WO2010024965A1 - Appareil comportant une cellule d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide - Google Patents

Appareil comportant une cellule d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010024965A1
WO2010024965A1 PCT/US2009/047979 US2009047979W WO2010024965A1 WO 2010024965 A1 WO2010024965 A1 WO 2010024965A1 US 2009047979 W US2009047979 W US 2009047979W WO 2010024965 A1 WO2010024965 A1 WO 2010024965A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
electrolysis cell
indicator light
flow path
container
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/047979
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bruce F. Field
Original Assignee
Tennant Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tennant Company filed Critical Tennant Company
Priority to EP09789861A priority Critical patent/EP2331468A1/fr
Priority to BRPI0917359A priority patent/BRPI0917359A2/pt
Priority to CN200980142903.0A priority patent/CN102209687A/zh
Priority to MX2011002261A priority patent/MX2011002261A/es
Priority to JP2011525032A priority patent/JP2012501385A/ja
Priority to CA2735504A priority patent/CA2735504A1/fr
Publication of WO2010024965A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010024965A1/fr
Priority to ZA2011/02184A priority patent/ZA201102184B/en

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/4618—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L1/00—Cleaning windows
    • A47L1/02—Power-driven machines or devices
    • A47L1/05—Hand apparatus with built-in electric motors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
    • A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
    • A47L11/302—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4011—Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
    • A47L11/4083—Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/18—Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
    • A61L9/14—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/13—Ozone
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/17—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • C25B9/19—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R11/00—Electromechanical arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. of consumption
    • G01R11/46—Electrically-operated clockwork meters; Oscillatory meters; Pendulum meters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
    • A61L2/03—Electric current
    • A61L2/035—Electrolysis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/22—Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/46109—Electrodes
    • C02F2001/46119—Cleaning the electrodes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/46109—Electrodes
    • C02F2001/46133—Electrodes characterised by the material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/46109—Electrodes
    • C02F2001/46152—Electrodes characterised by the shape or form
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/46109—Electrodes
    • C02F2001/46152—Electrodes characterised by the shape or form
    • C02F2001/46157—Perforated or foraminous electrodes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/4618—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
    • C02F2001/46185—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/46—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods
    • C02F1/461—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
    • C02F1/46104—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
    • C02F1/4618—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
    • C02F2001/4619—Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water only cathodic or alkaline water, e.g. for reducing
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/002—Construction details of the apparatus
    • C02F2201/003—Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/008—Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/46—Apparatus for electrochemical processes
    • C02F2201/461—Electrolysis apparatus
    • C02F2201/46105—Details relating to the electrolytic devices
    • C02F2201/46115—Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/46—Apparatus for electrochemical processes
    • C02F2201/461—Electrolysis apparatus
    • C02F2201/46105—Details relating to the electrolytic devices
    • C02F2201/4612—Controlling or monitoring
    • C02F2201/46125—Electrical variables
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/46—Apparatus for electrochemical processes
    • C02F2201/461—Electrolysis apparatus
    • C02F2201/46105—Details relating to the electrolytic devices
    • C02F2201/4612—Controlling or monitoring
    • C02F2201/46125—Electrical variables
    • C02F2201/4613—Inversing polarity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/46—Apparatus for electrochemical processes
    • C02F2201/461—Electrolysis apparatus
    • C02F2201/46105—Details relating to the electrolytic devices
    • C02F2201/4612—Controlling or monitoring
    • C02F2201/4615—Time
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/46—Apparatus for electrochemical processes
    • C02F2201/461—Electrolysis apparatus
    • C02F2201/46105—Details relating to the electrolytic devices
    • C02F2201/4616—Power supply
    • C02F2201/4617—DC only
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
    • C02F2209/005—Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
    • C02F2209/006—Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC] comprising a software program or a logic diagram
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
    • C02F2209/04—Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to electrochemical activation of fluids and, more particularly, to electrolysis cells and corresponding methods.
  • Electrolysis cells are used in a variety of different applications for changing one or more characteristics of a fluid. For example, electrolysis cells have been used in cleaning/sanitizing applications, medical industries, and semiconductor manufacturing processes. Electrolysis cells have also been used in a variety of other applications and have had different configurations.
  • electrolysis cells are used to create anolyte electrochemically activated (EA) liquid and catholyte EA liquid.
  • EA electrochemically activated
  • Anolyte EA liquids have known sanitizing properties
  • catholyte EA liquids have known cleaning properties. Examples of cleaning and/or sanitizing systems are disclosed in Field et al. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0186368 Al, published August 16, 2007.
  • An aspect of the disclosure relates to an apparatus, which includes an electrolysis cell, a liquid flow path that passes through the electrolysis cell, and an indicator light.
  • the indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell, and luminous flux radiated from the light illuminates liquid along at least a portion of the flow path.
  • Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method. The method includes: carrying a liquid in a hand-held spray bottle; electrolyzing the liquid with an electrolysis cell carried by the bottle to produce electrolyzed liquid; dispensing the electrolyzed liquid; sensing an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell; illuminating at least a portion of at least one of the liquid or the electrolyzed liquid as a function of the operating characteristic.
  • the bottle includes a container, a nozzle, and a liquid flow path from the container to the nozzle.
  • An electrolysis cell and a pump are coupled in the flow path.
  • An indicator light is positioned to illuminate at least one of the container or the flow path.
  • the indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell.
  • the operating characteristic includes an electrical current drawn by the electrolysis cell.
  • the indicator light includes: a first indicator light, which has a first color and which is illuminated when the electrical current is within a first current range and is off when the electrical current is outside the first current range; and a second indicator light, which has a second, different color and which is illuminated when the electrical current is outside the first current range and is off when the electrical current is within the first current range.
  • illumination of at least one of the container or the flow path is visible from a viewpoint that is external to the bottle.
  • the indicator light is positioned such that luminous flux from the indicator light passes through liquid contained in at least one of the container or the flow path and is visible from a viewpoint that is external to the bottle.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified, schematic diagram of a hand-held spray bottle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an electrolysis cell having an ion- selective membrane.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an electrolysis cell having no ion-selective membrane according to a further example of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 4A is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode having a plurality of rectilinear apertures in a regular grid pattern according to an aspect of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 4B is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode having a plurality of curvilinear apertures of different sizes in a regular grid pattern according to another example.
  • FIG. 4C is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode having a plurality of irregular and regular shaped apertures having a variety of different shapes and sizes according to another example.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an electrolysis cell having a tubular shape according to one illustrative example.
  • FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram illustrating the voltage pattern applied to the anode and cathode according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system having an indicator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, which can be incorporated into any of the embodiments disclosed herein, for example.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a spray bottle having an indicator light that illuminates through liquid carried by the bottle.
  • FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a spray bottle having an indicator light that illuminates through liquid carried by the bottle, according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 8C is a rear, perspective view of a head of the bottle shown in FIG. 8B.
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of a left-hand side housing
  • FIG. 9C is a perspective view of a right-hand side housing of the bottle shown in FIG. 8B.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates various components installed in the left-hand side housing.
  • FIGS. HA and HB illustrate a liquid container carried by the bottle shown in FIG. 8B.
  • FIG. 12A illustrates a fragmentary, close-up view of a pump/cell assembly installed in a barrel of the housing.
  • FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the pump/cell assembly removed from the housing.
  • FIG. 12C is a bottom, perspective view of the pump/cell assembly with the trigger removed.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded, perspective view of a mounting bracket of the assembly shown in FIGS. 12A-12C.
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of a trigger of the bottle shown in FIG. 8B.
  • FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views of a trigger boot, which overlies the trigger.
  • FIG. 16A illustrates lower compartments of a housing half in greater detail.
  • FIG. 16B illustrates a circuit board and batteries mounted within the compartments shown in FIG. 16A.
  • FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a mobile cleaning machine, which implements an electrolysis cell according to an example of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 18 is a simplified block diagram of an electrolysis cell that is mounted to a platform according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an all-surface cleaner according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit for controlling the various components within the hand-held spray bottle shown in FIGS. 8-16 according to an illustrating example of the disclosure.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for electrolyzing liquids.
  • Electrolysis cells can be used in a variety of different applications and housed in a variety of different types of apparatus, which can be hand-held, mobile, immobile, wall-mounted, motorized or non-motorized cleaning/sanitizing vehicle, wheeled, etc, for example.
  • an electrolysis cell is incorporated in a hand-held spray bottle.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified, schematic diagram of a hand-held spray bottle 10 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
  • Spray bottle 10 includes a reservoir 12 for containing a liquid to be treated and then dispensed through a nozzle 14.
  • the liquid to be treated includes an aqueous composition, such as regular tap water.
  • Spray bottle 10 further includes an inlet filter 16, one or more electrolysis cells 18, tubes 20 and 22, pump 24, actuator 26, switch 28, circuit board and control electronics 30 and batteries 32.
  • tubes 20 and 22 may be housed within a neck and barrel, respectively of bottle 10, for example.
  • a cap 34 seals reservoir 12 around the neck of bottle 10.
  • Batteries 32 can include disposable batteries and/or rechargeable batteries, for example, and provide electrical power to electrolysis cell 18 and pump 24 when energized by circuit board and control electronics 30.
  • actuator 26 is a trigger-style actuator, which actuates momentary switch 28 between open and closed states. For example, when the user "squeezes" the hand trigger to a squeezed state, the trigger actuates the switch into the closed state.
  • switch 28 can be actuated directly by the user.
