Patent Abstract:
An ozone water generating device provided with a first housing ( 1 ), a second housing ( 2 ), and a catalyst electrode ( 3 ), in which the catalyst electrode ( 3 ) is provided with a positive electrode ( 32 ), a positive ion exchange membrane ( 31 ), and a negative electrode ( 33 ) in this order from the first housing side, and ozone water is generated by supplying raw-material water to the catalyst electrode ( 3 ) and applying a direct-current voltage across a positive electrode ( 32 ) and a negative electrode ( 33 ), wherein a positive-electrode supply channel and a discharge channel are provided to the first housing ( 1 ), a negative-electrode supply channel and a discharge channel are provided to the second housing, a cushioning material ( 15 ) is provided between the positive electrode ( 32 ) and the first housing ( 1 ), and pressing members ( 41, 42 ) for directly pressing the catalyst electrode ( 3 ) ; are provided to the first housing ( 1 ) so as to penetrate through the first housing ( 1 ). The pressing members ( 41, 42 ) are disposed in a position of pressing on at least a center part of the catalyst electrode ( 3 ), and the positive electrode ( 32 ), the positive ion exchange membrane ( 31 ), and the negative electrode ( 33 ) are pressure welded by the pressing of the pressing members ( 41, 42 ).

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an ozonated water generating device. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In recent years, ozonated water has been used for various purposes, such as the sterilization of food and the deodorization of malodorous gas. Furthermore, many findings about the ozonated water have been reported in the medical and nursing-care fields. The semiconductor production also needs the ozonated water, which exhibits characteristic ozone oxidation to hyperfine structures. 
         [0003]    The ozonated water is typically generated through direct electrolysis (e.g., refer to Patent Document 1). In the direct electrolysis, feed water is brought into direct contact with the electrolytic surface of catalytic electrode, which includes a cation exchange membrane, and an anode and a cathode in pressure contact with the cation exchange membrane on the respective surfaces, to be electrolyzed into ozonated water. 
         [0004]    In a typical procedure for the pressure contact between the anode or cathode and the cation exchange membrane, for example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , a pushing screw  41  is tightened in a housing  11  stacked on a grating  34  disposed on an anode  32  to urge the anode  32  against a cation exchange membrane  31 . In  FIG. 8 , the housing  11  has a feed-water supplying path  5  and an ozonated-water discharging path  6  for discharging the resulting ozonated water, which penetrate through the housing  11  to the cation exchange membrane  31 . Feed water supplied through the feed-water supplying path  5  comes into contact with the anode  32  and the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the resulting ozonated water is then discharged through the ozonated-water discharging path  6 . It is noted that a cathode (not shown) is disposed below the cation exchange membrane  31 . 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
       [0005]    Patent Document 1: JP H8-134678A 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
       [0006]    After the pushing screw  41  is tightened in the stack to urge the grating  34  and the anode  32  against the cation exchange membrane  31 , a gap S appears between the housing  11  and the grating  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8B . The feed water supplied through the feed-water supplying path  5  of the housing  11  thus flows into the gap S. This configuration, which allows feed water to flow in such an unintended portion, cannot efficiently supply feed water to the cation exchange membrane  31 . The configuration thus has decreased efficiency of generating ozonated water and cannot generate concentrated ozonated water. 
         [0007]    An object of the invention, which has been accomplished to solve the above problems, is to provide an ozonated water generating device that can generate concentrated ozonated water with high efficiency. 
       Means for Solving the Problem 
       [0008]    The invention provides an ozonated water generating device including: 
         [0009]    a first housing; 
         [0010]    a second housing stacked on the first housing; and 
         [0011]    a catalytic electrode disposed in an accommodating space defined in the stack of the first housing and the second housing, the catalytic electrode comprising an anode, a cation exchange membrane, and a cathode in sequence from the first housing, wherein 
         [0012]    the ozonated water generating device supplies feed water to the catalytic electrode and applies DC voltage across the anode and the cathode to generate ozonated water, 
         [0013]    the first housing comprises an anodic supplying path and an anodic discharging path in communication with the accommodating space, the anodic supplying path supplying feed water to the anode of the catalytic electrode, the anodic discharging path discharging resulting water, 
         [0014]    the second housing comprises a cathodic supplying path and a cathodic discharging path in communication with the accommodating space, the cathodic supplying path supplying feed water to the cathode of the catalytic electrode, the cathodic discharging path discharging resulting water, 
         [0015]    the ozonated water generating device further comprises a cushion at at least one of a position between the anode and the first housing and a position between the cathode and the second housing, 
         [0016]    the ozonated water generating device further comprises at least one pusher in at least one of the first housing and the second housing, the pusher penetrating through the first housing or the second housing to push the cushion toward the catalytic electrode or penetrating through the first housing or the second housing to directly push the catalytic electrode, 
         [0017]    the pusher is disposed at a position that ensures pushing on at least the center of the catalytic electrode, and 
         [0018]    the pressure of the pusher on the catalytic electrode brings the anode, the cation exchange membrane, and the cathode into pressure contact with each other. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the at least one pusher comprises a plurality of pushers, and 
         [0020]    the pushers are disposed at regular intervals at positions that ensure pushing on at least the center of the catalytic electrode. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the cushion is made of silicone. 
