EP4172383A1

EP4172383A1 - Device and method for producing a cleaning liquid

Info

Publication number: EP4172383A1
Application number: EP21735931.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Willy Lionel POMATHIOS; Virgile RUMO; Vincent NAAYEM
Original assignee: Aquama Sarl
Current assignee: Aquama Sarl
Priority date: 2020-06-26
Filing date: 2021-06-24
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Also published as: DE102020116916A1; WO2021260103A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing a cleaning liquid, comprising a first line conducting pure water and a second line conducting a salt solution, which lines open at a junction into a third, common collecting line, and comprising at least one electrochemical treatment device which is arranged downstream of the junction, comprises a pair of electrodes and serves in particular for activating the mixed water conducted in the collecting line. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises means for regulating the ratio of pure water to salt solution in the collecting line.

Description

Device and method for producing a cleaning fluid

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for producing a cleaning fluid.

Devices for so-called “electrochemical activation” in which an aqueous salt solution is used to produce cleaning fluids have been known for a long time from the prior art. For this purpose, electrochemical processing devices are used which have a pair of electrodes through which the salt solution flows.

The aqueous salt solution to be activated is provided to the device, for example, premixed via a (collecting) line. Injection devices are also known with which a concentrated salt solution is injected into the supplied pure water.

Depending on the electrochemical processing device, two different liquids or a single, directly usable cleaning liquid can be produced in this way (in the first case the cleaning liquids can then be mixed again at a desired pH value).

The known devices of the prior art have proven to be quite suitable. However, a different device is required depending on the application and the desired cleaning fluid.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a more variable device for producing a cleaning liquid. The invention solves this problem according to a first aspect with the features of claim 1, in particular with those of

Characteristic part, and is accordingly characterized in that the device has means for regulating the ratio of pure water and saline solution in a collecting line.

In other words, the idea of the invention is to offer a user the option of varying the proportion of pure water and (concentrated) saline solution (in the liquid to be activated).

In this way, it is possible to react flexibly to the requirements for a required cleaning agent: For example, in times when a cleaning agent is required to remove or prevent viruses, the proportion of saline solution can be selected to be relatively low (around a high chlorine content to obtain). In times when, for example, a virus pandemic has been overcome, the salt content can then be selected to be relatively high, since a cleaning fluid with a lower chlorine content is now desired.

According to the invention, the current applied to the electrode pair can also be adjustable: In the former case, for example, a setting can be selected in which a large current is applied to the electrode pair of the electrochemical processing device, while in the latter case a weaker current can be selected.

The invention thus relates to a machine that produces a (combined) cleaning and / or disinfecting solution from water, salt and electricity. When the (concentrated) salt solution and the pure water are brought together, a mixed water is created, the composition of which can thus be adjusted, for example manually by the user of the device.

The mixed water consists of the pure water, which can be, for example, so-called utility or tap water (tap water) or similar conventional water (as is typically available everywhere in large quantities) and a (concentrated) salt solution.

The pure water can in particular be decalcified water, that is to say essentially soft water (for example with a German degree of hardness of 0).

The supply of the higher-priced salt solution to the (cheaper) pure water only enables an electrochemical activation of the resulting mixed water, since the salt solution ensures a certain ionization of the mixed water.

The salt solution can, for example, have a salt content of about 20-25%.

According to the invention, the device has means that can regulate the ratio of the pure water and the salt solution in the mixed water that is produced.

These means can include, for example, control elements such as setting buttons, regulators or an interface, but also mechanical means such as valves, pumps and the like, or else means which indirectly allow regulation, for example by allowing remote access to the device. In any case, the means typically include a valve which can regulate the inflow of the salt solution to the pure water.

The valve usually has more than one open and one closed position, i.e. at least three positions, so that mixed water of different salt concentrations can be reached.

A solenoid valve, for example, can be used as a suitable valve. A valve according to the invention can in particular be continuously adjustable in order to be able to set the desired salt concentration in the finished mixed water particularly finely.

The valve can in particular be connected to a controller of the device.

A control can also be one of the means mentioned.

According to the invention, the device has a first line which carries said pure water and a second line which carries said salt solution. These two lines are brought together in a common collecting line and form the mixed water there.

