Ultraviolet Discharge Lamp Apparatuses With One Or More Reflectors

• US 20170263434A1
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Published: 09/14/2017
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,410,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

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

a support structure supporting the moveable assembly; and

an actuator for moving the moveable assembly such that the discharge lamp may be repositioned in and out of the support structure.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflector is arranged along a longitudinal side of the discharge lamp, and wherein the housing comprises a material that is transparent to ultraviolet light disposed along an opposite longitudinal side of the discharge 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 discharge 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 discharge lamp is repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure while the discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

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

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

a support structure supporting the moveable assembly; and

an actuator for providing rotational movement of the moveable assembly about a vertical axis and relative to the support structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, 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 discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the moveable assembly further comprises a fan for moving air into the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reflector extends above the discharge lamp.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising wheels along a bottom of the apparatus.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light;

a support structure supporting the discharge lamp;

an automated actuator for moving the discharge lamp relative to the support structure;

a processor; and

a storage medium having program instructions which are executable by the processor for activating the automated actuator such that the discharge lamp is repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure while the discharge lamp is emitting ultraviolet light.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the program instructions for activating the automated actuator comprise program instructions for activating the automated actuator to continuously move the discharge lamp while the apparatus is in operation.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the program instructions for activating the automated actuator comprise program instructions for activating the automated actuator to periodically move the discharge lamp while the apparatus is in operation.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a reflector arranged within the apparatus to redirect light emitted from the discharge lamp, wherein the reflector and the discharge lamp comprise a moveable assembly within the apparatus, and wherein the automated means for moving the discharge lamp is an automated means for moving the moveable assembly such that the reflector and the discharge lamp are repositioned within the apparatus relative to the support structure.