto castor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;
(8) partial esters based on linear, branched, unsaturated or saturated C6/22 fatty acids, ricinoleic acid and 12-hydroxystearic acid and glycerol, polyglycerol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sugar alcohols (for example sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (for example methyl glucoside, butyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside) and polyglucosides (for example cellulose);
(9) mono-, di- and trialkyl phosphates and mono-, di- and/or tri-PEG-alkyl phosphates and salts thereof;
(10) wool wax alcohols;
(11) polysiloxane/polyalkyl polyether copolymers and corresponding derivatives;
(12) mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid and fatty alcohol according to DE-PS 1165574 and/or mixed esters of fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, methyl glucose and polyols, preferably glycerol or polyglycerol, and
(13) polyalkylene glycols.
The addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkylphenols, glycerol monoesters and diesters and sorbitan monoesters and diesters of fatty acids or with castor oil are known, commercially available products. They are homolog mixtures of which the average degree of alkoxylation corresponds to the ratio between the quantities of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and substrate with which the addition reaction is carried out. C12/18 fatty acid monoesters and diesters of addition products of ethylene oxide with glycerol are known as refatting agents for cosmetic formulations from DE-PS 20 24 051.
C8/18 alkyl mono- and oligoglycosides, their production and their use as surfactants are known from the prior art. They are produced in particular by reacting glucose or oligosaccharides with primary C8/18 alcohols. So far as the glycoside unit is concerned, both monoglycosides in which a cyclic sugar unit is attached to the fatty alcohol by a glycoside bond and oligomeric glycosides with a degree of oligomerization of preferably up to about 8 are suitable. The degree of oligomerization is a statistical mean value on which the homolog distribution typical of such technical products is based.
Other suitable emulsifiers are anionic surfactants such as, for example, soaps, alkyl benzenesulfonates, alkanesulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkylether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, xcex1-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, alkylsulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, glycerol ether sulfates, hydroxy mixed ether sulfates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, N-acylamino acids such as, for example, acyl lactylates, acyl tartrates, acyl glutamates, acyl aspartates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates, protein fatty acid condensates (particularly wheat-based vegetable products) and alkyl(ether) phosphates. If the anionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrow-range homolog distribution. Alkyl ether sulfates containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and 2 to 5 ethylene oxide units and fatty acid monoglyceride esulfates derived from fatty acids containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms are preferably used.
Zwitterionic surfactants may also be used as emulsifiers. Zwitterionic surfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one carboxylate and one sulfonate group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoacylaminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and cocoacylaminoethyl hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. The fatty acid amide derivative known under the CTFA name of Cocoamidopropyl Betaine is particularly preferred. Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable emulsifiers. Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in addition to a C8/18 alkyl or acyl group, contain at least one free amino group and at least one xe2x80x94COOHxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94SO3Hxe2x80x94 group in the molecule and which are capable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkyl sarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acids containing around 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethyl aminopropionate and C12/18 acyl sarcosine. Besides the ampholytic emulsifiers, quaternary emulsifiers may also be used, those of the esterquat type, preferably methyl-quatemized difatty acid triethanolamine ester salts, being particularly preferred.
Wax Dispersions and o/w Emulsions
The wax dispersions to be used in accordance with the invention preferaby contain
(a) 1 to 50 and more particularly 10 to 30% by weight of waxes and
(b) 1 to 90 and more particularly 5 to 50% by weight of emulsifiers,
with the proviso that the quantities add up to 100% by weight with water and optionally polyols. The final dispersions are normally used in quantities of 1 to 15% by weight and more particularly 5 to 10% by weight, based on the emulsions. The production of the dispersions may be carried out by methods known per se and is not critical. The procedure normally comprises introducing an aqueous solution of the emulsifier and heating it to beyond the melting point of the wax, adding the molten wax and allowing the mixture to cool with intensive shearing. To produce the required o/w emulsions, the wax dispersions may then be stirred in cold, i.e. at temperatures of around 18 to 25xc2x0 C.
Commercial Applications
The viscous o/w emulsions obtainable by the cold route in accordance with the invention are distinguished by high stability, even when stored at elevated temperature. They may contain mild surfactants, oils, superfatting agents, stabilizers, thickeners, polymers, silicone compounds, biogenic agents, deodorizers, anti-dandruff agents, film-formers, preservatives, hydrotropes, solubilizers, antioxidants, insect repellents, self-tanning agents, perfume oils, dyes and the like as further auxiliaries and additives. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the o/w emulsions are sun protection emulsions which naturally contain UV protection factors.
