Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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[001] SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF OZONE TO WASHING
MACHINE TO MAXIMIZE CUMULATIVE CT VALUE
[002] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT application serial
number
PCT/US2012/22212 filed on January 23, 2012, which claims priority from U.S.
provisional application serial number 61/435,555 filed on January 24, 2011.
[003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[004] The present invention relates to a method and a system for accurately
measuring the quantity of ozone contained within each washing machine in order
to more precise control the supply of ozonated water to the washing machine
and
thereby maximize the use of ozone in order to throughly and completely clean,
sanitize and/or disinfect the laundry being washed in the shortest time
possible.
[005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[006] The use of ozone in cleaning and sanitizing laundry has been utilized
for
quite some time. The primary reason is that ozone is generally recognized as
being effective in cleaning as well as deodorizing and sanitizing laundry
while also
minimizing impact to the environment. With respect to commercial applications,
however, ozone is generally the preferred cleaning component as it is
relatively
inexpensive to manufacture and quite reliable in deodorizing and sanitizing
laundry.
[007] As is well known, the application of ozone to a cleaning fluid, such
as water,
acts as a disinfectant as well as assists with removing dirt, debris and other
contaminants from the laundry detergent so that the laundry detergent can
again
be effective in removing additional dirt, debris and other contaminants from
the
clothing or other laundry being laundered. While it is known that dissolving
ozone
in a liquid, such as water, will assist with improving the cleaning and
sterilization
efficiency of the liquid, a number of the currently available prior art
systems suffer
a variety of associated drawbacks. In particular, a portion of the ozone which
is
added to the liquid does not become completely dissolved within the water so
that
such ozone can not readily directly contact any substance(s) dissolved or
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contained within the wash water. As a result, the undissolved ozone is rapidly
given off, dissipated and/or evaporated from the liquid (wash water) as soon
as the
liquid enters into a reservoir, e.g., contact chamber, or some other expansion
chamber, for example. As a result, such undissolved ozone is not effective in
cleaning and/or disinfecting the laundry and thus not all of the ozone, which
is
added to the liquid or water, is active or effective in achieving the desired
cleaning
and/or sterilization of the laundry intended by the zonated liquid. Further,
many
times, some of the replacement liquid or wash water, which is added to the
washing machine during one or more of the wash cycles or stages, does not
contain any ozone and such unozonated liquid generally increases the duration
of
the cleaning, sanitization and/or disinfection time for the laundry being
washed.
[008] It is to appreciated that washing laundry can be a relatively
expensive
process. It utilizes costly resources ¨ water, energy, detergents and labor
and
such laundering is often required not only to clean but completely disinfect
and
sanitize the laundry items. While conventional detergents and soap can be
effective in removing dirt, grease, grime and other contaminants, they are not
always effective in killing all of the germs and bacteria contained within the
laundry.
It is known to enhance the disinfection capabilities of a washing machine by
introducing ozone into the washing water. The ozone improves cleaning of
laundry, even at relatively low or cold wash water temperatures, and also has
an
antibacterial effect.
[009] Previous systems for introducing ozone have included a simple bubble
system in which ozone is bubbled through water in a washing machine drum. The
efficiency of dissolving ozone in the water of such apparatus is somewhat low,
and
the concentration of dissolved ozone in the water is consequently low thereby
resulting in only a minor enhancement in the cleaning and the antibacterial
effect
of the ozone. There is also the disadvantage that the amount of off-gas, i.e.,
the
ozone which is readily given off and dissipated into the surrounding
environment,
from the wash water both during filling and/or during operation of the washing
machine, can be considerable. The ozone gas will typically collect in the area
surrounding one or more sampling ports, exhaust vents or some other outlet of
the
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washing machine and can potentially cause health and/or safety problems in the
event that any person, located adjacent or within the room accommodating the
washing machine(s), is exposed to a high concentration of ozone.
[010] In order to improve the efficiency with which ozone is dissolved in
the wash
water, systems using venturis have been developed. Such systems attempt to
forcibly dissolve ozone in the water and thereby increase the concentration of
dissolved ozone within the liquid or wash water (see the results of such a
system
depicted by Fig. 1) as a fresh water is added to the washing machine. However,
the ozone is generally not completely and thoroughly mixed and dissolved
within
the water, so as to maximize contact of the dissolved ozone during the washing
process and such ozone tends to dissolve out of solution fairly rapidly and
become
gaseous shortly after being mixed with the water and supplied to the washing
machine. The contact time (CT) value for systems, which incorporate a direct
injection of ozone into the water, tend to be fairly low, e.g., only achieve a
CT value
of 0.6 or less, for example.
[011] In an attempt to improve the amount of ozone dissolved within the
water,
Daniels Equipment Company developed and manufactures a diffusion system in
which the ozone is directly injected into the water contained, typically
within a sump
of the washing machine during the wash cycle or wash stage. The results of
such
system are depicted in Fig. 2 attached hereto. The CT value for such direct
injection systems, which directly inject ozone into the water contained within
the
sump, tend to be much higher, e.g., achieved a CT value of 10.0, for example,
during 20 minute wash. However, as noted in the following table, such CT
values
are still insufficient to kill some commonly known and prevalent infectious
diseases.
[012] With respect to commercial applications, during a typical wash cycle
or
wash stage, a number of infectious diseases must be reliably and consistently
killed in order to prevent the spread of such infectious diseases. That is, in
order
to ensure reliable and consistent killing of desired infectious diseases, a
cumulative
contact time (CT) value ¨ i.e., the concentration of the disinfectant (i.e.,
the ozone)
multiplied by the time or duration that the disinfectant (i.e., the ozone) is
in contact
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with the infectious disease(s) ¨ must be achieved from the beginning of the
wash
cycle or wash stage and the end of the final wash cycle or wash stage. It must
be
appreciated from the above that the CT value can vary depending on the
concentration level of the ozone as well as the time that the laundry has the
ability
to come into contact with any dissolved ozone (or possibly undissolved ozone).
Correspondingly, in the event that the necessary cumulative CT value is not
achieved by the end of the final wash cycle or wash stage, the operator can
not be
ensured that any infectious disease(s), which may be contained within the
washed
laundry, is effective cleaned and/or sanitized. Table 1 below sets forth an
example
of common accepted CT values for various infectious diseases.
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[013] TABLE 1
Microbe (Bacteria or Virus) CT Value for Percent Log
Disinfection Reduction Reduction
Salmonella Choleraesuis 6 99.9999% 6 log
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) 20 99.9999% 6 log
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa 10 99.9999% 6 log
Trichophyton Mentagrophytes 1 99.9999% 6 log
Listeria Monocytogenes 6 99.99% 4 log
Campylobacter Jejuni 6 99.99% 4 log
Aspergillus Flavus 10 99.99% 4 log
Brettanomyces Bruxellenis 6 99.99% 4 log
Escherichia Coll 1 99.999% 5 log
Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) 4 99.999% 5 log
Viruses 3 99.999% 5 log
Giardia 2 99.99% 4 log
[014] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[015] It is an object of the present invention is to substantially
completely dissolve
and/or encapsulate a maximum amount of ozone within the water, used in a
washing machine, during the filling phase and/or during each subsequent
filling
cycle or wash stage. In addition, the present invention is directed at adding
additional ozone to the water, contained within the wash machine during each
wash cycle or wash stage, so as to maintain the amount of dissolved and/or
encapsulated ozone at as high a level as possible, i.e., at a target level,
without
creating a safety risk and also accurately measure the added ozone so as to
facilitate closer monitoring and control of the ozone added to the washing
machine.
That is, the present invention is directed at improved control of a maximize
amount
of ozone which is dissolved and/or encapsulated in water and also directed at
maintaining the ozone dissolved and/or encapsulated within liquid for as long
a
time period as possible so that such dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone can
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intimately contact the laundry and facilitate cleaning, sterilization and/or
sanitation
thereof as thereby increase the CT value.
[016] A further object of the invention is to fill the washing machine
either with
fresh water of only ozonated water, so as to immediately immerse the laundry
within ozonated water, and thereby increase the contact time of the ozonated
water with the laundry and facilitate a more complete and thorough cleaning,
sterilization and/or sanitation of the laundry during a each conventional wash
cycle
or wash stage as well as the entire laundry wash cycle.
[017] A still further object of the present invention is to maintain the
laundry in
intimate contact with the ozonated water for as long a duration of time as
possible
so that laundry is completely and thorough cleaned, sterilized and/or
sanitized,
during the wash cycle or wash stage, and thereby reducing the required wash
duration of time for a complete and total cleaning, sanitizing and/or
sterilizing the
washed laundry.
[018] Yet another object of the present invention is to increase the CT
value,
achieved by the ozone, so as to kill the widest array of infectious diseases
over the
shortest possible time span at CT values which have not been previously
achieved
by any prior art washing machines or systems, including a tunnel or a
continuous
batch washer thereby further improving the cleaning, sanitization and/or
disinfection of the washed laundry at the completion of the final wash cycle
or
wash stage so as to prevent the spread of any infectious disease(s).
[019] Another object of the present invention is to position a static
mixer,
immediately following injection of the ozone into the filling water, to assist
with a
thorough and complete mixing and dissolving the ozone within the filling
water,
prior to the filling water being discharged into the internal drum of the
washing
machine forwashing. Preferably the ozonated water, upon exiting the static
mixer,
experiences a hold or dwell time of about three seconds or so prior to such
ozonated and pressurized filling water being discharged into the washing
machine
to further assist with dissolving the ozone within the pressurized filling
water. As
soon as the ozonated filling water enters the washing machine, the pressurized
filling water returns back to atmospheric pressure. A dwell time of about
three
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seconds, plus or minus one second, further improves and/or increases the
amount
of ozone which is dissolved and/or encapsulated within the zonated water and
thereby increases the amount of dissolved ozone within the water so that the
ozone concentration level of the filling water approaches about 90%. This
greater
amount of ozone, which is initially dissolved and/or encapsulated within the
filling
water, in turn, facilitates a more through cleaning as well as deodorization
and/or
sanitization of the laundry, during the wash cycle or wash stage, and also
minimizes the amount of ozone which gasses off and exhausts from the washing
machine during any wash cycle or wash stage. In addition, by having a greater
amount of ozone dissolved and/or encapsulated within the zonated water, such
greater concentration of dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone further increases
the CT value of the ozone with the laundry and this results in a more through
cleaning, deodorization and/or sanitization of the laundry being washed.
1020] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system in
which the
amount of ozone generated, during each wash cycle or wash stage, is controlled
so that an optimum amount of ozone is generated, supplied to and dissolved
and/or encapsulated within the wash water, during each one of the separate
wash
cycles or wash stages, so that the laundry is constantly subjected to the
greater
permissible concentration ozone and thereby is efficiently and consistently
cleaned
over the shortest possible duration of time.
