U.S. patent application number 17/384652 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-27 for aqueous ozone sanitizing system controller and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is 3Oe Scientific, LLC. Invention is credited to David Carlson, Thomas F. Foust, John Morici, Christopher Thompson, Jake Vail.
Application Number | 20220023452 17/384652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220023452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foust; Thomas F. ; et
al. |
January 27, 2022 |
AQUEOUS OZONE SANITIZING SYSTEM CONTROLLER AND METHODS
Abstract
An illustrative control system for use with an aqueous ozone
sanitizing device, for example, for sanitizing objects, including
hands, hands and forearms, feet, other tissue, instruments, or
other object sanitizing, including rinsing and clinical treatment.
One embodiment of the control system includes a proximity sensor
for detecting a user proximity to the sanitizing device, sensors
for detecting a body part or object placement within a application
zone, control of the delivery of desired aqueous ozone
concentration and duration to the application zone, control of
ozone off-gas mitigation, cycle error detection, and usage data
logging, including personnel sanitizing practice compliance.
Inventors: |
Foust; Thomas F.; (Carmel,
IN) ; Thompson; Christopher; (Fort Worth, TX)
; Morici; John; (Kildeer, IL) ; Carlson;
David; (Lake Zurich, IL) ; Vail; Jake; (Lake
Zurich, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
3Oe Scientific, LLC |
Carmel |
IN |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/384652 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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63056538 |
Jul 24, 2020 |
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63056299 |
Jul 24, 2020 |
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International
Class: |
A61L 2/00 20060101
A61L002/00 |
Claims
1. A control system for an aqueous ozone sanitizing device for
sanitizing a first and a second object, comprising: a power supply;
a controller powered by the power supply and for controlling a
process of the sanitizing device, including a state of dispensing
aqueous ozone to a first application zone; a proximity sensor
coupled to the controller and configured to detect the presence of
a user within a preset proximate distance to the sanitizing device;
and a first object sensor coupled to the controller and configured
to detect placement of the first object within the first
application zone; and wherein the controller initiates the state of
dispensing aqueous ozone to the first application zone only upon
both the proximity sensor detecting the presence of a user within
the preselected distance to the sanitizing device and the first
object sensor detecting placement of the first object within the
first application zone.
2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is a
capacitive sensor configured to detect a user's body within a
preselected distance from the sanitizing device that is close
enough for the user to position the first object within the first
application zone.
3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is
configured to detect that the user is within about 18 inches of the
sanitizing device.
4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is
configured to detect that the user is within 12 inches of the
sanitizing device.
5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first object sensor
is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the first object
located within the first application zone.
6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator
coupled to the controller, the indicator configured to provide to
the user an indication of the state of the process.
7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the indicator includes a
plurality of different colored light illuminations, each of the
plurality of different colored light illuminations indicating at
least one of a plurality of states of the process, the plurality of
states of the process including at least a ready state, the state
of dispensing aqueous ozone to a first application zone, a state of
process error, and a state of mitigating ozone off-gas.
8. The control system of claim 6, wherein the indicator includes at
least one light configured for a steady illumination for at least a
first state of the process and a flashing illumination for at least
a second state of the process.
9. The control system of claim 6, wherein the indicator is
positioned with the sanitizing device to illuminate at least the
first application zone with light.
10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the process of the
sanitizing device further includes a state of mitigating ozone
off-gas that the controller activates beginning no later than an
initiation of the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the first
application zone and continuing after the termination of the state
of dispensing aqueous ozone to the first application zone.
11. The control system of claim 10, further comprising a gaseous
ozone detector coupled to the controller, and wherein the state of
mitigating ozone off-gas is terminated by the controller after the
gaseous ozone detector measures a level below a preset
threshold.
12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the state of mitigating
ozone off-gas is terminated by the controller after a preset time
delay following the termination of the state of dispensing aqueous
ozone to the first application zone.
13. The control system of claim 1, further comprising: a second
object sensor electrically coupled to the controller and configured
to detect placement of the second object within a second
application zone of the sanitizing device; and wherein the
controller initiates the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the
first application zone only upon all of: the proximity sensor
detecting the presence of a user within a preselected proximate
distance to the sanitizing device; the first object sensor
detecting placement of the first object within the first
application zone; and the second object sensor detecting placement
of the second object within the second application zone.
14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the first and second
object detectors are configured to detect the user's placement of a
left and a right hand within corresponding ones of the first and
second application zones.
15. The control system of claim 13, wherein the first and second
object detectors are configured to detect the user's placement and
orientation of a left and a right hand within corresponding ones of
the first and the second application zones.
16. The control system of claim 1, wherein the process further
includes a state of process error, the process error state
initiated by the controller upon detection of the first object
displaced from the first application zone before a completion of
the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the first application
zone.
17. The control system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one
of a flow rate sensor and a parameter sensor, the parameter
correlating to a level of ozone concentration within the aqueous
ozone; and wherein the process further includes a state of process
error, the process error state initiated by the controller upon
detection of at least one of the flow rate sensor detecting a flow
rate outside of a pre-selected range and the parameter sensor
detecting the parameter outside of a pre-selected range.
18. A control system for an aqueous ozone sanitizing device for
sanitizing an object, comprising: a controller for controlling a
process of the sanitizing device, including a plurality of process
states; a proximity sensor coupled to the controller and configured
to detect the presence of a user within a preset proximate distance
to the sanitizing device; an object sensor coupled to the
controller and configured to detect placement of the object within
an application zone of the sanitizing device; and a user interface
coupled to the controller and including an indicator of the
plurality of process states; and wherein plurality of process
states include at least: a state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the
application zone initiated by the controller only upon both the
proximity sensor detecting the presence of a user proximate to the
system and the object sensor detecting placement of the object
within the application zone; a state of completion initiated by the
controller upon maintaining the state of dispensing aqueous ozone
to the object in the application zone for a preset length of time;
and a state of process error initiated by the controller upon not
maintaining a state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the object in
the application zone for the preset length of time.
19. A control system for an aqueous ozone sanitizing device for
sanitizing a user's body parts, comprising: a controller for
controlling a process of the sanitizing device, including a
plurality of process states; a plurality of body part sensors
coupled to the controller and configured to detect placement of the
user's body parts within at least one application zone of the
sanitizing device; and a user interface coupled to the controller
and including an indicator of the plurality of process states; and
wherein plurality of process states of the controller include at
least: a ready state; a state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the at
least one application zone initiated by the controller upon the
plurality of body part sensors detecting placement of the user's
body parts within the at least one application zone; a state of
completion initiated by the controller upon maintaining the state
of dispensing aqueous ozone to the user's body parts within the at
least one application zone for at least a preset length of time; a
state of process error initiated by the controller upon not
maintaining a state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the user's body
parts within the at least one application zone for the preset
length of time; and a state of mitigating ozone off-gas initiated
by the controller to coincide with the initiation of and continuing
after termination of the state of dispensing aqueous ozone; and
wherein the indicator includes a plurality of different light
illuminations, each of the plurality of different light
illuminations indicating at least one of the plurality of process
states.
20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the user interface
further indicates proper orientation of the user's body parts
within the at least one application zone.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a nonprovisional patent application of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 63/056,299, filed Jul. 24, 2020,
and titled Aqueous Ozone Sanitizing System; and U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 63/056,538, filed Jul. 24, 2020, and titled
Ozone Generator Cartridge for Ozonating Water; each of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for sanitizing
with aqueous ozone, and particularly, to the generation and
delivery of aqueous ozone in sanitizing devices, including hand
sanitizing devices.
[0003] Personal hygiene has long been an essential component of
infection prevention, particularly hand hygiene. Subsequent to the
implementation of soap as an initial hand hygiene solution, many
modalities have been developed to maximize antimicrobial efficacy
and improve hand hygiene compliance while minimizing skin
irritation. However, there has been little regulation of these
products until 2017, when the FDA issued a landmark ruling deeming
24 ingredients unsuitable for use in healthcare solutions. The
ruling resulted in one solution, triclosan, being pulled from the
market for its well-documented role in causing antimicrobial
resistance, and deferred ruling on several others, calling for more
safety and efficacy data.
[0004] Traditional soap, alcohol, chlorhexidine gluconate, povidone
iodine, and benzalkonium chloride have all been widely used in
healthcare as hand hygiene solutions, with differing levels of
efficacy and risk. A review of literature discussing conclusions
from many studies makes clear that there is conflicting evidence
about the effectiveness of each product. Efficacy as an outcome
variable can be assessed in many ways, making it difficult to
compare and synthesize outcomes across studies. Researchers report
different primary outcomes (colony-forming unit counts vs.
infection rates) and use a variety of experimental designs (in
vitro, in vivo, artificial contamination, observational, etc.).
Additionally, efficacy often depends on the specific virus or
bacterium, the length of time spent cleaning, and the cleaning
technique (rubbing, scrubbing, etc.). Another factor that impacts
efficacy is acquired self-resistance.
[0005] Although consensus about efficacy can be difficult, the
collective evidence indicates that microbes can generate resistance
to some hand hygiene solutions, and some of these solutions may
even foster cross-resistance to other antibiotics. Additionally,
skin damage or irritation from repeated use is a concern for many
hand hygiene solutions. The limited existing evidence demonstrates
a need for a future hand hygiene solution that is broadly effective
against bacteria and viruses, while also avoiding both skin damage
and bacterial resistance.
[0006] Ozone (O.sub.3) is known to be a highly effective
disinfectant. Ozone is produced when water (H.sub.2O) or oxygen
(O.sub.2) is energized, producing monatomic (O.sub.1) molecules
that collide with oxygen (O.sub.2) molecules to form ozone
(O.sub.3). The third oxygen atom in ozone is loosely bonded and is
therefore highly reactive and readily attaches to and oxidizes
other molecules. When used to sanitize, exposure to ozone has been
demonstrated to be very effective at killing microorganisms,
including bacteria, viruses, and spores.
[0007] Aqueous ozone, a solution of water (H.sub.2O) and ozone
(O.sub.3), has also been demonstrated to be effective at
sanitizing, i.e., killing microorganisms, when applied at a
sufficient combination of ozone concentration and exposure time.
Example applications for sanitizing using aqueous ozone include
hand sanitizing in place of a soap or other disinfectant wash, the
clinical treatment of infected tissue, sanitizing food, and
sanitizing medical, food processing, and other instruments and work
surfaces.
[0008] A concern noted regarding the use of ozone for hand and
other tissue sanitizing is the potential adverse effect to human or
animal cells if applied at too high of an ozone concentration or
for an exposure that is too prolonged, e.g., the `dosage.` It is
known that very high doses of ozone can cause lung and other tissue
damage. On the other hand, mild to moderate oxidative cell stress
caused by low doses of ozone appears to be suggest a therapeutic
effect that benefits and aids tissue healing. While it remains
unclear how high a level of exposure would lead to unintended
cellular damage or clinically relevant skin pathologies, safety
warrants using only the ozone dosage required to achieve the
desired logarithmic level of reduction of the targeted
microorganisms, which is also expected to be also proven to be of
little risk and likely therapeutic benefit to human tissue.
[0009] Many prior art systems provide aqueous ozone by generating
ozone gas from air, which has lower concentrations of oxygen
molecules than water, or from liquid oxygen, which is expensive and
difficult to handle logistically and in the process. Further, once
gaseous ozone is produced, it must be uniformly distributed and
dissolve, which is difficult and inefficient, requiring a number of
controlled process steps and often producing excess ozone off-gas
and non-uniform distribution of dissolved ozone in the water
stream. For the smaller scale of a device or other appliance, for
example, for a single user, gaseous generation and mixing effective
and efficient for an industrial or municipal scale is not
practically applied from a cost, technological, or effectiveness
perspective.
[0010] In light of the need for improved hand hygiene and other
sanitizing solutions providing a well-regulated dosage, a high
level of assurance must be incorporated into generating and
delivering the desired level of aqueous ozone concentration level,
complete area coverage, and the desired exposure time effective at
killing targeted microorganisms while not inducing undue oxidative
stress to the hands (dermis cells) or other tissues being
sanitized.
[0011] The present disclosure is a result of the recognition of and
response to this need for improved generation and delivery systems
for aqueous ozone sanitizing, particularly for hand sanitizing.
