APPARATUS HAVING ELECTROLYSIS CELL AND INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING THROUGH LIQUID

• US 20090314651A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/335
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46119 Cleaning the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46152 characterised by the shape or form electrodes in particulate form or with conductive or non-conductive particles between them C02F1/46114
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46185 only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/4619 only cathodic or alkaline water, e.g. for reducing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4613 Inversing polarity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46135 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4615 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4617 DC only
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 : comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 : Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/02 : as part of a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

An apparatus is provided, 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.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electrolysis cell;

a liquid flow path that passes through the electrolysis cell;

an indicator light, which is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell, wherein luminous flux radiated from the light illuminates at least a portion of the flow path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is arranged relative to the flow path such that the luminous flux is visually perceptible through liquid in the flow path from a viewpoint that is exterior to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising:

a housing comprising a window that is at least translucent and through which at least a portion of the luminous flux radiates.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising:

a housing comprising a translucent portion through which at least a portion of the luminous flux radiates.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid flow path comprises a container that is upstream of the electrolysis cell along the flow path and the indicator light is positioned to illuminate liquid within the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a hand-held spray bottle, which carries:

the electrolysis cell;

a pump coupled in the flow path;

a container in the flow path for containing liquid to be treated by the electrolysis cell;

a nozzle in the flow path;

a control circuit, which is electrically coupled to the electrolysis cell.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the indicator light is positioned to illuminate liquid within the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the container is at least translucent.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bottle further comprises a housing in which the container is located, wherein the housing comprises a portion that is at least translucent, through which at least a portion of the luminous flux within the container is visible from a viewpoint that is external to the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating characteristic comprises an electrical current drawn by the electrolysis cell.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indicator light comprises:

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.

12. A method comprising:

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.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the operating characteristic comprises an electrical current drawn by the electrolysis cell.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein illumination of the portion is visible from a viewpoint that is external to the bottle.

15. A hand-held spray bottle comprising:

a container;

a nozzle;

a liquid flow path from the container to the nozzle;

an electrolysis cell in the flow path;

a pump in the flow path; and

an indicator light, which is positioned to illuminate at least one of the container or the flow path.

16. The hand-held spray bottle of claim 15, wherein the indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell.

17. The hand-held spray bottle of claim 16, wherein the operating characteristic comprises an electrical current drawn by the electrolysis cell.

18. The hand-held spray bottle of claim 17, wherein the indicator light comprises:

a first indicator light, which has a first color and which is illuminated when the electrical current is inside 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 inside the first current range.

19. The hand-held spray bottle of claim 16, wherein illumination of at least one of the container or the flow path is visible from a viewpoint that is external to the bottle.

20. The hand-held spray bottle of claim 16, wherein 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.