Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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OZONE DISINFECTION APPARATUS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application . is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. Patent
Application 11/160,567, filed June 29, 2005; which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 60/522,830, filed November 11, 2004; and this
application claims priority to currently pending U.S. Provisional Patent
Application
60/596,861, filed October 26, 2005.
FIELD OF IIVVENTION
This invention relates to the disinfection of articles and surfaces using
ozone.
BACKGROUND OF TIiE INVENTION
The new reality of this century is that we are living in a world where
airborne
hazards of pathogenic microorganisms are a major threat to populations.
Whether
natural occurrences, industry, terrorism, or warfare causes the threat, it
represents an
ever-present concern. Attention has been directed to the decontamination of
buildings, hospitals, post offices, nursing homes, laboratories, subways,
trains,
airplanes, structures, equipment, facilities, and even personnel. Over many
years,
various highly dangerous biological warfare agents have been developed. Many
nations possess large stockpiles of these agents.
There is a need for effective and quick decontamination technology for
biological agents. Although numerous other technologies exist, the primary
method is
chlorine in the form of a hypochlorite solution that is either sprayed or
applied on the
object requiring decontamination. Other technologies utilize chemicals, such
as
chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, methyl bromide and the like. The current
technologies have problems such as corrosion, non-effectiveness in low
concentrations or quantities, toxic by-products, collateral damage to
equipment and
items within a facility or building, and logistical issues.
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Each of these chemicals requires extensive training and safeguards for
hazardous materials handling and storage including costly permits for
purchasing in
addition to handling and storage. In higher concentrations required for rapid
and
complete disinfection they pose a real and dangerous threat if not stored or
handled
properly. Additional hazards exist during and even after their use as the area
must
receive additional cleaning to remove the disinfectant before occupancy.
One problem with current decontamination technologies is the size and
bulkiness of the current systems causing logistical issues and
handling/maneuvering
inconveniences. Therefore, what is needed is an efficacious, reliable, and yet
compact
decontamination system which does not rely on hazardous chemicals which
present
long exposure risks.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus for
disinfecting articles and surfaces using an ozonated vapor. The apparatus
includes an
ozone source. An ozone conduit is communicatively coupled to the ozone source
and
has a discharge at the other end. A liquid reservoir, which most commonly
stores
water, is communicatively coupled with the ozone conduit so that the fluid in
the
reservoir enters the ozone conduit as ozone passes through it.
An atomizer disposed on the discharge of the ozone conduit converts the fluid
from the ozone conduit into a vapor as the fluid and ozone pass through it. An
absorption area adjacent the atomizer is adapted to allow absorption of the
ozone from
the atomizer by the vapor. The ozonated vapor is then dispensed through a
vapor
ejection port such as a hand-held wand, a spray bar, a nozzle and an aperture
formed
in the apparatus.
In an alternate embodiment, the fluid reservoir disposed at the end of the
ozone conduit opposite the ozone source such that ozone leaving the ozone
conduit is
forced into contact with the fluid in the reservoir forming the ozonated
vapor. A vapor
chamber in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir is adapted to receive
the
ozonated vapor from the fluid reservoir. In this embodiment, the atomizer is
disposed
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between the vapor chamber and the vapor ejection port and is adapted to reduce
the
size of the ozonated vapor particles passing through it. In an alternate
embodiment,
the ozone conduit extends to a point above the level of the fluid in the
reservoir and
an ozone chamber provides the fluid communication from the ozone conduit to
the
fluid reservoir but prevents fluid communication between the ozone conduit and
the
vapor chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the
following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the inventive apparatus indicating the flow of water
through the water subsystem.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the inventive apparatus indicating the flow of ozone
through the ozone subsystem.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the inventive apparatus showing the integration of the
water and ozone subsystems focusing on the inter-relation of the ozone
injection ports
and the water ejection ports.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one configuration of the hand held wand
showing the inter-relation of the ozone injection unit and the water ejection
unit.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the hand held
wand showing the inter-relation of the ozone injection ports and the water
ejection
port.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the nebulizer of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the nebulizer of an alternate embodiment of the
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference
is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within
which
are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention
may be
practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and
structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention.
Turning now to FIG. 1, a system embodying the present invention includes a
water subsystem comprising water source 10, pump 20, water manifold 25, floor
water-ejection unit 70 (such as a spray bar) and/or hand held wand 75. Floor
dispensing unit 70 is equipped with a plurality of nozzles which have water
ejection
ports 30, which create mist area 5, surrounded by ozone ejection ports 60.