       Effects of Invention 
       [0022]    The invention can achieve generation of concentrated ozonated water with high efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    [ FIG. 1 ] This is a perspective view of the appearance of an ozonated water generating device; 
           [0024]    [ FIG. 2 ] This is an exploded perspective view of an ozonated water generating device; 
           [0025]    [ FIG. 3 ] This is a cross-sectional view along a line I-I in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]    [ FIG. 4 ] This is a cross-sectional view along the line I-I in  FIG. 2  illustrating a first gasket, a first cushion, a grating, an anode, and a cation exchange membrane; 
           [0027]    [ FIG. 5 ] This is a cross-sectional view along aline II-II in  FIG. 2  illustrating a first gasket, a first cushion, a grating, an anode, and a cation exchange membrane; 
           [0028]    [ FIG. 6A ] This is a cross-sectional view of a catalytic electrode before the pressure contact; 
           [0029]    [ FIG. 6B ] This is a cross-sectional view of a catalytic electrode during the pressure contact; 
           [0030]    [ FIG. 7 ] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first gasket, a first cushion, a grating, an anode, and a cation exchange membrane according to a modified embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]    [ FIG. 8A ] This is a cross-sectional view of a catalytic electrode before the pressure contact in a conventional configuration; and 
           [0032]    [ FIG. 8B ] This is a cross-sectional view of a catalytic electrode during the pressure contact in the conventional configuration. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the appearance of an ozonated water generating device.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the ozonated water generating device.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along a line I-I in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an ozonated water generating device  100  according to the invention includes a first housing  1 , a second housing  2  that underlies the first housing  1 , and a catalytic electrode  3  disposed in accommodating spaces  144 ,  244  defined at the interface between the first housing  1  and the second housing  2 . 
         [0036]    The catalytic electrode  3  includes a cation exchange membrane  31 , an anode  32  provided on one surface of the cation exchange membrane  31 , and a cathode  33  provided on the other surface of the cation exchange membrane  31 . The anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , the cathode  33 , and the second housing  2  are disposed in sequence from the first housing  1 . 
         [0037]    The ozonated water generating device  100  supplies feed water to the anode  32  and the cathode  33  and applies DC voltage across the anode  32  and the cathode  33 , so that fine bubbles of ozone are generated on the anode  32  and are dissolved in water. This operation generates ozonated water. It is noted that hydrogen is generated on the cathode  33  and is dissolved in water to yield hydrogenated water (cathodic water). 
         [0038]    The first housing  1  includes a first hold plate  11  disposed outermost, a first support plate  13  disposed on the inner side of the first hold plate  11 , and a first sheet  12  disposed between the first hold plate  11  and the first support plate  13 . 
         [0039]    The first support plate  13  is provided with a first gasket  14  on the inner surface. The first gasket  14  has a through hole (accommodating space  144 ), which contains a first cushion  15 , the anode  32 , and a grating  34 . 
         [0040]    The first hold plate  11  has a disk shape and should preferably be composed of, for example, a plastic material. The first hold plate  11  has an anodic supplying path  111  and an anodic discharging path  112  that penetrate through the first hold plate  11  from one side to the other side. 
         [0041]    The anodic supplying path  111  receives an inserted anodic supplying pipe  91  for supplying feed water from the outside to the anode  32 . 
         [0042]    The anodic discharging path  112  receives an inserted anodic discharging pipe  92  for discharging the resulting water (ozonated water) to the outside. 
         [0043]    A plurality of bolt openings  113  are disposed at regular intervals around the anodic supplying path  111  and the anodic discharging path  112 . 
