Abstract:
An oxidizing agent generating device and a liquid application device combine a gaseous oxidizing agent with a liquid creating an oxidizing agent-liquid material that is applied to a surface to incapacitate and destroy pathogens on the surface. The oxidizing agent ozone is combined with the liquid and the mixture is applied under pressure to the surface to render the pathogens ineffective. A surfactant is added to the mixture decreasing the tension of the mixture when it is in contact with the surface increasing the amount of dissolved ozone in contact with the surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/026,308, filed Jul. 18, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter 
         [0003]    The present disclosed subject matter relates generally to oxidizing agent application systems and methods, and more particularly to a mobile device for applying ozone dissolved in a liquid on a surface. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Oxidizing agents can be used to incapacitate or destroy pathogens. A strong oxidizing agent is ozone (O 3 ). Ozone occurs naturally in the environment when an electrical discharge, such as lighting, passes through air containing the gaseous form of oxygen (O 2 ). Pathogens harmful to humans include microorganisms, such as fungus, protozoan, bacteria, and viruses. Contact of an oxidizing agent with a pathogen can render the pathogen ineffective. Ozone is reactive fur only a short time after it is generated, thus use of ozone as a disinfectant has limited residual harmful effects. 
         [0006]    A liquid containing a dissolved oxidizing agent can be applied to a surface to incapacitate or destroy the pathogens thereon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An oxidizing agent application system mixes gaseous ozone with a liquid in a concentration sufficient to incapacitate and destroy pathogens on a surface. Gaseous ozone is combined with the liquid in a nozzle by delivering the ozone to the nozzle at a higher pressure than the liquid, creating an ozone-liquid mixture. The ozone-liquid mixture exits the nozzle under pressure and is applied to the surface. 
         [0008]    An application device including an application system mounted to a mobile device, such as a trailer, applies the ozone-liquid mixture to a surface, such as a natural or artificial turf. The application system includes an oxidizing agent system, and a liquid system. The oxidizing agent system uses an ozone generator to create gaseous ozone and feeds the gaseous ozone to the nozzles. The liquid system moves the liquid to the nozzles that are attached in an array to a support structure located above the surface. The nozzles are where the gaseous ozone is combined with the liquid creating the ozone-liquid mixture with gaseous ozone dissolved in the liquid. Dissolving the ozone in a liquid, such as water, allows the dissolved ozone to remain in contact with the surface and any pathogens thereon, oxidizing the pathogens, and rendering any pathogens thereon ineffective. 
         [0009]    A covering may be connected to the support structure to direct the ozone-liquid mixture and any undissolved gaseous ozone to the surface, and aid in retaining any undissolved gaseous ozone with the liquid on the surface to replace the ozone that is consumed in the oxidative process. 
         [0010]    A surfactant or wetting agent may be added to the liquid and gaseous ozone to create an ozone-surfactant-liquid material. The addition of a surfactant to the liquid decreases the tension of the resulting mixture thereby increasing the amount of the ozone-liquid mixture in contact with the surface and the dissolved ozone in contact with any pathogens thereon. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an application system embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter mounted to a trailer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of the application system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the nozzle. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the an application system embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter mounted to a trailer. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the an application system embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter mounted to a trailer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the an application system embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter mounted to a trailer. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of an application system embodying principles of the disclosed subject matter employing a covering. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosed subject matter, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the disclosed technology in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0020]    An application device  102  including an application system  202  mounted to a mobile device  104  for applying an oxidizing agent to a surface  106  is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The mobile device  104  may be any device movable across a surface. In an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the mobile device  104  is a trailer  108 . The trailer  108  includes a frame  110  with wheels  112  allowing the trailer  108  to be moved about the surface  106 . The frame  110  includes a connecting member  114  for connecting the trailer  108  to a vehicle (not shown) for moving the trailer  108  about the surface  106 . In an embodiment, the connecting member  114  is a receiver for a ball-type hitch. In an embodiment, the surface  106  is turf of a natural or artificial nature. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 , and  4 - 7 , the application system  202  is shown mounted to the trailer  108 . The application system  202  includes an oxidizing agent system  302 , and a liquid system  402 . 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the oxidizing agent system  302  is an ozone generator  304  operably connected to an power supply  306  providing electrical energy, and an oxygen source  308  ( FIG. 2 ). The ozone generator  304  may be any ozone generator suitable for mounting on a mobile device  104 , including the KH-CT5G ozone generating unit manufactured by DGOzone Ltd. of Shanghai, China. In an embodiment, the power supply  306  is a battery with an inverter providing AC power. In an embodiment, the power supply  306  includes electricity generated by a combustion engine connected to an electrical generator providing AC power. In an embodiment, the oxygen source  308  is ambient air from the environment containing the gaseous form of oxygen that is passed through a dryer  318  and then fed to the ozone generator  304  by a pump operably connected to the power supply  306 . In another embodiment, the oxygen source  308  is the gaseous form of oxygen in the form of either liquefied oxygen or compressed oxygen gas that is bled to the ozone generator  304  by a regulator and valve. The oxygen containing material from the oxygen source  308  passes through the ozone generator  304 , and the ozone generator  304  creates gaseous ozone  314  by passing an electrical current through material. The gaseous ozone  314  is transferred from the ozone generator  304  to the manifold  312 , then to each nozzle  412  where the gaseous ozone  314  combines with the liquid  405 . In an embodiment, the gaseous ozone  314  is transferred by a pump  316  at a pressure of about 60 pound per square inch (psi). The ozone generator  304  is operated by a user using conventional control mechanisms. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the liquid system  402  includes a liquid source  404  connected to nozzles  412 . In an embodiment, the liquid source  404  is a tank  414  containing water. A pump  406 , operably connected to the power supply  306 , moves the liquid  405  from the liquid source  404  to the nozzles  412  as a pressurized liquid by conduits  408  and a manifold  410 . The nozzles  412  are arranged in an array to apply the liquid  405  to the surface  106  in a consistent manner. In an embodiment, the nozzles  412  are spaced along a support structure  116 , such as a boom, at an end of the frame  110 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the nozzles  412  include a body  416  defining a liquid flow passage  242  with an inlet  418  at one end and an outlet  420  at an opposite end. The liquid flow passage  424  has a wide diameter upper portion  426  immediately above a smaller diameter middle portion  428 . A port  422  located between the inlet  418  and outlet  420  extends from the exterior of the nozzle  412  through the body  416  communicating with the middle portion  428 . 
         [0025]    Pressurized liquid  405  at a pressure of about 20 psi enters the liquid passage  424  through the inlet  418  via the conduit  408 . Gaseous ozone  314  at about 60 psi enters the liquid passage  424  through the port  422  via the conduit  310 . The venturi effect occurring at the middle portion  428  draws gaseous ozone  314  into the liquid  405  stream as it passes through the constriction mixing the gaseous ozone  314  with the liquid  405 . A portion of the gaseous ozone  314  dissolves in the liquid  405  and the ozone-liquid mixture  432  exits the nozzle  412  through the outlet  420  and is applied to the surface  106 . In an embodiment, the gaseous ozone  314  dissolved in the liquid  405  is about 0.6 milligrams per liter of liquid  405 . The liquid system  402  is operated by a user using conventional control mechanisms. 
         [0026]    By ozonation of the liquid  405 , the ozone-liquid mixture  432  can be applied to the surface  106  and remain in contact with the surface  106 . The ozone-liquid mixture  432  holds the dissolved gaseous ozone  314  in contact with the surface  106  and any pathogens thereon as the oxidizing agent disinfects the surface  106  by rendering any pathogens thereon ineffective. As oxidization of the pathogens occurs, the ozone reverts back to the gaseous form of oxygen leaving no harmful residue behind. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the ozone-liquid mixture  432  exits the nozzle  412  in a conical spray pattern  434  as it is applied to the surface  106 . In an embodiment, the conical spray pattern  434  is a solid cone of the ozone-liquid mixture  432 . Applying the ozone-liquid mixture  432  to the surface  106  as the nozzles  112  move across the surface coats the surface  106  with the ozone-liquid mixture  432 . I an embodiment, approximately 0.00162894 gallons of ozone-liquid mixture  432  is applied to each square foot of the surface  106 . 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the conical spray pattern  434  is a hollow cone of the ozone-liquid mixture  432  with an open interior area  436 . Within the interior area  136 , undissolved gaseous ozone  314  is carried down to the surface  106 . 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, the ozone-liquid mixture  432  exits the nozzle  412  in a fan spray pattern as it is applied to the surface  106 . 
         [0030]    Gaseous ozone  314  that either comes out of the ozone-liquid mixture  432  or that is not dissolved in the liquid  405  in the nozzle  412  moves along with the ozone-liquid mixture  432  toward the surface  106  coating the surface  106  with a cloud of gaseous ozone  314 . 
         [0031]    The nozzles  412  are spaced apart from each other and positioned at a height above the surface  106  to achieve the desired spray coverage and/or overlap of spray on the surface  106 . In an embodiment, the nozzles  412  are spaced and positioned to achieve an overlap of about five inches of spray coverage. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, a covering  118  extends downward and outward away from the nozzles  412  directing the ozone-liquid mixture  432  and cloud of gaseous ozone  314  downward after it is emitted from the nozzle  412  to minimize dispersion and dilution of the gaseous ozone  314  ( FIG. 7 ). Directing the gaseous ozone  314  to the surface  106  allows the gaseous ozone  314  to be present in the air close to the ozone-liquid mixture  132  allowing the gaseous ozone  314  to diffuse into the ozone-liquid mixture  432  replacing the ozone that is consumed in the oxidative process. The covering  118  also confines the ozone-liquid mixture  432  and the undissolved gaseous ozone  314  close to the surface  106 . The covering  118  may be manufactured from a rigid material, such as plastic, or may be manufactured from a flexible material, such as a water resistant fabric. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, a surfactant or wetting agent is added to the liquid  405  prior to the mixing of the gaseous ozone  314  with the liquid  405  in the nozzle  412  forming a surfactant-liquid mixture. The surfactant-liquid mixture enters the inlet  418  and gaseous ozone  314  is dissolved in the surfactant-liquid mixture, as described above with respect to the liquid  415 , forming an ozone-surfactant-liquid mixture. The ozone-surfactant-liquid mixture exits the nozzle  412  through the outlet  420 , as described above, and is applied to the surface  106 . The addition of a surfactant to the liquid  405  decreases the tension of the liquid  405  increasing the amount of the ozone-liquid mixture in contact with the surface  106 , and the dissolved ozone in contact with any pathogens on the surface  106 . In an embodiment, the surfactant is the surfactant sold under the trademark BARDAC® LF-80 from Lonza, Inc. of Allendale, N.J. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, the application system  202  is mounted to a self-powered vehicle, such as a truck. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.