SUMMARY
[0012] The present invention may comprise one or more of the
features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the
following features and combinations thereof.
[0013] An illustrative control system for use with an aqueous ozone
sanitizing device, for example, for sanitizing objects, including
hands, hands and forearms, feet, other tissue, instruments, or
other object sanitizing, including rinsing and clinical treatment.
One embodiment of the control system includes a proximity sensor
for detecting a user proximity to the sanitizing device, sensors
for detecting a body part or object placement within a application
zone, control of the delivery of desired aqueous ozone
concentration and duration to the application zone, control of
ozone off-gas mitigation, cycle error detection, and usage data
logging, including personnel sanitizing practice compliance.
[0014] Embodiments according to the present disclosure advantageous
produce aqueous ozone directly by electrolytic action within a
water stream, thereby cost and process efficiently and effectively
producing uniformly dissolved ozone in water (aqueous ozone) with
minimal off-gassing. The embodiments further produce and deliver
the aqueous ozone in a small compact space, minimizing ozone decay
in application, and maximizing the rinsing and sanitizing effects
of both chemical and mechanical action with a high surface area
provided by small uniform particles of aqueous ozone with a high
spin rate, applied by direct irrigation to the entire surface of
the hands, efficiently loosening and lessening the microbe
load.
[0015] While not limited to this application and concentration or
kill rate, embodiments disclosed herein may be used to sanitize a
user's hands with a 0.8 ppm concentration of aqueous ozone at a
flowrate of about 3.0 gallons per minute for a duration of 7
seconds, which has demonstrated with the illustrative embodiment to
have a antimicrobial effect of providing at least a minimum of a 3
log reduction in the broad spectrum of microorganisms that typical
sanitization systems kill (for example, Tentative Final Monograph
(TFM) 24), including for example, clostridioides difficile (C.
diff). Additionally, embodiments disclosed herein can provide up to
a 4.0 ppm concentration of aqueous ozone over different periods of
time and different flowrates to meet the needs of various
applications and uses. In some embodiments the sanitizer may be
configured and used to operate as a wellness rinse without specific
healthcare or medical disinfection performance criteria standards
or approvals, and in other embodiments the sanitizer may be
configured and used to operate as a medical device in a healthcare
environment, including for example, for treatment and/or
sterilization, with appropriate governmental and/or industry
approvals and performance criteria standards, including, for
example, with other body parts, tissue, or objects, including
instruments.
[0016] In one illustrative embodiment, a control system for an
aqueous ozone sanitizing device for sanitizing a first and a second
object, comprises: a power supply; a controller powered by the
power supply and for controlling a process of the sanitizing
device, including a state of dispensing aqueous ozone to a first
application zone; a proximity sensor coupled to the controller and
configured to detect the presence of a user within a preset
proximate distance to the sanitizing device; and a first object
sensor coupled to the controller and configured to detect placement
of the first object within the first application zone; and wherein
the controller initiates the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to
the first application zone only upon both the proximity sensor
detecting the presence of a user within the preselected distance to
the sanitizing device and the first object sensor detecting
placement of the first object within the first application
zone.
[0017] And additionally or alternatively, in any subcombination,
the control system wherein the proximity sensor is a capacitive
sensor configured to detect a user's body within a preselected
distance from the sanitizing device that is close enough for the
user to position the first object within the first application
zone; wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect that the
user is within about 18 inches of the sanitizing device; wherein
the proximity sensor is configured to detect that the user is
within 12 inches of the sanitizing device; wherein the first object
sensor is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the first
object located within the first application zone.
[0018] An embodiment of the control system further comprising an
indicator coupled to the controller, the indicator configured to
provide to the user an indication of the state of the process; and
additionally or alternatively, in any subcombination, wherein the
indicator includes a plurality of different colored light
illuminations, each of the plurality of different colored light
illuminations indicating at least one of a plurality of states of
the process, the plurality of states of the process including at
least a ready state, the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to a
first application zone, a state of process error, and a state of
mitigating ozone of off-gas; wherein the indicator includes at
least one light configured for a steady illumination for at least a
first state of the process and a flashing illumination for at least
a second state of the process; wherein the indicator is positioned
with the sanitizing device to illuminate at least the first
application zone with light; wherein the process of the sanitizing
device further includes a state of mitigating ozone off-gas that
the controller activates beginning no later than an initiation of
the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the first application zone
and continuing after the termination of the state of dispensing
aqueous ozone to the first application zone.
[0019] An embodiment of the control system further comprising a
gaseous ozone detector coupled to the controller, and wherein the
state of mitigating ozone off-gas is terminated by the controller
after the gaseous ozone detector measures a level below a preset
threshold; and additionally or alternatively, in any
subcombination, wherein the state of mitigating ozone off-gas is
terminated by the controller after a preset time delay following
the termination of the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the
first application zone.
[0020] An embodiment of the control system further comprising: a
second object sensor electrically coupled to the controller and
configured to detect placement of the second object within a second
application zone of the sanitizing device; and wherein the
controller initiates the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the
first application zone only upon all of: the proximity sensor
detecting the presence of a user within a preselected proximate
distance to the sanitizing device; the first object sensor
detecting placement of the first object within the first
application zone; and the second object sensor detecting placement
of the second object within the second application zone; wherein
the first and second object detectors are configured to detect the
user's placement of a left and a right hand within corresponding
ones of the first and second application zones; wherein the first
and second object detectors are configured to detect the user's
placement and orientation of a left and a right hand within
corresponding ones of the first and the second application zones;
wherein the process further includes a state of process error, the
process error state initiated by the controller upon detection of
the first object displaced from the first application zone before a
completion of the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the first
application zone.
[0021] An embodiment of the control system further comprising: at
least one of a flow rate sensor and a parameter sensor, the
parameter correlating to a level of ozone concentration within the
aqueous ozone; and wherein the process further includes a state of
process error, the process error state initiated by the controller
upon detection of at least one of the flow rate sensor detecting a
flow rate outside of a pre-selected range and the parameter sensor
detecting the parameter outside of a pre-selected range.
[0022] An alternative embodiment of a control system for an aqueous
ozone sanitizing device for sanitizing an object, comprises: a
controller for controlling a process of the sanitizing device,
including a plurality of process states; a proximity sensor coupled
to the controller and configured to detect the presence of a user
within a preset proximate distance to the sanitizing device; an
object sensor coupled to the controller and configured to detect
placement of the object within an application zone of the
sanitizing device; and a user interface coupled to the controller
and including an indicator of the plurality of process states; and
wherein plurality of process states include at least: a state of
dispensing aqueous ozone to the application zone initiated by the
controller only upon both the proximity sensor detecting the
presence of a user proximate to the system and the object sensor
detecting placement of the object within the application zone; a
state of completion initiated by the controller upon maintaining
the state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the object in the
application zone for a preset length of time; and a state of
process error initiated by the controller upon not maintaining a
state of dispensing aqueous ozone to the object in the application
zone for the preset length of time.
[0023] An alternative embodiment of a control system for an aqueous
ozone sanitizing device for sanitizing a user's body parts,
comprising: a controller for controlling a process of the
sanitizing device, including a plurality of process states; a
plurality of body part sensors coupled to the controller and
configured to detect placement of the user's body parts within at
least one application zone of the sanitizing device; and a user
interface coupled to the controller and including an indicator of
the plurality of process states; and wherein plurality of process
states of the controller include at least: a ready state; a state
of dispensing aqueous ozone to the at least one application zone
initiated by the controller upon the plurality of body part sensors
detecting placement of the user's body parts within the at least
one application zone; a state of completion initiated by the
controller upon maintaining the state of dispensing aqueous ozone
to the user's body parts within the at least one application zone
for at least a preset length of time; a state of process error
initiated by the controller upon not maintaining a state of
dispensing aqueous ozone to the user's body parts within the at
least one application zone for the preset length of time; and a
state of mitigating ozone off-gas initiated by the controller to
coincide with the initiation of and continuing after termination of
the state of dispensing aqueous ozone; and wherein the indicator
includes a plurality of different light illuminations, each of the
plurality of different light illuminations indicating at least one
of the plurality of process states. Additionally or alternatively,
wherein the user interface further indicates proper orientation of
the user's body parts within the at least one application zone.
[0024] For purposes of this disclosure, including the claims, the
term `about` is defined as within a definite range of +/-10% of the
referenced value. Additional features of the disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the
following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying Figs. in which:
[0026] FIG. 1A is a perspective assembly view of a first
illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing system
according to the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 1B is a perspective assembly view of a second
illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing system
according to the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a user point of view of the illustrative
embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0029] FIG. 3A is front perspective view the aqueous ozone
sanitizing system of FIG. 1A;
[0030] FIG. 3B is rear perspective view the aqueous ozone
sanitizing system of FIG. 1A;
[0031] FIG. 4 is an electrical and fluid schematic block diagram of
an illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing system
according to the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective assembly view of the aqueous
ozone sanitizing system of FIG. 1A;
[0033] FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of a hood portion of
the aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIG. 1A;
[0034] FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of a hood portion
and lower frame portion of the aqueous ozone sanitizing system of
FIG. 1A;
[0035] FIG. 6C is a front view of a front hood cover portion
illustrating the hand openings of the aqueous ozone sanitizing
system of FIG. 1A;
[0036] FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating the aqueous ozone spray
patterns of a first illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone
sanitizing system according to the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 7B is a left side view illustrating the aqueous ozone
spray patterns of the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 7A;
[0038] FIG. 7C is a front view illustrating the aqueous ozone spray
patterns of a second illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone
sanitizing system according to the present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective assembly view
showing the spray chamber portion of the illustrative embodiment of
the aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIGS. 3A and 3B taken along
cutting plane line 8-8 shown in FIG. 3B;
[0040] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the
upper portion of the spray chamber of the illustrative embodiment
of the aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIGS. 3A and 3B taken
along cutting plane line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 3B;
[0041] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the
lower portion of the spray chamber of the illustrative embodiment
of the aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIGS. 3A and 3B taken
along cutting plane line 9B-9B shown in FIG. 3B;
[0042] FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional bottom view showing the upper
portion of the spray chamber of the illustrative embodiment of the
aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIGS. 3A and 3B taken along
cutting plane line 9A-9A shown in FIG. 3B;
[0043] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional top view showing the lower
portion of the spray chamber of the illustrative embodiment of the
aqueous ozone sanitizing system of FIGS. 3A and 3B taken along
cutting plane line 9B-9B shown in FIG. 3B;
[0044] FIGS. 11A and 12A illustrate spray zones and spray devices
in a front view of a spray chamber portion of an illustrative
embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing system according to the
present disclosure;
[0045] FIGS. 11B and 12B illustrate spray zones and spray devices
in a right side view of a spray chamber of the illustrative
embodiment of FIGS. 11A and 12A;
[0046] FIGS. 11C and 12C illustrate spray zones and spray devices
in a rear view of a spray chamber of the illustrative embodiment of
FIGS. 11A and 12A;
[0047] FIG. 13 illustrates plugging and unplugging of an aqueous
ozone generator of the illustrative embodiment with a docking
station of the aqueous ozone sanitizing device of FIGS. 1A and
1B;
[0048] FIG. 14A illustrates a docking receptacle portion of an
illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing device with
a locking mechanism for the aqueous ozone generator according to
the present disclosure;
[0049] FIG. 14B illustrates an illustrative embodiment of the
aqueous ozone generator with a locking mechanism for engaging the
docking receptacle according to the present disclosure;
[0050] FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded view of the aqueous ozone
generator of FIG. 13;
[0051] FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a manifold
portion of the aqueous ozone generator of FIG. 15 taken along
cutting plane line 16-16 shown in FIG. 15;
[0052] FIG. 17 illustrates an electrical schematic block diagram of
an illustrative embodiment of an aqueous ozone sanitizing system
according to the present disclosure; and
[0053] FIG. 18 shows an illustrative process for the operation of
the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1A-B, 4, and 17.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0054] For the purposes of promoting and understanding the
principals of the invention, reference will now be made to one or
more illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings and specific
language will be used to describe the same.
