Patent ID: 7658824

Claim:
An electrically powered apparatus for generating a solute to sanitize a body of water, a by-product of such generation being an explosive gas, said apparatus including: a) an electrolytic cell operable only in a substantially vertical orientation and through a range of angles either side of the vertical up to a predetermined maximum angle, the maximum angle being 45 degrees or less; b) a water inlet and outlet both located at the lower end of said electrolytic cell whereby no water can permanently collect above the base of the electrodes of said electrolytic cell; c) a defined space surrounding said electrodes of said electrolytic cell, such that, in the event that water flow through said apparatus ceases and said electrolytic cell continues to produce said explosive gas, said explosive gas will displace water in said defined space until there is no water around or between said electrodes that would enable electrolysis and explosive gas production to continue and the maximum accumulated volume of said explosive gas is substantially restricted to that of said defined space; and d) a bi-directional water flow by-pass means located at the lower end of the electrolytic cell to cause a portion of the total water flow to by-pass said electrolytic cell by passing directly from said inlet to said outlet, wherein said by-pass means regulates water flow to said electrolytic cell, allowing excess water flow to by-pass said electrolytic cell.