         [0044]    The first hold plate  11  further has three pusher openings  114  disposed at regular intervals in the center of the first hold plate  11 . The pusher openings  114  each receive a pushing screw  41  tightened therein and a top  421   a  of the protrusion of a protruding member  42  pushed by the pushing screw  41 . An O ring  43  is disposed at the periphery of the top  421   a  of the protrusion of each protruding member  42  to ensure water tightness (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0045]    The anodic supplying pipe  91  is connected, for example, to a tank that contains feed water or to a tap-water pipe, which is not shown. The anodic discharging pipe  92  is connected to, for example, a tank for storing the resulting ozonated water or a nozzle for discharging the ozonated water. 
         [0046]    Examples of the feed water to be supplied to the anodic supplying pipe  91  include tap water and purified water. 
         [0047]    The first support plate  13  has a disk shape having the same size as the first hold plate  11  in plan view, and has a smaller thickness than the first hold plate  11 . 
         [0048]    The first support plate  13  should preferably be composed of metal, for example. 
         [0049]    The first support plate  13  has an anodic supplying path  131  and an anodic discharging path  132  at positions respectively corresponding to the anodic supplying path  111  and the anodic discharging path  112  of the first hold plate  11 . 
         [0050]    A plurality of bolt openings  133  are disposed at regular intervals around the anodic supplying path  131  and the anodic discharging path  132  at positions corresponding to the respective bolt openings  113  of the first hold plate  11 . 
         [0051]    The first support plate  13  further has three pusher openings  134  disposed at regular intervals in the center of the first support plate  13  at positions corresponding to the respective pusher openings  114  of the first hold plate  11 . The pusher openings  134  each receive a part of a protrusion  421  of each protruding member  42 . 
         [0052]    The first sheet  12  is disposed between the first hold plate  11  and the first support plate  13 , to function as a gasket to ensure water tightness between the first hold plate  11  and the first support plate  13 . The first sheet  12  has a disk shape having the same size as the first hold plate  11  and the first support plate  13  in plan view. The first sheet  12  should preferably be composed of silicone, for example. 
         [0053]    The first sheet  12  has an anodic supplying path  121  and an anodic discharging path  122  at positions respectively corresponding to the anodic supplying path  111  and the anodic discharging path  112  of the first hold plate  11 . 
         [0054]    A plurality of bolt openings  123  are formed around the anodic supplying path  121  and the anodic discharging path  122 . 
         [0055]    The first sheet  12  further has three pusher openings  124  disposed at regular intervals in the center of the first sheet  12  at positions corresponding to the respective pusher openings  114  of the first hold plate  11 . The pusher openings  124  each receive a part of the protrusion  421  of each protruding member  42 . 
         [0056]    The first gasket  14  is disposed on the inner surface of the first support plate  13 , and has a disk shape having the same size as the first hold plate  11  and the first support plate  13  in plan view. The first gasket  14  should preferably be composed of a fluorinated resin, Viton rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, or any other gasket material, for example. The first gasket  14  has a lower hardness than that of the anode  32  (substrate  321 ), which is described below. 
         [0057]    The first gasket  14  has an accommodating space  144  in the center, which is a circular through hole in plan view. The accommodating space  144  contains the anode  32  and the grating  34  of the catalytic electrode  3 , and the first cushion  15 , as is described below. In other words, the anode  32 , the grating  34 , and the first cushion  15  are protected by the surrounding first gasket  14 . 
         [0058]    A plurality of bolt openings  143  are formed around the accommodating space  144 . 
         [0059]    The first cushion  15  is disposed in the accommodating space  144  of the first gasket  14  to absorb the load on the anode  32  and the grating  34 . 
         [0060]    The first cushion  15  has a disk shape smaller than the first hold plate  11  in plan view. The first cushion  15  has a hardness equal to or lower than that of the first gasket  14 . The first cushion  15  should preferably be composed of silicone (a silicone rubber or a silicone sponge), for example. 
         [0061]    The first cushion  15  has an anodic supplying path  151  and an anodic discharging path  152  at positions respectively corresponding to the anodic supplying path  131  and the anodic discharging path  132  of the first support plate  13 . 
         [0062]    The first cushion  15  further has three pusher openings  154  disposed at regular intervals in the center of the first cushion  15  at positions corresponding to the respective pusher openings  114  of the first hold plate  11 . The pusher openings  154  each receive a bottom  422  of each protruding member  42 . 
         [0063]    The pushing screws  41  are tightened in the upper portions of the respective pusher openings  114  of the first hold plate  11 . 
         [0064]    The protruding members  42  each have an inverted-T-shaped side cross section, i.e., have a bottom  422  and a protrusion  421  protruding from the bottom  422 . 