The point at which the pure water line and the salt solution line meet is also referred to according to the invention as the meeting point and can, for example, be provided by a line T-piece. According to the invention, however, this is not important. Rather, it is crucial that the pure water and the salt solution are brought together at one point and can continue to flow mixed from there, in particular in the direction of at least one electronic processing device. Such an electrochemical processing device has at least one pair of electrodes in order to enable activation of the mixed water. Such a processing device is also called a “reactor” in technical jargon, such reactors being sufficiently known from the prior art.

In particular, reactors are known which have a membrane or a diaphragm in the area between the pair of electrodes. Alternatively, however, reactors or electrochemical processing devices are also known which manage without a corresponding element and have an open chamber.

The electrodes can be arranged in a device, for example coaxially or in parallel.

The mixed water is introduced into the electrochemical processing device and, in particular, passed through it. A direct current is typically applied to the pair of electrodes.

The pair of electrodes (which is arranged in a reactor chamber or forms this) can be flowed through or flowed through by said mixed water when the current is applied. Here, the mixed water is activated, whereby ions of the solution are attracted to the electrodes (and, depending on the version, stick to a membrane or a diaphragm).

One of the electrodes is typically designed as an anode, the other as a cathode. It can also be provided that one of the two electrodes forms a jacket surface of the processing device or of a processing chamber (preferably the cathode). While the electrochemical processing device is typically only assigned an inlet for the mixed water, it can have one or more outlets or outlets, depending on the type of reactor (with or without a membrane). In any case, an activated liquid leaving the electrochemical processing device can then be dispensed from the device via a dispensing device and, for example, collected in a bottle or a container.

If several liquids arise in the electrochemical processing device, they can either be dispensed separately, diverted or mixed before being dispensed.

A cleaning liquid obtained in this way can be provided, for example, for cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or the human body. Typically, the cleaning fluid can be used in a household or in a public place to clean or disinfect surfaces and thus counteract the spread of viruses.

According to the invention it is provided that the device has at least three lines, namely said first and second line and the collecting line for the mixed water. With regard to the last-mentioned line, it should be noted that this serves to feed the mixed water to the electrochemical processing device. However, the device can also provide several electrochemical processing devices, for example in a series or parallel connection.

In any case, it is decisive according to the invention that the collecting line leads to at least one electrochemical processing device behind the meeting point of the first and second lines. For this purpose, the collecting line can in particular also be part of the electrochemical processing device itself, for example. In the event that the pure water and the salt solution only flow together at the entrance of said processing device or in this.

All three lines (or only one or two of them) can in particular be assigned valves (e.g. check valves that prevent the liquid from flowing back against the intended flow direction - which leads to the at least one electrochemical processing device).

If a valve is assigned to a line, this valve can be part of the line itself or it is arranged between individual sections of this line.

In particular, the first and second lines are connected to (separate) liquid tanks, which can also be part of the device. A first liquid tank connected to the first line can typically contain pure water, and a second tank connected to the second line can contain a salt solution (and possibly salt tablets or the like required for the salt solution).

Typically, the two tanks are not connected to one another upstream of the meeting point of the two lines.

Both tanks can be integrated into the device.

According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention has at least one valve which is used to regulate the proportion of salt solution in the collecting line or in the mixed water. This valve is typically part of the second line that carries the salt solution, and can thus regulate the supply of the salt solution to the pure water (but in principle it is also part of the invention includes a valve in the area of the first line, which could also regulate the ratio, even if this would be rather cumbersome to handle in practice).

Said valve typically has more than two switching stages. In other words, the valve can not only be switched off and opened again, but there are also intermediate switching stages in which only a regulated amount of saline solution is let through to the meeting point.

The valve can be, for example, a solenoid valve, which can in particular be designed to be user-controllable, i.e. a user can set the valve with regard to its opening state, for example via operating elements provided on the device or communicating with the device (and in particular an associated control of the device).

According to the invention it is preferably provided that the means of the device can be used to set at least two different values for the ratio of pure water and saline solution, further advantageously at least three different values for the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line or in the mixed water.

According to a further, independent aspect of the invention, said three lines, that is to say the first line carrying pure water, the second line carrying saline solution and the third collecting line which carries the resulting mixed water, are assigned exactly one common pump. In other words, the three lines together only have exactly one pump. This enables a particularly advantageous miniaturization of the entire device. Elaborate tests by the applicant have namely led to the realization that it can actually be sufficient to use only a single pump to convey both the mixed water and the pure water and the saline solution.

