AU2008200205A1

AU2008200205A1 - Dispenser for dispensing a water treatment substance into water

Info

Publication number: AU2008200205A1
Application number: AU2008200205A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter James Buchan
Original assignee: Control Chemicals Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Control Chemicals Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-17
Filing date: 2008-01-15
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-15
Also published as: AU2008200205B2; ZA200800525B

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING A WATER TREATMENT SUBSTANCE INTO

WATER"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 00 cl 2 ol THIS INVENTION relates to a dispenser for dispensing a water treatment substance into 0 water. It relates also to a water treatment substance package.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispenser for dispensing a water treatment substance into water, the dispenser comprising an outer component comprising a cylindrical wall and at least one primary dispensing opening in the wall; an inner component comprising a cylindrical wall and at least one secondary dispensing opening in the wall, with at least part of the wall of the inner component located rotatably within the wall of the outer component, and with the secondary dispensing opening being located such that it can be moved into, and out of, register with the primary dispensing opening on rotation of the outer and inner components relative to each other; a water treatment substance package inside the inner component, the package comprising a plurality of water soluble water treatment substance tablets contained within a sleeve having at least one opening in proximity to an outer peripheral surface of one of the tablets; and buoyancy means, for imparting buoyancy to the dispenser, in or on the outer component and/or the inner component.

The wall of the outer component thus has a first end which, in use, is directed operatively upwardly and a second end which, in use, Is directed operatively downwardly. The primary dispensing opening may be located towards the second end of the wall, eg it may be located in proximity to the second end of the outer component wall. A plurality of the primary dispensing openings may be provided. The primary dispensing openings may be arranged In two groups located diametrically opposite each other. At least some of the 00 C( 3

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primary dispensing openings may be located equidistantly from the second end of the outer tn component wall. Typically, each group of primary dispensing openings may comprise at least three of the openings.

c The cylindrical wall of the inner component also has a first end which, in use, is directed operatively upwardly, and a second end which, in use, is directed operatively downwardly.

o0 In one embodiment of the invention, a second end portion of the Inner component wall may protrude beyond the second end of the outer component wall. The protruding second end portion of the inner component wall may then be provided with gripping formations to facilitate rotation of the Inner component relative to the outer component. The second end of the inner component wall may be closed off with an end piece.

The wall of the inner component may be provided, at or near its first end, with a retaining formation which engages a complementary retaining formation provided on the Inside of the outer component wall, at or near its first end. Thus, by means of the retaining formations, the inner component is held captive, against axial displacement relative to the outer component, but can rotate relative to the outer component.

In another embodiment of the invention, a first end portion of the Inner component wall may protrude beyond the first end of the outer component wall. The inner component wall may then be provided, towards its first end, with a retaining formation which engages a complementary retaining formation on the wall of the outer component, at or near its first end. Thus, as before, by means of the retaining formations, the inner component is held captive against axial displacement relative to the outer component, but can rotate relative to the outer component.

A second end portion of the outer component wall may then be provided with gripping formations to facilitate rotation of the outer component relative to the inner component.

A plurality of the secondary dispensing openings may be provided. The secondary dispensing openings may be arranged in similar groups to the primary dispensing 00 04 t openings, with the secondary dispensing openings thus being located towards the second end of the inner component wall.

SThe buoyancy means may comprise a buoyancy chamber provided at the first end of one cI of the components. The inside of the buoyancy chamber may be in communication with 0 the inside of that component. A buoyancy imparting substance may be provided inside the 00 buoyancy chamber, In one embodiment of the invention, the buoyancy imparting O substance may be air, ie the buoyancy chamber may be air filled. However, in another embodiment of the invention, the buoyancy imparting substance may be a buoyant material such as polystyrene.

The tablets may be circular when seen in plan view. Each tablet may have a diameter which is greater than its thickness. Each tablet thus has two planar circular surfaces and an outer peripherally or circumferentially extending surface between the planar surfaces.

The tablets are thus located one against the other with their planar surfaces abutting each other, so that they are in the form of a stack. The opening is thus provided in a wall of'the sleeve. A plurality of the sleeve wall openings may be provided. In addition to the plurality of sleeve wall openings, axial openings may be provided at both ends of the sleeve.

The sleeve wall openings may be arranged in a plurality of rows. In particular, the sleeve wall openings may be arranged in two parallel rows. The rows may be spaced apart at an angle between 20° and 50°. The wall openings may be more-or-less circular. Their nominal diameters may be from 5mm to 7mm. From 2 to 14 of the sleeve wall openings may be provided.

