CA2690890C - Method and apparatus for generating ozone containing fluid and foam - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment and mixing the ozonated air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid air mixture. Preferably, the method is carried out in a pump having the air compartment, more preferably with the air compartment having a volume which varies with operation of the pump. Preferably, the ozonated fluid-air mixture are dispensed in the form of a foam.

Description

Title METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OZONE
CONTAINING FLUID AND FOAM

Scope of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus of generating ozone containing fluids including foam and, more particularly, to a method of dispensing and dispensers for dispensing fluids containing ozone, preferably as a foam of ozonated air and liquid.

100021 This invention also relates to an advantageous construction of a pump for use in dispensing fluids with or without ozone.

Background of the Invention 100031 Many fluids are known as useful for cleaning and disinfecting.
100041 Ozone (03) is a strong oxidizing agent having an oxygenation potential more than 1.5 times that of chlorine and approximately 1.2 times that of hydrogen peroxide. Ozone is normally produced by passing an oxygen-containing gas through ultraviolet light or a corona discharge. Ozone has been shown to be a relatively reactive oxidant capable of destroying pathogenic microorganisms. Ozone naturally decomposes into oxygen within relatively short periods of time.
[0005] Presently known devices do not provide for adequate methods or apparatus for generation and dispensing of small amounts of ozone as can be useful, for example, in hand cleaning soap dispensers.
[00061 Piston pumps are known for engagement in the neck of a fluid containing bottle to dispense fluid from the bottle. Such known pumps suffer a disadvantage as to the limited volume which can be provided in compartments formed in the pump, particularly compartments to receive air.

Summary of the Invention [00071 To at least partially overcome some of these disadvantages of previously known devices, the present invention provides a method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment and mixing the ozonated air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid air mixture.
Preferably, the method is carried out in a pump having the air compartment, more preferably with the air compartment having a volume which varies with operation of the pump.
Preferably, the ozonated fluid-air mixture are dispensed in the form of a foam.

[00081 To at least partially overcome other disadvantages of the previously known devices, the present invention provides a construction for a piston pump to be received in a neck of a container having a compartment outside the neck of a greater diameter than the diameter of the neck.
10009] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for generating ozone containing fluids, preferably, as a foam in small amounts as suitable for use in dispensing from, for example, wall mounted hand cleaning fluid dispensers.

[0010] Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for a pump assembly, preferably one adapted to generate ozone with an air compartment within the pump.

[0011] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising:

drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the compartment of oxygen in the air within the compartment into ozone to form ozonated air, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment, mixing the ozonated discharged air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet.
[0012] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising:

providing a pump having an air compartment, operating the pump in a cycle of operation including the steps of drawing atmospheric air into the air compartment and discharging air from the air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the air compartment of oxygen in the air within the air compartment into ozone to form ozonated air in the air compartment, mixing the ozonated air with a flowable fluid to fon n a ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet.
100131 Preferably, the method involves generating ozone within the air compartment by radiating air in the compartment with radiation adequate to convert the oxygen into ozone.
Preferably, the radiation is ultraviolet radiation and the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the compartment of at least 0.1 %
immediately after creating the ozone, more preferably, with the initial ozone concentration to be in the range of 0.05% to 5%. Preferably, the liquid is capable of foaming and the method includes passing the ozonated air and flowable fluid simultaneously through a foam generator to generate foam for discharge out of the discharge outlet.

100141 Preferably, the pump has a liquid chamber in communication with a reservoir containing the flowable fluid and the cycle of operation of the pump includes the steps of drawing liquid into the liquid compartment, discharging liquid from the liquid compartment including discharging the liquid from the liquid compartment before mixing the liquid with the ozonated air.

[00151 Preferably, the pump comprises a housing and an impeller movable within the housing such as a piston or rotor with the air compartment and liquid compartment formed within the housing between the housing and the impeller. Preferably, the impeller is movable relative the housing in a cycle of operation in which the air compartment has a variable volume which changes from a minimum volume to a maximum volume and with the step of generating ozone in each cycle including generating ozone when the volume of the air compartment is proximate its maximum. Preferably, the pump may be selected from a piston pump and a rotary displacement pump.

100161 Preferably, the air compartment is defined at least in part by a wall of the housing which transmits ultraviolet radiation and the method includes passing ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air compartment to irradiate air in the air compartment with radiation adequate to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.
100171 Preferably, the method includes controlling the generation of ozone in the air chamber such that if a predetermined period of time passes after last generation of ozone without discharge of air from the air compartment, then additional ozone is generated within the air compartment as to compensate for natural decomposition of the ozone into oxygen.
100181 In another aspect, the present invention provides a hand cleaner dispenser dispensing ozone containing fluid onto a user's hand comprising:

a fluid containing reservoir, a pump mechanism including a housing and an impeller movable within the housing, an air compartment and a liquid compartment formed within the housing between the housing and impeller, the impeller movable relative the housing in a cycle of operation (a) to successively draw atmospheric air into the air compartment and discharge air from the air compartment and (b) to successively draw liquid from the reservoir into the liquid compartment and discharge liquid from the liquid compartment, the air compartment defined at least in part by a wall of the housing which is transmits ultraviolet radiation, an emitter of ultraviolet radiation when activated directs ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air compartment to irradiate air in the air compartment with ultraviolet radiation adequate to convert oxygen in the air in the air compartment into ozone forming ozonated air, and a mixing chamber for simultaneous passage of ozonated air which has been discharged from the air compartment and fluid which has been discharged from the liquid compartment.

[00191 Preferably, the pump mechanism is selected from a piston pump and a rotary displacement pump.
[0020] Where the pump is a piston pump, a preferred arrangement is with the piston pump attached to a fluid containing reservoir with the air compartment provided to be external of the reservoir with a wall of the housing forming the air compartment being accessible to provide for a radiation of air within the air compartment via an ultraviolet emitter. To provide for increased volume of the air chamber, the air chamber can advantageously be provided to have a diameter which is greater than a diameter of an outlet from the fluid containing reservoir.

Brief Description of the Drawings 100211 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
10022] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing the combination of-a piston pump assembly in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention with the piston in a fully extended position; a fluid containing reservoir; and an ultraviolet radiation emitter;

10023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the pump assembly the same as in Figure 1 but with the piston in a fully retracted position;
100241 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the piston of the pump assembly shown in Figure 1;

[00251 Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an automated fluid dispenser incorporating a pump assembly, reservoir and emitter as shown in Figure 1;

[00261 Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a manually operated fluid dispenser incorporating the pump assembly, reservoir and emitter of Figure 1;
[0027] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view showing a second embodiment of a pump assembly in a retracted position in combination with a dispenser and emitter;
[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic elevation view of the front of a dispenser in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 is a pictorial rear view of the pump assembly of Figure 7;

100301 Figure 9 is a front perspective exploded view of the pump of Figure 7;
100311 Figure 10 is a rear view in cross-section through the mixing pump shown in Figure 7; and [00321 Figure 11 shows a fourth embodiment of a dispenser using a corona discharge unit in combination with a rotary foam pump.

