Continuous flow cleaning system with ozone injection
First Claim
1. A fluid cycling cleaning system, including:
- a reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution;
a conveying means for moving the liquid cleaning solution into and out of the reservoir, said conveying means including at least a dispensing conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area outside of the reservoir, and a supply conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for providing the liquid cleaning solution to the reservoir, wherein the fluid supply conduit includes a recovery segment for conveying the cleaning solution from the application area back to the reservoir;
wherein the reservoir and conveying means cooperate to provide a fluid pathway for the liquid cleaning solution;
an ozone source; and
a coupling means for fluid coupling the ozone source and the fluid pathway, for introducing ozone from the ozone source into the fluid pathway at a selected location along the fluid pathway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuous flow recycling cleaning system includes a canister containing a liquid cleaning solution, and a dispensing conduit for conveying the cleaning solution from the canister to a cleaning tool head for direct application to a carpet, upholstery fabric or other material at an application area. A recovery conduit is connected to the cleaning tool head for returning recovered cleaning solution, along with air and extracted soil, to the canister. The system includes at least one ozone injector selectively positioned along a fluid flow pathway that includes the canister, the dispensing and recovery conduits, and the cleaning tool head. The fluid flow pathway further can include a counterflow conduit and an ozone-introduction conduit provided solely for the injection of ozone. Each injector is coupled to an ozone generator, to combine the ozone with the cleaning solution flowing through the injector. A portion of the ozone is dissolved in the liquid cleaning solution for cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing the application area and interior surfaces along the fluid flow pathway. A surfactant is incorporated into the cleaning solution to improve the retention of dissolved ozone. A portion of the ozone remaining in the gaseous state sanitizes and deodorizes air within the system. The system includes an air exhaust, which can incorporate a filter for reducing ozone concentrations in the expelled air.
97 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A fluid cycling cleaning system, including:
-
a reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution; a conveying means for moving the liquid cleaning solution into and out of the reservoir, said conveying means including at least a dispensing conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area outside of the reservoir, and a supply conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for providing the liquid cleaning solution to the reservoir, wherein the fluid supply conduit includes a recovery segment for conveying the cleaning solution from the application area back to the reservoir; wherein the reservoir and conveying means cooperate to provide a fluid pathway for the liquid cleaning solution; an ozone source; and a coupling means for fluid coupling the ozone source and the fluid pathway, for introducing ozone from the ozone source into the fluid pathway at a selected location along the fluid pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
11. In a fluid cycling cleaning system including a reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution, a fluid dispensing conduit for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area for cleaning, and a recovery conduit for conveying the cleaning solution away from the application area after its application:
- an apparatus for introducing ozone to the liquid cleaning solution, including;
an ozone injection means disposed at a selected location along a fluid pathway that comprises at least the reservoir, the fluid dispensing conduit and the recovery conduit; an ozone source; and a one-way valve between the ozone source and the ozone injection means; wherein the ozone injection means includes a first inlet for receiving the cleaning solution and a second inlet in fluid communication with the ozone source for receiving ozone from the ozone source, and a common outlet for providing the cleaning solution and the ozone to the fluid pathway downstream of the selected location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- an apparatus for introducing ozone to the liquid cleaning solution, including;
-
15. A process for introducing ozone into a liquid cleaning solution used in a fluid cycling cleaning system that includes a reservoir containing the liquid cleaning solution;
- including;
using a dispensing conduit to convey the cleaning solution from the reservoir to an application area; using a return conduit to convey the cleaning solution from the application area back to the reservoir after its application; fluid coupling an ozone source to a selected location along a fluid flow pathway that includes at least the reservoir, the dispensing conduit and the return conduit; and conveying the ozone from the ozone source to the selected location, and intermingling the ozone and the cleaning solution at the selected location, whereby the cleaning solution downstream of the selected location incorporates the ozone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 30, 31)
- including;
-
17. A cleaning system, including:
-
a reservoir, and a liquid cleaning solution contained in the reservoir; a conveying means for moving the cleaning solution into and out of the reservoir, said conveying means including at least a dispensing conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area outside of the reservoir, and a return conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for providing the liquid cleaning solution to the reservoir, wherein the reservoir and the conveying means cooperate to provide a fluid pathway for the cleaning solution; a means for introducing ozone to the cleaning solution at a selected location along the fluid pathway, whereby at least some of the ozone is dissolved into the cleaning solution at and proximate the selected location; and a surfactant incorporated into the liquid cleaning solution at a concentration in the range of about 10 to about 200 ppm, said surfactant being resistant to interacting or combining with the dissolved ozone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
32. A fluid cycling cleaning system, including:
-
a reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution; a conveying pathway for moving the liquid cleaning solution into and out of the reservoir, said conveying pathway including at least a dispensing conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area outside of the reservoir, and a supply conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir for providing the liquid cleaning solution to the reservoir; an ozone introduction conduit independent of the dispensing conduit and the supply conduit and having an inlet receiving the cleaning solution from within the reservoir and an outlet providing the cleaning solution back to the reservoir; an ozone source; and a coupling means for fluid coupling the ozone source and the ozone introduction conduit, to facilitate an intermingling of ozone and the liquid cleaning solution along the ozone introduction conduit.
-
-
33. In a fluid cycling cleaning system including a substantially enclosed reservoir containing a liquid cleaning solution and incorporating an air cavity above the liquid cleaning solution, a fluid dispensing conduit for conveying the cleaning solution from within the reservoir to an application area for cleaning, and a recovery conduit open to the air cavity for conveying the cleaning solution away from the application area after its application;
- an apparatus for introducing ozone to the liquid cleaning solution, including;
an ozone injector disposed at a selected location along a fluid pathway that comprises at least the reservoir, the fluid dispensing conduit, and the recovery conduit; an ozone source; and an exhaust system open to the air cavity, and a vacuum component within the exhaust system for drawing a partial vacuum in the air cavity and thereby drawing the cleaning solution and air from the application area to the reservoir; wherein the ozone injector includes a first inlet for receiving the cleaning solution and a second inlet in fluid communication with the ozone source for receiving ozone from the ozone source, and a common outlet for providing the cleaning solution and the ozone to the fluid pathway downstream of the selected location.
- an apparatus for introducing ozone to the liquid cleaning solution, including;
Specification