The sleeve may be shrink-wrapped around the stack of tablets. Thus, the sleeve or wrapper may be of PVC (polyvlnylchloride) or a similar heat-shrinkable material.

A plurality of the water treatment substance packages may be provided, and they may be located one above the other within the Inner component wall. In particular, two such packages may be provided, with the packages being separated by a spacer adapted to 00 O

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t permit water access to adjacent axial openings of the packages. The spacer may v' comprise a central portion and a plurality of fins protruding radially outwardly from the central portion.

c The soluble water treatment substance of the tablets may, in particular, be a rapid release compound such as calcium hypochlorite. In one embodiment of the invention, the tablets 00 may comprise calcium hypochlorite and chloride of lime. The tablets may then comprise, by mass, 89.0% to 98.5% calcium hypochlorite, 1% to 10% chloride of lime and 0.5% to CI 5% zinc stearate as tabletting lubricant, and may thus have a composition as described In South African Patent No. 77/00938, which is hence incorporated herein by reference.

However, in another embodiment of the invention, the tablets may include a water soluble dispersing aid which assists in controlling the rate of dispersion or dissolution of the tablet and in particular of the water treatment substance. The dispersing aid may be table salt, i.e. sodium chloride. The tablets may then comprise, by mass, 91% to 96% calcium hypochlorite, 3% to 7% sodium chloride, and 1% to 2% zinc stearate.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a water treatment substance package, which comprises a plurality of water soluble water treatment substance tablets contained within a sleeve having at least one opening in proximity to an outer peripheral surface of one of the tablets.

The water treatment substance package may be as hereinbefore described.

In use, the dispenser will be used for dispensing chlorine into water to be treated, e.g.

swimming pool water. The dispenser will thus float in the water, and water will pass through the primary and secondary openings, enter the water treatment substance packages through the axial openings as well as the openings in the walls of the sleeves, dissolve the water treatment substance, and chlorine containing water will then exit the dispenser along the reverse of this route, thereby to dose the body of water with chlorine.

00 C-I 6 The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying n drawings.

tn In the drawings, c FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a dispenser for dispensing a water treatment 0 substance into water, according to a first embodiment of the inventon; 00 FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the Inner component of the dispenser of Figure 1; 0FIGURE 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 shows a three-dimensional view of one of the water treatment substance packages of the dispenser of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the spacer of the dispenser of Figure 1; FIGURE 6 shows a side view of a dispenser for dispensing a water treatment substance into water, according to a second embodiment of the invention: FIGURE 7 shows a plan view of the dispenser of Figure 6: FIGURE 8 shows a side view of the inner component of the dispenser of Figure 6; and FIGURE 9 shows a side view of the outer component of the dispenser of Figure 6.

In Figures 1 to 5, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention. The dispenser 10 includes an outer component, generally indicated by reference numeral 12. The outer component 12 has a cylindrical wall 14 having a. first operatively upper end 16 as well as a second operatively lower end 18.

Towards its lower end 18, two groups of three primary dispensing openings 20 are provided in the wall 14, with the two groups of dispensing openings 20 being located diametrically opposite each other.

An enclosed bulbous housing 22 protrudes from the operatively upper end 16 of the wall 14 with the inside of the bulbous housing 22 being in communication with the inside of the outer component 12. The housing 22 accommodates a block of polystyrene 24 which Imparts buoyancy to the dispenser 00 cO

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S7 n A pair of diametrically opposed air escape openings 26 are provided on the underside of the housing 22.

c The dispenser 10 also includes an inner component, generally indicated by reference 0 numeral 30. The Inner component 30 comprises a cylindrical wall 32 having an operatively oo upper first end 34 and an operatively lower second end 36. A radially outwardly protruding S circumferentially extending retaining formation 38 is provided at the first end 34 of the wall 32, and engages a complementary retaining formation in the form of a shoulder protruding inwardly from the wall 14 at its upper end 16. At its lower end 36, the wall 32 is provided with knurled gripping formations 42. An end piece 37 closes off the lower end 36 of the wall 32.

Six secondary dispensing openings 44, also arranged in two groups of three which are located diametrically opposite each other, are provided in the wall 32 towards its lower end 36. The secondary dispensing openings 44 are located at the same level as the primary dispensing openings, as seen most cleady In Figure 3. Typically, the openings 44 are located 15mm to 40mm from the wall end 36, and have diameters of 7mm to 11mm.

