Ozone Cleaning Cabinet With Neutralization for Sensitive Textiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning sensitive textiles and items like theatre dresses and footwear are either laborious, hazardous to the environment, or ineffective in removing odors and microbes, especially since water and chemical cleaning are not suitable for all materials.
Innovation Solution
A cabinet-based ozone cleaning system with a gas-tight cleaning space and ozone generation and neutralization units, utilizing ozone to effectively remove impurities while ensuring safety and environmental friendliness through controlled ozone circulation and neutralization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water cleaning or chemical dry cleaning is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs ozone, a strong oxidant, to clean sensitive items such as theatre dresses and footwear. The ozone generator produces ozone gas that is introduced into the cleaning space, where it oxidizes and eliminates odors, sweat, and microbes without requiring water or harsh chemicals, thus achieving effective cleaning while being environmentally friendly
2Reliability
If water cleaning is used, then microbes and odors are removed, but mechanical strain and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning methods (water washing, manual scrubbing) with a chemical-gas based cleaning system. Ozone gas is generated and circulated through the cleaning space, automatically oxidizing and eliminating microbes and odors without requiring manual labor or mechanical intervention, thus reducing both labor intensity and mechanical strain on sensitive items
3Productivity
If ozone concentration is increased for faster cleaning, then cleaning speed is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an ozone concentration sensor that continuously monitors the ozone level in the cleaning space and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the ozone generator's operation based on this feedback, maintaining ozone concentration within a safe and effective range, thus enabling fast cleaning while ensuring safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the ozone generation parameters (concentration, flow rate) based on the cleaning needs and safety thresholds. The system can increase ozone concentration for faster cleaning when safe, and reduce it when approaching safety limits, thus optimizing both cleaning speed and safety
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ozone is used for cleaning, then environmental friendliness is improved, but ozone distribution control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning space into multiple zones with separate ozone introduction points and circulation paths. The circulation channel system segments the ozone distribution, ensuring uniform delivery to different areas of the cleaning space, thus simplifying control while maintaining environmental friendliness
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
Enables quick, effective, and environmentally friendly cleaning of sensitive items by using ozone to eliminate odors and microbes without mechanical strain, with controlled ozone levels ensuring safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The generator 6 generates ozone from oxygen (O 2) by dissipating it first to one-atomic and combining the one-atomic oxygen with two-atomic oxygen to provide tri-atomic oxygen O 3, i.e. ozone.
Implementation Method 2
The circulation channel 27 also includes a cooling element 8, such as a Peltier element or a heat exchanger, which may cool the input air and, consequently, the ozone to be fed to the cleaning space.
Implementation Method 3
The filtered air is passed via a heating element 25, such as a heat resistor, which may warm the input air.
Implementation Method 4
Triatomic ozone O 3 affects the objects to be cleaned in different ways depending on the microbes or odour molecules on the object.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cabinet for cleaning clothes comprising a cleaning space for containing the clothes to be cleaned, means for generating ozone from air, means for bringing the generated ozone into contact with the clothes in the cleaning space for allowing the ozone to react with impurities in the clothes, and means for neutralizing the ozone included in the reaction product to oxygen.