Abstract:
An apparatus for utilizing water such as, for example, an atomizer or vaporizer, having at least one container for water. Here, two ceramic electrodes that can be used to treat the water are arranged for the purpose of improving the water quality in the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/DE2007/001319, filed Jul. 25, 2007, which designated the United States, and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of German Application Nos. 10 2006 035 215.7 filed Jul. 26, 2006 and 10 2006 060 479.2, filed Dec. 19, 2006, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for utilizing water, such as, an atomizer or vaporizer, having at least one container for water, and to increase the water quality by having two ceramic electrodes arranged in the container to treat the water. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     JP 10-281501 A1 discloses an apparatus for utilizing water that is designed as an atomizer and has two containers for water. Here, the second container, from which the water is atomized, is fed from the first container. Chlorine-generating electrodes made from platinum and iridium are arranged in the first container in order to sterilize the water. Disadvantages of such an apparatus for utilizing water are, on the one hand, escape of unpleasantly smelling chlorine gas and, on the other hand, in some circumstances inadequate sterilization of the water when the latter is stored for a relatively long time before being atomized in the second container, which is arranged downstream of the first container. Furthermore, oxidizing substances are required that lead to undesired deposits in the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to develop an apparatus for utilizing water that is more secure against contamination, does not produce any unpleasant smelling gases and requires no oxidizing substances. 
     The inventive apparatus for utilizing water has two ceramic electrodes that serve to improve the water quality in the container from which water can be directly extracted, or water can be directly consumed. The use of ceramic electrodes necessitates no oxidizing substances, and all that is produced during operation is oxygen, which does not lead to the perception of an odor nuisance. The arrangement of the ceramic electrodes in the container from which water is directly extracted, or from which water is directly consumed, avoids a water accumulator lying between the location of treatment and the location where the water is extracted or consumed. The core of the invention is thus the use of ceramic electrodes and their positioning in the container from which the water is extracted or consumed. By contrast with the prior art, this results in a reduced risk of contamination after the treatment of the water, and in water treatment that is environmentally friendly and lacks odor. 
     The invention provides for the use of two electrically conducting ceramic electrodes that are connected to a DC power source. As a result, catalytic processes of oxygen radical formation proceed under electric voltage and trigger an oxidation of the biological compounds in the water and, in particular, a destruction of the cell membranes. 
     Furthermore, the invention provides for carrying out a polarity reversal at the ceramic electrodes at specific time intervals. The location of the oxygen radical formation is displaced hereby between the electrodes and uniform wearing of the two ceramic electrodes is achieved. 
     According to the invention, the DC power source makes available a voltage between 2 V and 50 V and, in particular, approximately 24 V to 30 V. Good success in sterilization can be attained with such values. 
     The invention further provides to carry out the polarity reversal every 2 minutes to 20 minutes and, in particular, approximately every 5 minutes. With the aid of such values, it is possible to attain a good compromise between the stipulation of uniform wearing of the ceramic electrodes and the stipulation of using as little treatment time as possible in starting up the catalytic processes. 
     The invention provides to limit the current flow to at most 100 mA. The operating costs can thereby be kept low. 
     Finally, the invention provides for the water treated with the ceramic electrodes to be led through a filter before being extracted or before being consumed. It is thereby possible to employ simple means to restrain lime deposits resulting from decalcification effected by the ceramic electrodes. 