Typical examples of suitable mild, i.e. dermatologically compatible, surfactants, are fatty alcohol polyglycol ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, mono- and/or dialkylsulfosuccinates, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, fatty acid glutamates, ether carboxylic acids, alkyl oligoglucosides, fatty acid glucamides, alkyl amidobetaines and/or protein fatty acid condensates (preferably based on wheat proteins).
Suitable oils are, for example, Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols containing 6 to 18 and preferably 8 to 10 carbon atoms, esters of linear C6-22 fatty acids with linear C6-22 fatty alcohols, esters of branched C6-13 carboxylic acids with linear C6-22 fatty alcohols, esters of linear C6-22 fatty acids with branched alcohols, more particularly 2-ethyl hexanol, esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids with linear or branched C6-22 fatty alcohols, more particularly Dioctyl Malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (for example propylene glycol, dimer diol or trimer triol) and/or Guerbet alcohols, triglycerides based on C6-10 fatty acids, liquid mono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C6-18 fatty acids, esters of C6-22 fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, more particularly benzoic acid, esters of C2-12 dicarboxylic acids with linear or branched alcohols containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms or polyols containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C6-22 fatty alcohol carbonates, Guerbet carbonates, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C6-22 alcohols (for example Finsolv(copyright) TN), linear or branched, symmetrical or nonsymmetrical dialkyl ethers containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, ring opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils and/or aliphatic or naphthenic hydrocarbons.
Superfatting agents may be selected from such substances as, for example, lanolin and lecithin and also polyethoxylated or acylated lanolin and lecithin derivatives, polyol fatty acid esters, monoglycerides and fatty acid alkanolamides, the fatty acid alkanolamides also serving as foam stabilizers.
Suitable thickeners are, for example, polysaccharides, more especially xanthan gum, guar-guar, agar-agar, alginates and tyloses, carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, also relatively high molecular weight polyethylene glycol monoesters and diesters of fatty acids, polyacrylates (for example Carbopols(copyright) [Goodrich] or Synthalens(copyright) [Sigma]), polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, surfactants such as, for example, ethoxylated fatty acid glycerides, esters of fatty acids with polyols, for example pentaerythritol or trimethylol propane, narrow-range fatty alcohol ethoxylates or alkyl oligoglucosides and electrolytes, such as sodium chloride and ammonium chloride.
Suitable cationic polymers are, for example, cationic cellulose derivatives such as, for example, the quaternized hydroxyethyl cellulose obtainable from Amerchol under the name of Polymer JR 400(copyright), cationic starch, copolymers of diallyl ammonium salts and acrylamides, quaternized vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl imidazole polymers such as, for example, Luviquat(copyright) (BASF), condensation products of polyglycols and amines, quatemized collagen polypeptides such as, for example, Lauryldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Collagen (Lamequat(copyright) , Grxc3xcnau GmbH), quaternized wheat polypeptides, polyethyleneimine, cationic silicone polymers such as, for example, Amidomethicone, copolymers of adipic acid and dimethylamino-hydroxypropyl diethylenetriamine (Cartaretine(copyright), Sandoz AG), copolymers of acrylic acid with dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (Merquat(copyright) 550, Chemviron), polyaminopolyamides as described, for example, in FR-A 2 252 840 and crosslinked water-soluble polymers thereof, cationic chitin derivatives such as, for example, quaternized chitosan, optionally in micro-crystalline distribution, condensation products of dihaloalkyls, for example dibromobutane, with bis-dialkylamines, for example bis-dimethylamino-1,3-propane, cationic guar gum such as, for example, Jaguar(copyright)CBS, Jaguar(copyright)C-17, Jaguar(copyright)C-16 of Celanese, USA, quaterized ammonium salt polymers such as, for example, Mirapol(copyright) A-15, Mirapol(copyright) AD-1, Mirapol(copyright) AZ-1 of Miranol, USA.
Suitable anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and nonionic polymers are, for example, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers, vinyl pyrrolidonelvinyl acrylate copolymers, vinyl acetate/butyl maleate/isobornyl acrylate copolymers, methyl vinylether/maleic anhydride copolymers and esters thereof, uncrosslinked and polyol-crosslinked polyacrylic acids, acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride/acrylate copolymers, octylacrylamide/methyl methacrylate/tert.-butylaminoethyl methacrylate/2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate copolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate/vinyl caprolactam terpolymers and optionally derivatized cellulose ethers and silicones.