  • control electronics 30 de-energizes electrolysis cell 18 and pump 24.
  • switch 28 is in the closed, conducting state, control electronics 30 energizes electrolysis cell 18 and pump 24.
  • Pump 24 draws liquid from reservoir 12 through filter 16, electrolysis cell 18, and tube 20 and forces the liquid out tube 22 and nozzle 14.
  • nozzle 14 may or may not be adjustable, so as to select between squirting a stream, aerosolizing a mist, or dispensing a spray, for example.
  • Switch 28 itself, can have any suitable actuator type, such as a pushbutton switch as shown in FIG. 1, a toggle, a rocker, any mechanical linkage, and/or any non-mechanical sensor such as capacitive, resistive plastic, thermal, inductive, etc.
  • Switch 28 can have any suitable contact arrangement, such such as momenary, single-pole single throw, etc.
  • pump 24 is replaced with a mechanical pump, such as a hand-triggered positive displacement pump, wherein actuator trigger 26 acts directly on the pump by mechanical action.
  • swich 28 could be separately actuated from the pump 24, such as a power switch, to energize electrolysis cell 18.
  • batteries 32 are eliminated and power is delivered to spray bottle 10 from an external source, such as through a power cord, plug, and/or contact terminals.
  • Spray bottle 10 can have any other structural and/or functional arrangement.
  • pump 24 can be located downstream of cell 18, as shown in FIG. 1, or upstream of cell 18 with respect to the direction of fluid flow from reservoir 12 to nozzle 14.
  • the spray bottle contains a liquid to be sprayed on a surface to be cleaned and/or sanitized.
  • electrolysis cell 18 converts the liquid to an anolyte EA liquid and a catholyte EA liquid prior to being dispensed from the bottle as an output spray.
  • the anolyte and catholyte EA liquids can be dispensed as a combined mixture or as separate spray outputs, such as through separate tubes and/or nozzles. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the anolyte and catholyte EA liquids are dispensed as a combined mixture.
  • electrolysis cell 18 can have a small package and be powered by batteries carried by the package or spray bottle, for example.
  • An electrolysis cell includes any fluid treatment cell that is adapted to apply an electric field across the fluid between at least one anode electrode and at least one cathode electrode.
  • An electrolysis cell can have any suitable number of electrodes, any suitable number of chambers for containing the fluid, and any suitable number of fluid inputs and fluid outputs.
  • the cell can be adapted to treat any fluid (such as a liquid or gas-liquid combination).
  • the cell can include one or more ion-selective membranes between the anode and cathode or can be configured without any ion selective membranes.
  • An electrolysis cell having an ion-selective membrane is referred to herein as a "functional generator".
  • Electrolysis cells can be used in a variety of different applications and can have a variety of different structures, such as but not limited to a spray bottle as discussed with reference to FIG. 1, and/or the structures disclosed in Field et al. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0186368, published August 16, 2007. Thus, although various elements and processes relating to electrolysis are described herein relative to the context of a spray bottle, these elements and processes can be applied to, and incorporated in, other, non-spray bottle applications. 3. Electrolysis Cell Having a Membrane 3.1 Cell Structure
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an electrolysis cell 50 that can be used in the spray bottle shown in FIG. 1, for example. Electrolysis cell 50 and which receives liquid to be treated from a liquid source 52.
  • Liquid source 52 can include a tank or other solution reservoir, such as reservoir 12 in FIG. 1, or can include a fitting or other inlet for receiving a liquid from an external source.
  • Cell 50 has one or more anode chambers 54 and one or more cathode chambers 56 (known as reaction chambers), which are separated by an ion exchange membrane 58, such as a cation or anion exchange membrane.
  • anode electrodes 60 and cathode electrodes 62 are disposed in each anode chamber 54 and each cathode chamber 56, respectively.
  • the anode and cathode electrodes 60, 62 can be made from any suitable material, such as a conductive polymer, titanium and/or titanium coated with a precious metal, such as platinum, or any other suitable electrode material.
  • at least one of the anode or cathode is at least partially or wholly made from a conductive polymer.
  • the electrodes and respective chambers can have any suitable shape and construction.
  • the electrodes can be flat plates, coaxial plates, rods, or a combination thereof.
  • Each electrode can have, for example, a solid construction or can have one or more apertures.
  • each electrode is formed as a mesh.
  • multiple cells 50 can be coupled in series or in parallel with one another, for example.
  • the electrodes 60, 62 are electrically connected to opposite terminals of a conventional power supply (not shown). Ion exchange membrane 58 is located between electrodes 60 and 62.
  • the power supply can provide a constant DC output voltage, a pulsed or otherwise modulated DC output voltage, and/or a pulsed or otherwise modulated AC output voltage to the anode and cathode electrodes.
  • the power supply can have any suitable output voltage level, current level, duty cycle or waveform. For example in one embodiment, the power supply applies the voltage supplied to the plates at a relative steady state.
  • the power supply (and/or control electronics) includes a DC/DC converter that uses a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control scheme to control voltage and current output.
  • PWM pulse-width modulation
  • Other types of power supplies can also be used, which can be pulsed or not pulsed and at other voltage and power ranges. The parameters are application- specific.
  • feed water (or other liquid to be treated) is supplied from source 52 to both anode chamber 54 and cathode chamber 56.
  • a cation exchange membrane upon application of a DC voltage potential across anode 60 and cathode 62, such as a voltage in a range of about 5 Volts (V) to about 28V, cations originally present in the anode chamber 54 move across the ion-exchange membrane 58 towards cathode 62 while anions in anode chamber 54 move towards anode 60.
  • anions present in cathode chamber 56 are not able to pass through the cation-exchange membrane, and therefore remain confined within cathode chamber 56.
  • cell 50 electrochemically activates the feed water by at least partially utilizing electrolysis and produces electrochemically- activated water in the form of an acidic anolyte composition 70 and a basic catholyte composition 72.
  • the anolyte and catholyte can be generated in different ratios to one another through modifications to the structure of the electrolysis cell, for example.
  • the cell can be configured to produce a greater volume of catholyte than anolyte if the primary function of the EA water is cleaning.
  • the cell can be configured to produce a greater volume of anolyte than catholyte if the primary function of the EA water is sanitizing.
  • the concentrations of reactive species in each can be varied.
  • the cell can have a 3:2 ratio of cathode plates to anode plates for producing a greater volume of catholyte than anolyte.
  • Each cathode plate is separated from a respective anode plate by a respective ion exchange membrane.
  • Other ratios can also be used.
  • water molecules in contact with anode 60 are electrochemically oxidized to oxygen (O 2 ) and hydrogen ions (H + ) in the anode chamber 54 while water molecules in contact with the cathode 62 are electrochemically reduced to hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and hydroxyl ions (OH " ) in the cathode chamber 56.
  • the hydrogen ions in the anode chamber 54 are allowed to pass through the cation-exchange membrane 58 into the cathode chamber 56 where the hydrogen ions are reduced to hydrogen gas while the oxygen gas in the anode chamber 54 oxygenates the feed water to form the anolyte 70.
  • the anode 60 oxidizes the chlorides present to form chlorine gas. As a result, a substantial amount of chlorine is produced and the pH of the anolyte composition 70 becomes increasingly acidic over time.
  • water molecules in contact with the cathode 62 are electrochemically reduced to hydrogen gas and hydroxyl ions (OH " ) while cations in the anode chamber 54 pass through the cation-exchange membrane 58 into the cathode chamber 56 when the voltage potential is applied.
  • OH hydroxyl ions
  • These cations are available to ionically associate with the hydroxyl ions produced at the cathode 62, while hydrogen gas bubbles form in the liquid.
  • a substantial amount of hydroxyl ions accumulates over time in the cathode chamber 56 and reacts with cations to form basic hydroxides.
  • the hydroxides remain confined to the cathode chamber 56 since the cation-exchange membrane does not allow the negatively charged hydroxyl ions pass through the cation- exchange membrane. Consequently, a substantial amount of hydroxides is produced in the cathode chamber 56, and the pH of the catholyte composition 72 becomes increasingly alkaline over time.
  • the electrolysis process in the functional generator 50 allow concentration of reactive species and the formation of metastable ions and radicals in the anode chamber 54 and cathode chamber 56.
  • the electrochemical activation process typically occurs by either electron withdrawal (at anode 60) or electron introduction (at cathode 62), which leads to alteration of physiochemical (including structural, energetic and catalytic) properties of the feed water. It is believed that the feed water (anolyte or catholyte) gets activated in the immediate proximity of the electrode surface where the electric field intensity can reach a very high level. This area can be referred to as an electric double layer (EDL).
  • EDL electric double layer
  • the water dipoles generally align with the field, and a proportion of the hydrogen bonds of the water molecules consequentially break.
  • singly-linked hydrogen atoms bind to the metal atoms (e.g., platinum atoms) at cathode electrode 62
  • single-linked oxygen atoms bind to the metal atoms (e.g., platinum atoms) at the anode electrode 60.
  • These bound atoms diffuse around in two dimensions on the surfaces of the respective electrodes until they take part in further reactions.
  • Other atoms and polyatomic groups may also bind similarly to the surfaces of anode electrode 60 and cathode electrode 62, and may also subsequently undergo reactions.
  • Molecules such as oxygen (O 2 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ) produced at the surfaces may enter small cavities in the liquid phase of the water (i.e., bubbles) as gases and/or may become solvated by the liquid phase of the water. These gas-phase bubbles are thereby dispersed or otherwise suspended throughout the liquid phase of the feed water.
  • the sizes of the gas-phase bubbles may vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the pressure applied to the feed water, the composition of the salts and other compounds in the feed water, and the extent of the electrochemical activation. Accordingly, the gas-phase bubbles may have a variety of different sizes, including, but not limited to macrobubbles, microbubbles, nanobubbles, and mixtures thereof.
  • examples of suitable average bubble diameters for the generated bubbles include diameters ranging from about 500 micrometers to about one millimeter. In embodiments including microbubbles, examples of suitable average bubble diameters for the generated bubbles include diameters ranging from about one micrometer to less than about 500 micrometers. In embodiments including nanobubbles, examples of suitable average bubble diameters for the generated bubbles include diameters less than about one micrometer, with particularly suitable average bubble diameters including diameters less than about 500 nanometers, and with even more particularly suitable average bubble diameters including diameters less than about 100 nanometers.
  • the gas contained in the nanobubbles are also believed to be stable for substantial durations in the feed water, despite their small diameters. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the surface tension of the water, at the gas/liquid interface, drops when curved surfaces of the gas bubbles approach molecular dimensions. This reduces the natural tendency of the nanobubbles to dissipate.
  • nanobubble gas/liquid interface is charged due to the voltage potential applied across membrane 58.
  • the charge introduces an opposing force to the surface tension, which also slows or prevents the dissipation of the nanobubbles.
  • the presence of like charges at the interface reduces the apparent surface tension, with charge repulsion acting in the opposite direction to surface minimization due to surface tension. Any effect may be increased by the presence of additional charged materials that favor the gas/liquid interface.
  • gas molecules may become charged within the nanobubbles (such as O 2 " ), due to the excess potential on the cathode, thereby increasing the overall charge of the nanobubbles.
  • the surface tension at the gas/liquid interface of charged nanobubbles can be reduced relative to uncharged nanobubbles, and their sizes stabilized. This can be qualitatively appreciated as surface tension causes surfaces to be minimized, whereas charged surfaces tend to expand to minimize repulsions between similar charges.
  • Raised temperature at the electrode surface due to the excess power loss over that required for the electrolysis, may also increase nanobubble formation by reducing local gas solubility.
