WO2021260104A1

WO2021260104A1 - Device for producing a cleaning liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2021260104A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/067337
Authority: WO
Inventors: Willy Lionel POMATHIOS
Original assignee: Aquama Sàrl
Priority date: 2020-06-26
Filing date: 2021-06-24
Publication date: 2021-12-30
Also published as: DE102020116918A1; EP4172384A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing a cleaning liquid, comprising a pure water tank and a salt solution tank, wherein in particular both are arranged in a housing of the device, and at least one electrochemical treatment device comprising a pair of electrodes, characterized in that the pure water tank and the salt solution tank are directly allocated to each other by their spatial arrangement in the device and/or via a common filling opening.

Description

Device for producing a cleaning fluid

The invention relates to a device for producing a cleaning fluid.

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

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

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

The known devices of the prior art have proven to be quite suitable. However, these devices are typically industrial devices which are set up, for example, in large production facilities or public buildings (such as airports).

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device which is also suitable for home use. The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1, in particular with those of the characterizing part and is accordingly characterized in that a pure water tank and a salt water solution tank of the device are directly assigned to one another through their spatial arrangement in the device and / or via a common filling opening.

In other words, the idea of the invention consists in assigning two liquid tanks of a device for home use and / or their filling openings to one another in such a way that, in particular, miniaturization of the device becomes possible.

In this way, a device can be created which, due to its compactness, can also be used for home use and, in particular, can be easily refilled by a user.

In particular, a dedicated line can be dispensed with, the laying of which is typically not desired in a household, in particular since the device should also remain in mobile use: For example, it is conceivable that a user could use the device in his home as part of a redecorating would like to move the first to a second location without having to lay a dedicated line or the like.

Dispensing with a dedicated line also ensures that the device as a whole is easier to clean (for example can be lifted), which is of utmost importance especially for home use. That the pure water tank and the saline solution tank correspond to each other

(directly) assigned can mean two things in particular: According to a first alternative, the two tanks are directly assigned to one another via a common filling opening. This essentially means that both tanks can be reached or filled via the filling opening.

The filling opening can open or merge, for example, into two different accesses, one for the pure water tank and one for the salt solution tank, and / or the filling opening can have these accesses.

Such a common filling opening initially has the advantage that a user does not need to search for two different openings, but rather gains access to both tanks by finding the common filling opening.

According to this alternative, the two tanks are assigned to one another in such a way that they can be filled via the same opening.

Here it can be provided that a user fills a liquid, in particular water, into the filling opening and this liquid, e.g. B. automatically, divided between the two tanks. Here, for example, a predetermined ratio can be automatically taken into account, with a tank access to the pure water tank z. B. can be made wider than a tank access for the salt solution tank (so that a percentage of the added water gets into the pure water tank).

Alternatively, the two tank access points can also be reached completely independently of one another (even if they are arranged in the same filling opening), so that a user has the option of filling only one of the two tanks in a targeted manner. In the latter case, the filling opening can be formed, for example, in that a flap or a cover spans an overall filling opening which has two tank access points or is formed by these.

In other words, the filling opening is provided in this case by the area below the lid or the flap, even if the respective tank access points are not connected to one another at all (for example via a lowered threshold or the like).

However, an actual (at least a certain) lowering associated with the two tanks in relation to the outer shell (or the housing) of the device, or a recess, is preferred. In this way it can be clearly defined physically that there is a common filling opening for both tanks.

The second alternative of the assignment according to the invention consists of a spatial assignment of the tanks themselves within the device. In this way, the tanks are spatially assigned directly to each other. This means, for example, that they adjoin one another, touch one another, enclose one another (at least partially) and / or form a common partition or the like.

This feature ensures a particularly compact design of the device in contrast, for example, to a device in which two tanks are arranged on completely different sides of the device (with a housing for the electrical system or the like being arranged in the space).

In particular, the idea according to this alternative consists in having the two tanks directly adjoin one another. This can be achieved, for example, in that the two tanks share one Have separating surface which separates the contents of the two tanks from one another. This separating surface can be, for example, a straight, in particular smooth, plane in the manner of a straight disk or the like, or a different, in particular curved, surface, such as a cylinder jacket surface or the like.

