Electrolysis Cell Status Lighting Through Liquid Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrolysis cells in cleaning and sanitizing applications lack a clear indication of their operating status, making it difficult to ensure the production of electrochemically activated liquids with enhanced sanitizing or cleaning properties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an indicator light system in a hand-held spray bottle that illuminates as a function of the electrolysis cell's operating characteristics, such as electrical current, to visually indicate the status of the electrolysis process, allowing users to confirm the production of effective sanitizing or cleaning liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an indicator light system is added to show electrolysis cell operating status, then the reliability of the sanitizing process is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-changing indicator lights (e.g., green LED for proper operation, red LED for improper operation) to visually communicate the electrolysis cell's operating status. This allows users to quickly verify the production of electrochemically activated liquid without complex instrumentation, resolving the contradiction by providing reliable feedback through simple color indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator light system acts as an intermediary between the electrolysis cell's electrical characteristics and the user's understanding of its operation. By converting electrical parameters (current, voltage) into visual signals, the system provides reliable operation status information without requiring the user to directly measure or interpret complex electrical data.
2Illumination intensity
If the indicator light illuminates through the liquid in the container, then the visibility of operating status is improved, but the loss of light intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of illuminating the liquid from the side (requiring light to pass through the entire liquid volume), the patent positions the indicator light at the bottom of the container, illuminating the liquid from below. This dimensional change allows the light to travel through a shorter path length, reducing absorption and scattering losses while still achieving visible illumination of the liquid and its contents.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The indicator light system ensures users can visually verify the proper functioning of the electrolysis cell, ensuring the dispensed liquid has enhanced sanitizing or cleaning properties, thereby improving the reliability and effectiveness of the sanitizing or cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
luminous flux from the indicator light passes through liquid contained in at least one of the container or the flow path
Implementation Method 2
electrolyzing the liquid with an electrolysis cell carried by the bottle to produce electrolyzed liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided, which includes an electrolysis cell, a liquid flow path that passes through the electrolysis cell, and an indicator light. The indicator light is illuminated as a function of an operating characteristic of the electrolysis cell and luminous flux radiated from the light illuminates liquid along at least a portion of the flow path.