Mobile Cleaner Electrochemical Activation for Residue-Free Disinfection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning systems for hard and soft floors rely on chemical detergents that leave residues and may have adverse health or environmental effects, and there is a need for improved cleaning methods that reduce detergent use and residue while maintaining cleaning and disinfecting effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A mobile surface cleaner equipped with a functional generator that electrochemically activates a liquid, producing sanitizing anolyte and catholyte liquids, which are combined and dispensed without intermediate storage, using an ion exchange membrane to separate electrode chambers and reduce the need for surfactants, allowing for effective cleaning and disinfection without leaving residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical detergents are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but residue and harmful effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidresidue and harmful effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning liquid by using electrochemical activation to generate reactive oxygen species and alter the oxidation-reduction potential, transforming ordinary water into a highly effective cleaning and disinfecting solution without requiring traditional chemical detergents that leave residues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical detergent system with an electrochemical system that uses electrical energy to activate water molecules, generating cleaning action through electrochemical reactions rather than through chemical surfactants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If surfactants are used to improve cleaning, then cleaning power increases, but residue on surfaces increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidsurface residue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for surfactants from the cleaning system, achieving effective cleaning through electrochemically activated water that uses oxidation-reduction reactions to remove soils without requiring surfactant-based chemistry that leaves residues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If electrochemical activation is used to clean, then residue is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidue reductionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the electrochemical activation system into the existing cleaner architecture, allowing the same device to perform both cleaning and disinfecting functions through a single integrated generator that activates water and controls its application, reducing overall system complexity despite the added electrochemical technology

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 electrochemically activated cleaning system effectively cleans and disinfects surfaces without the use of surfactants, reducing residue and environmental impact, while maintaining cleaning power and safety, and allows for efficient recovery of soiled liquids.

Implementation Method 1

a functional generator having first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane and which are configured to electrochemically activate a liquid from the liquid source that is passed through the functional generator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 2

first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon Exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 3

producing sanitizing anolyte and catholyte liquids, which are combined and dispensed without intermediate storage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOzone: Ozone

Data Source

PatentUS8603320B2Mobile surface cleaner and method for generating and applying an electrochemically activated sanitizing liquid having O3 molecules

Publication Date: 2013.12.10 TENNANT CO

AI summary

A method and apparatus are provided for generating and applying a sanitizing liquid. The method includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor and electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device by passing the liquid through a functional generator having first and second electrode chambers that are separated by an ion exchange membrane such that the liquid activated in the first electrode chamber comprises O3 molecules. Substantially all of the liquid activated in the first and second electrode chambers are dispensed from the device within 5 seconds of the time at which the liquids are activated by the functional generator without an intermediate step of storing either of the liquids produced in the first or second electrode chambers. At least some of the dispensed liquid is recovered from the floor with a recovery device carried by the mobile floor cleaning device.