For example, the pump can be arranged in the area of the first line carrying pure water. At the point where the lines meet, the pump then creates such a suction that the supplied salt solution is “torn” into the collecting line.

Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to assign the single pump to the collecting line, and to generate a suction effect through this both on the pure water line and on the line carrying the salt solution.

In both cases mentioned, further pumps can be dispensed with, which initially reduces the energy requirement of the device, but also the need for space that has to be kept available in the device for pumps.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the device is assigned operating elements which allow the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line to be regulated. These operating elements can be arranged on or in the device or, alternatively, can be remotely assigned to it (they can in particular be linked to a controller of the device).

In the first example, physical elements such as switches, regulators, buttons or the like can be provided directly on the device, with the aid of which a user can set the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the mixed water / the collecting line can. These can be rotary knobs, sliders or the like, for example.

Alternatively or additionally, a display can be arranged on the device, with the aid of which the ratio can be set: In particular, the display can be a touch display, which can be viewed as an operating element in the sense of the present invention. The ratio can then be set on the touch display, for example using a virtual switch or controller.

Alternatively, the operating element or the operating elements can also be arranged remotely from the device, the operating elements preferably being connectable to the device in a wireless manner (however, in principle, a cable-based one is also of the invention

Connection of the controls).

In this case, the control elements can be used, for example, via a radio,

Communicate with the device via WiFi or Bluetooth.

In this case, the device has preferably integrated corresponding on-board means which enable such a wireless connection.

In this case, the operating elements can then be provided, for example, by a cell phone, smartphone, tablet (computer), laptop, remote control or the like. It is particularly preferred that the operating elements are provided by a touch display of a smartphone or a tablet, since a user typically always carries such devices with him. Therefore, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is the

Invention also provides that the device has a remote access module which enables a user to remotely access the device. The remote access module can be arranged, for example, within a housing of the device, preferably not visible from the outside.

This can in particular be an element with radio, W-LAN or Bluetooth connection or other wireless connection, which in particular enables the device to be integrated into a wireless network (but in principle it is also possible to connect the device to a wired network Include network, encompassed by the invention).

In particular, the device can have its own computing unit for this purpose. It is particularly preferable to use a so-called “single-board computer”, for example one such as that developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

The advantage of such a computing unit is that its circuit board is only the size of a credit card and such a unit can be used to miniaturize the device, in particular since remote access is made possible in this way, which miniaturization by omitting control elements on the device or allows on the housing of the device.

According to a further, very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device has means for regulating the current applied to the pair of electrodes (the electrochemical processing device). These means can in particular be the same means that are also used to regulate the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line.

For example, these means can thus include control elements on the device or means for (wireless) connection of control elements to the device. Finally, these means can also include electronic components such as voltage regulators, current regulators, electrical switches, adjustable resistors, voltage converters and the like.

What all these means have in common is that they serve to regulate the current applied to the pair of electrodes. This enables a further increased variability of the device, since the regulation of the current applied to the electrode pair (in particular the applied direct current) can also serve to regulate the properties of the activated liquid (i.e. the cleaning liquid produced).

For further information on these means (in particular the corresponding operating elements), reference is made to the statements relating to the operating elements for regulating the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line.

Finally, according to the invention, it is advantageously also provided that the first line can be connected to a pure water tank and the second line to a salt solution tank. Both tanks can be integrated into the device, that is to say the housing of the device.

According to a further aspect, the present invention is achieved with a method according to claim 9. This is particularly characterized by the following steps: • Leading pure water in a first line,

• Leading saline solution in a second line,

• Combination of pure water and saline solution to produce mixed water,

• Guiding the mixed water to and through an electrochemical processing device, in particular with activation of the

Collecting pipe of guided mixed water,

• Delivery of the resulting fluid as an end product, whereby it is provided that a user can regulate the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line by operating appropriate means, depending on the desired properties of the end product. Said method can in particular be one of the methods described above

Use devices.

At this point it should be noted that all the advantages and embodiments described in relation to the device according to the invention are also intended to apply to the method according to the invention and are not explicitly repeated at this point for the sake of clarity of the present patent application.

In particular, it can be provided (and also in itself justifying the patent) that a method for producing a cleaning fluid is used, in which to promote the Pure water, the saline solution and the mixed water, only one common pump is used.