However, if desired, the openings 44 can be slightly oval shaped, having a slightly greater dimension in the direction of the axis of the wall 32.

The dispenser 10 also includes two water treatment substance packages in accordance with the invention, each generally indicated by reference numeral 50. Each water treatment substance 50 includes four circular tablets 52 located one above the other and encased by a PVC sleeve or wrapper 54 shrink-wrapped over the tablets so that axial openings 56 are provided at either end of the package. A plurality of openings 58 are provided in the wall of the sleeve 55. The openings 58 are arranged in two rows of three openings each, and the rows are spaced apart at an angle a where a is from 20" to Typically, each package 50 comprises four or five tablets of about 150g each.

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C- 8 n In one embodiment of the invention, the tablets may comprise calcium hypochlorite, t n chloride of lime and zinc stearate as hereinbefore described, and may hence have a composition as described in ZA 77/00938.

c- However, in another embodiment of the invention, the tablets may comprise calcium 0 hypochlorite, sodium chloride and zinc stearate, as also hereinbefore described. For oo summer use, i.e. for use in warmer water, the tablet composition may comprise, by mass, S 93% to 96% calcium hypochlorite, 3% to 5% sodium chloride, and 1% to 2% zinc stearate.

For winter use, i.e. for use in colder water, the tablet composition may then comprise, by mass, 91% to 94% sodium hypochlorite, 5% to 7% sodium chloride, and 1% to 2% zinc stearate.

The lowermost package 50 rests on the end piece 37 closing off the lower end 36 of the wall 32, with a spacer, generally indicated by reference numeral 60, separating the two packages. The spacer 60 comprises a core 62 from which a plurality of fins 64 protrudes radially outwardly.

Referring to Figures 6 to 9, reference numeral 100 generally Indicates a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Parts of the dispenser 100 which are the same or similar to those of the dispenser 10 of Figures 1 to 5, are indicated with the same reference numerals.

The dispenser 100 thus also has an outer component 12, having a cylindrical wall 14 which has a first operatively upper end 16 and a second operatively lower end 18. Towards its lower end 18, two groups of three primary dispensing openings 102, 104 and 106 are provided in the wall 14. The two groups of dispensing openings are located diametrically opposite each other. The primary dispensing openings 102, 104 and 106 are each located slightly further away from the wall end 18.

An additional water opening 108 (which is normally covered by a removable nodule) is also provided in the wall 14, and is spaced further from the wall end 18 than the openings 102, 104 and 106. The opening 108 is an additional optional 'winter' setting for pools with very Scold water, to assist in dispensing sufficient chlorine in winter and to prevent the openings S102, 104 and 106 crystallizing closed.

00 Adjacent its upper end 16, the wall 14 is provided with two circumferentially extending Sretaining formations 110 each providing inwardly directed grooves. The diametrically opposed air escape openings 26 are provided Immediately below the operatively lowermost of the formations 110.

At about the level of the openings 26, and in proximity to each of the openings 26, there are provided, on the wall 14, a plurality of circumferentially staggered protrusions 112. each defining, on the inside of the wall 14, a recess, the purpose of which will be explained hereunder.

As indicated most clearly in Figures 6 and 8, the wall 14 has an upper end portion 114 which has a larger diameter than the remainder of the wall 14. The grooves 110 are thus provided In the upper end portion 114.

In contrast to the dispenser 10 of Figures 1 to 5, in the dispenser 100, the bulbous housing S22 defining the buoyancy chamber is not provided on the outer component 12; on the other hand, the knurled gripping formations 42 are provided on a lower end portion 116 of the outer component, with its lower end 18 being closed off with an end cap 118.

The dispenser 100 Includes the Inner component 30. The inner component 30 of the dispenser 100 thus also comprises the cylindrical wall 32.

The bulbous housing 22 is provided at the upper end of the Inner component 30, and is provided with flutes 120, which, in use, are engaged by water re-entering a swimming pool from a pump/filter through a re-entry nozzle, causing the dispenser to rotate. The Applicant 00 believes that this rotation will assist in dispensing of chlorine from the dispenser since chlorine will thereby be urged to pass laterally outwardly to minimize formation of coagulated layers in the base of the dispenser near the apertures 102, 104 and 106.

