Abstract:
A ozonated liquid dispensing unit is described. The unit produces and dispenses an ozonated liquid that may be used to clean and sanitize a variety of articles or used in conjunction with cleaning processes and other apparatus. The unit includes a liquid input port to receive liquid into the unit. The unit includes a first dielectric cell for producing ozone gas from ambient air and a second dielectric cell for producing ozone gas. The first dielectric cell is in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for supplying the second dielectric cell with a supply gas containing the ozone gas generated from the ambient air. The second dielectric cell produces ozone gas from the supply gas. An injector is in fluidic communication with the liquid input port. The injector in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for receiving the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell, and the injector mixes the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell with the liquid from the liquid input port to produce an ozonated liquid. A liquid output port discharges the ozonated liquid from the unit. A faucet or spray may be used to control the discharge of the ozonated liquid from the unit.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an ozonated liquid dispensing unit that produces and dispenses an ozonated liquid that may be used to clean and sanitize a variety of articles or used in conjunction with cleaning processes and other apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Prior attempts to provide an ozonated liquid in a kitchen environment have failed to provide an ozonated liquid with sufficient concentrations of ozone resulting in poor cleaning and sanitizing. Without sufficient ozone concentration, conventional cleaning and sanitizing methods may still be necessary at extra labor, equipment, and supply costs. 
         [0003]    Other prior attempts to provide an ozonated liquid have involved electrochemical ozone generation. Such systems are difficult to maintain. 
         [0004]    Other prior attempts to provide an ozonated liquid have involved systems too large and too bulky to be effectively used in some residential or commercial applications. Many of these systems are also too expensive for use in the home or are not economical to be used in commercial applications. 
         [0005]    Other prior attempts to provide an ozonated liquid have involved systems requiring significant mechanical alterations to existing water supply and delivery systems. Some systems also require the output of ozone gas to be adjusted each time the system is turned on. Further, many previous systems cannot be used with multiple, different dispensing applications. 
         [0006]    Other prior attempts to provide an ozonated liquid have involved systems that create too much off-gassing of ozone. Although ozone gas is generally harmless, OSHA workplace requirements require that ozone levels are maintained below certain minimums. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    An ozonated liquid dispensing unit is described herein. The unit produces and dispenses an ozonated liquid that may be used to clean and sanitize a variety of articles or used in conjunction with cleaning processes and other apparatus. The unit is compact, may be conveniently installed in a commercial or residential kitchen, restroom or other area with a water supply. The units provides an ozonated liquid with a high concentration of ozone gas sufficient to clean and sanitize food items, food preparation items, food preparation surface, bathrooms, medical equipment, drains and to provide for hand-washing and hygiene needs. The unit uses multiple dielectric cells in an in-line configuration to create the ozone gas that is mixed with the water to form the ozonated liquid. 
         [0008]    Foods, food preparation areas as well as other surfaces that may benefit from sterilization provided by the unit. In the food industry, the ozonated liquid from the unit provides for chemical-free sterilization of contaminated surfaces and tools, such as those used in the processing of raw meat. The ozonated liquid cleans toxic substances 3,000 times faster than chlorine, and unlike chlorine, ozonated liquid is completely safe and natural. The ozonated liquid kills micro-organisms, including  E. coli , salmonella, bacteria, viruses, molds, etc. The ozonated liquid also remove pesticides and other residues from fruits and vegetables. The ozonated liquid also reduces odors in the environment on which the ozonated liquid is sprayed. The unit is ideal for residential food preparation, commercial food preparation, or any place a sterile, cleaning solution is needed. In a commercial setting, fruits and vegetables may be washed with the unit and its ozonated liquid to increase the shelf-life of the items. By removing the micro-organisms from the surfaces of the fruit and vegetables that may cause decay and spoilage, the fruit and vegetables will not decay or spoil as fast. 
         [0009]    The ozonated liquid dispensing unit includes a liquid input port to receive the liquid, such as water, into the unit to be mixed with ozone gas to form the ozonated liquid. The unit includes a first dielectric cell for producing ozone gas from ambient air and a second dielectric cell for producing ozone gas. The first dielectric cell is in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for supplying the second dielectric cell with a supply gas comprising the ozone gas generated from the ambient air. The second dielectric cell produces ozone gas from the supply gas. An injector is in fluidic communication with the liquid input port. The injector in supply communication with the second dielectric cell for receiving the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell, and the injector mixes the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell with the liquid from the liquid input port to produce an ozonated liquid. A liquid output port discharges the ozonated liquid from the unit. A faucet or spray may be used to control the discharge of the ozonated liquid from the unit. 
