Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Fluid treatment – Manipulation of liquid
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-23
2002-06-25
Coe, Philip (Department: 1746)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Fluid treatment
Manipulation of liquid
C068S01300A, C068S183000, C068S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06408471
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for treatment of laundry with ozone, and more particularly, to a variable system for treatment of laundry that is capable of delivering different measured amounts of dissolved ozone concentrations to multiple washing machines.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
Commercial laundry facilities consume large amounts of chemicals, energy and water during wash cycles. Additionally, a byproduct of commercial laundry facilities is generation of wastewater that must be monitored and treated prior to disposal. A typical laundry facility may consist of multiple single washing machines or continuous load washers (i.e., tunnel washers), or a combination thereof. By way of example, a “typical” commercial laundry facility may include multiple single washing machines that 2 may be from 50 to 600-pound capacity. If a laundry facility consists of four 600-pound and two 100-pound single washers, the yearly production of the facility based on three shifts a day may exceed 12 million pounds. The type of laundry or laundry processed may include, but is not limited to, white and colored towels and bed linens, table clothes, bath mats, blankets and medical supplies. Generally, the type of laundry processed imposes a specific chemical formula that ordinarily includes one or more of the following: detergent, alkali, bleach, anti-bleach, sour and fabric softener. There are generally several filling and draining cycles associated with each wash cycle. If it is necessary to treat for impurities (i.e., filtration of lint) and/or adjust the pH of the wash wastewater prior to disposal, additional chemicals such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide may be required.
There presently exist many types of apparatus and method to treat laundry and wash wastewater with ozone. Ozone may be used to substitute for or to augment detergent use since ozone is a powerful bleaching and oxidizing agent. Utilization of ozone in the laundry process can reduce energy consumption since no hot water is required, save or eliminate chemicals which are potentially harmful to the environment, reduce water consumption and reduce wastewater generation. Consequently, use of ozone in the laundry process can even reduce the time required to wash a load of laundry and therefore reducing the labor and energy costs. The production of ozone is well-known in the art and is typically produced using either air or concentrated oxygen. 3However, prior approaches to treat laundry and wash wastewater with ozone have had limited commercial success for a variety of reasons.
By way of example, previous approaches of laundry ozone systems may inject wash water that is pumped out of a washer, including detergent, with ozone and then pump the wash water back into the washer for the duration of the wash cycle. There are several disadvantages to this approach. First, the detergent present in the wash water will consume the injected ozone almost instantaneously. Secondly, the ozone generator must work full time. Third, there is no mechanism to monitor the amount of ozone that is actually dissolved in the wash water to ensure that the laundry receives a preset level of ozone per wash cycle.
A second approach common in the prior art is for the used wash water to be collected in a tank (typically after it goes through a filtration process or is being recycled). The wash water is then circulated within the tank in which ozone is injected then pumped to the washers” supply tank to maintain water levels. The disadvantage of this approach is the washer may receive inadequately ozonated wash water.
A third approach common in the prior art is to inject generated ozone directly into the washer after the washer is filled with water. The washer typically controls the ozone generator such that when the washer starts, it will activate the ozone generator and the ozone generator will start producing and introducing ozone directly into the washer. A disadvantage of this approach is that modification of the washer is necessary to incorporate a gas feed line into the tub of the washer. Additionally, not all washing machines (i.e., tunnel washers) can be readily modified with gas lines or would require a plurality of ozone gas feed lines.
In summary, previous attempts or teachings for washing laundry with ozone have not provided a mechanism by which there is sufficient dissolved ozone available in the wash water to meet the demand of the soiled laundry. Specifically, previous systems typically furnish low levels of ozone. More particularly, they do not provide sufficient means for dissolving ozone into the wash water. Thus, ozone gas is introduced into the ambient environment where it represents a safety hazard. Nor have previous methods or apparatus provided a mechanism by which an operator may set and adjust the level of dissolved ozone to match the demand of the laundry. Prior art systems provide no control over the concentration of ozone, no means by which an operator can readily ascertain how much ozone is delivered and provide no indication as to whether or not the delivered ozone is consumed by the ozone demand contaminant(s).
Continuing efforts are being made to improve laundry and laundry wastewater apparatus and methods. By way of example, note U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,743 to Schneider et al. and U.S Pat. Nos. 5,241,720, 5,181,399 and 5, 097,556 to Engel et al. U.S Pat. No. 5,493,743 discloses an apparatus and method for ozone assisted laundry washing and a wastewater treatment system which preferably is a “closed loop” system which incorporates a process of tiered filtration whereby spent wash water may be collected, filtered and reused. The apparatus and method of Schneider et al. does not teach a mechanism by which an operator may readily select the level of dissolved ozone, and different concentrations of dissolved ozone may be delivered to multiple washing machines. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,720, 5,181,399 and 5,097,556 to Engel et al. teach non-adjustable closed loop systems. These patents disclose the addition of ozone to the wash water prior to use in a washing machine. The disclosure and teachings of these patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,915 to Radler et al. discloses a complex laundry ozone injection system that utilizes an ozone manifold with a plurality of manifold outlets to deliver ozone. This patent discloses the steps of allowing the water to be pumped out of the washer, injected with ozone, and pumped back into the washer. The disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,616 to Garbutt et al. discloses a gray water reclamation system to treat and restore cleaning water in a closed loop, recyclable water system.
Another grouping of background patents are those which disclose treatment of wash wastewater. By way of example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,537 to Mannillo which teaches a method to treat wastewater in a closed loop wash system where ozone is used for purification of the water but not for the actual laundry cleaning process. Ozone is removed by ultraviolet light prior to the water being used to actually clean laundry. Another grouping of background patents are those which disclose modifications to washing machines or filtration devices. Note U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,129 to Jang that discloses a mechanism by which ozone may be injected directly into the washing means. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,403 to Lincoln et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,356 to Miller et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,608 to Cooper et al. of the water but not for the actual laundry cleaning process. Ozone is removed by ultraviolet light prior to the water being used to actually clean laundry.
6
Another grouping of background patents are those which disclose modifications to washing machines or filtration devices. Note U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,129 to Gang that discloses a mechanism by which ozone may be injected directly into the washing means. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,403 to Lincoln et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
Derrick John R.
Diaz Carlos V.
Samad Nidal A.
Teran Alfredo J.
Tyndall Timothy N.
Agrimond L.L.C.
Coe Philip
Hopen Anton J.
Smith & Hopen , P.A.
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