Apparatus for generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid

• US 20070186369A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F., Gronlund, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/213 Use of electrochemically treated water, e.g. electrolysed water or water treated by electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation

Abstract

An apparatus is provided, which includes a sparging device and a functional generator. The functional generator is in fluid communication with the sparging device and includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a source of a liquid;

a liquid dispenser;

a flow path coupled between the source and the liquid dispenser;

a sparging device, which is in fluid communication with the flow path; and

a functional generator, which is in fluid communication with the flow path and comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sparging device comprises:

an electrolyzing cell comprising first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap, which is in fluid communication with the flow path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the first electrode comprises a solid, electrically conductive tubular plate;

the second electrode comprises an electrically conductive tubular mesh, which is coaxial with the first electrode; and

the cell further comprises a dielectric mesh in the gap between the first and second electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are planar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sparging device comprises a mechanical sparging device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the liquid source comprises a tank; and

the sparging device is coupled along the flow path, between the tank and the liquid dispenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sparging device is coupled in series with the functional generator, between the tank and the functional generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sparging device is coupled along the flow path, in series with the functional generator between the functional generator and the liquid dispenser.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the liquid source comprises a tank; and

the sparging device located at least partially within the tank.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, onboard the apparatus, a flow of anolyte from the anode chamber is combined with a flow of catholyte from the cathode chamber to form a combined flow, which is dispensed from the liquid dispenser.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow path comprises a first flow path from the anode chamber to the liquid dispenser and a second flow path from the cathode chamber to the liquid dispenser, and wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses anolyte from the first flow path and catholyte from the second flow path as separate flows.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a pump in fluid communication with the flow path.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a mobile body, which carries the source, the flow path, the sparging device, the functional generator and the liquid dispenser; and

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across a surface to be cleaned;

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising a cleaning tool to engage the surface;

a pump in fluid communication with the flow path; and

a fluid recovery device connected to the mobile body.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a wand, which is coupled to the liquid dispenser.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile hard floor surface cleaner.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile soft floor surface cleaner.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sparging device comprises:

an electrolyzing cell comprising first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first electrode comprises a solid, electrically conductive tubular plate;

the second electrode comprises an electrically conductive tubular mesh, which is coaxial with the first electrode; and

the cell further comprises a dielectric mesh in the gap between the first and second electrodes.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second electrodes are planar.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a sparging device; and

a functional generator, which is in fluid communication with the sparging device and comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sparging device comprises a mechanical sparging device.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising a tank in fluid communication with the sparging device and the functional generator.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising a flow path that combines a flow of anolyte from the anode chamber with a flow of catholyte from the cathode chamber and dispenses the combined flow of the anolyte and the catholyte from the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising:

at least one liquid dispenser;

a first flow path from the anode chamber to the at least one liquid dispenser; and

a second flow path from the cathode chamber to the at least one liquid dispenser.

25. The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising:

a mobile body, which carries the sparging device and the functional generator; and

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across a surface to be cleaned;

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising a cleaning tool to engage the surface; and

a fluid recovery device connected to the mobile body.

26. An apparatus comprising:

means for generating a sparged electrochemically activated anolyte liquid and a sparged electrochemically activated catholyte liquid; and

means for dispensing the sparged electrochemically activated anolyte liquid and the sparged electrochemically activated catholyte liquid.