MOBILE UV STERILIZATION UNIT FOR FIELDS AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120315186A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greenzapr Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Greenzapr Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,431,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles

Abstract

A mobile ultraviolet sterilization vehicle. A plurality of UV lamps are removably mounted to a wheeled vehicle. A plurality of tines and a brush are mounted to the vehicle extending across the width thereof and into the supporting surface to position the supporting surface to receive the UV light.

Claims

1. A method of destroying infectious material present on a field having blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field;

engaging blades on the field by said vehicle as said vehicle is moved across the field to move the blades;

carrying a source of ultraviolet light on said vehicle;

shining said source of ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades to destroy infectious material on the field;

carrying a source of electrical energy on said vehicle; and

,

powering the ultraviolet light with said electrical energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said engaging step includes the sub-step of brushing said blades to position said blades to receive said ultraviolet light destroying infectious material thereon.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

shielding said ultraviolet light to provide safety for an operator of said vehicle by minimizing the visibility of said ultraviolet light from aside said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the field includes loose material between the blades and comprising the additional step of:

contacting loose material between said blades by said vehicle as said vehicle is moved across the field to expose the loose material to said ultraviolet light shining down from the vehicle to destroy infectious material on said loose material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said step of contacting loose material includes the sub-step of extending rigid members down from said vehicle between the blades moving and turning over said loose material.

6. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

adjustably raising said vehicle relative to the field to controllably limit contact with said field by said vehicle while said vehicle moves across the field.

7. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

removably holding said source of ultraviolet light on said vehicle to allow replacement thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

deactivating said source of ultraviolet light when said vehicle is stationary on said field for a preset time period to prevent said ultraviolet light from shining on and damaging said field.

9. The method of claim 1 and comprising the additional step of:

reflecting ultraviolet light from said source downwardly against said blades.

10-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of destroying infectious material present on a sports field having blades comprising the steps of:

moving a wheeled vehicle across a field;

carrying a source of ultraviolet light on said vehicle;

positioning a source of ultraviolet light atop blades on a sports field;

shining said source of ultraviolet light downwardly against the blades to destroy infectious material on the field;

carrying a source of electrical energy on said vehicle; and

,

powering the ultraviolet light with said electrical energy.

21. The method of claim 20 including the additional step of:

interrupting flow of electrical energy to said source of electrical energy when said vehicle is stationary to minimize ultraviolet damage to said blades.