OZONE GENERATOR FOR OZONE SANITIZATION AND DISINFECTION OF ICE MAKERS

Abstract

An ozone generator for producing ozone water for the sanitation and disinfection of an ice maker includes cathode plates and anode plates that are arranged alternatively in an electrolysis chamber. The cathode plates and the anode plates are connected to a cathode wire and an anode wire of a cable. A wiring chamber is provided with a temperature sensor extending into the electrolysis chamber and connected with a temperature sensor wire of the cable. The cable is connected to a control circuit. The ozone generator is submerged in the ice-making water of the ice-making water tank. The temperature sensor of the ozone generator submerged in the ice-making water is configured to sense temperature changes. When the ice maker is activated, the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank will drop. When the temperature drops to the set temperature, the ozone generator is activated once to produce ozone gas. The ozone gas is dissolved in the ice-making water to generate ozone water. The ozone water is used to sanitize the ice-making loop process of the ice maker. The ozone generator has simple structure, low cost and good effect.

Claims

1. An ozone generator for ozone sanitization and disinfection of an ice maker, comprising a generator housing (1), the generator housing (1) having a wiring chamber (1-1) and an electrolysis chamber (1-2) therein, cathode plates (7) and anode plates (8) being provided in the electrolysis chamber (1-2), the cathode plates (7) and the anode plates (8) being arranged alternatively, the cathode plates (7) and the anode plates (8) being connected to a cathode wire (4-3) and an anode wire (4-2) of a cable (4) through a cathode conductive stud (6) and an anode conductive stud (3) passing through the wiring chamber (1-1) respectively, the wiring chamber (1-1) being provided with a temperature sensor (2) extending into the electrolysis chamber (1-2), the temperature sensor (2) being connected with a temperature sensor wire (4-1) of the cable (4), the cable (4) being connected to a control circuit.

2. The ozone generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the anode plates (8) is a coated titanium anode, each of the cathode plates (7) is a titanium cathode or stainless steel cathode; the coated titanium anode includes a titanium substrate and a doped tin dioxide coating.

3. The ozone generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable (4) extends out of the generator housing (1) through a gasket (5), and the wiring chamber (1-1) is filled with epoxy resin sealant.

4. The ozone generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generator is submerged in ice-making water of an ice-making water tank, the temperature sensor of the ozone generator submerged in the ice-making water is configured to sense temperature changes, when the ice maker is activated, the temperature of the ice-making water in the ice-making water tank drops, when the temperature drops to a set temperature, the ozone generator is activated once to produce ozone gas, the ozone gas is dissolved in the ice-making water to generate ozone water, the ozone water is used to sterilize an ice-making loop process of the ice maker.

5. The ozone generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the set temperature is 4-20° C.

6. The ozone generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the set temperature is 5° C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, an ozone generator for ozone sanitization and disinfection of an ice maker comprises a generator housing (1). The generator housing (1) has a wiring chamber (1-1) and an electrolysis chamber (1-2) therein. Cathode plates (7) and anode plates (8) are provided in the electrolysis chamber (1-2). Each anode plate (8) is a coated titanium anode. Each cathode plate (7) is a titanium cathode or stainless steel cathode. The cathode plates (7) and the anode plates (8) are arranged alternatively. The cathode plates (7) and the anode plates (8) are connected to a cathode wire (4-3) and an anode wire (4-2) of a cable (4) through a cathode conductive stud (6) and an anode conductive stud (3) passing through the wiring chamber (1-1), respectively. The wiring chamber (1-1) is provided with a temperature sensor (2) extending into the electrolysis chamber (1-2). The temperature sensor (2) is connected with a temperature sensor wire (4-1) of the cable (4). The cable (4) is connected to a control circuit.

[0014] The cable (4) composed of the cathode wire (4-3), the anode wire (4-2) and the temperature sensor wire (4-1) extends out of the generator housing (1) through a gasket (5). The wiring chamber (1-1) is filled with epoxy resin sealant, which can avoid the oxidative corrosion and electric corrosion of the exposed conductive wires immersed in the ozone water in the water.

[0015] When the ice maker is started for making ice cubs, tap water flows into the ice-making water tank. The ice maker is pre-cooled, so that the water temperature of the ice-making water tank continues to drop. The temperature sensor (2) transmits the temperature signal to the control circuit through the temperature sensor wire (4-1) of the cable (4). When the temperature drops to the set temperature (preferably, 5° C.), the control circuit supplies constant current power supply to the anode plates and the cathode plates of the ozone generator through the cathode wire (4-3) and the anode wire (4-2) of the cable (4). The voltage range of the power supply is 3.5 to 16 V. Tap water is electrolyzed under the action of an electric field. Oxygen ions generate ozone gas microbubbles under the action of the anode catalyst. The ozone gas microbubbles are quickly dissolved and mixed into the tap water to directly generate ozone water to be exchanged with the water in the ice-making water tank to form ozone water, so that the ozone water is distributed throughout the ice-making water tank. When the proper concentration of ozone water is achieved, the control circuit stops power supply. The ozone water in the ice-making water tank is poured onto the ice mold cavity through a spray nozzle to gradually freeze, and it also has a sanitization and disinfection effect on the part where the ozone water flows. During this process, a small amount of ozone gas is dispersed into the air, so that the area around the ice-making water tank forms an ozone gas environment, which has a bacteriostatic effect inside the ice maker.

[0016] The control circuit can supply power regularly and change the current value to control the amount of ozone gas generated to produce the appropriate concentration of ozone water for sanitation. This control circuit allows the device to be suitable for various ice-makers of different specifications and models to achieve the effect of sanitization and disinfection. There are many ways to implement the circuit on the market, so it won’t be described hereinafter.

[0017] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.