MAINTENANCE FREE OXIDIZER GENERATION AND APPLICATIO DEVICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTROL

• US 20100143201A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dodie K. Long, Robert E. Varga, Ronald B. Long
• Original Assignee: Dodie K. Long, Robert E. Varga, Ronald B. Long
• Inventors: Long, Dodie K., Long, Ronald B., Varga, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US12/532,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/111
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/358 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/10 Preserving against microbes
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/128 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/14 Concentric/tubular dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/20 Electrodes used for obtaining electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/30 Dielectrics used in the electrical dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46165 Special power supply, e.g. solar energy or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4617 DC only
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/23 O3
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate

Abstract

A food and surface sanitizing apparatus has a compact corona discharge type ozone generator, having a permanently sealed small diameter, concentric anode, dielectric and cathode set which does not require dry air feed and which requires no maintenance. A dedicated cooling apparatus permits consistent ozone output over extended time of use. The apparatus is encapsulated in a housing along with an apparatus for dissolving a portion of the ozone in the stream of water passing through an arrangement of tubing. A sensor recognizes the presence of oxidizer in the water stream and adjusts the output of the ozone generator to maintain a predetermined level of dissolved ozone. A water flow quantifier enumerates the total volume of water processed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a corona discharge ozone generator, comprising a permanently sealed, concentric anode, dielectric and cathode, for generating ozone;

a cooling apparatus connected to the ozone generator for cooling the apparatus during use;

tubing connected between an entry port for water and an exit port for water forming a path for the water;

an apparatus connected to the ozone generator and the tubing so as to allow a portion of the generated ozone to dissolve in the water passing through the tubing; and

a sensor connected along the path for the water, for recognizing levels of oxidant in the water, and adjusting the ozone output by the ozone generator to maintain a predetermined level of dissolved ozone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a water flow quantifier disposed along the tubing for measuring a total volume of water processed; and

a display for displaying the measured total volume of water.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

probes disposed in the water path for sensing levels of dissolved ozone in the water; and

alarm devices responsive to and connected to the probes to communicate an unacceptably low level of dissolved ozone in the water.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said corona discharge ozone generator comprises:

a dielectric glass tube;

an anode concentrically encapsulated within the glass tube;

a hollow cathode, within which the glass dielectric tube is disposed, annularly in a centered position;

a plug connected to a first end of the hollow anode;

a fitting having a first end connected to a second end of the hollow anode, the fitting comprising a stepped down orifice extending longitudinally through the fitting, the second end of the hollow anode being configured so as to fit in a large end of the stepped down orifice; and

an insulator cap mated to a second end of the fitting.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a seal placed over a distal end of the anode and forced toward the proximal end to the point in which it communicates with an intersection of the anode and the fitting.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises:

a cooling fan;

a filter mounted at an intake side of the cooling fan; and

a cooling fin shaped and connected so as to cover the ozone generator and the cooling fan.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus connected to the ozone generator and the tubing comprises a venturi injector having a first passage and a second passage at right angles to the first passage, a first end of the first passage connected to an exit fitting through which the water exits the apparatus, a second end of the first passage connected to a flow switch for controlling flow of the water through the venturi injector, and the second passage connected to the ozone generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first alarm indicator which indicates when power is on;

a second alarm indicator which indicate when power is initiated to the ozone generator; and

a third alarm indicator which indicates if there is a malfunction of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an audible alarm generator for generating an audible alarm as long as power is supplied to the ozone generator.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a corona discharge ozone generator, comprising a permanently sealed, concentric anode, dielectric and cathode, for generating ozone;

a cooling apparatus connected to the ozone generator for cooling the apparatus during use;

tubing connected between an entry port for water and an exit port for water forming a path for the water;

a venture apparatus connected to the ozone generator and the tubing so as to allow a portion of the generated ozone to dissolve in the water passing through the tubing;

a sensor connected along the path for the water, for recognizing levels of oxidant in the water, and adjusting the ozone output by the ozone generator to maintain a predetermined level of dissolved ozone; and

a housing encapsulating the ozone generator, the cooling apparatus, the tubing, the venturi apparatus, and the sensor.