Similarly,
hand held wand 75 is equipped with a nozzle which has a water ejection port 35
surrounded by ozone ejection ports 65. The water source can be any water
source
whereby water enters the system, for example a reservoir or universal hose
connector
attached to municipal water supply system. In such an embodiment, the water
subsystem can be adapted with check valve 15 which prevents backflow.
Furthermore, a filtration subsystem can be incorporated into the water
subsystem. A filtration subsystem can include a sediment/particulate filter
for
mechanical filtration and a carbon filter for chemical filtration. Reverse
osmosis or
distilled water can also be used as a water source. In this manner, incoming
water can
be freed of undesirable particulate matter, minerals, and/or chemical agents
which
would compete with the ozone as an oxidizer, such as chlorine, or otherwise
interfere
with the action of the ozone. As used herein, a manifold is any device, pipe,
or
chamber having multiple apertures for making connections as is known in the
art.
Pump 20 provides the mechanical force by which water moves through the
subsystem. Pump 20 further comprises an inlet port, outlet port, and an
electric motor
that powers the pump. Pump 20 must provide sufficient force to provide the
necessary delivery pressure and flow requirements of the system.
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Water leaving the pump through the outlet port can be directed to water
manifold 25 which provides a variable connection point among the different
plumbing
lines and components downstream of pump 20. Flow through water manifold 25 is
determined by a flow switch. A pressure gauge can be associated with the
manifold
to provide a visual indication of the water subsystem's internal pressure.
From water
manifold 25, water can be selectively directed between floor water-ejection
unit 70
and hand-held wand 75. Both water ejection units (70 and 75) can be equipped
with a
nebulizer such that the water is converted into a fine mist (atomized). As
used herein,
a nebulizer is any device which converts a liquid to a fine mist. The flow of
water
from hand held wand dispensing unit 75 (via water ejection port 35) is
indicated in
FIG. 1 by the numerical indicator 5. Flow through the water subsystem can be -
controlled via the use of any manifold means, such as solenoid valves, as is
well-
known in the art.
The present invention likewise includes an ozone subsystem comprising
oxygen source 40, ozone generator 50, ozone manifold 55, floor ozone injection
ports
60 and wand ozone injection ports 65. The ozone for the system is created by
the
ozone generator which receives oxygen from either a canister containing pure
oxygen
or from air that has been dried in an air dryer (not shown) since moisture can
interfere
with the production of ozone. Gas supply valve 45 can be used to direct the
flow of
oxygen from alternate sources. Any manifold means, such as solenoid valves can
be
used to direct the flow of ozone through the ozone subsystem.
As with the water subsystem, the ozone subsystem can be equipped with
ozone manifold 55, which selectively directs the flow of ozone between the
respective
ozone injection ports (60 and 65). In one embodiment, water manifold 25 and
ozone
manifold 55 are communicatively coupled such that the flow of water remains
coincident with that of ozone flow. The flow of ozone from the hand held wand
dispensing 75 (via ozone injection ports 65) unit is indicated in FIG. 2 by
the
numerical indicator 7.
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As it can be seen in FIGS 2 through 4, ozone 7 is delivered at, or into, the
mist
area 5 exiting water ejection unit. Mist particle size plays an important role
in how
much ozone 7 is dissolve in the water mist 5. The higher the dissolved
concentration
of ozone within the mist, the more effective the disinfection will be. Higher
concentrations of ozone also correlate to quicker decontamination times. In
one
embodiment the preferred mist particle size range is about 15 to 100 microns.
Mist
particle size outside this range is contemplated by this invention. The
concentration
of dissolved ozone within the mist is inversely proportional to the particle
size.
Accordingly, ozone concentration in the mist may only reach 1 mg/liter.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show alternate arrangements of water ejection in relation to
ozone injection. Altemate configurations are acceptable, and contemplated. A
skilled
artisan can envision different, and equivalent, configurations and change the
locations
of some, or all, of the individual components without deviating from the
spirit and
teachings of the invention.