[0055] Overview
[0056] Referring to FIG. 1A, a first illustrative aqueous ozone
sanitizing system for tissue sanitizing, forms a wall mounted hand
sanitizer 300a suitable for general commercial or healthcare
facility use. A second embodiment forms a counter mount hand
sanitizer 300b for like usage, but rather than including lower
portion 334a for wall mounting, the counter mount hand sanitizer is
configured to provide or mount to an existing countertop 334b or
similar horizontal support surface. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A and 5,
the embodiments include a hooded sanitizing chamber 310 defining
openings 372a-b for hands 20, spray devices 410 and 430, a
docketing receptacle 350 for pluggably receiving a replaceable
ozone generator 100, and a controller 512 and hand sensors 590 for
sensing hand position and orientation, for delivering a desired
ozone concentration and duration, and for tracking usage, including
personnel sanitizing practice compliance.
[0057] While the illustrative embodiment discusses sanitizing of a
user's hands, other embodiments within the scope of the claimed
invention include sanitizing systems suitable for sanitizing other
body parts, for example, hands and forearms or feet, and for
sanitizing other objects, for example, including tools or
instruments such as medical devices, so it is under stood that an
object or a different body part or tissue can be substituted for
all occurrences of the disclosure reciting `a hand.`
[0058] The ozone generator 100 (FIG. 15) used with the hand
sanitizer 300 may included more than one ozone generation cells
210a-d. Additionally, quality sensors, for example, including but
not limited to sensor determining aqueous ozone concentration, for
example oxidation-reduction potential sensors 230 and 240a-b, may
optionally be housed within the replaceable ozone generator 100,
for example, an untreated water inlet sensor 230 the measurement of
which can be used to compare with the measurement of a single or
redundant ozonated water outlet sensors 240a-b for controller 512
to determine and control the ozone concentration provided by the
generator 100 to a desired level. Sensors may also be included in
ozone generator 100 and/or sanitizer 300 that provide measurement
of other properties and parameters of water, aqueous ozone, and the
components of system 300 include generator 100 discussed here.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 2, the front cover 370 defines a left
opening 372a is configured to guide a left hand 20a to a proper
position and orientation for a left spray zone (also referred to as
an application zone) within the spray chamber 310 and a right
opening 372b guides a right hand 20b to a proper position and
orientation for a right spray zone within the spray chamber 310,
both zones ensuring full coverage of hands 20 with the direct spray
of ozonated water 52. The user interface 584 may include fixed
markings or markings animated by the controller 512, presence
sensor 582, and/or hand sensors 590 to further guide timing of
insertion, withdrawal, and the position and orientation of the
hands 20. The front cover 370 may further define additional
features for guidance of hands 20 as will be discussed further
below.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hand sanitizer 300
includes a hooded sanitizing chamber 310 and a lower portion 334.
The hooding prevents undesirable escape of ozonated water 52 and
off-gassed ozone from the chamber 310, and includes covers 336. A
top cover 344 includes a fan screen 346 through which air pulled
from the chamber 310 and then filtered free of ozone is exhausted.
A cover frame 338 includes accessible or removable right cover 342
and left cover 340.
[0061] The applicant has found it advantageous to maintaining ozone
concentration provided by aqueous ozone generators 100a-b to locate
the generators in close proximity to the sanitizing chamber. For
example, in at least one embodiment less than a 30% loss of ozone
concentration was noted between the aqueous ozone generators 100a-b
and the spray chamber 310, therefore, minimizing losses, and
controlling the ozone production to account for losses is
required.
[0062] Opening the covers 340 and 342 provides access to docking
receptacle 350a-b in which aqueous ozone generators 100a-b are
plugged and are unplugged from and swapped when exhausted, as will
be discussed further below. The docking receptacles 350a and 350b
provide various water and/or electrical connections to connect the
generators 100a-b with other portions of the hand sanitizer as is
further described below. Docking receptacles 350a-b are each
defined by the housing chassis 330 between each of the left side
326 and right side 328 of the sanitizing chamber 310 and the
respective left cover 340 and right cover 342. Some embodiments may
include one and some other embodiments more than two docketing
receptacles 350a-b to support a different number of simultaneously
operated or reserve generators 100a-b.
[0063] A control system 500 of the hand sanitizer 300 may include a
presence sensor 582 for detection of a user, the function of which
will be further described below. The presence sensor 582 may be
located with the front cover 370, the adjacent frame 338 above or
below the cover, the top cover 344, or the lower portion 334.
[0064] The sanitizing chamber 310 and associated cover frame 338
may be coupled to a housing chassis 330, also shown in FIGS. 6A and
6B. The lower frame 332 may be used to attach the hand sanitizer
300 to a wall or other fixed or movable structure, and may also
support the chassis 330. Advantageously, the illustrative
embodiment of hand sanitizers 300a-b have a sanitizing chamber 310
and cover 336 spanning only about 17.4 inches in height, about 20.5
inches in width, and about 18.6 inches in depth. The lower portion
334 included with sanitizer 300a adds about 19.6 inches in height
below the cover 336. The compact size of the hand sanitizers 300a-b
is advantageous to the small spaces in commercial or healthcare
facilities available for the installation, including as a
replacement to traditional handwashing sinks and other sanitizing
stations.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6B, the lower frame 332 may house
portions of the control system 500 and a water supply system 600,
including, for example, a power supply 510, an untreated water
holding tank 614, a water pump 622, a water filter, and connections
to an untreated water supply 50. Other portions of the control
system 500 and water supply system 600 may be located between the
chamber 310 and the cover frame 338 and associated covers. For
example, the controller 512 and associated ozone generator circuits
40, which may be separate from or integral with the controller, may
be located between a chamber top 314 and the top cover 344.
Additionally, an ozone filter 348 and a fan 560 may be located
between the chamber top 314 and the fan screen 346.
[0066] As illustrated in various cross-sectional views FIGS. 8 and
9A through 10B, A spray system 400 associated with and the
sanitizing chamber 310 includes spray devices 410a-e and 440a-e
which receive ozonated water 52 from the generators 100a-b and may
also include distribution manifolds 402a-b (FIG. 4). The spray
devices 410 and 440 are distributed within the sanitizing chamber
310, for example, within a chamber upper half 312, for example,
with a chamber top 314, and within a chamber lower half 320, for
example, with a chamber bottom 322. The chamber top 314 may include
contours 316 that can provide mounting locations for the desired
position and/or orientation of the spray devices 410a-c and 430d-e
as will be discussed further below. Similarly, the chamber bottom
322a may include contours 324 for spray devices 410d-e and 430d-e.
A drain 325 provides an escape path for the spent ozonated water 52
delivered by the spray devices 410a-e and 430a-e, for example,
defined through a portion of the chamber bottom 322.
[0067] Hood/Chamber Opening
[0068] While prior art system are directed to devices that require
the rubbing of hands under a unitary stream of aqueous ozone, or
hold hands horizontal, palms down as they are sprayed by an
oscillating spray bar, at least one of the illustrative embodiments
herein uses the increased efficiency and effectiveness offered by
position hands so that palms are vertical, facing each other. This
position of the hands provides a system 300 having more compact
chamber 310, spray zones 420 and 440, reduced distance from aqueous
ozone generators 100 to spray zones 420 and 440, an easier position
to hold hands in for the user, reduced splashing of water and
off-gassed ozone outside of the chamber 310, and longer run-off
paths for additional chemical and mechanical action by the aqueous
ozone.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 6C, each opening 372a-b of the front cover
370 defines an oblong shape, for example, a stadium as shown in the
illustrative embodiment, or an oval, ellipse, or rectangle. The
major axis 376a and 376b is oriented perpendicular relative to the
floor or ground plane, thereby instructing a vertical orientation
for each hand 20 for insertion through the opening, i.e. the palm
34 is oriented perpendicular or closer to perpendicular than
horizontal relative to the floor as illustrated in FIG. 2, making
it easier to insert each hand while clearing the rim of the
opening. The major axes 376a-b of each opening 372a-b defines an
opening vertical span 382 from edge to edge of about 8.4 inches and
a minor axis 374 defines an opening horizontal span 384 of each
opening from edge to edge of about 5.8 inches, providing a ratio of
the horizontal span to the vertical span of less than 3:4,
additionally or alternatively, about 2:3, and additionally or
alternatively, less than 2:3. The distance between centers 380 of
the two openings for the illustrative embodiment is about 5.3
inches. These ratios have been discovered to provide visual cues to
the user to orient their hands in a palm-to-palm orientation to
ensure complete coverage from the ozonated water spray for most
efficient sanitization. They also have been discovered to enable
minimizing the written or other instructions required by increasing
the obviousness of the use and interaction with the sanitizer
300.
[0070] In the illustrative embodiment of the sanitizer 300, a
channel 390 portion of the area of the between the two openings
372a-b is also opened, thereby connecting the two openings, but
retaining enough of the oblong shape of each individual opening
372a-b to retain the overall appearance of a vertical orientation
of each opening, thereby retaining the feature instructing a
vertical orientation for each hand 20 for insertion through the
openings. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, the
narrowest vertical span 392 of the channel 390 connecting the two
openings 372a-b spans about 5.4 inches, providing a ratio of the
opening vertical span (major axis) 382 of each individual opening
(8.4 inches) to the vertical span 392 of the connecting channel of
less than 3:4, additionally or alternatively, a ratio of about 2:3,
and additionally or alternatively, a ratio of less than 2:3.
[0071] Defining an open but narrowed channel 390 between the pair
of openings 372a-b also provides an advantages to the user of
having better visibility of both hands 20 when inserted through the
openings and into the chamber 310, retaining the advantage of the
channel between the pair of openings be a smaller vertical span
than the openings so as to limit the escape of aqueous ozone or
ozone off-gas, and guiding the left and right hands 20 to the
center 380 of each opening 372a-b. Such advantages are advantageous
over prior art openings forming a single horizontal elongate
opening of uniform vertical height.
[0072] The space between the opening 372a-b that forms the channel
390 is less than 1 inches wide along a horizontal axis 374, thereby
the connected pair of openings and channel forming an open
horizontal span of about 12 inches. A perimeter formed by the
openings 372a-b and channel 390 may include a rim 394 to frame the
opening, enhancing one or more of the visual contrast, material
properties, or hand edge protection. For example, the rim 394 may
be formed from liquid silicone rubber (LSR) or a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE). The front cover 370 may be formed from
polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and may
optionally be translucent or transparent.
[0073] The front cover 370 and/or rim 390 may include formed or
applied features such as markings 396 and 398 that further guide
the position and orientation of the hands as they are inserted
through the openings 372a-b and into a static position and
orientation within the sanitizing chamber 310. For example,
features 398 can provide a vertical position and/or rotational
orientation of the hands 20 and features 396 can provide a
horizontal position and/or rotational orientation of the hands
20.
[0074] The sanitizing chamber 310 and other components in contact
with the ozonated water 52 may be constructed from materials
resistant to degradation from aqueous ozone, for example, molded
from polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). Other portions of the cover 336,
frame 338, and lower portion 334 can be constructed from durable
materials such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), aluminum,
stainless steel, and powder-coated steel.
[0075] Spray System
[0076] At least one prior art device for aqueous ozone hand
sanitizing teaches proper sanitization requires hand washing
movement, e.g. rubbing or scrubbing of hands together, throughout
the aqueous ozone wash cycle. A prior art device also teaches hands
held static during the aqueous ozone wash cycle with spray devices
located above and below hands orientated horizontally, i.e. palm 34
and dorsal sides 36 parallel to the floor.
[0077] In contrast, it has been discovered by the applicant of the
instant disclosure that it is advantageous for static hand
sanitizing to orient the hands 20 vertically, i.e. thumbs 40
superior (at top) and palms 34 facing each other, in order to
achieve a reduction in size of the aqueous ozone hand sanitizer
300, particularly the size of the sanitizing chamber 310 and
associated spray system 400, and to minimize the number of spray
heads 410 and 430 and maximize the coverage of all regions of the
hand 20 with ozonated water 52 with streams directly from the spray
devices, i.e., direct irrigation rather than coverage from
run-off.
