Device and system for improved cleaning in a washing machine

• US 20050252538A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Vernon, Paul John Edward, Smets, Johan, Gardner, Robb Richard, Gray, Peter Gerard, Cruickshank, Graeme Duncan, Duncan, Michael, Costello, Adam, Haught, John Christian, Baeck, Andre Cesar, Convents, Andre Christian, Van Steenwinckel, Pascale Claire Annick, Glogowski, Mark William
• Application Number:
  US11/130,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/94.100
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/003 using electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/007 Arrangements of water softeners

Abstract

A washing system for cleaning within a washing zone comprising at least one inlet capable of fluid communication with a feed water; at least one treatment zone in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, said at least one treatment zone comprising a water softening zone, an electrolysis zone, a dosing zone and combinations thereof; and at least one outlet in fluid communication the at least treatment zone capable of being in fluid communication with a washing zone.

Claims

1. A washing system for cleaning within a washing zone comprising:

a. at least one inlet capable of fluid communication with a feed water;

b. at least one treatment zone in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, said at least one treatment zone comprising a water softening zone, an electrolysis zone, a dosing zone and combinations thereof; and

c. at least one outlet in fluid communication the at least treatment zone capable of being in fluid communication with a washing zone.

2. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the washing zone is capable of cleaning or washing substrates comprises laundry and dishware.

3. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the water softening zone comprises nanofiltration devices, electrodeionization devices, electrodialysis devices, reverse-osmosis devices capacitive deionization devices, flow-through capacitors and ion-exchange water-softening devices and combinations thereof.

4. The washing system of claim 3, wherein the water-softening zone comprises capacitive deionization.

5. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the at least partially softened water comprises a conductivity of 100 μ

S/cm or less.

6. The washing system of claim 1, wherein at least partially softened water comprises a soft water flux of at least about 2 L/h at a feed water pressure from about 100 to about 1000 kP.

7. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the device and the washing zone are housed substantially within one housing.

8. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the device and the washing zone are independently housed.

9. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the dosing zone is fluidly connected between the at least one inlet and at least one outlet and capable of dispensing a fabric care composition.

10. The washing system of claim 9, further comprising a mixing zone functionally connected between the dosing zone and the outlet capable of at least partially mixing the fabric care composition with a second fluid.

11. The washing system of claim 10, wherein the mixing zone comprises in-line mixers comprising, venturi flow, direct injection pumps, peristaltic pumps, gravity feeds, and spraying;

sonic mixers;

ultrasonic mixers; and

combinations thereof.

12. The washing system of claim 9, wherein from about 0.01 to about 50 grams of fabric care composition are dispensed by the dosing zone.

13. The washing system of claim 1, comprising at least one water softening zone and at least one electrolysis zone.

14. The washing system of claim 13, comprising:

a. a first water softening and a second water softening zone; and

b. a first electrolysis zone and a second electrolysis zones

wherein the first water softening zone is fluidly connected to the first electrolysis zone and the second water softening zone is fluidly connected to the second electrolysis zone.

15. The washing system of claim 1 further comprising at least one check valve between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet.

16. The washing system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor capable of sensing at least one water level, density, conductivity, pH, vibration, temperature, turbidity, viscosity, and combinations thereof.