[021] Yet another object of the present invention is to ensure that a
sufficient
amount of ozone is present during the initial wash cycle or wash stage, where
the
ozone can be readily used to commence "burning off' the dirt, grease, grime
and
other contaminants as well as commence killing of "super bugs", germs and
bacteria (i.e., it is to be appreciated that ozone is effective in killing
99.99% of the
super bugs, germs and bacteria contained within the laundry when a sufficient
CT
is achieved), while the system still has the ability to control, modify, vary,
interrupt
or reduce the amount of ozone generated during each later or subsequent wash
cycle or wash stage when less ozone is typically required.
[022] Still another object of the present invention is to provide the
system with a
sensor which will completely shut off production of ozone, or possible
sufficiently
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reduce the production of ozone, in the event that the ozone being sampled,
exiting
or exhausted from the washing machine indicates that excess ozone, above the
target value, is exiting, being sampled or exhausted from the washing machine,
e.g., the system indicates an ozone level exhausting from the washing machine
is
greaterthan a target value of generally about 1.0 (ppm) parts per million or
higher,
for example. It is to be appreciated that the target value can be readily
adjusted
to any other generally accepted higher or lower standard or to suit any
particular
application.
[023] A still further object of the present invention is to attempt to
maintain the
dissolved and/or encapsulated concentration of ozone within the water as close
as
possible to the selected target value so that the laundry is provided with the
maximum opportunity to be constantly and consistently in intimate contact with
the
wash water which has the greatest possible amount of ozone dissolved and/or
encapsulated therein. That is, preferably the present invention controls the
amount of ozone so as to have an average ozone value which is generally
between 50% and 100% of the ozone target value, more preferably the present
invention controls the amount of ozone to have an average dissolved and/or
encapsulated ozone value which is generally between 60% and 100% of the ozone
target value, and most preferably the present invention controls the amount of
ozone to have an average dissolved ozone value which is generally between 70%
and 100% of the ozone target value.
[024] Another object of the present invention is to provide the system with
a fail
safe sensor which will completely shut down the production of ozone, or
sufficiently
reduce production of ozone, in the event that the ozone level, in the room or
an
area accommodating the washing machine(s), increases above a level which
creates a potentially hazardous situation for the health and/or safety of
human
beings, e.g., the ozone level in a room reaches the ozone target value of 0.1
(ppm)
parts per million of ozone, for example.
[025] A further object of the invention is to provide a system for
detecting and
displaying the current CT value during the entire wash cycle or wash stage of
the
washing machine and to record and/or display this information to the operator.
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The CT value detection system includes an ozone exhaust or sampling sensor
detector, typically located at an exhaust outlet or sampling port of the
washing
machine (or at any other desired location which can sense, monitor or detect
the
concentration of the ozone in washing machine) which periodically senses,
measures or detects the concentration of the ozone being sampled or exhausted
from the washing machine, e.g., once every 1 second, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30
seconds, 1 min., etc.
[026] Yet another object of the present invention is to place the ozone
sampling
sensor or detector directly within the contact chamber of the washing machine,
Le.,
typically between the rotating drum and the sealed exterior housing of the
washing
machine or at any other desired location where the ozone sampling sensor or
detector can directly sense, monitor and/or detect the concentration of the
ozone
currently contained within washing machine, so that the ozone sampling sensor
or
detector can obtain a substantially undiluted sample of the ozone, contained
within
the wash machine, and thereby more precisely detect the amount of ozone
contained therein. The detected ozone sample, once measured by the ozone
sampling sensor or detector, can then either be returned back to the contact
chamber to facilitate further contact with the laundry or converted into
oxygen and
vented to the atmosphere.
[027] Still another object of the invention is to facilitate collection of
a substantially
undiluted sample of gas from the sealed contact chamber, i.e., the rotating
wash
from, contained within the sealed washer machine, so as to provide a more
accurate detection of the amount of ozone actually contained within the
washing
machine and thereby provide a more precise and accurate control of the amount
of ozone being supplied to the washing machine. This, in turn, results in a
more
accurate detection and displaying the current CT value during the entire wash
cycle or wash stage of the washing machine as well is more accurate
recordation
and/or display of this detected information to the operator. The CT value
detection
system includes an ozone sampling sensor or detector directly which is located
within the contact chamber, i.e., typically between the rotating drum and the
sealed
exterior housing of the washing machine ¨ or at any other desired location
which
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can directly sense, monitor and/or detect the concentration of the ozone
currently
contained within washing machine). The method and system are also directed at
continuously sensing, measuring and/or detecting the concentration of the
ozone
contained within and capable of being exhausted from the washing machine. The
CT value detection system will continuously compute the detected cumulative CT
value (typically in parts per million), as the wash progresses from the
beginning of
the first wash cycle or wash stage until completion of the last wash cycle or
wash
stage, and generally indicates either the actually calculated cumulative CT
value,
via a numeric display, or merely activates a green light, which indicates that
a
= sufficient cumulative CT value has been achieved during the wash (e.g., a
cumulative CT value of 21, for example), while a red light, which indicates
that an
insufficient cumulative CT value is achieved, is activated at the beginning of
the
first wash cycle or wash stage and remains activated until a sufficient
cumulative
CT value has been achieved during the wash. Preferably, a room detector is
also
provided for recording and/or displaying the amount of ozone which is detected
within the room, accommodating a single or a plurality of washing machines, so
that this information can be later retrieved for possible fine tuning of the
control of
the ozone system.
[028] A still further object of the present invention is to inject the
produced ozone,
having a particle size of about 2 microns to 20 microns, and more preferably
having a particle size of from about 5 to 10 microns, directly into either the
sump
of the washing machine, typically located beneath the washing machine, or
directly
into the water contained within the washing machine along with injecting ozone
directly into the fresh water which initially fills the internal drum of the
washer
machine with zonated water. By supplying zonated water initially to the
washing
machine, the concentration of the ozone, contained therein, is as close as
possible
to the target ozone value or level immediately at the beginning of the wash
cycle
or wash stage. In addition, by injecting ozonated water into water during
continued
operation of the washer machine, the ozone content remains as close as
possible
to the target ozone value or level during the entire wash, i.e., from the
first wash
cycle or wash stage to the last wash cycle or wash stage.
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[029] Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a system
in which
cumulative contact time (the cumulative CT value) approaches the duration of
time
of the entire wash cycle or wash stage. That is, the total value of the
cumulative
contact time (the cumulative CT value) approaches or is at least 60% of the
total
duration of the entire wash cycle or wash stage. According, if the total
duration of
the entire wash cycle or wash stage is 35 minutes, the cumulative contact time
(the
cumulative CT value) is at least 21 which is 60% of the 35 minute total
duration of
the entire wash cycle or wash stage. More preferably the cumulative contact
time
(the cumulative CT value) is at least 70% or 80% of the total duration of the
entire
wash cycle or wash stage, e.g., at least 24.5 which is 70% of the 35 minute
total
duration of the entire wash cycle or wash stage.
[030] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a
concentration of
ozone of a washing machine to be at or below a target value so that a
cumulative
contact time of the ozone with laundry being washed approaches a duration of
time of an entire wash cycle of the washing machine thereby ensuring killing
of
infectious diseases contained within the laundry, the method comprising the
steps
of: supplying zonated water the wash machine; withdrawing an ozone sample
from an internal cavity of the washing machine in order to detect a
concentration
of the ozone within the washing machine; and controlling the supply of ozone
to
the wash machine so that the concentration of ozone of the washing machine
being controlled to be within a band which between 60% and 100% of the target
value and the cumulative contact time of the ozone with the laundry is at
least 60%
of the duration of time of the entire wash cycle.
[031] The present invention also relates to a system for controlling a
concentration of ozone in a washing machine to be at or below a target value
so
that a cumulative contact time, of the ozone with laundry being washed by the
washing machine, approaches a duration of time of an entire wash cycle of the
washing machine thereby ensuring killing of any infectious diseases contained
within the laundry, the system comprising: a washing machine having a
rotatable
drum for containing laundry and a quantity of a water; an ozone generator,
connected to the washing machine, for supplying ozone to the washing machine,
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upon initially filling the washing machine and during at least one other wash
cycle;
an ozone sampling sensor or detector for directly sensing a concentration of
ozone
in the washing machine during operation thereof, and the ozone sampling sensor
or detector being coupled for modifying production of ozone, by the ozone
generator, when the sensed concentration of ozone, withdrawn from the washing
machine by the ozone sampling sensor or detector, exceeds a target level such
that the supply of ozone to the washing machine is controlled so that the
concentration of ozone is within a band between 60% and 100% of the target
value
and the cumulative contact time of the ozone with the laundry is at least 60%
of the
duration of time of the entire wash cycle.
[032] It is to be appreciated that when amount of sampled ozone exceeds the
target value, this signifies that there is excess ozone within the water and
exiting
from the washing machine. Since there is excess ozone within the water, this
excess ozone is quickly and rapidly converted into gaseous form which exhausts
from a washing machine and can quickly result in a hazardous situation.
Accordingly, it is desirable to stop immediately further production of ozone
as soon
as the method and the system detects the concentration of ozone, contained
within
the washing machine, is exceeding the target value.
[033] As used within the specification and the appended claims, the term
"entire
wash cycle" means the duration of time from the instance that the washing
machine is initially started, or laundry enters the washing machine until the
time
that the door of the washing machine is open to provide access and remove or,
in the case of a tunnel or a continuous batch washer, the duration of time
from the
instance that the laundry is feed into the continuous washing machine until
the
time that the laundry exits the continuous washing machine.
[034] As used within the specification and the appended claims, the term
"average dissolved ozone value" means the average value of the ozone which is
dissolved and/or encapsulated within the water during the entire wash cycle,
i.e.,
commencing from the beginning of the wash cycle until completion of all of the
wash cycle and the door is opened to access and remove the laundry.
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[035] As used within the specification and the appended claims, the term
"modifies production of ozone" means that the production of ozone can be
modified, reduced or altered so as to be somewhat lower than the current
production level of ozone or can be totally or completely discontinued so that
no
further ozone is being produced, or a production amount of ozone can be
anywhere in between zero and 100% of the ozone target value.
[036] As used within the specification and the appended claims, the term
"washing machine" means both front and top loading conventional washing
machines as well as a tunnel or a continuous batch washer.
[037] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[038] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by
way of example only and not in any !imitative sense, with reference to the
appended drawings in which:
[039] Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic drawing showing a gaseous ozone content
level
achieved by a prior art direct injection system;
[040] Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing showing a gaseous ozone content
level
achieved by another prior art system;
[041] Fig. 3 shows the improved system, according to an embodiment of the
present invention, for controlling a supply of ozone to a washing machine both
during the filling phase as well as during each subsequent wash cycle(s);
[042] Fig. 3A shows a commercial embodiment of the improved system of Fig.