  • the calculated charge density for zero excess internal pressure is 0.20, 0.14, 0.10, 0.06 and 0.04 e " /nanometer 2 bubble surface area, respectively.
  • Such charge densities are readily achievable with the use of an electrolysis cell (e.g., electrolysis cell 18).
  • the nanobubble radius increases as the total charge on the bubble increases to the power 2/3. Under these circumstances at equilibrium, the effective surface tension of the fuel at the nanobubble surface is zero, and the presence of charged gas in the bubble increases the size of the stable nanobubble. Further reduction in the bubble size would not be indicated as it would cause the reduction of the internal pressure to fall below atmospheric pressure.
  • the bubble is metastable if the overall energy change is negative which occurs when ⁇ E ST + ⁇ E q is negative, thereby providing:
  • the bubble diameter is typically about three times larger for reducing the apparent surface tension to zero than for splitting the bubble in two.
  • the nanobubbles will generally not divide unless there is a further energy input.
  • the above-discussed gas-phase nanobubbles are adapted to attach to dirt particles, thereby transferring their ionic charges.
  • the nanobubbles stick to hydrophobic surfaces, which are typically found on typical dirt particles, which releases water molecules from the high energy water/hydrophobic surface interface with a favorable negative free energy change. Additionally, the nanobubbles spread out and flatten on contact with the hydrophobic surface, thereby reducing the curvatures of the nanobubbles with consequential lowering of the internal pressure caused by the surface tension. This provides additional favorable free energy release.
  • the charged and coated dirt particles are then more easily separated one from another due to repulsion between similar charges, and the dirt particles enter the solution as colloidal particles.
  • the presence of nanobubbles on the surface of particles increases the pickup of the particle by micron-sized gas-phase bubbles, which may also be generated during the electrochemical activation process.
  • the presence of surface nanobubbles also reduces the size of the dirt particle that can be picked up by this action. Such pickup assist in the removal of the dirt particles from floor surfaces and prevents re-deposition.
  • water molecules located at this interface are held by fewer hydrogen bonds, as recognized by water's high surface tension. Due to this reduction in hydrogen bonding to other water molecules, this interface water is more reactive than normal water and will hydrogen bond to other molecules more rapidly, thereby showing faster hydration.
  • a current of one ampere is sufficient to produce 0.5/96,485.3 moles of hydrogen (H 2 ) per second, which equates to 5.18 micromoles of hydrogen per second, which correspondingly equates to 5.18 x 22.429 microliters of gas-phase hydrogen per second at a temperature of O 0 C and a pressure of one atmosphere.
  • This also equates to 125 microliters of gas- phase hydrogen per second at a temperature of 2O 0 C and a pressure of one atmosphere.
  • the equilibrium solubility of hydrogen in the electrolyzed solution is also effectively zero and the hydrogen is held in gas cavities (e.g., macrobubbles, microbubbles, and/or nanobubbles).
  • the volume of a 10 nanometer-diameter nanobubble is 5.24 x 10 ⁇ 22 liters, which, on binding to a hydrophobic surface covers about 1.25 x 10 ⁇ 16 square meters.
  • this concentration represents a maximum amount, even if the nanobubbles have greater volume and greater internal pressure, the potential for surface covering remains large.
  • only a small percentage of the dirt particles surfaces need to be covered by the nanobubbles for the nanobubbles to have a cleaning effect.
  • the gas-phase nanobubbles generated during the electrochemical activation process, are beneficial for attaching to dirt particles so transferring their charge.
  • the resulting charged and coated dirt particles are more readily separated one from another due to the repulsion between their similar charges. They will enter the solution to form a colloidal suspension.
  • the charges at the gas/water interfaces oppose the surface tension, thereby reducing its effect and the consequent contact angles.
  • the nanobubbles coating of the dirt particles promotes the pickup of larger buoyant gas-phase macrobubbles and microbubbles that are introduced.
  • the large surface area of the nanobubbles provides significant amounts of higher reactive water, which is capable of the more rapid hydration of suitable molecules.
  • the ion exchange membrane 58 can include a cation exchange membrane (i.e., a proton exchange membrane) or an anion exchange membrane.
  • Suitable cation exchange membranes for membrane 38 include partially and fully fluorinated ionomers, polyaromatic ionomers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable commercially available ionomers for membrane 38 include sulfonated tetrafluorethylene copolymers available under the trademark "NAFION" from E.I.
  • the anolyte and catholyte EA liquid outputs can be coupled to a dispenser 74, which can include any type of dispenser or dispensers, such as an outlet, fitting, spigot, spray head, a cleaning/sanitizing tool or head, etc.
  • dispenser 34 includes spray nozzle 14. There can be a dispenser for each output 70 and 72 or a combined dispenser for both outputs.
  • the anolyte and catholyte outputs are blended into a common output stream 76, which is supplied to dispenser 74.
  • a common output stream 76 which is supplied to dispenser 74.
  • the anolyte and catholyte can be blended together within the distribution system of a cleaning apparatus and/or on the surface or item being cleaned while at least temporarily retaining beneficial cleaning and/or sanitizing properties.
  • the anolyte and catholyte are blended, they are initially not in equilibrium and therefore temporarily retain their enhanced cleaning and/or sanitizing properties.
  • the catholyte EA water and the anolyte EA water maintain their distinct electrochemically activated properties for at least 30 seconds, for example, even though the two liquids are blended together.
  • the distinct electrochemically activated properties of the two types of liquids do not neutralize immediately. This allows the advantageous properties of each liquid to be utilized during a common cleaning operation.
  • the blended anolyte and catholyte EA liquid on the surface being cleaned quickly neutralize substantially to the original pH and ORP of the source liquid (e.g., those of normal tap water).
  • the blended anolyte and catholyte EA liquid neutralize substantially to a pH between pH6 and pH8 and an ORP between +5OmV within a time window of less than 1 minute from the time the anolyte and catholyte EA outputs are produced by the electrolysis cell. Thereafter, the recovered liquid can be disposed in any suitable manner.
  • the blended anolyte and catholyte EA liquid can maintain pHs outside of the range between pH6 and pH8 and ORPs outside the range of +5OmV for a time greater than 30 seconds, and/or can neutralize after a time range that is outside of 1 minute, depending on the properties of the liquid.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an electrolysis cell 80 having no ion-selective membrane according to a further example of the disclosure.
  • Cell 80 includes a reaction chamber 82, an anode 84 and a cathode 86.
  • Chamber 82 can be defined by the walls of cell 80, by the walls of a container or conduit in which electrodes 84 and 86 are placed, or by the electrodes themselves, for example.
  • Anode 84 and cathode 86 may be made from any suitable material or a combination of materials, such as a conductive polymer, titanium and/or titanium coated with a precious metal, such as platinum.
  • Anode 84 and cathode 86 are connected to a conventional electrical power supply, such as batteries 32 shown in FIG. 1.
  • electrolytic cell 80 includes its own container that defines chamber 82 and is located in the flow path of the liquid to be treated, such as within the flow path of a hand-held spray bottle or mobile floor cleaning apparatus.
  • electrolysis cell 80 does not include an ion exchange membrane that separates reaction products at anode 84 from reaction products at cathode 86.
  • electrolysis cell 80 does not include an ion exchange membrane that separates reaction products at anode 84 from reaction products at cathode 86.
  • water molecules in contact with or near anode 84 are electrochemically oxidized to oxygen (O 2 ) and hydrogen ions (H + ) while water molecules in contact or near cathode 86 are electrochemically reduced to hydrogen gas (H 2 ) and hydroxyl ions (OH " ).
  • reaction products from both electrodes are able to mix and form an oxygenated fluid 89 (for example) since there is no physical barrier, for example, separating the reaction products from each other.
  • anode 84 can be separated from cathode 84 by using a dielectric barrier such as a non- permeable membrane (not shown) disposed between the anode and cathode. 7. Electrode Pattern Examples
  • At least one of the anode or cathode electrodes can be formed at least partially or wholly of a conductive polymer, such as those used for static dissipating devices.
  • a conductive polymer such as those used for static dissipating devices.
  • suitable conductive polymers are commercially available from RTP Company of Winona, Minnesota, USA.
  • the electrodes can be formed of a conductive plastic compound having a surface resistivity of 10° to 10 12 ohm/sq, such as 10 1 to 10 6 ohm/sq.
  • electrodes having surface resistivities outside those ranges can be used in other examples.
  • the electrodes can be easily molded or otherwise formed in any desired shape.
  • the electrodes can be injection molded.
  • one or more of the electrodes can form a mesh, with regular-sized rectangular openings in the form of a grid.
  • the openings or apertures can have any shape, such as circular, triangular, curvilinear, rectilinear, regular and/or irregular. Curvilinear apertures have at least one curved edge.
  • the shapes and sizes of the apertures can be easily tailored to a particular pattern. However, these patterns can also be formed in metallic electrodes in other examples of the present disclosure.
  • the apertures can be sized and positioned to increase the surface area of the electrode for electrolysis and thereby promote generation of gas bubbles in the liquid being treated.
  • FIG. 4A is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode 100 having a plurality of rectilinear (e.g., rectangular) apertures 102 in a regular grid pattern according to an aspect of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 4B is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode 104 having a plurality of curvilinear (e.g., circular) apertures 106 of different sizes in a regular grid pattern according to another example.
  • the use of differently sized apertures in the same electrode may promote generation of differently sized gas bubbles along the edges of the apertures during electrolysis.
  • FIG. 4C is a fragmentary view of a conductive polymer electrode 108 having a plurality of irregular and regular shaped apertures 110 having a variety of different shapes and sizes according to another example.
  • various apertures 110 define various opening areas.
  • One or more of the apertures 110 can include one or more internal points, such as points 112, that are believed to promote further gas bubble and reactive species generation during electrolysis. These apertures form polygons having at least one internal angle (e.g., at point 112) that is greater than 180 degrees. In an alternative embodiment, the apertures have a plurality of internal angles greater than 180 degrees.
  • the electrodes can be formed with one or more other nonuniform features, such as spikes or burs that further increase the electrode surface area.
  • the spikes can be arranged in a regular pattern or an irregular pattern and can have the same sizes and shapes or can have different sizes and/or shapes.
  • an electrolysis cell can be constructed to include an anode and a cathode, wherein at least one of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode comprises a first plurality of apertures having a first size (and/or shape) and a second plurality of apertures having a second, different size (and/or shape).
  • the electrolysis cell also includes an ion selective membrane disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and which defines a respective anode chamber and cathode chamber.
  • at least two apertures of a set comprising the first and second plurality of apertures have different shapes (and/or sizes) than one another.
  • At least three apertures of a set comprising the first and second plurality of apertures have different shapes (and/or sizes) than one another.
  • the first and second plurality of apertures can have polygon shapes and/or curvilinear shapes formed of at least one curved edge.
  • At least one of the first plurality or the second plurality of apertures can be arranged in a regular pattern or in an irregular pattern.
  • At least one aperture of the first plurality or the second plurality of apertures can have a polygon shape with at least one internal angle that is greater than 180 degrees.
  • the electrodes shown in FIGS. 4A-4C are fabricated of a conductive metallic material.
  • the electrode 100 can be formed of a metallic mesh, which can be plated with another material such as platinum or can be unplated.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an electrolysis cell 200 having a tubular shape according to one illustrative example. Portions of cell 200 are cut away for illustration purposes.