In particular, a direct assignment is manifested by a (manageable) unit of the two tanks which, for example, can be built into the device as a common assembly or can be purchased as a common replacement part.

The tanks can be arranged directly next to one another, one above the other or also in sections in both ways. The tanks can also, at least partially, enclose one another, interlock or the like.

It can preferably be provided that the liquid contents of both tanks are only separated by a wall. Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that, for example, areas of the tank that are not filled with liquid or are suitable for receiving it touch each other (in particular, for example, connecting elements of the two tanks can interlock, these connecting elements, for example, not at all with liquid are filled, but still belong to the tank).

The pure water tank is typically filled with pure water, which can be, for example, so-called utility and / or tap water ("tap water") or similar conventional water (as is typically available in large quantities in most areas of the world ). This can in particular be decalcified water, i.e. essentially soft water (for example with a German degree of hardness of 0).

The saline solution tank usually contains a (concentrated) saline solution. For this purpose, the pure water described above is added to the salt solution tank. Because salt ions, preferably in the form of salt tablets, are typically arranged in the salt solution tank, the salt solution can be created by adding the pure water.

The salt solution held in the salt solution tank can, for example, have a salt content of 20 to 25 percent.

This salt solution is also called brine.

In particular, the salt solution tank can be designed in such a way that salt tablets that can be added to the tank are stacked in it (from bottom to top).

The salt solution tank can, for example, have a diameter which is only slightly larger than the diameter of a corresponding tablet. Alternatively, however, the tank can also have a larger diameter and, for example, provide a holder or an insert for corresponding tablets.

Typically, the tablets are partially or completely dissolved in the water, depending on the amount of water added. As soon as the added water is so saturated that it can no longer absorb (salt) ions, the salt tablets arranged in the salt solution tank are then typically no longer dissolved. Only when the saline solution has been drained off and / or fresh water is added, the salt tablets are dissolved further.

In an alternative embodiment, however, also encompassed by the invention, the salt solution can also be formed in a different way, for example by a powder which is introduced into the salt solution tank and then topped up with fresh or pure water.

Finally, the invention also includes the possibility that (in particular by the user) a saline solution is produced externally, that is to say outside the device, and this is then introduced into the saline solution tank (in particular via the common filling opening).

It is essential for the invention that a pure water tank and a salt solution tank are present and that these are directly assigned to one another.

After describing the two alternatives, it should be noted that, of course, only one of the two alternatives is sufficient for a direct assignment of the two tanks:

In particular, the invention also encompasses an embodiment in which the two tanks are spatially directly assigned to one another, but in which separate filling openings are provided which, for example, are arranged on completely different sides of the tanks or the like. Also included is an embodiment in which the pure water tank and the salt solution tank are arranged at a distance from one another (for example on completely different sides of the device), but in which the tanks can be filled via a common filling opening and are thus directly assigned to one another. Separate discharge lines are typically assigned to the two tanks, the derived content of the two tanks typically still mixing after passing through the lines or the device.

In this regard, it should be noted that the two tanks are usually arranged upstream of the electrochemical processing device, which is also part of the device.

The electrochemical processing device is fed mixed water of pure water and saline solution, said lines being brought together before being fed to the processing device in order to generate said mixed water (which is then fed to the electrochemical processing device).

Such an electrochemical processing device has at least one pair of electrodes in order to enable activation of the mixed water. Such a processing device is also called a “reactor” in technical jargon, such reactors being sufficiently known from the prior art.

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

The electrodes can be arranged in a device, for example coaxially or in parallel. The mixed water is introduced into the electrochemical processing device and, in particular, passed through it. A direct current is typically applied to the pair of electrodes.

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

One of the electrodes is typically designed as an anode, the other as a cathode. It can also be provided that one of the two electrodes forms a jacket surface of the processing device or of a processing chamber (preferably the cathode).

While the electrochemical processing device is typically only assigned an inlet for the mixed water, it can have one or more outlets or outlets, depending on the type of reactor (with or without a membrane). In any case, an activated liquid leaving the electrochemical processing device can then be dispensed from the device via a dispensing device and, for example, collected in a surface or a container.