3;
[043] Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic drawing showing the venturi and
the
static mixed components for intermittently mixing the fresh water with the
ozone
to provide a substantially uniform mixture thereof which assists with
retaining the
ozone within the water for a longer duration of time once the zonated water
is
supplied to the washing machine;
[044] Fig. 5 shows a modification to the improved system of Fig. 3 having
an air
drier unit;
[045] Fig. 6 shows injection of the ozone into the sump via the sparger
injection
nozzles;
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[046] Fig. 7 is a table of date data showing a comparison of the gaseous
ozone
content, achieved by the present invention, in comparison to two prior art
ozone
systems;
[047] Fig. 7A is a graphic representation of the data shown in Fig. 7;
[048] Fig. 8 shows an arrangement having a single area ozone level sensor
for
controlling or interrupting production of ozone by a plurality of washing
machines;
[049] Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic arrangement for visually displaying both the
currently detected CT value as well as the cumulative CV value during the
entire
wash cycle so that an operator can readily validate whether or not the laundry
has
been sufficiently washed so as to kill all commonly known infectious diseases;
[050] Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of the present
invention for use in combination with a conventional tunnel washer or a
continuous
batch;
[051] Fig. 11 shows an improved ozone sensing or detecting system,
according
to an embodiment of the present invention, for continuously detecting an
undiluted
sample of the ozone, contained within a contact chamber of the washing
machine,
and thereby facilitating a more precise control of the supply of ozone
thereto;
[052] Fig. 12 diagrammatically shows the ozone sampling sensor or detector
for
detecting the ozone and returning the ozone back to the contact chamber of the
washing machine; and
[053] Fig. 13 diagrammatically shows the ozone sampling sensor or detector
for
detecting the ozone and destroying the sensed ozone prior to venting the same
directly to the environment.
[054] DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[055] With reference now to Figs. 3, 3A and 4, a detailed description
concerning
the present invention will now be discussed in detail.
[056] According to this embodiment, as is conventional in the art, the
ozone
system 2 generally comprises a washing machine 4 which, during use, is filled
with
a suitable volume of liquid or wash water 6, i.e., a washing volume of water,
to
facilitate washing of the laundry 8 contained within the washing machine 4.
The
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water is typically supplied from a water supply source 10 to a rotatable
internal
drum 12, located within an internal chamber 14 of the washing machine 4, via a
fresh water supply inlet 16. As is conventional in the art, the washing
machine 4
is provide with a hinged door 18, typically located on either the front or the
top of
the washing machine 4 that generally forms a water tight seal with the door
opening of the washing machine 4, in a conventional manner, when the door 18
is latched in a closed position (in Fig. 3 the door is shown in the front of
the
washing machine 4). The door 18, when in its opened position, facilitates
adding
and removing laundry 8 from the washing machine 4. As such door and its
associated latching mechanism are conventional and well known in the art, a
further detailed discussion concerning the same is not provided.
[057] During the initial as well as any subsequent filling cycle, when
washing
laundry 8, the filling water flows from the water supply source 10, along a
filling
water conduit 21, into an inlet of a venturi 22, such as a venturi
manufactured in
accordance with U.S. Patent No. 5,863,128. As the water passes through the
venturi 22, the water is accelerated, via the centrally located constriction
24 of the
venturi 22 (see Fig. 4), and such acceleration of the water induces a vacuum
in an
ozone supply line 34 that is coupled to the venturi 22 so as to draw in ozone
which
is supplied from an ozone supply, generally indicated as 29, to the venturi
inlet 28
of the venturi 22. Typically the supply pressure of the fresh water flowing
through
the venturi 22 is between about 40 PSI and about 80 PSI. Both the ozone and
the
water, as those components exit the centrally located constriction 24, are
decelerated and this induces intimate mixing of those two components with one
another. In order to achieve a more complete and thorough mixing as well as
more complete dissolving and/or encapsulation of the ozone within the water,
the
water/ozone mixture then passes through a static mixer 32, such as a static
mixer
manufactured in accordance with U.S. Patent No. 3,923,288 by Ozone Solution
of Hull, IA. As the water/ozone mixture passes through the static mixer 32,
the
static mixer 32 causes the ozone to be intermittently mixed, dispersed and/or
dissolved and/or encapsulated within and throughout the water. As a
consequence, the static mixer 32 thereby facilitates a more complete and
thorough
CA 02821525 2013-07-24
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dissolving of the ozone within the water and this generally facilitates a
longer
retention of the dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone within the water. As the
ozone and water mixture exits the static mixer 32, preferably this mixture
undergoes a dwell time of about 3 seconds, plus or minus one second. This
dwell
time further facilitates a more complete and thorough dissolving and/or
encapsulation of the ozone within the water. In the event that there is
sufficient
room to provide a suitable dwell time prior to this ozone/water mixture
exiting the
fresh water supply inlet 16, a U-shaped (see Fig. 4), a helical shaped
segment, or
some other suitable segment of conduit or piping can be inserted along the
supply
line 21 of the zonated water to facility the desired dwell time of the
ozone/water
mixture prior to the zonated water entering and discharging into washing
machine. A water supply valve 26, which controls the flow of filling water
into the
washing machine 4, is generally located downstream of the static mixer 32.
[058] The ozone supply 29 includes a filling ozone generator 30 which is
connected to the venturi inlet 28 of the venturi 22 via the ozone supply line
34 for
supplying ozone thereto, Typically, the ozone generator 30 will constantly and
continuously produce ozone during the entire operating cycle of the washing
machine 4 and such produced ozone is normally retained within the ozone
generator 30 and only withdrawn therefrom when necessary or required, e.g., as
water flows through the venturi 22 and sucks or draws the ozone from the ozone
generator 30. That is, as the water is flows through the venturi 22, the water
induces a vacuum at the venturi inlet 28 of the venturi 22 and such vacuum, in
turn, sucks or draws a desired quantity of the produced ozone, along the ozone
supply line 34, from the ozone generator 30 into the water. The ozone
generator
30 is electrically connected to the control panel CP, as described below in
further
detail, to facilitate both control and operation of all the ozone generators
as well
as facilitate interruption of the ozone when a hazardous condition arises.
[059] Preferably, a conventional air supply device/oxygen concentrator 36
compresses room air to a pressure of about 5 pounds per square inch or so and
supplies this pressurized room air, via a conventional supply duct or pipe 38,
to an
air flow control valve 40 which regulates the flow rate of the air being
supplied to
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filling ozone generator 30. The air supply device/oxygen concentrator 36,
during
normal compression of the air, typically removes nitrogen from the air and
thereby
naturally increases the overall oxygen content of the air which, in turn,
facilitates
subsequent production of ozone. The air supply device/oxygen concentrator 36
also typically removes water, moisture and other impurities from the air prior
to
supplying the same to the filling air flow control valve 40.
[060] The air flow control valve 40 is connected, via a conventional supply
duct
or pipe 41, to supply the pressurized and regulated air to an inlet of the
filling
ozone generator 30 where a portion of such air, e.g., typically about 5% of
the
supplied air, is converted into ozone in a conventional fashion. As such
conversion
of air into ozone is conventional and well known in the art, a further
detailed
discussion concerning the same is not provided. As noted above, the outlet of
the
filling ozone generator 30 is connected, via the supply duct or pipe 34, to
the
venturi inlet 28 for supplying the generated ozone, as necessary, thereto,
[061] As long as the ozone/water mixture is being supplied along the supply
line
21, this ozone/water mixture remains at the supply pressure of the filling
water, and
thus the ozone continues to mix intimately and dissolve and/or encapsulate
within
the water and thereby achieve a greater concentration of dissolved and/or
encapsulated ozone within the water. The inventors have determined that the
static mixer 32 generally enhances the dissolved and/or encapsulated rate of
the
ozone within the water by as much as an additional 20% or so. This increased
amount of dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone within the water, in turn,
facilitates
longer contact time between the ozone and the laundry and thus a more thorough
and complete cleaning, sterilization and/or sanitization of the laundry 8
being
washed.
[062] As will be described below in further detail, a commercial washer
will
typically include up to and including 8 separate wash stages or cycles, but it
is to
be appreciated the amount of wash stages or cycles can vary from washing
machine to washing machine or application to application. During each one of
the
wash stages or cycles, a portion of the water contained within the internal
drum 12
of the washing machine 4, e.g., typically between about 30% to about 70% of
the
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water, is discarded or discharged from the washing machine 4 and replaced a
quantity of fresh filling water to facilitate further washing of the laundry
8.
[063] According to the present invention, each time fresh filling water to
be
supplied to the washing machine 4, such filling water may be either fresh
water or
"ozonated" water, as described above, prior to being supplied to the internal
drum
12 of the washing machine 4 so that possibly only ozonated water is
subsequently
added to the washing machine 4 and utilized for washing the laundry 8. This
assist
with maintaining the laundry 8 within water which has a greater concentration
of
. dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone therein. That is, the supplied ozone,
for
cleaning the laundry 8, is generally in an aqueous phase, i.e., dissolved
and/or
encapsulated within the water, and such aqueous phase ozone can immediately
and instantaneously commence contact with the laundry 8 and facilitate
cleaning,
sterilization and/or sanitization of laundry 8 prior to and during each wash
cycle.
Moreover, by having a greater concentration of ozone dissolved and/or
encapsulated within the water, this also minimizes the amount of ozone that
rapidly
gasses off from and out of the water and eventually exhausts from the washing
machine 4 to possibly create a hazardous situation.
[064] In order to further minimize the amount of ozone that rapidly gasses
off from
and out of the water, the ozone or ozonated water is preferably supplied to a
lower
most region of the internal drum 12 of the washing machine 4. By supplying the
ozone and/or ozonated water in this manner, any ozone which has a tendency to
be "gassed off," while being discharged into the internal drum 12, still must
bubble
and/or permeate through the water and the laundry contained within the washing
machine 4 and thus still has a tendency to facilitate intimate contact with
the
laundry 8 thereby still achieving some cleaning, sterilization and/or
sanitization of
the laundry 8 prior to such gassed off ozone eventually exhausts from the
washing
machine 4 out through the exhaust vent 64, for example, as described below in
further detail, or any other vent(s), port(s) or opening(s) in the washing
machine.
[065] Prior to filling the washing machine 4 with filling water, a drain
valve 40 is
closed (see Fig. 5) to facilitate retention of the water 6 to be supplied to
the internal
chamber 14 of the internal drum 12 of the washing machine 4 from the water
CA 02821525 2013-07-24
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supply source 10. In addition, the washing machine 4 is generally equipped
with
an primary ozone generator 42 which commences production of ozone and injects
the produced ozone into the sump 44 of the washing_machine /Lyle af least one
and generally two or more (downwardly facing) spargers 46, where the ozone is
discharged into the water 6. It is to be appreciated that not all washing
machines
have a sump and, in such instance, the ozone is merely injected into the water
located within a lower most region of the washing machine. The water 6 and
dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone are agitated, during normal operation of
the
washing machine 4, due to such to and fro agitating motion of the internal
drum 12
to mix intimately and disperse the ozone, supplied via the spargers 46,
throughout
the entire volume of water 6 so that the ozone is readily able to contact and
react
with soap, dirt, soil, grime, germs, bacteria, etc., and the laundry 8
contained within
the internal cavity 14 of the washing machine 4 during each wash cycle.
