Foam Dispenser Using Ionic Wind for Uniform Ozone Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ozone-containing hand cleaning foam dispensers face issues with inconsistent ozone concentration and delayed dispensing due to static air volumes and the need for separate ozone generation and air circulation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with an ozone generating chamber using a corona discharge generator that produces both ozonated air and ionic wind, which circulates air and ozone, eliminating the need for separate pumps and ensuring uniform ozone concentration and reduced delay between activation and dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a static volume of air is used in the ozone generating chamber, then the device structure is simple, but the ozone concentration becomes inconsistent throughout the air volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an ionic wind generator that creates dynamic air circulation within the ozone generating chamber. This dynamic flow continuously moves air through the chamber, ensuring uniform ozone distribution throughout the volume. The system transitions from a static air volume to a dynamically circulating one, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and concentration uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using ionic wind (a gas flow phenomenon) to circulate air through the ozone generating chamber. The ionic wind generator creates electrostatic forces that move air molecules, providing a pneumatic solution to achieve uniform ozone distribution without complex mechanical pumping systems.
2Reliability
If separate pump mechanisms are used to circulate air, then air circulation is reliable, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ozone generation function with the air circulation function by integrating the ionic wind generator directly into the ozone generating chamber. The same device that generates ozone also creates the ionic wind that circulates air, eliminating the need for separate pump mechanisms while maintaining reliable air circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ionic wind generator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates ozone through corona discharge and circulates air through ionic wind. This multi-functional component replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational reliability.
3Device complexity
If ozone is generated in a static chamber without circulation, then the device is simple, but the dispensing delay increases due to ozone decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic air circulation via ionic wind to continuously move ozonated air toward the dispensing mechanism. This dynamic approach ensures that freshly generated ozone is quickly delivered to the foam generator, reducing the time loss due to ozone decomposition before dispensing.
4Quantity of substance
If the ozone generating chamber uses a large air volume, then the ozone storage capacity is sufficient, but the ozone concentration near the generator differs significantly from areas further away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic principles through ionic wind to create uniform gas distribution throughout the chamber. The electrostatic forces generated by the ionic wind generator move air molecules evenly, ensuring consistent ozone concentration throughout the entire air volume, which improves measurement accuracy regardless of sensor position.
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 solution provides a consistent ozone concentration and immediate dispensing of ozone-containing foam by maintaining a charged air compartment with uniformly mixed ozonated air, reducing component count and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a corona discharge generator that generates a corona discharge to produce: (a) ozonated air, by converting oxygen in the air into ozone
Implementation Method 2
an ionic wind that draws the air from the air source into the ozone generating chamber through the air inlet, and expels the ozonated air from the ozone generating chamber through the air outlet
Implementation Method 3
the ionic wind circulates air between the air compartment and the ozone generating chamber, by drawing air from the air compartment into the ozone generating chamber through the air inlet, and expelling ozonated air from the ozone generating chamber back into the air compartment through the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for dispensing ozone containing foam. The dispenser comprises an ozone generating chamber having an air inlet in communication with a source of air and an air outlet. The ozone generating chamber contains a corona discharge generator that generates a corona discharge to produce: (a) ozonated air, by converting oxygen in the air into ozone, and (b) an ionic wind. The ionic wind draws the air from the air source into the ozone generating chamber through the air inlet, and expels the ozonated air from the ozone generating chamber through the air outlet. A foam generator receives the ozonated air expelled from the ozone generating chamber and mixes the ozonated air with a foamable liquid to generate the ozone containing foam.