Independently of this, the method according to the invention can have the special feature that a user can regulate the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line (in particular in real time). For this purpose, the user can act on the device in particular by remote access, for example via a cell phone or tablet or the like.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the user can regulate the current applied to the electrode pair of an electrochemical processing device in the same way. The pair of electrodes can be the pair of electrodes of the reactor, which is suitable for activating mixed water in order to obtain a desired cleaning liquid.

Further advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, which may not be cited, and from the description of the figures that now follows. Show in it:

1 shows a highly schematic, oblique-isometric side view of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a detail from an area of the device according to FIG. 1 marked with an arrow II in FIG. 1 in a tilted, isometric view,

3 shows a very schematic, not to scale, flow diagram of some (internal) components of the device shown in FIG. 1, 4 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a schematic, isometric oblique rear view with the cover element open,

FIG. 5 shows, in a very schematic view, a section through the device according to FIG. 4, approximately according to the one shown in FIG.

4 sectional plane marked with the reference symbol V,

6 in a very schematic oblique view from below, an individual representation of an assembly of the device shown in the preceding figures, comprising the (opened) cover element and an insertion unit of the device,

7 shows a cut-off individual representation of some components of the device shown in the preceding FIGS. 1 to 5, relating to some of the fluidic components of FIG. 3, in an oblique, isometric top view,

8 shows a section through the device according to FIG. 1, approximately along a sectional plane marked VIII in FIG. 1,

9 shows a rear view of the sectional plane according to FIG. 8, that is to say roughly according to the view arrow IX in FIG. 1,

10 shows a very schematic front view of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1, in particular omitting one to be filled Bottle, approximately along view arrow X in Fig. 1, and a smartphone associated with the device, and

11 is a very schematic sectional view of the two

Tanks of the device shown in FIG. 1 according to FIG. A), an alternative arrangement of the two tanks according to FIG. B) and a second alternative arrangement of the two tanks according to FIG. C).

The following description of the figures and the claims should be preceded by the fact that the same or comparable parts may be provided with identical reference symbols, in some cases with the addition of small letters or apostrophes.

1 shows the device 10 according to the invention initially in a schematic, isometric oblique top view. With the aid of the device 10, a cleaning liquid is produced and dispensed into a separate container 11 (for example in the form of a bottle) (not belonging to the device).

In order to be able to produce the cleaning liquid, the device 10 has in particular two (transparent) liquid tanks integrated into the housing 12 of the device 10, namely a first pure water tank 13 and a second salt solution tank 14.

The special arrangement of the tanks can already be seen in FIG. 1: In the exemplary embodiment, the salt solution tank 14 is, in particular, of essentially cylindrical design and is arranged within the, preferably larger, pure water tank 13. In other words, the pure water tank 13 essentially completely encloses the salt solution tank 14 in the exemplary embodiment shown, at least with regard to a horizontal sectional plane. In this regard, it should be noted that the tank 13 completely encloses the tank 14 in the exemplary embodiment only on the side. Of course, the inner salt solution tank 14 cannot be completely encapsulated (that is to say also surrounded at the top and bottom), since, as will be described in greater detail below, it has an access or drain.

While the pure water tank 13 is being filled with pure water (this can for example be conventional tap water or decalcified water), the salt solution tank 14 is filled with a salt solution - also called brine. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, a large number of salt tablets 15 are arranged in the salt solution tank 14 (similar to those known from conventional dishwashers).

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the salt solution tank 14 is freshly filled with a plurality of salt tablets, for example. In the exemplary embodiment, these are in particular arranged in a stack. If pure water, i.e. essentially conventional tap water, is now introduced into the saline solution tank 14, as will also be described in greater detail later, then the (at least partially) dissolving of the salt tablets 15 in the pure water (filled into the tank 14) results in a desired Saline solution.

In this case, the salt solution or brine is typically saturated at some point, so that the salt tablets 15 shown are typically not completely dissolved by filling the tank 14 with water. In summary, however, it can be stated that the device 10 according to the invention thus has a separate pure water tank 13 and a separate saline solution tank 14. Both tanks 13, 14 are in

Lines not shown in FIG. 1 are connected to an electrochemical processing device 16 (also not shown in FIG. 1), which is arranged in a concealed manner in a central part 17 of the housing 12 or of the device 10.