[066j Preferably, a conventional air supply device/oxygen concentrator
48
compresses room air to about 5 pounds of pressure or so and supplies the
pressurized room air, via a conventional duct or pipe 50, to an air flow
control
valve 52 which regulates the flow rate of the air being supplied to the
washing
machine 4. The air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48, during normal
compression of the air, typically removes nitrogen for the air to increase the
oxygen content of the air and this also facilitates subsequent production of
ozone.
The air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48 also typically removes water,
moisture and other impurities from the air prior to supplying the same to the
airflow
control valve 52.
[0671 The air flow control valve 52 is connected, via a conventional
duct or
pipe 54, to supply the pressurized and regulated air to an inlet of the
primary ozone
generator 42 where a portion of such air, e.g., typically about 5% of the
supplied
air, is converted into ozone in a conventional fashion. As such conversion of
air
into ozone is conventional and well known in the art, a further detailed
discussion
concerning the same is not provided. An outlet of the primary ozone generator
42
is connected, via a conventional duct or pipe 56, to supply the generated
ozone to
the spargers 46 located within the sump 44 of the washing machine 4.
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[068] If desired, the air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48 may
incorporate a
drying unit which further assists with adequately drying the air, Le., removes
substantially all of the moisture therefrom, prior to supplying the same to
the air
flow control valve 52. Alternatively, a separate air drier unit 58 (see Fig.
5) may be
provide somewhere along the air supply path, prior to the air being supplied
to the
primary ozone generator 42, to assist with removing moisture therefrom. As
shown, the air dryer unit 58 and a conventional duct or pipe 59 are located
between the air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48 and the air flow control
valve 52.
[069] The ozone, produced by the primary ozone generator 42, is supplied to
the
sparger or spargers 46 and injected into the water 6 contained within the sump
44
of the washing machine 4 via one or more injector nozzles 60 supported by the
spargers 46 (see Fig. 6). Preferably, the injector nozzles 60 injects the
ozone
downwardly toward the drain valve 40 of the washing machine 4 to facilitate
further
suspension, entrainment, encapsulation, dispersion and/or mixing of the
supplied
ozone in the water 6 contained within the sump 44 and thereby provide a more
uniform mixture and dispersion of the ozone within the water 6 contained
within the
sump 44 as well as throughout the entire water 6 contained within the washing
machine.
[070] The produced ozone typically has a particle size of about 2 microns
to 20
microns such that some of the ozone is not readily dissolved, to any
substantial
extent, in the water 6 contained in the sump 44 but is encapsulated,
suspended,
dispersed and/or entrained within the water 6 and thus the ozone is readily
available, in gaseous form, for reacting with any dirt, soil, grime, grease,
germs,
bacteria, etc., contained in the laundry 8 being washed by the washing machine
4.
As is conventional, the ozone will only typically last for a relatively short
time period
of between about 2 to about 5 minutes or so before the ozone naturally
converts
back into oxygen and lose its disinfectant and/or sanitization capability.
[071] To facilitate control of the amount of ozone generated, an ozone
exhaust or
sampling detector or sensor 62 is located in, immediately adjacent or near one
of
the conventional exhaust vent(s), port(s) or outlet(s) 64 of the washer
machine 4,
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such as a soap vent, soap chute, an air bleed-off vent, etc. Alternatively,
the ozone
exhaust or sampling detector or sensor 62 can be either located within the
washing
machined or directly connected to a sarripling outlet or aperture for
periodically
withdrawing a sample of gas from the washing machine and, once the ozone
concentration of the washing machine is detected by the ozone exhaust or
sampling detector or sensor 62, this withdrawn sample can then either be
discarded or possibly return back to the washing machine. The ozone exhaust or
sampling sensor 62 either directly communicates with or is typically located
within
or as close as possible to the sampling or exhaust outlet(s) 64 so as to
obtain an
undiluted sample of the ozone being sampled, removed or exhausted from the
washing machine 4. The ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 will monitor the
withdrawn sample or the air escaping or exhausting from the washer machine 4,
during operation thereof, to detect the concentration of the ozone contained
therein. in the event that the ozone concentration level of the air sampled or
exhausting from the washing machine 4 is above the ozone target value, e.g.,
above a target value of 1.0 + 0.5 parts per million for example, the ozone
exhaust
or sampling sensor 62 will then convey a signal to a relay or a proportionally
variable or adjustable component 66 (see Fig. 8) which controls the supply of
electrical power to the primary ozone generator 42 so as to either "trip" and
thereby
temporarily interrupt further production of ozone by the primary ozone
generator 42
for a sufficient period of time, e.g., any where from a few seconds to about
thirty
minutes or so, or modify, alter, vary or reduce the current production of
ozone to
a lower or reduced level until the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 again
detects a level of ozone within the washing machine 4 which is below the
target
value, e.g., detects an ozone level in the escaping air below 1.0 parts per
million,
for example.
[072] Any ozone which collects on a detection surface of the ozone
exhaust or
sampling sensor 62 will typically remain there until such ozone eventually
"burns
off" or naturally converts back into oxygen over time by the natural ozone
conversion process. Generally, the ozone will last anywhere between about 2 to
about 20 minutes or so, e.g., typically lasting between 3 and 5 minutes,
before the
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ozone naturally converts back into oxygen. As long as the ozone exhaust or
sampling sensor 62 detects an excessive amount of ozone, e.g., an amount of
ozone greater than the adjusted sensitivity position of the ozone exhaust or
sampling sensor 62 (e.g., the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 is typically
set
to detect from about 0.3 to about 1.0 parts per million of ozone, for
instance), the
ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 will maintain the relay or the
proportionally
variable or adjustable component 66 in an active or tripped state so as to
prevent
the supply of electrical power to the primary ozone generator 42 and thereby
prevent the further production of additional ozone or alter the supply of
power to the
primary ozone generator 42 so as to reduce the rate of production of ozone. As
soon as substantially all of the ozone (depending upon the sensitivity setting
of the
ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62) which collects on the surface of the
ozone
exhaust or sampling sensor 62 has sufficiently "burned off" or dissipated
therefrom,
or the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 otherwise detects an ozone level
less
than the ozone target value, the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 will then
discontinue sending a signal to the relay or the proportionally variable or
adjustable
component 66, which either temporarily interrupts or otherwise alters the
supply of
electrical power to the primary ozone generator 42 to modify, lower, reduce or
discontinue further ozone production. As a result, the relay or the
proportionally
variable or adjustable component 66 again allows the electrical power to flow
and
be supplied to the primary ozone generator 42 and the primary ozone generator
42
then immediately commences production of additional ozone at the initial level
for
use during the current and any subsequent wash stage(s) or cycle(s) (both of
which
are hereinafter collectively referred to as "wash cycle(s)") of the entire
wash cycle.
[073] The system 2 is also equipped with an area ozone level detector
or
sensor 68 which monitors the level of the ozone contained within a room or an
area
accommodating the washing machine 4 or a plurality of washing machines 4,
e.g.,
a laundry mat or some other commercial washing facility such as a hospital or
a
prison, for example. In the event that the area ozone level sensor 68 detects
an
excessively high or unsafe amount of ozone located within the room or the area
accommodating the one or more washing machines 4, e.g., detects a room
CA 02821525 2013-07-24
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concentration level of ozone also above the ozone target value or some other
common area target value, which is also currently typically in excess of 0.1
parts
per million, the area ozone level sensor 68 will then convey a signal to a
relay or
a proportionally variable or an adjustable component 66 which "trips" or
interrupt
further production of ozone, or merely decreases or reduces the rate of
production
of ozone by each of the primary ozone generators 42 bra sufficient period of
time,
e.g., any where from a few seconds to about thirty minutes or so or possibly
completely shuts down all further production of ozone, by any of the primary
ozone
generators 42 as well as all of the filling water ozone generators 30, of the
washing
machine(s) 4 until the area ozone level sensor 68 again detects a level of
ozone
in the room or the area accommodating the washing machine(s) 4 is below the
common area target value. The sensitivity setting for the area ozone level
sensor
68 is also typically adjustable but typically has a sensitivity range of
between about
0.03 to about 0.1 parts per million or greater, for example. Alternatively, or
in
addition, the area ozone level sensor 68 will merely shut off or interrupt the
supply
of power to the air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48, which supplies the
pressurized air to the primary ozone generator 42, as well as the air supply
device/oxygen concentrator 36, which supplies the pressurized air to the
filling
ozone generator 30, and thereby interrupts all further production of ozone by
the
system 2, or may merely reduces the rate of further production of ozone.
[074] This relay, or proportionally variable or adjustable component ,
66 will remain
tripped or activated until the area ozone level sensor 68 again determines
that an
acceptable level of ozone, below the common area target value, is currently
present in the room or the area accommodating the washing machine(s) 4. Once
this occurs, the area ozone level sensor 68 will discontinue sending a signal
to the
relay or the proportionally variable or adjustable component 66, which
deactivates
the relay or component 66 so that the relay or component 66 again allows power
to flow to the ozone generator(s) 42 and/or the air supply device/oxygen
concentrator 48 and to the ozone generator(s) 30 and/or the air supply
device/oxygen concentrator 36 which then again allows further production or
manufacture of additional ozone during the remainder of the wash step, stage
or
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cycle. Alternatively, the area ozone level sensor 68 will discontinue sending
a
signal to the relay or the proportionally variable or adjustable component 66,
which
deactivates the relay or component 66 so that the relay or component 66 again
allows the original flow of power to the ozone generator(s) 42 and/or the air
supply
device/oxygen concentrator 48 and to the ozone generator(s) 30 and/or the air
supply device/oxygen concentrator 36 so they may resume normal production of
ozone during the remainder of the wash step, stage or cycle. The area ozone
level
sensor 68 prevents a potentially hazardous condition from occurring during
operation of one or more washing machines 4 due to the production and
collection
of excessive ozone within the room or the common area.
[075] Preferably, the area ozone level sensor 68 is connected to a
relay or a
proportionally variable or adjustable component 66 which controls the supply
of the
modified/altered/interrupted electrical power to only the air supply
device/oxygen
concentrator 48 and/or the air supply device/oxygen concentrator 36 in order
to
control the production of the ozone during operation of the washing machine 4.