Detailed Description of the Drawings 100331 Reference is made first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 which show a first embodiment of a pump assembly generally indicated 10 in combination with a fluid containing reservoir 60 and an ultraviolet radiation emitter 99. Pump assembly 10 comprises two principal elements, a piston chamber-forming member or body 12 and a piston forming element or piston 14 which has a configuration similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication US
2009/0145296 to Ophardt et al published June 11, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[00341 The piston chamber-forming body 12 has three cylindrical portions illustrated to be of different radii, forming three chambers, an inner chamber 20, an intermediate chamber 22, and an outer chamber 24, all coaxially disposed about an axis 26. The intermediate cylindrical chamber 22 is of the smallest radii. The outer cylindrical chamber 24 is of a radius which is larger than that of the intermediate cylindrical chamber 22.
The inner cylindrical chamber 20 is of a radius greater than that of the intermediate cylindrical chamber 22 and, as well, is shown to be of a radius which is less than the radius of the outer cylindrical chamber 24.

10035] The inner chamber 20 has an inlet opening 28 and an outlet opening 29.
The inner chamber has a cylindrical chamber side wall 30. The outlet opening 29 opens into an inlet end of the intermediate chamber 22 from an opening in a shoulder 31 forming an outer end of the inner chamber 20. The intermediate chamber 22 has an inlet opening, an outlet opening 32, and a cylindrical chamber side wall 33. The outlet opening 32 of the intermediate chamber 22 opens into an inlet end of the outer chamber 24 from an opening in a shoulder 34 forming the inner end of the outer chamber 24. The outer chamber 24 has an inlet opening, outlet opening and a cylindrical chamber side wall 36.

100361 Piston 14 is axially slidably received in the body 12. The piston 14 has an elongate stem 38 upon which four discs are provided at axially spaced locations. An inner flexing disc 40 is provided at an innermost end spaced axially from an intermediate flexing disc 42 which, in turn, is spaced axially from an outer sealing disc 44. The inner disc 40 is adapted to be axially slidable within the inner chamber 20. The intermediate disc 42 is adapted to be axially slidable within the intermediate chamber 22.
100371 The intermediate disc 42 has a resilient peripheral edge which is directed outwardly and adapted to prevent fluid flow inwardly yet to deflect to permit fluid flow outwardly therepast. Similarly, the inner disc 40 has a resilient outer peripheral edge which is directed outwardly and is adapted to prevent fluid flow inwardly yet to deflect to permit fluid flow outwardly therepast.
10038] The outer sealing disc 44 is adapted to be axially slidable within the outer cylindrical chamber 24. The outer sealing disc 44 extends radially outwardly from the stem 38 to sealably engage the side wall 36 of the outer chamber 24, and prevent flow therepast either inwardly or outwardly. The outer sealing disc 44 carries an upwardly inwardly extending cylindrical tube 300 such that an annular central fluid sump 302 is defined inside the tube 300 between the tube 300 and the stem 38 above outer disc 44. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the piston chamber-forming body 12 has an inwardly extending cylindrical recess 304 sized to receive the tube 300 therein but with clearance to provide for fluid passage therebetween.
100391 The piston 14 essentially forms, as defined between the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42, an annular inner compartment 64, sometimes referred to herein as a liquid compartment or inner liquid compartment, which opens radially outwardly as an annular opening between the discs 40 and 42. Similarly, the piston 14 effectively forms between the intermediate sealing disc 42 and the outer sealing disc 44 an annular outer compartment 66, sometimes referred to herein as an air compartment or an outer air compartment, which opens radially outwardly as an annular opening between the discs 42 and 44.

[00401 The stem 38 has an outermost hollow tubular portion 202 with a cylindrical side wall 204 generally coaxially about the central axis 26 defining a central passageway 46 within the tubular portion 202. The central passageway 46 extends from an outlet 48 at the outermost end 50 of the stem 38 centrally through the stem 38 to a closed inner end 52.
100411 The cylindrical side wall 204 of the hollow tubular portion 202 of the stem 38 extends radially of the central axis 26 from an inner side wall surface 206 to an outer side wall surface 207. An inlet passageway 54 provides communication through the stem 38 into the central passageway 46. The inlet passageway 54 extends through the cylindrical side wall 204 from an inner opening 208 in the inner side wall surface 206 to an outer opening 210 in the outer side wall surface 207. The inlet passageway 54 has its outer opening 210 located on the stem 38 in between the outer disc 44 and the intermediate disc 42. The inlet passageway 54 in extending from the inner opening 208 to the outer opening 210 radially outwardly and axially outwardly so as to provide the inner opening 208 located on the stem 38 axially inwardly from the outer opening 210. The inlet passageway 54 extends about an inlet axis extending in a flat plane including the central axis 26 and with the inlet axis in that flat plane extending at an angle to the central axis 26 as the inlet axis extends radially outwardly and axially outwardly.

100421 The inlet passageway 54 has its inner opening 208 at a height above the height of its outer opening 210.

[00431 A foam inducing screen 56 is provided in the central passageway 46 intermediate between the inner opening 208 and the outlet 48. The screen 56 may be fabricated of plastic, wire or cloth material. It may comprise a porous ceramic measure. The screen 56 provides small apertures through which an air and liquid mixture may be passed to aid foam production as by production of turbulent flow through small pores or apertures of the screen thereof in a known manner.
100441 The piston 14 carries an engagement flange or disc 62 on the stem 38 outward from the outer sealing disc 44. The engagement disc 62 is provided for engagement by an activating device in order to move the piston 14 in and out of the body 12.

