With Water Softener Patents (Class 68/13A)
  • Patent number: 6153151
    Abstract: A system and method for generating ozone for use in open or closed loop process applications using a fluid, such as water, as a primary process medium, including: a water storage tank, supplied by a water supply line, for temporarily storing water for treatment and subsequent use in a process; an electromagnetic flux unit connected to the water supply line for exposing water supplied to the tank to an electromagnetic field thereby magnetically polarizing contaminants and dissolved solids present in the water; an apparatus for producing highly pure oxygen from ambient air for use as a feed gas in generating ozone; a corona discharge ozone generator for producing high purity ozone from a highly pure oxygen feed gas; an impeller apparatus, including a rapidly rotating shear impeller, for injecting ozone, created by the ozone generator, into water wherein the ozone is absorbed thus yielding a substantially high level of dissolved ozone gas in a given volume of water; an apparatus for measuring the concentration o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventors: Douglas A. Moxley, Stephen C. Perry
  • Patent number: 6085556
    Abstract: A dispenser for a washing machine integrates a bubble generator, an ozone generator, and a radical generator. In the dispenser for a washing machine, a housing has a gas mixing chamber therein. A bubble generator is disposed in the housing and generates air for generating air bubbles and ozone and pumping to the gas mixing chamber. An ozone generator is disposed in the gas mixing chamber and applies high voltage to the air introduced in the gas mixing chamber from the bubble generator in order to produce ozone. A radical generator has a ceramic catalyst for decomposing the ozone from the ozone generator into an oxygen for generating air bubbles and a generating oxygen to be reactive with a hydrogen ion in washing water in order to generate a radical. The dispenser sterilizes bacilli such as bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, or algae which live in washing water or clothes. The dispenser also improves washing effect of a washing machine by oxidizing and bleaching actions of ozone and radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Jong-Yeol Moon
  • Patent number: 5947135
    Abstract: When tableware is washed and rinsed in a dishwasher using a plurality of washing steps, the tableware is washed within 10 minutes using acid ionized water having a pH value of at most 6.0 and a temperature of at least 40.degree. C. in a first washing step, whereby dirt is made to form cohesion and is prevented from being reattached to the tableware, so that a washing load in the following washing steps is reduced. Furthermore, the tableware is washed for at least 15 minutes with alkaline ionized water having a pH value of at least 8.5 and a temperature of at least 55.degree. C. in at least one of the washing steps, whereby the washing effects on fats and oils, protein and starch are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitake Sumida, Tetsuo Moriyama, Yoko Fukushima, Takeo Abe
  • Patent number: 5939030
    Abstract: A system and method for generating ozone for use in open or closed loop process applications using a fluid, such as water, as a primary process medium, including: a water storage tank, supplied by a water supply line, for temporarily storing water for treatment and subsequent use in a process; an electromagnetic flux unit connected to the water supply line for exposing water supplied to the tank to an electromagnetic field thereby magnetically polarizing contaminants and dissolved solids present in the water; an apparatus for producing highly pure oxygen from ambient air for use as a feed gas in generating ozone; a corona discharge ozone generator for producing high purity ozone from a highly pure oxygen feed gas; an impeller apparatus, including a rapidly rotating shear impeller, for injecting ozone, created by the ozone generator, into water wherein the ozone is absorbed thus yielding a substantially high level of dissolved ozone gas in a given volume of water; an apparatus for measuring the concentration o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventors: Douglas A. Moxley, Stephen C. Perry
  • Patent number: 4733774
    Abstract: Disclosed is a through-the-wash and dryer laundry product which comprises:(a) a water-permeable, water-insoluble substrate;(b) a particulate fabric softener for release in the dryer, said softener enclosed within a pouch made of the substrate; wherein(c) the substrate has on its surface a water-insoluble, spaced-apart glue pattern adapted to reduce fabric softener staining when the product is used in the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Vernon S. Ping, III, Eric E. Beard
  • Patent number: 4434629
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes a washing tube, a water supply an a decalcifier for receiving water from the water supply and for discharging softened water. A metering tank is at an upper position in the machine to receive softened water from the decalcifier. A brine tank at a lower position in the machine receives softened water from the metering tank and generates brine. An electrochemical cell is provided to generate chlorine gas. Valves are provided to selectively pass brine from the brine tank to the electrochemical cell or to the decalcifier. Chlorine gas generated in the cell is absorbed and then passed to the washing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Industrie Zanussi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bianchi, Roberto Sburlino
  • Patent number: 4402197
    Abstract: This washing machine is provided with an electro chemical cell (4) having a brine tank (9) provided with a metering piston (16a, b 16b) actuated by an electro magnet (21) and connected by an electro valve (14) controlling a connection conduit (3) to a water supply conduit (1). The inlet opening of such connection conduit into the cell (4) is controlled by a float valve (11). The electro valve is a two-way valve (14, 14a) and controls simultaneously the outlet conduit (13) which opens into the washing tub of the washing machine. The power supply of the cell (4) is controlled by the program selector (8) of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Alain Groult, Augusto Porta, Herve Tournier
  • Patent number: 4307742
    Abstract: Regeneration of an ion exchanger in a dishwasher, in which fresh water for regeneration passes through an airbreak receiving jet into a fresh water supply container which dispenses a preselected variable quantity of water by gravity for regeneration into a salt container, displacing salt solution from the salt container into the ion exchanger, thereby providing rapid collection of the water quantity necessary for ion exchanger regeneration, independent of the water supply pressure. The container is of a flat rectangular configuration and is mounted in the vent aperture of the dishwasher tub. A control valve, accessible through said aperture, controls the quantity of regeneration water dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Inventor: Friedrich-Wilhelm H. Schrott
  • Patent number: 4221565
