Fluid system with integrated disinfecting optics
First Claim
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1. A fluid disinfecting device comprising:
- a fluid inlet;
a fluid outlet opposite the fluid inlet in a fluid flow direction;
a fluid conduit configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, said fluid conduit having an intermediate region coupled between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said intermediate region including a wall having a substantially UV opaque planar interior surface substantially parallel to the fluid flow direction;
a first transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region;
a second transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window with a portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said first transparent window and said second transparent window in the fluid flow direction;
a first reflector disposed outside said second transparent window;
a third transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window and said second transparent window with a second portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said third transparent window and said second transparent window and between said third transparent window and said first transparent window;
a second reflector disposed outside said second transparent window;
a light source coupled to said fluid conduit and configured to radiate ultraviolet light into said fluid conduit; and
one or more refractive optical elements configured to concentrate said ultraviolet light from said light source to form a beam of said ultraviolet light and to direct said beam of ultraviolet light through said first window toward said second window to completely irradiate a specific cross-section of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit with said directed beam of ultraviolet light; and
said directed beam of ultraviolet light is directed by said one or more optical elements along a beam path to pass out of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said second window, to be reflected by said first reflector back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said second window and toward said third window, to pass out of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said third window, and to be reflected by said second reflector back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said third window.
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Abstract
A fluid disinfecting system includes a straight fluid directing conduit and a light source disposed on a side of the fluid directing conduit. The light source is operative to emit ultraviolet light into the fluid directing conduit, such that one or more cross sections of said fluid directing conduit are saturated with ultraviolet light. Any fluid passing through the fluid directing conduit is necessarily exposed to the ultraviolet light.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fluid disinfecting device comprising:
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a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet opposite the fluid inlet in a fluid flow direction; a fluid conduit configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, said fluid conduit having an intermediate region coupled between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said intermediate region including a wall having a substantially UV opaque planar interior surface substantially parallel to the fluid flow direction; a first transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region; a second transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window with a portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said first transparent window and said second transparent window in the fluid flow direction; a first reflector disposed outside said second transparent window; a third transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window and said second transparent window with a second portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said third transparent window and said second transparent window and between said third transparent window and said first transparent window; a second reflector disposed outside said second transparent window; a light source coupled to said fluid conduit and configured to radiate ultraviolet light into said fluid conduit; and one or more refractive optical elements configured to concentrate said ultraviolet light from said light source to form a beam of said ultraviolet light and to direct said beam of ultraviolet light through said first window toward said second window to completely irradiate a specific cross-section of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit with said directed beam of ultraviolet light; and said directed beam of ultraviolet light is directed by said one or more optical elements along a beam path to pass out of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said second window, to be reflected by said first reflector back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said second window and toward said third window, to pass out of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said third window, and to be reflected by said second reflector back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said third window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A fluid disinfecting device comprising:
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a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet opposite the fluid inlet in a fluid flow direction; a fluid conduit configured to permit the passage of fluid therethrough, said fluid conduit having an intermediate region coupled between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said intermediate region of said fluid conduit including a wall having a substantially UV opaque inner surface substantially parallel to the fluid flow direction, defining a fluid passage within said intermediate region of said fluid conduit; a first transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit; a second transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window with a portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said first transparent window and said second transparent window in the fluid flow direction; a first reflector disposed outside said second transparent window; a third transparent window disposed in said wall of said intermediate region and spaced apart from said first transparent window and said second transparent window with a second portion of said interior surface of said wall disposed between said third transparent window and said second transparent window and between said third transparent window and said first transparent window; a second reflector disposed outside said second transparent window; a light source coupled to said fluid conduit and configured to radiate ultraviolet light; a refractive optical element configured to concentrate said ultraviolet light from said light source to form a beam of ultraviolet light and direct the beam of ultraviolet light through said first transparent window to irradiate a complete cross-section of said intermediate region of said fluid conduit with said directed beam of ultraviolet light; and
whereinsaid first reflector is disposed in the path of said directed beam of ultraviolet light exiting said second transparent window and oriented to further redirect said beam of ultraviolet light exiting said second transparent window back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said second transparent window and toward said third transparent window; and said second reflector is disposed in the path of said directed beam of ultraviolet light exiting said third transparent window and oriented to further redirect said beam of ultraviolet light exiting said third transparent window back into said intermediate region of said fluid conduit through said third transparent window. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification