Patent ID: 8020232

Claim:
A method of controlling a supply of ozone to a washing machine during operation thereof, the method comprising steps of: providing a washing machine with an internal drum, for containing laundry and a quantity of a water, and at least one exhaust outlet for exhausting gas from the washing machine; locating a washing machine ozone exhaust sensor closely adjacent the at least one exhaust outlet for monitoring the exhaust gas being exhausted from the washing machine; adding laundry and water to the internal drum and commencing a wash cycle; producing ozone in an ozone generator and suppling the produced ozone to the water located within a sump of the washing machine for ozonating the water contained therein; washing the laundry in the ozonated water; and sensing a level of ozone in the exhaust gas exhausting from the at least one exhaust outlet of the washing machine, during the wash cycle, via the washing machine ozone exhaust sensor, and detecting that the level of ozone exceeds 1.0 parts per million, and as the level of ozone exhausting from the washing machine in the exhaust gas, and detected by the washing machine ozone exhaust sensor, exceeds about 1.0 parts per million, temporarily interrupting production of further ozone, produced by the ozone generator, for only a duration of time that the level of the ozone exhausting from the washing machine in the exhaust gas, and detected by the washing machine ozone exhaust sensor, exceeds about 1.0 parts per million and automatically commencing further production of ozone, via the ozone generator, and suppling the produced ozone to the water located within the sump of the washing machine, during the wash cycle, as soon as the detected ozone level falls below about 1.0 parts per million.