SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS TO ACCELERATE GENERATION OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE GAS

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for accelerating the generation of chlorine dioxide gas by rotating a member such as a puck, tablet, or pouch of reactant such as sodium chlorite in an acidic solution that will cause and help accelerate a reaction to generate chlorine dioxide gas.

Claims

1. A method for generating chlorine dioxide gas on-site, the method comprising: providing a chamber configured to hold liquid having a motor coupled to the chamber with a shaft coupled to the motor and extending into an area of the chamber configured to hold the liquid; attaching a sodium chlorite member to the shaft; adding a liquid to the chamber, wherein once introduced to the chamber, the liquid is acidic; and activating the motor causing sodium chlorite member to rotate within the liquid to accelerate generation of chlorine dioxide gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor is mounted to a top of the chamber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor is mounted to a bottom of the chamber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft connected to the motor includes a clip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft connected to the motor includes a basket or a holder with holes, wherein the basket or the holder is configured to hold the sodium chlorite member and the holes permit the liquid to flow though the holes to contact the sodium chlorite member when the motor is spinning.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sodium chlorite member includes one of a tablet, a puck, or a pouch containing sodium chlorite.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sodium chlorite member is attached to the shaft via a clip.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sodium chlorite member is attached to the shaft via an interference fit between the shaft and an aperture in the sodium chlorite member.

9. An apparatus for generating chlorine dioxide gas on-site, the apparatus comprising: a chamber configured to hold liquid having a motor coupled to the chamber with a shaft coupled to the motor and extending into an area of the chamber configured to hold the liquid, wherein the liquid includes an acid; and an attachment mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to a sodium chlorite member, wherein, when the motor is activated, the attachment mechanism, via the shaft causes the sodium chlorite member to rotate within the liquid to accelerate generation of chlorine dioxide gas.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motor is mounted to a top of the chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motor is mounted to a bottom of the chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shaft connected to the motor includes a clip.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one of a USB cord or a battery to provide power to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chamber includes holes near a top side of the chamber, wherein the holes are configured to release chlorine dioxide gas generated in the chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shaft connected to the motor includes a basket or a holder with holes, wherein the basket or the holder is configured to hold the sodium chlorite member and the holes permit the liquid to flow though the holes to contact the sodium chlorite member when the motor is spinning.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sodium chlorite member includes one of a tablet, a puck, or a pouch containing sodium chlorite.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sodium chlorite member is attached to the shaft via a clip.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sodium chlorite member is attached to the shaft via an interference fit between the shaft and an aperture in the sodium chlorite member.

19. An apparatus for generating chlorine dioxide gas on-site, the apparatus comprising: a chamber configured to hold liquid having an air source coupled to the chamber with a tube extending from the air source into an area of the chamber configured to hold the liquid, wherein the liquid includes an acid, wherein, when the air source is activated, bubbles travel from the tube through the liquid to accelerate generation of chlorine dioxide gas.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the tube is disposed near one of a top of the chamber or a bottom of the chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator including a tube or hose for air bubble agitation of reactants in accordance with some implementations.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a motor on top of the device in accordance with some implementations.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a cord to plug it in to a USB plugin to charge the batteries and a clip on the shaft to hold the pouch, tablet or puck so it can spin in accordance with some implementations.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having top-mounted motor and a wide clip to hold the pouch, tablet, or puck so it can spin in accordance with some implementations.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a top-mounted motor and a cage or holding device on the shaft with holes to hold the pouch, tablet or puck so it can spin in accordance with some implementations.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a bottom mounted motor and a wide clip to hold the pouch, tablet, or puck so it can spin in accordance with some implementations.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a bottom mounted motor and a cage or holding device on the shaft with holes to hold the pouch, tablet or puck so it can spin in accordance with some implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, a system, apparatus, and method for accelerating generation of chlorine dioxide gas by exposing sodium chlorite to an acid or acid solution is provided. By putting the components into a system or device that can hold liquid in a container and that can attach a pouch, tablet or pouch to a rod that is attached to a motor that spins that has sodium chlorite in it that can spin it in a liquid so it will speed up the process of creating chlorine dioxide or a bubbler on the bottom of the device that will put air into the container so the liquid moves to speed up the process of producing chlorine dioxide (ClO.sub.2). By spinning the puck, tablet or pouch, or bubbling, the liquid it will produce chlorine dioxide at a faster rate than not spinning or bubbling the liquid.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the compartment that holds the liquid can include a motor (top-mounted or bottom-mounted) with a shaft that can attach to a pouch, puck or tablet with sodium chlorite. The motor is configured to spin the pouch, puck or tablet in the liquid (e.g., acid solution or water). In other implementations, a bubbler can agitate, stimulate, or vibrate to accelerate the reaction and generation of chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide gas flows out the opening of the system or device. The gas can be used, for example, to disinfect surfaces, deodorize, remediate mold, decontaminate surfaces, or as a topical skin or biological product for surface disinfecting. If needed, some systems and devices can include a fan or other device for circulating the chlorine dioxide gas that is generated.