         [0065]    The bottoms  422  fit in the respective pusher openings  154  of the first cushion  15 . The protrusions  421  fit in the respective pusher openings  134 ,  124 ,  114  of the first support plate  13 , the first sheet  12 , and the first hold plate  11 . The O rings  43  are disposed at the peripheries of the tops  421   a  of the respective protrusions to ensure water tightness. 
         [0066]    The pushing screws  41  that are tightened in the respective pusher openings  114  of the first hold plate  11  push the tops  421   a  of the protrusions of the respective protruding members  42  downward (toward the catalytic electrode  3 ) to urge the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  against each other via the grating  34  (described below) and bring the components into pressure contact with each other. 
         [0067]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second housing  2  includes a second hold plate  21  disposed outermost, a second support plate  23  disposed on the inner side of the second hold plate  21 , and a second sheet  22  disposed between the second hold plate  21  and the second support plate  23 . 
         [0068]    The second support plate  23  is provided with a second gasket  24  on the inner surface. The second gasket  24  has a through hole (accommodating space  244 ), which contains a second cushion  25 , the cathode  33 , and a grating  35 . 
         [0069]    The second hold plate  21  has a disk shape and should preferably be composed of, for example, a plastic material. 
         [0070]    The second hold plate  21  has a cathodic supplying path  211  and a cathodic discharging path  212  that penetrate through the second hold plate  21  from one side to the other side. 
         [0071]    The cathodic supplying path  211  receives an inserted cathodic supplying pipe  93  for supplying feed water from the outside to the cathode  33 . 
         [0072]    The cathodic discharging path  212  receives an inserted cathodic discharging pipe  94  for discharging the resulting water (cathodic water) to the outside. 
         [0073]    A plurality of bolt openings  213  are disposed at regular intervals around the cathodic supplying path  211  and the cathodic discharging path  212 . 
         [0074]    The cathodic supplying pipe  93  is connected, for example, to a tank that contains feed water or to a tap-water pipe, which is not shown. The cathodic discharging pipe  94  is connected to, for example, a tank for storing the resulting cathodic water. 
         [0075]    Examples of the feed water to be supplied to the cathodic supplying pipe  93  include tap water and purified water. 
         [0076]    The second support plate  23  has a disk shape having the same size as the second hold plate  21  in plan view, and has a smaller thickness than the second hold plate  21 . 
         [0077]    The second support plate  23  should preferably be composed of metal, for example. 
         [0078]    The second support plate  23  has a cathodic supplying path  231  and a cathodic discharging path  232  at positions respectively corresponding to the cathodic supplying path  211  and the cathodic discharging path  212  of the second hold plate  21 . 
         [0079]    A plurality of bolt openings  233  are disposed at regular intervals around the cathodic supplying path  231  and the cathodic discharging path  232  at positions corresponding to the respective bolt openings  213  of the second hold plate  21 . 
         [0080]    The second sheet  22  is disposed between the second hold plate  21  and the second support plate  23 , to function as a gasket to ensure water tightness between the second hold plate  21  and the second support plate  23 . The second sheet  22  has a disk shape having the same size as the second hold plate  21  and the second support plate  23  in plan view. The second sheet  22  should preferably be composed of silicone, for example. 
         [0081]    The second sheet  22  has a cathodic supplying path  221  and a cathodic discharging path  222  at positions respectively corresponding to the cathodic supplying path  211  and the cathodic discharging path  212  of the second hold plate  21 . 
         [0082]    A plurality of bolt openings  223  are formed around the cathodic supplying path  221  and the cathodic discharging path  222 . 
         [0083]    The second gasket  24  is disposed on the inner surface of the second support plate  23 , and has a disk shape having the same size as the first hold plate  21  and the first support plate  23  in plan view. The second gasket  24  should preferably be composed of a fluorinated resin, Viton rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, or any other gasket material, for example. The second gasket  24  preferably has a lower hardness than that of the cathode  33 . 
         [0084]    The second gasket  24  has an accommodating space  244 , which is a circular through hole in plan view, like the accommodating space  144  of the first gasket  14 . The accommodating space  244  contains the cathode  33  and the grating  35  of the catalytic electrode  3 , as is described below. In other words, the cathode  33  and the grating  35  are protected by the surrounding second gasket  24 . 
         [0085]    A plurality of bolt openings  243  are formed around the accommodating space  244 . 
         [0086]    The second cushion  25  is disposed between the second support plate  23  and the second gasket  24  to absorb the load on the second gasket  24  and the cathode  33 . 
         [0087]    The second cushion  25  has a disk shape having the same size as the second gasket  24  in plan view. The second cushion  25  should preferably be composed of a material, such as silicone (a silicone rubber or a silicone sponge), having a hardness equal to or lower than that of the second gasket  24 . 
