Apparatus for generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid

• US 7,891,046 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Gronlund, Patrick J., Field, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller; Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US11/655,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 204/272, 204/253, 204/267
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/213 Use of electrochemically treated water, e.g. electrolysed water or water treated by electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation

Abstract

An apparatus is provided, which includes a sparging device and a functional generator. The functional generator is in fluid communication with the sparging device and includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a source of a liquid;

a liquid dispenser;

a flow path coupled between the source and the liquid dispenser;

an electrolysis sparging device, which is in fluid communication with the flow path and lacks an ion exchange membrane;

a functional generator, which is in fluid communication with the flow path and comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane;

a mobile body, which carries the flow path, the electrolysis sparging device, the functional generator and the liquid dispenser;

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across a surface to be cleaned;

a cleaning tool connected to the mobile body;

a pump in fluid communication with the flow path; and

a fluid recovery device connected to the mobile body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolysis sparging device comprises:

an electrolyzing cell comprising first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap, which is in fluid communication with the flow path.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the first electrode comprises a solid, electrically conductive tubular plate;

the second electrode comprises an electrically conductive tubular mesh, which is coaxial with the first electrode; and

the cell further comprises a dielectric mesh in the gap between the first and second electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are planar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanical sparging device in the flow path.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the liquid source comprises a tank; and

the electrolysis sparging device is coupled along the flow path, between the tank and the liquid dispenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrolysis sparging device is coupled in series with the functional generator, between the tank and the functional generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolysis sparging device is coupled along the flow path, in series with the functional generator between the functional generator and the liquid dispenser.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the liquid source comprises a tank; and

the electrolysis sparging device located at least partially within the tank.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, onboard the apparatus, a flow of anolyte from the anode chamber is combined with a flow of catholyte from the cathode chamber to form a combined flow, which is dispensed from the liquid dispenser.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow path comprises a first flow path from the anode chamber to the liquid dispenser and a second flow path from the cathode chamber to the liquid dispenser, and wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses anolyte from the first flow path and catholyte from the second flow path as separate flows.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a pump in fluid communication with the flow path.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising the cleaning tool to engage the surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a wand, which is coupled to the liquid dispenser.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolysis sparging device comprises:

an electrolyzing cell comprising first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the first electrode comprises a solid, electrically conductive tubular plate;

the second electrode comprises an electrically conductive tubular mesh, which is coaxial with the first electrode; and

the cell further comprises a dielectric mesh in the gap between the first and second electrodes.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second electrodes are planar.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning tool has at least one a scrubbing member with a vertical axis of rotation relative to the surface to be cleaned.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an electrolysis sparging device, which lacks an ion exchange membrane;

a functional generator, which is in fluid communication with the electrolysis sparging device and comprises an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane;

a mobile body, which carries the electrolysis sparging device and the functional generator;

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across a surface to be cleaned; and

a cleaning tool connected to the mobile body selected from the group consisting of a brush, a scrubbing element, a spray wand, a rotating cleaning tool, an extractor tool, a soil transfer roller, and a motorized cleaning head.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanical sparging device in the flow path.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 and further comprising a tank in fluid communication with the electrolysis sparging device and the functional generator.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 and further comprising a flow path that combines a flow of anolyte from the anode chamber with a flow of catholyte from the cathode chamber and dispenses the combined flow of the anolyte and the catholyte from the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 and further comprising:

at least one liquid dispenser;

a first flow path from the anode chamber to the at least one liquid dispenser; and

a second flow path from the cathode chamber to the at least one liquid dispenser.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cleaning tool comprises a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and the apparatus further comprises:

a fluid recovery device connected to the mobile body.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile surface cleaner, which is movable relative to a surface to be cleaned and comprises a cleaning tool selected from the group consisting of a brush, a scrubbing element, a spray wand, a rotating cleaning tool, an extractor tool, a soil transfer roller, and a motorized cleaning head;

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across the surface to be cleaned;

a first mechanism for electrochemically treating a liquid along a flow path without use of an ion exchange membrane;

a second mechanism for electrochemically treating the liquid along the flow path by using an ion exchange membrane; and

means for dispensing the liquid from the flow path.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile soft floor surface cleaner, which is movable relative to a surface to be cleaned and comprises a cleaning tool selected from the group consisting of a soil transfer roll and an extractor brush;

a first mechanism for electrochemically treating a liquid along a flow path without use of an ion exchange membrane;

a second mechanism for electrochemically treating the liquid along the flow path by using an ion exchange membrane; and

means for dispensing the liquid from the flow path.