Environmental sanitizer and odor remover for purification of foods, surfaces, air and water with disposable ozone generation electrode, pressure/flow adaptable venturi injector and aqueous phase filter device

• US 7,524,466 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger-Veripure, LLC
• Original Assignee: Longmark Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Long, Ronald Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar; Kishor
• Application Number:
  US10/832,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20050147546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.12, 210/716
• US Class Current: 422/186.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/01 Deodorant compositions compositions released by contact with a liquid A61L9/05
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/48 Mixing water in water-taps with other ingredients, e.g. air, detergents or disinfectants
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23 by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2326 adding the flowing main component by suction means, e.g. using an ejector
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237613 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/708 Filtering materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31242 the main flow being injected in the central area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the circumferential part of the conduit B01F25/31243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31251 Throats
• 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 2201/30 Dielectrics used in the electrical dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/32 : Constructional details of the dielectrics
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/62 : Air
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/70 : Cooling of the discharger; Means for making cooling unnecessary
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 : using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 : by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 : with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 : Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/784 : Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/02 : Odour removal or prevention of malodour
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection

Abstract

A dielectric assembly for generating ozone includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode in operational proximity to the positive electrode, a dielectric in operational proximity to the positive and negative electrodes for generating the ozone, and a knob adapted to extend outside of a housing into which the dielectric assembly is to be placed. A system is also provided for sanitizing and deodorizing water, food, surfaces and air including a microbiological reduction filter device having an input connected to a water supply, a venturi injector disposed within a housing and connected to an output of the microbiological reduction filter device which generates ozone and mixes the generated ozone with the water, and an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes, a dielectric for generating the ozone, and a knob extending outside of the housing. The dielectric in a first embodiment and the entire dielectric assembly in a second embodiment can be removed from the housing and replaced in its entirety by the knob.

Claims

1. A system for sanitizing and deodorizing water, food, surfaces and air comprising:

a filter device having an input connected to a water supply and having at least one filter to output filtered water to be transported into a housing;

a dielectric assembly comprising a dielectric configured to generate ozone, and a knob connected to the dielectric and extending outside of the housing, wherein the assembly is configured such that the assembly can be removed from the housing and replaced in its entirety by the knob; and

a venturi injector disposed within the housing and connected to an output of the filter device, wherein venturi injector is configured to receive the generated ozone and to mix the generated ozone with the filtered water, and is configured to output filtered, ozonated water.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the filter device comprises:

a first filter sump having an input connected to the water supply and an output;

a pre-filtration cartridge disposed within the first filter sump through which water from the water supply passes for removing from the water particulate material larger than a predetermined size;

a second filter sump having an input connected to the output of the first filter sump and an output;

a filter cartridge disposed within the second filter sump through which the water passes for removing impurities from the water.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pre-filtration cartridge comprises one of a one-micron prefilter or a five-micron prefilter.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the filter cartridge comprises one of a sub-micron microbiological barrier filter or a one-micron-absolute carbon block filter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric assembly further comprises a negative electrode and a positive electrode.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises:

an air intake manifold comprising an air receiving chamber which houses one end of the negative electrode, and two pressurized air intake ports disposed opposing one another in direct communication with the receiving chamber; and

an ozone distribution manifold comprising an ozone intake port which houses a second end of the negative electrode.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein an inside diameter of the air receiving chamber is at least about 15% greater than an outside diameter of the negative electrode to facilitate free flow of air around and through perforation in one end of the negative electrode.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein a first one of the air intake ports is connected to an air pump and further comprising collet locking elements connected between the first air intake port and the air pump.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the dielectric assembly further comprises an o-ring, which, when the knob is inserted into the ozone distribution manifold, forms a seal to prevent leakage of ozone and locks the dielectric assembly in operational position.

10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of nested components into which the venturi injector, the ozone gas distribution manifold and the air intake manifold are snapped to be removably locked in place in the housing; and

a plurality of snap locks attaching the plurality of nested components to the housing.

11. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a safety switch for preventing operation of the electrodes without the dielectric in place, wherein the knob is in communication with the safety switch.

12. The system according to claim 5, wherein the negative electrode comprises a hollow tube, the dielectric comprises a hollow tube formed of a high temperature resistant material sized to fit inside the negative electrode, the positive electrode comprises a hollow tube sized to fit inside the dielectric, and the assembly further comprises an electrical connector having one end connected to a power supply and a second end which has an outside diameter closely approximating an inside diameter of the dielectric allowing a tight frictional communication between the connector and the positive electrode and to align the dielectric substantially in a center of the negative electrode.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a cooling fin mounted longitudinally along the negative electrode, the cooling fin comprising first and second halves, mounted and connected to one another along a center portion thereof shaped to accept an outside diameter of the negative electrode, and bent outwardly from each other on both sides of the center portion.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a swiveling elbow slip lock fitting connected to an output of the filter device;