Suitable silicone compounds are, for example, dimethyl polysiloxanes, methylphenyl polysiloxanes, cyclic silicones and amino-, fatty acid-, alcohol-, polyether-, epoxy-, fluorine-, glycoside- and/or alkyl-modified silicone compounds which may be both liquid and resin-like at room temperature. In addition, a detailed review of suitable liquid silicones was published by Todd et al. in Cosm. Toil. 91, 27 (1976).
Typical examples of fats are glycerides while suitable waxes are inter alia beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, montan wax, paraffin wax or microwaxes, optionally in combination with hydrophilic waxes, for example cetyl stearyl alcohol or partial glycerides. Metal salts of fatty acids such as, for example, magnesium, aluminium and/or zinc stearate or ricinoleate may be used as stabilizers.
In the context of the invention, biogenic agents are, for example, tocopherol, tocopherol acetate, tocopherol palmitate, ascorbic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, retinol, bisabolol, allantoin, phytantriol, panthenol, AHA acids, amino acids, ceramides, pseudoceramides, essential oils, plant extracts, and vitamin complexes.
Suitable deodorizers are, for example, antiperspirants, such as aluminium chlorohydrates. These antiperspirants are colorless hygroscopic crystals which readily deliquesce in air and which accumulate when aqueous aluminium chloride solutions are concentrated by evaporation. Aluminium chlorohydrate is used for the production of perspiration-inhibiting and deodorizing formulations and probably acts by partially blocking the sweat glands through the precipitation of proteins and/or polysaccharides [cf. J. Soc. Cosm. Chem. 24, 281 (1973)]. For example, an aluminium chlorohydrate which corresponds to the formula [Al2(OH)5Cl].2.5H2O and which is particularly preferred for the purposes of the invention is commercially available under the name of Locron(copyright) from Hoechst AG of Frankfurt, FRG [cf. J. Pharm. Pharmcol. 26, 531 (1975)]. Besides the chlorohydrates, aluminium hydroxylactates and acidic aluminium/zirconium salts may also be used. Other suitable deodorizers are esterase inhibitors, preferably trialkyl citrates, such as trimethyl citrate, tripropyl citrate, triisopropyl citrate, tributyl citrate and, in particular, triethyl citrate (Hydagen(copyright) CAT, Henkel KGaA, Dxc3xcsseldorf, FRG). Esterase inhibitors inhibit enzyme activity and thus reduce odor formation. The free acid is probably released through the cleavage of the citric acid ester, reducing the pH value of the skin to such an extent that the enzymes are inhibited. Other esterase inhibitors are dicarboxylic acids and esters thereof, for example glutaric acid, glutaric acid monoethyl ester, glutaric acid diethyl ester, adipic acid, adipic acid monoethyl ester, adipic acid diethyl ester, malonic acid and malonic acid diethyl ester, hydroxycarboxylic acids and esters thereof, for example citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid or tartaric acid diethyl ester. Antibacterial agents which influence the germ flora and destroy or inhibit the growth of perspiration-decomposing bacteria, may also be present in stick products. Examples of such antibacterial agents are chitosan, phenoxyethanol and chlorhexidine gluconate. 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol, which is marketed under the name of Irgasan(copyright) by Ciba-Geigy of Basel, Switzerland, has also proved to be particularly effective.
Suitable antidandruff agents are climbazol, octopirox and zinc pyrithione. Standard film formers are, for example, chitosan, microcrystalline chitosan, quaternized chitosan, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, polymers of the acrylic acid series, quaternary cellulose derivatives, collagen, hyaluronic acid and salts thereof and similar compounds. Suitable swelling agents for aqueous phases are montmorillonites, clays minerals, Pemulen and alkyl-modified Carbopol types (Goodrich). Other suitable polymers and swelling agents can be found in R. Lochhead""s review in Cosm. Toil. 108, 95 (1993).