         [0088]    Since the second cushion  25  has a hardness equal to or lower than that of the second gasket  24 , the second gasket  24  is squeezed in the second cushion  25  when the ozonated water generating device  100  is assembled (during the pressure contact of the components). The second gasket  24  thus functions as a stopper and can reduce the load on the cathode  33  to prevent the cathode  33  from cracking. 
         [0089]    The second cushion  25  has a cathodic supplying path  251  and a cathodic discharging path  252  at positions respectively corresponding to the cathodic supplying path  231  and the cathodic discharging path  232  of the second support plate  23 . 
         [0090]    A plurality of bolt openings  253  are formed around the cathodic supplying path  251  and the cathodic discharging path  252 . 
         [0091]    The catalytic electrode  3  includes the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , the cathode  33 , and the gratings  34 ,  35 . 
         [0092]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along the line I-I in  FIG. 2  illustrating the first gasket, the first cushion, the grating, the anode, and the cation exchange membrane.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II in  FIG. 2  illustrating the first gasket, the first cushion, the grating, the anode, and the cation exchange membrane. 
         [0093]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the anode  32  includes a circular substrate  321  in plan view. 
         [0094]    The substrate  321  is composed of a metal that can catalyze the generation of ozone. In specific, the substrate  321  should preferably be composed of platinum, gold, or a metal coated therewith, which has high stability. In particular, the substrate  321  composed of titanium coated with platinum can be fabricated at low costs. The substrate  321  composed of silicon wafer is most preferred because it has high adhesion to, i.e., is barely separated from a diamond coating (described below). 
         [0095]    The substrate  321  should preferably be coated with diamond on at least the surface adjacent to the first housing, to generate concentrated ozonated water. 
         [0096]    The substrate  321  has many through holes  323  that penetrate through the substrate  321  from one side to the other side. The through holes  323  each should preferably have a diameter of approximately Φ0.5 to Φ3.0. The through holes  323  are in communication with the anodic supplying paths  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  151  and the anodic discharging paths  112 ,  122 ,  132 ,  152  of the first hold plate  11 , the first sheet  12 , the first support plate  13 , and the first cushion  15  via the grating  34  (described below). 
         [0097]    The diamond can be deposited through, for example, plasma CVD or hot-filament CVD. 
         [0098]    The anode  32  is fabricated by providing the substrate  321  with many through holes  323  through etching or laser processing, and then depositing diamond on at least the surface of the substrate  321  adjacent to the first housing through vapor deposition. 
         [0099]    The anode  32  is disposed in and surrounded by the accommodating space  144  of the first gasket  14 . The first cushion  15  is disposed on the surface of the anode  32  opposite to the cation exchange membrane  31  via the grating  34 . 
         [0100]    The grating  34  has a disk shape having the same size as the anode  32  in plan view. The grating  34  should preferably be composed of titanium or stainless steel, for example. The grating  34  is a lattice fabricated by welding wires. 
         [0101]    The anode  32  is sized to fit in the accommodating space  144  of the first gasket  14 . In specific, the anode  32  should preferably have a thickness of approximately 0.5 to 3.0 mm. The grating  34  should preferably have a thickness of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm. The first gasket  14  should preferably have a thickness N of approximately 1.0 to 4.0 mm. 
         [0102]    The cation exchange membrane  31  is a thin circular film that has the same size as the first hold plate  11  in plan view. The cation exchange membrane  31  has a plurality of bolt openings  313  disposed at regular intervals along the periphery. 
         [0103]    The cation exchange membrane  31  may be any known membrane and can be a fluorinated cation exchange membrane that has high durability against generated ozone. The cation exchange membrane  31  should preferably have a thickness of approximately 100 to 300 μm. 
         [0104]    The cathode  33  includes a substrate  331  that is circular in plan view, like the anode  32 . 
         [0105]    The substrate  331  is composed of a metal that can catalyze the generation of ozone. In specific, the substrate  331  should preferably be composed of platinum, gold, or a metal coated therewith, which has high stability. In particular, the substrate  331  composed of titanium coated with platinum can be fabricated at low costs. The substrate  331  composed of silicon wafer is most preferred because it has high adhesion to, i.e., is barely separated from a diamond coating (described below). 
         [0106]    The substrate  331  has many through holes  333  that penetrate through the substrate  331  from one side to the other side. The through holes  333  each should preferably have a diameter of approximately Φ0.5 to Φ3.0. The through holes  333  are in communication with the cathodic supplying paths  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  251  and the cathodic discharging paths  212 ,  222 ,  232 ,  252  of the second hold plate  21 , the second sheet  22 , the second support plate  23 , and the second cushion  25  via the grating  35  (described below). 