From the electrochemical processing device 16 in the middle part 17, a further line, also not shown in FIG. 1, leads to a device outlet 18, which, as shown in FIG. 2, is arranged in the (upper) outlet section 19 of a delivery part 20 of the device 10.

In the dispensing part 20, a housing recess 21 is provided, which is arranged below the outlet 18 and above a storage surface 22 of the housing 12 for the container 11 shown in FIG. 1.

The housing recess 21 is formed larger in the vertical direction V than the container 11, which although not to the actual

Device 10 belongs, but can for example be sold together with this in a system.

In order to supply the device 10, and in particular the electrochemical processing device 16 or the pumping means and / or a controller to be described in more detail later, with power, the device 10 according to the invention also has a power plug 23 to connect the device 10 to a conventional socket to connect. The power cable 26 assigned to the plug 23 can typically (at least partially) in a foot area 24 of the Housing 12 (if possible concealed) run. In this foot region 24, feet 25, for example made of rubber, which will be explained in greater detail later (with reference to FIG. 5), can also be arranged.

In summary, it can also be noted with regard to FIG. 1 that the device 10 is very compact overall, in particular since the device 10 (apart from the plug 23 and the cable section 26 protruding from the housing 12) has a substantially cuboid envelope contour .

Although the actual shape of the housing 12 differs from a cuboid shape due to the housing recess 21, the envelope contour is essentially cuboid. In the event that exception 21 were included in device 10, the device would actually be essentially cuboid.

In the vertical direction V, the height of the device can be less than 1 meter, preferably less than 50 centimeters.

The height and length of the device preferably coincide approximately with a maximum deviation of 20, in particular 10 percent.

In order to explain the basic functional sequence of the device 10 according to the invention, reference is now made to FIG. 3, which explains the device 10 according to the invention with the aid of a merely very schematic flow diagram:

Thus, according to FIG. 3, in the left-hand area, the two tanks 13 and 14, which are isolated from one another and which are arranged at a distance from one another in FIG. 3 merely for the sake of clarity, can initially be seen. The pure water tank 13 is connected via a line 27 carrying pure water to a (downstream) T-piece 28 which, in terms of piping, represents a crossing point. In the area of the line 27, a pump 29 is also arranged, which conveys the pure water of the tank 13 through the line 27 to the T-piece 28 and beyond.

The salt solution tank 14 is also connected to said T-piece 28 or crossing point via its own line 30. However, the line 30 carrying saline solution does not have a pump, but a conventional check valve 31, which in particular prevents liquid from reaching the saline solution tank 14 from the area of the T-piece 28.

It is also of particular importance that the line 30 has an adjustable valve 32, for example a solenoid valve. In particular, it can be a controllable valve. With the aid of the valve 32, a user can determine how much salt solution or brine can get from the tank 14 to the crossing point in the area of the T-piece 28.

In the area of the T-piece 28, or the intersection point or also the meeting point, the salt solution from the line 30 and the pure water from the line 27 can meet and mix. This process is promoted by the pump 29, which primarily serves to convey the pure water from the tank 13, but from the meeting point 28 also entrains or sucks in saline solution from the line 30.

The mixed water resulting from the salt solution and the pure water is then conveyed into a collecting line 33, likewise conveyed by the pump 29. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this collecting line 33 also has a check valve 34, which prevents the mixed water from returning to the meeting point 28 from (at least the rear or downstream area) of the line 33.

At this point, for the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the pump 29 can also be equipped with an integrated non-return valve function so that liquid cannot flow through the pump 29 in the direction of the pure water tank 13.

The mixed water can then be fed from the line 33 to an electrochemical processing device 16, which is only shown extremely schematically in FIG. 3.

The mixed water from line 33 can then be activated in its central processing chamber 35. The chamber 35 is only indicated by way of example in FIG. 3. In it, electrodes of an electrode pair are arranged, but not shown in FIG. 3, which in turn are operated by an electrical connection (also not shown) which is connected to the cable 26.

The electrodes can provide activation of the mixed water in a conventionally known manner, the mixed water in particular being passed through the two electrodes. In the area of the chamber - depending on the embodiment and the desired cleaning fluid - a membrane or a diaphragm can also be arranged between the two electrodes of the electrode pair.

