Ultraviolet air purification systems

• US 6,818,177 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Turcotte
• Original Assignee: Mark Turcotte
• Inventors: Turcotte, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/708,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 422/24, 422/121, 422/120, 422/105, 250/455.11, 250/435, 250/436, 992/24, 962/26
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

The present invention relates to ultraviolet air purification devices and custom component kits useful residential and commercial settings. Apparatus and kits according to the invention include an electrical control relay, a safety switch, and a separate ballast for each lamp. When multiple lamps are used, a suppressor ballast is used to protect the lamps from electrical surges. Terminal strips are included so multiple ballasts and lamps can be used as part of the electrical configuration. The invention allows for UV-C bulbs and is designed so that only the lamps and their connectors must be disposed in the path of the air flow. The lamps are easily installed by pushing into a connector on one end. Supports for the end and the middle of the bulbs may be used in installation. LED indicator lights show if each lamp is receiving the electrical charge. Multi-faceted tin reflectors may be installed on each end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for killing microorganisms in an air conditioning system, said air conditioning system having at least one duct for the passage of air therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

a first connector for connecting said apparatus to a main power source;

a fluorescent light ballast configured to convert 60 hertz to 20-100 kilohertz;

a second connector located in a duct of the air conditioning system adapted to receive a UV-C lamp, wherein said second connector is coupled to said fluorescent light ballast via a coupler such that the first connecting means and said fluorescent light ballast is remote from the duct of the air conditioning system; and

a reflector disposed within the at least one duct that spins as air flows through said duct.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a suppressor ballast coupled to said first connector for suppressing any electrical surge when the apparatus is activated.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fluorescent light ballast and said suppressor ballast are disposed in a housing, said housing comprising a mounting for mounting said housing on a flat surface and wherein said housing has holes therethrough to provide ventilation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system is a residential air conditioning system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising de-energizing the lamp in response to a signal change and an indicator for indicating when the lamp is energized.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballast is not subjected to all of the vibrations of the air conditioning system.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballasts are not subjected to all of the vibrations of the air conditioning system.

6. An apparatus for killing microorganisms in an air conditioning system, said air conditioning system having at least one duct for the passage of air therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

a control relay;

a plurality of fluorescent light ballasts configured to convert 60 hertz to 20-100 kilohertz;

a reflector disposed in said at least one duct that spins as air flows through; and

a plurality of electrical connectors located in the duct of the air conditioning system, wherein each of said plurality of electrical connectors is coupled to one of said plurality of fluorescent light ballasts and is adapted to receive a UV-C lamp, and said electrical connectors are coupled to said fluorescent light ballasts via couplers such that the control relay and said fluorescent light ballasts are remote from the duct of the air conditioning system.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a suppressor ballast coupled to said control relay for suppressing any electrical surge when the apparatus is activated.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of UV-C lamps designed for mating with said electrical connectors and a plurality of reflectors arranged so that one of said plurality of reflectors is disposed at least one end of each of said plurality of lamps.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of reflectors disposed in said duct, and wherein said plurality of reflectors spin as air flows through said duct.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fluorescent light ballasts are 220 volt ballasts.

11. The apparatus of claims 6, further comprising:

a de-energizer for de-energizing the lamps in response to a signal change and an indicator for indicating when one or more of the plurality of lamps are energized.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises an LED indicator light coupled to each one of said plurality of fluorescent light ballasts to indicate whether power is going to each of said fluorescent light ballasts.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a safety switch operatively coupled to said control relay.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the UV-C lamps are disposed inside said duct, and a door is disposed on said duct to allow access to said lamps and wherein said safety switch comprises a door jamb light switch which is actuated when said door is opened.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the UV-C lamps are disposed inside said duct, and a door is disposed on said duct to allow access to said lamps and wherein said safety switch comprises a switch that allows the UV-C lamps to be energized so long as the safety switch is depressed or the door is closed.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the safety switch comprises a micro-switch.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the safety switch comprises a momentary contact safety switch.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said UV-C lamps and said reflectors are disposed inside said duct and said control relay and said plurality of fluorescent light ballasts are disposed remotely from said air conditioning system.

19. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said UV-C lamps, said reflectors said control relay and said plurality of fluorescent light ballasts are disposed inside the air conditioning system.

20. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an aluminum cover.

21. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the air conditioning system is a commercial air conditioning system.

22. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an exhaust fan.

23. A method for killing microorganisms in an air conditioning system, said air conditioning system having at least one duct for the passage of air therethrough, said method comprising:

providing a first connector for connecting to a main power source;

providing a fluorescent light ballast coupled to said suppressor ballast, said fluorescent light ballast configured to convert 60 hertz to 20-100 kilohertz;

providing a reflector located within the at least one duct of the air conditioning system, wherein said reflector spins as air flows through said at least one duct; and

providing a second connector located in a the at least one duct of the air conditioning system adapted to receive a UV-C lamp, wherein said second connector is coupled to said fluorescent light ballast via a coupler such that the first connecting means and said fluorescent light ballast is remote from the duct of the air conditioning system and wherein said ballast is not subjected to all of the vibrations of the air conditioning system.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing for de-energizing the lamp in response to a signal change; and

providing an indicator for indicating when the lamp is energized.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a suppressor ballast coupled to said first connector for suppressing any electrical surge when the apparatus is activated.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a housing, wherein said fluorescent light ballast is disposed in said housing, said housing comprising a mounting for mounting said housing on a flat surface and wherein said housing has holes therethrough to provide ventilation.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the air conditioning system is a residential air conditioning system.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the air conditioning system is a commercial air conditioning system.

29. An apparatus for cleaning air in an air conditioning system, said air conditioning system having at least one cooling coil and at least one duct, said apparatus comprising:

a fluorescent light ballast;

a first UV-C lamp connected to the fluorescent light ballast and located on a first side of the cooling coil in said air conditioning system;

a reflector located within the at least one duct of the air conditioning system, wherein said reflector spins as air flows through said at least one duct; and

a second UV-C lamp connected to the fluorescent light ballast and located on a second side of the cooling coil in said air conditioning system.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the fluorescent light ballast is located remotely from the duct and said ballast is not subjected to all of the vibrations of the air conditioning system.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a suppressor ballast coupled to the fluorescent light ballast for suppressing any electrical surge when the apparatus is activated.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the fluorescent light ballast and said suppressor ballast are disposed in a housing, said housing comprising a mounting for mounting said housing on a flat surface and wherein said housing has holes therethrough to provide ventilation.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the air conditioning system is a residential air conditioning system.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising de-energizing the lamp in response to a signal change and an indicator for indicating when the lamp is energized.

35. An apparatus for cleaning air in an air conditioning system, said air conditioning system having at least one cooling coil and at least one duct, said apparatus comprising:

a fluorescent light ballast;

at least one UV-C lamp connected to the fluorescent light ballast for cleaning the entire cooling coil in said air conditioning system; and

a reflector disposed in said at least one duct that spin as air flows through the duct.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the fluorescent light ballast is located remotely from the duct and wherein said ballast is not subjected to all of the vibrations of said air conditioning system.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a suppressor ballast coupled to the fluorescent light ballast for suppressing any electrical surge when the apparatus is activated.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the fluorescent light ballast and said suppressor ballast are disposed in a housing, said housing comprising a mounting for mounting said housing on a flat surface and wherein said housing has holes therethrough to provide ventilation.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the air conditioning system is a residential air conditioning system.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising de-energizing the lamp in response to a signal change and an indicator for indicating when the lamp is energized.