  • cell 200 is an electrolysis cell having a tubular housing 202, a tubular outer electrode 204, and a tubular inner electrode 206, which is separated from the outer electrode by a suitable gap, such as 0.040 inches. Other gap sizes can also be used, such as but not limited to gaps in the range of 0.020 inches to 0.080 inches.
  • Either of the inner or outer electrode can serve as the anode/cathode, depending upon the relative polarities of the applied voltages.
  • outer electrode 204 and inner electrode 206 have conductive polymer constructions with apertures such as those shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, for example.
  • one or both electrodes can have a solid construction in another example.
  • the electrodes 206 and 206 can be made from any suitable material, such as a conductive polymer, titanium and/or titanium coated with a precious metal, such as platinum, or any other suitable electrode material.
  • a suitable material such as a conductive polymer, titanium and/or titanium coated with a precious metal, such as platinum, or any other suitable electrode material.
  • multiple cells 200 can be coupled in series or in parallel with one another, for example.
  • At least one of the anode or cathode electrodes is formed of a metallic mesh, with regular-sized rectangular openings in the form of a grid.
  • the mesh is formed of 0.023-inch diameter T316 stainless steel having a grid pattern of 20x20 grid openings per square inch.
  • T316 stainless steel having a grid pattern of 20x20 grid openings per square inch.
  • other dimensions, arrangements and materials can be used in other examples.
  • an ion-selective membrane 208 is positioned between the outer and inner electrodes 204 and 206.
  • the ion-selective membrane includes a "NAFION" from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, which has been cut to 2.55 inches by 2.55 inches and then wrapped around inner tubular electrode 206 and secured at the seam overlap with a contact adhesive, for example, such as a #1357 adhesive from 3M Company.
  • a contact adhesive for example, such as a #1357 adhesive from 3M Company.
  • Electrolysis cell 200 can have any suitable dimensions. In one example, cell 200 can have a length of about 4 inches long and an outer diameter of about 3/4 inch. The length and diameter can be selected to control the treatment time and the quantity of bubbles, e.g., nanobubbles and/or microbubbles, generated per unit volume of the liquid.
  • Cell 200 can include a suitable fitting at one or both ends of the cell. Any method of attachment can be used, such as through plastic quick-connect fittings.
  • one fitting can be configured to connect to the output tube 20 shown in FIG. 1.
  • Another fitting can be configured to connect to the inlet filter 16 or an inlet tube, for example.
  • one end of cell 200 is left open to draw liquid directly from reservoir 12 in FIG. 1.
  • cell 200 produces anolyte EA liquid in the anode chamber (between one of the electrodes 204 or 206 and ion-selective membrane 208) and catholyte EA liquid in the cathode chamber (between the other of the electrodes 204 or 206 and ion-selective membrane 208).
  • the anolyte and catholyte EA liquid flow paths join at the outlet of cell 200 as the anolyte and catholyte EA liquids enter tube 20 (in the example shown in FIG. 1).
  • spray bottle 10 dispenses a blended anolyte and catholyte EA liquid through nozzle 14.
  • the diameters of tubes 20 and 22 are kept small so that once pump 24 and electrolysis cell 18 (e.g., cell 200 shown in FIG. 5) are energized, tubes 20 and 22 are quickly primed with electrochemically-activated liquid. Any non-activated liquid contained in the tubes and pump are kept to a small volume.
  • spray bottle 10 produces the blended EA liquid at nozzle 14 in an "on demand" fashion and dispenses substantially all of the combined anolyte and catholyte EA liquid (except that retained in tubes 20, 22 and pump 24) from the bottle without an intermediate step of storing the anolyte and catholyte EA liquids.
  • switch 28 When switch 28 is not actuated, pump 24 is in an "off state and electrolysis cell 18 is de-energized.
  • control electronics 30 switches pump 24 to an “on” state and energizes electrolysis cell 18. In the “on” state, pump 24 pumps water from reservoir 12 through cell 18 and out nozzle 14.
  • control circuit 30 can be configured to energize electrolysis cell 18 for a period of time before energizing pump 24 in order to allow the feed water to become more electrochemically activated before dispensing.
  • spray bottle 10 dispenses the blended anolyte and catholyte liquid within a very small period of time from which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are produced by electrolysis cell 18.
  • the blended liquid can be dispensed within time periods such as within 5 seconds, within 3 seconds, and within 1 second of the time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are produced.
  • control electronics 30 can include any suitable control circuit, which can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both, for example.
  • Control circuit 30 includes a printed circuit board containing electronic devices for powering and controlling the operation of pump 24 and electrolysis cell 18.
  • control circuit 30 includes a power supply having an output that is coupled to pump 24 and electrolysis cell 18 and which controls the power delivered to the two devices.
  • Control circuit 30 also includes an H- bridge, for example, that is capable of selectively reversing the polarity of the voltage applied to electrolysis cell 18 as a function of a control signal generated by the control circuit.
  • control circuit 30 can be configured to alternate polarity in a predetermined pattern, such as every 5 seconds with a 50% duty cycle.
  • control circuit 30 is configured to apply a voltage to the cell with primarily a first polarity and periodically reverse the polarity for only very brief periods of time. Frequent reversals of polarity can provide a self-cleaning function to the electrodes, which can reduce scaling or build-up of deposits on the electrode surfaces and can extend the life of the electrodes.
  • the available power to the pump and cell is somewhat limited.
  • the driving voltage for the cell is in the range of about 8 Volts to about 28 Volts.
  • typical flow rates through the spray bottle and electrolysis cell are fairly low, only relatively small currents are necessary to effectively activate the liquid passing through the cell. With low flow rates, the residence time within the cell is relatively large. The longer the liquid resides in the cell while the cell is energized, the greater the electrochemical activation (within practical limits). This allows the spray bottle to employ smaller capacity batteries and a DC-to-DC converter, which steps the voltage up to the desired output voltage at a low current.
  • the spray bottle can carry one or more batteries having an output voltage of about 3-9 Volts.
  • the spray bottle can carry four AA batteries, each having a nominal output voltage of 1.5 Volts at about 500 milliampere-hours to about 3 ampere-hours. If the batteries are connected in series, then the nominal output voltage would be about 6V with a capacity of about 500 milliampere-hours to about 3 ampere-hours. This voltage can be stepped up to the range of 18 Volts to 28 Volts, for example, through the DC-to-DC converter. Thus, the desired electrode voltage can be achieved at a sufficient current.
  • the spray bottle carries 10 nickel-metal hydride batteries, each having a nominal output voltage of about 1.2 Volts.
  • the batteries are connected in series, so the nominal output voltage is about 10V to 12.5V with a capacity of about 1800 milliampere-hours.
  • This voltage is stepped up/down to a range of 8 Volts to at least 28 Volts, for example, through the DC- to-DC converter.
  • the desired electrode voltage can be achieved at a sufficient current.
  • the ability to produce a large voltage and a suitable current through the cell can be beneficial for applications in which regular tap water is fed through the cell to be converted into a liquid having enhanced cleaning and/or sanitizing properties.
  • Regular tap water has a relatively low electrical conductivity between the electrodes of the cell.
  • DC-to-DC converters examples include the Series A/SM surface mount converter from PICO Electronics, Inc. of Pelham, New York, U.S.A. and the NCP3064 1.5A Step-Up/Down/Inverting Switching regulator from ON Semiconductor of Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A, connected in a boost application.
  • the control circuit controls the DC-to-DC converter based on a sensed current drawn from the electrolysis cell so that the DC-to-DC converter outputs a voltage that is controlled to achieve a current draw through the cell that is within a predetermined current range.
  • the target current draw is about 400 milliamperes in one specific example. In another example, the target current is 350 milliamperes. Other currents and ranges can be used in alternative embodiments.
  • the desired current draw may depend on the geometry of the electrolysis cell, the properties of the liquid being treated and the desired properties of the resulting electrochemical reaction. Block diagrams illustrating examples of the control electronics are described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 20. 10.
  • the electrodes of the electrolysis cell can be driven with a variety of different voltage and current patterns, depending on the particular application of the cell. It is desirable to limit scaling on the electrodes by periodically reversing the voltage polarity that is applied to the electrodes.
  • the electrodes are driven at one polarity for a specified period of time (e.g., about 5 seconds) and then driven at the reverse polarity for approximately the same period of time. Since the anolyte and cathotlyte EA liquids are blended at the outlet of the cell, this process produces essentially one part anolyte EA liquid to one part catholyte EA liquid.
  • the electrolysis cell is controlled to produce a substantially constant anolyte EA liquid or catholyte EA liquid from each chamber without complicated valving.
  • complicated and expensive valving is used to maintain constant anolyte and catholyte through respective outlets while still allowing the polarity to be reversed to minimize scaling. For example, looking at FIG. 2, when the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes is reversed, the anode 60 becomes a cathode, and the cathode 62 becomes an anode.
  • Outlet 70 will deliver catholyte instead of anolyte, and outlet 72 will deliver anolyte instead of catholyte.
  • valving could be used to connect outlet 70 to cathode chamber 56 and outlet 72 to anode chamber 54 when the voltage is reversed. This results in a constant anolyte or catholyte flow through each output.
  • one example of the present disclosure achieves substantially constant outputs through the voltage pattern supplied to the electrodes.
  • FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram illustrating the voltage pattern applied to the anode and cathode according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
  • a substantially constant, relatively positive voltage is applied to the anode, while a substantially constant, relatively negative voltage is applied to the cathode.
  • each voltage is briefly pulsed to a relatively opposite polarity to repel scale deposits.
  • a relatively positive voltage is applied to the anode and a relatively negative voltage is applied to the cathode from times t ⁇ -tl, t2-t3, t4-t5 and t6-t7.
  • times tl-t2, t3-t4, t5-t6 and t7-t8 the voltages applied to each electrode is reversed.
  • the reversed voltage level can have the same magnitude as the non-reversed voltage level or can have a different magnitude if desired.
  • the frequency of each brief polarity switch can be selected as desired. As the frequency of reversal increases, the amount of scaling decreases.
  • the electrodes may loose small amounts of platinum (in the case of platinum coated electrodes) with each reversal. As the frequency of reversals decreases, scaling may increase.
  • the time period between reversals, as shown by arrow 300 is in the range of about 1 second to about 600 seconds. Other periods outside this range can also be used.
  • the time period at which the voltages are reversed can also be selected as desired.
  • the reversal time period, represented by arrow 302 is in the range of about 50 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds. Other periods outside this range can also be used.
  • time period of normal polarity 303, such as between times t2 and t3, is at least 900 milliseconds.
  • the voltage can be selectively reversed periodically or non- periodically.
  • the time period 300 between reversals is 1 second, and during each period of the waveform, the voltage between the electrodes is applied with the normal polarity for 900 milliseconds and then with the reversed polarity for 100 milliseconds.
  • each anode chamber produces a substantially constant anolyte EA liquid output
  • each cathode chamber produces a substantially constant catholyte EA output without requiring valving.
  • the applied voltage pattern can be used in the above-manner to produce a greater amount of either anolyte or catholyte to emphasize cleaning or sanitizing properties of the produced liquid. For example, if cleaning is to be emphasized, then a greater number of electrodes can be driven to the relatively negative polarity (to produce more catholyte) and a lesser number of electrodes can be driven to the relatively positive polarity (to produce less anolyte).
  • a greater number of electrodes can be driven to the relatively positive polarity (to produce more anolyte) and a lesser number of electrodes can be driven to the relatively negative polarity (to produce less catholyte).
  • control circuit includes a further switch, which allows the user to select between cleaning and sanitizing modes.
