OZONATED LIQUID DISPENSING UNIT

• US 20130142704A1
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleancore Solutions
• Original Assignee: Food Safety Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Lynn, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/186.07
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/158 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/57 Chemical peeling or cleaning of harvested fruits, vegetables or other foodstuffs mechanical aspect A23N, A23P
• 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: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/02 Foam dispersion or prevention during boiling B01B1/02; during fermentation C12
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/32 Constructional details of the dielectrics
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/40 using several dischargers in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/62 Air
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/64 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/04 Water-soluble compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2093 Esters; Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/38636 containing enzymes other than protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, oxidase or reductase
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/39 Organic or inorganic per-compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/50 Perfumes

Abstract

A reaction vessel and an ozonated liquid dispensing unit are described herein. The unit produces and dispenses an ozonated liquid that may be used to clean and sanitize a variety of articles or used in conjunction with cleaning processes and other apparatus. The reaction vessel is incorporated into the unit to reduce bubbles of ozone gas and to break up bubbles of ozone gas in the ozonated liquid to provide a more effective and longer lasting cleaning and sanitizing solution.

Claims

1. A reaction vessel to reduce a bubble size of ozone gas bubbles in an ozonated solution, comprising:

a housing, the housing comprising an entry port and an exit port, the housing defining an interior;

a contact member, the contact member comprising a contact surface, the contact member positioned in the interior of the housing; and

,

an annular fluid passage between the contact surface and an inner surface of the housing, wherein the annular fluid passage fluidly connects the entry port and the exit port with the interior.

2. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes a plurality of ridges or steps.

3. The reaction vessel according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ridges or steps progressively increase in diameter from a first end of the contact member to a second end of the contact member.

4. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, further comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is inserted into the housing, and the second end is inserted into the housing.

5. The reaction vessel according to claim 4, wherein the annular fluid passage is formed between the contact surface of the contact member and a combination of the inner surface of the housing, the first insert portion, and the second insert portion.

6. The reaction vessel according to claim 4, wherein the inner surface comprises an annular ridge, and an insert portion of the first end is inserted into a first housing opening of the housing until the insert portion approximately abuts the annular ridge, and an insert portion of the second end is inserted into a second housing opening until the insert portion approximately abuts an opposite surface of the annular ridge.

7. The reaction vessel according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel further comprises a first end, the first end includes a first rim portion and a first insert portion, and the first end includes a first central opening that forms the entry port to allow the ozonated fluid to enter the housing, the reaction vessel further comprises a second end, the second end includes a first rim portion and a first insert portion, and the second end has a second central opening that forms the exit port to allow the ozonated fluid to exit from the housing.

8. An ozonated liquid dispensing unit comprising the reaction vessel according to claim 1.

9. A reaction vessel for an ozonated fluid, comprising:

a housing, the housing defining an interior;

a first end comprising an entry port for an ozonated fluid;

a second end comprising an exit port for the ozonated fluid; and

,

a cone positioned in the interior of the housing between the entry port and the exit port, the cone comprises a first cone end and a second cone end, wherein the first cone end has a smaller external diameter than the second end, and wherein the entry port directs the ozonated fluid toward the first cone end.

10. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein the cone is positioned in the interior of the housing, and the cone is loosely held in position by the first end and the second end.

11. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein a stem extends from the second cone end.

12. The reaction vessel according to claim 11, wherein a spacer is fitted over the stem to position the second cone end away from a central opening of the second end of the housing to allow the ozonated fluid to exit from the housing.

13. The reaction vessel according to claim 12, wherein the spacer rests against an end surface of the second end.

14. The reaction vessel according to claim 12, wherein an outer diameter of the stem is smaller than a central opening wall of the central opening to provide a fluid passage between the outer diameter of the stem and the central opening wall.

15. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein the first end of the cone has a smaller external diameter than the second end of the cone, wherein the entry port directs the ozonated fluid toward the first end of the cone.

16. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein the cone is positioned generally centrally in the housing and the cone is positioned generally vertically aligned with respect to a length of the housing.

17. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein an outer surface of the cone includes a ridged or stepped surface comprising a plurality of ridges or steps that assist in crushing and breaking the bubbles of ozone gas in the ozonated fluid as the ozonated fluid circulates and swirls about the ridged or stepped surface.

18. The reaction vessel according to claim 9, wherein the exit port is in fluidic communication with a sprayer, a distributor, an applicator, or other system.

