Ozone generator for a faucet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11220754-B2
Application number	US-202016866029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

An electrolytic ozone generator for use with a faucet and methods for assembling and using the same.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ozone generator for use with a faucet, the ozone generator comprising:
an outer cartridge; and
an electrolytic cell assembly received within the outer cartridge, the electrolytic cell assembly including:
a first housing;
a first current spreader operably coupled to the first housing, the first current spreader including a planar body and a terminal having a first electrical connection to a first wire lead;
a first electrode in electrical communication with the planar body of the first current spreader;
wherein the first housing and the outer cartridge cooperate to define a first water flow path across the first electrode;
wherein the planar body of the first current spreader is sealed from the first electrical connection between the terminal of the first current spreader and the first wire lead, and the first electrical connection is outside of the first water flow path;
a second housing operably coupled to the first housing;
a second current spreader operably coupled to the second housing, the second current spreader including a planar body and a terminal having a second electrical connection to a second wire lead;
a second electrode in electrical communication with the planar body of the second current spreader;
wherein the second housing and the outer cartridge cooperate to define a second water flow path across the second electrode; and
wherein the planar body of the second current spreader is sealed from the second electrical connection between the terminal of the second current spreader and the second wire lead, and the second electrical connection is outside of the second water flow path.

2. The ozone generator of claim 1 , further comprising a separator, wherein the first electrode is an anode, the second electrode is a cathode, and the separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode.

3. The ozone generator of claim 1 , further comprising a holder that couples the first housing to the second housing independently of the outer cartridge.

4. The ozone generator of claim 3 , wherein the holder comprises at least one sealing ring around the first and second housings.

5. The ozone generator of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each comprises an underlayer of boron-doped silicon and a coating of boron-doped diamond.

6. The ozone generator of claim 1 , wherein the first current spreader is positioned intermediate the first housing and the first electrode, and the second current spreader is positioned intermediate the second housing and the second electrode.

7. The ozone generator of claim 1 , wherein the terminal of the first current spreader includes tabs configured to be crimped on the first wire lead, and the terminal of the second current spreader includes tabs configured to be crimped on the second wire lead.

8. The ozone generator of claim 1 , further comprising an overmolded material of the first housing sealing with the first current spreader between the planar body and the terminal, and an overmolded material of the second housing sealing with the second current spreader between the planar body and the terminal.

9. The ozone generator of claim 1 , wherein each terminal of the first current spreader and the second current spreader have a round cross-section and an o-ring received on the terminal.

10. The ozone generator of claim 1 , further comprising a first frame that receives the first electrode, and a second frame that receives the second electrode.

11. An ozone generator for use with a faucet, the ozone generator comprising:
a first housing;
a first current spreader operably coupled to the first housing, the first current spreader including a planar body and a planar terminal having an electrical connection to a first wire lead;
an overmolded material of the first housing sealing with the first current spreader between the planar body and the planar terminal; and
a first electrode operably coupled with the planar body of the first current spreader.

12. The ozone generator of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second housing;
a second current spreader operably coupled to the second housing, the second current spreader including a planar body and a planar terminal having an electrical connection to a second wire lead;
an overmolded material of the second housing sealing with the second current spreader between the planar body and the planar terminal; and
a second electrode operably coupled with the planar body of the second current spreader.

13. The ozone generator of claim 12 , further comprising a separator, wherein the first electrode is an anode, the second electrode is a cathode; and the separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode.

14. The ozone generator of claim 13 , wherein the anode and the cathode each comprises a plurality of water passageways.

15. The ozone generator of claim 14 , further comprising a first frame that receives the anode and a second frame that receives the cathode.

16. The ozone generator of claim 12 , wherein:
the planar body of the first current spreader includes an opening that receives the first electrode, the first housing surrounding the first current spreader in a sealed manner between the terminal and the opening; and
the planar body of the second current spreader includes an opening that receives the second electrode, the second housing surrounding the second current spreader in a sealed manner between the second terminal and the opening.

17. The ozone generator of claim 12 , wherein the terminal of the first current spreader includes tabs configured to be crimped on the first wire lead, and the terminal of the second current spreader includes tabs configured to be crimped on the second wire lead.

18. The ozone generator of claim 12 , wherein the terminal of the first current spreader has a rectangular cross-section, and the terminal of the second current spreader has a rectangular cross-section.

19. An ozone generator for use with a faucet, the ozone generator comprising:
a first housing;
a first current spreader operably coupled to the first housing, the first current spreader including a planar body and a round terminal having a first electrical connection to a first wire lead, the round terminal having a circular cross-section;
an o-ring received on the round terminal and providing a seal on the first current spreader between the planar body and the first electrical connection; and
a first electrode operably coupled with the planar body of the first current spreader.

20. The ozone generator of claim 19 , further comprising:
a second housing;
a second current spreader operably coupled to the second housing, the second current spreader including a planar body and a round terminal having a second electrical connection to a second wire lead, the round terminal having a circular cross-section;
an o-ring received on the round terminal and providing a seal on the second current spreader between the planar body and the second electrical connection; and
a second electrode operably coupled with the planar body of the second current spreader.

21. The ozone generator of claim 20 , further comprising a separator, wherein the first electrode is an anode, the second electrode is a cathode, and the separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode.

22. The ozone generator of claim 21 , wherein the anode and the cathode each comprises a plurality of water passageways.

23. The ozone generator of clai

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Jonte Patrick B
• Rosko Michael Scot
• Huffington Todd Andrew
• Thomas Kurt Judson
• Brown Derek Allen

Classifications

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• C25B1/13 Primary

  Ozone · CPC title

• C25B11/03

  perforated or foraminous · CPC title

• C25B15/02

  Process control or regulation · CPC title

• C25B9/19

  with diaphragms · CPC title