In any case, the processing device 16 or the chamber 35 for activating the mixed water functions in the manner of a hydrolysis process in which one of water, salt and electricity Cleaning or disinfecting solution is produced. Chemical elements are electrically activated in the liquid and ecological detergents, cleaning agents and / or disinfectants are produced as a result. This can then via a discharge line 36 to the

Device outlet 18 arrive.

In order to supply the device 10 with the water required for the production of the cleaning fluid in the first place, reference is made back to FIG showing closed position.

With the help of a so-called “push-to-open function”, a user can transfer said cover element 38 from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position shown in FIG. 4 by exerting slight pressure. By exerting the pressure, in particular a lug 39 arranged on the cover element 38 can disengage from a recess 40 provided in the housing 12, so that the cover element 38 can pivot in a spring-preloaded manner into the opening position shown in FIG. 4.

The spring element 41 used for this is indicated in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 additionally showing that the cover mechanism as a whole is also assigned a damping unit 42 which dampens the opening process of the cover element 38 in a user-friendly manner. For this purpose, a curved pinion surface 43, coupled with movement, can pivot with the movement of the cover element 38 and provide a damping function by engaging a rotatable pinion wheel 44 on the housing side. The damping of the cover element 38 can, of course, alternatively also take place by other damping mechanisms (e.g. magnetic). After opening the cover element 38, as evidenced by FIG. 4, a user then has the option of filling the two tanks 13 and 14: The cover 38 pivoted into its open position exposes a common filling opening 45 for both tanks 13 and 14.

Looking at FIGS. 4 and 6 together, it can be seen that the filling opening 45 merges into both a pure water tank access 46 and a salt solution tank access 47.

For this purpose, the filling opening 45 has a first tank inlet 48 and a second tank inlet 49, the first tank inlet 48 being assigned to the pure water tank inlet 46 and the second tank inlet 49 to the salt solution tank inlet 47.

4 shows a lowered threshold 50 between the two tank inlets 48 and 49, which makes it easier to fill in water.

Because of the salt tablets 15 already mentioned, a user only needs to supply conventional water, for example tap water or decalcified water or the like, via the filling opening 45 in order to fill both tanks 13 and 14. Due to the lowered threshold 50, which serves more or less as a filling aid, water that is poured between the two inlets 48 and 49 is naturally divided between the two inlets 48, 49 using gravity, without anything going through the filling opening 45 spills over.

The water filled into the filling opening 45 thus either reaches the pure water tank 13, where it is simply collected as pure water, or into the saline solution tank 14, where it contributes to the dissolution of the salt tablets 15 until the water in the tank 14 is saturated. It should therefore be noted at this point that the user will typically fill both tanks separately via the filling opening 45, in particular also in order to prevent one of the two tanks from overflowing. If something gets over threshold 15 in the other

Tank so this is usually completely unproblematic with small quantities.

A further synopsis of FIGS. 4 and 6 also shows that the salt solution tank access 47 is essentially cylindrical, but the pure water tank access 46 is divided into two parts, namely cylindrical downwards and widening in the manner of a truncated cone upwards. In this way, a tank inlet 48 with a larger diameter (compared to the second tank inlet 49 with a smaller diameter) is provided, which takes into account the fact that the tank 13 has a larger capacity than the tank 14. In other words, this special shape is used in addition to being able to fill the larger tank 13 in a reasonable time. Another special feature is indicated in FIG. 4: This is the case with the first

A filter element or sieve 51 is assigned to the tank inlet 48 or the pure water tank access 46, which, as evidenced by the cross-sectional view according to FIG. This sieve 51 is intended to prevent the above-mentioned salt tablets 15 from being inadvertently introduced into the pure water tank 13 by a user. It has a perforation for this purpose, which lets water through, but not salt tablets. Since the salt tablets, on the other hand, must be able to get into the salt solution tank 14, this access naturally does not have such a sieve. The sectional view according to FIG. 5 also shows that both the tank 13 and the tank 14 in the foot region 24 of the device 10 are each assigned an outlet 52 or 53. The outlet 52 of the pure water tank 13 opens into the pure water line 27 already described above, while the outlet 53 of the salt solution tank 14 opens into the salt solution line 30.