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

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

According to one embodiment it is provided that the device has at least three lines, namely said first and second line (assigned to the tanks) and the collecting line for the mixed water. With regard to the last-mentioned line, it should be noted that this serves to feed the mixed water to the electrochemical processing device.

However, the device can also provide several electrochemical processing devices, for example in a series or parallel connection.

It is typically provided that the collecting line leads to at least one electrochemical processing device behind the meeting point of the first and second lines. For this purpose, the collecting line can in particular also be part of the electrochemical processing device itself, for example in the event that the pure water and the saline solution only arrive at the entrance of the aforementioned

Processing device or flow together in this.

All three lines (or only one or two of them) can in particular be assigned valves (e.g. check valves that prevent the liquid from flowing back against the intended flow direction - which leads to the at least one electrochemical processing device). If a valve is assigned to a line, this valve can be part of the line itself or it is arranged between individual sections of this line.

The first and second lines are connected to the liquid tanks, which are also part of the device. The first liquid tank connected to the first line can typically contain the pure water, the second tank connected to the second line the saline solution (and any salt tablets or the like required for the saline solution).

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

Both tanks can be integrated into the device.

Both tanks are in particular integrated into the housing of the device. This essentially means that they typically do not protrude beyond the housing or the envelope contour of the housing. Depending on the exemplary embodiment, a housing wall can also form a wall of at least one of the tanks, in particular if this housing wall is transparent (that is, it is designed as a disk of the tank and / or the device).

The tanks can be permanently mounted in the housing or they can also be removable, for example to enable the tanks to be cleaned better (washing them out or the like). In this case, the tanks can be removed from the device together or as a unit.

In the most advantageous embodiment, however, the tanks are permanently installed in the device in order to increase the stability of the entire device raise. Here, in particular, the wall of the pure water tank can be identical to parts of the housing wall.

One or both tanks can, in particular, also be assigned windows with which the inside of the tank can be monitored. For this purpose, one of the tanks or both tanks can have a completely or partially transparent wall. Said transparent wall can then also represent a housing wall.

In particular, it is advantageous if the salt solution tank is partially transparent in any case, since this enables a user to check whether the salt tablets arranged in it are dissolving.

For this purpose, the tank can preferably be transparent to the side, in particular completely.

In the head or foot area, the tanks are typically not designed to be transparent, since they are usually delimited there by the head or foot area of the device. In these cases, the tanks are typically visible from the side or are transparent to the side.

Of course, the invention also theoretically encompasses devices which are transparent towards the top and / or towards the bottom (in particular in the case of tanks that can be removed from the device).

According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the pure water tank and the salt solution tank are adjacent to one another. They are therefore essentially arranged directly next to one another or nested in one another. For this purpose, you can in particular form a common partition so that the content of the pure water tank and the content of the salt solution tank are only separated from one another by said partition.

The partition wall can be flat or also arched, for example in the case that one of the tanks encloses the other at least in sections.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, this is provided in particular: One of the two tanks can enclose the other, i.e. completely or at least partially, with complete encompassing in particular being related to a horizontal plane, since complete encapsulation of the inner tank namely in the Practice is not possible (since the tank has to be filled).

In this respect, one of the tanks, preferably the saline solution tank, can be for example cylindrical (with a circular or elliptical base) or cuboid, this tank being arranged in the larger other tank and only protruding from the tank at the top and / or bottom (for example around to enable a drain or inlet or access.

The salt solution tank is typically dimensioned smaller than the pure water tank, in particular since pure water is cheaper than salt solution and a higher proportion of pure water is used for a mixed water to be introduced into the electrochemical processing device than of salt solution.

Partial enclosing means in particular that, for example, one of the tanks can protrude “convexly” into the other, for which purpose one of the tanks has a recess which the other fills. Such a formulation also means an embodiment in which a smaller salt solution tank is arranged in the corner of a larger pure water tank or the like.

However, it is advantageously provided that one of the two tanks completely encloses the other, at least in a sectional plane. This is in particular a horizontal or vertical cutting plane.

In other words, the inner tank, typically the saline solution tank, is completely surrounded at the side by the other, larger tank, in particular containing pure water. So this is a tank-in-tank solution.

The phrase “in a sectional plane” refers to the fact that the inner tank can never be completely encapsulated (since it must have an entry and / or exit). In other words, one of the two tanks completely encloses the other, with the exception of a foot and / or head area.