UV protection factors in the context of the invention are, for example, organic substances UV filters which are liquid or crystalline at room temperature and which are capable of absorbing ultraviolet radiation and of releasing the energy absorbed in the form of longer-wave radiation, for example heat. UV-B filters can be oil-soluble or water-soluble. The following are examples of oil-soluble substances:
3-benzylidene camphor or 3-benzylidene norcamphor and derivatives thereof, for example 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor as described in EP-B1 0693471;
4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, preferably 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid-2-octyl ester and 4-(dimethylamino)-benzoic acid amyl ester;
esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 4-methoxycinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid propyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid isoamyl ester, 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester (Octocrylene);
esters of salicylic acid, preferably salicylic acid-2-ethylhexyl ester, salicylic acid-4-isopropylbenzyl ester, salicylic acid homomenthyl ester;
derivatives of benzophenone, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4xe2x80x2-methylbenzophenone, 2,2xe2x80x2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone;
esters of benzalmalonic acid, preferably 4-methoxybenzalmalonic acid di-2-ethylhexyl ester;
triazine derivatives such as, for example, 2,4,6-trianilino-(p-carbo-2xe2x80x2-ethyl-1xe2x80x2-hexyloxy)-1,3,5-triazine and Octyl Triazone as described in EP-A1 0818450;
propane-1,3-diones such as, for example, 1-(4-tert.butylphenyl)-3-(4xe2x80x2-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione;
ketotricyclo(18.104.22.168)decane derivatives as described in EP-B1 0694521.
Suitable water-soluble substances are
2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium and glucammonium salts thereof;
sulfonic acid derivatives of benzophenones, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid and salts thereof;
sulfonic acid derivatives of 3-benzylidene camphor such as, for example, 4-(2-oxo-3-bornylidenemethyl)-benzene sulfonic acid and 2-methyl-5-(2-oxo-3-bornylidene)-sulfonic acid and salts thereof.
Typical UV-A filters are, in particular, derivatives of benzoyl methane such as, for example 1-(4xe2x80x2-tert.butylphenyl)-3-(4xe2x80x2-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione, 4-tert.butyl-4xe2x80x2-methoxydibenzoyl methane (Parsol 1789) or 1-phenyl-3-(4xe2x80x2-isopropylphenyl)-propane-1,3-dione. The UV-A and UV-B filters may of course also be used in the form of mixtures. Besides the soluble substances mentioned, insoluble light-blocking pigments, i.e. finely dispersed metal oxides or salts, for example titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, aluminium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, silicates (talcum), barium sulfate and zinc stearate, may also be used for this purpose. The particles should have a mean diameter of less than 100 nm, preferably between 5 and 50 nm and more preferably between 15 and 30 nm. They may be spherical in shape although ellipsoidal particles or other non-spherical particles may also be used. Other suitable UV filters can be found in P. Finkel""s review in Sxc3x96FW-Journal 122, 543 (1996).
Besides the two groups of primary sun protection factors mentioned above, secondary sun protection factors of the antioxidant type may also be used. Secondary sun protection factors of the antioxidant type interrupt the photochemical reaction chain which is initiated when UV rays penetrate into the skin. Typical examples are amino acids (for example glycine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophane) and derivatives thereof, imidazoles (for example urocanic acid) and derivatives thereof, peptides, such as D,L-carnosine, D-carnosine, L-carnosine and derivatives thereof (for example anserine), carotinoids, carotenes (for example xcex1-carotene, xcex2-carotene, lycopene) and derivatives thereof, chlorogenic acid and derivatives thereof, liponic acid and derivatives thereof (for example dihydroliponic acid), aurothioglucose, propylthiouracil and other thiols (for example thioredoxine, glutathione, cysteine, cystine, cystamine and glycosyl, N-acetyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, amyl, butyl and lauryl, palmitoyl, oleyl, xcex3-linoleyl, cholesteryl and glyceryl esters thereof and their salts, dilaurylthiodipropionate, distearylthiodipropionate, thiodipropionic acid and derivatives thereof (esters, ethers, peptides, lipids, nucleotides, nucleosides and salts) and sulfoximine compounds (for example butionine sulfoximines, homocysteine sulfoximine, butionine sulfones, penta-, hexa- and hepta-thionine sulfoximine) in very small compatible dosages (for example pmole to xcexcmole/kg) also (metal) chelators (for example xcex1-hydroxyfatty acids, palmitic acid, phytic acid, lactoferrine), xcex1-hydroxy acids (for example citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid), humic acid, bile acid, bile extracts, bilirubin, biliverdin, EDTA, EGTA and derivatives thereof, unsaturated fatty acids and derivatives thereof (for example xcex3-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid), folic acid and derivatives thereof, ubiquinone and ubiquinol and derivatives thereof, vitamin C and derivatives thereof (for example ascorbyl palmitate, Mg ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl acetate), tocopherols and derivatives (for example vitamin E acetate), vitamin A and derivatives (vitarnin A palmitate) and coniferyl benzoate of benzoin resin, rutinic acid and derivatives thereof, xcex1-glycosyl rutin, ferulic acid, furfurylidene glucitol, carnosine, butyl hydroxytoluene, butyl hydroxyanisole, nordihydroguaiac resin acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, trihydroxybutyrophenone, uric acid and derivatives thereof, mannose and derivatives thereof, Superoxid-Dismutase, zinc and derivatives thereof (for example ZnO, ZnSO4), selenium and derivatives thereof (for example selenium methionine), stilbenes and derivatives thereof (for example stilbene oxide, trans-stilbene oxide) and derivatives of these active substances suitable for the purposes of the invention (salts, esters, ethers, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids).