         [0010]    The unit is easy to install. Generally, the unit is just plugged into an electrical unit and a water supply is provided to the unit. The unit discharges the ozonated liquid into a liquid supply line in fluidic communication with a sprayer or faucet. A handle, knob or other actuator is manipulated in order to begin the production and flow of ozonated liquid from the unit. 
         [0011]    Ozone gas is unstable, which provides for it cleaning and sanitizing capabilities, but also makes consistent ozone levels difficult to maintain when the gas is mixed into a solution. Ozone gas cannot be packaged or stored and must be generated on site. The unit reduces the need for chemicals, hot water, and labor. Conventional cleaning systems often require the use of warm or hot water, which may form condensation in the surrounding workspace. This condensation may provide for or encourage the growth of microorganisms. Because unit only uses cold water, condensation is less likely to form in the surrounding workspace. The unit also reduces the hydraulic load on the waste-water treatment system and eliminates the need to treat the chemicals that would be present in conventional wastewater discharge streams. 
         [0012]    Ozone creates none of the trihalomethanes commonly associated with chlorine compounds. When properly matched to the application, ozone will reduce most organic compounds to carbon dioxide, water and a little heat. Finally, as ozone sheds the atom of the oxygen causing its molecular instability during the oxidation process, it becomes oxygen again. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit with the output side of the unit visible. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit with the input side of the unit visible. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plan diagram showing the installation of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit in conjunction with a sink and faucet. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit with the housing cover removed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top-down view of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit with the housing cover removed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the ozonated liquid dispensing unit with the housing cover removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a sprayer attached to the ozonated liquid dispensing unit. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a view of the first and second dielectric cells. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0021]    An ozonated liquid dispensing unit is described herein. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an ozonated liquid dispensing unit  10  is shown. The unit  10  includes a housing  100 , a removable housing cover  110  and a housing support  120 . The housing  100 , the housing cover  110 , and the housing support  120  form a rectangular, box-like structure that houses the internal components of the unit  10 . The housing  100  may be designed or engineered in other shapes and configurations. The housing  100 , the housing cover  110 , and the housing support  120  are made from sturdy or rugged materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or metals. Plastics and other composite materials may also be utilized in the construction of the housing  100 , the housing cover  110  and the housing support  120 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the housing cover  110  is removed from the housing  100  to show the housing support  120 , which receives and stabilizes the internal components of the unit  10 . The housing cover  110  may be secured to the housing support  120  via securing means  125 , such as a screw, pin, latch, lock, or other connection means for suitably attaching the housing cover  110  to the housing support  120  in a removable fashion. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an output side  130  of the unit  10 . The output side  130  includes a liquid output port  132  and an output side vent  134 , and an electrical supply connection  136 . The liquid output port  132  dispenses the ozonated liquid prepared in the unit  10  from the unit  10 . The output side vent  134  assists in dissipating heat produced in the housing  100  from the electrical generation of ozone gas. The electrical supply connection  136  is in electrical communication with an electrical supply  138  to provide power to the unit  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows an input side  140  of the unit  10 . The input side  140  is generally opposite of the output side  130 . The input side  140  includes a liquid input port  142  and an input side vent  144 . The liquid input port  142  includes threadable connections to receive a liquid input line  200  that supplies the unit  10  with water that is to be mixed with the ozone gas. The liquid input line  200  is threadably received by the liquid input port  142 . 
         [0025]    Ozonated liquid prepared by the unit  10  is discharged by the unit  10  from the liquid output port  132 . A liquid output line  210  is connected to the liquid output port  132 . The liquid output port  132  may include threadable connections for connecting the liquid output line  210  to the liquid output port  132 . The liquid output line  210  supplies, for example, an ozone faucet  233  or other sprayer means, with a supply of the ozonated liquid. 
         [0026]    The unit  10  may be conveniently mounted adjacent to or over a faucet/sink combination  345 , such as shown in  FIG. 3 . The ozonated liquid may be disposed through the drain into existing waste water systems and the municipal sewer systems. 
         [0027]    In the embodiments shown, the housing support  120  forms a flange  150  that extends beyond the housing cover  110 . The flange  150  includes openings  154  which may be used to affix the unit  10  to a wall, cabinet or other structure via bolts, screws, rivets or other fastening means. 
         [0028]    In other embodiments, the unit  10  may be placed onto a counter or underneath a counter in, for example, a kitchen cabinet or other storage area.  FIG. 3  shows a diagram of unit  10  installed at the faucet/sink combination  345 . During a typical installation of the unit  10 , a t-shaped adaptor  255  is placed in the cold water supply  250 . The adaptor  255  branches the cold water from the cold water supply  250  to the unit  10 , while still providing normal cold water to the faucet/sink combination  345 . The adapter  255  supplies fresh, cool water via the liquid input line  200  to the unit  10 . The adapter  255  does not interrupt flow of the cool water supply  250  to the faucet/sink combination  345 . A hot water supply  260  typically does not receive, or is involved with, the preparation of the ozonated liquid by the unit  10 . 