If there is a common filling opening for both tanks, it is preferably provided that this merges into a pure water tank access and a salt solution tank access. In other words, one access to the salt solution tank and one to the pure water tank branches off from the filling opening. However, both can be operated via the same filling opening (either selectively or jointly). Such a design makes sense in particular when both tanks are to be filled with the same liquid, in particular pure water. In this case it is particularly advantageous if a filling aid is provided (between the clean water tank access and the salt solution tank access). This can be, for example, a lowered threshold or lateral lips or the like. In particular, however, a filling aid can also be provided without it being arranged between the two tank access points, for example in the form of a funnel-shaped widening of the filling opening that widens upwards or the like. If a lowered threshold is provided, this can

(in particular in comparison to the rest of the surface which forms the filling opening), be arranged lowered. The threshold can be smooth or flat or sloping towards one or both tank entrances.

According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the device has a common cover element for the pure water tank and the salt solution tank. This initially increases the longevity, since when the cover element is closed, no dirt, dust or the like can get into the device.

In addition, this configuration enables easier access for the user to both tanks, since he only needs to open a cover element.

The cover element can, in particular, be spring-biased towards an open position in order to simplify operation.

In the closed position, the cover element can in particular lock into place. A so-called “push-to-open function” is preferably assigned to the cover element, whereby the cover element can disengage by means of a simple, slight pressure against the opening direction and can be brought into an open position in a spring-loaded manner.

In particular, it can be provided that the cover element, in its closed position, is flush with the rest of the housing, in particular with the housing surface.

In order to prevent incorrect operation of the device, a sieve in particular can be assigned to the pure water tank. This prevents, for example, salt tablets from being placed in the pure water tank, which actually belong in the salt solution tank.

This can, for example, be a very wide-meshed sieve, since corresponding salt tablets typically have a diameter of several centimeters. Sieve openings with a diameter of one centimeter or more are therefore quite conceivable. Alternatively, a fine sieve can also be used, in particular to (additionally) prevent contamination from dust or other small particles.

The sieve can preferably have a circular design and / or in particular also circular openings or passages (different diameters).

Said sieve is typically arranged in the area of the clean water tank access.

According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the device has a first, connected to the pure water tank Has pure water line, as well as a second, connected to the saline solution tank saline solution line.

Each of the two tanks is therefore provided with a separate discharge.

These lines serve to divert the required liquids from the two tanks to a downstream chemical processing facility. Both lines can have a wide variety of fluidic elements such as (solenoid) valves, in particular with multiple passage settings, check valves and / or pumps. Both lines typically converge in a T-piece, which is also fluidly arranged upstream of the electrochemical processing device. Mixed water then forms in this area, which can reach the electrochemical processing device and should be activated there.

The two lines are typically connected to the two tanks in their foot areas, in particular in order to also use gravity. They then lead under one of the tanks or both tanks, preferably in a foot area of the device, in particular concealed and not visible to the user.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one of the tanks (preferably both tanks) is at least partially transparent. In the most preferred embodiment, both tanks are laterally transparent in any case over an angular range of 180 degrees.

In particular if one of the two tanks completely encloses the other, inner tank (at least in a horizontal plane) the inner tank can be designed to be completely transparent with regard to its lateral lateral surfaces. In other words, the inner tank can have a see-through or transparent (cylinder jacket-shaped) side surface or separation surface from the outer tank.

The pure water tank can, for example, be transparent over a circumferential angle of approximately 270 degrees. For example, in the case of an essentially rectangular cross section, it can have three lateral transparent surfaces, as well as one non-transparent one, behind which, for example, the inner workings of the device can then be concealed.

In a top view of the device and / or in a bottom view of the device, the two tanks are typically not visible.

In terms of transparency, it can also be provided that the device has at least one viewing window through which both the water level of the pure water tank and that of the salt solution tank can be checked. This can be, for example, a side wall of the device which is designed to be transparent.

In addition to an attractive appearance, this solution also means that a user can always visually check whether water needs to be added or refilled.