10045] The piston chamber-forming body 12 carries an inwardly directed annular flange 306 which is threaded on a radially inwardly directed surface and adapted to threadably engage in a sealed manner with the threads on the neck 58 of the container 60.
The neck 58 extends, as seen in Figure 1, downwardly into an outwardly extending annular cavity formed between the flange 306 and a cylindrical portion defining the inner chamber 20.
100461 Figures 1 and 2 show the ultraviolet radiation emitter 99 as being positioned proximate an exterior surface 309 of a wall 310 of the body 12 within which the outer chamber 24 is defined. The emitter 99 is adapted to emit ultraviolet radiation radially through this wall 310 into the outer air compartment 66 so as to generate ozone in the outer compartment 66 by converting oxygen of the air within the outer compartment 66 into ozone.
The emitter 99 is preferably operated in a controlled manner such that ultraviolet radiation is emitted into the air compartment 66 at times when the ultraviolet radiation emitted will impinge upon air within the outer air compartment 66. Thus, for example, it is preferable to emit radiation via the emitter 99 into the air compartment 66 as when the air compartment 66 contains air as, for example, when the outer disc 44 is in a position below the emitter 99, such as when the piston 14 is in the fully extended position as shown in Figure 1 and positions reasonably proximate thereto such as in positions in which the piston 14 is closer to the extended position shown in Figure 1 than to the retracted position shown in Figure 2.
[0047] In the first embodiment of the pump assembly 10 as shown in Figure 2, in the fully retracted position, the air chamber 66 contains substantially no air and, therefore, in the retracted position shown in Figure 2, emitted radiation from the emitter 99 will not practically serve to generate ozone in the air compartment. The emitter 99 may be controlled in a manner to be operated to emit radiation provided that any radiation emitted will reasonably impinge upon air within the air chamber 66.
[00481 In a withdrawal stroke with movement from the retracted position of Figure 2 to the extended position of Figure 1, the volume between the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 decreases such that fluid is displaced outwardly past the intermediate disc 42 to between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44. At the same time, the volume in the annular outer compartment 66 between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44 increases, with such increase being greater than the volume decrease in the annular inner compartment 64 between the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 such that in addition to the fluid displaced outwardly past intermediate disc 42, what is referred to herein as inhaled material namely air, liquid and/or foam is drawn inwardly via the outlet 48, central passageway 46, and the inlet passageway 54 into the annular outer compartment 66 between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44.

[0049] In a retraction stroke from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2, the volume in the annular outer compartment 66 between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44 decreases such that what is referred to herein as exhaled material namely air, any ozone generated, liquid and/or foam in the annular outer compartment 66 and in the central passageway 46 above the screen 56 is forced under pressure out through the screen 56. The gas comprising air and any ozone present plus the liquid simultaneously passing through the screen 56 are mixed and commingled producing foam which is discharged out the outlet 48.
At the same time, in the retraction stroke, the volume in the annular outer compartment 66 between the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 increases drawing liquid from inside the fluid containing reservoir or container past the inner disc 40.
[0050] Reciprocal movement of the piston 14 between the retracted and extended positions will successively draw and pump precise amounts of liquid from the container and mix such liquid with air drawn from the atmosphere and dispense the liquid commingled with the air as a foam.

100511 Preferably, in the course of one cycle of the piston 14, ozone is generated from oxygen in the air compartment to create ozonated air which is discharged in the retraction stroke so as to mix with the liquid and form ozonated air-liquid mixture as foam.
[0052] In a typical withdrawal stroke, the inhaled material includes material in the inlet passageway 54 and the central passageway 46, whether inwardly or outwardly of the screen 56, at the end of the last retraction stroke. Such material may typically include foam which substantially fills the central passageway 46 outward of the screen, and foam, liquid and/or air and ozone in the central passageway 46 inwardly of the screen 56 and foam, liquid and/or air and ozone in the inlet passageway 54.

100531 The annular outer compartment 66 is, in effect, a closed bottom compartment forming a major sump whose bottom is defined by the outer disc 44, sides are defined by the side wall 36 and the inner side wall surface 206 of the stem 38 and with an overflow outlet defined by the inner opening 208 of the inlet passageway 54. Within this major sump, the annular central sump 302 is defined within the tube 300 with the sump volume of the central sump 302 being the volume of liquid which may be retained within the tube 300 above the outer disc 44 against over flow out the inlet passageway 54 to the central passageway 46.
100541 In a retraction stroke, the material in the annular outer compartment 66 is forced out of the outer compartment 66 via the outer opening 210 of the inlet passageway 54. In the retraction stroke, the expelled material includes air, and any ozone generated and due to a venturi effect, the air being expelled through the outer opening 210 of the inlet passageway 54 entrains liquid and foam in the central sump 302 in the annular outer compartment 66 and draws the level of material in the sump down typically to the height of outer opening 210 of the inlet passageway 54. Subsequently, in the next withdrawal stroke, the inhaled material is drawn into the annular outer compartment 66 via the inlet passageway 54 and, simultaneously, a next allotment of liquid from the annular inner compartment 64 is forced from the annular inner compartment 64 past the intermediate disc 42 into the annular outer compartment 66. The inhaled material and the allotment of liquid come to sit in the central sump 302 with the liquid at the bottom of the sump, the foam above the liquid and air above the foam. With the passage of time, foam in the sump will tend to coalesce, that is, separate into air and liquid, with such coalesced liquid increasing the level of liquid in the sump. In so far as the level of liquid in the central sump 302 is below the inner opening 208 liquid will not flow due to gravity from the outer compartment 66 into the central passageway 46.
100551 Operation of the pump assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 will draw liquid out of a container 60 creating a vacuum therein. The pump assembly is preferably adapted for use with a collapsible container 60. Alternatively, a suitable vent mechanism may be provided if desired as, for example, for use in a non-collapsible container to permit atmospheric air to enter the container 60 and prevent a vacuum being built up therein.