19. An ozonated liquid dispensing unit comprising the reaction vessel according to claim 9.

20. A reaction vessel, comprising:

a housing, the housing having a generally cylindrical shape, the housing defining an interior, the housing have a first opening and second opening;

a first end, the first end including a first rim portion and a first insert portion, and the first end includes a first central opening that allows the ozonated fluid to enter the housing;

a second end, the second end including a first rim portion and a first insert portion, and the second end has a second central opening that allows the ozonated fluid to exit from the housing;

the first insert portion fits into the first opening of the housing to connect the first end to the housing, and the second insert portion fits into the second opening of the housing to connect the second end to the housing; and

,

a cone in the interior of the housing, the cone held in place by the first end and the second end.

21. A method to reduce a bubble size of ozone gas bubbles in an ozonated fluid, comprising:

providing a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel comprising;

a housing, the housing defining an interior;

a first end comprising an entry port for an ozonated fluid;

a second end comprising an exit port for the ozonated fluid; and

a cone positioned in the interior of the housing between the entry port and the exit port, the cone comprises a first cone end and a second cone end, wherein the first cone end has a smaller external diameter than the second cone end, and wherein the entry port directs the ozonated fluid toward the first cone end;

directing an ozonated fluid to the entry port of the reaction vessel; and

,

directing an ozonated fluid against or around the cone to reduce a bubble size of ozone gas bubbles in the ozonated solution.

22. An ozonated liquid dispensing unit, comprising:

a liquid input port to receive liquid into the unit;

a first dielectric cell for producing ozone gas;

a second dielectric cell for producing ozone gas;

the first dielectric cell in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for supplying the second dielectric cell with a supply gas comprising the ozone gas generated by the by the first dielectric cell, and the second dielectric cell produces ozone gas from the supply gas;

an injector in fluidic communication with the liquid input port;

the injector in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for receiving the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell, wherein the injector mixes the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell with the liquid from the liquid input port to produce an ozonated liquid;

a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel comprising a housing, the housing comprising an entry port and an exit port, the housing defining an interior;

a contact member, the contact member comprising a contact surface, the contact member positioned in the interior of the housing;

an annular fluid passage between the contact surface and an inner surface of the housing, wherein the annular fluid passage fluidly connects the entry port and the exit port; and

,

a liquid output port to discharge the ozonated liquid from the unit.

23. The unit according to claim 22, wherein the unit discharges the ozonated liquid at a rate of approximately two gallons per minute with an ozone concentration of approximately 5 parts per million.

24. The unit according to claim 22, wherein the ozonated fluid discharged by the unit contains ozone in nanobubbles having a diameter of approximately 300 nanometers or less.

25. The unit according to claim 22, wherein the ozonated fluid discharged by the unit contains no ozone bubbles having a diameter larger than approximately 300 nanometers.

26. The unit according to claim 22, further comprising a faucet or sprayer in fluidic communication with the liquid output port, and actuation of the faucet or sprayer results in liquid flow in the unit that activates the first dielectric cell and the second dielectric cell.

27. An ozonated liquid dispensing unit, comprising:

a liquid input port to receive water into the unit from a water supply;

a first dielectric cell to produce ozone gas;

the first dielectric cell comprising an output trap connected to an output end of the first dielectric cell;

a second dielectric cell for producing ozone gas;

the output trap of the first dielectric cell in communication with an input trap of the second dielectric cell for supplying the second dielectric cell with a supply gas comprising ozone gas generated from the first dielectric cell, and the second dielectric cell produces additional ozone gas from the supply gas;

an injector in fluidic communication with the liquid input port;

the injector in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for receiving the ozone gas from the first and second dielectric cells, wherein the injector mixes the ozone gas from the first and second dielectric cells with the water from the liquid input port to produce an ozonated liquid;

a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel comprising a housing, the housing defining an interior;

a first end comprising an entry port for the ozonated liquid;

a second end comprising an exit port for the ozonated liquid;

a cone positioned in the interior of the housing between the entry port and the exit port; and

,

a liquid output port to discharge the ozonated liquid from the unit.

28. The unit according to claim 27, wherein the ozonated fluid discharged by the unit contains ozone in nanobubbles having a diameter of 300 nanometers or less.

29. The unit according to claim 27, wherein the ozonated fluid discharged by the unit only contains ozone bubbles having a diameter less than approximately 300 nanometers.

30. A contact member for an ozonated liquid dispensing unit, comprising:

a generally solid, cone shaped body having a first end and a second end;

the first end having a smaller external diameter than an external diameter of the second end;

a contact surface formed between the first end and the second end, and the contact surface includes a plurality of ridges or steps; and

,

a stem extends from a rear surface of the second end, and the stem is generally aligned with a vertical axis of the contact member.

31. The contact member according to claim 30, wherein the plurality of ridges or steps progressively increase in diameter from the first end of the contact member to the second end of the contact member.

32. The contact member according to claim 30, wherein the contact surface includes 3 to 30 or more ridges or steps.

33. The contact member according to claim 30, wherein the stem extends from a generally center portion of the rear surface of the second end.