Apparatuses and methods for reducing ozone creation from ultraviolet (UV) light

• US 10,232,954 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Siegmeth, Jeff, Hills, Karen, Childress, Jamie, Brown, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M
• Application Number:
  US15/271,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20180079528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0685 with ozone control
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are described for use of an ultraviolet (UV) light source, such as in a cleaning device, in which ozone creation due to reaction of the UV light with oxygen in the air is reduced. An example method includes dispersing, by a gas outlet, oxygen-depleted gas over a UV light source, and directing UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas onto an area. An example apparatus includes a UV light source to direct UV light onto an area, and a gas outlet to disperse oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source, such that the UV light passes through the oxygen-depleted gas onto the area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dispersing, by a gas outlet, oxygen-depleted gas over an ultraviolet (UV) light source, wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas toward the UV light source; and

directing UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas onto an area, wherein directing the UV light from the UV light source to pass through the oxygen-depleted gas comprises directing the UV light toward the gas outlet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxygen-depleted gas comprises an inert gas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises:

dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the area to create a gas cloud; and

subsequently operating the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing, by a gas inlet, the dispersed oxygen-depleted gas into a container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:

operating the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the area when the lavatory is not in use; and

dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displacing air over the area to mitigate formation of ozone gas due to the UV light reacting with oxygen in the air.

8. A method comprising:

dispersing, by a gas outlet, an inert gas over an ultraviolet (UV) light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source, wherein dispersing the inert gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the inert gas toward the UV light source; and

after the predetermined time period, operating the UV light source to direct UV light to pass through the inert gas onto an area, wherein directing the UV light from the UV light source to pass through the inert gas comprises directing the UV light toward the gas outlet.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft, and wherein the method further comprises:

operating the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the area when the lavatory is not in use; and

dispersing the inert gas over the area so as to displace air that is in a path of the UV light while the UV light source is emitting the UV light.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

dispersing the inert gas over the UV light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

capturing, by a gas inlet, the dispersed inert gas into a container.

12. A method comprising:

dispersing, by a gas outlet, oxygen-depleted gas over an ultraviolet (UV) light source so as to displace air that is in a path of UV light emitted by the UV light source while the UV light source is emitting the UV light, wherein the gas outlet and the UV light source are positioned in a lavatory on an aircraft; and

operating the UV light source to emit the UV light onto an area when the lavatory is not in use.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas parallel to a light beam of the UV light.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source comprises dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas perpendicular to a light beam of the UV light.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the oxygen-depleted gas comprises an inert gas.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

dispersing the oxygen-depleted gas over the UV light source for a predetermined time period prior to operation of the UV light source to direct the UV light onto the area.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

capturing, by a gas inlet, the dispersed oxygen-depleted gas into a container.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displacing air over the area to mitigate formation of ozone gas due to the UV light reacting with oxygen in the air.