Handheld Spray Bottle Electrolyzer for Residue-Free Surface Sanitizing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning systems for hard and soft floors rely on chemical surfactants that leave residues and can have adverse health and environmental effects, while also failing to effectively sanitize surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held spray apparatus with a functional generator that electrochemically activates a liquid by separating it into anolyte and catholyte, which are then blended and dispensed as a cleaning solution, eliminating the need for chemical surfactants and enhancing cleaning and sanitizing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical surfactants are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but residue is left on surfaces and adverse health/environmental effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidresidue and adverse effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical cleaning mechanisms with electrochemical activation. A functional generator uses electrolysis to activate water, producing electrochemically activated water (EA water) with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing properties without relying on chemical surfactants. This substitution eliminates residue and harmful effects while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of water through electrochemical activation. By applying electrical energy through electrodes in the functional generator, water is transformed into EA water with different properties (higher oxidizing power, different pH levels) that provide effective cleaning and sanitizing without chemical additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively cleans and sanitizes surfaces without leaving residues, reducing the use of chemical detergents and improving surface wetting and sanitizing power, while being environmentally safer.

Implementation Method 1

The functional generator receives the liquid from the tank and has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates the liquid that is passed through the functional generator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS8012339B2Hand-held spray bottle having an electrolyzer and method therefor

Publication Date: 2011.09.06 TENNANT CO

AI summary

A hand-held spray apparatus is provided, which includes a tank for holding a supply of liquid to be treated and a functional generator carried by the hand-held spray apparatus. The functional generator receives the liquid from the tank and has an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by an ion exchange membrane and electrochemically activates the liquid that is passed through the functional generator. A spray output is coupled to an output of the functional generator and dispenses the electrochemically activated liquid as an output spray.