100561 Both the piston 14 and the body 12 may be formed as unitary elements or from a minimal number of elements from plastic as by injection molding.
100571 Reference is now made to Figure 4 which shows a liquid soap dispenser generally indicated 70 utilizing the pump assembly 10 of Figures 1 to 3 secured in the neck 58 of a sealed, collapsible container or reservoir 60 containing liquid hand soap 68 to be dispensed.
Dispenser 70 has a housing generally indicated 78 to receive and support the pump assembly and the reservoir 60. Housing 78 is shown with a back plate assembly 80 for mounting the housing, for example, to a building wall 82. A support plate 84 extends forwardly from the back plate assembly 80 to support and receive the reservoir 60 and pump assembly 10.
The bottom support plate 84 has a forwardly opening 86 therethrough. The reservoir 60 sits supported on the support plate 84 with the neck 58 of the reservoir 60 extending through opening 86 and secured in the opening as by a friction fit, clamping and the like.
[0058] An actuator slide plate 314 is slidably mounted to the housing 78 for limited vertical movement in the direction indicated by the arrow 316. In a known manner, the housing 78 may have two side plates with one side plate 315 on each lateral side thereof which extends downwardly from the support plate 84. The actuator slide plate 314 may extend laterally between these side plates 318 of the dispenser and be engaged within vertical slide grooves 320 and 322 shown in each side plate 315 to guide the slide plate 314 in vertical sliding. The actuator slide plate 314 has a forwardly opening cavity 322 formed therein such that the piston 14 may be slid rearwardly into the cavity 322 so as to receive the engagement flange 62 within the cavity and couple the piston 14 to the slide plate 314 such that vertical sliding of the slide plate 314 slides the piston 14 coaxially within the body 12.
100591 The back plate assembly 80 is shown to include an interior plate 324 and a rear cover 326 forming a cavity 328 therebetween. The emitter 99 is shown as mounted to the interior plate 324 in an aperture passing therethrough. A motor 330 is schematically shown as provided in the cavity 328 which rotates about axis 331 and output shaft 332 carrying a rotating wheel 334 coaxially with the shaft. A crank pin 336 is mounted at one circumferential location on the wheel. The crank pin 336 is received within a rearwardly opening horizontally extending slot in the slide plate 314. With rotation of the shaft 332 and wheel 334, engagement between the crank pin 336 and the slide plate 314 will cause the slide plate 314 to slide vertically upwardly and downwardly in a reciprocal manner relative to the housing 70.

100601 Within the cavity 328, there is schematically shown a control mechanism 330 and a power source 332. The control mechanism 330 controls the manner of distribution of power to the motor 330 and emitter 99. A sensing device 340 is provided on the plate 324 as, for example, to sense the presence of a user's hand underneath the discharge outlet 48 of the pump 10 and activate the operation of the pump 10 in known manners. This sensing device 340 is also connected to the control mechanism 330. The control mechanism 330 may have various manners for remotely communicating with control systems or other devices and, in this regard, a communication mechanism 334 is shown in the cavity 328 connected to the control mechanism 330 which may comprise various means for wired or wireless communication with external communication devices and controllers such as through preferred WI-FI connections with the Internet and external computerized controls.
100611 The control mechanism 330 in controlling the rotation of the motor 330 controls and is aware of the relative location of the piston 14 relative to the piston chamber-forming body 12. As a function of the position of the piston 14 with the body 12, the control mechanism 330 can control when ultraviolet radiation is emitted by the emitter 99. The control mechanism 330 can, as well, control the amount of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the emitter 99 as to, for example, intensity and duration. Preferably in a cycle of operation, the control mechanism 330 controls the emitter 99 to emit radiation into the air compartment 66 adequate to generate ozone in the air in a concentration useful for destroying pathogens.
The amount of such ozone is not to be limited, however, preferably, the initial concentration of ozone after generation is at least 0.05% ozone, more preferably, at least 0.1% ozone. As used in this application, the percent of ozone is the volumentric percent of molecules of ozone in the gas at 20 C.

100621 Preferably, in each cycle of operation of a pump, adequate ozone is generated so as to provide the desired levels of ozone in the air in the air compartment.

100631 The control mechanism is also to be operated in a manner so as to maintain an adequate concentration of ozone in air in the air compartment having regard firstly to the natural decomposition of ozone into oxygen with the passage of time and having regard to the time that has passed since the pump was first operated in the cycle of operation to dispense air. For example, if some time has passed since the pump was last cycled, the control mechanism may generate additional ozone at periodic intervals so as to replace ozone in the air compartment which has decomposed back into oxygen. For example, if there is no operation of the pump, then ozone may again be generated every fifteen minutes or every half hour. As well, the amount of radiation which maybe generated in each successive generation of ozone can be suitably controlled by the control mechanism, possibly to provide for energy efficient generation.
100641 During the period of time when the dispenser is not expected to be used, then the control mechanism can, for example, discontinue the generation of ozone and with knowledge that it has discontinued generation of ozone, if the pump mechanism is to be cycled when the ozone would be depleted in the air compartment, the control mechanism could ensure that adequate ozone is generated before the dispenser is permitted to be cycled.
The control mechanism may be able to generate ozone in a significantly small period of time as by increasing the energy of the radiation emitted through one emitter or by emitting radiation through a number of emitters simultaneously.
100651 As to the power supply 332 which may be used, the power supply may comprise permanent hardwired AC electrical supply or, for example, replaceable batteries.
100661 Reference is made to Figure 5 which illustrates a second embodiment of a dispenser which is adapted to be manually operated. The manually operated dispenser of Figure 5 is substantially identical to the automated dispenser shown in Figure 4 with the exception that the motor, its shaft, wheel and crank pin are removed.
100671 In the manually operated embodiment of the dispenser of Figure 5 between the side plates 315 of the dispenser, there is carried at a forward portion an actuating lever 88 journalled for pivoting about a horizontal axis at 90. The lever 88 carries an arm 94 to engage the actuator slide plate 314 such that manual movement of the lower handle end 96 of lever 88 towards the right in the direction indicated by arrow 98 slides the slide plate 314 and therefore piston 14 inwardly in a retraction pumping stroke. On release of the lower handle end 96, a spring 102 disposed between the housing 78 and the slide plate 314 biases the slide plate 314 downwardly to move the lever and the piston 14 to the fully withdrawn position seen in Figure 4.
[00681 The slide plate 314 is adapted to permit manual coupling and uncoupling of the piston 14 as is necessary to remove and replace reservoir 60 and pump assembly 10.
10069] The manually operated embodiment in Figure 5 continues to have the control mechanism 330, power source 332, communication unit 334 and sensor 340 as in the embodiment of Figure 4. While not necessary, to assist the control mechanism in controlling the operation of the pump assembly 10, preferably a mechanism is provided whereby the controller will know the relative position of the piston 14 in the body. This, for example, can be accomplished by a magnet 350 carried in the slot of the slide plate 314 whose position may be sensed by a magnetic sensor or sensors 352 carried on the interior plate 324 and coupled to the control mechanism.

100701 The manual movement of the lever 88 may be utilized to generate electrical energy which can be used to charge the power source with the power source, for example, being rechargeable batteries or capacitors.**
[00711 Other mechanisms for moving the piston 14 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 can be provided including other mechanized and motorized mechanisms.
10072] In use of the dispenser 70, once exhausted, the empty, collapsed reservoir 60 together with the attached pump 10 are removed and a new reservoir 60 and attached pump may be inserted into the housing. Preferably, the removed reservoir 60 with its attached pump 10 are both made entirely out of recyclable plastic material which can easily be recycled without the need for disassembly prior to cutting and shredding.
[0073] It is to be appreciated that in the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 form a first stepped pump and, similarly, the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44 form a second stepped pump. The first pump and second pump are out of phase in the sense that in any one retraction or extension stroke while one pump is drawing fluid in, the other is discharging fluid out. This is not necessary in accordance with the present invention.
[0074] Reference is made to Figure 6 which shows a second embodiment of a pump assembly 10 of the present invention with the piston 14 in an extended position. The pump assembly 10 of Figure 6 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 but modified to show a number of different features.