  • spray bottle 10 can include a user-operable cleaning/sanitizing mode switch that is mounted to the bottle.
  • a hand-held spray bottle such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 carries tubular electrolysis cell such as cell 200 shown in FIG. 5.
  • the electrolysis cell is driven with a voltage to emphasize enhanced cleaning properties by generating a greater amount of catholyte EA liquid than anolyte EA liquid per unit of time.
  • outer cylindrical electrode 204 has a greater diameter and therefore a greater surface area than inner cylindrical electrode 206.
  • the control circuit drives cell 200 so that, for the majority of period of the driving voltage pattern, outer electrode 204 serves as the cathode and inner electrode 206 serves as the anode.
  • the control circuit applies a relatively positive voltage to the anode (electrode 206) and a relatively negative voltage to the cathode (electrode 204) from times t ⁇ -tl, t2-t3, t4-t5 and t6-t7. During times tl-t2, t3-t4, t5-t6 and t7-t8, the voltages applied to each electrode is briefly reversed.
  • the spray bottle is filled with regular tap water only.
  • the liquid that is pumped through and electrochemically activated with cell 200 consists solely of regular tap water.
  • the tap water is electrochemically activated, as discussed herein, and dispensed as a blended anolyte and catholyte stream through the spray nozzle.
  • the spray output therefore has enhanced cleaning properties, wherein the amount of catholyte exceeds the amount of anolyte in the blended stream.
  • Enhanced sanitizing properties can be emphasized in an alternative embodiment by making electrode 204 primarily an anode and electrode 206 primarily a cathode using the waveforms shown in FIG. 6, for example.
  • electrodes 204 and 206 comprise unplated electrodes, such as metallic electrodes or conductive plastic electrodes.
  • the electrodes can be unplated metallic mesh electrodes.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to providing a humanly- perceptible indicator, which indicates a functional status of the electrolysis cell, such as the oxidation-reduction potential of the EA liquid.
  • the spray bottle and/or other devices disclosed herein can be modified to include a visual indicator of the output liquid's oxidation-reduction potential.
  • the level of power consumed by the electrolysis cell can be used to determine whether the cell is operating correctly and therefore whether the liquid (sparged water, EA anolyte, and/or EA catholyte) produced by the cell is electrochemically activated to a sufficient level.
  • Power consumption below a reasonable level can reflect various potential problems such as use of ultra-pure feed water or feed water having a generally low electrolyte content (e.g., low sodium/mineral content) such that the water does not conduct a sufficient level of electrical current within the functional generator.
  • the current consumption can therefore also indicate high or low levels of oxidation-reduction potential, for example.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system 400 having an indicator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, which can be incorporated into any of the embodiments disclosed herein, for example.
  • System 400 includes power supply (such as a battery) 402, control electronics 404, electrolysis cell 406, pump 408, current sensors 410 and 412, indicator lights 414 and 416, switch 418 and trigger 420.
  • power supply such as a battery
  • control electronics 404 control electronics 404
  • the liquid inputs and outputs of electrolysis cell 404 are not shown in FIG. 7. All elements of system 400 can be powered by the same power supply 402 or by two or more separate power supplies, for example.
  • Control electronics 404 are coupled to control the operating state of electrolysis cell 406, pump 408 and indicator lights 414 and 416 based on the present operating mode of system 400 and user control inputs, such as trigger 420.
  • switch 418 is coupled in series between power supply 402 and control electronics 404 and serves to couple and decouple power supply 402 to and from power inputs of control electronics 404 depending on the state of trigger 420.
  • switch 418 includes a momentary, normally- open switch that closes when trigger 420 is depressed and opens when trigger 420 is released.
  • switch 418 is configured as an on/off toggle switch, for example, that is actuated separately from trigger 420.
  • Trigger 420 actuates a second switch that is coupled to an enable input of control electronics 404.
  • Other configurations can also be used.
  • control electronics 404 when trigger 420 is depressed, control electronics 404 is enabled and generates appropriate voltage outputs for driving electrolysis cell 406 and pump 408.
  • control electronics 404 can produce a first voltage pattern for driving the electrolysis cell 406, such as those patterns described herein, and a second voltage pattern for driving pump 408.
  • trigger 420 When trigger 420 is released, control electronics is powered off and/or otherwise disabled from producing the output voltages to cell 406 and pump 408.
  • Current sensors 410 and 412 are coupled in electrical series with electrolysis cell 406 and pump 408, respectively, and each provide a signal to control electronics 404 that is representative of the respective electrical current drawn through cell 406 or pump 406.
  • these signals can be analog or digital signals.
  • system 400 includes a sensor 410 for sensing the current drawn by electrolysis cell 406, but no sensor 412 for sensing current drawn by pump 408.
  • the control electronics 404 includes a microcontroller, such as an MC9S08SH4CTG-ND Microcontroller available from Digi-Key Corporation of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, U.S.A., which controls a DRV8800 full bridge motor driver circuit available from Texas Instruments Corporation of Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
  • the driver circuit has an H-switch that drives the output voltage to electrolysis cell 406 according to a voltage pattern controlled by the microcontroller.
  • the H-switch has a current sense output that can be used by the microcontroller to sense the current drawn by cell 406.
  • Control electronics 404 compares the sensor outputs to predetermined threshold current levels or ranges and then operates indicators 414 and 416 as a function of one or both of the comparisons.
  • the threshold current levels or ranges can be selected to represent predetermined power consumption levels, for example.
  • Indicators 414 and 416 each can include any visually perceptible indicator, such as an LED.
  • indicator lights 414 and 416 have different colors to indicate different operating states. For example, indicator light 414 might be green, which when illuminated indicates a normal, properly functioning electrolysis cell and/or pump, and indicator 416 might be red, which when illuminated indicates a problem in the operating state of the electrolysis cell and/or pump.
  • the bottle contains four green LEDs 414 and four red LEDs 416 for a strong illumination of the liquid contained in the bottle.
  • control electronics 404 operate the indicator lights 414 and 416 as a function of the current levels sensed by current sensors 410 and/or 412. For example, control electronics 404 can turn off (or alternatively, turn on) one or both of the indicator lights as a function of whether the current level sensed is above or below a threshold level or within a range. Indicator lights 414 and 416 can be operated by separate power signals and a common ground, for example, provided by control electronics 404.
  • control electronics 404 illuminates the green indicator light 414 in a steady "on” state and turns off the red indicator light 416 when the sensed current level the cell 406 is above the respective threshold level (or within the predefined range). In contrast, control electronics 404 illuminates the red indicator light 416 in a steady "on” state and the green indicator light 414 in a steady "off state when the sensed current level of cell 406 is below the respective threshold level.
  • the control electronics 404 modulates the green indicator light 414 between the on and off states when the current drawn by pump 408 is outside of a predetermined range. Any suitable range can be used for the pump current, such as between 1.5 Amps and 0.1 Amps. Other ranges can also be used. In a further example, control electronics 404 illuminates the green indicator light 414 in a steady "on" state and turns off the red indicator light 416 when the sensed current levels of both the cell 406 and the pump 408 are within their respective predetermined, and if not, illuminates the red indicator light 416 and turns off the green indicator light 414.
  • one or more indicator lights are operated in a steady "on" state when the sensed current level is above the threshold level, and are cycled between the "on” state and "off state at a selected frequency to indicate a problem when the sensed current level of electrolysis cell 406 is below the threshold level.
  • Multiple threshold levels and frequencies can be used in other embodiments.
  • a plurality of separately-controlled indicator lights can be used, each indicating operation within a predefined range.
  • the control electronics can be configured to alter the illumination level of one or more indicator lights as a function of the sensed current level relative to one or more thresholds or ranges, for example.
  • separate indicator lights can be used for separately indicating the operating state of the electrolysis cell and the pump. Other configurations can also be used.
  • indicator lights 414 and/or 416 can be positioned on the apparatus (such as on the spray bottle) to illuminate the liquid itself, either prior to treatment by electrolysis cell 404 and/or after treatment.
  • the indicator light when illuminated, generates luminous flux in the visible wavelength range that is visually perceptible through the liquid from a viewpoint that is exterior to the apparatus.
  • the liquid may diffuse at least a portion of the light, giving a visual impression that the liquid, itself, is illuminated.
  • the apparatus comprises a container, lumen or other element that contains the liquid and comprises a material and/or portion that is at least translucent and positioned to transmit at least some of the light produced by indicator 414 and/or 416 when illuminated. This container, lumen or other element is at least partially visible from an exterior of the apparatus.
  • At least translucent includes translucent, semi-transparent, fully transparent, and any term that means at least some of the light illuminating from the indicator is humanly perceptible through the material.
  • FIGS. 8-16 illustrate examples of a hand-held spray bottle 500 and 500' having an electrolysis cell and at least one indicator light, wherein at least some of the light illuminating from the indicator is humanly perceptible from a viewpoint that is external to the bottle.
  • the particular bottle configurations and constructions shown in the drawings are provided as non-limiting examples only.
  • the same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 8-16 for the same or similar elements.
  • bottle 500 includes a housing 501 forming a base 502, a neck 504, and a barrel or head 506.
  • the tip of barrel 506 includes a nozzle 508 and a drip/splash guard 509.
  • Drip/splash guard 509 also serves as a convenient hook for hanging bottle 500 on a utility cart, for example.
  • housing 501 has a clamshell-type construction with substantially symmetrical left and right hand sides attached together, such as by screws.
  • Base 502 houses a container 510, which serves as a reservoir for liquid to be treated and then dispensed through nozzle 508.
  • Container 510 has a neck and threaded inlet (with a screw cap) 512 that extends through base 502 to allow container 510 to be filled with a liquid. Inlet 512 is threaded to receive a cap seal.
  • the side walls of housing base 502 have a plurality of openings or windows 520 about its circumference through which container 510 is visible.
  • the openings 520 are formed by an absence of the housing material within the opening.
  • the openings are formed by a material that is at least translucent.
  • the entire housing or a portion of the housing is at least translucent.
  • container 510 is formed of a material that is at least translucent.
  • container 510 can be fabricated as a blow mold of a clear polyester material.
  • housing 501 also contains a circuit board carrying a plurality of LED indicator lights 594, 596 (corresponding to lights 414 and 416 shown in FIG. 7). The lights are positioned beneath the base of container 510 to transmit light through a base wall of container 510 and into any liquid contained in the container. The liquid diffuses at least a portion of the light, giving an appearance of the liquid being illuminated. This illumination is visible from a viewpoint external to housing 501, through openings 520. The color of the light and/or other illumination characteristics such as on/off modulation, intensity, etc.
  • Arrows 522 represent illumination from the indicator light that is transmitted through the liquid in container 510 and visible from an exterior of the bottle, through openings 520 in housing 501.
  • the liquid can be illuminated with a green LED to indicate that the electrolysis cell and/or pump are functioning properly.
  • the user can be assured that the treated liquid dispensed from nozzle 508 has enhanced cleaning and/or sanitizing properties as compared to the source liquid contained in container 510.
  • illumination of the source liquid in container 510 although not yet treated, gives an impression that the liquid is "special" and has enhanced properties.