         [0107]    The substrate  331  should preferably be coated with diamond on at least the surface adjacent to the second housing, like the anode  32 . 
         [0108]    The cathode  33  can be fabricated through the same process as that for the anode  32 . 
         [0109]    The anode  32  and the cathode  33  respectively include substrates  321 ,  331  that have many through holes  323 ,  333  and are coated with diamond. Alternatively, the electrodes may be composed of any other material, such as an expanded metal or a punched metal, provided that the electrodes have many through holes and can be stacked on the cation exchange membrane  31  so as not to be in close contact with the entire cation exchange membrane  31  but to be in partial contact with the cation exchange membrane  31   
         [0110]    The output terminal of a power source (not shown) is electrically connected between the anode  32  and the cathode  33  to apply DC voltage thereto. In other words, the anode  32  and the cathode  33  are connected to the power source via leads. The DC voltage to be applied should preferably be within the range of 6 to 24 V, for example. 
         [0111]    As described above, the anode  32  is in contact with one surface of the cation exchange membrane  31  whereas the cathode  33  is in contact with the other surface, and the gratings  34 ,  35  are respectively disposed on the surfaces of the anode  32  and the cathode  33  opposite to the cation exchange membrane  31 . These components are brought into pressure contact with each other to form the catalytic electrode  3 . 
         [0112]    The procedure for assembling the ozonated water generating device  100  will now be explained. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the second hold plate  21 , the second sheet  22 , the second support plate  23 , the second cushion  25 , and the second gasket  24  are stacked in sequence from the bottom. The grating  35  and the cathode  33  are then disposed in the accommodating space  244  of the second gasket  24 . The cation exchange membrane  31  and the first gasket  14  are stacked on the second gasket  24 . The anode  32 , the grating  34 , and the first cushion  15  are then disposed in the accommodating space  144  of the first gasket  14 . 
         [0113]    The pusher openings  154  in the first cushion  15  receive the bottoms  422  of the respective protruding members  42 . 
         [0114]    The first support plate  13  and the first sheet  12  are then stacked on the first cushion  15 , such that the pusher openings  134 ,  124  respectively disposed in the first support plate  13  and the first sheet  12  receive the protrusions  421  of the respective protruding members  42 . 
         [0115]    The first hold plate  11  is then stacked on the first sheet  12 , such that the pusher openings  114  in the first hold plate  11  receive the tops  421   a  of the protrusions of the respective protruding members  42 . 
         [0116]    With reference to  FIG. 6A , the pushing screws  41  are then tightened in the respective pusher openings  114  to push the tops  421   a  of the protrusions of the protruding members  42 . The protruding members  42  thus urge the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  against each other via the grating  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0117]    The first cushion  15 , which was compressed as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , expands to come into close contact with both the grating  34  and the first support plate  13  without a space therebetween. This configuration ensures water tightness. The feed water can thus be certainly supplied to the anode  32  and the cation exchange membrane  31 , as illustrated with dashed arrows in  FIG. 6B , without leakage to unintended portions or the outside. This configuration enables concentrated ozonated water to be generated with high efficiency. 
         [0118]    Since the pushing screws  41  and the protruding members  42  are disposed at regular intervals in the centers of the anode  32  and the grating  34 , the grating  34  is evenly pushed to evenly urge the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  against each other. 
         [0119]    Although the anode  32  is depicted to have a space from the cation exchange membrane  31  in  FIG. 6A , the anode  32  is actually overlaid on the cation exchange membrane  31 .  FIG. 6A  illustrates a space between the cation exchange membrane  31  and the anode  32  for descriptive purposes, i.e., to clarify the difference from  FIG. 6B  illustrating the cation exchange membrane  31  and the anode  32  that are brought into closer contact with each other by the pressure of the pushing screws  41 . 
         [0120]    Bolts M are inserted and screwed in the bolt openings  113 ,  123 ,  133 ,  143 ,  153 ,  213 ,  223 ,  233 ,  243 ,  253  of the respective components to fasten the components together. This process completes the assembly of the ozonated water generating device  100 . 
         [0121]    Although the components are stacked in sequence from the bottom component in  FIG. 2  in the above procedure for assembling the ozonated water generating device  100 , the components may also be stacked in other orders, for example, in sequence from the top component in  FIG. 2 . In this case, the second hold plate  21 , the second sheet  22 , the second support plate  23 , and the second cushion  25  have pusher openings, and pushing screws and protruding members urge the cathode  33 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the anode  32  against each other via the grating  35 . 