[0075] In a first difference, the air compartment 66 in the fully retracted position continues to have a volume which will contain air. Thus, as seen in the fully retracted position in Figure 6, there continues to be a volume of air in the air compartment 66. This has the advantage that radiation from the emitter 99 can be emitted into the chamber 66 at all times during a cycle of operation and still impinge on air in the air compartment. However, the relative volume of the air chamber 66 in the fully retracted position may be selected so as to ensure that there is adequate pressurization of air in the air compartment 66 in a cycle of operation for dispensing of air and fluid from the discharge outlet 48.

100761 The relative volume of air which may be in the air compartment 66 in Figure 6 in a fully retracted position may, for example, be selected to be merely enough air that radiation emitted by the emitter 99 will have sufficient air to impinge on to create the ozone. Of course, in accordance with the first embodiment of the pump assembly 10 shown in Figures l and 2, likely a preferred arrangement is to control the operation of the emitter 99 so as to only emit radiation at times when the radiation will impinge upon air in the chamber having regard to the relative position of the piston 14 in the body 12 in a cycle of operation.
100771 As a second difference, the embodiment of Figure 6 differs from the embodiment of Figure 1 in that the foam producing screen 56 has been eliminated and replaced by a nozzle member 156 disposed proximate the outlet 48 to at least partially atomized fluid when liquid and air pass therethrough simultaneously. Nozzle member 156 is shown to always be open to provide communication between the atmosphere and the central passageway 46. The nozzle member 156 receives the ozonated air and the liquid and further mixes them in passage therethrough to discharge an ozonated air and liquid mixture. The ozonated air and the liquid are mixed firstly in being passed together through the inlet passageway 56 and the passageway 46.

[0078] In a third difference, the inlet passageway 54 extend ends normal to the axis 26 rather than being inclined.
[0079] As a fourth difference in Figure 6, the inner chamber 20 is of a smaller diameter than the intermediate chamber 22 and the intermediate chamber 22 is of a smaller diameter than the outer chamber 24. In Figure 6, the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 form a first stepped pump and the intermediate disc 42 an the outer disc 44 form a second stepped pump. The two stepped pumps are in phase in a sense that both operate to discharge fluid outwardly on a retraction stroke and to draw fluid in between their respective discs on an extension stroke. In an extension stroke, the inner pump effectively serves to draw liquid from the reservoir and between the inner disc 40 and the intermediate disc 42 and to discharge it past the intermediate disc 42 between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44. The second pump serves to draw air inwardly into between the intermediate disc 42 and the outer disc 44 in a withdrawal stroke and to discharge liquid and air outwardly through the outlet 48 in a retraction stroke.
10080] A fifth difference of Figure 6 is that the outer wall of the body 12 has a constant outer diameter extending radially outwardly a constant amount about the threaded portion 306 and the wall 310.
100811 A sixth difference in Figure 6 is that the wall 310 defining the outer chamber 24 is extended axially outwardly to beyond the discharge end 48 of the piston 14 when the piston is in the fully retracted position. This has the advantage that the piston in the retracted position is protected by the body 12 against contact or damage and this can be of assistance in avoiding the need for a cap. Additionally, as a seventh difference in Figure 6, an optional, removable cap 340 is shown removably engaged to the outer end of the wall 310 and enclosing the piston 14 within the outer chamber 24 as can be advantageous to seal the piston 14 within the chamber 24 against contamination prior to use by removal of the cap.
[0082] In the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 6, merely a single emitter 99 has been shown. However, one or more emitters may be provided in various positions about the air compartment 66. For example, two or more emitters 99 may be provided as circumferentially spaced locations about the wall 310 of the body 12 yet located to not impede the ability of the reservoir 60 and its pump assembly to be coupled and uncoupled to the dispenser 70.
[00831 One emitter 99 is shown in solid lines in Figure 1 as emitting radiation radially into the air chamber 66. Air within the air compartment 66 may be irradiated by radiation from an emitter disposed at any direction. For example, as shown in Figure 4, a second emitter 99a is shown adapted to direct radiation axially through a thin walled axially extending shoulder 311 into the air compartment 66.

10084] The wall of the air compartment 66 through which radiation from the emitter 99 is to emit radiation needs to be formed of a material which permits the radiation emitted to pass therethrough. While the entire wall 310 circumferentially entirely about the axis 26 may transmit radiation, merely a window portion of the wall 310 may permit radiation to pass therethrough and thus form a window for radiation to be orientated aligned with the emitter 99.

10085] While a portion of the wall may be adapted to permit radiation to pass therethrough into the air compartment 66, it is also within the scope of the invention that other portions of the wall 310, the body 12 and piston 14 defining the air compartment 66 be provided so as to not transmit ultraviolet radiation therethrough thus, for example, serve to entrap radiation therein by reflecting radiation back into the air chamber or, alternatively, absorbing radiation against its transmission as to a user or other portions of the dispenser where it is not desired. The dispenser 70 may have protective covers or shrouds (not shown) to prevent radiation fi-om being transmitted out of the air compartment as, for example, a protective cylindrical radiation impermeable or reflective shroud which might encircle the pump assembly 10 outside of the reservoir when the pump assembly is installed on the dispenser 70.