According to a final advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device has a sensor assigned to the saline solution tank. This sensor can be used to monitor the contents of the saline solution tank. In particular, it can be checked in this way whether the brine in the salt solution tank is running dry, that is, whether the salt solution tank needs to be refilled with pure water. In the event that the sensor detects a corresponding state of the saline solution tank, it can emit a signal and the device can inform the user of this deficiency, for example via an acoustic or optical warning signal (the device can generate a beep and / or the device can display a corresponding warning sign on a display of the device or on a display connected to the device via a wireless connection [such as a mobile phone display or a tablet computer display]).

Since the purpose of the sensor is in particular to prevent the salt solution tank from drying out, the sensor is preferably arranged in the foot area of the salt solution tank. According to a further aspect, the present invention is also achieved with a method (in which in particular a device according to one of the cited claims is used) in which the pure water tank and the salt solution tank are filled via a common filling opening (e.g. with pure and / or tap water ).

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

In particular, however, it can be provided that a lowered threshold (or other filling aids) arranged between the clean water tank access and the salt solution tank access facilitates the filling in of the water (e.g. by the water hitting the threshold either enters the pure water tank or the saline solution tank, i.e. does not overflow via a common filling opening).

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

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

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

3 shows a very schematic, not to scale, flow diagram of some (internal) components of the device shown in FIG. 1,

4 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a schematic, isometric oblique rear view with the cover element open,

FIG. 5 shows a very schematic view of a section through the device according to FIG. 4, roughly according to the sectional plane marked with the reference symbol V in FIG. 4,

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

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

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

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

10 shows a very schematic front view of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1, in particular with the omission of a bottle to be filled, approximately along view arrow X in FIG. 1, and a smartphone assigned to the device, and FIG

11 shows a very schematic sectional view of the two tanks of the device shown in FIG. 1 according to FIG. A), an alternative arrangement of the two tanks according to FIG. B) and a second alternative arrangement of the two tanks according to FIG. C).

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

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

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

The special arrangement of the tanks can already be seen in FIG. 1: In the exemplary embodiment, the salt solution tank 14 is, in particular, of essentially cylindrical design and is arranged within the, preferably larger, pure water tank 13. In other words, the pure water tank 13 essentially completely encloses the salt solution tank 14 in the exemplary embodiment shown, at least with regard to a horizontal sectional plane.

In this regard, it should be noted that the tank 13 completely encloses the tank 14 in the exemplary embodiment only on the side. Of course, the inner salt solution tank 14 cannot be completely encapsulated (that is to say also surrounded at the top and bottom), since, as will be described in greater detail below, it has an access or drain.

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

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the salt solution tank 14 is freshly filled with a plurality of salt tablets, for example. In the exemplary embodiment, these are in particular arranged in a stack.

If pure water, that is to say essentially conventional tap water, is now introduced into the saline solution tank 14, as will also be described in greater detail later, this at least results in the result partially, dissolving the salt tablets 15 in the pure water (filled into the tank 14) a desired salt solution.

In this case, the salt solution or brine is typically saturated at some point, so that the salt tablets 15 shown are typically not completely dissolved by filling the tank 14 with water.

In summary, however, it can be stated that the device 10 according to the invention thus has a separate pure water tank 13 and a separate salt solution tank 14.

Both tanks 13, 14 are connected via lines arranged in the housing 12, not shown in FIG. 1, to an electrochemical processing device 16 (also not shown in FIG. 1), which is concealed in a central part 17 of the housing 12 or the device 10 is arranged.

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

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

The housing recess 21 is formed larger in the vertical direction V than the container 11, which does not belong to the actual device 10, but can, for example, be sold together with it in a system. In order to supply the device 10, and in particular the electrochemical processing device 16 or the pumping means and / or a controller to be described in more detail later, with power, the device 10 according to the invention also has a power plug 23 to connect the device 10 to a conventional socket to connect. The power cable 26 assigned to the plug 23 can typically (at least partially) run in a foot region 24 of the housing 12 (if possible concealed). In this foot region 24, feet 25, for example made of rubber, which will be explained in greater detail later (with reference to FIG. 5), can also be arranged.

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

Although the actual shape of the housing 12 differs from a cuboid shape due to the housing recess 21, the envelope contour is essentially cuboid. In the event that exception 21 were included in device 10, the device would actually be essentially cuboid. In the vertical direction V, the height of the device can be less than 1

Meters, preferably less than 50 centimeters.