As
a result of such electrical power modification/alteration/interruption, the
production
of ozone is reduced, discontinued or interrupted since reduced or no
pressurized
air flows through the primary ozone generator 42 and the filling water ozone
generator 30 and thus reduced or no ozone is produced by any of the ozone
generators 30, 42 even though the ozone generators 30, 42 may still be
supplied
with electrical power. Alternatively, the relay or the proportionally variable
or
adjustable component 66, when tripped or activated by the ozone exhaust or
sampling sensor 62 and/or the area ozone level sensor 68, can also be coupled
to
the primary ozone generator(s) 42 and the filling water ozone generator(s) 30,
and/or the air supply device/oxyggn concentrator(s) 36, 48 and/or the gir flow
control valve(s) 40, 52 so as also to control operation of all of those
components
and modify/alter/interrupt the supply of electrical power to one, two or all
three of
the primary ozone generator(s) 30,42, the air supply device/oxygen
concentrator(s)
36, 48 and/or the air flow control value(s) 40, 52 when an excessive amount of
ozone is detected.
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[0761 It is to be appreciated that there are a variety of different ways
for
reducing/modifying/altering/interrupting the production of ozone by the
primary
ozone generators 42. For example, the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62
and/or the area ozone level sensor 68 can activate a valve (not shown),
located
between the air flow control valve 52 and the primary ozone generators 42
which
diverts all or only a portion of the supplied air directly to the spargers 46
so that the
supplied fresh air and/or possibly some ozone can mix with the water 6
contained
in the sump 44. The important aspect is that the system is controlled, in some
manner, so as to reduce the production and/or supply ozone or completely
discontinue the supply of ozone until the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62
and/or the area ozone level sensor 68 again detects a safe level of ozone,
below
the common area target value, both within the washing machine(s) 4 and within
the
room or the common area.
[077] Although the target values for the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor
62 and
the area level ozone sensor 68 are both currently 1.0 parts per million of
ozone, it
is to be appreciated that one or both of the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor
62
and/or the area level ozone sensor 68 could be a variable sensor. That is, as
the
ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 and/or the area level ozone sensor 68
detects the ozone level in the exhausting air or room approaching either 1.0
or 0.1
parts per million of ozone, or possibly some higher or lower level depending
upon
the requirements and/or the location of the sensor(s) or the settings setting
of the
particular sensor, the ozone sensor 62, 68 will issue a variable command to
the
primary ozone generator 42 which proportionally decreases or reduces the
amount
of ozone being produced and thereby continuously maintain a safe level of
ozone
which is either being exhausted from the washing machine and/or located within
the room or area accommodating the washing machine(s)4. It is to be
appreciated
that if the ozone sensor(s) 62 or 68 senses that the ozone level is only
gradually
approaching an unsafe level of ozone, the ozone sensor(s) 62 or 68 could send
a
signal which gradually reduces the production of ozone by the primary ozone
generator 42 and/or the filling water ozone generator 30. If, however, the
ozone
sensor(s) 62 or 68 senses that the ozone level is rapidly approaching an
unsafe
CA 02821525 2013-07-24
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level, the ozone sensor(s) 52 or 68 will issue a signal more rapidly reducing
or
possibly completely interrupting further production of ozone. Such variable
control
of the primary ozone generator 42 and/or the filling water ozone generator 30,
by
the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 and/or the area level ozone sensor 68,
tends to minimize the duration of time, if any, that the ozone generators 30,
42 are
not actually producing any ozone during operation of the washing machine and
tends to result in a more continuous supply of ozone to the washing machine to
ensure that an adequate supply of ozone is always present in the washing
machine
during each wash cycle. That is, the ozone contained within the water 6 is
generally within a control band which is typically between 50 and 100% of the
ozone target value.
[078] According to the present invention, it is desirable to control the
production
of ozone and supply the produced ozone to the washing machine 4 so that the
amount of ozone contained within the water within the internal drum 12 of the
washing machine 4 has the greatest practical amount of dissolved and/or
encapsulated ozone therein which is at or slightly below the ozone target
value.
Such procedure ensures the highest CT value during the shortest possible wash
cycle and thereby assist with maximum cleaning, sanitization and/or
sterilization of
the laundry 8.
[0793 Typically during a commercial wash cycle, generally there are about
eight
sequential wash steps, stages or cycles. The first stage or cycle is typically
when
the greatest amount or quantity of ozone is required and may be created by
both
the filling water ozone generator 30 and the primary ozone generator 42.
According to the present invention, both the filling water ozone generator 30
and
the primary ozone generator 42 may always be set to their highest possible
ozone
production levels so that the ozone generators 30, 42 produces a maximum
amount of ozone, e.g., produce between about 4 grams per hour of ozone at an
ozone concentration level of about 5% ozone, and such ozone is immediately
available for use during the first wash stage or cycle. This ozone "relaxes"
the
laundry and activates the laundry detergent or soap and assists with rapidly
"burning off" any dirt, grime, grease, soil, etc., as well as killing any
infectious
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diseases, super bugs, germs and/or bacteria contained within the clothing or
laundry 8 being washed.
[080] In the event that either the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62
and/or the
area ozone level sensor 68 determines that an excessive amount of ozone is
present in either the air being exhausted or in the room or area accommodating
the
washing machine(s) 4, such ozone sensor 62 or 68 will send a signal to the
relay
or the proportionally variable or adjustable component 66 which modifies,
alters,
trips or possibly completely turns off the primary ozone generator 42 to
reduce or
prevent further production of ozone for a desired period of time, e.g., until
an
excessive amount of ozone is no longer detected by the ozone exhaust or
sampling
sensor 62 and/or the area ozone level sensor 68, or merely reduces production
of
ozone by the primary ozone generator 42. As is noted above, once the level of
the
ozone in the sampled or exhaust gas(es) and/or the room or area sufficiently
decreases to below the ozone target value, then either or both the filling
water
ozone generator 30 and/or the primary ozone generator 42 will be again
reactivated
and allowed to commence further production of ozone or resumption of
production
of ozone at an increased amount and supply the same to the washing machine 4.
[081] During the second and subsequent wash stages or cycles, since much of
the
dirt, grime, grease, soil, etc., has already been partially or completely
removed from
the clothing or laundry 8 and since much of the germs, bacteria, etc., have
already
been partially or completely killed, typically less ozone is required. The
addition of
extra ozone during the initial portion of the first wash stage or cycle
assists with
further "relaxing" the clothing or laundry 8 such that the clothing or laundry
8 more
readily releases its dirt, grime, grease, soil, etc. As a result of this
increase in the
amount of ozone supplied during the first wash stage or cycle, a sufficient
amount
of ozone may still be present within the wash volume, contained within the
internal
drum 12, and/or within the clothing or laundry 8 at the end of the first wash
stage
or cycle so that either the ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62 and/or the
area
ozone level sensor 68 detects excessive ozone being present in the washing
machine and may possibly maintain the primary ozone generator 42 in an
inactive
state or a relatively low ozone production rate for one or more subsequent
wash
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stages or cycles in a row or may maintain the primary ozone generator 42 in an
inactive state or a reduced production state for an initial portion of each
subsequent
wash stage or cycle of the wash cycle so that no additional ozone, or only a
smaller
amount of ozone, is produced. Is to be appreciated that the filling water,
during
each subsequent wash cycle, may be initially zonated prior to being added to
the
internal drum 12 of the washing machine 4. This filling process assists with
maintaining a desired amount of ozone within the internal drum 12.
[082] Fig. 7 is a table of date data showing a comparison of the
gaseous ozone
content, achieved by the present invention, in comparison to two prior art
ozone
systems. As shown in Fig. 7A, the improved CT value results, achieved by the
washing machine according to the present invention, are depicted by the
plotted
uppermost graph results shown in that diagram, the plotted lowermost graph
results
shown in that diagram are in accordance with a prior art system similar to
that
shown in Fig. 1 while the plotted middle graph results shown in that diagram
are in
accordance with a prior art system similar to that shown in Fig. 2. As is
readily
apparent from this plotted uppermost graph results, the present invention is
able
to achieve and retain a much higher percentage of dissolved and/or
encapsulated
ozone within the water so that the average amount of ozone dissolved and/or
encapsulated within the water constantly remains at a much higher level than
that
achieved by any prior other prior art system, i.e., the dissolved and/or
encapsulated
ozone remains within a control band which between 50% and 100% of the desired
ozone target value. According to the present invention, the average amount of
ozone, dissolved and/or encapsulated within the water, remains within a
control
band which is typically slightly above, at or slightly below the preset ozone
target
value of the system and this maximizes the CT value of the system and thereby
improves the sterilization and/or disinfection of infectious diseases, germs,
bacteria,
etc., contained within the laundry 8. That is, the present invention controls
the
amount of ozone to have an average value which is generally between 50% and
100% of the ozone target value, more preferably the present invention controls
the
amount of ozone to have an average value which is generally between 60% and
100% of the ozone target value, and most preferably the present invention
controls
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the amount of ozone to have an average value which is generally greater than
70%, e.g., is between 70% and 100%, of the ozone target value.
[083] With reference to Fig. 8, a description concerning a plurality of
washing
machines (only four of which are shown in the Figure) will now be discussed.
According to this embodiment, a single air supply device/oxygen concentrator
48
generates an adequate supply of compressed air and supplies the compressed
air,
via conventional ducts or pipes 50, to all (e.g., four) of the individual air
flow control
valves 52, which each, in turn, regulate the flow rate of the air being
supplied to
each respective washing machine 4. Each air flow control valve 52 is
connected,
via a respective conventional duct or pipe 54, to supply the regulated air to
an inlet
of a respective primary ozone generator 42 where the air is converted to
ozone, as
discussed above, and supplied, via conventional duct or pipe 56, to the sump
44
and/or internal drum of the respective washing machine 4. As with the previous
embodiment, each one of the washing machines is equipped with an ozone sample
sensor of an ozone exhaust or sampling sensor 62, which is provided either
within
the internal drum 12, along or within an exhaust duct, or along, within or
adjacent
an exhaust vent, an outlet, a sampling port or any other aperture 64 of the
respective washing machine 4. In the event that the ozone exhaust or sampling
sensor 62 detects an excessive amount of ozone, this sensor will control the
associated ozone generator 42 to reduce or completely interrupt the further
production of ozone until the ozone concentration level of the air sampled or
exhausting from the washing machine 4 again returns back below the ozone
target
value.
[084] In addition, according to this embodiment, all of filling water for
each one of
the washing machines 4 typically passes through a respective venturi 22
(although
this is not mandatory) where the water is accelerated, via the constriction 24
of the
venturi 22, and such acceleration of the water induces a vacuum in the supply
line
34 which draws in ozone which is supplied from the ozone system 29,
incorporating
the filling ozone generator 30, to the venturi inlet 28 of the venturi 22, as
discussed
above with the previously described embodiment. The ozone and the water then
decelerate and initially commence intimate mixing with one another and the
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water/ozone mixture then passes through a static mixer 32. As the water/ozone
mixture passes through the static mixer 32, the ozone is further
intermittently
mixed, dissolved, encapsulated and/or dispersed within and throughout the
water
and the static mixer thereby facilitates a more complete and thorough
dissolving
and/or encapsulation of the ozone within the water. As the ozone and water
mixture exits the static mixer 32, preferably this mixture undergoes a dwell
time of
about 3 seconds, plus or minus one second, as described above.