    Abstract: A process for the machine washing and cleaning of solid materials, in particular textiles, using low phosphate or phosphate-free detergents, in which the wash liquor, which contains at least 0.05 gm/l of a water-soluble calcium-binding sequestrant and customary surface-active compounds, is continuously or intermittently circulated through a cation-exchanging, water-insoluble, bound-water containing aluminosilicate having a calcium binding power of at least 50 mg CaO/gm corresponding to the following formula:(Cat.sub.2/n O).sub.x.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.(SiO.sub.2).sub.yin which Cat represents a cation of valence n which is exchangeable with calcium, x represents a number from 0.7 to 1.5 and y represents a number of from 0.8 to 6, and in which the aluminosilicate has a particle size of from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (Henkel KGaA)_
    Inventors: Werner Graupner, Heinz Oberlack, Hermann-Josef Welling
  • Patent number: 4164430
    Abstract: Solid soiled materials are machine washed by withdrawing and recycling the wash liquor in contact with said solid soiled materials through a water-insoluble cation exchange polymer in particulate state having a calcium binding power of at least 2 mVal per gram, said polymer in particulate state being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time that the recycling wash liquor has passed through said polymer at least twice, in the presence of other soluble washing and cleaning compounds, while reversing the direction of flow of said wash liquor through said polymer repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Elmar Reinwald, Heinz Smolka, Milan J. Schwuger
  • Patent number: 4144093
    Abstract: The machine washing of solid material (e.g. dishes and clothes) in hard water areas is enhanced when the washing solution has a dissolved content of a sequestering agent for calcium ions and is contacted with an insoluble cation exchange resin in particulate state, the washing solution being passed through a filter containing the resin during the course of the washing operation. The filter is maintained separate and spaced from the washing area. The cation exchange resin may be contained in a filter of the whirlpool type, so that the particles are maintained in aqueous suspension without coming into contact with the materials being washed, or it may be contained as a unitary porous lining of a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Elmar Reinwald, Milan J. Schwuger, Heinz Smolka, Peter Krings
  • Patent number: 4121903
    Abstract: An improvement in the machine washing of solid soiled materials comprising withdrawing and recycling the tap water in contact with said solid soiled materials through a silicate cation exchange compound having some combined water and a particle size of between 10 .mu. and 100 .mu. of the formula(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x . Me.sub.2 O.sub.3 . (SiO.sub.2).sub.ywherein M is a cation of valence n exchangeable with calcium, Me is a member selected from aluminum and boron, x is a number from 0.7 to 1.5 and y is a number from 0.8 to 6, said agent having a calcium binding power of at least 50 mg of CaO per gram, said agent being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time until the water has a hardness of not more than 70 mg CaO/liter, then adding other soluble washing and cleaning compounds to said softened tap water and washing said solid materials while continuing the recycling of the wash solution through said silicate cation exchange compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventor: Heinz Smolka
  • Patent number: 4120653
    Abstract: An improvement in the machine washing of solid soiled materials comprising withdrawing and recycling the tap water in contact with said solid soiled materials through a water-insoluble cation exchange polymer in particulate state having a swelled average particle diameter in excess of 20 .mu. and having a calcium binding power of at least 2 mVal per gram, said polymers being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time until the water has a hardness of not more than 70 mg CaO/liter, then adding other soluble washing and cleaning compounds to said softened tap water and washing said solid materials while continuing the recycling of the wash solution through said cation exchange polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventor: Heinz Smolka
  • Patent number: 4090963
    Abstract: A water softening unit positioned between the mixing valve and washing basket of a washing machine includes a housing having a water inlet and outlet and an inlet for the introduction of salt into the housing. A partition divides the housing into a regeneration chamber and an ion-exchange chamber communicating with one another at one end of the partition. A pressure relief valve is located in the partition. A flow restriction valve located between the housing inlet and the regeneration chamber restricts flow through the softening unit when actuated, thereby allowing complete and thorough regeneration. The valve is normally open and when operated manually or otherwise to its alternate or actuated position, it remains in its actuated condition until the regeneration operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward C. Grout
  • Patent number: 4066393
    Abstract: A water softening system utilizing a reusable, self-contained water softener device for an agitator type clothes washer. The water softener device includes a quantity of cation exchange resin contained in a chamber. The water softener device is placed in the clothes washer in association with the agitator and water is percolated upwardly through the resin by a pump to thereby effect hardness reduction by the removal of calcium and/or magnesium ions from the water. After the softening operation, the water softener is removed from the washer and detergent and soiled fabrics are placed therein. The resin may then be regenerated by treatment of the device with a salt solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Everett D. Morey, Eddie W. Dooley
  • Patent number: 4062205
    Abstract: A water softening system utilizing a reusable, self-contained water softener device for an agitator type clothes washer. The water softener device includes a quantity of cation exchange resin contained in a chamber. The water softener device is placed in the clothes washer in association with the agitator and water is percolated upwardly through the resin by a pump to thereby effect hardness reduction by the removal of calcium and/or magnesium ions from the water. After the softening operation, the water softener is removed from the washer and detergent and soiled fabrics are placed therein. The resin may then be regenerated by treatment of the device with a salt solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Everett D. Morey, Eddie W. Dooley
  • Patent number: 3937042
    Abstract: A water softening system utilizing a reusable, self-contained water softener device for an agitator type clothes washer. The water softener device includes a quantity of cation exchange resin contained in a torus shaped jacket formed of a closely woven porous, synthetic-fiber fabric. The water softener device is placed in the clothes washer in association with the agitator such that water will be circulated through the resin to effect a hardness reduction thereof by the removal of calcium and/or magnesium ions. After the softening operation, the water softener is removed from the washer and detergent and soiled fabrics are placed therein. The resin is then regenerated by treatment of the device with a salt solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Leopold Loeb