To prevent the saline solution tank 14 from running empty (especially since it is smaller, but in contrast to the

Pure water tank 13 has a saline solution, which is more problematic in terms of maintenance), said tank 14 has at least one sensor 54 in its foot area, which can warn a user that he has to fill the tank with salt tablets and / or water (in particular also to indicate damage to prevent the device 10).

Even if it is not shown in this way in the drawings, a corresponding sensor can of course also be assigned to the pure water tank 13, such a sensor as a rule being less important for this tank than for the tank 14.

So that the device 10 can be set up comfortably at a user's home, for example, without leaving scratches or the like on the set-up surface, feet 25, for example rubber feet (typically four or more), are assigned to the foot area 24 - as already indicated above in other exemplary embodiments not shown, for example, adjustment means or the like can also be provided.

FIG. 7 then shows the real arrangement of the essentially electronic and / or electronic arrangement shown in the flow diagram according to FIG. 3 Fluidic components, which are predominantly arranged in the middle part 17 of the device (cf. Fig. 1):

Thus, the line shown in Fig. 7 with the reference number 27 is connected outside the picture with the pure water tank 13 (as can be seen in Fig. 8) and leads the pure water via the line section 27a to the pump 29, from which it is then via the second line section 27b arrives at the meeting point in T-piece 28.

The line 30 is in turn connected to the saline solution tank 14 outside the picture, as can be seen in particular in the sectional view according to FIG. 9. The saline solution is fed via line 30 to the (magnetic) valve 32 and from there via the check valve 31 to the T-piece 28, where the saline solution is mixed with the pure water from line 27 and becomes mixed water that is in line 33 to be led.

As evidenced by FIG. 7, the line 33 has a check valve 34 and, which is not shown in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity, can be connected to a connection 55 of the electrochemical processing device

16 can be connected.

The mixed water can then be activated in the chamber 35 of the electrochemical processing device 16, leave it again via an outlet 56 and through which the discharge line 36 can reach the device outlet 18.

A special feature of the device 10 can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7: Both the pure water line 27 and the saline solution line 30 and the mixed water line 33 (but in particular also the discharge line 36), and consequently the entire device 10, are only one common pump 29 assigned. The line arrangement is so special here that this single pump 29 is sufficient both to convey the liquids from the tanks 13, 14 and to exert pressure on the device outlet 18.

10 shows the device 10 according to the invention, roughly according to the arrow X in FIG. 1, with a schematic representation of an operating element 57 Touch display), which can display virtual setting elements.

In both cases, this operating element 57 has at least one setting element 58 with which a user can set or regulate the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line 33.

Depending on the design of the control element 57 (whether virtual or physical), the setting element 58 can be, for example, a virtual or physical slide control, a virtual or physical button, a (rotary) button, a control panel or the like. The operating element 57 can also have an input keyboard (physical or virtual) in order to facilitate the input. The operating element 57 is typically by other means

Device for regulating the ratio of pure water and saline solution connected, for example. With the valve 32 and / or a (not shown) control or arithmetic unit which is connected to the valve 32 and enables its setting.

Instead of or in addition to the operating element 57 (since this can be provided optionally, it is only shown in dashed lines in FIG. 10) shown) the device 10 may have a remote access element 59. Such a remote access element 59 is intended in particular to enable a user to regulate the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the device 10 without the user needing to touch the device 10 or be in its immediate vicinity.

In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 10, the remote access element 59 therefore communicates with a smartphone or tablet 60, for example via Bluetooth, W-LAN or the like.

On this remote control unit 60, in particular in the manner of a smartphone or tablet, setting elements can then be provided (preferably of a virtual nature, for example also of a physical nature in the case of a remote control), as they have already been described with regard to the control element 57.

Thus, for example, virtual switches, regulators, buttons or other setting elements can be displayed or offered on the device 60, preferably on or with the aid of a (touch) display 61.

The remote access element 59 is typically arranged in the interior of the housing 12 of the device 10 so that it cannot be seen by a user, for example directly behind a panel 62 of the device 10 or of the housing 12 (thus concealed).

The remote access element 59 can in particular be a so-called “single-board computer”, since such a computer is particularly well suited for a miniaturization of the entire device 10 that is fundamentally aimed for.

What is fundamentally decisive, however, is that the remote access element 59 is in a (wireless) network with at least one other device can be integrated, and / or that it has a connection to the valve 32 (for example via a controller).