In addition, hydrotropes, for example ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or polyols, may be used to improve flow behavior. Suitable polyols preferably contain 2 to 15 carbon atoms and at least two hydroxyl groups. Typical examples are
glycerol;
alkylene glycols such as, for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol and polyethylene glycols with an average molecular weight of 100 to 1000 dalton;
technical oligoglycerol mixtures with a degree of self-condensation of 1.5 to 10 such as, for example, technical diglycerol mixtures with a diglycerol content of 40 to 50% by weight;
methylol compounds such as, in particular, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, trimethylol butane, pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol;
lower alkyl glucosides, particularly those containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, for example methyl and butyl glucoside;
sugar alcohols containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, for example sorbitol or mannitol,
sugars containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms, for example glucose or sucrose;
aminosugars, for example glucamine.
Suitable preservatives are, for example, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde-solution, parabens, pentanediol or sorbic acid and the other classes of compounds listed in Appendix 6, Parts A and B of the Kosmetikverordnung (xe2x80x9cCosmetics Directivexe2x80x9d). Suitable insect repellents are N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, pentane-1,2-diol or Insect Repellent 3535. A suitable self-tanning agent is dihydroxyacetone.
Suitable perfume oils are mixtures of natural and synthetic fragrances. Natural fragrances include the extracts of blossoms (lily, lavender, rose, jasmine, neroli, ylang-ylang), stems and leaves (geranium, patchouli, petitgrain), fruits (anise, coriander, caraway, juniper), fruit peel (bergamot, lemon, orange), roots (nutmeg, angelica, celery, cardamon, costus, iris, calmus), woods (pinewood, sandalwood, guaiac wood, cedarwood, rosewood), herbs and grasses (tarragon, lemon grass, sage, thyme), needles and branches (spruce, fir, pine, dwarf pine), resins and balsams (galbanum, elemi, benzoin, myrrh, olibanum, opoponax). Animal raw materials, for example civet and beaver, may also be used. Typical synthetic perfume compounds are products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Examples of perfume compounds of the ester type are benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert.butyl cyclohexylacetate, linalyl acetate, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, phenyl ethyl acetate, linalyl benzoate, benzyl formate, ethylmethyl phenyl glycinate, allyl cyclohexyl propionate, styrallyl propionate and benzyl salicylate. Ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether while aldehydes include, for example, the linear alkanals containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxyacetaldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, lilial and bourgeonal. Examples of suitable ketones are the ionones, xcex1-isomethylionone and methyl cedryl ketone. Suitable alcohols are anethol, citronellol, eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol. The hydrocarbons mainly include the terpenes and balsams. However, it is preferred to use mixtures of different perfume compounds which, together, produce an agreeable fragrance. Other suitable perfume oils are essential oils of relatively low volatility which are mostly used as aroma components. Examples are sage oil, camomile oil, clove oil, melissa oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lime-blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil, labolanum oil and lavendin oil. The following are preferably used either individually or in the form of mixtures: bergamot oil, dihydromyrcenol, lilial, lyral, citronellol, phenylethyl alcohol, xcex1-hexylcinnamaldehyde, geraniol, benzyl acetone, cyclamen aldehyde, linalool, Boisambrene Forte, Ambroxan, indole, hedione, sandelice, citrus oil, mandarin oil, orange oil, allylamyl glycolate, cyclovertal, lavendin oil, clary oil, xcex2-damascone, geranium oil bourbon, cyclohexyl salicylate, Vertofix Coeur, Iso-E-Super, Fixolide NP, evernyl, iraldein gamma, phenylacetic acid, geranyl acetate, benzyl acetate, rose oxide, romillate, irotyl and floramate.
