Ozone generator

• US 4,035,657 A
• Filed: 12/24/1975
• Issued: 07/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murray J. Guy, Richard E. Higginbotham
• Original Assignee: Murray J. Guy, Richard E. Higginbotham
• Inventors: Carlson, Curt William
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Howard S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US05/644,306
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 250/532-541
• US Class Current: 422/186.1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/14 Concentric/tubular dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/22 Constructional details of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/24 Composition of the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/40 using several dischargers in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/62 Air

Abstract

An ozone generator in which an air pump discharges air through a plurality of juxtaposed, successive, tubular housings, each of which has concentric wire mesh electrodes separated by dielectric tubes. A high a.c. potential, insufficient to cause a spark discharge, is imposed across the electrodes so that the oxygen of the air is progressively converted into ozone. The ozone laden air is directed through non-return valves into water flowing in a pipe for the purpose of destroying bacteria therein.

Claims

1. An ozone generator comprising:

(a) a source of electrical potential;

(b) an air pump;

(c) elongated passageway means defining a passageway having an entrance and exit;

(d) means for delivering air from said pump to the entrance of said passageway;

(e) a plurality of grid assemblies disposed in serial spaced relationship within said passageway, each of said grid assemblies having an inner grid, an outer grid, and dielectric means spacing said inner grid and said outer grid apart; and

(f) a plurality of electrically conducting hanger means projecting through the side of said passageway, one grid from each of said assemblies being electrically connected through one of said hanger means to one side of said source and the other grid of each of said assemblies being electrically connected through another of said hanger means to the other side of said source.

2. The ozone generator defined in claim 1 wherein said passageway means includes a plurality of juxtaposed, parallely spaced, serially connected grid housings, each of said housings containing one of said grid assemblies.

3. The ozone generator defined in claim 1 including means at said exit for closing the same, said pump adapted to deliver air in a sufficient volume to produce an air pressure of from about 3 psi to about 40 psi in said passageway.

4. The ozone generator defined in claim 3 wherein said means at said exit includes a regulator valve.

5. The ozone generator defined in claim 3 wherein said means at said exit includes a check valve.

6. The ozone generator defined in claim 5 wherein said means at said exit includes a tube leading from said exit to a water pipe and a nozzle for introducing ozone from said tube into said water pipe.

7. The ozone generator defined in claim 6 including a check valve for preventing water in said pipe from passing into said passageway.

8. The ozone generator defined in claim 1 wherein the grids are circular in cross-section and are disposed in concentric relationship to each other centrally in said passageway.

9. The ozone generator defined in claim 8 wherein said dielectric means includes tubular dielectric means disposed between the concentric grids.

10. The ozone generator defined in claim 9 wherein said grids are each rolled screens.

11. The ozone generator defined in claim 10 wherein said grids project outwardly of said dielectric member in axially opposite directions and wherein said hanger means includes pairs of electrically conducting hangers respectively supporting the protruding ends of said grids, said hangers projecting through the side of said passageway means and being connected to said source of current.

12. The ozone generator defined in claim 11 wherein said dielectric means include a pair of concentrically spaced tubular members forming inner and outer members and spacer means for holding said tubular members in concentric relationship to each other.

13. The ozone generator defined in claim 12 wherein each of the inner grids is connected to one side of said source of current and wherein each of the outer grids is connected to the other side of said source of current.

14. The ozone generator defined in claim 13 wherein said spacer member is helically disposed around the inner dielectric member and engages the inner surface of the outer dielectric member for defining a helical path for air between said dielectric members.

15. The ozone generator defined in claim 1 including a housing and wherein said source of current includes a transformer, the primary of which is adapted to be connected to an a.c. source, one side of the secondary of said transformer being connected to a grid of each of said grid assemblies and the other side of said secondary being connected to the other grid of each of said assemblies.

16. In an ozone generator, a tubular grid assembly housing defining an air passageway therein, a grid assembly disposed within said air passageway, said grid assembly including an inner grid and an outer grid disposed concentrically with respect to each other and with respect to said tubular housing, one of said grids being carried by a hanger projecting through the side of said housing, the other of said grids being supported by a second hanger spaced from the first mentioned hanger and projecting through the side of said housing, and a tubular dielectric means disposed between said concentric grids.

17. The ozone generator defined in claim 16 wherein said grids are each wire screens.

18. The ozone generator defined in claim 16 wherein each of said grids includes convolutions of wire screen, the edges of which overlap.

19. The ozone generator defined in claim 16 wherein said dielectric means includes a pair of tubular glass members disposed concentrically in spaced relationship to each other, and a spacer member for spacing said tubular members from each other.

20. The ozone generator defined in claim 19 wherein said spacer member is helically wound around the inner tubular glass member.