         [0122]    Alternatively, the pushing screws  41  and the protruding members  42  may be provided to not only the anode side but both the anode and cathode sides, to bring the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  into pressure contact with each other. 
         [0123]    In  FIG. 2 , reference numerals in brackets indicate flow paths defined in the assembled generating device. 
         [0124]    In the assembled ozonated water generating device  100 , the anodic supplying paths  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  151  respectively provided in the first hold plate  11 , the first sheet  12 , the first support plate  13 , and the first cushion  15  are in communication with each other to define a single anodic supplying path  5 . The anodic supplying path  5  leads to the through holes  323  of the anode  32  via the grating  34 . 
         [0125]    In addition, the anodic discharging paths  112 ,  122 ,  132 ,  152  respectively provided in the first hold plate  11 , the first sheet  12 , the first support plate  13 , and the first cushion  15  are in communication with each other to define a single anodic discharging path  6 . The anodic discharging path  6  leads to the through holes  323  of the anode  32  via the grating  34 . 
         [0126]    In the same manner, the cathodic supplying paths  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  251  respectively provided in the second hold plate  21 , the second sheet  22 , the second support plate  23 , and the second cushion  25  are in communication with each other to define a single cathodic supplying path  7 . The cathodic supplying path  7  leads to the through holes  333  of the cathode  33  via the grating  35 . 
         [0127]    In addition, the cathodic discharging paths  212 ,  222 ,  232 ,  252  respectively provided in the second hold plate  21 , the second sheet  22 , the second support plate  23 , and the second cushion  25  are in communication with each other to define a single cathodic discharging path  8 . The cathodic discharging path  8  leads to the through holes  333  of the cathode  33  via the grating  35 . 
         [0128]    It is noted that a level sensor (not shown) is disposed downstream of the anodic discharging pipe  92 . The level sensor includes a sensing electrode (not shown), a reference electrode (not shown) that is the basis of potential measurement, and a potentiometer (not shown) connected to one end of each of the sensing electrode and the reference electrode to detect potentials, etc. The sensing electrode and the reference electrode come into contact with ozonated water flowing through the anodic discharging pipe  92 . Through the contact of the sensing electrode and the reference electrode with the ozonated water, the level sensor determines the concentration through detection of a potential difference of the sensing electrode from the reference electrode in response to a variation in the concentration of ozone. 
         [0129]    The sensing electrode should preferably be composed of platinum or gold, whereas the reference electrode should preferably be composed of silver or silver chloride, for example. 
         [0130]    On the basis of the detected concentration of ozone, a controller (not shown) in the ozonated water generating device  100  controls the electrical energy applied across the anode  32  and the cathode  33  from the power source, such that the detected concentration equals a predetermined concentration of ozone. 
         [0131]    The operations of the ozonated water generating device  100  will now be explained. 
         [0132]    While feed water is being supplied through the anodic supplying pipe  91  and the cathodic supplying pipe  93 , the power source is driven to apply a predetermined voltage across the anode  32  and the cathode  33 . This energization causes electrolysis of water, to generate bubbles of ozone and oxygen on the anode and generate bubbles of hydrogen on the cathode. 
         [0133]    In specific, as illustrated with arrows in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the feed water supplied through the anodic supplying pipe  91  flows through the anodic supplying paths  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  151 , the grating  34 , and the through holes  323 , to come into contact with the entire anode  32  disposed in the accommodating space  144  and with the cation exchange membrane  31 . 
         [0134]    The anode  32  in contact with the feed water causes generation of bubbles of ozone, which are dissolved in the feed water to yield concentrated ozonated water. The resulting ozonated water flows from the through holes  323  through the grating  34  and the anodic discharging paths  152 ,  132 ,  122 ,  112 , to be discharged through the anodic discharging pipe  92  to the outside. 
         [0135]    The feed water supplied through the cathodic supplying pipe  93  flows through the cathodic supplying paths  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  251 , the grating  35 , and the through holes  333   a , to come into contact with the entire cathode  33  disposed in the accommodating space  244  and with the cation exchange membrane  31 . 
         [0136]    The cathode  33  in contact with the feed water causes generation of bubbles of hydrogen, which are dissolved in the feed water to yield hydrogenated water (cathodic water). The resulting hydrogenated water flows from the through holes  333  through the grating  35  and the cathodic discharging paths  252 ,  232 ,  222 ,  212 , to be discharged through the cathodic discharging pipe  94  to the outside. 