a first tube having one end inserted in the swiveling elbow slip lock fitting and a second end;

a first slip lock fitting connected to the second end of the first tube and affixed to a floor of the housing;

a male elbow fitting having a first end frictionally inserted into one end of the first slip lock fitting;

a second tube having a first end inserted into a second end of the male elbow fitting and a second end;

a second slip lock fitting having a first end connected to the second end of the second tube and a second end;

a flow switch having a first end connected to the second end of the second slip lock fitting and a second end in communication with the venturi injector; and

wherein movement of the water through the flow switch creates a motive force to activate the flow switch to initiate power supplied from a power supply.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a second slip lock fitting having a first end connected to the second end of the flow switch and a second end;

a water input tube having a first end connected to the second end of the second slip lock fitting and a second end.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a threaded nut threaded unto a threaded portion on an outside of a water exit port for fixing the venturi injector to the housing.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the venturi injector is formed by a T-shaped pipe which comprises:

a water entry port at a first distal end of the venturi injector into which an end of a water input tube is inserted;

a water exit port at a second distal end of the venturi injector opposed to said water entry port, wherein water flows between the water entry port and the water exit port through a central tube; and

a gas entry port disposed perpendicular to the water flow, and connected to a gas transport tube wherein the water flows through the central tube between the water intake port and the water exit port thereby providing a motive force creating suction at a gas intake port, which draws in ozone gas through the gas intake port and dissolves it in the water flow.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the water entry port comprises a stepped aperture having at least three steps, each having successively narrow diameters moving downstream along the water flow through the central tube.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a removable venturi motive throat insert having a top ring end having an outside diameter substantially identical to a diameter of the water input tube and a bottom end having an outside diameter sized to fit into the central tube, the venturi motive throat insert being seated a base of a third one of the steps where it is pressed in place functionally by the water input tube.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the venturi motive throat insert can have different diameters, and flow strength and internal pressure of the water flowing through the venturi injector can be varied by using a venturi motive throat insert having a desired internal diameter.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the water exit port comprises a stepped aperture having at least three steps, each having successively wider diameters moving downstream along the water flow through the central tube.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a collet locking system connecting a water exit tube disposed outside of the housing and connected to the water exit port.

23. The system according to claim 17, further comprising a collet locking system connecting a water input tube to the water entry port.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the gas intake port comprises a stepped aperture having at least three steps, each having successively narrower diameters moving downstream along a gas flow through the central tube.

25. The system according to claim 24, further comprising a collet locking system connecting the gas transport tube to the gas intake port.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the stepped aperture of the gas intake port has four steps and further comprising a check valve pressed into one of the four steps of the gas intake port in communication with an open space to permit forward motion of the check valve and prevent water from entering the gas transport tube when suction is created through venturi action, the open space being disposed between the one of the four steps and the central tube, wherein the check valve is held in place by an end of the gas transport tube.

27. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a gas transport tube having one end connected to the gas entry port and a second end; and

wherein the ozone distribution manifold is formed of a T-shaped pipe comprising;

an arm portion extending along an axis through which the dielectric assembly is inserted; and

a leg portion extending perpendicular to the arm portion and having an aqueous phase ozone exit port into which the gas transport tube is inserted.

28. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a second leg portion extending perpendicular to the arm portion and having a gas phase ozone exit port.

29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a gas phase ozone transfer tube having a first end inserted into the gas phase ozone exit port of the ozone distribution manifold and a second end; and

a bulkhead fitting having a first end connected to the second end of the gas phase ozone transfer tube and a second end disposed outside of the housing for attachment to an exterior ozone gas distribution tube for gas phase application of ozone.

30. The system according to claim 29, further comprising collet locking elements connecting the gas phase ozone transfer tube to the gas phase ozone exit port.

31. The system according to claim 27, further comprising:

first collet locking elements connecting the gas transport tube to the aqueous phase ozone exit port;

second collet locking elements connecting the gas transport tube to the gas entry port;

third collet locking elements connected at the water exit port of the venturi injector; and

fourth collet locking elements connected between the water entry port and the water input tube.

32. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric assembly comprises a single, unitary element comprising an anode and a cathode, each connected to alternate sides of a flat dielectric glass plate with a dielectric gap therebetween to permit an airflow to pass between the anode and the cathode and the dielectric.

33. The system according to claim 32, further comprising:

a dielectric housing into which the dielectric assembly is inserted; and

first and second pins connected between the anode and cathode through the dielectric housing, and the positive and negative power leads of a power supply, respectively.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the dielectric housing comprises:

first and second pressurized air intake ports disposed opposing one another;

an aqueous phase ozone distribution port at a distal end from the air intake port; and

a gaseous phase ozone distribution port between the aqueous phase distribution port and the air intake port.