[085] As with the previous embodiment, the filling ozone generator 30 is
connected to the venturi inlet 28 of the venturi 22 via an ozone supply line
34 for
supplying ozone thereto. Typically, the filling ozone generator 30 will
constantly
and continuously produce ozone during the entire operation of the washing
machine 4 and such produced ozone is normally retained within the filling
ozone
generator 30 and only withdrawn from the filling ozone generator 30 when
required,
e.g., as water passes through the venturi 22 and sucks the ozone from the
filling
ozone generator 30. Each filling ozone generator 30 is electrically connected
to the
control panel OP to facilitate both control and operation of all the filling
ozone
generators 30 and all of the primary ozone generators 42 as well as facilitate
varying, modifying, altering or interrupting production thereof in the event
that a
hazardous situation arises.
[080] As discussed above, the ozone system 29 includes a conventional air
supply
device/oxygen concentrator 36 for compressing room air and an air flow control
valve 40 for regulating the flow rate of the air being supplied to filling
ozone
generator 30. As these components operate in the same manner discussed above,
further discussion concerning the same is not provided again.
[087] According to this embodiment, generally only a single area ozone
level
sensor 68 monitors the level of the ozone contained in the common area
accommodating all (e.g., four) of the washing machines 4. In the event that
the
area ozone level sensor 68 detects an unsafe amount of ozone contained within
the room or the area accommodating the washing machines 4, the area ozone
level
sensor 68 will send a signal to a second relay or proportionally variable or
adjustable component 70 which is connected with the single air supply
CA 02821525 2013-07-24
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device/oxygen concentrator 48. The second relay or proportionally variable or
adjustable component 70 reduce, alters, adjusts, modifies or completely
interrupts
the flow of electrical power to the single air supply device/oxygen
concentrator 48
and thus the flow of air to each one of the (e.g., four) primary ozone
generators 42
so that none of the primary ozone generators 42 is thereafter able to
manufacture
any further ozone or they produce a reduced quantity of ozone. It is to be
appreciated that the flow of air and/or electrical power to the filling ozone
system
29 is also typically interrupted, modified, altered or varied, Such reduction,
alteration, modification or interruption in the production of ozone will
continue until
the area ozone level sensor 68 again determines that a safe level of ozone,
below
the target value, is now contained within the room. Thereafter, the flow of
electrical
power to the single air supply device/oxygen concentrator 48 and/or the
filling
ozone system 29 is again established back to their original levels and all the
filling
and primary ozone generators 30, 42 are then able to continue with further
manufacture ozone at the original level, provided that the ozone being sampled
or
exhausted from each respect washing machine 4 is still below the target value.
[088] The ozone system 2 may be equipped with an indicator which
provides a
visual indication that substantially all of the super bugs, germs, bacteria
and/or
infectious diseases contained within the clothing or laundry 8 being washed
has
been killed. For example, the ozone system 2 may be equipped with separate
"red"
and "green" lights (labeled "R" and "G", respectively) 72 and 74, as shown in
Fig.
8. Upon activation of the ozone system 2, one of the relays or the
proportionally
variable or adjustable components 66 supplies electrical power to the "red"
light 72
to indicate visually to the operator that the clothing or laundry 8 being
washed has
not had sufficient contact time with the dissolved and/or encapsulated ozone
and
thus may still contain live super bugs, germs, bacteria and/or infectious
diseases.
The "red" light 72 will remain illuminated until the ozone system 2
determines, as
described above, that the laundry 8 has had a sufficient contact time with the
ozone
contained within the wash water, e.g., a sufficient CT value has been achieved
of
21, for example. Once the ozone system 2 determines that the laundry 8 has had
a sufficient contact time with the ozone contained within the wash water,
e.g., a
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sufficient CT value has been achieved for the laundry 8, the ozone system 2
will
interrupt the supply of electrical power to the "red" light 72 and thereafter
another
the relay or the proportionally variable or adjustable component will be
activated to
supply electrical power to and illuminating the "green" light 74 which
provides a
visual indication to the operator that substantially all of the super bugs,
germs,
bacteria and/or infectious diseases, contained within the clothing or laundry
8 being
washed, have been reliably killed. It is to be appreciated that the "red"
light 72 will
remain illuminated until the ozone system 2 determines that the air sampled or
exhausting from the washing machine 4 has a desired ozone concentration level,
e.g., an ozone concentration level at, slightly below or slightly above the
target
value, of 1.0 parts per million for example, for a desired duration of time.
Typically,
each time the door 18 is opened and/or closed, the ozone system 2 is reset,
e.g.,
the system returns back to only illuminating the "red" light 72.
[089] With reference now to Fig. 9, a method and a system for
continuously or
intermittently detecting or measuring the ozone level, in the washing machine
4
during each wash cycle, will now be described. As shown in this Figure, the
detectors 74 are located within, at or adjacent the exhaust vent 62, or any
other
aperture or opening, of each one of the washing machines 4 or communicate
directly with the interior of the washing machine for sensing, monitoring or
detecting
an ozone content or concentration of the washing machine or an ozone content
or
concentration in the gases sampled from, or exiting or exhausting from the
washing
machine. The internal cavity 14 of each washing machine 4 is typically
supplied
with about 2 cubic feet of air per minute during the entire wash cycle, This
supplied
air facilitates sampling or exhausting some of the gassed off ozone from the
internal cavity 14 of the washing machine 4 and the content of the ozone
contained
within this sampled or exhaust gas is then measured by the detector 74. The
detector 74 continuously or intermittently detects, samples or measures the
ozone
level or concentration, e.g., the detector intermittently detects the ozone
level in the
sample or exhaust gases once a second, once every 2 seconds, once every 3
seconds, once every 4 seconds, once every 5 seconds, once every 10 seconds,
once every 20 seconds, once every 30 seconds, once a minute, etc., to
determine
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ozone readings of the washing machine and then calculate an average ozone
reading. Preferably, the detector 74 detects the ozone level or reading of the
washing machine(s) 4, in parts per million, once every second (i.e., 60 times
a
minute) and continues to send each one of these detected ozone levels or
readings
to a central processor of the control panel CP where each one of the detected
ozone levels or readings is added with one another, in a register or some
other
processor, to obtain a summed total, e.g., for the third wash cycle, which
lasts 3.5
minutes, 210 readings will be taken (the readings could be, for example, 0.9 +
0.9
+ 0.95 + 0.95 0.9 + 0.9 + 0.95 + 0.9 + 0.9 + 0.95 + 0.95 + 0.95 + 0.95 + 0.95
+ 1.0
+1.0 + 1.0 + 1.1.... = 206.87 ppm). This summed total, of all of the detected
ozone
values or readings, must then be divided by the total number of detected
readings
that the detector 74 actually detected the ozone level or reading of the
washing
machine(s) 4 in order to arrive at a "time wait average" (TWA) for the ozone,
e.g.,
210 readings (the total of 206.87 ppm /210 readings = 0.985 (TWA)). The TWA
for the ozone is then multiplied by the total duration of the current (third)
wash cycle
(e.g., 0.985 (TWA) x 3.5 minutes) to generate the cumulative CT value for the
current (third) wash cycle of 3.448. This cumulative CT value for the current
(third)
wash cycle is then summed with the cumulative CT value for each one of the
previous wash cycles, e.g., a cumulative CT value of 3.876 for the first wash
cycle
+ a cumulative CT value of 3.617 for the second wash cycle + a cumulative CT
value of 3.448 for the current wash cycle for a current cumulative CT value of
10.941 for the entire wash cycle. This process is repeated for each wash cycle
until all the wash cycles are complete and a total cumulative CT value for the
entire
wash cycle can be calculated and displayed.
[090] The above procedure is repeated for each one of the wash cycles
and, as
noted above, the calculated current CT value for each wash cycle are added
with
one another to determine the cumulative CT value for the washed laundry 8
during
the entire wash cycle, i.e., from the beginning of the first wash cycle to the
end of
the wash cycle which terminates when the door 18 is opened to provide access
the
laundry 8. The detector 74 is preferably coupled to a visual display 76 which
can
instantaneously display the both currently detected cumulative CT value 78 for
the
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current wash cycle and may have a second display which displays a running
total
of the cumulative CT value 80 for the entire wash cycle, which includes all
current
as well as all previous wash cycle(s).
[091] Preferably all of this information is logged into the control panel
OP or an
optional computer 82 for later referencing by service personnel to verify the
current
and cumulative CT values 80 for each wash performed by each one of the washing
machines 4. This determination of the cumulative CT value is initiated as soon
as
the start button is actuated and the method and the system continue detecting,
sampling and/or measuring the ozone level or concentration in the sample or
exhaust gases being exhausted from the washing machine 4 until either the
final
wash cycle is completed or the washing machine 4 discontinues operation for
some
reason.
[092] With reference now to Fig. 10, a detail description concerning use of
the
present invention in connection with a tunnel or a continuous batch washer
will now
be described. As generally shown in Fig. 10, the continuous washing machine
100
generally comprises a laundry inlet 102, adjacent an inlet end 104 of the
continuous washing machine 100, and a laundry outlet 106 located adjacent the
opposite outlet end 108 of the continuous washing machine 100. The laundry
inlet
102 and the laundry outlet 106 are both interconnected with one another by a
conventional wash tunnel or rotatable drum which has a plurality of separate
and
distinct internal pockets, regions or zones 110, (i.e., a first zone 110, a
second zone
110', a third zone 110", a fourth zone 110'", a fifth zone 110", etc., and
each of
which is hereinafter referred to as a "zone") formed therein.
[093] During operation of the continuous washing machine 100, the laundry 8
is
either manually or continuously supplied via a conveyer to the laundry inlet
102 and
the laundry 8 progressively and sequentially travels or moves toward the
laundry
outlet 106 and is periodically transferred, by a conventional transfer system
or
mechanism 112 of the continuous washing machine 100, from one zone 110, 110',
110", 110", 110", etc., to the next adjacent zone 110, 110', 110", 110", 110",
etc.
While the laundry 8 located within each one of the separate zones 110, 110',
110",
110m, 110"", etc., the laundry 8 is typically rotated back and forth for a
desired
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duration of time in order to wash, clean, sterilize and/or sanitize the
laundry 8
contained within that respective zone 110, 110', 110", 110', 110", etc., in a
conventional fashion and thereby assist with progressively and gradual
cleaning,
sterilizing and/or sanitizing the laundry 8.
[094] As is conventional in the art, fresh water is generally introduced
into the
continuous washing machine 100 adjacent the laundry outlet end 108 and such
fresh water gradually flows along the continuous washing machine 100 toward
the
laundry inlet end 104. In addition, soiled water is periodically discharged
from the
first zone 110 of the continuous washing machine 100, located adjacent the
laundry
inlet end 104, during a wash cycle and such discharge soiled water is either
reclaimed and/or recycled for use again with the continuous washing machine
100
or discharged into a sewerage system in a conventional manner. As such
reclamation, recycling or discharge process is conventional and well known in
the
art, further detailed discussion concerning the same is not provided.