     Within the meaning of the invention, a treatment of the water in the container is understood as a sterilization and/or decalcification of the water. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details of the invention are described in the drawing with the aid of schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a cutaway side view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  shows a plan view of the lower part of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention, and 
         FIG. 3  shows a plan view of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus  1  for utilizing water W is illustrated in a cutaway side view in  FIG. 1   a . The apparatus  1  is designed as a vaporizer  2  with the aid of which the water W can be vaporized in order to raise a level of atmospheric humidity in an environment U by means of cold vaporization. The apparatus  1  is based in principle on an apparatus for treating gases described in DE 44 14 045 A1. The apparatus  1  essentially comprises an upper part  3  and a lower part  4 . Arranged in the upper part  3  are a fan  5  and a drive  6  for the rolls  7  and  8  rotatably mounted in the lower part  4 . The lower part  4  forms a container  9  for the water W. The container  9  is filled with water up to a level N. The rolls  7  and  8  rotate slowly in the water W in order to vaporize the water W, and are driven in this case by the drive  6 . Furthermore, the fan  5  blows ambient air over the rolls  7  and  8 , the humidity of which is increased upon passing over the rolls  7  and  8 . Two ceramic electrodes  10  and  11  are arranged in the container  9  (see also  FIG. 1   b ). As is to be gathered from  FIG. 1   b , the two ceramic electrodes  10 ,  11  are connected to a DC power source  12 . An electronic system  13  that controls the current flow and undertakes a polarity reversal at given time intervals is also connected between the DC power source  12  and the electrodes  10 ,  11 . The electronic system  13  is connected to the electrodes  10  and  11  via electric lines L 10  and L 11 . The DC power source  12  supplies the electronic system via lines L 12 . The electrodes  10 ,  11 , the DC power source  12  and the electronic system  13  are combined in a housing  14  as a module  15  that can be fitted on a trough  16  forming the container  9 . The housing  14  is closed in  FIG. 1   a , and illustrated with the cover  17  removed in  FIG. 1   b.    
     A second embodiment of an apparatus  1  for utilizing water W is illustrated in  FIG. 2  in a schematic side view. The apparatus  1  is designed as an atomizer  18  with the aid of which the water W can be atomized or sprayed into an environment U. For the atomization, the apparatus  1  has in a container  9  an oscillating plate  19  that is excited to oscillate by an electronic system  20 . Via the oscillating plate  19 , this produces a water cone WK composed of very fine water droplets. The latter are blown out of the apparatus  1  into the environment U by means of a fan  21 . Also arranged in the container  9  are two ceramic electrodes  10 ,  11  that are connected to a positive pole  26  and a negative pole  27  of a DC power source  12  with the interposition of the electronic system  20 . The electronic system  20  controls a current flow and carries out a polarity reversal at the electrodes  10 ,  11  at prescribed intervals. The electrodes therefore operate alternately as anode  24  and as cathode  25 . Lime deposits K resulting from the activity of the ceramic electrodes  10 ,  11  in the water W are kept away from the oscillating plate  19  by a filter  22 . This prevents impairment of the functioning of the oscillating plate  19  by the lime deposits K. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of a third embodiment of an apparatus  1  whose mode of operation corresponds to the apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 . The apparatus  1  comprises a container B that is constructed from a nonconducting material  23  such as plastic, for example. The container B with a total volume V is subdivided by a filter  22  into a first part container B 1  with a volume V 1 , and a second part container B 2  with a volume V 2 . Arranged in the first part container B 1  are two electrodes  10 ,  11  that are connected to a power source (not illustrated). The electrodes  10 ,  11  are alternately connected to a positive pole and a negative pole of the power source, and therefore alternately form an anode  24  and a cathode  25 . Water W is treated in the first part container B 1  by the electrodes  10 ,  11  and flows through the filter  22  into the second part container B 2 . The water W is atomized by an oscillating plate  19  in the second part container B 2 . 
     The invention is not restricted to exemplary embodiments illustrated or described. Rather, it comprises developments of the invention within the scope of the patent claims. In particular, the invention also provides to design the apparatus for utilizing water as a coffee machine, tea machine or drinking water dispenser. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1  Apparatus for utilizing water 
           2  Vaporizer 
           3  Upper part of  2   
           4  Lower part of  2   
           5  Fan of  2   
           6  Drive for  7  and  8   
           7  Roll 
           8  Roll 
           9  Container 
           10  Electrode made from ceramic or oxide ceramic 
           11  Electrode made from ceramic or oxide ceramic 
           12  DC power source 
           13  Electronic system 
           14  Housing 
           15  Module 
           16  Trough 
           17  Cover of  14   
           18  Atomizer 
           19  Oscillating plate of  18   
           20  Electronic system 
           21  Fan 
           22  Filter 
           23  Nonconducting material 
           24  Anode 
           25  Cathode 
           26  Positive pole 
           27  Negative pole 
         B Container 
         B 1 , B 2  First and second part containers 
         K Lime deposit 
         L 10  Line 
         L 11  Line 
         U Line 
         U Environment of  1   
         V, V 1 , V 2  Volumes of B, B 1 , B 2   
         W Water 
         WK Water cone