100861 A significant advantage of the provision of ozone in an air compartment in a pump as disclosed is that the ozone assists in disinfecting internal parts of the pump and the discharge outlet of the pump in contact with the ozone so as to prevent the growth of pathogens within the pump assembly and dispenser itself. This advantage is in addition to the advantage that the ozone assists in killing pathogens after it is dispensed as, for example, on a person's hands or another use as to which the dispensed ozonated air-liquid mixture or foam may be used.
[0087] One particularly useful purpose for the ozonated foam is for use as a foam plug to block discharge of gas odors from waterless urinals. The ozone in killing pathogens assists in reducing odor in gasses from such toilet systems.
[00881 The preferred embodiments show in Figure 1 and Figure 6 two different arrangements of piston pumps useful in arrangement for generating ozone internally within a variable volume air chamber within the pump. However, particular configurations of pumps which can be used for generation of ozone therein is not limited to these two embodiments.
For example, in any of the various pumps shown in the following U.S. patents may be useful for creation of ozone by a radiation of the air within the air chambers formed therein:

U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2009/0145297 to Ophardt, published June 11, 2009;
U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2006/0237483 to Ophardt, published October 26, 2006; and U.S. Patent 6,409,050 to Ophardt, issued June 25, 2002.
100891 Two examples of dispensers for dispensing foam have been disclosed as Figures 4 and 5. Various other automated mechanisms may be utilized for dispensing foam.
For example, a dispenser disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication US
2009/0084082 to Ophardt could readily be adapted to use a pump assembly and emitter as shown in Figure 1.
100901 Reference is made to Figures 7 to 10 which show a rotary foam pump of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2009/020034 to Ophardt et al, published August 13, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

100911 As shown, the foam dispensing apparatus 410 includes a mixing pump 412 having an air inlet 414 in communication with atmospheric air and a liquid inlet 416 in communication with foamable fluid 417 from a reservoir 418 via a fluid feed tube 415. The mixing pump 412 has an outlet 420 from which mixed air and liquid are discharged to pass through a foam generator 421 to produce foam 423 which is discharged out a discharge opening or outlet 422 for use.

[0092] As seen in Figure 9, the pump 412 has a rotor chamber-forming member comprising a principal housing member 425 and a cap-like closure member 426. A
compartment 427 is defined inside the housing member 425 within which a ring member 428 is provided located keyed thereto against rotation as by an axial key 490 which extends radially inwardly on the housing member 425 being received in a keyway slot 491 in the ring member 428. An interior chamber 429 is defined inside the housing member 425 axially between an inner axially directed side wall 430 of the housing member 425 and an axially directed outer side wall 432 on the closure member 426, and radially inwardly of a radially inwardly directed end wall 431 of the ring member 428 which end wall 431 is at varying radial distances from a rotor axis 435.

[0093] A rotor member 434 is received in the interior chamber 429 journalled for rotation about the rotor axis 435 by being mounted on a rotor axle 436. The rotor axle 436 as has an axially extending slot 479 open at an inner end which is adapted to be received in two complementary slot-like openings 446 through a central hub 444 of the rotor member 434.
The rotor axle 436 may be slid axially through the rotor member 434 for coupling against relative rotation. An inner end of the rotor axle 436 has cylindrical bearing surfaces 437 coaxially about the rotor axis 435 for engagement with coaxial bearing surfaces in a blind bearing bore 498 formed in the inner side wall 430 of the housing member 425.
The rotor axle 436 extends through a bearing opening 438 in the closure member 426 for coaxial journaling therein preferably in sealed engagement with the bearing opening 436.

[0094] An outer end of the rotor axle 436 carries a coupling member 439 as for quick connection and disconnection with a driving mechanism to rotate the rotor axle 436.
10095] Figure 7 schematically illustrates an electric motor 462 which drives a first driven gear 463 which in turn drives a second gear 464 which in turn drive third gear 465 coupled the coupling member 439 of the rotor axle 436 of the mixing pump 412.
[0096] The rotor axle 436 preferably is a rigid unitary axle member which carries the coupling member 439 at an outer end and cylindrical bearing surfaces 437 at its inner end.
The rotor axle 436 is adapted for coupling with the vaned rotor member 434 for rotation of the rotor member 434 in unison with the rotor axle 436.

[00971 The rotor member 434 has an axially extending central hub 444 with the axially extending openings 446 extending therethrough for receipt of and coupling to the rotor axle 436. A plurality of resilient vanes 445 extend radially outwardly from the central hub 444 with the vanes 445 spaced angularly from each other. Each vane 445 has an end surface 447 to be closely adjacent to or to engage the end wall 431 of the interior chamber 429, an inner side surface 448 to be closely adjacent to or engage the inner side wall 430 and an outer side surface 449 to be closely adjacent to or engage the outer side wall 432. The end wall 431 of the interior chamber 429 provided by the ring member 428 has a radial distance from the rotor axis 435 which varies circumferentially, that is, angularly about the rotor axis 435. As seen in Figure 10, the radial distance or radius of the end wall 431 is shown to be relatively constant other than over bump section 433 where the radius is reduced.
100981 Between each two adjacent vanes 446 and inside the end wall 431 and side walls 430 and 432, a vane chamber 455 is defined. The volume of each chamber 455 depends on the configuration that each of its two vanes assumes. In Figure 10, the rotor member 435 is rotated clockwise. On one vane 445 first engaging the bump section 433, the vane is deflected reducing the volume of the vane chamber 455 following the deflected vane 455.
The volume of that vane chamber 455 will decrease until the following vane 445 engages the bump section. The outlet 420 is open into any vane chamber 455 until the following vane 445 for that vane chamber 455 first engages the bump section. Thus, a discharge sector may be defined as that angular sector during which any vane chamber 455 is decreasing in volume and open to the outlet 420.
[00991 With reference to a trailing vane 445 defining a vane chamber, the discharge sector is shown as the angular sector 451.
[01001 For any vane chamber 455, once a leading vane 445 clears the bump section 433, as the trailing vane 445 moves down the clockwise side of the bump section 433, the volume of the vane chamber 455 will increase, until the trailing vane 445 clears the bump section. A
suction sector arises during which any one vane chamber 455 increases in volume. With respect to a trailing vane 445 defining a vane chamber 455, the suction sector is shown as the angular sector 452.