         [0029]    As ozone gas is created by the unit  10  and the ozone gas is mixed into the cold water entering the unit  10  from the cold water supply  250 , the ozonated liquid is discharged at the liquid output port  132 . The liquid output port  132  is in fluidic communication with an ozone faucet  233  via the liquid output line  210 . By turning on a handle  235  of the ozone faucet  233 , water is drawn into and through the unit  10  where ozonated gas prepared in the unit  10  is mixed with the water. During operation of the unit  10 , the operator only needs to pull on the handle  235  in order for ozonated liquid to be discharged from the ozone faucet  233 . The unit  10  does not require other manual actuation each time the unit  10  is used, i.e., the operator need not actuate an on/off switch or the like. 
         [0030]    The internal components of the unit  10  are shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . Water from the cool water supply  250  enters a fluid flow switch  215 , which activates the unit  10  upon sensing a flow of water. The fluid flow switch is in fluidic communication with an injector  252  via a liquid line  218 . 
         [0031]    The liquid line  218  fluidly connects the fluid flow switch  215  with the injector  252 . The liquid line  218  may comprise a hose, plastic tubing, metal braided tubing, or other suitable structure for communicating liquid from the fluid flow switch  215  to the injector  252 . 
         [0032]    The water supplied to the injector  252  is mixed with ozone gas from the first dielectric cell  220  and the second dielectric cell  240 . As further described herein, the first dielectric cell  220  supplies supply gas containing ozone gas to the second dielectric cell  240 . The second dielectric cell  240  creates additional ozone gas in the supply gas and supplies the ozone gas to the injector  252 , and the injector  252  mixes the ozone gas into the water in order to form the ozonated liquid that is discharged from the unit  10  at the liquid output port  132 . 
         [0033]    The injector  252  forms the ozonated liquid by mixing ozonated gas with the water. Suitable injectors are commercially available from the Mazzei Injector Corporation. The injector  252  uses a pressure differential between the water entering the injector  252  from the liquid line  218  and the fluid exiting the injector  252  to mix the water with ozone gas. The pressure at an inlet port of the injector  252  is higher than the pressure at an outlet port of the injector  252 , and this pressure differential creates a suction in the injector  252  that draws the ozone gas from the second dielectric cell  240  into the injector  252  for mixing with the water. 
         [0034]    An important feature of the unit  10  is the use of multiple dielectric cells, namely, the first dielectric cell  220  and the second dielectric cell  240 . The first dielectric cell  220  prepares ozone gas that is supplied to the second dielectric cell  240 , which creates additional ozone gas, thus creating a highly concentrated supply of ozone gas that is supplied to the injector  250 . In other embodiments, additional dielectric cells may be employed. 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , top-down view of the unit  10  is shown. Ambient air is drawn into the first dielectric cell  220  via an ambient air input  224  of a first gas input trap  223 . The first gas input trap  223  is sealingly connected to and surrounds a first end  221  of the first dielectric cell  220 . The first dielectric cell  220  makes ozone gas from the ambient air passing through the first dielectric cell  220 . 
         [0036]    The first dielectric cell  220  includes a glass or other insulating cylinder. An electrical conductor passes through the cylinder. A conductive metal lattice, metal mesh, or coil wire surrounds the conductor. When power is supplied to the first dielectric cell  220 , electricity passes through the conductor and sparks and arcs. This electrical discharge splits the oxygen molecules creating ozone gas from the oxygen molecules present in the ambient air inside of the dielectric cell  220 . This method is generally referred to as corona discharge. The second dielectric cell  240  is constructed similar to the first dielectric cell  220 . 
         [0037]    As described above, ozone gas created by the coronal discharge in the first dielectric cell  220  is captured and supplied to the second dielectric cell  240 . The supply gas from the first dielectric cell  220  to the second dielectric cell  240  contains an amount of ozone gas. A second or output end  222  of the first dielectric cell  220  is sealingly connected to and surrounded by a first gas output trap  227 . The first gas output trap  227  funnels the ozone gas created by the first dielectric cell  220  to a first gas line  230  which is in fluidic communication with a second gas input trap  243  and an ozone gas input  244  on the second gas input trap  243 . The first gas line  230  thus connects to the first gas output trap  227  to the ozone gas input  244 . The second gas input trap  243  is sealingly connected to a first or input end  241  of the second dielectric cell  240 . As such, supply gas to the second dielectric cell  240  already includes a first amount of ozone gas. The supply gas from the first dielectric cell  220  is further processed by the second dielectric cell  240  to add an additional amount of ozone gas to the supply gas. 
