Ozoneated liquid system

• US 5,207,237 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kew Import and Export Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kew Import and Export Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Langford, Terrence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/954,978
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 134/36, 134/37, 134/102.1, 134/102.2, 261/DIG. 42, 422/28, 422/29, 422/30, 422/33, 422/113, 422/116, 422/186.07, 422/186.08, 422/186.10, 422/186.11, 422/186.12, 422/186.14, 422/292, 422/294, 422/295 , 422/305, 422/296, 210/760, 8/158, 8/159, 68/3 SS, 68/13 R
• US Class Current: 134/102.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 11/00 Methods specially adapted for refuse disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/122 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/45 Rod clamps

Abstract

A liquid ozone system in which a liquid bath, preferably of distilled water, is kept in a pressure vessel and gaseous ozone is diffused into the liquid. The ozonenated liquid is then used as a steriliant in a container which is engagable with the pressure vessel. In the preferred embodiment the container and the pressure vessel are chilled to maintain the ozone diffused in the liquid. Excess liquid from the container is communicated to a destruct mechanism such as activated charcoal or discharged into the waste water system.

Claims

1. An ozonenating system comprising:

a) a pressure vessel having a selected liquid therein;

b) means for injecting pressurized ozone gas into the liquid within said pressure vessel;

c) a container having an article therein;

d) means for communicating a mixture of liquid and ozone gas from said pressure vessel to said container such that said mixture contacts said article;

e) means for removing excess mixture from said container; and

,

f) means for chilling said container and aid pressure vessel.

2. The ozonenating system according to claim 1 wherein said means for removing excess mixture communicates said excess mixture to an ozone destruct mechanism.

3. The ozonenating system according to claim 1 wherein said means for removing excess mixture communicates with a waste water disposal system.

4. The ozonenating system according to claim 1 further including means for diffusing said ozone gas in said selected liquid in said pressure vessel.

5. The ozonenating system according to claim 4 wherein said liquid is distilled water.

6. The ozonenating system according to claim 5 further including:

a) first valve means for disengaging said container from said pressurized vessel; and

,

b) second valve means for disengaging said container from said means for destruct.

7. The ozonenating system according to claim 6 wherein said first and said second valve means seal upon disengagement.

8. The ozonenating system according to claim 7 wherein said first valve means is opened by a selected amount of pressure from said pressure vessel.

9. The ozonenating system according to claim 7 wherein said second valve means includes means for regulating an outflow rate so as to maintain a selected amount of pressure from said container.

10. The ozonenating system according to claim 7 wherein said article within said container includes a hollow tube having at least N openings and further including an adapter means communicating mixture from said pressure vessel via said first valve to N-1 of said N openings in said hollow tube.

11. An ozone bath generating system comprising:

a) a pressure vessel having a selected liquid material therein;

b) means for injecting pressurized ozone gas into the liquid material within said pressure vessel;

c) means for chilling said pressure vessel; and

,

d) a container having an article therein;

e) means for communicating a mixture of liquid material and ozone gas from said pressure vessel to said container;

f) means for removing excess mixture from said container;

g) a first valve means for disengaging said container from said pressure vessel, said first valve sealing upon disengagement; and

,

h) a second valve means for disengaging said container from said means for removing excess mixture, said second valve means sealing upon disengagement.

12. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 11 further including means for destroying ozone in said excess mixture.

13. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 12 wherein said means for removing excess mixture communicates with a waste water disposal system.

14. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 11 further including means for diffusing said ozone gas in said liquid material in said pressure vessel.

15. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 14 wherein said liquid material is distilled water.

16. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 11 wherein said first valve means is opened by a selected amount of pressure from said pressure vessel.

17. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 11 wherein said second valve means is opened by a selected amount of pressure from said container.

18. The ozone bath generating system according to claim 11 wherein said article within said container includes a hollow article having at least N openings and further including an adapter means communicating mixture from said pressure vessel via said first valve to N-1 of said N openings in said article tube.

19. An sterilizing system comprising:

a) a pressure vessel having a selected liquid material therein;

b) means for injecting pressurized ozone gas into the liquid material within said pressure vessel;

c) a container having an article therein;

d) means for communicating said mixture of liquid material and ozone gas from said pressure vessel to said container;

e) means for removing excess mixture from said container; and

,

f) means for chilling said container and said pressure vessel.

20. The sterilizing system according to claim 19 further including means for destroying ozone in said excess mixture from said container.

21. The sterilizing system according to claim 19 wherein said means for removing excess mixture communicates with a waste water disposal system.

22. The sterilizing system according to claim 19 further including means for diffusing said ozone gas in said liquid material within said pressure vessel.

23. The sterilizing system according to claim 22 wherein said liquid material is distilled water.

24. The sterilizing system according to claim 23 further including:

a) first valve means for disengaging said container from said pressurized vessel; and

,

b) second valve means for disengaging said container from said means for destruct.

25. The sterilizing system according to claim 24 wherein said first and said second valve means seal upon disengagement.

26. The sterilizing system according to claim 25 wherein said first valve means is opened by a selected amount of pressure from said pressure vessel.

27. The sterilizing system according to claim 25 wherein said second valve means is opened by a selected amount of pressure from said container.

28. The sterilizing system according to claim 25 wherein said article within said container includes a hollow tube having at least N openings and further including an adapter means communicating mixture from said pressure vessel via said first valve to N-1 of said N openings in said hollow tube.