101011 Between the suction sector 452 and the discharge sector 45 1, there arises a mixing section 450, with reference to a trailing vane 445 of a vane chamber 455, during which the volume of the vane chamber 455 is relatively constant and next open to any one of the air inlet 414, fluid inlet 416 or outlet 420.
[01021 The volume of each of the plurality of vane chambers 455 decreases in volume when each vane chamber 455 is open to the discharge section 451 and increases in volume when each vane chamber 455 is open to the suction section 452.
10103] The air inlet 414 and the liquid inlet 416 are provided through the end wall 431 at an angular location where each vane chamber 455 is open to the suction sector 452.
[01041 The outlet 420 is provided through the end wall 431 at an angular location where each vane chamber 455 is open to the discharge sector 451.
101051 Figure 8 shows three ultraviolet radiation emitters 99 which are arranged so as to emit radiation through the radially extending end wall 499 of the housing member 425 and into the compartment 427 so as to irradiate air within the compartment 427 forming ozone therein.
[01061 Figure 10 schematically shows in dashed line circles the approximate axial location where each of the emitters 99 are located. The emitters 99 will emit radiation into each of the vane chambers 455 as the vane members 45 rotate internally. The radiation may in fact be directed parallel the axis of rotation into each of the compartments 55 or merely selected of the compartments. The radially extending end wall 499 of the housing member 425 is to be provided to permit ultraviolet radiation to be transferred therethrough.
101071 With rotation of the rotor member 434, each vane chamber 455 will in sequence pass through the suction sector 452, then the mixing sector 450 and then the discharge sector 45 1. The increase in volume of each vane chamber in the suction section draws air into the vane chamber via the air inlet 414 and fluid into the vane chamber via the liquid inlet 416. In rotation of the vane chamber through the mixing sector, the air, ozone and fluid within the vane chamber experience some mixing as due at least partially to the higher density of the fluid compared to the air, due to the tendency of the fluid to flow downwardly under gravity and due to the relative orientation of the vanes forming the vane chamber coming to assume different relative vertical orientations. On each vane chamber 455 passing through the discharge sector 451, the decrease in vane volume will discharge air, ozone and fluid in the vane chamber out of the vane chamber through the outlet 420.
[01081 As shown in Figure 1, the reservoir 418 is connected to the fluid inlet 416 as by a tube 415.
10109] The outlet 420 on the housing member 427 is shown as connected by an outlet tube 419 to an inlet to the foam generator 421. The foam generator 421 comprises a rigid foaming tube having one or more foam inducing screens therein preferably fabricated of plastic, wire or cloth material or comprising, for example, a porous ceramic material. Each screen provides small apertures through which air, ozone and liquid may be simultaneously passed to aid foam production as by the production of turbulent flow through the small pores or apertures of the screen. Foam 423 produced in the foam generator 421 exits the discharge outlet 422.
101101 In a preferred manner of operation, the foam dispensing apparatus 410 is incorporated as part of a dispensing apparatus including a mechanism for rotating the rotor axle 436 when dispensing is desired. Preferably, the rotor member 434 may be rotated as by the electric motor 462 for a desired period of time to dispense a desired amount of foam. For example, in an automated electronic dispenser, dispensing may be activated as by a user engaging an activation button or by a touchless sensor sensing the presence of a user's hand under the discharge outlet. A control mechanism then operates the electric motor 462 for a period of time rotating the rotor axle 436 and the rotor member 434 drawing air and fluid into the mixing pump 412 and forcing mixed air and fluid from the mixing pump to pass through the foam generator 421 and, hence, discharge foam from the foam generator 421 out of the discharge outlet 422 onto a user's hands.
101111 The relative size of the vane chambers 455, the speed of rotation of the rotor member 434 and the length of time that the rotor member 434 is rotated can be used to dispense desired quantities of fluid and air as foam.
101121 Having regard to the number of rotations of the rotor which is desired to dispense a single dose of foam and the speed with which ozone can be generated from the air inside the pump by irradiation with radiation from the emitters, levels of radiation can be selected as appropriate to create foam with desired levels of ozone. For example, insofar as the volume of the compartment 427 is relatively small and the number of rotations of the rotor member 434 may be required for each dose, then the concentration of ozone within the compartments may be selected to be relatively high say, for example, up to 5% prior to dispensing any dosage of foam. On the other hand, insofar as the irradiation can quickly produce ozone, an initial concentration of ozone can be created which is closer to the desired level of ozone in the foam to be dispensed and additional ozone can be created while the rotor member is being rotated.
101131 Other forms of rotary pumps may be utilized as, for example, in which the inlets for liquid and air are provided in different rotary members at axially spaced locations. The irradiation by the emitters with ultraviolet light preferably may produce ozone in the air in any of the rotary sectors through which the compartments are rotated whether or not those sectors are sectors in which the volume of a compartment is reduced.

101141 Reference is made to Figure 11 which shows a fourth embodiment of a dispenser 510 in accordance with the present invention. The dispenser 500 includes a rotary foam pump 502 which has a liquid inlet 504 in fluid communication with fluid from a soap reservoir 506.
The pump has an air inlet 508 in communication with atmospheric air, however, with the atmospheric air to be drawn into the rotary foam pump to pass from an air inlet 512 through a desiccant air filter 514 which serves to remove moisture from the air and then through a corona discharge chamber 516 and hence to the pump air inlet 500. The corona discharge chamber 516 may be of a known type in which an electric discharge between two electrodes 520 and 522 passes through the air forming ozone from oxygen in the air.
Oxygenated air thus is provided to the air input to the rotary foam pump 502. The rotary foam pump 502 draws in the ozonated air together with liquid from the reservoir 506, mixes it within a foam generator 518 and dispenses the foam out outlet 524.

[01151 Insofar as the corona discharge chamber 516 is upstream from an air inlet to a pump, the nature of the pump is not limited to being a rotary foam pump and may comprise any manner of pump including piston pumps and the like.

101161 A control board 530 is illustrated for control of the corona discharge chamber 516, however, it is appreciated that the control board could control also the operation of the rotary foam pump as well as otherwise control the operation of the dispenser.
101171 The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.

Claims (38)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising:
providing a pump having an air compartment, operating the pump in a cycle of operation including the steps of drawing atmospheric air into the air compartment and discharging air from the air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the air compartment of oxygen in the air within the air compartment into ozone to form ozonated air in the air compartment, mixing the ozonated air with a flowable fluid to form an ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid which is capable of foaming, the method including subjecting the ozonated air and the flowable fluid to turbulent flow conditions to mix them and generate foam which is discharged out the discharge outlet.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the air compartment of at least 0.1%
by volume immediately after creating the ozone.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the air compartment in the range of 0.05% to 5% by volume.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein:
the method including passing the ozonated air and the flowable fluid simultaneously through a foam generator to generate the foam.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 including discharging the foam generated in the foam generator out the discharge outlet.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the pump having a liquid compartment in communication with a reservoir containing the flowable fluid, the cycle of operation of the pump including the steps of drawing liquid into the liquid compartment, and discharging liquid from the liquid compartment, including discharging the liquid from the liquid compartment before mixing the liquid with the ozonated air.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 including discharging the liquid from the liquid compartment into the air compartment.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the method includes controlling the generation of ozone in the air compartment such that if a predetermined period of time passes after last generation of ozone without discharge of air from the air compartment generating additional ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the air compartment of oxygen in the air within the air compartment into ozone.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the air compartment immediately after creating the ozone which initial ozone concentration is selected to meet one of plurality of a pre-determined minimum ozone concentrations, providing to the dispenser information regarding risk of infection in the environment in which the dispenser is located, and the selecting one of the pre-determined minimum ozone concentrations as a function of the information received regarding risk of infection to provide an increased initial ozone concentration with increase in the risk of infection.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the pump is a manually operated pump coupled to an electrical generator for generating electrical energy on operating the pump.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the method including operating the pump to generate electricity with the generator and using the electricity generated to generate ozone within the air compartment.