         [0038]    The first gas output trap  227  seals the output of ozone gas from the first dielectric cell  220  such that nearly all of the ozone gas created by the first dielectric cell  220  or the output of gas from the first dielectric cell  220  is supplied in a closed communication via the first gas line  320  to the second dielectric cell  240 . The closed communication provides for the second dielectric cell  240  to form ozone gas from the output gas of the first dielectric cell  220 . 
         [0039]    The ozonated gas produced by the second dielectric cell  240  is transported via a second gas line  260  to an injector gas input port  254  of the injector  252 . The second gas output trap  247  is sealingly connected to a second or output end  242  of the second dielectric cell  240 . 
         [0040]    The use of the first and second dielectric cell  220  and  240  creates an increased concentration of ozone gas in supply communication with the injector  252 . A single dielectric cell similar to the first dielectric cell  220  or the second dielectric cell  240  creates ozone gas at a concentration of 0.5 parts per million. However, the use of two of the two inline dielectric cells, i.e., the first dielectric cell  220  and the second dielectric cell  240 , creates a supply of ozone gas to the injector  252  having a concentration of approximately 1.3 ppm. 
         [0041]    The unit  10  is electrically connected to the power supply  138 , such as a 115-volt power supply. The electrical connector  136  of the unit  10  is in electrical communication with a first power supply  320  and a second power supply  340 . A first electrical supply line  322  is in electrical communication with the first power supply  320  and at a conductor positioned at the first end  221  of the first dielectric cell  220 . A second electrical supply line  342  is in electrical communication with the second power supply  340  and at a conductor positioned at the first end  241  of the second dielectric cell  240 . The electrical supply lines  322  and  342  provide the electricity for the corona discharge. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the ozone faucet  233  has been replaced with a spray nozzle  400  having a handle  410  to actuate the discharge of the ozonated liquid. The spray nozzle  400  is in fluidic communication with the liquid output port  132 . A hose, tube or other liquid communication structure  405  is used to supply the sprayer  400  with the ozonated liquid from the liquid output port  132 . The spray nozzle  400  or the liquid communication structure  405  includes a valve means or other shut-off to control the output of liquid from the spray nozzle. For example, a handle  410  of the spray nozzle  400  may actuate the valve or otherwise control the flow of the ozonated liquid from the spray nozzle  400 . The spray nozzle  400  may be used to spray fruits and vegetables in order to kill microorganisms, remove dirt and debris, and/or wash of pesticide residue. 
         [0043]    The spray nozzle  400  may further be used to clean and sanitize shower areas and rest rooms. Spraying the ozonated liquid onto such bathroom surfaces is an economical and convenient method to provide for sanitation. The ozonated liquid does not leave a residue or film on the restroom and shower surfaces. No other chemicals or detergents are required. There is no clean-up or storage of soiled conventional cleaning tools, such as a mop or mop bucket. 
         [0044]    The unit  10  provides a flow of ozonated liquid at approximately 25 psi and 1.5 gallons per minute from the ozone faucet  233  or the spray nozzle  400 . The ozonated liquid has an ozone concentration of approximately 1.8 parts per million. 
         [0045]    The unit  10  also finds utility in cleaning fruits and vegetables. Herbicide residue may be removed from the fruit and vegetable surfaces. Pathogens, such as salmonella, may be easily removed from more delicate food surfaces, such as that of a tomato. Raw meats and carcasses and may also be directly contacted with the ozonated liquid. 
         [0046]    The unit  10  may also be used to clean and sterilize medical instruments. The unit  10  may also be used for general hand-washing and wound-flushing. The unit  10  may also be used for drain cleaning. The oxidation provided by the ozonated liquids will break-up many deposits in drains. 
         [0047]    In operation of the unit  10 , the user actuates the handle  235  of the ozone faucet  233 . When the cold water begins to flow through the liquid input line  200  to the unit  10 , the liquid flow switch  215  activates the first power supply  320  and the second power supply  340  to discharge electrical current to the first dielectric cell  220  and the second dielectric cell  240  to the begin creation of ozone gas. Generally, the operator should expect to wait several seconds for the water flowing from the ozone faucet  233  to transition to ozonated liquid. When the handle  235  is turned off, water flow through the unit  10  is stopped and the liquid flow switch  215  turns the first power supply  320  and the second power supply  340  off. 
         [0048]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations from the specific embodiments disclosed above are contemplated by the invention. The invention should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.