Patent Application
20160015845
1. Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter
The present disclosed subject matter relates generally to oxidizing agent application systems and methods, and more particularly to a mobile device for applying ozone dissolved in a liquid on a surface.
2. Background
Oxidizing agents can be used to incapacitate or destroy pathogens. A strong oxidizing agent is ozone (O3). Ozone occurs naturally in the environment when an electrical discharge, such as lighting, passes through air containing the gaseous form of oxygen (O2). Pathogens harmful to humans include microorganisms, such as fungus, protozoan, bacteria, and viruses. Contact of an oxidizing agent with a pathogen can render the pathogen ineffective. Ozone is reactive fur only a short time after it is generated, thus use of ozone as a disinfectant has limited residual harmful effects.
A liquid containing a dissolved oxidizing agent can be applied to a surface to incapacitate or destroy the pathogens thereon.
An oxidizing agent application system mixes gaseous ozone with a liquid in a concentration sufficient to incapacitate and destroy pathogens on a surface. Gaseous ozone is combined with the liquid in a nozzle by delivering the ozone to the nozzle at a higher pressure than the liquid, creating an ozone-liquid mixture. The ozone-liquid mixture exits the nozzle under pressure and is applied to the surface.
An application device including an application system mounted to a mobile device, such as a trailer, applies the ozone-liquid mixture to a surface, such as a natural or artificial turf. The application system includes an oxidizing agent system, and a liquid system. The oxidizing agent system uses an ozone generator to create gaseous ozone and feeds the gaseous ozone to the nozzles. The liquid system moves the liquid to the nozzles that are attached in an array to a support structure located above the surface. The nozzles are where the gaseous ozone is combined with the liquid creating the ozone-liquid mixture with gaseous ozone dissolved in the liquid. Dissolving the ozone in a liquid, such as water, allows the dissolved ozone to remain in contact with the surface and any pathogens thereon, oxidizing the pathogens, and rendering any pathogens thereon ineffective.
A covering may be connected to the support structure to direct the ozone-liquid mixture and any undissolved gaseous ozone to the surface, and aid in retaining any undissolved gaseous ozone with the liquid on the surface to replace the ozone that is consumed in the oxidative process.
A surfactant or wetting agent may be added to the liquid and gaseous ozone to create an ozone-surfactant-liquid material. The addition of a surfactant to the liquid decreases the tension of the resulting mixture thereby increasing the amount of the ozone-liquid mixture in contact with the surface and the dissolved ozone in contact with any pathogens thereon.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosed subject matter, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the disclosed technology in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
An application device 102 including an application system 202 mounted to a mobile device 104 for applying an oxidizing agent to a surface 106 is shown in
Referring to
In an embodiment, the oxidizing agent system 302 is an ozone generator 304 operably connected to an power supply 306 providing electrical energy, and an oxygen source 308 (
In an embodiment, the liquid system 402 includes a liquid source 404 connected to nozzles 412. In an embodiment, the liquid source 404 is a tank 414 containing water. A pump 406, operably connected to the power supply 306, moves the liquid 405 from the liquid source 404 to the nozzles 412 as a pressurized liquid by conduits 408 and a manifold 410. The nozzles 412 are arranged in an array to apply the liquid 405 to the surface 106 in a consistent manner. In an embodiment, the nozzles 412 are spaced along a support structure 116, such as a boom, at an end of the frame 110.
Referring to
Pressurized liquid 405 at a pressure of about 20 psi enters the liquid passage 424 through the inlet 418 via the conduit 408. Gaseous ozone 314 at about 60 psi enters the liquid passage 424 through the port 422 via the conduit 310. The venturi effect occurring at the middle portion 428 draws gaseous ozone 314 into the liquid 405 stream as it passes through the constriction mixing the gaseous ozone 314 with the liquid 405. A portion of the gaseous ozone 314 dissolves in the liquid 405 and the ozone-liquid mixture 432 exits the nozzle 412 through the outlet 420 and is applied to the surface 106. In an embodiment, the gaseous ozone 314 dissolved in the liquid 405 is about 0.6 milligrams per liter of liquid 405. The liquid system 402 is operated by a user using conventional control mechanisms.
By ozonation of the liquid 405, the ozone-liquid mixture 432 can be applied to the surface 106 and remain in contact with the surface 106. The ozone-liquid mixture 432 holds the dissolved gaseous ozone 314 in contact with the surface 106 and any pathogens thereon as the oxidizing agent disinfects the surface 106 by rendering any pathogens thereon ineffective. As oxidization of the pathogens occurs, the ozone reverts back to the gaseous form of oxygen leaving no harmful residue behind.
In an embodiment, the ozone-liquid mixture 432 exits the nozzle 412 in a conical spray pattern 434 as it is applied to the surface 106. In an embodiment, the conical spray pattern 434 is a solid cone of the ozone-liquid mixture 432. Applying the ozone-liquid mixture 432 to the surface 106 as the nozzles 112 move across the surface coats the surface 106 with the ozone-liquid mixture 432. I an embodiment, approximately 0.00162894 gallons of ozone-liquid mixture 432 is applied to each square foot of the surface 106.
In an embodiment, the conical spray pattern 434 is a hollow cone of the ozone-liquid mixture 432 with an open interior area 436. Within the interior area 136, undissolved gaseous ozone 314 is carried down to the surface 106.
In an embodiment, the ozone-liquid mixture 432 exits the nozzle 412 in a fan spray pattern as it is applied to the surface 106.
Gaseous ozone 314 that either comes out of the ozone-liquid mixture 432 or that is not dissolved in the liquid 405 in the nozzle 412 moves along with the ozone-liquid mixture 432 toward the surface 106 coating the surface 106 with a cloud of gaseous ozone 314.
The nozzles 412 are spaced apart from each other and positioned at a height above the surface 106 to achieve the desired spray coverage and/or overlap of spray on the surface 106. In an embodiment, the nozzles 412 are spaced and positioned to achieve an overlap of about five inches of spray coverage.
In an embodiment, a covering 118 extends downward and outward away from the nozzles 412 directing the ozone-liquid mixture 432 and cloud of gaseous ozone 314 downward after it is emitted from the nozzle 412 to minimize dispersion and dilution of the gaseous ozone 314 (
In an embodiment, a surfactant or wetting agent is added to the liquid 405 prior to the mixing of the gaseous ozone 314 with the liquid 405 in the nozzle 412 forming a surfactant-liquid mixture. The surfactant-liquid mixture enters the inlet 418 and gaseous ozone 314 is dissolved in the surfactant-liquid mixture, as described above with respect to the liquid 415, forming an ozone-surfactant-liquid mixture. The ozone-surfactant-liquid mixture exits the nozzle 412 through the outlet 420, as described above, and is applied to the surface 106. The addition of a surfactant to the liquid 405 decreases the tension of the liquid 405 increasing the amount of the ozone-liquid mixture in contact with the surface 106, and the dissolved ozone in contact with any pathogens on the surface 106. In an embodiment, the surfactant is the surfactant sold under the trademark BARDAC® LF-80 from Lonza, Inc. of Allendale, N.J.
In an embodiment, the application system 202 is mounted to a self-powered vehicle, such as a truck.
It is to be understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.
This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/026,308, filed Jul. 18, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62026308 | Jul 2014 | US |
