Ultraviolet lamp apparatuses with one or more moving components

• US 10,410,853 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC.
• Inventors: Stibich, Mark A., Wolford, James B., Garfield, Alexander N., Rathgeber, Martin, Frydendall, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoffa, Wyatt A
• Application Number:
  US15/606,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20170263434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/405 Machines using UV-lamps, IR-lamps, ultrasound or plasma cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• 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 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/00 Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps arc lamps with consumable electrodes H05B; electroluminescent lamps H05B
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/025 Associated optical elements

Abstract

Apparatuses are disclosed which include an ultraviolet light (UV) lamp and program instructions for activating an automated actuator such that the lamp is repositioned within the apparatus relative to a structure supporting the lamp while the lamp is emitting ultraviolet light. Other apparatuses include a reflector to redirect light emitted from a UV lamp, wherein the reflector and the lamp comprise a moveable assembly. The apparatuses include an actuator for moving the moveable assembly such that the lamp may be repositioned in and out of a structure supporting the moveable assembly. Yet other apparatuses include a reflector arranged along a longitudinal side of a UV lamp and a housing surrounding the lamp, wherein the reflector and the housing comprise a moveable assembly. The apparatuses include an actuator for providing rotational movement of the moveable assembly about a vertical axis and relative to a structure supporting the moveable assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a germicidal lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a reflector arranged within the apparatus to redirect light emitted from the germicidal lamp, wherein the reflector and the germicidal lamp comprise a moveable assembly within the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the reflector redirects light emitted from the germicidal lamp to a region exterior to the apparatus;

a support structure supporting the moveable assembly;

an actuator for moving the moveable assembly such that the germicidal lamp may be repositioned in and out of a recess of the support structure; and

wheels arranged along a bottom of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable assembly further comprises a housing surrounding the germicidal lamp.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflector is arranged along a longitudinal side of the germicidal lamp, and wherein the housing comprises a material that is transparent to ultraviolet light disposed along an opposite longitudinal side of the germicidal lamp opposing the reflector.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflector and the housing comprise another moveable assembly within the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus comprise a rotator which allows rotational movement of the housing and the reflector together relative to the support structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the moveable assembly further comprises a fan for moving air into the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector is arranged above the germicidal lamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a system for collecting data regarding characteristics of a room in which the apparatus is arranged; and

a controller for retrieving the data, determining a position for the moveable assembly based on the data, and sending a command in accordance with the determined position to the actuator for automatically moving the moveable assembly to the determined position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller for activating the actuator such that the germicidal lamp is repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure while the germicidal lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where the apparatus is operationally floor-based and freestanding.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a germicidal lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a reflector arranged along a longitudinal side of the germicidal lamp;

a housing surrounding the germicidal lamp, wherein the housing comprises a material that is transparent to ultraviolet light disposed along an opposite longitudinal side of the germicidal lamp opposing the reflector, and wherein the reflector and the housing comprise a moveable assembly within the apparatus;

a support structure disposed below the moveable assembly; and

an actuator for providing rotational movement of the moveable assembly relative to the support structure and about a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to a floor of a room in which the apparatus is arranged.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the material that is transparent to ultraviolet light is a material that allows light to pass through without substantial blockage or attenuation of a specific wavelength spectrum.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, an actuator is further for moving the moveable assembly such that the material that is transparent to ultraviolet light may be repositioned in and out of the support structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a system for collecting data regarding characteristics of a room in which the apparatus is arranged; and

a controller for retrieving the data, determining a desired position for the moveable assembly based on the data, and sending a command in accordance with the determined position to the actuator for automatically moving the moveable assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a controller for automatically activating the actuator such that the moveable assembly rotates or oscillates within the apparatus relative to the support structure while the germicidal lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the moveable assembly further comprises a fan for moving air into the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reflector extends above the germicidal lamp.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising wheels along a bottom of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, where the apparatus is operationally floor-based and freestanding.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a germicidal lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a reflector arranged within the apparatus to redirect light emitted from the germicidal lamp, wherein the reflector and the germicidal lamp comprise a first moveable assembly within the apparatus;

a support structure supporting the first moveable assembly;

a first actuator for moving the first moveable assembly such that the germicidal lamp may be repositioned in and out of a recess of the support structure;

a housing surrounding the germicidal lamp, wherein the housing and the reflector comprise a second moveable assembly within the apparatus different from the first assembly; and

a second actuator different from the first actuator for moving the second movable assembly relative to the support structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second actuator is a rotor.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a controller for activating the second actuator while the germicidal lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, where the apparatus is operationally floor-based and freestanding.