  • the control electronics illuminates the red LED, giving the source liquid a red appearance. This gives the user an impression that there is a problem and that the dispensed liquid may not have enhanced cleaning and/or sanitizing properties.
  • the indicator lights can be positioned to illuminate any portion of the flow path from a liquid inlet to the bottle and nozzle 508, including any elements upstream and/or downstream of the electrolysis cell.
  • the housing can be modified in any manner to allow this illumination to be visible by a user.
  • the liquid can be illuminated in a delivery tube extending from the output of the electrolysis cell to the nozzle 508.
  • Barrel 506 can be modified to include an opening to expose the delivery tube, or a portion of the tube can extend along the exterior of barrel 506, for example.
  • FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a bottle 500' which lacks the windows
  • housing 501 can be fabricated of polycarbonate.
  • FIG. 8B the same reference numerals are used in FIG. 8B as were used in FIG. 8 A for the same or similar elements.
  • FIG. 8B with a translucent housing, the internal components of bottle 500' are visible through housing 501 from a viewpoint that is external to the housing.
  • the container 510 shown in phantom
  • the liquid contained therein are visible through housing 501.
  • FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the back end of the barrel (or head) 506 of bottle 501', which illustrates an electrical power jack 523 for connecting to the cord of a battery charger (not shown).
  • a battery charger not shown
  • FIGS. 9-16 illustrate further details of the particular bottle 500' shown in
  • FIG. 8B is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 8B.
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of the left-hand side 50 IA of housing 501
  • FIG. 9C is a perspective view of the right-hand side 50 IB of housing 501.
  • the left and right hand sides 501A and 501B when attached to one another form a plurality of compartments for containing various elements of the bottle.
  • housing base 502 includes a first compartment 531 for containing liquid container 510 (shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B), a second compartment 532 for containing a circuit board supporting the control electronics, and a third compartment 533 for containing a plurality of batteries to power the control electronics.
  • Barrel 506 includes a compartment 534 for containing the electrolysis cell and pump.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates various components installed in the left-hand side 501A of housing 501.
  • Container 510 is installed in compartment 531
  • circuit board 540 is installed in compartment 532
  • batteries 542 are installed in compartment 533
  • pump/cell assembly 544 is installed in compartment 534.
  • the various tubes that connect container 510, pump/cell assembly and nozzle 508 are not shown in FIG. 10.
  • FIGS. HA and HB illustrate container 510 in greater detail.
  • FIG. HA is a perspective view of container 510
  • FIG. HB is a fragmentary, cross- sectional view of the inlet 512 of container 510 installed in housing 501A.
  • An o-ring 548 seals the outer diameter surface of the neck of inlet 512 within housing 50 IA.
  • the threads on inlet 512 receive a cap (not shown) to seal the inlet opening.
  • Container 510 further includes an outlet 549 for receiving a tube (not shown) for drawing liquid from container 510.
  • the tube may include an inlet filter as described with reference to FIG. 1, for example.
  • FIG. 12A illustrates a fragmentary, close-up view of pump/cell assembly 544 installed in the barrel 506 of housing half 501A.
  • FIG. 12B is a perspective view of pump/cell assembly 544 removed from the housing.
  • FIG. 12C shows a bottom, perspective view of the assembly with the trigger 570 removed.
  • Pump/cell assembly 544 includes a pump 550 and an electrolysis cell 552 mounted within a bracket 554.
  • the pump 550 has a first port 555 that is fluidically coupled to the tube (not shown) extending from the outlet 549 of container 510 and a second port 555 that is fluidically coupled through another tube (also not shown) to the inlet 556 of electrolysis cell 552.
  • Electrolysis cell 552 has an outlet 557 that is fluidically coupled to nozzle 508.
  • electrolysis cell 552 corresponds to the tubular electrolysis cell 200 discussed with reference to FIG. 5.
  • any suitable electrolysis cell can be used in alternative embodiments, and the cell can have any shape and/or geometry.
  • the cell can have electrodes that are cylindrical as shown in FIG. 5 or substantially planar, parallel plates.
  • O-ring 560 provides a seal about the nozzle 508 for housing 501.
  • Bottle 500' further includes a trigger 570, which actuates a momentary push-button on/off switch 572.
  • Trigger 570 actuates about pivot 574 when depressed by a user.
  • a spring 576 biases trigger 570 in a normally released state and thus switch 572 in an off state.
  • Switch 572 has electrical leads 578 for connecting to the control electronics on circuit board 540, shown in FIG. 10. As described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 7, when trigger 570 is depressed, switch 572 actuates to the "on" state, thereby providing electrical power to the control electronics, which energizes pump 550 and electrolysis cell 552.
  • pump 550 When energized, pump 550 draws liquid from container 510 and pumps the liquid through electrolysis cell 552, which delivers a combined anolyte and catholyte EA liquid to nozzle 508.
  • electrolysis cell 552 When pump 550 and/or electrolysis cell 552 are functioning properly, the control electronics also illuminate the liquid within container 510 with the LEDs installed on the circuit board or another location in or on bottle 500'.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates bracket 554 in greater detail.
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of trigger 570.
  • Trigger 570 has a set of apertures 580 for receiving a pin or pins that define the pivot point of the trigger.
  • FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views of a trigger boot 584, which overlies trigger 570.
  • Boot 584 provides a protective layer for trigger 570 and seals the edges of housing 501 about the trigger.
  • FIG. 16A illustrates compartments 532 and 533 of housing half 501A in greater detail.
  • FIG. 16B illustrates the circuit board 540 mounted within compartment 532 and batteries 542 mounted within compartment 533.
  • circuit board 540 includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes
  • LEDs 594 and 596 are positioned on the top surface of circuit board 540 such that light radiating from the LEDs illuminates the liquid in container 510 through the base of the container.
  • Other arrangements can also be used.
  • the LEDs can have different colors and be controlled separately, as described above, to indicate different operating states or characteristics, for example. 12. Illumination Through the Liquid in Other Apparatus
  • the features and methods described herein can be used in a variety of different apparatus, such as on a spray bottle, a mobile surface cleaner, and/or a freestanding or wall-mount electrolysis platform.
  • a mobile surface cleaner such as a mobile hard floor surface cleaner, a mobile soft floor surface cleaner or a mobile surface cleaner that is adapted to clean both hard and soft floors or other surfaces, for example.
  • Field et al. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0186368 Al discloses various apparatus in which the features and methods described herein can be used, such as a mobile surface cleaner having a mobile body configured to travel over a surface.
  • the mobile body has a tank for containing a cleaning liquid, such as tap water, a liquid dispenser and a flowpath from the tank to the liquid dispenser.
  • An electrolysis cell is coupled in the flowpath.
  • the electrolysis cell has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates tap water that has passed through the functional generator.
  • the functional generator converts the tap water into an anolyte EA liquid and a catholyte EA liquid.
  • the anolyte EA liquid and the catholyte EA liquid can be separately applied to the surface being cleaned and/or sanitized, or can be combined on-board the apparatus to form a combination anolyte and catholyte
  • Field et al. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0186368 Al also discloses other structures on which the various structural elements and processes disclosed herein can be utilized either separately or together.
  • Field et al. disclose a wall mount platform for generating anolyte and catholyte EA liquid.
  • any of these apparatus can be configured to provide a visual indication of a functional operating state or operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell, wherein illumination of the indicator is visible through the liquid from a viewpoint that is external to the apparatus.
  • the indicator light is not required to be in a direct line of sight of the observer, but may be out of sight.
  • the illumination might be visible due to diffusion and/or diffraction of the light, such as through the liquid.
  • a wall-mounted platform supports an electrolysis cell and a liquid flow path from an inlet of the platform, through the electrolysis cell, to an outlet of the platform. At least a portion of the flow path is at least translucent and visible from an exterior of the platform.
  • the platform further includes an indicator light, such as that shown in FIG. 7, that illuminates the liquid along at least a portion of the flow path, such as along a tube and/or a reservoir of the platform.
  • the features and methods described herein, such as those of the electrolysis cell, can be used in a variety of different applications, such on a spray bottle, a mobile surface cleaner, and/or a free-standing or wall-mount electrolysis platform.
  • a mobile surface cleaner such as a mobile hard floor surface cleaner, a mobile soft floor surface cleaner or a mobile surface cleaner that is adapted to clean both hard and soft floors or other surfaces, for example.
  • a mobile surface cleaner having a mobile body configured to travel over a surface.
  • the mobile body has a tank for containing a cleaning liquid, such as tap water, a liquid dispenser and a flowpath from the tank to the liquid dispenser.
  • An electrolysis cell is coupled in the flowpath.
  • the electrolysis cell has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates tap water that has passed through the functional generator.
  • the functional generator converts the tap water into an anolyte EA liquid and a catholyte EA liquid.
  • the anolyte EA liquid and the catholyte EA liquid can be separately applied to the surface being cleaned and/or sanitized, or can be combined on-board the apparatus to form a combination anolyte and catholyte EA liquid and dispensed together through a cleaning head, for example.
  • FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a mobile hard and/or soft floor surface cleaner 700 disclosed in Field et al. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0186368 Al in which one or more of the above-described features and/or methods can be implemented.
  • FIG. 17 is a perspective view of cleaner 700 having its lid in an open position.
  • cleaner 700 is a walk-behind cleaner used to clean hard floor surfaces, such as concrete, tile, vinyl, terrazzo, etc. in other examples, cleaner 700 can be configured as a ride-on, attachable, or towed-behind cleaner for performing a cleaning and/or sanitizing operation as described herein. In a further example, cleaner 700 can be adapted to clean soft floors, such as carpet, or both hard and soft floors in further embodiments. Cleaner 700 may include electrical motors powered through an on-board power source, such as batteries, or through an electrical cord. Alternatively, for example, an internal combustion engine system could be used either alone, or in combination with, the electric motors.
  • Cleaner 700 generally includes a base 702 and a lid 704, which is attached along one side of the base 702 by hinges (not shown) so that lid 704 can be pivoted up to provide access to the interior of base 702.
  • Base 702 includes a tank 706 for containing a liquid or a primary cleaning and/or sanitizing liquid component (such as regular tap water) to be treated and applied to the floor surface during cleaning/sanitizing operations.
  • the liquid can be treated onboard or offboard cleaner 700 prior to containment in tank 706.
  • cleaner 700 includes an electrolysis cell 708, which treats the liquid prior to the liquid being applied to the floor being cleaned. The treated liquid can be applied to the floor directly and/or through a cleaning head 710, for example.
  • the treated liquid that is applied to the floor can include an anolyte EA liquid stream, a catholyte EA liquid stream, both and anolyte and catholyteEA liquid streams and/or a combined anolyte and catholyte EA liquid stream.
  • the cell 408 can include an ion selective membrane or be configured without an ion selective membrane.
  • Field et al. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0186368 Al also discloses other structures on which the various structural elements and processes disclosed herein can be utilized either separately or together.
  • Field et al. disclose a wall mount platform for generating anolyte and catholyte EA liquid. This platform can be controlled with a control voltage pattern as disclosed herein, for example. 14.
  • FIG. 18 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a cleaning liquid generator 800 that is mounted to a platform 802 according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • Platform 802 can be configured to be mounted or placed in a facility on a floor, a wall, a bench or other surface, held by hand, carried by an operator or vehicle, attached on to another device (such as carried by a cleaning or maintenance trolley or mop bucket), or carried on a person.
