U.S. patent application number 11/685048 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for cleaning and sanitizing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ozone International LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel W. Lynn.
Application Number | 20070144565 11/685048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34739583 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070144565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lynn; Daniel W. |
June 28, 2007 |
CLEANING AND SANITIZING SYSTEM
Abstract
A high pressure water stream (14) is discharged onto a surface
to be cleaned. An ozone/water stream (16) is discharged on the same
surface for sanitizing the surface. The high pressure water and
ozone/water streams (14, 16) are discharged simultaneously along
closely adjacent paths that are either parallel (FIG. 3) or
concentric (FIG. 2). The water pressure is at least about 100 p.s.i
and is preferably between 100 p.s.i and 1000 p.s.i. The nozzles
that discharge the streams (14, 16) may be movable relative to the
object(s) that receives the high pressure water and ozone/water
(FIG. 1). Or, they may be fixed and the object may be movable
relative to them (FIG. 4).
Inventors: |
Lynn; Daniel W.; (Bainbridge
Island, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACK LOWE & GRAHAM, PLLC
701 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 4800
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Assignee: |
Ozone International LLC
Bainbridge Island
WA
|
Family ID: |
34739583 |
Appl. No.: |
11/685048 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11226990 |
Sep 15, 2005 |
7188632 |
|
|
11685048 |
Mar 12, 2007 |
|
|
|
10755527 |
Jan 9, 2004 |
7086407 |
|
|
11226990 |
Sep 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/198 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/22 20130101; A61L
2/183 20130101; B05B 7/02 20130101; B05B 7/066 20130101; B08B
2203/005 20130101; A23B 4/24 20130101; B08B 3/026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/198 |
International
Class: |
B08B 3/00 20060101
B08B003/00 |
Claims
1. A cleaning and sanitizing system, comprising: a first discharge
orifice; a first conduit for delivering water to the first
discharge orifice to be discharged by the first discharge orifice
as a first stream; a second discharge orifice; a second conduit for
delivering ozone/water to the second discharge orifice, to be
discharged from the second discharge orifice as a stream of
ozone/water; a source of water connected to the first conduit for
delivering water into and through the first conduit and out from
the first discharge orifice as a stream of high pressure water; a
source of ozone/water connected to the second conduit for
delivering ozone/water into and through the second conduit and out
from the second discharge orifice as a stream of ozone/water; said
first and second orifices being positioned and secured adjacent to
each other.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure of the high pressure
water stream is at least about 100 psi.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein first orifice and the second
orifice are permanently secured closely adjacent one another.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein first orifice and the second
orifice are secured in a fixed distal relationship with respect to
one another.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second discharge orifice is
positioned to discharge the stream of ozone/water along a path that
is laterally adjacent the path of the high pressure water stream
that is discharged from the first discharge orifice.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second discharge
orifices are a part of a single wand having a first end that
includes inlets for sections of the first and second conduits that
are in the wand and a second end that includes the first and second
discharge orifices.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first and second discharge
orifices are fixed in position with respect to each other.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first conduit includes a
first hose section and said second conduit includes a second hose
section.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second discharge orifice is
positioned to discharge the stream of ozone/water along a path that
concentrically surrounds the path of the high pressure water stream
that is discharged from the first discharge orifice.
10. A cleaning device, comprising: a first fluid outlet; a second
fluid outlet; a source of high pressure water connected in fluid
communication to the first fluid outlet; and a source of
ozone/water connected in fluid communication to the second fluid
outlet; wherein the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet
are secured to the device closely adjacent one another.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein first outlet and the second
outlet are secured to the device in a fixed spatial relationship
with respect to one another.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second conduit is
positioned to deliver ozone/water along a path that concentrically
surrounds the path of the water delivered by the first conduit.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/226,990, filed Sep. 15, 2005, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/755,527 filed Jan. 9, 2004, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to cleaning by use of a
high pressure water stream and sanitizing by use of an ozone/water
stream and, more specifically, to a cleaning and sanitizing method
and apparatus in which the high pressure water stream and the
ozone/water stream are discharged together, closely adjacent each
other but without mixing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The following United States Patents disclose apparatus and
methods of using ozone together with a cleaning fluid: U.S. Pat.
No. 5,236,512 granted Aug. 17, 1993, to Ernest E. Rogers, Blaine A.
Frandsen and Lamont Hislop; U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,754, granted Feb.
27, 1996 to Russell Gurstein and Edgar York; U.S. Pat. No.
5,815,869, granted Oct. 6, 1998 to John M. Hopkins; U.S. Pat. No.
5,839,155, granted Nov. 24, 1998 to Edward D. Berglund, Sung K. Cho
and Lowell H. Schiebe; U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,862 granted Sep. 12,
2000 to Theodore R. Cooper, Allyson T. Toney and John B. McParlane;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,227, granted Feb. 19, 2002, to Luis D.