While the means 57 and / or 59 can in principle enable the regulation of the ratio of pure water and saline solution (by a user), they can also be used in an analogous manner to regulate the current that is supplied to the

Electrode pair of the electrochemical processing device 16 is applied.

In this way, the user then has at least two parameters available that he can influence in order to determine the property of the

Device outlet 18 to regulate removable liquid:

For example, in times of a major virus pandemic, the user can produce a different liquid than is required in the "normal state" after the pandemic has subsided.

In particular, settings of the device 10 in which a relatively low ratio of saline solution to pure water is selected but a particularly strong current (high current strength and / or voltage) appear to be particularly suitable for combating viruses by means of a cleaning liquid. In non-pandemic times, a completely different setting can be selected, e.g. a weaker current and a higher concentration of salt solution in the mixed water. The cleaning fluid produced in this way can then be more suitable, for example, for removing dirt from surfaces.

Finally, reference is made to some variations of the device 10 according to the invention with reference to FIGS. 11a to 11c: FIG. 11a initially shows a plan view of a cross section through the tank area of the device 10 according to FIG. 1 with a pure water tank 13 of a substantially rectangular cross-section and a saline solution tank 14 with a substantially round cross-section. This second tank 14 is in any case completely enclosed or surrounded by the tank 13 in the sectional plane shown in FIG. 11a, or is encompassed by this (so-called tank-in-tank solution).

11b shows a likewise possible alternative in which the pure water tank 13 'and the saline solution tank 14' also adjoin one another and have a common partition 64 ', in which the pure water tank 13' however does not completely enclose the saline solution tank 14 'even in the sectional plane but at most half. A somewhat different shape, namely a rectangular shape, of the tank 14 'is also selected here as an example.

A last alternative is shown in FIG. 11c, in which the pure water tank 13 ″ and the salt solution tank 14 ″ are only arranged directly next to one another, separated by a common partition 64 ″, without the pure water tank 13 ″ somehow enclosing the salt solution tank 14 ″.

In these cases, too, it is advantageously provided that the tanks (at least in horizontal sectional planes) are designed to be essentially transparent.

This is also already shown in FIG. 1: For example, the pure water tank has three essentially transparent (flat) side panes 65, 66, 67.

The side of the tank 14 is also completely transparent, in particular by means of one or more side panels (in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, a single, cylindrically curved, transparent side panel). Such transparency of the tanks enables good visual appearance

Monitoring by the user and, in particular, also meets high aesthetic requirements.

Claims

Expectations

1. A device (10) for producing a cleaning liquid, comprising a first line (27) carrying pure water and a second line (30) carrying salt solution, which lines (27, 30) at a meeting point (28) into a third, common one The collecting line (33) open out, as well as at least one electrochemical processing device (16) which is arranged in particular downstream of the meeting point (28) and has a pair of electrodes and which serves in particular to activate the mixed water guided in the collecting line (33), characterized in that the device ( 10) has means (32, 29, 57, 58, 59) for regulating the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line (33).

2. Device (10) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that exactly one common pump (29) is assigned to the three lines (27, 30, 33), in particular as a means according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pump (29) is arranged in the region of the first line (27).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second line (30) is assigned a valve (32), in particular having more than two switching stages, in particular for regulating the proportion of saline solution in the collecting line (33 ).

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) control elements (57, 58, 59, 60, 61) are assigned which one, in particular manual and / or enable stepless regulation of the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line (33).

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a remote access module (59) which enables a user to remotely access the device (10), for example via a smartphone or a (en ) Tablet (computer) (60).

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has means (57, 58, 59) for regulating the current applied to the pair of electrodes.

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a first pure water tank (13) connected to the first line (27) and a second salt solution tank connected to the second line (30) (14).

9. A method for producing a cleaning liquid, in particular using a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

• Leading pure water in a first line (27),

^• Leading saline solution in a second line (30),

• Combination of pure water and saline solution to produce mixed water, • Guiding the mixed water to and through an electrochemical processing device (16), in particular with activation of the mixed water guided in a collecting line (33), the operation of the corresponding means (57, 58, 60, 61) regulates the ratio of pure water and saline solution in the collecting line (33).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the user, depending on the desired properties of the end product, by operating appropriate means (57, 58, 60, 61) on a pair of electrodes of the electrochemical

Processing device (16) regulates applied current.