  • platform 802 is mounted to the wall of a facility for loading cleaning devices, such as mop buckets, mobile cleaning machines, etc., with cleaning and/or sanitizing liquid.
  • Platform 802 includes an inlet 803 for receiving a liquid, such as tap water, from a source.
  • platform 802 can include a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated.
  • Platform 802 further includes one or more electrolysis cells 804 and a control circuit 806 (such as those disclosed above).
  • Electrolysis cell(s) 804 can have any of the structures described herein or any other suitable structure.
  • Platform 802 can also include any other devices or components such as but not limited to those disclosed herein.
  • the flow path or paths from the output of electrolysis cell 804 can be configured to dispense anolyte EA liquid and catholyte EA liquid separately and/or blended anolyte and catholyte EA liquid through outlet 808.
  • Unused anolyte or catholyte can be directed to a waste tank on platform 802 or to a drain outlet, for example.
  • the outlet can have separate anolyte and catholyte ports and/or a combined port, which delivers a blended mixture of catholyte and anolyte, for example, as discussed above.
  • any of the embodiments herein can include one or more storage tanks for containing the anolyte and/or catholyte produced liquid by the electrolysis cell.
  • electrolysis cell 804 includes at least one anode and at least one cathode that are separated by at least one ion- selective membrane, forming one or more anode chambers and cathode chambers.
  • Outlet 808 has separate anolyte and catholyte ports, which are fluidically coupled to the anode chambers and cathode chambers, respectively, without any fluid valving, for example.
  • the control circuit 806 energizes the anodes and cathodes with a voltage pattern discussed above with reference to FIG. 6 such that each anolyte port supplies a substantially constant anolyte EA liquid output, and each catholyte port supplies a substantially constant catholyte EA liquid output.
  • a substantially constant, relatively positive voltage is applied to the anodes, while a substantially constant, relatively negative voltage is applied to the cathodes.
  • each voltage is briefly pulsed to a relatively opposite polarity to repel scale deposits.
  • Platform 802 further can include a switch or other user input device 810, if desired, for operating the control circuit to selectively invert the voltage patterns applied to each electrode to produce a greater amount of anolyte or catholyte depending upon the state of the switch. 15. All Surface Cleaner FIG.
  • FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an all surface cleaning assembly 980, which is described in more detail in U.S. Patent No. 6,425,958.
  • the cleaning assembly 980 is modified to include a liquid distribution path with one or more electrolysis cells with electrodes and a control circuit as described herein such as but not limited to those shown or described with reference to FIG. 1, for example, or any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
  • Cleaning assembly 980 can be constructed to deliver and optionally recover one or more of the following liquids, for example, to and from the floor being cleaned: anolyte EA water, catholyte EA water, blended anolyte and catholyte EA water, or other electrically-charged liquids.
  • anolyte EA water catholyte EA water
  • blended anolyte and catholyte EA water or other electrically-charged liquids.
  • liquid other than or in addition to water can be used.
  • Cleaning assembly 980 can be used to clean hard surfaces in restrooms or any other room having at least one hard surface, for example.
  • Cleaning assembly 980 includes the cleaning device and the accessories used with the cleaning device for cleaning the surfaces, as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,425,958.
  • Cleaning assembly 980 includes a housing 981, a handle 982, wheels 983, a drain hose 984 and various accessories.
  • the accessories can include a floor brush 985 having a telescoping and extending handle 986, a first piece 987 and a second piece 988 of a two piece double bend wand, and various additional accessories not shown in FIG.
  • the assembly has a housing that carries a tank or removable liquid container and a recovery tank or removable recovery liquid container.
  • the cleaning assembly 980 is used to clean surfaces by spraying the cleaning liquid through a sprayer hose and onto the surfaces.
  • the blower hose is then used to blow dry the surfaces and to blow the fluid on the surfaces in a predetermined direction.
  • the vacuum hose is used to suction the fluid off of the surfaces and into the recovery tank within cleaning device 980, thereby cleaning the surfaces.
  • the vacuum hose, blower hose, sprayer hose and other accessories used with cleaning assembly 980 can be carried with the cleaning device 980 for easy transportation.
  • any of the apparatus shown in or described with FIGS. 17-19 can include one or more indicator lights 414 and/or 416 (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 7) positioned on the apparatus to illuminate the liquid itself, either prior to treatment by electrolysis cell 404 and/or after treatment.
  • the indicator light when illuminated, generates luminous flux in the visible wavelength range that is visually perceptible through the liquid from a viewpoint that is exterior to the apparatus.
  • the liquid may diffuse at least a portion of the light, giving a visual impression that the liquid, itself, is illuminated.
  • the apparatus comprises a container, lumen or other element that contains the liquid and comprises a material and/or portion that is at least translucent and positioned to transmit at least some of the light produced by indicator 414 and/or 416 when illuminated.
  • This container, lumen or other element is at least partially visible from an exterior of the apparatus.
  • FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit for controlling the various components within the hand-held spray bottles 500, 500' shown in FIGS. 8-16 according to an illustrative example of the disclosure.
  • the main components of the control circuit include a microcontroller 1000, a DC-to-DC converter 1004, and an output driver circuit 1006.
  • Battery pack 542 includes 10 nickel-metal hydride batteries, each having a nominal output voltage of about 1.2 Volts. The batteries are connected in series, so the nominal output voltage is about 10V to 12.5V with a capacity of about 1800 milliampere-hours.
  • Hand trigger 570,572 (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, for example) selectively applies the 12- volt output voltage from battery pack 542 to voltage regulator 1003 and to DC-to-DC converter 1004. Any suitable voltage regulator can be used, such as an LM7805 regulator from Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. In a particular example, voltage regulator 1003 provides a 5 Volt output voltage for powering the various electrical components within the control circuit.
  • DC-to-DC converter 1004 generates an output voltage to be applied across the electrodes of electrolysis cell 552.
  • the converter is controlled by microcontroller to step the drive voltage up or down in order to achieve a desired current draw through the electrolysis cell.
  • converter 1004 steps the voltage up or down between a range of 8 Volts to 28 Volts (or greater) to achieve a current draw through electrolysis cell 552 of about 400 milliamps, as pump 550 pumps water from container 510, through cell 552 and out nozzle 508 (FIGS. 8 A and 8B).
  • the required voltage depends in part on the conductivity of the water between the cell' s electrodes.
  • DC-to-DC converter 1004 includes a Series A/SM surface mount converter from PICO Electronics, Inc. of Pelham, New York, U.S.A.
  • converter 1004 includes an NCP3064 1.5A Step-Up/Down/Inverting Switching regulator from ON Semiconductor of Phoenix, Arizona, U. S. A, connected in a boost application.
  • Other circuits can be used in alternative embodiments.
  • Output driver circuit 1006 selectively reverses the polarity of the driving voltage applied to electrolysis cell 552 as a function of a control signal generated by microcontroller 1000.
  • microcontroller 1000 can be configured to alternate polarity in a predetermined pattern, such that shown and/or described with reference to FIG. 6.
  • Output driver 1006 can also provide an output voltage to pump 550.
  • pump 550 can receive its output voltage directly from the output of trigger switch 570, 572.
  • output driver circuit 1006 includes a DRV 8800 full bridge motor driver circuit available from Texas Instruments Corporation of Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. Other circuits can be used in alternative embodiments.
  • the driver circuit 1006 has an H-switch that drives the output voltage to electrolysis cell 552 according to the voltage pattern controlled by the microcontroller.
  • the H-switch also has a current sense output that can be used by the microcontroller to sense the current drawn by cell 552.
  • Sense resistor R SENSE develops a voltage that is representative of the sensed current and is applied as a feedback voltage to microcontroller 1000.
  • Microcontroller 1000 monitors the feedback voltage and controls converter 1004 to output a suitable drive voltage to maintain a desired current draw.
  • Microcontroller 1000 also monitors the feedback voltage to verify that electrolysis cell 552 and/or pump 550 is operating properly. As discussed above, microcontroller 1000 can operate LEDs 594 and 596 as a function of the current levels sensed by output driver circuit 1006. For example, microcontroller 1000 can turn off (or alternatively, turn on) one or both of the sets of LEDs 594 and 596 as a function of whether the current level sensed is above or below a threshold level or within a range.
  • microcontroller 1000 can include any suitable controller, such as an MC9S08SH4CTG-ND Microcontroller available from Digi-Key Corporation of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, U.S.A.
  • the illumination control portion of the circuit includes output resistors Rl and R2 and a first, "red” LED control leg formed by pull-up resistor R3, red LED diodes D1-D4, and pull-down transistor Ql.
  • Microcontroller 1000 has a first control output, which selectively turns on and off red LEDs D1-D4 by turning on and off transistor Ql.
  • the illumination control portion of the circuit further a second, "green” LED control leg formed by pull-up resistor R4, green LED diodes D5-D8, and pull-down transistor Q2.
  • Microcontroller 1000 has a second control output, which selectively turns on and off green LEDs D5-D8 by turning on and off transistor Q2.
  • the control circuit further includes a control header 1002, which provides an input for reprogramming microcontroller 1000.
  • a control header 1002 which provides an input for reprogramming microcontroller 1000.
  • R1-R4, D1-D8 and Q1-Q2 reside on circuit board 540, shown in FIG. 16B.
  • control circuit shown in FIG. 20 can include a charging circuit (not shown) for charging the batteries within battery pack 542 with energy received through the power jack 523 shown in FIG. 8C.
  • a charging circuit (not shown) for charging the batteries within battery pack 542 with energy received through the power jack 523 shown in FIG. 8C.
  • One or more of the control functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, etc., or a combination thereof.
  • Such software, firmware, etc. is stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a memory device. Any computer-readable memory device can be used, such as a disc drive, a solid state drive, flash memory, RAM, ROM, a set of registers on an integrated circuit, etc.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Water Treatment By Electricity Or Magnetism (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil (10, 400, 500, 500', 700, 800, 980) comprenant une cellule (18, 50, 80, 406, 552, 708, 804) d’électrolyse, un passage d’écoulement de liquide traversant la cellule (18, 50, 80, 406, 552, 708, 804) d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur (414, 416, 594, 596). Le voyant indicateur (414, 416, 594, 596) est allumé en fonction d’une caractéristique de fonctionnement de la cellule (18, 50, 80, 406, 552, 708, 804) d’électrolyse et le flux lumineux (522) rayonné à partir du voyant (414, 416, 594, 596) éclaire le liquide sur au moins une partie du passage d’écoulement.
PCT/US2009/047979 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 Appareil comportant une cellule d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide WO2010024965A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09789861A EP2331468A1 (fr) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 Appareil comportant une cellule d électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide
BRPI0917359A BRPI0917359A2 (pt) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 aparelho, método, e, frasco de pulverização carregado pela mão.
CN200980142903.0A CN102209687A (zh) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 具有电解池和通过液体照明的指示灯的装置
MX2011002261A MX2011002261A (es) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 Aparato que tiene celda de electrólisis y luz indicadora que ilumina a través de líquido.
JP2011525032A JP2012501385A (ja) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 電解セル及び液体を通して点灯するインジケータライトを有する装置
CA2735504A CA2735504A1 (fr) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 Appareil comportant une cellule d'electrolyse et un voyant indicateur eclairant a travers un liquide
ZA2011/02184A ZA201102184B (en) 2008-08-28 2011-03-24 Apparatus having electrolysis cell and indicator light illuminating through liquid

