Abstract: A strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration consists of electrolyzed salt water, wherein the pH of the liquid is 3 or less and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid is 0.2 ppm to 2 ppm.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for electrolyzing water in which electrolysis of water can be carried out while effectively removing scales such as calcium carbonate and by which the service life of electrode can be extended on the order of several years. Repeated in sequence are a step wherein water is subjected to electrolysis while using an electrolytic cell of the membraneless type and a step wherein feed of water through the cell is stopped and an electric potential of reverse polarity is applied between electrodes while water stays stagnant in the cell whereby precipitate deposited on the electrodes during the electrolyzing step is removed by dissolving into stagnant water. Since application of the reverse potential is effected while water stays stagnant in the cell, the surface of the electrodes is free from the influence of turbulence and there is no risk that a layer of strongly acidic water generated at the surface of the electrodes is washed away by water flow.

Abstract: An electrolyzer for producing alkaline and/or acidic water by way of electrolysis of water. The electrolyzer (36) comprises a pair of planar electrodes (98; 100; 102) which are arranged opposite to each other without intervening a membrane therebetween. To remove scale such as calcium carbonate deposited during electrolysis on the electrodes (98; 100; 102), an electric potential of a reversed polarity is applied to the electrodes everyday at night and/or at the time when water is fed for the first time in the morning of the following day. During use of the electrolytic cell, the duration of electrolysis in the alkaline water supply mode and the duration of electrolysis in the acidic water supply mode, with a limit of maximum 30 seconds, are cumulated in a countervailing manner. For descaling, an electric potential of the polarity opposite to the polarity of the mode which is operated for a longer period of time is applied to the electrodes.

Abstract: An electrolyzer for producing alkaline and/or acidic water by way of electrolysis of water. In order to remove scale such as calcium carbonate deposited on the electrodes of the electrolytic cell (36) during electrolysis, the control unit (166) operates a polarity reversal switch (186) at a predetermined timing to reverse the electric potential applied to the electrodes of the electrolytic cell (36). The control unit (166) includes means (190/192) for detecting the hardness of water and varies the duration of application of DC voltage of opposite polarity in accordance with the hardness of water. Hardness of water is preferably determined by detecting the electric conductivity of water. Time required for removal of scale is shortened.

Abstract: A combination faucet compensates for a temperature deviation between a target temperature and actual temperature of a water mixture by utilizing a temperature-sensitive coil spring (80) to press a movable cylinder or axially elongated valve disc (70) that controls a mixing ratio of hot water to cold water. The temperature-sensitive coil spring (80) is constructed of a material that varies the spring constant of spring (80) according to a temperature change. When the temperature-sensitive coil spring (80) by itself cannot provide sufficient correction to compensate for the temperature deviation, feed-back control is utilized for completely eliminating the temperature deviation. To prevent hunting, control gain K of the feed-back control is determined according to variation in the spring constant of coil spring (80).

Abstract: A solenoid valve control circuit for operatively connecting a battery to a solenoid to energize the solenoid to actuate a valve includes a coulomb controlling circuit for controllably supplying electric charge to the solenoid in accordance with predetermined criteria.