[0035] An important advantage of the disclosed subject matter is that it can be modified to meet applicable shipping and handling regulations and may not require special handling procedures that can be cumbersome and/or expensive. Also, by accelerating the generation of chlorine dioxide gas, more parts per million (ppm) of chlorine dioxide can be supplied to an area (e.g., in a room) in a shorter period of time. And by producing more ppm of chlorine dioxide more quickly a user has a better chance of destroying organisms causing an odor and/or mold problem. By generating the gas more quickly, a user can accomplish a disinfectant or deodorizing task more quickly and efficiently.

[0036] If necessary or desirable, a user can use chlorine dioxide tables with an implementation of the disclosed subject matter. By placing the chlorine dioxide tablets in an implementation, the process of dissolving the tablets and producing chlorine dioxide gas can be accelerated. In other implementations, products from other suppliers can be utilized with an implementation of the disclosed subject matter to help those products form the other suppliers to create chlorine dioxide gas faster and more efficiently.

[0037] A system and or device for speeding up the process for producing a gases chlorine dioxide The system or device that can hold liquid in a container and that can spine the pouch, puck or tablet, or a bubbler on the bottom of the machine to agitate, stimulate bubble or vibrate the liquid to speed up the process of producing chlorine dioxide (ClO.sub.2). The system or device can be made with any material as long as it can hold a liquid and by any means. The size of the compartment one cavity will depend on how much chlorine dioxide (ClO.sub.2) is need for the application. Some implementations can speed up the production of chlorine dioxide gas from many different products as long as there is an acid present and sodium chlorite.