         [0137]    During the energization, the level sensor simultaneously detects the concentration of ozonated water in the anodic discharging pipe  92 , whereas the controller controls the electrical energy applied across the anode  32  and the cathode  33  through the adjustment of the output from the power source to acquire the predetermined concentration of ozone. This operation generates ozonated water having the predetermined concentration. 
         [0138]    According to the embodiment, the first cushion  15  is disposed between the anode  32  (grating  34 ) and the first housing  1  (first support plate  13 ). The first housing  1  is provided with a pusher that includes a pushing screw  41  and a protruding member  42  and penetrates through the first housing  1  to directly push the catalytic electrode  3 . The pusher is disposed at a position that ensures pushing on at least the center of the catalytic electrode  3 . The pressure of the pusher on the catalytic electrode  3  brings the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  into pressure contact with each other. In contrast to the conventional configuration including no cushion as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , according to the invention, when the pusher directly pushes the catalytic electrode  3  to move the catalytic electrode  3  downward, the space between the first housing  1  and the catalytic electrode  3  is filled with the expanded first cushion  15  that was compressed. This configuration can ensure water tightness between the first housing  1  and the catalytic electrode  3 . The feed water can thus be certainly supplied to the anode  32  and the cation exchange membrane  31  to generate ozonated water, without leakage to unintended portions such as the space between the first housing  1  and the catalytic electrode  3 . This configuration enables concentrated ozonated water to be generated with high efficiency. 
         [0139]    Since the pusher is disposed at a position that ensures pushing on at least the center of the catalytic electrode  3 , the pusher can evenly urge the anode  32 , the cation exchange membrane  31 , and the cathode  33  against each other. This configuration also contributes to generation of concentrated ozonated water with high efficiency. 
         [0140]    The generating device includes a plurality of pushers, which are disposed at regular intervals at positions that ensure pushing on at least the center of the catalytic electrode  3 . This configuration can achieve more even pressure contact of the catalytic electrode  3  to increase the concentration of the resulting ozonated water. 
         [0141]    The first cushion  15  is composed of silicone having high adhesion and thus can improve the water tightness between the first housing  1  and the catalytic electrode  3 . This configuration can enhance the efficiency of generating ozonated water and contributes to generation of concentrated ozonated water. 
         [0142]    The pushers each include a protruding member  42  to directly push the grating  34  and a pushing screw  41  to push the protruding member  42 . The anode  32  is thus pushed by the bottoms  422  of the protruding members  42  through larger contact areas compared to the pushing screws  41  alone directly pushing the grating  34 . This configuration can tighten the pressure contact. The O rings  43  disposed at the peripheries of the tops  421   a  of the protrusions of the respective protruding members  42  can ensure water tightness. 
         [0143]    The invention should not be limited to the above embodiment and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the invention. 
         [0144]    According to the embodiment, the pushing screws  41  and the protruding members  42  directly push the grating  34  to urge the anode  32  against the cation exchange membrane  31  via the grating  34 . Alternatively, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the pushing screws  41  and the protruding members  42  may directly push the first cushion  15  to urge the grating  34  and the anode  32  against the cation exchange membrane  31  via the first cushion  15 . 
         [0145]    Although the pushing screws  41  and the protruding members  42  are used to urge the anode  32  against the cation exchange membrane  31  according to the embodiment, the pushing screws  41  alone may be used without the protruding members  42 . 
         [0146]    Although three pushing screws  41  and three protruding members  42  are used in the above description, any number of pushing screws  41  and protruding members  42  may be used provided that they can push at least the centers of the anode  32  and the cation exchange membrane  31 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0147]    The invention is directed to an ozonated water generating device that can generate concentrated ozonated water with high efficiency. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0148]      1  first housing 
         [0149]      2  second housing 
         [0150]      3  catalytic electrode 
         [0151]      15  first cushion 
         [0152]      31  cation exchange membrane 
         [0153]      32  anode 
         [0154]      33  cathode 
         [0155]      100  ozonated water generating device 
         [0156]      5 ,  111 ,  121 ,  131 ,  151  anodic supplying path 
         [0157]      6 ,  112 ,  122 ,  132 ,  152  anodic discharging path 
         [0158]      7 ,  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  251  cathodic supplying path 
         [0159]      8 ,  212 ,  222 ,  232 ,  252  cathodic discharging path 
         [0160]      141 ,  241  accommodating space 
         [0161]      41  pushing screw (pusher) 
         [0162]      42  protruding member (pusher)

Technology Classification (CPC): 2