[0078] In one embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7C, it has also
been discovered to be advantageous to rotate the hands 20 slightly
angled apart, e.g., rotating the forearms 44 along the
proximal-distal axis 26 (FIG. 7B) to position the thumbs 40
laterally further apart such that the surface plane of the palm 34
and dorsal sides 36 of each hand are about 115 degrees relative to
the floor, thus angling the palms of the hands each to an
anterior-posterior rotation 25 of about 25 degrees. This provides
about 50 degrees of angular separation between the palms 34,
thereby reducing the opposing hand's obstruction of spray line of
sight from the spray devices 410 and 430 to each palm, thus
improving the facing palms' direct line of spray exposure to the
spray devices.
[0079] It has also been discovered to be advantageous to spread the
fingers 38 and thumb 40 apart from each other for static hand
sanitizing, thereby further reducing obstructions to direct line of
spray exposure from the spray devices 410 and 430 to all areas of
the fingers and thumb.
[0080] It has also been discovered to be advantageous to achieving
the above disclosed goals to provide spray devices 410 and 430
oriented relative to and directed to specific regions of each hand
20. TABLE 1, listed below, and the discussion that immediately
follows is directed to describing an illustrative arrangement of
the spray devices 40 and the hands 20, particularly the coverage of
the hands 20 by each spray device 410 and 430.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Spray Device Hand Coverage/Relative Origin
Medial Posterior Proximal/ Distal/ Spray Lateral (toward Anterior
(dorsal/ Wrist Central Fingers Device (toward little (palm back
(carpus (metacarpal (phalangeal 410/430 thumb) finger) side) side)
region) region) region) a X X X X b X X X X X c X X X d X X X X X e
X X X X X
[0081] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, an illustrative spray system
400 is shown providing sanitizing of a user's hands 20 with
ozonated water 52, illustrated as spray patterns 421.
Advantageously, elements of the control system 500 can guide the
position and/or orientation of the hands 20 into a bounded area
defined within the spray chamber 310, referred herein as a spray
zones 420 and 430. In the illustrative embodiment, the position,
orientation, and overlapping spray patterns 421 define the spray
zones 420 and 430 as bounded areas within which the hands 20 are
position to maximize the irrigation coverage of the hands with
direct spray of ozonated water 52. The distance from the spray
devices 410 and 430 to the spray zones 420 and 430, and thus to the
hands 20, is also selected to provide full coverage while
minimizing losses in ozone concentration, thus providing
simultaneous irrigation coverage of the hands, thereby eliminating
the necessity of moving or scrubbing the hands and minimizing the
time of irrigation required for sanitizing the hands.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 7B, the user's hand 20 includes a proximal
wrist 30, also know as a corpus region, a central region 32, also
known as a metacarpal region, and distal fingers 38, also known as
a phalangeal region. For select embodiments, a portion of the
forearms 44 may be included in the scope of the term wrists 30, and
therefore hands 20. The user's hands 20 also did defines a lateral
thumb side 40 and a medial side 42, i.e., an opposite side adjacent
the little finger. Referring to FIG. 7A, the user's hands further
define palms 34, i.e., an anterior side, and a dorsal side 36,
i.e., a posterior or backside.
[0083] As illustrated by both Table 1 and FIGS. 7A and 7B, specific
ones of the spray devices 410 and 430 are directed to specific
regions of the hands 20. In the illustrative embodiment, spray
devices 410 and 430 may each include a fluidic oscillator 411 (not
shown) that provides a two-dimensional fluid oscillation centered
on a longitudinal axis 412 of the device. In the illustrative
embodiment, the fluidic oscillator 411 or other features
controlling the spray exiting the spray devices 410 and 430 provide
an three-dimensional spray pattern, including an angular spray fan
419a of about 32 degrees about a anterior-posterior 418, and an
angular spray fan 419b of about 16 degrees about a proximal-distal
axis 435a. Illustrative spray devices 410 and 430 are, for example,
available from Bowles Fluidics Corporation of Columbia, Md. Use of
such fluidic oscillators positioned and oriented as disclosed
effectively achieves the desired combined chemical and mechanical
action applied aqueous ozone with the high surface area provided by
small uniform particles with a high spin rate, applied by direct
irrigation to the entire surface of the hands, efficiently
loosening and lessening the microbe load; however, other forms of
application of aqueous ozone may be used if similar dispensing of
aqueous ozone is achieved.
[0084] In the illustrative embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 7A-B
and FIGS. 9A-10B, the spray devices 410a-c and 430a-c are located
in a chamber upper half 312, for example, coupled to chamber top
314, and the spray devices 410d-e and 430d-e are located in a
chamber lower half 320, for example, coupled to chamber bottom 322.
Additionally, the spray devices 410a/430a, 410a/430d, and 410a/430e
are located anterior to, e.g., in-between, the hands 20, and the
spray devices 410b/430b and 410c/430c are located posteriorly, e.g.
outside of, the hands 20. As can be noted for the spray devices
410b and 430b, selected spray devices may also have the
longitudinal axis 412a aligned with, or about aligned with, the
lateral-medial axis 22 of the hands 20. This alignment depends on
the desired relative position and anterior-posterior rotation 25,
for example as shown in FIG. 7A with palms facing and parallel and
contrasted with FIG. 7C with palms slightly angled apart at the
top, that the control system 500 guides the user's hands to.
[0085] The combination of the location and rotational position of
the spray devices 410 and 430 and the position and rotational
orientation of the hands 20 to which they are guided by the control
system 500 of the illustrative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7A and
7B (and alternatively FIGS. 7C and 7B) and FIGS. 11A-12C and is
further described below. The spray devices 410a-b/430a-b have a
direct spray line of sight with the palms 34, the spray devices
410c/430c has a direct spray line of sight with the dorsal side 36,
and the spray devices 410d-e/430d-e have direct spray line of sight
to the medial 42 and portions of the palm 34 and dorsal side
36.
[0086] As illustrated in the Figs. and described in Table 1, the
spray devices 410a/430a are directed to the wrist 30 and may also
be directed to one or both of the forearm 44 and the central region
32. The spray devices 410b/430b are directed to the central region
32 and may also be directed to at least a portion of the fingers
38. The spray devices 410c/430c are directed to the fingers 38 and
may also be directed to a portion of the central region 32. The
spray devices 410e/430e are directed to the fingers 38, and may
also be directed to a portion of the central region 32. The spray
devices 410d/430d are directed to the wrist 30 and at least a
portion of the central region 32, and may also be directed to a
portion of the forearm 44.
[0087] Because the coverage of the hands 20 with direct spray from
the spray devices 410 and 430 is more consistent than is subsequent
runoff of ozonated water 52, and because ozone concentration is
reduced by mechanical action, the illustrative embodiment maximizes
the direct spray coverage of the hands 20.
[0088] To further facilitate full coverage with the ozonated water
52, elements of the control system 500, including the user
interface 584 and optionally the hand sensors 590, may also guide
the user to separate the fingers 38 and thumb 40, for example, as
is illustrated in FIG. 7B, or to a higher degree of separation than
is illustrated.
[0089] The following description along with FIGS. 11A-12C disclose
specific features of the illustrative embodiment of the spray
system 400 to achieve the above discussed aspects of spray
coverage. A device anterior-posterior datum plane 431 is located
centrally in the spray system 400 and the sanitizing chamber 310. A
device proximal-distal location datum plane 433a is located at a
proximal (front) edge of the spray system 400. A device
lateral-medial datum plane 435a is located at a proximal, bottom
(medial) edge of the spray system 400 and the spray chamber 310,
for example, about 34 inches above the floor level.
[0090] A spray zone proximal-distal datum plane 433b is located at
a proximal (front) edge of the spray chamber 310. A spray zone
lateral-medial datum plane 435b is located centrally in the spray
chamber 310, for example, aligned with a center of the openings
372a-b and sloped downward, for example, about 4 inches above the
bottom edge of the spray system 400 and the spray chamber 310, and
sloped downward about 15 degrees into spray chamber.
[0091] The spray devices 410a-c/430a-c are located in the chamber
upper half 312 and have an angular displacement 414a about a
proximal-distal axis 417 that spans within a range of 30 to 50
degrees, for example, about 45 degrees, and an angular displacement
416a about a anterior-posterior axis 418 that spans within a range
of 30 to 50 degrees, for example, about 40 degrees. The spray
devices 410d-e/430d-e are located in the chamber lower half 320 and
have an angular displacement 414b about the proximal-distal axis
417 that spans within a range of 0 to 10 degrees, for example,
about 3 degrees, and an angular displacement 416b about the
anterior-posterior axis 418 that spans within the range of 0 to 10
degrees, for example, about 4 degrees.
[0092] Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12C, a left spray zone 420
defined within the sanitizing chamber 310 specifies the area within
which the left hand 20a is positioned and oriented by the control
system 500, and a right spray zone 440 specifies the area within
which the right hand 20b is positioned and oriented by the control
system. In the illustrative embodiment, each of the left and right
spray zones 420 and 440 encompass less than about 320 cubic
inches.
[0093] Each of the left and right spray zones 420 and 440 define a
proximal-distal axis 417 having a zone anterior-posterior slope 444
of about 15 degrees about the anterior-posterior axis 418, sloping
downwardly in a direction extending from the pair of openings
372a-b and into the sanitizing chamber 310.
[0094] Each of the left and right spray zones 420 and 440 define a
lateral-medial axis 424 that is oriented a zone lateral-medial
slope 447 of between about 10 degrees and about 25 degrees about
the anterior-posterior axis 418 and is sloped outwardly in a
direction extending from the bottom toward the top of the pair of
openings 372a-b.
[0095] Each of the left and right spray zones 420 and 440 define an
anterior zone edge 442 of about 0.5 inches from the center of the
openings 372a-b, a proximal zone edge 446 of about 4 inches from
the openings, a lateral-medial zone center 441 of about 4 inches
above the bottom edge of the spray system 400 and the spray chamber
310.
[0096] Each of the left and right spray zones 420 and 440 can
define along an anterior-posterior axis 418 a lateral zone
anterior-posterior span 443a of about 3.5 inches and a medial zone
anterior-posterior span 443b of about 4.5 inches, define along an
lateral-medial axis 424 a zone lateral-medial span 447 of about 8
inches, and define along a proximal-distal axis 417 a zone
proximal-distal span 449 of about 10 inches.
[0097] In the illustrative embodiment of spray system 400, the
spray device 430a has an anterior-posterior location 432a of about
1.1 inches, a proximal-distal location 434a of about 6.2 inches,
and a lateral-medial location 436a of about 8.3 inches. The spray
device 430b has an anterior-posterior location 432b of about 4.5
inches, a proximal-distal location 434b of about 11.0 inches, and a
lateral-medial location 436b of about 9.7 inches. The spray device
430c has an anterior-posterior location 432c of about 6.6 inches, a
proximal-distal location 434c of about 15.2 inches, and a
lateral-medial location 436c of about 8.0 inches. The spray device
430d has an anterior-posterior location 432d of about 0.8 inches, a
proximal-distal location 434d of about 4.2 inches, and a
lateral-medial location 436d of about -3.1 inches. The spray device
430e has an anterior-posterior location 432e of about 1.1 inches, a
proximal-distal location 434e of about 6.9 inches, and a
lateral-medial location 436e of about -4.1 inches. The spray
devices 410a-e have corresponding mirror image locations to those
of spray devices 430a-e.
[0098] The spray device 430a has a rotational location 413a of
about -18 degrees about the proximal-distal axis 417 and relative
to the anterior-posterior datum plane 431, and a rotational
location 415a of about 41 degrees about the anterior-posterior axis
418 and relative to the proximal-distal datum plane 435b. The spray
device 430b has a rotational location 413b of about 11 degrees
about the proximal-distal axis 417 and relative to the
anterior-posterior datum plane 431, and a rotational location 415b
of about 68 degrees about the anterior-posterior axis 418 and
relative to the proximal-distal datum plane 435b. The spray device
430c has a rotational location 413 of about 26 degrees about the
proximal-distal axis 417 and relative to the anterior-posterior
datum plane 431, and a rotational location 415 of about 80 degrees
about the anterior-posterior axis 418 and relative to the
proximal-distal datum plane 435b. The spray device 430d has a
rotational location 413 of about 23 degrees about the
proximal-distal axis 417 and relative to the anterior-posterior
datum plane 431, and a rotational location 415 of about -52 degrees
about the anterior-posterior axis 418 and relative to the
proximal-distal datum plane 435b. The spray device 430 has a
rotational location 413 of about 19 degrees about the
proximal-distal axis 417 and relative to the anterior-posterior
datum plane 431, and a rotational location 415 of about 49 degrees
about the anterior-posterior axis 418 and relative to the
proximal-distal datum plane 435b.