The height and length of the device preferably coincide approximately with a maximum deviation of 20, in particular 10 percent. In order to explain the basic functional sequence of the device 10 according to the invention, reference is now made to FIG. 3, which explains the device 10 according to the invention with the aid of a merely very schematic flow diagram:

Thus, according to FIG. 3, in the left-hand area, the two tanks 13 and 14, which are isolated from one another and which are arranged at a distance from one another in FIG. 3 merely for the sake of clarity, can initially be seen.

The pure water tank 13 is connected via a line 27 carrying pure water to a (downstream) T-piece 28 which, in terms of piping, represents a crossing point. In the area of the line 27, a pump 29 is also arranged, which conveys the pure water of the tank 13 through the line 27 to the T-piece 28 and beyond.

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

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

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

The mixed water resulting from the salt solution and the pure water is then conveyed into a collecting line 33, likewise conveyed by the pump 29.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, this collecting line 33 also has a check valve 34, which prevents the mixed water from returning to the meeting point 28 from (at least the rear or downstream area) of the line 33.

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

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

The mixed water from line 33 can then be activated in its central processing chamber 35. The chamber 35 is only indicated by way of example in FIG. 3, electrodes of an electrode pair are arranged in it, but not shown in FIG.

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

In any case, the processing device 16 or the chamber 35 for activating the mixed water functions in the manner of a hydrolysis process in which a cleaning or disinfecting solution is produced from water, salt and electricity. Chemical elements are electrically activated in the liquid and ecological detergents, cleaning agents and / or disinfectants are produced as a result. These can then reach the device outlet 18 via a discharge line 36.

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

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

The spring element 41 used for this purpose is indicated in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 additionally making it clear that the cover mechanism as a whole is also assigned a damping unit 42, which the Opening process of the cover element 38 dampens user-friendly. For this purpose, a curved pinion surface 43, coupled with movement, can pivot with the movement of the cover element 38 and provide a damping function by engaging a rotatable pinion wheel 44 on the housing side. The damping of the cover element 38 can, of course, alternatively also take place by other damping mechanisms (e.g. magnetic).

After opening the cover element 38, as evidenced by FIG. 4, a user then has the option of filling the two tanks 13 and 14: The cover 38 pivoted into its open position exposes a common filling opening 45 for both tanks 13 and 14.

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

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

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

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

The water filled into the filling opening 45 thus either reaches the pure water tank 13, where it is simply collected as pure water, or into the saline solution tank 14, where it contributes to the dissolution of the salt tablets 15 until the water in the tank 14 is saturated.

It should therefore be noted at this point that the user will typically fill both tanks separately via the filling opening 45, in particular also in order to prevent one of the two tanks from overflowing. If something gets into the other tank via the threshold 15, this is generally completely unproblematic in the case of small quantities.

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

Another special feature is indicated in FIG. 4: A filter element or sieve 51 is assigned to the first tank inlet 48 or the pure water tank access 46, which, as evidenced by the cross-sectional view according to FIG is arranged. This sieve 51 is intended to prevent the above-mentioned salt tablets 15 from being inadvertently introduced into the pure water tank 13 by a user. It has a perforation for this purpose, which lets water through, but not salt tablets.

Since the salt tablets, on the other hand, must be able to get into the salt solution tank 14, this access naturally does not have such a sieve.

The sectional view according to FIG. 5 also shows that both the tank 13 and the tank 14 in the foot region 24 of the device 10 are each assigned an outlet 52 or 53. The outlet 52 of the pure water tank 13 opens into the pure water line 27 already described above, while the outlet 53 of the salt solution tank 14 opens into the salt solution line 30.

In order to prevent the saline solution tank 14 from running empty (especially since it is smaller, but in contrast to the pure water tank 13 has a saline solution, which is more problematic in terms of maintenance), said tank 14 has at least one sensor 54 in its foot area, which warns a user may mean that he has to fill the tank with salt tablets and / or water (in particular also to prevent damage to the device 10).

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

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

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

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

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

As shown in FIG. 7, the line 33 has a check valve 34 and can be connected to a connection 55 of the electrochemical processing device 16, which is not shown in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity.