The inner component 30 also has an enlarged upper portion 122 which is complementary to the enlarged upper portion 114 of the outer component 12. Retaining formations in the 00 form of two circumferentlally extending ridges 124 are provided around the enlarged upper portion 122 of the inner component and are located in the grooves 110 in the outer component, thereby retaining the inner and outer components relative to each other in an axial direction but permitting relative rotation thereof.

In the enlarged upper portion 122 there are also provided two diametrically opposed air escape openings 126. It will be appreciated that the openings 126 are provided at the same level as the air escape openings 26 In the outer component. Immediately adjacent each of the openings 126, is provided a retaining formation 128 which, in use, engages one of the recesses provided by a protrusion 112 In the outer component. The retaining formations 128 and the recesses provided by the protrusions 122 are shaped and dimensioned such that, with the retaining formations 128 located in one set of the recesses, on exerting some rotational force on the inner and outer components, the retaining formations 128 can be urged out of those particular recesses and into adjacent recesses. Thus, the retaining formations 128 and recesses defined by the protrusions 112 provide a simple locking means to prevent inadvertent rotation of the Inner and outer components relative to each other.

It will also be appreciated that the lower end 36 of the component 30 has a closed base 130.

Towards Its lower end 36, the wall 32 is provided with two groups of elongate circumferentially staggered secondary dispensing openings 132, 134 and 136. Three of the openings 132, two of the openings 134 and one opening 136, are provided in each group. The openings 132 are at the same level as the openings 102, the openings 134 at 00

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11 the same level as the openings 104, and the openings 136 at the same level as the openings 106.

n It will be appreciated that the openings 132, 134, 136 and 102, 104, 106 are arranged such that water passage through the openings into the dispenser 10, and hence dosage of the 0 water treatment substance, can be varied from a minimum when, in each of the groups of 00 openings, only the opening 102 is aligned or in register with one of the openings 132, to a O maximum when all of the openings 102, 104 and 106 are aligned with the openings 132, 134 and 136 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser 100 also contains, within the inner component two of the water treatment substance packages 50 and a spacer 60 as hereinbefore described.

The Applicant believes that the dispensers 10, 100 are particularly suited for use in dispensing chlorine into a swimming pool in which they float. It is believed that the dispensers 10, 100 will last for 3 to 5 weeks before the tablets 52 are exhausted. Calcium hypochlorite Is rapid dissolving but leaves inert residues. These residues can be problematic with long lasting dispensers due to crystallization/blocking of dispensing openings, resulting in low or inconsistent chlorine release. Another problem with calcium hypochlorite is the variability in the consistency of the raw material Itself, which introduces variability Into the rate of dissolution in different batches of material. It is believed that this problem is overcome with the dispenser in accordance with the invention.

It is thus believed that the dispenser according to the invention overcomes, or at least addresses, key problems with calcium hypochlorite based floaters, and which relates to the variability of the raw material itself as well as the variability introduced by different environmental conditions. This has primarily been achieved through greater control over the contact area where the water meets the calcium hypochlorite, i.e. at the tablet surfaces.

Thus, in the packages 50, the sleeves or wrappers 54 prevent any water contact with the sides of the tablets, except through the openings 58. Thus, the surface contact area 00

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12 between the water and the tablets is strictly regulated, thereby giving control over this important variable.

It is believed that control is also achieved by virtue thereof that the primary and secondary C openings 20, 44 and 102, 104, 106, 132, 134, 136 are located at a relatively low level, so 8 that chlorinated water travels directly from the surfaces of the tablets through the openings 00 into the main body of water to be treated.

It is believed that the side openings 58 In the packages 50, further assist in eliminating variability of chlorine dosage. The openings 58 are sufficiently large not to clog up and to permit lateral water access onto the tablets, which assists in ongoing dissolution of chlorine into the water. Furthermore, the number of openings 58 can be varied according to the time of year. Thus, in winter when dissolution Is slow due to the low water temperature, typically 8 to 14 of the openings 58 may be provided, while in summer, when the water temperature is higher and dissolution is faster, 2 to 8 of the openings 58 will suffice. Thus, by means of the openings 58, and in particular by varying the number of openings 58, a mechanism Is provided by means of which vast differences in summer and winter pool conditions can be addressed at the point of manufacture of the dispensers 10, 100.