[0099] The span between the upper devices 410a-c/430a-c and the
lower devices 410d-e/430d-e ranges between about 11 and 14 inches,
thereby limiting the transient of the ozonated water 52 from the
spray devices to the hands 20 to between less than 5.5 inches and
less than 7 inches. This geometry for the spray devices
401a-e/430a-e has been discovered to enable a wide range of hand
sizes and minimizing the distance between upper and lower spray
devices increases efficiency by minimizing the loss for the
ozonated water of dissolved ozone to gaseous ozone and reduces the
exposure to gaseous ozone.
[0100] Sanitizing System Control
[0101] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 17, the control system 500 includes
a power supply 510, a controller 512, ozone controllers 540, and a
user interface 584. The control system 500 controls all aspects of
the operation of and user interaction with aspects of the hand
sanitizer 300, particularly the aqueous ozone generators 100a-b and
the spray system 400, including the delivery of untreated water
supply 500 to the ozone generators by the pump 622, valves 610, and
sensors 616, 620, 624, and 626, and including the delivery of and
desired ozone concentration level of the ozonated water 52 to the
spray chamber 310. The controller 512 may also provide user
guidance and or sensing, for example, in a sanitizing process 700
illustrated in FIG. 18 and described below, controller 512 verifies
that a user's hands 20 are positioned within the spray zones 420
and 440 for the duration of a sanitizing cycle. Components of the
control system 500 may reside within the hand sanitizer 300, the
aqueous ozone generators 100a-b, or distributed between the hand
sanitizer 300 and the aqueous ozone generators 100a-b.
[0102] The control system 500 may optionally implement identity,
data logging, fault detection, and other local and/or cloud-based
supervisory and operational control functions to ensure proper
operation of the hand sanitizer 300, including the ozone generators
100 and user compliance with the hand sanitizing 300 operating
requirements and/or external compliance requirements.
[0103] The controller 512 in the illustrative embodiment may be a
digital control system using a processor 516 and memory 518 and may
also include analog circuits, for example power regulator 514 and
various actuator and sensor controls. The controller 512 can be
powered by the power supply 510, for example a medical grade 500 W
AC to DC power supply. The controller 512 may also include a power
regulator 514 to further condition and regulate power received from
the power supply 510 as required for components of the control
system 500 and the water supply system 600, including the
controller 512 and the ozone generator controllers 540.
[0104] For controlling the untreated water supply 50, the
controller 512 can includes a pump control circuit 524 for
controlling the operation of the pump 622, and may provide variable
control, for example of flow rate and/or pressure of the untreated
water supply 50. If the water supply system 600 includes
controllable valves such as supply valve 610 and drain valve 618,
the controller 512 also can include a valve control circuit 526 for
controlling the operation of the valves. For example, in the
illustrative embodiment of the spray system 400, each spray device
410a-e and 430a-e requires aqueous ozone delivered at at least 4
psi for proper operation, which can be monitored by measure water
pressure or flow rate for a given embodiment of the system 300.
[0105] The water supply system 600 may also include various
sensors, for example, a water level sensor 616 to measure the
volume of untreated water held within the holding tank 614, a water
temperature sensor 620, a flow meter 624, and a pressure sensor
626. If the water supply system 600 includes any of these optional
sensors, the controller 512 may include a sensor control circuit
528, for example, that provides conditioned signals for the sensors
and receives data signals indicative of measurements made by the
sensors.
[0106] The pump control 524, valve control 526, and sensor control
528 may be in data communication with the processor 516, for
example, using an onboard communication circuit 522. In one
embodiment, the processor 516 may include aspects of the control
circuits 524, 526, and 528, for example, as is common in
microcontrollers.
[0107] The ozone generator controllers 540a-b may be integral with
the controller 512, comprise one or more daughter boards, or
comprise a separate board located with the hand sanitizer 300 or
the housing 102 of the aqueous ozone generator 100. The
illustrative embodiment the hand sanitizer 300 includes an ozone
generator controller 540a for the right aqueous ozone generator
100a and an ozone generator controller 540b for the left aqueous
ozone generator 100b. Each ozone generator controller 540a-b may
include, for example, a driver 542 for powering the ozone
generating cells 210a-d, for example a constant current driver such
as a buck-boost constant current switching regulator, a power
monitor 544, a polarity swap circuit 546, and a sensor circuit
548.
[0108] In the illustrative embodiment the ozone generator cells 210
of the aqueous ozone generators 100 are electrolytic, and the
polarity swap circuits 546 enable periodic changing of the polarity
delivered to the electrodes of the cells, for example swapping
polarity between each hand sanitation cycle. The level of ozone
generated by the ozone generator cells 210 is a function of power
supplied, therefore the power monitor 544 facilitates additional
ozone concentration control. Additionally, degradation of the ozone
generating cells 210 because of usage or fault may be determined in
part by an increase in voltage for given current level, thereby the
power monitor 544 being used for detecting degradation or failure
of one or more ozone generating cells 210 when an increased voltage
is detected beyond a reasonable range for a given current level. In
the illustrative embodiment, the ozone generator cells 210 can be
driven by a range of at least 0-1.2 amps each, and with four ozone
generator cells 210 each driven by a constant current of 410
milliamps, each aqueous ozone generator 100 produces a
concentration of 0.8 ppm of aqueous ozone, with an observed typical
voltage of 9-12 volts indicating normal ozone generator cell 210
operation. An elevated observed voltage, for example, 20-25 volts,
or above 22 volts indicated degraded generator cell 210 operation.
In detecting a degrading or degraded cell 210 in this way,
operation of ozone generator 100 and system 300 may optionally
continue by removing a degrading or degraded cell form operation
and using only the non-faulted cells. Additionally, and optionally,
controller 512 may store and/or communicate an alert message, for
example, to a remote server 80, that an impending change of ozone
generator 100 will be required.
[0109] The sensor circuits 548 each provide power to and receive
data signals from one of the inlet sensor 230 and outlet sensors
240a-b of the aqueous ozone generators 100. For example, an
oxidation-reduction potential sensor or other type sensor is used
for inlet and outlet sensors 230 and 240a-b to measure ozone
concentration, providing controller 512 with closed loop control of
the production provided by aqueous ozone generators 100. For
example, the data signal from at least one ozone inlet sensor 230
can be compared by the ozone controller 540 or the controller 512
to the data signal from at least one outlet sensor 240a-b to
determine the ozone concentration provided by the aqueous ozone
generators 100.
[0110] In one embodiment, a second inlet outlet sensor 240b is
provided to validate the data signals received in determining the
ozone concentration. Additionally, measurement of the ozone
concentration in the ozonated water 52 may allow the controller 512
to detect a degradation or failure of one or more aqueous ozone
generating cells 210a-d in the event the supplied power provided by
the aqueous ozone controllers 540a-b does not provide a measured
ozone concentration as expected. For example, a testing state of
the hand sanitizer 300 may provide individual powering of each
ozone generating cell 200a-d for each aqueous ozone generator
100a-b in order to detect a degraded or failed cell, and may enable
continued use of the aqueous ozone generator 100a-b, for example,
by powering and relying on the remaining fully functioning cells to
provide the desired level of ozone concentration.
[0111] The generator controllers 540a-b may include an individual
driver 542, power monitor 544, and polarity swap circuit 546 for
each of the ozone generator cells 210a-d. For example, in the
illustrative embodiment, the aqueous ozone generator 100 includes
up to four ozone generating cells 210a-d, therefore for separately
controllable drivers 542, power monitors 544, and validity swap
circuits 546 are included with each ozone controller 540. Other
embodiments may include additional or fewer ozone generating cells
210a-d per generator 100.
[0112] In the illustrative embodiment of ozone generator 100a-b, as
will be discussed further below, the ozone generator cells 210a-d
are each exposed to a separate waterflow pathway and the separate
pathways are fluidly arranged in parallel. It is thought that the
duty life of the ozone generating cells 210a-d, and thus the
generator 100a-b, can be lengthen in this parallel arrangement as
each may be simultaneously operated by the ozone controller 540a-b
at a lower power level to achieve a desired ozone concentration
than if fewer cells were used, or if the cells were arranged
serially. Additionally, if the desired ozone concentration can be
achieved by powering a subset of the ozone generating cells, the
duty life may also be lengthened by the ozone controller 540
alternating selectively powering only a subset of the cells. The
later may also be used to keep a generator 100 in service that has
suffer a degradation or failure of one of the ozone generating
cells 210a-d as the load can be picked up by the remaining fully
functional cells without changes to the hardware or water
passageway 290.
[0113] In the illustrative embodiment of the hand sanitizer 300, a
user interface 584 is operated by the controller 512 in
coordination with the presence sensor 582 and the hand sensors 592
to coordinate the control of the hand sanitizer 300 with the user,
particularly the position and orientation of the user's hands 20
within the spray chamber 310. The presence sensor 582 may be, for
example, a capacitive, time-of-flight, or other distance,
occupancy, or proximity detection sensor. The presence sensor 582
can be used to detect that a user has approached the hand sanitizer
300 for use. For example, in one embodiment, the controller 512 and
presence sensor 582 can be used to wake the hand sanitizer from a
standby or low-power state and transition to a ready state,
including providing guidance and/or status information to a user
via the user interface 584 and/or other indicating device.
[0114] In the illustrative embodiment, the controller 512 will not
transition from the ready state to irrigation state unless both a
hand sensor 592 detects a user's hand in position with the spray
chamber 310 and the presence sensor 582 detects a person within
sufficient proximity of the spray chamber 310 to use the sanitizer,
for example within 18 inches, within 12 inches, or between 6 and 12
inches. Requiring detection by both a hand sensor 592 and the
presence sensor 582 eliminates false detections to due water splash
residue that could occur if initiation of the irrigation state
required only detection by the hand sensor 592.
[0115] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the user interface
584 indicates states of the hand sanitizing process. The user
interface 584 can be a fixed graphic display that is not lighted or
animated, maybe lighting 586, for example with varying colors and
steady and flashing states, maybe a dynamic graphic display, for
example, including fixed icons with selective backlighting, color,
brightness, steady, or flashing illumination of the fixed icons,
and/or a display that is not fixed, for example an LCD or other
display unit. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 18, operating
steps or states of a hand sanitizing process, are indicated. For
example, a first state icon instructs insertion of a user's hands
20 upon detection of the presence of the user by presence sensor
582. The hand sensors 590, for example located at an interior
chamber top 314 of the sanitizing chamber 310, may be used to
detect the movement into and/or position and orientation within the
spray zones 420 and 440 discussed above in describing the spray
system 400.
[0116] Illustrative hand sensors 590 are capacitive,
electro-optical, time-of-flight and other sensors known in the art
that are capable of detecting presence, location, and/or motion,
and that may provide image data from which detection can be
determined. For example, in the illustrative embodiment, a hand
sensor 590 is located above each of the proper positions for the
left and the right hands, for example, above left spray zone 420
and above right spray zone 440, and calibrated to detect when the
left and right hands are located within a proper position laterally
and vertically, for example, within the left and the right spray
zones. The illustrative hand sensor is a time-of-flight sensor, for
example a laser-ranging sensor module such as VL53LOX available
from STMicroelectronics of Edina, Minn. The identity sensor 580 may
include one or more RF antennas capable of detecting an
identification or access card at sufficient range so that a user
need not specifically swipe an RFID or other identity card while
using system 300.
[0117] In an alternative embodiment, the hand sensors 590 include a
linear infrared array capable of detecting motion and providing a
primitive image that can be processed to determine motion,
position, orientation, and even finger and thumb spread. For
example, the hand sensors 590 may be sensors such as those used for
hand gesture detection, for example, sensors available from Neonode
Technologies AB, of Stockholm, Sweden.