Suitable dyes are any of the substances suitable and approved for cosmetic purposes as listed, for example, in the publication xe2x80x9cKosmetische Fxc3xa4rbemittelxe2x80x9d of the Farbstoffkommission der Deutschen Forschungs-gemeinschaft, Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1984, pages 81 to 106. These dyes are normally used in concentrations of 0.001 to 0.1% by weight, based on the mixture as a whole.
The total percentage content of auxiliaries and additives may be from 1 to 50% by weight and is preferably from 5 to 40% by weight, based on the particular formulation.

Use of aqueous wax dispersions as consistency providers


A cleansing composition is disclosed that changes color during use. The cleansing composition contains a plurality of thermochromic dyes that cause a color change to occur at a threshold temperature and continue to cause a color change over a temperature range. The range of temperatures corresponds to approximately the amount of time sufficient to properly wash or scrub using the product.

One of the most effective methods found to date for limiting the spread of communicable disease is through effective personal cleaning, particularly through thorough hand washing. Thorough hand cleaning includes not only washing often with a suitable cleanser, but also washing for a period of time long enough to ensure sanitary conditions have been attained.
Many soaps and other detergent cleansers can provide the desired levels of hygiene if used correctly. However, these cleansers are usually supplied to the public in bar or liquid form, and people, particularly children, often give only a cursory wash, and therefore don't clean as thoroughly as required to remove dirt, grime and/or disease causing agents.
In order to teach children how to effectively wash their hands, parents or guardians typically rely on constant reminders and close monitoring. In fact, parents or guardians can spend a significant amount of time and attention in attempts to build and reinforce proper hygiene habits. Children, however, tend to follow the instructions only as long as they feel they are being monitored. Thus, some children grow up learning these habits only as a result of pressure from their parents or guardians, and do not maintain these habits once the pressure of close monitoring is absent.
As such, a need currently exists for a cleaning product that includes some sort of indicator for determining how long washing should continue with the product. More particularly, a need currently exists for a cleansing composition that changes color during use for indicating that sufficient time has elapsed and that washing or scrubbing with the product can discontinue. For example, a need exists for a hand soap for children and adults that teaches a user how much time should be spent washing their hands.


Systems and methods for determining when a change has occurred in an area-of-interest included in an image region are disclosed. The system and methods may perform a specially modified background subtraction method. The systems and methods may initialize a background image region and then comparing a first image region from a second frame to the background image region to classify pixels as foreground pixels or background pixels. The foreground pixels are then classified based on predetermined characteristics. The background image region may then be updated to include foreground pixels that did not have the predetermined characteristics. The systems and methods allow for searching for background updates to thereby determine when a change has occurred in the area-of-interest.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to video surveillance, and more specifically to improved systems and methods for searching for changes in an area-of-interest (AOI).
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The current heightened sense of security and declining cost of camera equipment have resulted in increased use of closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems. Such systems have the potential to reduce crime, prevent accidents, and generally increase security in a wide variety of environments.
A simple closed-circuit television system uses a single camera connected to a display device. More complex systems can have multiple cameras and/or multiple displays. One known type of system is the security display in a retail store, which switches periodically between different cameras to provide different views of the store. Higher security installations, such as prisons and military installations, use a bank of video displays each displaying the output of an associated camera. A guard or human attendant constantly watches the various screens looking for suspicious activity.
More recently, inexpensive digital cameras have become popular for security and other applications. In addition, it is now possible to use a web cam to monitor a remote location. Web cams typically have relatively slow frame rates, but are sufficient for some security applications. Inexpensive cameras that transmit signals wirelessly to remotely located computers or other displays are also used to provide video surveillance.
As the number of cameras increases, the amount of raw information that needs to be processed and analyzed also increases. Computer technology can be used to alleviate this raw data processing task, resulting in a new breed of information technology device—the computer-aided surveillance (CAS) system. Computer-aided surveillance technology has been developed for various applications. For example, the military has used computer-aided image processing to provide automated targeting and other assistance to fighter pilots and other personnel. In addition, computer-aided surveillance has been applied to monitor activity in swimming pools. CAS systems may be used to monitor a particular AOI if, for instance, the AOI includes a particularly valuable object.