Caracciolo; U.S. Pat. No. 6,455,017, granted Sep. 24, 2002, to John
R. Kasting, Dwayne H. Joines and John D. Winings; U.S. Pat. No.
6,458,398, granted Oct. 1, 2002 to Durand M. Smith, Dale S. Winger
and Joshuan Brown, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,364, granted Oct. 28,
2003 to Gene Harkins and John M. Hopkins.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No 6,454,017 discloses various uses of ozone as a
sterilant. In this patent, it is stated that ozone cannot be
combined with detergent or other cleaning agents since these are
vulnerable to ozone attack. It is also stated that the ozone will
destroy both its own effectiveness and that of the cleaning agent
rather than attacking pathogens. Pat. No. 6,455,017 discloses
directing a detergent cleaning solution, preferably under pressure,
onto a surface to be cleaned. Then following the removal of the
soils by the detergent an aqueous ozone rinse is applied to the
surface. It is stated that the ozone rinse functions to sanitize
the object being cleaned and remove residual detergent. The method
of Pat. No. 6,455,017 involves first directing the cleaning
solution onto the surface under pressure, and then rinsing the
surface by directing a flow of the ozonated water onto the
surface.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,995, granted Feb. 2, 1999 to William R.
Nelson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,688, granted Mar. 26, 2002, also to
William R. Nelson, disclose systems for producing "ozonated water",
also termed "ozone/water". As well be described, the selected one
of the systems is combined in a novel way in the system of the
present invention.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to deliver a high
pressure cleaning water stream and an ozone/water stream
substantially simultaneously to a surface to be cleaned and
sanitized. The invention is basically characterized by delivering
the high pressure water stream and the ozone/water stream closely
adjacent to each other but without mixing. The high pressure water
stream removes particles from the surface and the ozone/water
stream sanitizes the surface almost simultaneously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The cleaning and sanitizing system of the present invention
is basically characterized by a first discharge nozzle from which a
stream of high pressure water is discharged and a second discharge
nozzle from which a stream of ozone/water is discharged. The first
and second nozzles are positioned adjacent to each other so that
the water and ozone/water streams are contiguous but the
ozone/water is not delivered in the high pressure water stream. The
high pressure water stream is discharged at a pressure high enough
that it will exert a cleaning force on a surface to be cleaned and
would convert the ozone into oxygen if the ozone/water stream were
to be delivered into the high pressure water stream. In preferred
form, the pressure of the high water pressure stream is at least
about 100 p.s.i. More preferably, the pressure of the high pressure
water stream is between 100 p.s.i. and about 1000 p.s.i. The
pressure of the ozone/water stream is smaller than the pressure of
the high pressure water stream and is sufficiently small that the
ozone is not converted into oxygen.
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the ozone/water
stream concentrically surrounds the high pressure water stream.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the high
pressure water and the ozone/water are discharged as closely spaced
substantially parallel stream.
[0010] The nozzles for discharging the high pressure water and the
ozone/water can be movable to the object that is to be cleaned. Or,
the discharge nozzles can be fixed and the article to be cleaned
can be moved relative to the nozzles.
[0011] In an embodiment of the cleaning and sanitizing system of
the present invention, a circulating flow path of ozone/water is
provided. Along this path, one or more high pressure water
discharge nozzles are provided. An ozone/water nozzle is associated
with each high pressure water nozzle. The high pressure water
stream may be used to "pump" or "aspirate" ozone/water from the
circulating system. As ozone/water is removed from the system, new
water is delivered to the ozone/water generator and additional
ozone is added to the water in the generator.
[0012] Other advantages, and features of the invention will become
apparent. From the description of the best mode set forth below,
from the drawings, from the claims and from the principles that are
embodied in the specific structure that are illustrated and
described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a
workman in the process of cleaning and sanitizing an object, by use
of a high pressure water stream and an ozone/water stream;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wand shown in FIG.
1, showing a portion of the wand in longitudinal section, such view
showing a first nozzle discharging high pressure water stream
surrounded by a second nozzle discharging an ozone/water
stream;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic view of a second embodiment
of the wand, showing the high pressure water nozzle and stream and
the ozone/water nozzle and stream in a side-by-side
relationship;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of an apparatus for conveying chickens or
other fowl along a path that is between stationary nozzles for
delivering a high pressure water stream, for cleaning the fowl, and
an ozone/water stream, for sanitizing the fowl; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a system embodying the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a workman 10 holding a wand 12 that is adapted
to discharge a high pressure water stream, for cleaning, and an
ozone/water stream for sanitizing. The two streams 14, 16 are being
discharge against an object 18 that needs to be cleaned and
sanitized. FIG. 2 shows the high pressure water stream 14
surrounded by the ozone/water stream 16. FIG. 3 shows the high
pressure water stream 14 and the ozone/water stream 16 being
discharged in a side by side relationship.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, the wand 12 has a grip portion 20 that
the workman 10 grips with one hand 22. The workman's other hand 24
grips an elongated central portion of the wand 12. In this
embodiment, the wand 12 includes a conduit 26 that extends through
the wand 12 from an inlet 28 to an outlet 30. The inlet 28 is
connected to a source of high pressure water 32. The outlet 30 is
in the form of a discharge nozzle that discharges a stream of the
high pressure water 14. Wand 12 includes a tubular outer wall 34
that surround the high pressure water conduit 26. An annular
passageway 35 is defined by and radially between the two tubular
walls 26, 34. A cone 38 is provided at the outlet of the annular
passageway 36. A conduit 40 delivers ozone from a source 42 into
the passageway 36. The ozone/water flows through passageway 36, and
through diagonal ports in cone 38 and discharges as an annular
stream 16 surrounding stream 14. Streams 16, 14 do not directly
impinge. They extend substantially parallel to each other along a
relative small diameter combined stream path.