[0118] Upon the controller 512 and hand sensors 590 determining
correct position and/or orientation of the hands 20, a second icon
state of user interface 584 may be displayed, indicating activation
of the spray system 400. For example, irrigation of the hands 20
with ozonated water 52 for a preset duration of time, water volume,
or total ozone exposure. Advantageously, if the hand sensors 590
detect improper position or orientation of the hands 20 during the
sanitizing state, the user interface 584 can provide an indication
to the user to take corrective action. The indication may be a
change in the state icon, display of a different icon, or an
audible or other indication. Upon successful completion of the
sanitizing state, the user interface 584 can display a third
completion state, indicating the user that the hand sanitizing
cycle has been successfully completed and hands 20 can be removed
from the sanitizing chamber 310.
[0119] In one embodiment, a visible light indication separate from
the user interface 584 may be used with one or more states to
indicate a status or instruction to the user. For example, one or
more lights turned on, off, flashed, or changed in color or
brightness, for example within the sanitizing chamber 310, may
indicate a ready state awaiting the insertion of the hands 20, a
state indicating the hands 20 are in the proper position and
orientation, or completion of the hand sanitizing state.
[0120] The indication of a successful completion of a hand
sanitizing cycle may also include consideration of other aspects of
the hand sanitizer 300 in addition to the position orientation of
the hands, for example measurement by the control system 500 of the
desired ozone concentration, flow rate, and/or duration.
[0121] In on embodiment, the control system 500 includes an gaseous
ozone sensor 562 to detect a level of gaseous ozone concentration
exhausted through the fan screen 346, for example, to ensure proper
functioning of an ozone filter 348 and fan 560 and capturing or
neutralizing gaseous ozone drawn from the spray chamber 310. For
example, detection of an excessive gaseous ozone level by the
controller 512 and gaseous ozone sensor 562 could lockout operation
of the spray system 400, including aqueous ozone generators 100a-b
until a control system 500 flag indicating maintenance is required
is reset by authorized personnel.
[0122] In at least one embodiment, the control system 500 provides
a security feature which prevents operation of the spray system 400
if one of the aqueous ozone generators 100a-b is not detected, is
not properly authenticated, or has not been paired for use with the
hand sanitizing system 300. For example, the aqueous ozone
generators 100a-b may include a memory device 254 and/or a digital
security device 256 that the controller 512 can communication with.
A startup or other check of the hand sanitizing system 300 can
include an onboard or offboard, for example, via WAN 70 and remote
server 80, security check to verify that the aqueous ozone
generators 100a-b are authentic, properly paired for use with the
hand sanitizing system 300, and can therefore be relied upon to
provide a desired level of ozone concentration or to detect an
improper level of ozone concentration. Such a security feature can
use part serial numbers, encryption, block-chain technology, or
other technology known in the art and incorporated into one or both
of the aqueous ozone generators 100a-b and the control system 500
to ensure operation of the hand sanitizing system 300 is prevented
if critical components are not found and validated.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 19, a display plan view of various
additional or alternative display icon designs for user interface
584 is shown. For example, a number of alternative status
indicators for various states and conditions of the hand sanitizer
300 and user's hands 20 are illustrated, including indications of
the position and orientation of hands 20, sanitizing cycle time
elapsed or remaining, successful and unsuccessful cycle completion,
and a user identity (not shown).
[0124] Referring to FIG. 4, the control system 500 may also include
a personnel identity sensor 580, including, for example, a sensor
capable of reading an optical barcode, RF, NFC, or other
identification badge or access card, or an imaging device capable
of using facial recognition or other biometric identity indicators.
The identity sensor 580 may include one or more RF antennas capable
of detecting an identification or access card at sufficient range
so that the user's ID on their body can be captured passively upon
use of the sanitizer 300 without the user having to actively swipe
the ID near the identity sensor.
[0125] The advantage of incorporating user identity into the
control system 500 is to limit access to and/or track the use and
compliance regarding the use of the hand sanitizer 300. For
example, the processor 512 may be capable of storing in memory 518
or transmitting via the WAN/LAN communication circuit 520 various
data logging information that relates to any of system performance,
system use, and successful or unsuccessful completion of the
sanitizing cycle, including user identity, times, frequency, and
outcome of the uses.
[0126] Advantageously, in at least one embodiment, a local area
network or wide area network 70 may be used to communicate data
logging and other data associated with the controller 512 with a
personal computing device 82, for example a handheld smart device,
or a server or other remotely located computing device 80.
[0127] Note that FIG. 17 includes elements of the control system
500 and water delivery system 600 that are optional and may not be
included in various embodiments of an aqueous ozone sanitizing
system according to the present disclosure. Optional elements
include but are not limited to: WAN/LAN transceiver 520, valve
controller 526, sensor controller 528, gaseous ozone sensor 562, ID
reader 580, presence sensor 582, user interface 584, lighting 586,
UV light 588, hand sensors 590, supply valve 510, inlet filter 612,
holding tank 614, water level sensor 616, drain valve 618,
temperature sensor 620, flow meter 624, pressure sensor 626, and
releasable coupling 628.
[0128] Of note, the temperature of water for most water supplies
does not appear to have significant bearing on either the amount of
ozone produced, or the amount of decay in the brief distances and
time between generation and application in the illustrative
embodiments, so it is contemplated that water temperature
measurement or control is not required for many of the applications
and uses discussed herein.
[0129] Referring to FIG. 18, a hand sanitizing process 700 is
illustrated that may be executed by the control system 500, for
example the controller 512, for example, including the processor
516. The process begins at step 702. At step 704, the controller
512 may enter a startup state, for example, upon powering on of the
system 500, or alternatively in another embodiment, upon the
presence sensor 582 and/or identity sensor 580 detecting close
proximity of a user. At step 704, the processor 512 may power
additional portions of the control system 500, for example, the
user interface 584, the pump 622 for priming, and possible direct
diagnostic or other system checks of the electrical system 500 and
water supply system 600.
[0130] Upon the controller 512 determining that the startup state
is complete, a step 706 provides a ready state. The ready state of
controller 512 may include, for example, an indication on the user
interface 584 to the user to insert the hands 20 into the
sanitizing chamber 310, for example, indicator lighting 586
illuminating the sanitizing chamber 310 with a steady white
light.
[0131] In step 708, controller 512 determines using presence sensor
582 whether a user is in close proximity of the front cover 370,
for example, in proximity to insert hands into the chamber 310, for
example, within 18 inches, within 12 inches, or between 6-12
inches. If not, the process 700 continues at step 706. The
controller 512 may also capture user identity information using
identity reader 580 for later reporting of system 300 use by the
user, for example, at steps 716-724.
[0132] At step 710, upon the controller 512 detecting movement
within the sanitizing chamber 310, for example, positioning of a
hand with the left and/or right spray zones 420 and 440 detected by
the hand sensors 590, the process will continue to step 712, else
return to step 708. In a step 710, which provides a hand insertion
state, user interface 584 feedback or other guidance to the user
may be provided regarding hand position and orientation, including
based on detection by the hand sensors 590 whether hand position
and/or orientation is correct or incorrect. Upon the controller 512
determining correct hand position and orientation, or after
expiration of a delay timer, the process 700 continues to step
710.
[0133] At step 710, a dispensing/sanitizing state is provided by
the controller 512. For example, ozone off-gas mitigation is
initiated, including for example powering fan 560, the pump 622 is
activated to provide untreated water supply 52 to the aqueous ozone
generators 100, and the ozone generator controllers 540 are
provided power and control sensing for the ozone generator cells
210a-d. The ozone generators 100 thereby provide ozonated water 52
to the spray system 400, and spray devices 410 and 430 irrigate the
hands 20. The sanitizing state at step 712 may provide an
indication of elapsed time, remaining time, and/or an indication of
hand position and orientation. Additionally, indicator lighting 586
can illuminate the chamber 310 with a steady teal or aqua light
during dispensing. At Step 714, optionally an elapsed time may be
paused and optionally ozonated water 52 flow may be stopped in the
event the controller 512 and hand sensors 590 detect movement
and/or improper position and orientation of the hands 20 relative
to the spray zones 420 and 440. Additionally, or alternatively,
after detection of correction or after a preset delay, the duration
count timer may continue, including completion of the sanitizing
state at step 718 once the selected duration of time is completed,
for example, 7 seconds. Or alternatively, upon detection of
movement and/or improper position, or a fault of the system 300,
the controller 512 may proceed to step 716 providing an alert state
to the user and/or the remote server 80 that the sanitizing process
700 is incomplete, including for example, indicator lighting 586
illuminating the chamber 310 with a flashing amber light.
[0134] Upon successful completion of the sanitizing state for the
selected duration of time, at step 720 a dispense/sanitization
completion state of the controller 512 removes power from the
aqueous ozone generators 100 and the pump 522. Step 720 may
optionally provide an indication that the sanitizing state is
complete and/or that hands 20 may be removed from the sanitizing
chamber 310, for example, the user interface 584 may indicate
successful completion, for example, indicator lighting 586 turning
off the illumination within the chamber 310, indicating to the user
their hands may be shaken to remove water and withdrawn from the
openings 372a and 372b, and the controller 512 may optionally
provide a 3 second delay before changing the indicator lighting 586
to a ready state in accordance with step 706. At step 720, ozone
off-gas mitigation continues for a present period of time, for
example, 18 seconds, and/or until controller 512 receives a signal
from gaseous ozone sensor 562 that mitigation is complete.
Optionally, process 706 can continue to step 724 while the
controller 512 monitors ozone off-gas mitigation complete as a new
cycle could be started at step 706 before completion of
mitigation.
[0135] The sanitizing control process 700 may also include other
steps, for example step 724 may provide a message mode state of the
controller 512 that indicates information relating to a
maintenance, troubleshooting, fault, or other state or data
indicating that execution of step 702 through 710 is inhibited,
including via user interface 584, and/or via WAN/LAN transceiver
520, including to remote server 80 or personal computer device 82.
After completion of step 724, the process 700 continues at step
706.
[0136] Each of the steps 702-724 illustrated in FIG. 18 also list
other additional or alternative substrates and/or indications
provided by the user interface 584 or other portion of the control
system 500.
[0137] Aqueous Ozone Generator Cartridges
[0138] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, an illustrative aqueous ozone
generator 100 used with a aqueous sanitizing system according to
the present disclosure, including with the hand sanitizer 300, is
illustrated. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the aqueous ozone
generator 100 includes features described below that enable it to
be plugged into the docking receptacle 350, also referred to a
docking station, of the hand sanitizer 300 in a single movement
along a single axis. For example, not requiring rotation or
twisting of the aqueous ozone generator 100 or other components to
fluidly and electrically engage and mechanically lock the aqueous
ozone generator 350 with the docking receptacle 350. While some
prior art designs disclose individual generator cells and
individual sensors capable of being unscrewed and replaced from a
prior art system, aqueous ozone generator 100 advantageously can
provide one or more generator cells 210, sensors, and other
electronic and mechanical devices discussed below in a single
housing 102 and pluggable, docking form that can be removed and
replaced with exposing sensitive surfaces of the components to
potential damage upon removal or installation as in prior art
systems.
[0139] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the aqueous ozone generator
100 receives untreated water supply 50 at a water inlet connector
120 and provides ozonated water 52 at a water outlet connector 130.
An electrical connector 250 connects power signals 260, sensor data
signals 262, security data signals 264, and data logging signals
266, as will be described further below, with the hand sanitizer
300. The connectors 120, 130, and 250 may be, for example, plastic
and/or metal quick-disconnect connectors to facilitate the
pluggable aspect of the generator 100, including auto-locking of
mechanical features to retain the engaged position. The hand
sanitizer 300 include associated connectors 352, 354, and 356
within the docking receptacles 350.
[0140] Referring to FIG. 15, the generator 100 is shown in exploded
perspective view. Referring to FIG. 16, a manifold 140 of generator
100 is shown in an assembled cross-sectional view. The manifold 140
that forms a water passageway 290 for waterflow and treatment
between an inlet opening 192, at which the connector 120 may be
attached, and an outlet opening 202, at which the connector 130 may
be attached. The manifold 140 also mounts and fluidly couples with
the water passageway 290 several water treatment devices 110, 230,
and 240.