CAS systems typically operate on individual video frames. In general, a video frame depicts an image of a scene in which people and things move and interact. Each video frame is composed of a plurality of pixels which are often arranged in a grid-like fashion. The number of pixels in a video frame depends on several factors including the resolution of the camera, and the display, the capacity of the storage device on which the video frames are stored. Analysis of a video frame can be conducted either at the pixel level or at the (pixel) group level depending on the processing capability and the desired level of precision. A pixel or group of pixels being analyzed is referred to herein as an "image region".
Image regions can be categorized as depicting part of the background of the scene o depicting a foreground object. In general, the background remains relatively static in each video frame. However, objects may be depicted in different image regions in different frames. Several methods for separating objects in a video frame from the background of the frame, referred to as object extraction, are known in the art. A common approach is to use a technique called "background subtraction." Of course, other techniques can be used as well.
Current surveillance systems provide a rudimentary techniques for performing area change searches. Such a system may allow a user to specify a specific AOI within the video frame in which to search for a change. The system then searches through each video frame and measures the number of changed pixels within the AOI. If the number of changed pixels within the AOI in a particular frame surpasses a specified percentage, then that frame is returned as a positive result in the search. This approach may be referred to as frame-by-frame differencing.
Frame-by-frame differencing, however, has a number of drawbacks. In particular, it may return too many false positive results. These false positive results could be due to obstructions moving in front of the AOI. For example, if a user is interested in searching for the moment when a laptop that was sitting on a desk was stolen, then using this search technique will return all instances when a person walks in front of the desk and occludes the laptop from view (assuming of course that the number of pixels that changed due to the person walking in front of the desk exceeds the specified percentage). In most cases, the person subsequently moves away from the desk and reveals the un-stolen laptop, at which point the search has returned a false positive.
Another approach is to utilize background subtraction to perform the analysis. In a typical background subtraction algorithm, foreground pixels are separated from background pixels by subtracting a video frame from a "background image." This background image is periodically updated with new data in order to track slow changes to the background (e.g., lighting changes). Typically the background update is performed by averaging newly classified background pixels with the existing background image. Foreground pixels are not averaged with the background to prevent "pollution" of the background image. In this way, the background image adapts to slow or small color changes, and all fast or large color changes are considered foreground. As it is, however, this simple background subtraction algorithm offers little advantage over the frame-by-frame differencing technique described above. That is, it may still provide false positives for searches related to the AOI. This is due to the way in which the search would be conducted in a system utilizing this technique would proceed. In particular, in searches performed on systems utilizing simple background subtraction, the search for changes in the AOI would return all instances where a pixel changes and that change is not a small or slow change (i.e., the pixel would be classified as a foreground pixel). This may return, however, all instances when, for example, a person walks in front of the AOI but all of these occurrences may not be of interest.

System and method for searching for changes in surveillance video


A water pump normally used in a system circulating pool water through a filter cartridge 26 is used to clean the filter cartridge by coupling a 3-way or inline valve 32 and a tee 36 in the piping 12 between the pump 16 and the filter. In a first valve position, the filter housing receives the entire water output from the pump, and in a second position, the entire water output of the pump is diverted to a flexible hose 52 secured to a first water discharge wand 58. A circular ring-shaped manifold 64 with an array of discharge apertures 66 directs streams of water radially outward into the filter cartridge in a direction opposite the normal flow of water for hydraulically flushing debris from the filter cartridge. A second wand with a C-shaped manifold (FIG. 5) is then connected to the hose and used to direct water streams onto the outer periphery of the filter cartridge.

Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the cleaning of a filter cartridge used to remove debris from water, and more particularly, to a combination of parts for using water of a swimming pool filtration system for flushing debris from a water filter after use to clean debris from pool water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is a well-known practice to circulate water of a swimming pool or spa through a filter to remove entrained solids. It is essential to clean debris entrapped on the water permeable fibrous surface of the water filter at regular intervals to maintain an effective performance of the water filter. A water filter for a residential swimming pool typically takes the form of a filter housing containing a removable filter cartridge. Commercial swimming pools are typically provided with a water filter having spaced apart filter grids in a water chest. The cartridge type filters and filter grids are all per se well known in the art and produce an increase to the back pressure in the piping connected to the water pump due to a reduced flow space for water caused by entrapped debris on the filtration surface. It is a common practice to use an existing spray nozzle used for household chores and connected to a water hose for using water supplied by municipal water authority for washing debris from the water filter. The size of the central opening in a cartridge type filter for delivery of filtered water forms a restraint precluding effective access of a water stream from an existing spray nozzle to produce the cleaning action by water flow opposite to the flow of swimming pool water through the cartridge. The filter cleaning operation is time consuming and the water pressure is often inadequate to clean the filter throughly.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,820,552 and 4,417,596 it is known in the art to move a cartridge type filter in an elongated annular sleeve provided with a serial of water discharge holes directed to the outer peripheral of the filter cartridge. The water discharge holes communicate with an external annulus for supplying water from a water main by an interconnected hose. The streams of water discharged from the elongated annular sleeve impact against the pleated surface of the filter cartridge in the same direction as the flow of water from the swimming pool. The water flow functions to free the debris lying on the surface of the filter by suspending the debris in the water draining from the surface of the filter. Water passed through the filter is lost to the cleaning process because the streams of water are directed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of a filter cleaning device to provide streams of cleaning water for passage through a water filter in a direction that is opposite to the flow of water during the filtration operation.