[095] As is well known in the art, the laundry 8 will typically remain
within each one
of the separate zones 110, 110', 110", 110", 110", etc., for a predetermined
amount of wash time, e.g., typically between 1 and 5 minutes, for example. The
duration of wash time within each one of the separate zones is typically
dependent
upon a number of factors, such as, the amount laundry 8 to be wash, the amount
of zones 110, 110', 110", 110", 110", etc., provided within the continuous
washing
machine 100, the amount of water to be utilized during the wash process, the
overall size and capacity of the washer 100, etc. After expiration of the
desired
wash time, the laundry 8 is then "scooped up" and transferred, by a
conventional
transfer system or mechanism 112, into the next adjacent zone 110 located
toward
the laundry outlet end 108 of the washing machine. The water contained within
each one of the respective zones 110, 110', 110", 110'", 110¨, etc., on the
other
hand, is then conveyed from a sump of that zone into the next adjacent zone
located toward the laundry inlet end 104 of the continuous washing machine
100,
as discussed below in further detail. As a result of such arrangement, the
laundry
8 generally flows from the laundry inlet end 104 toward the laundry outlet end
108
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while the water generally flows from the laundry outlet end 108 toward the
laundry
inlet end 104 of the continuous washing machine 100.
[096] A detail description concerning first and second zones 110, 110' of
the
continuous washing machine 100, located adjacent the laundry inlet end 104 and
incorporating features of the present invention, will now be discussed. It is
to be
appreciated the each adjacent pair of zones operate in a similar fashion and
the
total amount of zones, incorporated into the continuous washing machine 100,
can
vary from application to application 100.
[097] As shown therein, a first zone sump 114 is located within the bottom
portion
of the first zone 110 while a second zone sump 114' is located within the
bottom
portion of the second zone 110'. A second zone water pump 116' is connected to
the second zone sump 114' and the second zone water pump 116', when activated
by the control panel OP, pumps the water contained with the second zone sump
114' into the first zone 110 (if desired, this water may be temporary pumped
to and
stored in a storage tank while the laundry 8 is transferred from one zone 110,
110',
110", 110", 110", etc., to the next zone 110, 110', 110", 110"1, 110", etc.).
A first
zone water pump 116 is also connected to the first zone sump 114 and the first
zone water pump 116, when activated by the control panel CP, pumps the water
contained within the first zone sump 114 either to a water reclamation system
or
directly discharges the pumped water into a sewerage system (both of which are
diagrammatically represented in Fig. 10 as reference numeral 118).
Alternatively,
the first zone water pump 116 may be replaced by a drain (not shown) which
merely discharges the water directly into the drainage or sewerage system 118.
Each one of the other zones 110", 110", 110", etc., of the continuous washing
machine 100 is also similarly equipped with a respective water transfer
equipment
described above.
[090] A second zone sparger 120' is located within the second zone sump
114'
and is connected, via a conduit, to a supply of ozone, such as an air supply
device/oxygen concentrator and/or the filling ozone system 29. A first zone
sparger
120 is located within the first zone sump 114 and is connected, via a conduit,
to a
supply of ozone, such as the air supply device/oxygen concentrator and/or the
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filling ozone system 29. A second zone flow valve 122 controls the flow of
ozone
from the supply of ozone 29 to the second zone sparger 120'. The second zone
sparger 120' facilitates supplying ozone directly into the water located
within the
second zone sump 114. A first zone sparger 120 is located within the first
zone
sump 114 and is connected, via a conduit, with the supply of ozone 29. A first
zone flow valve 122 controls the flow of ozone from the supply of ozone 29 to
the
first zone sparger 120. The first zone sparger 120 facilitates supplying ozone
directly into the water located within the first zone sump 114. Each one of
the other
zones 110", 110", 110", etc., of the continuous washing machine 100 is also
similarly equipped with a respective sparger described above.
[098] A second zone ozone monitor 124' is typically located within the
second
zone 110' and is connected, via conventional electrical wiring, with either a
computer or the control panel CP. The second zone ozone monitor 124' is
typically
located in the upper region of the second zone 110' and monitors the amount of
ozone contained within the second zone 110' during operation of the continuous
washing machine 100. The detected measurement of ozone is either recorded or
conveyed to the control panel CF and used to determine or calculate the CT
value
for the laundry 8 contained within the second zone 110', in the manner
described
above and below. A first zone ozone monitor 124 is located within the first
zone
110 and is also connected, via conventional electrical wiring, with either a
computer
or the control panel CP. The first zone ozone monitor 124 is typically located
in the
upper region of the first zone 110 and monitors the amount of ozone contained
within the first zone 110 during operation of the continuous washing machine
100.
The detected ozone value of the first zone 110 is either recorded on a
computer,
for example, or conveyed to the control panel OP and used for determining or
calculating the CT value for the laundry 8 located within each of the first
and the
second zones 110, 110', in the manner described above and below. Each one of
the other subsequent zones 110", 110'", 110", etc., of the continuous washing
machine 100 is also similarly equipped with a respective ozone monitor
described
above.
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[099] A second zone ozone controller 126' is located within the second zone
110'
and is connected, via conventional electrical wiring, with the control panel
CP. The
second zone ozone controller 126' is typically located in the upper region of
the
second zone 110' for controlling the amount of ozone supplied to the second
zone
sparger 120' during operation of the continuous washing machine 100. A first
zone
ozone controller 126 is located within the first zone 110 and is connected,
via
conventional electrical wiring, with the control panel CP. The first zone
ozone
controller 126 is typically located in the upper region of the first zone 110
for
controlling the amount of ozone supplied to the first zone sparger 120 during
operation of the continuous washing machine 100, Each one of the other
subsequent zones 110", 110", 110", etc., of the continuous washing machine 100
is also similarly equipped with a respective ozone controller described above.
[100] It is to be appreciated that the ozone monitor and the ozone
controller can
be combined with one another, into a single sensor, for detecting both the
amount
of ozone contained within the respective zone 110, 110', 110", 110", 110",
etc.,
as well as controlling the amount of ozone to be supplied to the respective
zone
110, 110', 110", 110'", 110", etc., without departing from the spirit and
scope of the
present invention.
[101] Typically the last zone 110, 110', 110", 110", 110", etc., of the
continuous
washing machine 100-110' in Fig. 10¨comprises a conventional press zone
110". The press zone 110" facilitates pressing and/or squeezing water from the
washed laundry 8 prior to discharging the laundry 8 from the laundry outlet
106 of
the continuous washing machine 100. That is, the press zone 110" facilitates
pressing, squeezing and/or removing most of the water contained within the
laundry
8 prior to discharging the laundry 8 from the washing machine, somewhat
similar
to the water removal process achieved during a spin cycle of a conventional
washing. As such press zone is conventional and well known in the art, further
detail description can the same is not provided.
[102] Operation of the continuous washing machine 100 will now be described
briefly. According this embodiment, either zonated water or fresh water can
be
supplied to the last wash zone 110"1, i.e., the zone immediately befo re and
adjacent
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the press zone, of the continuous washing machine 100. In either event, if
additional ozone is required by any one of the separate zones during a
currently
wash stage or cycle, based upon a detected reading from the respective ozone
monitor 124, 124', 124", 124', etc., such signal is communicated to the
control
panel CP which, in turn, opens the associated ozone flow valve 122, 122',
122",
122', etc., so as to permit the necessary flow of ozone to the respective the
sparger tube 120, 120', 120", 120", etc., located in the respective zone sump
124,
124', 124", 124", etc., of the respective zone. The zone ozone controller 126,
126',
126", 1261", etc., will facilitate both the supply, reduction and/or complete
interruption of ozone to the respective sparger 120, 120', 120", 1201", etc.,
located
within the respective sump 124, 124', 124", 124", etc., of the respective zone
110,
110', 110", 110", 110", etc., in order to control the amount of ozone
contained
within each one of the respective zones. The ozone monitor 124, 124', 124",
124",
etc., in turn, will periodically detect and record/transmit the detected
amount of
ozone, contained within the respective zone 110, 110', 110", 110", 110", etc.,
e.g.,
once a second, once every 5 seconds, once every 10 seconds, once every 20
seconds, once every 30 seconds, once a minute, etc. to the control panel CP
for
the entire duration of time that the laundry 8 remains in within respective
zone and
from such values or readings, the cumulative CT value for each zone as well as
the
cumulative CT value for the entire wash cycle are calculated.
[103] Preferably, each respective ozone monitor 124, 124', 124", 124"1,
etc.,
detects the ozone level or reading of the washing machine(s) 100, in parts per
million, for each respective zone once every second (i.e., 60 times a minute)
and
continues to send each one of these detected ozone levels or readings to a
central
processor of the control panel CP where of the detected ozone levels or
readings,
for each respective zone, are added with one another, in a separate zone
register
or some other processor, to obtain a summed total for each respective zone.
For
a tunnel or a continuous batch washer, it is to be appreciated that the
duration of
each wash cycle is the same for each zone, e.g., each wash has a duration of 5
minutes for example, and a total of 300 readings will be taken for each wash
cycle
(e.g., the readings could be, for example, 1.0 +1.0 + 1.0 + 1.1 + 1.0 +1.0 +
1.0 +
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1.1 + 1.0 +1.0 + 1.0 + 1.1 + 1.05 + 1.0 +1.0 + 1.0 + 1.05 + 1.0 +1.0 + 1.0 +
1.1....
= 316.87 ppm for the first zone, 331.70 ppm for the second zone, 315.78 ppm
for
the third zone and 305.55 ppm for the fourth zone). This summed total, of all
of the
detected ozone values or readings for each of the first, the second, the third
and
the fourth zones, must then be divided by the total number of detected
readings
actually detected in the washing machine(s) 100 to arrive at the time wait
average
(TWA) for the laundry within each one of the zones, e.g., 300 readings (a
total of
316.87 ppm / 300 readings = 1.056 (TWA) for the first zone, a total of 331.70
ppm/300 readings = 1.106 (TWA) for the second zone, a total of a total of
315.78
ppm/300 readings = 1.053 (TWA) for the third zone, and 305.55 ppm/300 readings
= 1.019 (TWA) for the fourth zone.