[0141] In the illustrative embodiment the manifold 140 and the
water passageway 290 include a central water passageway portion 150
that is fluidly coupled between an inlet waterway passage portion
190 and an outlet water passageway portion 200. In the illustrative
embodiment of the generator 100, ozone generating cells 210a-210d
are mounted upon and fluidly coupled with the central water
passageway portion 150, an inlet sensor 230 is mounted upon and
fluidly couples with inlet water passageway portion 190, and outlet
sensors 240a and 240b are mounted upon and fluidly coupled with the
outlet water passageways portion 200.
[0142] In the illustrative embodiment, an untreated supply
waterflow 23 provided to the generator 100 by water supply
connector 352 flows through an operably fixed (i.e., continuous,
without valves or other actuators that operably change the flow)
water passageway 290 formed by manifold 140, ultimately exiting as
ozonated water 52 at an outlet opening 202 of the outlet water
passageway portion 200 and supplied to the ozonated water connector
354. As will be further discussed below, the operably fixed water
passageway 290 includes a parallel flow water passageways 292a-d
that are enabled in part by a coaxial feature of the central water
passageway portion 150.
[0143] An electrical connector 250 that is coupled with electrical
connector 356 is accessible from outside of the housing 102 and can
be electrically coupled to or mounted to a circuit board 252. The
circuit board 252 may include, for example, a memory device 254 and
related electrical components, and a security device 256, which may
be separate from or a function of the memory device 254. In the
illustrative embodiment, controller 512, including generator
circuits 540, send/receives power signals 260 and sensor data
signals 262 with the generator 100; however, in an alternative
embodiment, circuit board 252 may comprise these elements.
[0144] An inlet sensor 230 sensor provides measurement of an
attribute, e.g. a property or parameter, of the untreated supply
waterflow 23 that will be altered by the ozone generating cells 210
effecting an increase in ozone concentration in the waterflow
through the water passageway 290. For example, inlet sensor 230 may
be an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor that provides a
baseline measurement to controller 512 that can be compared to a
measurement of the same property/parameter provided of the ozonated
water 52 flow out of water passageway portion 150 of the manifold
140.
[0145] A change in oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be
attributed to an increase in the ozone concentration in the water.
An ozone concentration level can be determined by measuring the ORP
downstream of the ozone generating cells 210a-d, and taking into
account the ORP of the untreated water supply if known and
consistent, or by actually measuring and taking into account the
ORP upstream of the ozone generating cells 210a-d. The ozone
concentration added to the water by the ozone generating cells
210a-d can be calculated as a function of the differential in
upstream and downstream ORP measurements.
[0146] The inlet sensor 230 can comprise at least a pair of
electrodes, a working electrode and a reference electrode, or
alternatively, a set of three electrodes, a counter electrode, a
working electrode, and a reference electrode, carried by one or
more non-conductive substrates, such as silicone or glass,
supported by a housing and exposed to the waterflow. The reference
electrode uses an inert metal, for example, gold, platinum, silver
or a chloride molecule thereof, which resist chemical action and
corrosion, but will lose electrons to an oxidant such as ozone
until its potential reaches that of the ORP level of the water. By
comparing a constant potential established between the working
electrode and counter electrode pair, which is not affected by
change in ORP, with the potential of the reference electrode, which
is, the ORP of the water is determined. The conversion from
difference in potential to the concentration of ozone can be made
based on a calibration factor or look up table for the electrode
set developed using a solution of known ozone concentration.
[0147] The sensor 230 and sensor 240a-b discussed below may be, for
example, one of the sensor configurations disclosed by US Patent
Publication 2016/0209346 published Jul. 21, 2016, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference, or the commercially available
electrode sensor part numbers such as RRPX020AU and RREFX103 or
RRPE100XC and RRPEAGCL from Pine Research of Durham, N.C.
[0148] In some embodiments, sensors 230 and 240a-b may additionally
or alternative include sensing elements on a single or multiple
substrates for temperature, flow, conductivity, acidity, and other
such attributes of water.
[0149] Referring to FIG. 16, a flow separation chamber 142 is
defined by the central water passageway portion 150. In the
illustrative embodiment, the waterway passageway portion 150
includes an internal conduit 180 located coaxially within outer
conduit 160, thereby defining a coaxial arrangement and parallel
flow feature of manifold 140. The functions of the central water
passageway portion 150 include exposing the waterflow through water
passageway 290 to the ozone generating cells 210a-d, thereby
increasing the ozone concentration of the waterflow, and minimizing
the length of water passageway 290 and minimizing changes in water
pressure, velocity, vortices, and other flow disturbances, all of
which all to the reduce ozone concentration of the waterflow.
[0150] Each ozone generating cell 210a-d includes a generating
portion 212a-d as well as a housing, fluid pathways, and/or other
support structure. An exemplary generating portion 212a-d includes
a pair of electrode plates (an anode and a cathode) having slots
defined therethrough for the flow of water, hydrogen, oxygen, and
ozone. The electrodes can be constructed of boron-doped silicone
and coated with boron-doped diamond, for example, using chemical
vapor deposition. Power can be applied from all edges of the
electrodes to maximize ozone production. The electrodes can be
separated by a thin membrane that allows proton exchange
therethrough, and for example a solid polymer electrolyte such as a
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)
copolymer membrane, which is commercially available from The
Chemours Company of Wilmington, Del. as NAFION (trademark of The
Chemours Company FC, LLC).
[0151] As is discussed further below, each of the parallel water
passageways 292a-d of the present disclosure can provide a
waterflow across each oppositely charged electrode plate, for
example, across the electrode surface on the side opposite the
separation membrane, resulting in the production of ozone within
the water. The thin separation membrane located between electrode
plates, for example, 20-30 microns thick, may also allow for some
cross-diffusion of water, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules.
[0152] The concentration of ozone developed by the generating cell
is a function of the level of power supplied to the electrolytic
generating cell by generator circuits 540. In particular, by
controller 512 controlling the current supplied to each ozone
generating cell, the concentration of ozone can by controlled. In
the illustrative embodiment, the concentration of ozone controlled
by hand sanitizer 300 via the individual power signals 260 provided
by generator circuits 540, through connectors 356 and 250 and
connected through to each respective ozone generating cell
210a-d.
[0153] An example of an ozone generating cell 210 suitable for use
in generator 100 for generating aqueous ozone is an electrolytic
cell, for example, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 10,640,878 issued
on May 5, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference;
however, alternative or improved ozone generating cells known in
the art are also contemplated for use in generator 100. Exemplary
electrolytic ozone generating cells 210 provide a mechanical
structure to guide a water flow across the surfaces of a perforated
pair of electrodes, an anode and a cathode each framed by a current
spreader, and separated by a proton exchange membrane (PEM)
designed to conduct protons between the anode and cathode. An
exemplary electrode can be constructed of boron-doped silicon or
another suitable material. The boron doped silicon material serves
as a conductor to pass current between the current spreader and
boron doped, The doped silicon material may be about 200-800
microns thick, such as about 500 microns thick. The front side each
electrode may have a boron-doped diamond coating or another
suitable coating. The coating may be about 2-10 microns thick. The
coating may be applied to the underlying silicon material by
chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or another suitable deposition
technique. The illustrative electrodes can be rectangular in shape,
for example, having a width of about 8 millimeters and a length of
about 10 millimeters, although the size and shape of the electrodes
may vary, and are available from Neocoat SA of La Chaux-de-Fonds,
Switzerland.
[0154] The PEM may be constructed of a solid polymer electrolyte
(SPE) membrane, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE)/perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) copolymer membrane, which is
commercially available from DuPont.TM. as a Nafion.RTM.
membrane.
[0155] The arrangement of the various components of central water
passageway portion 150 and ozone generating cells 210a-d divides
the waterflow through the water passageway 290 into a number of
water passageways 292a-d that is that same as the number ozone
generating cells 210 installed with manifold 140. Each of the
parallel water passageways 292a-d enter the inner conduit 180
through the respective cell opening 182 defined by the inner
conduit.
[0156] Another function of the parallel water passageways 292a-d
arrangement is that a higher ozone concentration can be achieve for
the same flowrate through the water passageway 290 and power
delivered to the ozone generating cells 210a-d than can be achieved
for the same number of ozone generating cells 210a-d arranged in a
serial water pathway arrangement. In the parallel arrangement, the
water flowrate through each ozone generating cell 210a-d is divided
by the number of cells/parallel water passageways 292a-d, for
example, four for the illustrative embodiment. This provides the
waterflow through each parallel water passageway with a higher
ozone concentration than if the flowrate was four times as high.
Although a serial arrangement should boost the ozone concentration
at each successive ozone generating cells 210a-d, it has been found
that the loss of ozone generated by early cells and flow through
subsequent cells, for example, due to the waterflow experiencing
added disturbances to the flow by the serial flow arrangement,
reduces the efficacy of the cumulative serial effect in boost ozone
concentration.
[0157] It is also thought that the parallel water passageways
292a-d arrangement can lengthen the duty life of the ozone
generating cells 210a-d as each may be operated at a lower power to
achieve the desired ozone concentration than if fewer cells were
used, or if the cells were arranged serially. And if the desired
ozone concentration can be achieved by powering a subset of the
ozone generating cells, the duty life can be lengthened by
alternating selectively powering only a subset of the cells. The
later may also be used to keep a generator 100 in service that has
suffer a degradation of failure of one of the ozone generating
cells 210a-d as the load can be picked up by the remaining fully
functional cells without changes to the hardware or water
passageway 290.
[0158] In the illustrative embodiment of manifold 140, a flow
confluence chamber 144 is defined adjacent a second end 187 of the
inner conduit 180 and the inlet opening 206 of the outlet water
passageway portion 200. Within the flow confluence chamber 144, the
waterflows from the first and second flow chambers 188a-b,
(separate parallel water passageway flows 292a-d) are recombined
again into a single waterflow through water passageway 290 in the
outlet water passageway portion 200.
[0159] The ozonate water 52 through the outlet water passageways
portion 200 passes over the surfaces of sensors 240a-b, for example
oxidation reduction potential sensors as is disclosed above. By
comparing ORP of ozonated water 52 as measured by sensors 240a and
240b, with the untreated supply waterflow 23 as measured by sensor
230, the ozone concentration added to the water passageway 290
waterflow by the ozone generating cells 210 can be determined and
ozone generating cells 210 can be individually and collectively
controlled by controller 512 accordingly via power signals 260
provided by generator circuits 540 to achieve a desired ozone
concentration. Alternatively, the inlet sensor 230 could be
eliminated and untreated supply waterflow 23 by sensor 240a with
waterflow provided without energizing ozone generator cells 210 to
baseline ORP for later comparison with ORP of ozonated water 52
measured by sensor 240a when the ozone generator cells 210 are
energized. Yet another alternative is to for gall all ORP sensors
230 and 240a/b and to control the desired aqueous ozone
concentration by setting the current level know to produce the
specific concentration desired for the configuration of the
generator 100 for a given flow rate, for example, 410 milliamps,
for 3 gph, to provide 0.8 ppm aqueous ozone for the illustrative
embodiment.
[0160] With brief reference to FIGS. 1A and 4, the inlet water
passageway portion 190 defines a connector mount 194 for coupling
the inlet connector 120 to the manifold 140. For example, the
connector mount 194 may be a threaded coupling, compression
coupling, adhesive joint, or other known standard or non-standard
fluid coupling known in the art and suitable for the selected type
of the water inlet connector 120. The outlet water passageway
portion 200 defines a corresponding connector mount 204 at outlet
opening 202 for the water outlet connector 130.
[0161] An advantage of the generator 100 according to the present
disclosure is how compactly ozone generating cells 210 and sensors
230 and 240 can be housed and coupled with the water passageway 290
for ozonating the waterflow. For example, by minimizing the length
of the water passageway 290, losses in ozone concentration is
minimized. One aspect of minimizing the length of the water
passageway 290 is the coaxial arrangement of the central water
passageway portion 150, including the parallel water passageways
292a-d arrangement that the coaxial arrangement enables. Another
aspect of minimizing the length is locating more than one ozone
generating cell 210 along the same circumferential arc 158 (defined
by axes 156a-b), as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8C. For example,
cell mount coupling 170a is located at an angular axis 156a of +90
degrees along the circumferential arc 158, and cell mount coupling
170b is located at an angular axis 156b of -90 degrees along the
circumferential arc 158.