[0021] The conduits 28, 40 includes suitable on-off valves that are
not shown. This is because they are not a part of the present
invention but can be like the many valves that are available for
controlling fluids that flow through conduits.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a wand 12 that includes a high pressure water
conduit 26 positioned closely adjacent an ozone/water conduit 36.
As previously described, the high pressure water stream 14 and the
ozone/water stream 16 are discharged in close proximity to each
other but neither infringes directly on the other. There is no
attempt to mix the ozone/water stream 16 with the high pressure
water stream 14. As is well known by a person of ordinary skill in
the art, the high pressure water conduit 26' will include an off/on
valve and the ozone/water stream 36' will also include an off/on
valve. The valves may also control the pressure and discharge flow
rate of the two streams 14, 16, in a known matter.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an overhead hose reel 44 on a pulley 46. Pulley
46 is adapted to travel along a rod or a line 48. The reel 44 is
preferably a dual reel. It supports a high pressure water hose 50
and an ozone/water hose 52. As the worker 10 walks forwardly from
the position shown in FIG. 1, the pulley 46 will move forwardly on
the rod or line 48. In a manner that is known to those skilled in
the art, a first coiled hose 54 and a second coil holds 56 extended
downwardly from the reel 44. The coils 54, 56 are in the nature of
coil springs. They will extend when the operator 10 and the wand 12
move forwardly. They will retract when the operator 10 and the wand
14 move rearwardly.
[0024] FIG. 4 is substantially like FIG. 6 in the aforementioned
U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,227 B1. A conveyor 60 is shown conveying a fowl
62 (e.g. chicken or turkey) or some other animal or object a path,
through a processing area between high pressure water and
ozone/water streams discharging from nozzles 62. In addition to the
nozzles 62, the system 59 may include brushes 64, as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,227 B1. The nozzles 62 are constructed to
discharge a stream of high pressure wash water 14 closely adjacent
a stream of ozone/water, but without direct mixing of the two
streams.
[0025] As has been described, the high pressure water stream 14 and
the ozone/water stream 16 may be brought to the object or article
to be cleaned and sanitized. Or, the high pressure water stream 14
and the ozone/water stream 16 may be discharged from stationary
nozzles (e.g. nozzles 62) towards a moving object or objects (e.g.
fowl that are moved relative to the stationary nozzles 62).
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a cleaning and sanitizing system that utilizes
the present invention. High pressure water is pumped from source 32
into conduit 50 and from conduit 50 to the nozzle 30, 30' that
forms the high pressure water stream 14. Ozonated water
(ozone/water) 10 is delivered from apparatus 80 into conduit 52
which leads to the nozzles from the ozone streams 16. The apparatus
80 for admixing ozone to water man be one of the apparatuses
disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,865,995 and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,361,688. The contents of these patents are hereby
incorporated herein by this specific reference.
[0027] The ozonated water conduit 52 forms a closed loop with the
apparatus 80. A pump 82 pumps the ozone/water in conduit 52 to the
recirculated liquid inlet of a contact tank 84. See inlet 112 in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,688 leading into contact tank 36 disclosed in
that patent. The high pressure water stream 14 will pump or
aspirate the ozone/water and remove it from the closed loop conduit
52. Because some of the ozonated water is discharged from the water
nozzles 30, 30', new water is added at 86 into admixture with the
recirculated ozone/water that is moved by pump 82 into the inlet of
the contact chamber 84.
[0028] Preferably, the cleaning water that is discharged from the
nozzles 30, 30' is water only. That is, it does not include a
detergent or some other chemical. The surface to be cleaned is
cleaned by the force of the high pressure water stream rather than
by a detergent or other additive to the water stream. The
ozone/water stream is delivered directly on the surface that is
being cleaned by the water stream and there is no chemical present
with which the ozone may react.
[0029] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present
invention, and therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood
that many changes in the particular structure, materials, and
features of the invention may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention
that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments
that are illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be
determined by the following claims, interpreted according to
accepted doctrine of claim interpretation, including the use of the
doctrine of equivalence.
* * * * *