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

A special feature of the device 10 can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7: Both the pure water line 27 and the saline solution line 30 and the mixed water line 33 (but in particular also the discharge line 36), and consequently the entire device 10, are only one common pump 29 assigned.

The line arrangement is so special here that this single pump 29 is sufficient both to convey the liquids from the tanks 13, 14 and to exert pressure on the device outlet 18.

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

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

Depending on the design of the control element 57 (whether virtual or physical), the setting element 58 can be, for example, a virtual or physical slide control, a virtual or physical button, a (rotary) button, a control panel or the like. The operating element 57 can also have an input keyboard (physical or virtual) in order to facilitate the input. The operating element 57 is typically connected to other means of the device for regulating the ratio of pure water and saline solution, for example with the valve 32 and / or a control or computing unit (not shown) which is connected to the valve 32 and enables its setting.

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

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

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

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

The remote access element 59 is typically arranged in the interior of the housing 12 of the device 10 so that it cannot be seen by a user, for example directly behind a panel 62 of the device 10 or of the housing 12 (thus concealed). The remote access element 59 can in particular be a so-called “single-board computer”, since such a computer is particularly well suited for a miniaturization of the entire device 10 that is fundamentally aimed for.

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

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

Electrode pair of the electrochemical processing device 16 is applied.

In this way, the user then has at least two parameters available that he can influence in order to regulate the properties of the liquid that can be removed via the device outlet 18:

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

In particular, appear to fight viruses through a

Cleaning fluid Settings of the device 10 are particularly suitable in which a relatively low ratio of salt solution to pure water is selected but a particularly strong current (high

Current and / or voltage). In non-pandemic times, a completely different setting can be selected, e.g. a weaker one Electricity and a higher concentration of saline solution in the mixed water. The cleaning fluid produced in this way can then be more suitable, for example, for removing dirt from surfaces.

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

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

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

In these cases, too, it is advantageously provided that the tanks (at least in horizontal sectional planes) are designed to be essentially transparent. This is also already shown in FIG. 1: For example, the pure water tank has three essentially transparent (flat) side panes 65, 66, 67.

The side of the tank 14 is also completely transparent, in particular by means of one or more side windows (in which

Embodiment according to FIG. 1 a single, cylindrically curved, transparent side panel).

Such transparency of the tanks enables good visual monitoring by the user and, in particular, also satisfies high aesthetic requirements.

Claims

Expectations

1. Device (10) for producing a cleaning liquid, comprising a pure water tank (13) and a salt solution tank (14), both of which are in particular arranged in a housing (12) of the device (10), as well as at least one electrochemical one having a pair of electrodes Processing device (16), characterized in that the pure water tank (13) and the salt solution tank (14) are directly assigned to one another through their spatial arrangement in the device (10) and / or via a common filling opening (45).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pure water tank (13) and the salt solution tank (14) are adjacent to one another, in particular in the area of a common partition (64).

3. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the two tanks (13, 14) at least partially encloses the other, in particular the pure water tank (13, 13 ‘) the salt solution tank (14, 14‘).

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the two tanks (13, 14) completely encloses the other, at least in a sectional plane, in particular in a horizontal sectional plane.

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling opening (45) merges into a pure water tank access (46) and a salt solution tank access (47).

6. Device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that between the clean water tank access (45) and the Saline solution tank access (46) a lowered threshold (50) or other filling aid is arranged.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a common cover element (38) for the pure water tank (13) and the salt solution tank (14).

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pure water tank (13) is assigned a sieve (51) which prevents a user from introducing salt tablets (15) into the pure water tank (13).

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a first pure water line (27) connected to the pure water tank (13) and a second salt solution line (30) connected to the salt solution tank (14) ), which lead from the tanks (13, 14) to the electrochemical processing device (16).

10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the tanks (13, 14), preferably both tanks (13, 14), are at least partially transparent, in particular substantially transparent.

11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has at least one viewing window (65, 66, 67) through which both the water level of the pure water tank (13) and the salt solution tank (14 ) are controllable.

12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a sensor (53) assigned to the saline solution tank (14) for monitoring the content of the saline solution tank (14).