12. A method as claimed in claims 1 to 11 wherein generating ozone within the air compartment comprises irradiating air in the air compartment with radiation to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the radiation is ultraviolet radiation.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pump includes a housing and an impeller movable within the housing, the air compartment and the liquid compartment formed within the housing between the housing and impeller, the air compartment is defined at least in part by a wall of the housing which is transmits the ultraviolet radiation, the method including passing the ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air compartment to irradiate air in the compartment with radiation to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the impeller is movable relative the housing in the cycle of operation in which the air compartment having a variable volume which changes from a minimum volume to a maximum volume.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the pump is a rotary displacement pump.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the pump is a piston pump.

18. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pump is a piston pump having a piston-forming element reciprocally coaxially slidable within a piston chamber-formin2 member in which the air compartment and the liquid compartment are formed between the piston-forming element and the piston chamber-forming member, the air compartment is defined in part by a wall of the piston chamber-forming member which is transmits the ultraviolet radiation, the method including passing the ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air compartment to irradiate air in the compartment with radiation to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the piston-forming element is reciprocally movable relative the piston chamber-forming member in a the cycle of operation between a retracted position and an extended position, the air compartment having a variable volume which changes from a minimum volume to a maximum volume, the volume of the air compartment being at the maximum volume when the piston-forming element is in a first position of the retracted position and the extended position, the volume of the air compartment being at the minimum volume when the piston-forming element is in a second position of the retracted position and the extended position different than the first position, carrying out the step of generating ozone in each cycle including generating ozone after the piston-forming element has reached the first position.

20. A method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising:
drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the compartment of oxygen in the air within the compartment into ozone to form ozonated air, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment, mixing the ozonated discharged air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet, including:
providing a pump having the air compartment, operating the pump in a cycle of operation including the steps of drawing atmospheric air into the air compartment and discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the pump is a manually operated pump coupled to an electrical generator for generating electrical energy on operating the pump, the method including manually operating the pump to generate electricity with the generator and using the electricity generated to generate ozone within the air compartment.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 or 21 wherein the pump having a liquid compartment in communication with a reservoir containing the flowable fluid, the cycle of operation of the pump including the steps of drawing liquid into the liquid compartment, and discharging liquid from the liquid compartment, including discharging the liquid from the liquid compartment before mixing the liquid with the ozonated air.

23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein the pump is selected from a rotary displacement pump and a piston pump.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the compartment of at least 0.1% by volume immediately after creating the ozone.

25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the compartment in the range of 0.05% to 5% by volume.

26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25 wherein the fluid comprises a liquid which is capable of foaming, the method including passing the ozonated air and the flowable fluid simultaneously through a foam generator to generate foam for discharge out the discharge outlet.

27. A method as claimed in any of claims 20 to 26 wherein the method includes controlling the generation of ozone in the air compartment such that if a predetermined period of time passes after last generation of ozone without discharge of air from the air compartment generating additional ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the compartment of oxygen in the air within the air compartment into ozone.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the air compartment immediately after creating the ozone which initial ozone concentration is selected to meet at least 0.05%
ozone, wherein the percent of ozone is the volumetric percent of molecules of ozone in the gas at 20°C.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 28 wherein generating ozone within the air compartment comprises irradiating air in the air compartment with ultraviolet radiation adequate to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.

30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 28 wherein the method comprises a method of operating a hand cleaner dispenser to dispense ozone containing fluid out the discharge outlet onto a user's hand.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 comprising:
wherein the pump comprises a housing and an impeller movable within the housing, the air compartment and the liquid compartment are formed within the housing between the housing and impeller, the air compartment is defined at least in part by a wall of the housing in which it transmits ultraviolet radiation, the method includes passing the ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air chamber to irradiate air in the compartment with the ultraviolet radiation to convert the oxygen in the air into ozone.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the impeller is movable relative the pump housing in the cycle of operation in which the air compartment having a variable volume which changes from a minimum volume to a maximum volume.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the pump is a piston pump, the housing comprises a piston chamber-forming member, the impeller comprising a piston-forming element reciprocally coaxially slidable within the piston chamber-forming member in which the air compartment and the liquid compartment are formed between the piston-forming element and the piston chamber-forming member, the air compartment is defined in part by a wall of the piston chamber-forming member which transmits the ultraviolet radiation.

34. A method as claimed in claim 31 including discharging the liquid from the liquid compartment into the air compartment.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 including discharging ozonated air and liquid from the air compartment to generate the ozonated fluid-air mixture.

36. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the piston-forming element is reciprocally movable relative the piston chamber-forming member in the cycle of operation between a retracted position and an extended position, the air compartment having a variable volume which changes from a minimum volume to a maximum volume, the volume of the air compartment being at the maximum volume when the piston-forming element is in a first position of the retracted position and the extended position, the volume of the air compartment being at the minimum volume when the piston-forming element is in a second position of the retracted position and the extended position different than the first position, carrying out the step of generating ozone in each cycle including generating ozone after the piston-forming element has reached the first position.

37. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the step of generating ozone creates an initial ozone concentration in the air in the compartment immediately after creating the ozone which initial ozone concentration is selected to meet one of a plurality of pre-determined minimum ozone concentrations, providing to the dispenser information regarding risk of infection in the environment in which the dispenser is located, and selecting the one of the plurality of pre-determined minimum ozone concentrations as a function of the information received regarding the risk of infection to provide an increased initial ozone concentration with an increase in the risk of infection.

38. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the hand cleaner dispenser comprises:
a fluid containing reservoir, a pump mechanism including a housing and an impeller movable within the housing, an air compartment and a liquid compartment formed within the housing between the housing and impeller, the impeller movable relative the housing in as cycle of operation (a) to successively draw atmospheric air into the air compartment and discharge air from the air compartment and (b) to successively draw liquid from the reservoir into the liquid compartment and discharge liquid from the liquid compartment, the air compartment defined at least in part by a wall of the housing which transmits ultraviolet radiation, an emitter of ultraviolet radiation when activated directs the ultraviolet radiation through the wall into the air compartment to irradiate air in the air compartment with the ultraviolet radiation to convert oxygen in the air in the air compartment into ozone forming ozonated air, a mixing chamber for simultaneous passage of ozonated air which has been discharged from the air compartment and fluid which has been discharged from the liquid compartment.