Ozone Laundry Systems
First Claim
1. A tunnel washer comprising:
- a plurality of zones for washing laundry in a continuous fashion;
a first ozone injection point, a second ozone injection point, and a third ozone injection point, wherein each of the ozone injection points is located at a different zone of the plurality of zones and wherein each of the ozone injection points comprises;
a water inlet;
a water outlet to the zone of the tunnel washer; and
a circulating water loop connecting the water inlet and the water outlet, wherein the circulating water loop comprises a water storage tank and a Venturi injector for dissolving ozone in the water; and
an ozone generator receiving oxygen and delivering ozone to the Venturi injectors.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ozone laundry systems include one system, a tunnel washer system that generates ozone and dissolves the ozone in water at various stages of the tunnel washer, such as with a Venturi injector. The ozonated water may be stored and recirculated/re-ozonated to ensure that a desired level of dissolved ozone is present in any water delivered to the various zones of the tunnel washer. The ozonated water provides maximum cleaning efficiency and effectiveness at cooler water temperatures, saving water and energy costs. In some systems, controlled safe application of gaseous and/or dissolved ozone may be made to laundry in a washer. Ozone levels may be monitored and precisely controlled. The application of ozone using some embodiments allows the ozone to treat materials and articles of clothing such as jeans to achieve a desired look and feel, such as an appearance of having been worn.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A tunnel washer comprising:
-
a plurality of zones for washing laundry in a continuous fashion; a first ozone injection point, a second ozone injection point, and a third ozone injection point, wherein each of the ozone injection points is located at a different zone of the plurality of zones and wherein each of the ozone injection points comprises; a water inlet; a water outlet to the zone of the tunnel washer; and a circulating water loop connecting the water inlet and the water outlet, wherein the circulating water loop comprises a water storage tank and a Venturi injector for dissolving ozone in the water; and an ozone generator receiving oxygen and delivering ozone to the Venturi injectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for the application of gaseous ozone to fabric materials comprising:
-
a washer; an ozone generator connected to the washer by an ozone feed line; an ozone destruct unit connected to the washer by an ozone exhaust line; a means for generating a negative air pressure connected to the ozone destruct unit so as to draw ozonated air from the ozone generator through the ozone feed line to the washer, and through the washer and the ozone exhaust line to the ozone destruct unit; and an oxygen source feeding oxygen to the ozone generator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for the application of gaseous ozone to fabric materials comprising:
delivering ozonated air to a washer system under negative air pressure wherein an air pressure inside the washer system is maintained at a lower pressure than an air pressure outside the washer system at all times that ozonated air is delivered to the washer system, the washer system comprising; an ozone generator connected to a washer by an ozone feed line; an ozone destruct unit connected to the washer by an ozone exhaust line; a means for generating a negative air pressure connected to the ozone destruct unit so as to draw ozonated air from the ozone generator through the ozone feed line to the washer, and through the washer and the ozone exhaust line to the ozone destruct unit; and an oxygen source feeding oxygen to the ozone generator.
Specification