[0038] In some implementations, a user can use a chlorine dioxide tablet, pouch, or puck in a system or device implementation. The liquid that is in the system or device is spinning, agitating, vibrating, stimulating or bubbling will dissolve the table or capsule at a faster rate than if the tablet, pouch, or puck were simply sitting still in liquid that has acid dissolved in it or water that is not moving to dissolve the tablet or puck. Some implementations can include a pouch that as sodium chlorite in it and a pouch that has an acid in it and put it into the device. Some implementations can use a liquid that has the acid dissolved in it and then put the sodium chlorite in it via a rotating tablet, pouch, or puck.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 100 including a tube or hose (104 and 106) for air bubble agitation of reactants in accordance with some implementations. FIG. 1 shows a tube or hose 104 coming from the top or it can come from the bottom 106 of the bubbler 108 this will agitate the liquid to stimulate and speed up the chemical reaction. The bubbler can be attached to the device or setting beside the liquid container 102 or can be integrated into the liquid container 102.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 200 having a motor 202 on top of the generator 200 with a shaft 204 coupled to the motor and configures to rotate a sodium chlorite member in a liquid within the chamber 206.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 300 having a top-mounted motor assembly 302 (including a motor and optional batteries and drive circuit for the motor) and a cord 304 to plug motor assembly 302 into a USB plugin or other power source to charge the batteries (or power the motor). FIG. 3 also shows a clip 306 on a shaft 308 to hold the sodium chlorite containing member (e.g., pouch, tablet or puck, etc.) so it can spin in acidic liquid contained in the chamber 312. The chlorine dioxide generator 300 also includes vent holes 310 to release the generated chlorine dioxide gas.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 400 having a top-mounted motor assembly 402 (including a motor and optional batteries and drive circuit for the motor) and a cord 404 to plug motor assembly 402 into a USB plugin or other power source to charge the batteries (or power the motor). FIG. 4 also shows a holder or basket 406 on a shaft 408 to hold the sodium chlorite containing member (e.g., pouch, tablet or puck, etc.) so it can spin in acidic liquid contained in the chamber 412. The chlorine dioxide generator 400 also includes vent holes 410 to release the generated chlorine dioxide gas.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 500 having a top-mounted motor assembly 502 (including a motor and optional batteries and drive circuit for the motor) and a cord 504 to plug motor assembly 502 into a USB plugin or other power source to charge the batteries (or power the motor). FIG. 5 also shows a clip 506 on a shaft 508 to hold the sodium chlorite containing member (e.g., pouch, tablet or puck, etc.) so it can spin in acidic liquid contained in the chamber 512. The chlorine dioxide generator 500 also includes vent holes 510 to release the generated chlorine dioxide gas.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator 600 having a bottom-mounted motor assembly 602 (including a motor and optional batteries and drive circuit for the motor) and a cord 604 to plug motor assembly 602 into a USB plugin or other power source to charge the batteries (or power the motor). FIG. 6 also shows a holder or basket 406 on a shaft 608 to hold the sodium chlorite containing member (e.g., pouch, tablet or puck, etc.) so it can spin in acidic liquid contained in the chamber 612. The chlorine dioxide generator 600 also includes vent holes 610 to release the generated chlorine dioxide gas.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example chlorine dioxide generator having a bottom-mounted motor assembly 702 (including a motor and optional batteries and drive circuit for the motor) and a cord 704 to plug motor assembly 702 into a USB plugin or other power source to charge the batteries (or power the motor). FIG. 7 also shows a clip 706 on a shaft 708 to hold the sodium chlorite containing member (e.g., pouch, tablet or puck, etc.) so it can spin in acidic liquid contained in the chamber 712. The chlorine dioxide generator 700 also includes vent holes 710 to release the generated chlorine dioxide gas.

[0046] In any of the examples shown in FIGS. 2-7, a configuration can be constructed in which the clip or holder can is absent, and the shaft can be inserted into the sodium chlorite member and secured via an interference fit with an aperture in the sodium chlorite member.

[0047] The sodium chlorite member can include a puck, table, pouch (e.g., a permeable material that permits liquids to flow through the pouch and contact the sodium chlorite within the pouch), a sponge impregnated with sodium chlorite, a dissolvable material that encapsulates or is impregnated with sodium chlorite, or the like.

[0048] It is contemplated that any optional feature of the variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there is a plurality of the same item present. More specifically, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said,” and “the” include plural referents unless specifically stated otherwise. In other words, use of the articles allow for “at least one” of the subject item in the description above as well as the claims below. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements or use of a “negative” limitation.

[0049] Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term “comprising” in the claims shall allow for the inclusion of any additional element irrespective of whether a given number of elements are enumerated in the claim, or the addition of a feature could be regarded as transforming the nature of an element set forth in the claims. Except as specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein are to be given as broad a commonly understood meaning as possible while maintaining claim validity.

[0050] The breadth of the disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the examples provided. It should be recognized that the disclosed subject matter includes variations explicitly or implicitly described herein. Further, it is not intended that any section of this specification (e.g., Summary, Detailed Description, Abstract, Field, etc.) be accorded special significance in disclosing the subject matter. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is contemplated that certain modifications may be practiced within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.