The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 19, 1999
Alan Burdick, Charlotte, NC (US);
Envirocleanse Systems, Inc., Mooresville, NC (US);
Abstract
A system and method for treating laundry with ozone is provided including a controller that receives a load signal based on a wash load selection. In response to the load signal, the controller transmits a power supply control signal to a variable power supply to vary an output potential to an ozone generator. The controller transmits a dryer control signal to an air dryer to provide desiccated air to the ozone generator. The controller transmits a sparging pump control signal to a sparging pump to pump the ozone generated by the ozone generator to a sparging rod adjacent the drain of a laundry machine where the ozone is dispersed directly into the wash liquor. In a preferred embodiment, an adapter removably secures the sparging rod to the wall of the laundry machine so that the sparging rod may be readily removed for cleaning, repair or replacement. In an alternative embodiment, ozone from the ozone generator is also entrained into the wash liquor by a venturi positioned in a side arm recirculation assembly as the wash liquor is returned to the laundry machine for further use in the wash process. Regardless, the concentration of the ozone dispersed directly into the wash liquor, or dispersed and/or entrained into the wash liquor, can be varied in response to the wash load. In addition, the wash chemistry can be balanced with the ozone to minimize ozone off-gassing and to conserve energy and water. A system and method for treating laundry with ozone is also provided which includes the capability to re-use at least a portion of the water from the municipal water supply utilized by the laundry machine during the wash process to further conserve energy and water.