[104] The TWA for the laundry 8 located within each respective ozone is
then
multiplied by the total duration of the current wash cycle (e.g., 1.056 (TWA)
x 5
minutes) to generate a current cumulative CT value of 5.28 for the laundry 8
located within the first zone 110, a current cumulative CT value of 5.53 for
the
laundry 8 located within the second zone 110', a current cumulative CT value
of
5.26 for the laundry 8 located within the third zone 110" and a current
cumulative
CT value of 5.095 for the laundry 8 located within the fourth zone 110". The
current
cumulative CT value of 5.53 for the laundry 8 located within the second zone
110'
is then summed with the cumulative CT value for that same laundry 8 when that
laundry 8 was previously located within the first zone. The current cumulative
CT
value of 5.26 for the laundry 8 located within the third second zone 110" is
then
summed with the cumulative CT value for that same laundry 8 when that laundry
8 was previously located within the second zone and the cumulative CT value
for
that same laundry 8 when that laundry 8 was previously located within the
first zone
110. The current cumulative CT value of 5.095 for the laundry 8 located within
the
fourth second zone 110' is then summed with the cumulative CT value for that
same laundry 8 when that laundry 8 was previously located within the third
zone,
the cumulative CT value for that same laundry 8 when that laundry 8 was
previously located within the second zone and the cumulative CT value for that
same laundry 8 when that laundry 8 was previously located within the first
zone.
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This process is repeated for each wash cycle until all the wash cycles are
complete
and a total cumulative CT value for the entire wash cycle can be calculated,
as
described above, and displayed.
[105] The method and system, according to the present invention,
preferably
includes a variable adjustment or setting which allows the operator to adjust
a
target cumulative CT value to be achieved, following completion of the entire
wash
stage or cycle of the washing machine 4, 100, in order for the laundry 8 to be
determined, or possibly "certified", as being adequately clean, deodorized
and/or
sanitized. In the event that the target cumulative CT value is not achieved,
then the
laundry 8 is determined as "failing" and thus typically has to be rewashed in
a
further attempt to achieve the target cumulative CT value where the laundry 8
can
be determined or certified as "pass". Alternatively, the method and the system
can
communicate such failure information to the control panel CP of the associated
washing machine 4, 100 which, upon receipt of such a communication, increases
the wash duration of the final wash stage or cycle, e.g., adds a residual wash
time
of anywhere from a few minutes to as much as ten minutes or so, in an attempt
to
achieve or exceed the target cumulative CT value so the laundry thereafter can
be
certified as "passing", e.g., the green light can be illuminated, and thereby
avoid the
need for rewashing the laundry 8. For example, the cumulative CT value for the
washing machine 4, 100 may be set to achieve a value of at least 21, 22,23 or
24
to ensure that all of the infectious diseases listed in Table 1 are completely
and
throughly killed during the entire wash stage or cycle and the laundry 8 can
be
determined as being clean, deodorized and sanitized.
[1061 In addition, according to one embodiment of the invention, the area
or the
room detector 84 is provided and the room detector 84 communicates with the
optional computer 82, if present, for later referencing by service personnel
to
determine whether or not any hazardous situations occurred within the room or
common area and when and for how each such hazardous situation persisted,
and/or with the control panel CP. The room detector 84 continuously or
intermittently detects or measures the ozone level contained within the room,
e.g.,
the room detector 84 intermittently the detects the ozone level in the exhaust
gases
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contained within the room or common area once a second, once every 5 seconds,
once every 10 seconds, once every 20 seconds, once every 30 seconds, once a
minute, etc., to determine ozone readings as well as a calculated average
ozone
reading for the room or common area. This information is then recorded in a
conventional storage device of the control panel CP, e.g., a buffer of the
computer
82 or the control panel CP for example, for later access by service personnel
as
noted above.
[107] It is to be appreciated, from the above description, that the ozone
exhaust
or sampling detector or sensor 62 is arranged so as to control, i.e., alter,
modify
and/or adjust, the production or the supply of ozone to the internal drum of
the
respective washing machine so at to maintain the concentration of ozone,
within
the internal drum of the washing machine, as close to, but generally below the
target level, so that the laundry is completely washed and sanitized within
the
shortest duration of time. Such control can include a reduction in the current
production or the current supply of ozone to the internal drum of the washing
machine or a temporary interruption or discontinuance in production or supply
of
ozone to the internal drum of the washing machine.
[108] It is further to be appreciated that the ozone exhaust or sampling
detector
or sensor for the washing machine is installed so as to be able to sense,
monitor,
sample or detect the concentration level of ozone either within internal drum
or
anywhere else within the washing machine, or in any sampling port or exhaust
vent
associated anywhere within or on the washing machine for sampling or detecting
the washing machine ozone concentration level. The particular sampling port,
exhaust vent or other aperture or opening is not important as long as the
obtained
sample or exhausted gas is not too dilute so that it does not accurately
reflect the
concentration level of ozone within the washing machine.
[109] Turning now to Figs, 11 and 12, a brief description concerning a
preferred
location of the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162, for obtaining a
substantially
undiluted sample of ozone from a contact chamber of the washing machine, will
now be described. As this embodiment is quite similar in many aspects to the
embodiment discussed with respected Figs. 3, 3A and 4, only the differences
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between this embodiment and that previously discussed embodiment will be
discussed in detail.
[110] As shown in Fig. 11, the primary difference between this embodiment
and
the embodiment of Figs. 3, 3A and 4 is the location of the ozone sampling
sensor
or detector 162. According to this embodiment, the ozone sampling sensor or
detector 162 is not located the sampling port or some other aperture 64 of the
washing machine 4. Instead, an ozone sampling inlet 164 of the ozone sampling
conduit 166, for drawing an ozone sample from the internal cavity 14 of the
washing machine 4, is located inside and communicates with the contact
chamber,
i.e., the seal housing of the washing machine which contains the rotating
internal
drum 12 of the washing machine 4, so as to permit direct sensing or detection
of
the ozone which is interacting with laundry 8 being washed. Since the ozone
sampling inlet 164 of the ozone sampling conduit 166 is located completely
inside
the washing machine 4, e.g., within the contact chamber of the washing machine
4, this prevents any room air from being sucked into the ozone sampling inlet
164,
during the ozone sampling and/or detection, and thus facilitates collection of
an
undiluted withdrawn ozone sample from the washing machine 4.
[111] Preferably, the ozone sampling inlet 164 of the ozone sampling sensor
or
detector 162 is located within the contact zone so as to minimize the
possibility of
any wash water 6, or other moisture for the washing machine 4, being drawn,
sucked into or entering the ozone sampling inlet 164 of the ozone sampling
sensor
or detector 162. Accordingly, the ozone sampling inlet 164 of the ozone
sampling
sensor or detector 162 is typically along a rear end wall of the washing
machine 4,
generally in the vertically upper most portion or area of the housing
enclosing the
rotatable internal drum 12.
[1121 Preferably a moisture trap 168, or some other moisture removal
device, is
located along the first branch of the ozone sampling conduit 166, typically
between
the ozone sampling inlet 164 and an ozone sampling pump 170 and/or the ozone
sampling sensor or detector 162. Such moisture trap 168, or other moisture
removal device, facilitates removing moisture from the withdrawn ozone sample
prior to such sample being supplied to the ozone sampling sensor or detector
162.
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It is to be noted that any moisture, contained in the supplied ozone sample,
typically hinders the ability of the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162 to
detect
accurately and precisely detect the amount of ozone contained within the
withdrawn ozone sample.
[113] As shown in further detail in Fig. 12, a first branch of an ozone
sampling
conduit 166 couples a pump inlet, of the ozone sampling pump 170, with the
ozone
sampling inlet 164 located within the contact chamber. A pump outlet, of the
ozone
sampling pump 170, couples a second branch of the ozone sampling conduit to a
sensor housing 172 which accommodates the ozone sampling sensor or detector
162. Typically, the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162 is located within an
upper region of the sensor housing 172 and a leading sensor end, of the ozone
sampling sensor or detector 162, extends vertically downward and toward a
central
region of an interior chamber of the sensor housing 172. The second branch of
the
ozone sampling conduit 166 is arranged so as to discharge the withdrawn ozone
sample in a substantially horizontal direction into a central region of the
sensor
housing 172. Such discharge of the withdrawn ozone sample permits any water
droplet(s), or other moisture contained within the supplied ozone sample, to
fall due
to gravity toward a lower region of the sensor housing 172.
[114] A sensor housing outlet 174 is located in the lower region of the
sensor
housing 172 to facilitate removal of the withdrawn ozone sample from the
sensor
housing 172, following detection of the ozone concentration of the withdrawn
ozone
sample by the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162. An ozone return conduit
176 couples the sensor housing outlet 174, of the sensor housing 172, with the
contact chamber of the washing machine 4 to facilitate returning the withdrawn
ozone sample back to the contact chamber of the washing machine 4 so that such
ozone can continue to clean, deodorize and sanitize the laundry 8 being
washed.
[115] Typically the ozone sampling pump 170 is able to withdraw an ozone
sample
from the washing machine 4 at a flow rate of about 16 + 10 liters per minute.
The
ozone sampling pump 170, during operation of the washing machine 4,
continuously withdraws the desired withdrawn ozone sample from the washing
machine 4 so that the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162 continuously
detects
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the concentration of ozone contained within the withdrawn and supplied ozone
sample and, in turn, the concentration of ozone contained within the washing
machine 4. Such continuous sampling and detection facilitates a more precise
detection and determination of the ozone contained within the wash water 6 and
thus a more accurate determination of the contact value CT for the laundry 8
being
washed in the washing machine 4.
[116] Preferably, the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162 will output a
signal
of between 0-5 volts, depending upon the concentration of the detected ozone
contained within the withdrawn ozone sample received from the washing machine
4, to the relay 66.
[117] In addition to constantly and continuously sampling and detecting the
amount of ozone contained within the wash water 6 and also continuously
determining the contact value CT for the laundry 8 currently being washed, the
present system and method are able to continuously record and store data
concerning the all of the measurements made during each wash, e.g., ozone
measurements, for each wash cycle of each washing machine 4. Such recorded
and stored data permits verification of the determined contact value CT of
each
wash performed by any one of the washing machines 4.
[118] Turning now to Fig. 13, a brief description concerning a slight
modification
of the preferred location for the ozone sampling sensor or detector 162,
according
to Figs. 11 and 12, will now be described. As this embodiment is quite similar
in
most respects to the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12, only the differences
between
this embodiment and the previous embodiment will be discussed in detail.
[119] As shown in Figs. 13, the primary difference between this embodiment
and
the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12 relates to discharge of the withdrawn ozone
sample following detection by the ozone sampling sensor or detector 62.
According to this embodiment, the ozone return conduit 176, instead of
returning
the sensed ozone sample back to the contact chamber of the washing machine 4,
supplies the sensed ozone sample to an ozone exhaust vent 178. The ozone gas
exhaust vent is typically filled with charcoal, or some other conventional
ozone
destroying or destruction material 180, which readily destroys and/or converts
the
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ozone, contained within the withdrawn and sensed ozone sample, back into
harmless oxygen prior to discharging or venting the same directly into the
room or
the environment.
[120] Since certain changes may be made in the above described improved
ozone
generating and monitoring system, without departing from the spirit and scope
of
the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter
of the
above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted
merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be
construed as limiting the invention.
