IP Library Granted Patent US 11,993,528
Granted Patent B2
US 11,993,528 · App. 17/043,441 · Granted May 28, 2024

Ion removing system

Inventors: Ayane Takehisa (Nara, JP); Yasunari Maeda (Osaka, JP); Tomohiro Akita (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
C02F9/00C02F1/38C02F1/4618C02F5/02C02F2101/10C02F2201/005C02F2301/046
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,993,528
App. No.
17/043,441
Granted
May 28, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ion removing system includes an electrolysis apparatus electrolyzing hard water to generate acidic water and alkaline water; and an ion removing apparatus that includes a hard water storage part storing the alkaline water generated by the electrolysis apparatus and a fine bubble generating part generating and supplying fine bubbles to the hard water storage part and that causes the fine bubbles to adsorb metal ions in the alkaline water in the hard water storage part to remove the metal ions from the alkaline water.

Claims (16)

1. An ion removing system comprising:

an electrolysis apparatus electrolyzing hard water to generate acidic water and alkaline water;

an ion removing apparatus that comprises a hard water storage part storing the alkaline water generated by the electrolysis apparatus and a fine bubble generating part generating and supplying fine bubbles to the hard water storage part and that causes the fine bubbles to adsorb metal ions in the alkaline water in the hard water storage part to remove the metal ions from the alkaline water;

a primary-side flow path connected to the ion removing apparatus to supply the hard water to the electrolysis apparatus;

a separating apparatus connected to the ion removing apparatus and separating crystals of a metal component deposited by crystallizing the metal ions removed from the alkaline water by the ion removing apparatus;

a secondary-side flow path connected to the separating apparatus to take out, from the separating apparatus, treated water obtained by separating the crystals; and

a return flow path connected to the separating apparatus to return a portion of the treated water containing the crystals to the primary-side flow path.

2. The ion removing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an acidic water storage part storing the acidic water generated by the electrolysis apparatus,

an acidic water flow path allowing the acidic water stored in the acidic water storage part to flow to the ion removing apparatus, and

an opening/closing valve opening/closing the acidic water flow path.

3. The ion removing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a pump causing the hard water flowing through the primary-side flow path to flow through the electrolysis apparatus and the ion removing apparatus to the separating apparatus.

4. The ion removing system according to claim 1 , wherein a closed-system circulation flow path is made up of the primary-side flow path, the electrolysis apparatus, the ion removing apparatus, the separating apparatus, and the return flow path.

5. The ion removing system according to claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus is a cyclone-type centrifugal separating apparatus having a tapered inner circumferential surface with a diameter decreasing downward and causing the alkaline water to spirally flow downward along the inner circumferential surface so that the crystals are separated.

6. The ion removing system according to claim 5 , wherein one end portion of the return flow path is opened on the inner circumferential surface side of the separating apparatus.

7. The ion removing system according to claim 5 , wherein the ion removing apparatus comprises a connection flow path connected to the separating apparatus above the one end portion of the return flow path.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 17, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 075166/0563 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HOUSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 075144/0149 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2021
From: TAKEHISA, AYANE; MAEDA, YASUNARI; AKITA, TOMOHIRO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054898/0008 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2018-158716 · Aug 27, 2018 · national
JP 2019-061685 · Mar 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210114908A1 · Apr 22, 2021