It is a further objection of the present invention to provide a water filtering system using the water pump thereof to provide the source of pool water at high pressure and high volume than usually available from a municipal water authority for more effective cleaning of a pool filter which can be in the form of a filter cartridge or filter grids.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a water discharge wand having a manifold provided with an array of water discharge orifices sufficient in a number and orifice diameter to accommodate the pressurized flow of pool water formed by a water pump of a pool filtering system.
According to the present invention there is provided in a water filtering system having a pump coupled in piping for a circulating water of a body of water such as swimming pool water through a filter cartridge in one flow direction to a centrally located discharge chamber for delivery from the filter cartridge, the combination of: a valve coupled in the piping between the pump and the filter housing, the valve having a first position wherein the filter housing receives the entire water output from the pump and a second position for diverting the entire water output of the pump from the filter housing; a conduit for receiving the entire water output from the pump when the valve is in the second position; and a first water discharge wand joined to the conduit for receiving the water output from the conduit, the first water discharge wand having an elongated handle with an internal duct communicating with a circular ring-shaped manifold having an array of water discharged apertures for directing streams of water radially outward into a filter cartridge in a direction opposite to the flow of water through the filter cartridge when in a filter housing for hydraulically flushing debris from a filter cartridge using the entire pressurized water flow of the pump.

Apparatus for cleaning a swimming pool water filter


Cutting apparatus is provided for cutting a hole or `window` in the wall of a pipe, for example prior to joining a branch pipe to a host pipe. The apparatus comprises a chassis frame 14 carrying a cutter unit 42 supporting a cutter tool 62. The chassis is attached to and movable around the pipe 12 by means of `roller` chains 24. The cutter unit is movable with respect to the chassis frame by means of the associated slider block 38 which is slidable along longitudinally extending chassis frame members 16. Thus, the cutter tool 62 can be moved relative to the workpiece in one sense by movement of the chassis frame 14 and in another sense by movement of the cutter tool relative to the chassis frame. A combination of such movements enable the hole or `window` to be cut.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus, more particularly, though not exclusively, to a cutting apparatus for cutting a workpiece in the form of a pipe or a tube. The invention also relates to a method for cutting a workpiece such as a pipe or a tube, and to a method of joining a pipe to a host pipe.
It is often necessary to cut a hole or a `window` in the wall of a pipe or a tube, for instance when joining a branch pipe to a host pipe to form a T junction. In most cases it is desirable to cut the window as accurately as possible, both in terms of depth of cut and line of cut. For example, pipes of cast iron or other metal are often lined with a plastics liner and, when connecting a branch pipe to the host pipe, it is conventional to seal the branch pipe to the plastics liner. It is, therefore, desirable to cut out a window from the metal outer wall without penetrating or without significantly cutting into the plastics liner, thereby exposing an area of the outer surface of the plastics liner to which the branch pipe can be connected in a subsequent operation. It will be appreciated that precise control over the depth of cut can be particularly important, so as to ensure that the metal outer wall is substantially fully penetrated without or without, significantly, cutting into the plastics liner.
Unfortunately, accuracy has been found to be difficult to achieve in practice for a number of reasons. For example, the curved outer surface of the pipe makes it sifficult to establish, and to maintain, a reference surface against which cutter movement can be measured. Another difficulty arises from the location of the pipe itself; it is usual for pipes to be worked on in situ and access to the pipe may well be restricted, particularly where the pipe is underground such as in a gas main or a water main system.

Method of and apparatus for cutting a pipe