COMPRESSOR WITH AN INTERNAL DISINFECTING UV LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20110005620A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald Nevin
• Original Assignee: Donald Nevin
• Inventors: Nevin, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/560
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86051 Compressed air supply unit

Abstract

The air compressor has an air intake, a tank, means for pressurizing the air in the tank and an air outlet connected to the tank. High power 365 nm UV LED light sources are mounted within the tank to disinfect the interior tank surface. The light source has a cover for protecting the light source which may take the form of a quartz diverging lens for directing the output of the light source toward the portion of the interior tank surface where fluid tends to accumulate, such as the bottom of the tank. Air flow is directed through the area proximate the light source to remove particles from the light source cover. The effect of this air flow can be amplified by creating turbulence proximate the light sources utilizing a member with an arcuate profile.

Claims

1. An air compressor having an air intake, a tank with an interior surface, means for pressurizing the air in said tank, an air outlet connected to said tank and means for disinfecting said interior tank surface, said disinfecting means comprising UV LED light source means mounted within said tank in a position to illuminate said interior tank surface.

2. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said light source means comprises a high power 365 nm UV LED.

3. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said light source means further comprises a light source and cover means for protecting said light source.

4. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said light source means comprises a light source and lens means for directing the light from said light source toward a portion of said interior tank surface.

5. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said interior tank surface comprises a portion of said interior tank surface where liquid tends to accumulate.

6. The compressor of claim 4 wherein said portion comprises the bottom of said tank.

7. The compressor of claim 1 comprising means for preventing particle buildup proximate said light source means.

8. The compressor of claim 1 further comprising means for directing air flow in the area proximate said light source means to prevent particle buildup on said light source means.

9. The compressor of claim 1 further comprising means for creating turbulence in the area proximate said light source means to prevent particle buildup on said light source means.

10. The compressor of claim 9 wherein said turbulence creating means comprises a member with an arcuate profile.

11. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said light source means comprises a plurality of high power UV LED light sources.

12. The compressor of claim 11 wherein said light sources are situated at spaced locations within said tank.

13. The compressor of claim 11 wherein said light sources are situated in a row within said tank.