The Applicant believes that when the tablets include sodium chloride as hereinbefore described, fewer openings 58 can be used since the sodium chloride aids in dissolution of the tablets. In such cases, 2 to 4 openings 58 can suffice for summertime use, while In winter, 4 to 6 openings 48 can be used.

Additional adjustment is provided by means of the primary openings 20 and 102, 104, 106 and the secondary openings 44 and 132, 134 and 136. Thus, further adjustment of the degree of dosage of pool water can be effected by varying the degree to which the primary and secondary openings are in register with one another.

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c13 The Applicant thus believes that, by virtue of the openings 58, as well as the adjustability of the effective open areas of the primary and secondary openings, the dispensers 10, 100 will address climatic variations as well as pool/bather variability.

c- It is further believed that consistency is achieved with the dispensers 10, 100 since, in the 0 packages 50, the sleeves 54 inhibit tablet swelling through lateral expansion, and also 00 eliminate the risk of the primary and secondary openings becoming blocked through 0 crystallization or accumulation of undissolved inerts.

Still further, the fact that the primary dispensing openings are located at a relatively low level, rheans that chlorinated water exiting the dispensers 10, 100 enters the pool remotely from the pool surface; additionally, there Is a more direct path from the tablets 52 to the primary dispensing openings, contributing to more effective dosage.

Apart from being used to adjust chlorine dosage, the primary and secondary dispenser openings, which are relatively large, will not be prone to blockage with inerts. Still further, the large dispensing openings lead to good performance as hereinbefore described, and are also convenient to a consumer, since they do not require the cutting off of nodules to create openings, before the dispenser is used.

The dispensers 10, 100 are also relatively inexpensive to manufacture and, as emerges from what is set out above, easy to use.

Additionally, due to the manner in which the openings 58 are arranged, I.e. on one side only of the package 50, the sleeve 54 protects the tablets from the water as long as possible. If the holes 58 were to be evenly spaced around the sleeve 54, there would be a risk, as the tablets dissolve away from the surface of the sleeve, of tablet contact area with the sleeves 54 being diminished. For example, if the tablets were eroded from all sides, i.e. if the holes 58 were spaced evenly around the sleeve 54, after a while the weight of the tablets would make them collapse in a heap at the bottom of the sleeve, rendering them vulnerable to water agitation. By arranging the openings 58 in two rows spaced 20' to 00

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14 Sapart, water erosion takes places in only one segment of each package. There thus remains sufficient contact area between the sleeve and the tablets to hold them In place and to protect them for an extended period of time.

SMost dispensers using calcium hypochlorite-based tablets contain, as part of the tablet formulation, also lime or chloride of lime as a binder to assist the tablets in dissolving 0 0 slowly. While such tablets work well where there is a steady water flow around the tablets, in a confined space, such as inside a floating dispenser, the formation of a thick lime-based sludge that not only interferes with tablet dissolution but also speeds up clogging of the dispensing apertures, can result. In the dispensers 10, 100, the use of the sleeves 52 enclosed within the walls, slow down dissolution of the tablets sufficiently so that the use of lime-based bonding agents (and the drawbacks associated therewith) can be avoided. The use of the sleeve openings 58 and the sodium chloride overcomes excessive slow-down of dissolution. In particular, the sodium chloride ensures, through its greater solubility over calcium hypochlorite, that the tablets will keep on dissolving even when the water temperature is low, ie it allows the water to keep 'burrowing' into the tablets. The salt also assists in reducing the amount of sludge formed.

The dispensers 10, 100 thus, in essence, rely on the interplay between three main factors, namely the sleeves 52, the amount of sodium chloride in the tablets, and regulation of water flow by means of the dispensing openings 20 and 44 (dispenser 10) and 102, 104, 106 and 132, 134, 136 (dispenser 100).

