Hub and removable cartridge for producing and delivering ozonated water

Abstract

An apparatus has a hub including a water inlet for receiving source water, a water outlet for discharging ozonated water, and an interface between the water inlet and the water outlet. The apparatus also has a cartridge including an electrolytic cell for ozonating the source water. The electrolytic cell has a cathode, an anode comprising diamond, and a membrane between the cathode and the anode. The electrolytic cell is configured to flow source water through both the cathode and the anode. The cartridge further includes at least one cartridge port for removably coupling with the interface on the hub. The at least one cartridge port and the interface are configured to flow source water from the hub into the electrolytic cell and to flow ozonated water from the electrolytic cell into the hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A replaceable cartridge for ozonating water, the cartridge configured to interface with a hub, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge housing,   an electrolytic cell within the housing the electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode;   a water inlet fluidly coupled to the electrolytic cell; and   an ozonated water outlet;
 a neck having a central axis and at least one thread, the at least one thread having a multi-tiered profile comprising
 a first ridge having a first radial dimension, and 
 a second ridge having a second radial dimension, the second dimension greater than the first dimension and configured to rotatingly engage an opposing element on the hub. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 1 , the neck further comprising at least one radial terminal, the at least one radial terminal extending through the first ridge and electrically coupled to one of the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         3 . The replaceable cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the neck comprises two terminals, wherein a first one of the terminals electrically coupled to the anode, and a second one of the terminals is electrically coupled to the cathode. 
     
     
         4 . The replaceable cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein the terminals are 180 degrees apart on the neck. 
     
     
         5 . The replaceable cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the thread further comprises a third ridge, the third ridge spaced from the second ridge. 
     
     
         6 . The replaceable cartridge of  claim 2 , the cartridge further comprising:
 at least one sealing element configured to sealingly engage with the hub, and   wherein the sealing element, the at least one thread, and the at least one radial terminal are configured such that the at least one sealing element sealingly engages the hub before the at least one radial terminal engages an opposing terminal on the hub.   
     
     
         7 . A cartridge for removably coupling with a hub having an interface, the cartridge comprising:
 an electrolytic cell for ozonating the source water, the electrolytic cell having a cathode, an anode comprising diamond, and a membrane between the cathode and the anode, the electrolytic cell configured to flow source water through both the cathode and the anode; and   at least one cartridge port for removably coupling with the interface on the hub, the at least one cartridge port configured to flow water from the hub into the electrolytic cell, and to flow ozonated water from the electrolytic cell into the hub.   
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , further comprising a filter positioned to filter the source water before the source water enters the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         9 . The replaceable cartridge according to  claim 7 , the cartridge further comprising a neck, and the neck further comprising at least one radial terminal, the at least one radial terminal extending through the first ridge and electrically coupled to one of the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         10 . The replaceable cartridge of  claim 7 , the cartridge further comprising a neck, the neck comprising two terminals, wherein a first one of the terminals electrically coupled to the anode, and a second one of the terminals is electrically coupled to the cathode. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for generating ozone and dissolving ozone into source water, the apparatus comprising:
 a hub including a water inlet for receiving source water, a water outlet for discharging ozonated water, and an interface between the water inlet and the water outlet;   a cartridge including an electrolytic cell for ozonating the source water, the electrolytic cell having a cathode, and a membrane between the cathode and the anode, the electrolytic cell configured to flow source water through both the cathode and the anode, the cartridge further including at least one cartridge port for removably coupling with the interface on the hub,   the at least one cartridge port and the interface configured to flow source water from the hub into the electrolytic cell, and to flow ozonated water from the electrolytic cell into the hub.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a power control system that controls power to the electrolytic cell as a function of the flow of water through the apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the power control system includes a flow monitoring element configured to monitor flow of source water through the apparatus, and at least one electronic component configured to control power to the electrolytic cell based on the flow of source water through the apparatus detected by the flow monitoring element. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the power control system is configured to switch off power to the electrolytic cell when flow of source water through the apparatus is equal to or less than a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the flow monitoring element comprises a flow switch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the flow monitoring element comprises a flow meter. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the power control system is configured so that power supplied to the electrolytic cell varies proportionately with the flow of source water through the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 at least one of the hub and the cartridge further comprises indicia for alerting a user; and 
 at least one electronic component in communication with the indicia, the at least one electronic component configured to determine when the cartridge needs replacement and further configured to activate the indicia when the cartridge needs replacement. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the indicia is a visual indicia. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the indicia is an auditory indicia. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to determine that the cartridge needs replacement when the impedance across the electrolytic cell meets or exceeds a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 at least one of the hub and the cartridge includes a flow meter configured to monitor the flow of source water through the cartridge, the flow meter being in communication with the at least one electronic component,   the at least one electronic component being configured to determine that the cartridge needs replacement when the total flow of source water through the cartridge meets or exceeds a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the hub further comprises:
 logic for determining whether a cartridge is coupled with the interface.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the logic further comprises logic for determining the type of cartridge coupled with the interface when a cartridge is coupled with the interface.