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9258608P 2008-08-28 2008-08-28
US61/092,586 2008-08-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010024965A1 true WO2010024965A1 (fr) 2010-03-04

Family

ID=41057607

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/047979 WO2010024965A1 (fr) 2008-08-28 2009-06-19 Appareil comportant une cellule d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2331468A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2012501385A (fr)
KR (1) KR20110059609A (fr)
CN (1) CN102209687A (fr)
BR (1) BRPI0917359A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2735504A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2011002261A (fr)
RU (1) RU2011111423A (fr)
WO (1) WO2010024965A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA201102184B (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9340885B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-17 JOI Scientific, Inc. Negative reactive circuit for a hydrogen generation system
US9340886B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-17 JOI Scientific, Inc. Positive reactive circuit for a hydrogen generation system
US9347142B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-24 JOI Scientific, Inc. Feedback circuit for a hydrogen generation system
WO2016100378A1 (fr) * 2014-12-15 2016-06-23 JOI Scientific, Inc. Système de génération d'hydrogène
EP3097836A1 (fr) * 2015-05-29 2016-11-30 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH Dispositif d'aspiration de liquide
CN106186464A (zh) * 2016-08-29 2016-12-07 福州品行科技发展有限公司 一种带有oled显示装置的富氢杯
US9816190B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2017-11-14 JOI Scientific, Inc. Energy extraction system and methods
US10047445B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2018-08-14 JOI Scientific, Inc. Hydrogen generation system
US10214820B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2019-02-26 JOI Scientific, Inc. Hydrogen generation system with a controllable reactive circuit and associated methods
FR3113670A1 (fr) * 2020-09-01 2022-03-04 WeCleen Appareil et procédé de préparation d'un produit de nettoyage ménager
US11896938B2 (en) 2021-10-13 2024-02-13 Disruptive Oil And Gas Technologies Corp Nanobubble dispersions generated in electrochemically activated solutions

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6252955B2 (ja) * 2013-03-18 2017-12-27 学校法人北里研究所 ナノバブルによる殺菌方法及びこれに用いるナノバブルの発生装置
CN105543885A (zh) * 2016-01-19 2016-05-04 沈阳溢源设备制造有限公司 一种电解食盐水喷头
WO2018083788A1 (fr) * 2016-11-04 2018-05-11 ソマール株式会社 Cellule d'électrolyse et dispositif d'éjection d'eau ozonée dans lequel une telle cellule est utilisée
CN109319889A (zh) * 2018-09-30 2019-02-12 福建金源泉科技发展有限公司 一种具有组合安装电极的喷壶
KR102235110B1 (ko) * 2020-04-07 2021-04-05 이동희 실내 공간에서 살균/소독을 실시할 수 있는 이산화염소수 공급 장치
CN111593369B (zh) * 2020-06-18 2024-02-20 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 消毒液制造机、消毒液制造机防过压方法
JP7488132B2 (ja) 2020-06-30 2024-05-21 マクセル株式会社 電解水生成装置
JP7488131B2 (ja) 2020-06-30 2024-05-21 マクセル株式会社 電解水生成装置

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0636581A1 (fr) * 1993-07-30 1995-02-01 MIZ Co., Ltd. Procédé et dispositif pour la production d'eau électrolysée
US6110353A (en) * 1997-04-11 2000-08-29 H20 Technologies, Ltd. Housing and method that provide extended resident time for dissolving generated oxygen into water
WO2003040038A2 (fr) * 2001-10-26 2003-05-15 Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. Procede et appareil de purification de l'eau
US20040011665A1 (en) * 2001-06-21 2004-01-22 Tomohito Koizumi Electrolyzing electrode and production method therefor and electrolysis method using electrolyzing electrode and electrolysis solution producing device
GB2393737A (en) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-07 Sterilox Tech Int Ltd A Device for Producing a Biocidal Solution
JP2004129954A (ja) * 2002-10-11 2004-04-30 Kao Corp 次亜塩素酸生成噴霧器
EP1741676A2 (fr) * 2005-06-16 2007-01-10 Permelec Electrode Ltd. Procédé de sterilisation et dispositif pour ejecter de l' eau electrolytique
US20070186957A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Tennant Company Method and apparatus for producing humanly-perceptable indicator of electrochemical properties of an output cleaning liquid
US20070186368A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Tennant Company Cleaning apparatus having a functional generator for producing electrochemically activated cleaning liquid

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0636581A1 (fr) * 1993-07-30 1995-02-01 MIZ Co., Ltd. Procédé et dispositif pour la production d'eau électrolysée
US6110353A (en) * 1997-04-11 2000-08-29 H20 Technologies, Ltd. Housing and method that provide extended resident time for dissolving generated oxygen into water
US20040011665A1 (en) * 2001-06-21 2004-01-22 Tomohito Koizumi Electrolyzing electrode and production method therefor and electrolysis method using electrolyzing electrode and electrolysis solution producing device
WO2003040038A2 (fr) * 2001-10-26 2003-05-15 Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. Procede et appareil de purification de l'eau
GB2393737A (en) * 2002-10-03 2004-04-07 Sterilox Tech Int Ltd A Device for Producing a Biocidal Solution
JP2004129954A (ja) * 2002-10-11 2004-04-30 Kao Corp 次亜塩素酸生成噴霧器
EP1741676A2 (fr) * 2005-06-16 2007-01-10 Permelec Electrode Ltd. Procédé de sterilisation et dispositif pour ejecter de l' eau electrolytique
US20070186957A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Tennant Company Method and apparatus for producing humanly-perceptable indicator of electrochemical properties of an output cleaning liquid
US20070186368A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Tennant Company Cleaning apparatus having a functional generator for producing electrochemically activated cleaning liquid

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10214820B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2019-02-26 JOI Scientific, Inc. Hydrogen generation system with a controllable reactive circuit and associated methods
US9340885B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-17 JOI Scientific, Inc. Negative reactive circuit for a hydrogen generation system
US9347142B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-24 JOI Scientific, Inc. Feedback circuit for a hydrogen generation system
WO2016100378A1 (fr) * 2014-12-15 2016-06-23 JOI Scientific, Inc. Système de génération d'hydrogène
US9816190B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2017-11-14 JOI Scientific, Inc. Energy extraction system and methods
US10047445B2 (en) 2014-12-15 2018-08-14 JOI Scientific, Inc. Hydrogen generation system
US9340886B1 (en) 2014-12-15 2016-05-17 JOI Scientific, Inc. Positive reactive circuit for a hydrogen generation system
EP3097836A1 (fr) * 2015-05-29 2016-11-30 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH Dispositif d'aspiration de liquide
CN106175581B (zh) * 2015-05-29 2020-04-21 德国福维克控股公司 液体抽吸装置
CN106175581A (zh) * 2015-05-29 2016-12-07 德国福维克控股公司 液体抽吸装置
TWI696439B (zh) * 2015-05-29 2020-06-21 德商佛維爾克控股公司 吸液裝置、具有此吸液裝置之濕式清潔裝置以及藉此清潔裝置以吸除液體的方法
CN106186464A (zh) * 2016-08-29 2016-12-07 福州品行科技发展有限公司 一种带有oled显示装置的富氢杯
FR3113670A1 (fr) * 2020-09-01 2022-03-04 WeCleen Appareil et procédé de préparation d'un produit de nettoyage ménager
US11896938B2 (en) 2021-10-13 2024-02-13 Disruptive Oil And Gas Technologies Corp Nanobubble dispersions generated in electrochemically activated solutions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2735504A1 (fr) 2010-03-04
JP2012501385A (ja) 2012-01-19
KR20110059609A (ko) 2011-06-02
MX2011002261A (es) 2011-05-25
RU2011111423A (ru) 2012-10-10
ZA201102184B (en) 2011-12-28
BRPI0917359A2 (pt) 2015-11-17
CN102209687A (zh) 2011-10-05
EP2331468A1 (fr) 2011-06-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8319654B2 (en) Apparatus having electrolysis cell and indicator light illuminating through liquid
WO2010024965A1 (fr) Appareil comportant une cellule d’électrolyse et un voyant indicateur éclairant à travers un liquide
EP1991369B2 (fr) Procede et appareil de generation, d'application et de neutralisation d'un liquide electrochimiquement actif
CN104619356A (zh) 用于产生氧化增强和热增强的处理液体的设备及方法
AU2007215286A1 (en) Method and apparatus for producing humanly-perceptable indicator of electrochemical properties of an output cleaning liquid
AU2007212248A1 (en) Electrochemically activated anolyte and catholyte liquid
WO2009062154A2 (fr) Unité de prépulvérisation de couvre-sol faisant appel à une eau électrochimiquement activée et procédé de nettoyage de couvre-sol
AU2007215306A1 (en) Method and apparatus for generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 200980142903.0

Country of ref document: CN

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 09789861

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2011525032

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2735504

Country of ref document: CA

Ref document number: MX/A/2011/002261

Country of ref document: MX

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2009789861

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 20117005461

Country of ref document: KR

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2011111423

Country of ref document: RU

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: PI0917359

Country of ref document: BR

Kind code of ref document: A2

Effective date: 20110228