Claims

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein the cylindrical wall of the outer component has a first end which, in use, is directed operatively upwardly and a second end which, in use, Is directed operatively downwardly, with the primary dispensing opening being located towards the second end of the outer component wall.
3. A dispenser according to Claim 2, wherein a plurality of the primary dispensing openings are provided, with the primary dispensing openings being arranged In two groups located diametrically opposite each other.
4. A dispenser according to Claim 3, wherein the cylindrical wall of the inner component has a first end which, in use, is directed operatively upwardly, and a second end which, in use, is directed operatively downwardly, with a second end portion of the 00 16 Inner component wall protruding beyond the second end of the outer component wall and being provided with gripping formations to facilitate rotation of the inner component relative to the outer component. A dispenser according to Claim 4, wherein the inner component wall Is provided with a retaining formation which engages a complementary retaining formation 00 provided on the inside of the outer component wall.
6. A dispenser according to Claim 3, wherein the cylindrical wall of the inner component has a first end which, in use, is directed operatively upwardly, and a second end which, in use, is directed operatively downwardly, with a first end portion of the inner component wall protruding beyond the first end of the outer component wall, and with the inner component wall being provided with a retaining formation which engages a complementary retaining formation provided on the wall of the outer component.
7. A dispenser according to Claim 6, wherein the second end of the outer component wall is provided with gripping formations to facilitate rotation of the outer component relative to the inner component.
8. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 4 to 7 inclusive, wherein a plurality of the secondary dispensing openings are provided, and wherein the secondary dispensing openings are arranged In similar groups to the primary dispensing openings, with the secondary dispensing openings thus being located towards the second end of the wall of the inner component.
9. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 2 to 8 inclusive, wherein the buoyancy means comprises a buoyancy chamber provided at the first end of one of the components, with the inside of the buoyancy chamber being in communication with the inside of that component, and with a buoyancy imparting substance being provided inside the buoyancy chamber. 00 O O 17 C- 10. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 Inclusive, wherein the tablets are circular when seen in plan view, with each tablet having a diameter which is greater than its thickness, and with each tablet thus having two planar circular surfaces and an outer peripherally or circumferentially extending surface between the planar surfaces, and with the tablets being located one against the other with their planar surfaces abutting each other, so that they are in the form of a stack, and with the opening thus being Sprovided in a wall of the sleeve.
11. A dispenser according to Claim 10, wherein a plurality of the sleeve wall openings are provided,
12. A dispenser according to Claim 11, wherein the sleeve is shrink-wrapped around the stack of tablets.
13. A dispenser according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the sleeve wall openings are arranged in a plurality of rows.
14. A dispenser according to Claim 13, wherein the sleeve wall .openings are arranged in two parallel rows, which are spaced apart at an angle between 200 and r.V A dispenser according to any one of Claims 11 to 14 inclusive, wherein the sleeve wall openings are more-or-less circular, and have nominal diameters of from 6mm to 7mm.
16. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 11 to 15 inclusive, wherein from 2 to 14 of the sleeve wall openings are provided.
17. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 11 to 16 inclusive wherein, in addition to the plurality of sleeve wall openings, axial openings are provided at both ends of the sleeve. 00 O O I 18 c- 18. A dispenser according to Claim 17, wherein two water treatment substance 2 packages are provided, and are located one above the other within the inner component wall, with the packages being separated by a spacer adapted to permit water access to kv adjacent axial openings of the packages. 0 19. A dispenser according to Claim 18, wherein the spacer comprises a central oo portion and a plurality of fins protruding radially outwardly from the central portion. A water treatment substance package, which comprises a plurality of water soluble water treatment substance tablets contained within a sleeve having at least one opening In proximity to an outer peripheral surface of one of the tablets.
21. A water treatment substance package according to Claim 20, wherein the tablets are circular when seen in plan view, with each tablet having a diameter which is greater than its thickness, and with each tablet thus having two planar circular surfaces and an outer peripherally or circumferentially extending surface between the planar surfaces, and with the tablets being located one against the other with their planar surfaces abutting each other, to form a stack of the tablets, and with the opening being provided in a wall of the sleeve.
22. A water treatment substance package according to Claim 21, wherein a plurality of the sleeve wall openings are provided.
23. A water treatment substance package according to Claim 22, wherein the sleeve is shrink-wrapped around the stack of tablets.
24. A water treatment substance package according to Claim 22 or Claim 23, wherein the sleeve wall openings are arranged in a plurality of rows. 00 O O S19 A water treatment substance package according to Claim 24, wherein the sleeve wall openings are arranged in two parallel rows, which are spaced apart at an angle between 200 and 500. O 26. A water treatment substance package according to any one of Claims 22 to c 25 inclusive, wherein the sleeve wall openings are more-or-less circular, and have 00 O diameters of from 5mm to 7mm.
27. A water treatment substance package according to any one of Claims 22 to 26 Inclusive, wherein from 2 to 14 of the sleeve wall openings are provided.
28. A water treatment substance package according to any one of Claims 22 to 27 inclusive, wherein axial openings are provided at either end of the sleeve, in addition to the plurality of sleeve wall openings.