Appliance for disinfection of HVAC systems

• US 7,107,778 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David L. Witham, Jon W. Orr, Keith M. Crawford, Larry F. Randall, Richard N. Metzger, Roberto Arance, Thomas C. Bowles, Thomas M. Veloz
• Original Assignee: David L. Witham, Jon W. Orr, Keith M. Crawford, Larry F. Randall, Richard N. Metzger, Roberto Arance, Thomas C. Bowles, Thomas M. Veloz
• Inventors: Crawford, Keith, Orr, Jon W., Arance, Roberto, Veloz, Thomas M., Bowles, Thomas C., Witham, David L., Randall, Larry F., Metzger, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/048,904
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 622/64, 422/121, 454/187
• US Class Current: 62/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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

A device (20) for Disinfection of HVAC Systems that include features that will protect service personnel from un-intended exposure to ultra violet radiation. The safeguards include an interlock (70) that prevents illumination of germicidal lamps (80) when an enclosure within which the germicidal lamps (80) are mounted is not properly attached to a duct or appliance; the apparatus further provides for innovative methods for determining that the germicidal lamps (80) are operating.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing operation of at least one germicidal lamp in an HVAC system under unsafe conditions comprising:

a housing;

a first switch on a side of the housing used to access the at least one germicidal lamp for servicing;

a second switch on a side of the housing that is in contact with an HVAC duct or appliance,

wherein power is supplied to the at least one germicidal lamp only when the first and second switches are in a condition indicating that the UV light cannot be emitted through the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a leaf switch.