In FIG. 4 hand held wand 75 has water nozzle 35a adjacent, and in coincident
relation, to ozone injection unit 65a. In contrast, the arrangement in FIG. 5
offers a
configuration offering greater saturation of ozone in the water mist. Here,
water is
dispensed through water ejection port 35. Ozone is fed through conduit 57 to
ozone
injection ports 65 which are spaced radially about water ejection port 30
ensuring a
broad range of contact between the ozone and water 9.
The hand held wand is useful where the system is used for decontamination on
elevated surfaces (i.e. walls, countertops, shelves, cabinet doors, etc.). The
wand may
also be used for decontamination of hard to reach areas without regard to
their
elevation. The wand is activated by flipping the flow-selection switch; water
and
ozone are then diverted from the floor subsystem to the wand subsystem.
In one embodiment of the invention, a minimum of about 10 mg/liter of
dissolved ozone within the mist is achieved. In this manner, the target
bacteria in
viable or spore formation are exposed to a moisture rich environment and
become
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exposed to the aqueous and gaseous ozone. Thereby, a double exposure to the
powerful oxidant, ozone, is achieved.
The system, as disclosed, uses a very small amount of water and requires less
energy than a small hair dryer to operate. One hour of continuous operation
requires
less than 2 liters of water. Tests using the present invention resulted in a
complete
(100%) destruction of 106 count of viable stahylococcus aureus and pseudomonas
aeruginosa in 12 seconds of treatment. More than a 90 percent reduction in
Anthrax
stimulant spore count was achieved during the same time period in subsequent
tests.
The invention delivers the disinfecting agent, ozone, in the form of a vapor.
The use of an ozonated vapor increases the saturation of the article or
surface to be
cleaned with ozone. Additionally, the use of an ozonated vapor increases the
inventions effectiveness against spore-forming pathogens, such as Anthrax.
Some
pathogens form protective spores in response to unfavorable conditions, such
as
starvation and dehydration. The resulting spore is metabolically dormant and
is
extremely resistant to chemical and physical attacks. The spore retains the
ability to
revive almost immediately when favorable conditions return to the environment.
The
use of ozonated vapor, due to its high humidity, degrades the she shell-like
spore
thereby exposing the pathogen to the ozone; thereby destroying the cell. As
used
herein, the term "vapor" refers to a substantially gas phase in a state of
equilibrium
with identical nzatter in a liquid or solid state below its boiling point.
The ozonated vapor is created by passing a stream of the liquid past a fine
fluid-metering component, or atomizer. The host fluid, supplied by the fluid
reservoir, can be accelerated (or compressed), such as by passing it through a
venturi
or under pressure. In one embodiment, the operator controls the amount of
fluid, and
thereby the density of the vapor, using a variable control which passes more
or less of
the fluid in the reservoir through the atomizer. As used herein, an "atomizer"
is any
device adapted to convert a fluid into a vapor.
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Example 1
In one embodiment, nebulizer 100, as demonstrated in FIG. 6, generates
ozonated water vapor, or fog 120. Water reservoir 105 is in fluid contact with
ozone
conduit 110. The end of ozone conduit 110 is equipped with atomizer 115.
During
operation ozone passes through conduit 110. A small volume of water from
reservoir
105 enters conduit 110 as the ozone passes through. The ozone and water
combination is vaporized as it engages atomizer 115. The ozone is absorbed by
the
vaporized water and eventually becomes dissolved therein; thereby forming the
ozonated water vapor 120. Water conduit 107 can be added to the system to
replace
water lost from the reservoir as vapor 120 is created.
Vapor 120 then exits the device at ejection port 125 for delivery. Vapor 120
can be dispersed via any known device such as, but not limited to, the hand-
held
wand, spray bar, or can even be allowed to exit via an open conduit to
permeate any
room or space. The use of an ozonated fog has applications independent of the
apparatus disclosed herein and can be used as a stand-alone method of
disinfection.
Example 2
Other embodiments of the above described method are envisioned using any
know nebulizer. For example, FIG. 7 shows alternate nebulizer 100a. Ozone
leaving
ozone conduit 110a enters the water contained in water reservoir 105a. Through
difFusion and the pressure from conduit 110a, ozonated mist 125a forms within
the
apparatus where it is either dispersed through ejection port 125a.
Alternatively,
atomizer 115a can be adapted within the device to reduce the particle size of
vapor
120a.
It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent
from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain
changes may
be made in the above constraction without departing from the scope of the
invention,
it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or
shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
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It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover
all of
the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all
statements
of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to
fall
there between. Now that the invention has been described,
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