[0162] The various components of the manifold 140 may be
constructed, for example molded from rigid materials not
susceptible to breakdown from water and ozone, for example,
polysulfone (PSU), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or 40% glass
fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulphide (PPS). In other
embodiments, the manifold 140 may be comprised of a unitary
structure or a structure divided into portions or subcomponents
differently than is described herein for the illustrative
embodiment and as may be desirable for manufacturing, assembly,
operational or reconstruction.
[0163] The electrical connector 250 can be electrically coupled to
or mounted directly to a circuit board 252. The circuit board 252
may include a memory device, for example for identification data
for the generator 100 and/or the associated hand sanitizer 300, or
both, including for example a serial and/or model number and/or
compatibility information between generators 100 and sanitizers
300, and pairing of a specific serial number generator with a
specific serial number sanitizer. Additionally, the memory device
254 may enable data logging of usage, including lifespan, error
detection, and information concerning individual instances of use
by personnel. Lifespan data may include calibration information,
specifications, elapsed or remaining usage of individual ozone
generating cells 210 and/or the generator 100, including based on,
for example, hours, gallons of water, ozone volume, total power,
and the like.
[0164] Data logging may include transmission of usage information
through electrical connector 250 to controller 512 for storage on
memory 518 or for transmission to a personal computing device
and/or remote server 80. Additionally, a security device 256 be
included as a separate device, or as a feature of the memory device
254. Security device 256 may include encryption, blockchain, or
other secure feature to authenticate the source of manufacturing,
or reconstruction of the generator 100, or the pairing of generator
100 with a particular hand sanitizer 300 or other connected
devices.
[0165] The electrical connector 250 and circuit board 252 an
receive power signals 260 for driving the ozone generating cells
210a-d, powering the sensors 230 and 240a-b, and for sending sensor
data signals 262 from the sensors, and for sending and/or receiving
security data signals 264 and logging data signals 266. In one
embodiment, circuit board 252 includes a processor for providing
control, security, data logging, or other functionality recited
herein or otherwise known to a person of ordinary skill in the art
for manufacturing, operating, repairing, and reconstructing the
generator 100.
[0166] Referring to FIG. 15, reconstruction of an expended
generator cartridge 100 can include, for example, separating
housing 102, removing and replacing all degraded components, for
example, generator cells 210 and/or sensors 230 and 240, cleaning
those and other remaining components that can be reused, replacing
remaining components as required, reassembly and closing housing
102, rewriting memory and security devices 252, 254, 256, and
calibration and/or testing, for example, verifying that the
reconstructed generator 100 provides the desired aqueous ozone 25
concentration for water 23 provided at a given flowrate with the
expected current and voltages levels for each of the generator
cells 120, including proper operation of any sensors 230 and
240.
[0167] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, plug-in coupling of the
generator 100 into a corresponding docking receptacle 350 of the
hand sanitizer 300 requires proper orientation to ensure that the
electrical connector 250 and the water inlet connector 120 and
water outlet connector 130 are not reversed with the corresponding
connectors 352, 354, and 356 of the docking receptacle. One or both
of generator 100 and the docking receptacle 350 can include
orientation features that prevent coupling if the orientation is
incorrect. For example, a guidance and orientation feature 110d
(FIG. 15) at a first end of the housing 102, in this example a
recess or a protrusion. Corresponding guidance and orientation
features 358 (FIG. 13) of the docketing receptacle 350 are
interoperable with orientation feature 110d or operate in addition
to prevent plugging of the generator 100 into the docking
receptacle 350 unless oriented and/or positioned correctly to
result in proper water and electrical connections.
[0168] Alternatively, different size, shape, or other configuration
of the water inlet connector 120 and the water outlet connector 130
and their associated connectors 352 and 354 of the docking
receptacle 350 can be used to prevent a ensure proper orientation
and prevent a reverse connection. Similarly, oriented features of
the electrical connectors 250 and 356 could alternative be used to
ensure correct orientation. Housing 102 may also define recesses,
for example orientation features 110d (FIG. 15) to additionally or
alternative operate with features of the docking station 350 to
prevent improper orientation and review connections.
[0169] Referring to FIG. 13, to enable plugging and unplugging
generator 100 into the docking receptacle 350 using a singular axis
motion, the water connectors 120 and 353 are fixed respectively in
housing 102 and docking receptacle 350 to define a common
longitudinal axis 353 that is displaced laterally and oriented
parallel with a common longitudinal axis 355 of the water
connectors 130 and 354. A connection axis of the electrical
connectors 250 and 356 is also parallel to the longitudinal axes
353 and 355.
[0170] Advantageously, each of the three pair of connectors, 120
and 352, 130 and 354, and 250 and 356 are selected to enable
pluggable engagement using a singular axis of motion along
longitudinal axes 353 and 355 to engage all of the corresponding
connectors simultaneously and without further action other than
moving the generator manually into position along the referenced
parallel axes. For example, the generator can be held and moved
into position to connect the three connector pairs without manually
manipulating each or any of the connectors 120 and 352, 130 and
354, and 250 and 356.
[0171] Additionally, and advantageously, a locking mechanism 116 of
the generator 100 can operably cooperate with a locking mechanism
360 of the docking receptacle 350 so that generator 100 auto-locks
into position relative to the docking receptacle 350, ensuring
corresponding connectors remain engaged. Referring to FIGS. 14A and
14B, a release mechanism 362a associated with the docking
receptacle or a release mechanism 118 associated with the generator
100 can be manually actuated to disengage locking mechanisms 116
and 360. The connector pairs used for 120 and 352 and/or 130 and
354 can be selected to be auto-locking fluid connectors as are
known in the art.
[0172] For example, the water connector 352 may include locking
clips that springs into position to engagingly interfere with an
engagement feature 126 of the water inlet connector 120 to fluidly
couple the connectors 352 and 120 until manually released by the
release mechanism 362a which can move the locking clips to a
disengaged position, allowing the generator 100 to be pulled along
axes 353 and 355, disengaging the connector pairs and allowing the
generator 100 to be removed from the docking receptacle 350 and be
replaced with a new or a reconstructed generator 100. For example,
commercially available connectors such as part numbers
HFCD261235BSPP and HFCD16835 available from Colder Product Company
of Saint Paul, Minn.
[0173] Because of the pressure provided by untreated water supplies
50 varies significantly with local utility and building
infrastructure, to ensure sufficient pressure and flowrate of
untreated water required for correct operation of the hand
sanitizer 300, an untreated water holding tank 614 can be included
to receive an accumulate water from the untreated water supply for
subsequent sanitizing cycles, and the water pump 622 can be
provided with the sanitizer to deliver the desired flowrate from
the holding tank to the generator 100 of about 3.0 gallons per
minute at a supply pressure entering the generator 100 of about 60
psi, a typical pressure available in municipal water supplies. An
illustrative holding tank 614 provides capacity for more than one
full sanitizing cycle, for example, at least two cycles, for
example, at least about 1.8 gallons. An illustrative water pump
622, for example, a self-priming diaphragm pump, provides a
capacity of up to 5.5 gallons per minute and maximum pressure of 70
psi. In an alternative embodiment, other compensating flow rate
restrictor(s) may be used to provide the desired flow rate and
pressure. An example fan 560 provides 155 cubic feet per minute of
airflow. An example ozone filter 348 is an activated carbon filter
sized about 15.5 cubic inches. Alternative or additional filter
material for filter ozone out of the exhaust airflow include
catalysts such as manganese dioxide and copper dioxide.
[0174] An embodiment of the present disclosure may also include
additional and/or alternative features and details as in known in
the art for aqueous ozone systems, for example, as disclosed by US
Patent Publication No. 2019/0001006 published Jan. 3, 2019, and
hereby incorporated by reference herein.
[0175] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have
been shown and described and that all changes and modifications
that come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
in the claims and summary are desired to be protected.
TABLE-US-00002 REFERENCE NUMERAL LISTING 20a-b user's hands 22
lateral-medial axis 23 lateral-medial rotation 24
anterior-posterior axis 25 anterior-posterior rotation 26
proximal-distal axis 30 wrist 32 central 34 palm side 36 dorsal
side 38 fingers 40 thumb/lateral 42 medial (little finger) 44
forearm 50 untreated water supply 52 ozonated water 70 WAN 80
server 82 personal computing device 100a-b aqueous ozone generator
102 housing 104a-b housing side 105a-b component supports 116
locking mechanism 118 release mechanism 120 water inlet connector
122 opening 126 engagement feature 130 water outlet connector 132
opening 136 engagement feature 140 manifold 142 flow separation
chamber 144 flow confluence chamber 150 coaxial water passageways
portion 152 baffle/divider 170a-d cell mount coupling 172a-d cell
coupling opening 176 annulus 180 inner conduit 181 first end 187
second end 188a-b first/second flow chamber 190 inlet water
passageways portion 192 inlet opening 194 connector mount 196
outlet opening 197 outlet coupling 198 sensor coupling 200 outlet
water passageways portion 202 outlet opening 204 connector mount
206 inlet opening 207 inlet coupling 208a-b sensor couplings 209b
sensor alignment feature 210a-d ozone generating cells 212
generating portion 220a-d mount coupling 230 inlet sensor 231
sensor element 232 coupling 240a-b outlet sensors 241a-b sensor
elements 242a-b mounting coupling 250 electrical connector 252
circuit board 254 memory device 256 security device 258 connection
axis 260 power signal 262 sensor data signal 264 security data
signal 266 logging data signal 290 water passageway 292a-d parallel
water passageways 300 aqueous ozone hand sanitizer 310 sanitizing
chamber/hood 312 chamber upper half 314 chamber top 316 top
contours 320 chamber lower half 322 chamber bottom 324 bottom
contours 325 drain 326 left side 328 right side 330 housing chassis
332 lower frame 334a lower portion 334b counter top upper portion
336 cover/hood 338 cover frame 340 left cover 342 right cover 344
top cover 346 fan screen 348 ozone filter 350a-b docking
receptacle/station 352 water supply outlet connector 353 supply
longitudinal axis 354 ozonated water inlet connector 355 ozonated
longitudinal axis 356 electrical connector 358
orientation/alignment feature 360 locking mechanism 362 release
mechanism 370 front cover 372a-b openings 374 horizontal axis 376
vertical axis 380 center 382 opening vertical span 384 opening
horizontal span 386 opening spacing 390 channel 392 channel
vertical span 394 rim 396 horizontal marking feature 398 vertical
marking feature 400 spray system 402a-b manifold 404a-b pressure
sensor 406a-b flow meter 410a-e left spray devices/delivery outlets
411 fluidic oscillator 412 device longitudinal axis 413 rotational
displacement angle 414a upper rotational displacement span 414b
lower rotational displacement span 415 rotational displacement
angle 416a upper rotational displacement span 416b lower rotational
displacement span 417 proximal-distal axis 418 anterior-posterior
axis 419a-b spray fan angular displacement 420 left
spray/application zone 421a-e device spray pattern 424
lateral-medial axis 430a-e right spray devices/delivery outlets 431
anterior-posterior datum plane 432 anterior-posterior location 433a
proximal-distal location datum plane 433b proximal-distal angular
datum plane 434 proximal-distal location 435a lateral-medial
location datum plane 435b laterial-medial angular datum plane 436
laterial-medial location 440 right spray/applicaton zone 441
lateral-medial zone center 442 anterior zone edge 443 zone
anterior-posterior span 444 zone anterior-posterior slope 446
proximal zone edge 447 zone lateral-medial span 448 zone
lateral-medial slope 449 zone proximal-distal span 500 control
system 510 power supply 512 controller 514 power regulator 516
processor 518 memory 520 WAN/LAN transceiver 522 onboard
transceiver 524 pump controller 526 valve controller 528 sensor
controller 540 generator controllers 542 driver 544 power monitor
546 polarity swap 548 sensor circuit 560 fan 562 gaseous ozone
sensor 580 ID reader 582 presence sensor 584 user interface 586
lighting 588 UV light 590 hand sensors 600 water supply system 610
supply valve 612 inlet filter 614 holding tank 616 water level
sensor 618 drain valve 620 temperature sensor 622 pump 624 flow
meter 626 pressure sensor 628 releasable coupling 700 sanitizing
process
* * * * *